Notebook: Kay makes emphatic IMCA return with pair of wins

Over the last three or four years, Wheatland driver Justin Kay dominated the Late Model conversation in Eastern Iowa. In both 2014 and 2015, he won the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series, the IMCA Late Model national championship, and he was The Gazette's Eastern Iowa Driver of the Year.

Oh, and he won more than 60 races in those two seasons, too.

So when it got to mid-May and Kay hadn't been in the winner's circle – most specifically in an IMCA car, which is where he did his damage – it was more than a little surprising. But over the weekend he reminded everyone he's not gone anywhere with wins at Davenport Speedway and West Liberty Raceway – and also pointed out he's raced less than half as much as previous years to this point.

'It was nice to get back and get a win,' Kay said. 'Two Late Model wins, we'll take that. This was the first two of the year. I always like ending up parked on the front stretch – that's no doubt. … We had to start 13th at West Liberty, and I don't think I'd have caught Scotty Fitzpatrick without a caution. It was all I could do to run (Tyler) Bruening down, and we needed every lap we had for things to come around.

'I just haven't raced that much either, so (not winning yet) hadn't drawn on me too much yet. It was just the fifth and sixth night out for us this year, and that's not very much for us.'

After winning as much as he has, there's not a ton left for Kay to prove in an IMCA Late Model, and that's been his biggest reason for his shift in priorities.

Kay and his crew chief Tyson Gheer are committed to Open Late Model growth for their team – having Brian Birkhofer around doesn't hurt – and Kay's responsibilities on the farm increased this year too. That added to why Kay hasn't been on the track a ton yet this season.

'I'm ready to do different things – more of the Open racing and more of the Modified racing,' Kay said. 'I just don't want to have to go every weekend. I'm enjoying not having to do that and being able to spend time at home and stuff like that.'

So priorities change, but racing mentality doesn't.

Kay wants to venture into Modifieds a bit, and had a good run going at Modified Madness in Davenport on Friday night before a four-bar broke and he was forced out of the race. And while Gheer might not love Kay running the Modified – it takes away time from the Late Model, after all – at this point, Kay is about finding the fun in racing, rather than the pressure.

'I don't think (Tyson) likes the Modified that much, he's a Late Model guy, but it's just something different where I can race close to home for decent money,' Kay said. 'It's just different, and I get to race with different people. I like that. It's a totally different challenge.'

Other than a few designated Open shows, Kay doesn't have a set plan for this season, but if this weekend was any indication, not having a specific IMCA racing plan doesn't mean the No. 15k car has lost anything along the way.

In fact, it might just make him more dangerous with no points on the line anywhere he goes.

'There's no real plan at all this year, we're pretty much flying by the seat of our pants,' Kay said. 'We have races we'd like to go to, and could add more in. And if we don't feel like going, we just won't go. It's nice that way.

'I would really love to pick off one of those Open shows somewhere along the line this year. That's something that I've never done and it would be awesome.'

SPAW ROLLING AT WEST LIBERTY

Cedar Rapids racer Johnny Spaw is a busy man.

He runs his race shop out on Mount Vernon Road in Cedar Rapids building his Spaw Chassis, he's the crew chief for Brad Osborn's Late Model at Hawkeye Downs, helps prepare Mark Greb's Late Model for Hawkeye Downs, and does welding and other various work for racers coming in and out of his shop.

So just getting his IMCA Stock Car ready for racing each Saturday at West Liberty Raceway is a feat. Being busy hasn't seemed to hurt him there this year, though, as Spaw has four wins in six races there so far this year. Even after all his years behind the wheel, and all the cars he's raced, Spaw said he's still learning.

'It's definitely carry-over from last year,' Spaw said. 'We got our motor program better with some better heads. … And it's probably me getting more confidence in driving an IMCA Stock Car. I really haven't driven them that much. I'm still learning things about driving them and what they can and can't do. I don't learn something every night, but I never quit trying to learn.'

'It's a little bit of everything, but we're doing well.'

Spaw's success at West Liberty often prompts people to ask the veteran racer why he doesn't go run other places or simply race more often.

His simple response: 'I wish.'

Money and time drive nearly every racer's agenda, and with all the irons in the fire, Spaw is running short on the latter without a doubt. There's some possibility of short-track racing later in the year, but for now West Liberty is the focus – and with good reason.

'I'd love to be able to go race everywhere, but there's family obligations and money-wise, it's hard enough to afford to race one night a week as it is. And I'm so busy here, it's so hard,' Spaw said. 'Just having those two cars ready (for Osborn and Greb) even when nothing goes wrong (on Friday) is quite a bit of work. Then I'm trying to build new chassis so I'm ahead. There's a lot of reasons why I don't race more than one night a week. I'd love to race two or three nights.

'I like driving Stock Cars and I'm having fun racing (at West Liberty). I'd love to go race more, but I'm just too busy.'

HAWKEYE DIRT TOUR KICKS OFF IN VINTON

The IMCA Modified Hawkeye Dirt Tour gets its annual start next Monday as well. The Memorial Day feature is set to kick off at Benton County Speedway in Vinton for another season of HDT action.

Monday's race is the first of HDT 12 events, and the opener pays $1,000 to win and also is a qualifier onto the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot for September's IMCA Supernationals.

According to a release from IMCA, Modified drivers also have the opportunity to tune up for the Memorial Day event with a $1,000 to win feature during the weekly show on Sunday at Vinton. HDT drivers who race in the Sunday draw/redraw event don't have to pay the $50 series entry fee on Memorial Day.

Pit gates and the grandstand both open at 4 p.m. Monday. Hot laps are at 5:45 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m.

IMCA DEERY BROTHERS SUMMER SERIES AT BOONE

The IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models is back in action next week, running its Memorial Day special on Monday, May 30 at Boone Speedway.

Seven-time champion Jeff Aikey heads into the $2,000-to-win event with the series points lead ahead of Tyler Bruening and John Emerson, even without having won a race yet this season. Aikey finished second in this event last season to eventual champion Justin Kay. Aikey took the win ahead of Kay last time the Late Models raced at Boone in the thrilling main event at IMCA Supernationals.

Racing for the Memorial Day Special is set to start with Hot Laps at 4 p.m. and racing to follow at 5 p.m.

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com