WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (July 8) – The last time West Liberty Raceway hosted a Deery Brothers Summer Series event, Brian Harris sped to a record-tying fourth straight IMCA Late Model tour victory.
When the green flag flies Tuesday night, Justin Kay will try to motor to his third in a row.
Now second to Harris in the tour point standings, Kay won his career first Deery feature on July 2 at Independence Motor Speedway, then followed up with win number two on July 5 at Davenport Speedway.
“It’s been neat to win but that’s not something we think about when we go to the track,” said Kay, who ran third behind Harris and Andy Eckrich in the June 18 show at West Liberty. “It’s fun to read about over the winter but right now we’re just racing and having fun.”
The July 9 feature at West Liberty, the 10th of 17 series events this season, pays $3,000 to win and a minimum of $300 to start.
Pit gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow.
Spectator admission is $16 for adults, $13 for seniors and $10 for students. Kids 12 and under get in free when accompanying a paying adult. Pit passes are $30.
Series rookie of the year in 2009, Kay had 48 series main event starts before getting his first Deery win. Add two weekly checkers at Davenport and another at Maquoketa in the mix and he’s won five straight IMCA Late Model outings.
“I think that matched my entire career up to that point,” said Kay. “I still can’t believe I got that one at Independence because it seemed like we never did well there. It’s been a great three weeks for us.”
Kay and crew got a bonus at Davenport, where his father Ricky became a first-time Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod winner the same night he won the Deery feature.
Deery Brothers Summer Series top 20 point standings – 1. Brian Harris, Davenport, Iowa, 442; 2. Justin Kay, Wheatland, Iowa, 411; 3. Andy Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 409; 4. Ray Guss, Milan, Ill., 382; 5. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 377; 6. Joel Callahan, Dubuque, Iowa, 370; 7. Nate Beuseling, Silvis, Ill., and Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, Iowa, both 353; 9. Denny Eckrich, Tiffin, Iowa, 345; 10. Colby Springsteen, Wapello, Iowa, 333; 11. Dan Shelliam, Hazel Green, Wis., 314; 12. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, Iowa, 311; 13. Rob Moss, Iowa City, Iowa, 283; 14. Tyler Bruening, Decorah, Iowa, 271; 15. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 218; 16. Nick Marolf, Moscow, Iowa, 216; 17. Ron Klein, Sherrill, Iowa, 208; 18. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction, Iowa, 203; 19. Tom Goble, Burlington, Iowa, 197; 20. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, 193.