Notebook: VanderBeek protects home turf as USMTS invades Upper Iowa Speedway

Familiarity breeds comfortability.

That much is true in and out of sports, but it's especially true when it comes to racing venues and the drivers who excel at them. Given the 'Touring' in United States Modified Touring Series' name, the ultra-fast Modified traveling troupe doesn't afford a ton of home-track advantage for its drivers.

So when USMTS made its trek to Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, a few of the Iowa drivers had it in their sights — none more than New Sharon driver Zack Vanderbeek.

The 31-year-old driver called on his fondness for the Eastern Iowa dirt track, his experience there and his desire to protect his Iowa turf en route to his 32nd career USMTS win on Sunday night.

'We had a good run. That's actually where I got my first USMTS win, back in 2005,' VanderBeek said by phone on Monday. 'I've been doing the USMTS deal for a while now, but it seems like every time we go back to Decorah, I get in a little different mindset. The track fits my style, and I'd say it's one of my favorites. Everything went good, the car was fast, and we got it done.'

VanderBeek has five wins, 16 top-fives and 22 top-10s in 26 starts so far in 2016 after Sunday's victory.

Adding to the win total is obviously always the goal, but to do so in Iowa, and at a place that means so much to him only adds to the gratification.

USMTS, which is based in Webster City, scheduled 11 of its 53 races in 2016 in the state of Iowa. USMTS is a national sanction with regional series that converge at the end of the season to crown a national champion, so it doesn't bother Iowans who run the tour. But when on the grander scale of the whole schedule there's that few opportunities to race close to home, guys like VanderBeek want to make the most of it.

'The atmosphere is different for me because of how special the place is to me,' VanderBeek said. 'We've always ran good when we do race in Iowa. It'd be nice to have more here, too, but the IMCA stuff has kind of taken over the state a little bit. It's not anyone's fault, that's just how it's worked out. When we can go to these area tracks, we try to capitalize and use them as a home-field advantage a little bit.'

VanderBeek has finished second in USMTS national points twice in his career — 2006 and 2014 — and has his sights set on getting over the hump.

He currently sits fourth in USMTS Northern Region points (four starts with one win in four Northern events) and seventh in Southern Region points (12 starts with two wins in 15 Southern events), and he said while he won't run all the races, he just has to qualify for the season-ending run for the title — which he's confident he'll do.

And in that effort, he'll have a few more chances at home-state wins. USMTS races in Eastern Iowa once more this season on July 15 at Fayette County Speedway in West Union. The series also comes to Iowa eight other times before the end of the 2016 season.

'We picked a couple regions to run to qualify us for the national championship points — the Hunt (for the Cup) at the end of the year,' VanderBeek said. 'We'll get ourselves qualified for that and do our best to get it done at the end of the year. I think we've been close in year's past, and it's not fallen the way it needs to. We've got a good team and a good car, and it's not out of the realm of possibility, that's for sure.'

MURTY GETS WIN NO. 200

Chelsea driver Damon Murty made good on his prediction from one week ago.

The veteran dirt racer said after he got IMCA Stock Car win No. 199 on May 22 that he'd probably get it a week later 'either at Des Moines on Friday or Vinton Sunday or Monday.' Well, he was right.

Murty collected his 200th win in an IMCA Stock Car by holding off Jeff Muehler in a spirited battle for the win on Monday at Benton County Speedway in Vinton.

'Right now I just know it's a big accomplishment, and I've been working at it,' Murty said. 'I've done things on my own, basically. I've had help along the way, as far as chassis builders, but it's mostly been me.

'It's just another win. Now we shoot for the next goal.'

Murty's win came in a race that featured one of the oddest racing incidents those in attendance had ever seen. Early in the race, Murty was spun going into Turn 1 by second-place Kevin Balmer, and it triggered a wreck that included all 19 cars in the race.

The 'Chelsea Charger' got his spot back — as did everyone else, save for Balmer, who went to the tail — and raced side-by-side with Muehler for the win the rest of the way. Once in Victory Lane, with a special commemorative banner, Murty set his sights on a new mark.

'Now we can just go race and win more races — shoot for No. 300,' Murty said. 'I don't know when, but hopefully we can do it quicker (this time). No. 100 was 2002 to 2010, and then (200) was 2010 to 2016, so we're getting quicker.'

SOPPE KEEPS ROLLING WITH VINTON WIN

Sherrill driver Tyler Soppe is off to a torrid pace to start the 2016 season in IMCA Sport Mod, and he continued his winning trend with another pair over the weekend.

Soppe capped off a weekend that included a second-place finish at West Liberty Raceway on Saturday and a win at Dubuque Speedway on Sunday with another victory on Monday night — through a rain delay, no less — at Benton County Speedway in Vinton.

He had to do it on a green-white-checker finish, but Soppe prevailed over Kyle Olson to keep his hot start to 2016 going.

'The little bit of water changed the track a lot. Kyle got around, and I was happy to see that caution to give me another shot at him,' Soppe said. 'It's definitely the new car (why we've been so good). Our old car is 14 years old, so this new car — it just takes to adjustments so well. I've got great people behind me — my best friend Tyler Zierden and my little brother (Dalton) — without them, this thing wouldn't make it to the track. The people I've got and this car make it awesome.'

BIG 8 READY FOR CLASH AT THE DOWNS

The Big 8 Series for Late Models makes its return to Hawkeye Downs Speedway this week. The Midwest touring series for limited asphalt Late Models will bring a strong field of cars into Cedar Rapids on Friday.

The McGrath Auto Clash at the Downs is set to start with qualifying at 6 p.m., with racing to begin at 7:30. Last year's event was won by Davenport's Caleb Adrian. The Clash at the Downs is the second race of the scheduled season.

South Beloit, Ill. driver Michael Bilderbeck won the Spring Classic at Rockord (Ill.) Speedway to open the season. Weekly Hawkeye Downs racers Michael Ostdiek, Brody Willett and Mike Ehde finished sixth, 11th and 20th, respectively, in the opener.

INEX Legends, Sportsmen, Hobby Stocks and Hornets will all also be in action for Hawkeye Downs season points. Tickets for adults are $12, students $7 and kids 10 and under are free.

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