5th and 6th for Team Vortex at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway It was an eventful evening at the Dubuque Speedway for Team Vortex this past Sunday night. A popcorn shower in bright sunshine, doused the speedway just prior to the evening’s events getting under way. The shower left a muddy mess for the race crews to deal with and a slippery track to start out. Unfortunately for Darin Duffy and the #19 team, he slipped up into the slime and found the wall in hot laps. The damage was significant to the right side front suspension, but the team rose to the occasion and put a complete new suspension under the car in time for Duffy to compete in his heat race. The car wasn’t quite right, relegating Duffy to a 20th starting position in the feature. JD Auringer was able to keep his car out of trouble and ended up 4th in his heat race, giving him the 4th place starting position in the feature. The action was hot and heavy at the green flag and both Duffy and Auringer made good progress up through the field early on. The race saw four caution flags, which helped Duffy make his way up to the top five on the last re-start. At the checkered flag, it was Duffy in fifth and Auringer in 6th. 13th for Auringer at West Liberty JD Auringer and the 00 Vortex Motorsports team made the drive to West Liberty Raceway on Saturday night for some NASCAR Weekly Racing Series action at the venerable half mile speed plant. A stellar field up the area’s best late models signed in for nights action with 32 cars competing. Auringer made it into the feature field via the first B feature of the evening and raced his way to a respectable 13th place finish in the A Feature. The rookie Super Late Model driver was encouraged with how the evening went, considering this was his first time ever competing at West Liberty. “For our first time here, I’m really pleased,” said Auringer. “There were some really good cars out there tonight and the track locked down to one groove, so I think we did a good job of staying patient and staying out of trouble, so we could get a good finish.” Ninth at Farley for Auringer – Rain Washes Away the Rumble on the River JD Auringer and the 00 team made their maiden voyage on the new 3/8 mile track at Farley Speedway Friday night. Farley now has a 3/8 carved out of the half mile and the decision has been made to run all classes on the 3/8, where previously only the support classes were contested on the smaller track. Auringer was too loose in the heat race and had to start tail to the field in the feature. The team made the right changes and he was able to move steadily through the pack. Auringer had the car up to 7th, but a late race caution place him in the outside lane of the double file re-start on a one lane at the bottom track. Auringer brought the car home in one piece in 9th place. Both the 00 and the 19 car traveled to the Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway on Sunday for the Annual Rumble on the River two-day event. Unfortunately, in climate weather moved into the area just prior to the event and the racing for the weekend was cancelled. Next up for Team Vortex is racing at Farley Speedway on Friday, May the 30th and then on Sunday night, June 1st at Dubuque. Up and Down Weekend for Vortex Motorsports With much anticipation, Team Vortex and the #19 or driver Darin Duffy, pulled in Farley Speedway this past Friday night to take on the traveling stars of the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series. The Lucas show was in town for a $10,000 payday and having shown to be a solid top five car locally, Duffy was excited to take on the nation’s best on his home turf. Unfortunately, six laps into his heat race, something broke in the front suspension, throwing the car into the turn one guard rail. The car bounced off the guard rail back into traffic, where it was collected by an unsuspecting George Scheffler, who had nowhere to go. The crash ended the evening for Duffy. “I hate it to have this kind of thing happen,” said Duffy. “We had a good car and now we’ve got some serious damage that we’re going to have to fix.” The car has since been transported to a local Rocket Chassis dealer. The damage was not as severe as expected and the team anticipates being able to compete again next weekend. The 00 team and driver JD Auringer, took to the track at Dubuque on Sunday night for NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Competition. Auringer made his way up to 6th, but a last lap bobble relegated him to eighth at the checkered flag. Still it was a solid run and a good learning experience for the young driver. Up next for the 19 car is the annual Rumble on the River at Dubuque Speedway over Memorial Day Weekend. The show is two days, May 25th and 26th and pays $7,000 to win. 4th and 9th for Team Vortex at Farley Speedway Darin Duffy looked to put the pieces back together again and JD Auringer made his open motor late model debut this past Friday night at Farley Speedway in Farley, IA. Coming off a heartbreaking last lap wreck at Dubuque Speedway while leading, the prior Sunday night, Duffy showed no ill effects for the incident as he cruised to a heat race victory. Auringer used his heat race to shake down his new ride, the Lazer Chassis; JR Motorsports powered Vortex Chevy Monte Carlo. After making some adjustments, both were ready for the night’s feature race. Duffy traded spots several times at the front as Auringer made steady progress from the rear of the field. At the checkered flag it was Duffy coming home in 4th with Auringer finishing the 9th position. Team Vortex Focusing on NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Competition According to team owner, Brian Lillie, Vortex Motorsports has decided to focus its efforts on NASCAR Weekly Racing Series competition. As part of that decision the team has put its IMCA Late Model operation up for sale. “With the first few IMCA Deery Series events in the books, we’ve reevaluated our position and decided that the best course of action for our team and our advertising partners, is for us to run a more local schedule,” said Lillie. “Ultimately, we wanted to get JD into an open-motor car anyway, so this decision just pushes that time table up a little bit. We’re excited about being able to compete at both Farley and Dubuque regularly along with a few specials thrown in the mix.” Farley Speedway Falls to Rain Mother Nature won the race tonight at Farley Speedway in Farley, IA. The races were cancelled due to rain and the season opener is now scheduled for Friday, May 2nd. Darin Duffy Roars Out of the Starting Gate at West Liberty Darin Duffy and the #19 Vortex Motorsports team came flying out of the gate in NASCAR late model competition last night at West Liberty Speedway in West Liberty, IA. Racing in the Annual Spring Championships, Duffy went from last to 2nd in his heat, missing the win by a matter of inches in a photo finish at the line. Starting sixth on the grid for the feature, Duffy was in third and moving to the front inside of lap one. From there it was a war of attrition and a contest of wills, racing on what was an extremely rough early-season track. “We were really good tonight right out of the gate in our first race,” said Duffy. “Honestly, I think we might have had second tonight, but I just got a little tired trying to hang on to it.” Duffy did an outstanding job in tough conditions and salvaged a solid top five finish, coming home in fourth place. An excited Darin Duffy and team 19 head out to Farley Speedway in Farley, IA next, on Friday, April 25 for the track’s season opener. What Could Have Been for JD Auringer at 34 Raceway t was a classic case of “what could have been,” for JD Auringer and the #00 Vortex Motorsports team at 34 Raceway on this cold spring night in West Burlington, IA. After finishing a strong 3rd in his heat, Auringer started 13th in a star studded field of IMCA late models racing in the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series. Auringer had the #00 car running a solid tenth when the caution came out on lap 20. Unfortunately, he was the caution. “I just made a mistake, plain and simple,” said a dejected Auringer. “We were really rolling there and I think we were going to make a serious move up through the field, but I just got in too hard and got in the powder up high and lost it.” Auringer was collected in the spin by Jay Johnson, who was trying to avoid him, but had nowhere to go. The damage on the #00 Vortex Motorsports Monte Carlo was too severe for Auringer to continue, leaving the team with a 21st place finish. Next up for team 00, it’s on to Quincy, IL for a Deery Series contest at Quincy Raceway tonight. Auringer Posts Solid Finish at 34 Raceway JD Auringer brought the #00 Vortex Motorsports Chevy Monte Carlo home in 13th place this past weekend at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, IA. 137 cars, including 35 dirt late models, signed in to compete in Saturday night’s event. Starting 16th in the field, Auringer was able to negotiate a rough early-season track and complete the event in the 13th position. “The track was pretty rough tonight,” said Auringer. “But we had a good car and I think we’re starting get a good feel for what this car needs to go fast. I think we’re making good progress and I’m glad we came down here tonight, so that we have a better feel for what we’ll need come Tuesday.” The #00 car will make its next start on Tuesday, April 29th in the re-scheduled IMCA Deery Series event at 34 Raceway. Rain Washes Away Scheduled Deery Series Shows at Davenport and Maquoketa Persistent rain falling at the wrong time caused the IMCA Deery Series competition at Davenport Speedway and Jackson County Speedway to be cancelled this past weekend. The #00 Vortex Motorsports team and driver, JD Auringer, will use the coming weekend’s races at 34 Speedway in West Burlington, IA as a tune up for the re-scheduled Deery Series event set now, for Tuesday April, 29th at 34 Raceway. 34 Raceway and Quincy Raceway Deery Series Shows Fall to Spring Rains The #00 Vortex Motorsports team and driver JD Auringer were all set for another weekend of exciting Deery Series Late Model action, but heavy April showers forced both 34 Raceway and Quincy Raceway to postpone their scheduled events. The races have been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 29th and Wednesday, April 30th, respectively. Next up for the #00 team, it’s back to back Deery Series competition on Friday, April 18th at Davenport Speedway in Davenport, IA and then on Saturday, April 19th at Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, IA. JD Auringer Kicks off 2008 Season with Twelfth Place Finish at Eagle, NE Rookie Late Model Driver, JD Auringer, got his season off to a solid start this past weekend at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, NE. Racing in the IMCA Deery Brothers Dirt Late Model Series season opener, Auringer came home in 12th place, from his 20th place starting position in the Sunday afternoon finale of Eagle’s two-day “Ice Breaker Challenge.” Driving the Vortex Motorsports Chevy Monte Carlo, Auringer was able to survive 40 laps of dusty day time racing. After missing the show on Saturday night, the team and Auringer were excited over their finish in the always competitive IMCA Deery Brothers Dirt Late Model Series. “We weren’t quite where we wanted to be last night,” said Auringer. “But we had a chance to make some changes today that made the car a lot better and we think we’re going to be very competitive this year and we’re really looking forward to it.” Next up for Auringer and the #00 Vortex Racing team is a weekend of IMCA Deery Series competition at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, IA on Saturday, April 12th, and then on Sunday, April 13th at Quincy Raceway in Quincy, IL. A complete race re-cap on the events at Eagle Raceway are available at www.IMCA.com. |