7/25/2024
Midwest Legends Dirt Series
Jackson County Fair Night Goes to Jackson
Maquoketa, IA (July 25th, 2024) - A last lap pass for Jackson Lewis earned him yet another win and a Regional Qualifier win at Maquoketa Speedway during the Jackson County Fair Night. A mid-week night for the Midwest Legends Dirt Series Presented by Legends.Direct started a big week for the series.
29 cars made the mid-week trip down to the Iowa track. Maquoketa regulars Adam Meyer, Jeff Schmidt, Dylan Manning, Craig Peekenschneider all were in attendance to battle the series regulars such as Jackson Lewis, Jordan Miklas, Hayden Schmuhl, Charlie Spoonmore and more.
4 heat races set the grid for the B-Main and A-Main later that night. Michael Weber, Adam Zellmer, Jackson Lewis, and Jeff Schmidt took the wins in the heats. Weber ran away with the first heat after racing his way from his sixth starting spot. Zellmer battled with Brady Ascherien and Jordan Miklas for the win in heat two. Lewis dominated heat three after staying out front the entire time. Schmidt ran from the third place starting spot to the front in heat four.
Lilly Fassbender and Cohen Henze sat on the front row of the B-Main, with seven other drivers all racing for one of the four transfer spots. After ten long laps of side-by-side racing, Henze took home the win with Craig Peekenschneider, Fassbender, and Dylan Manning taking the transfer spots. For Cal and Mike Swenson, Tim Franz, Nate Wolbers, and Joe VanNatta, their nights were over prematurely.
A twelve-car redraw occurred before the feature which put Jeff Schmidt and Michael Weber on the front row. Schmidt led the field to the green with a great jump and began to open an immediate gap to the cars behind. Championship leader Jackson Lewis began his charge towards the front, up to third at the end of the first lap. Schmidt, Weber, and Lewis began to battle for the lead while others behind began battling. Eyes turned to the battle between Adam Zellmer and Jordan Miklas for the fifth position. The duo went door to door for laps on laps, never being broken up. Meanwhile up front, Weber and Lewis continued the side-by-side battle they had started, with Lewis breaking away momentarily and quickly pressuring Schmidt for the lead. Both Lewis and Weber got to the back of the #19, and the battle for the win was. Lewis could get to the inside of Schmidt but just couldn’t find a way past in enough time, as the caution came out with six laps remaining. That brought the field back together and some drivers who had an outside shot at the win got an even better chance now. Schmidt led the field back to green and was quickly crowded by Weber who got a great launch. Weber looked to the outside of Schmidt and made the move with the laps winding down, taking the lead. The top two went two-wide for a few laps before Schmidt misjudged and got himself sideways, dropping back to fourth. Weber looked as if he had the win sealed but the flag changed colors on him quickly with the yellow flying as he rounded turn four to take the white. A green-white-checkered finish was set up with Weber the leader, Schmidt second after getting his spot back, and Lewis third. Weber got the jump and Lewis stayed with him. Miklas jumped to the middle and made-up spots on Zellmer, Ryan Sullivan, and Schmidt all the way up in third. Weber took the white and kept the lead heading down the back straight. Into turns three and four, Lewis sent one last effort around the outside of Weber, got it to stick, and drove off to steal the win right from the hands of the #8W. Jackson Lewis picked up his fifth feature win of the season with Weber second and Miklas third after a late charge on the restart. Sullivan and Schmidt rounded out the top five on the night.
Jackson Lewis brought home the Rush RaceGear 25% off a full suit fit and a buy-one-get-one wheel rim thanks to Aero Race Wheel for picking up the win. Charlie Spoonmore was the hard charger after a strong night, picking up $100 off any Rush RaceGear purchase and $25 thanks to SunSet Auto.
The MLDS will be in action this coming Sunday, July 28 at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The series will join the card during the BMARA Racers Reunion night with the Badger Midgets and Wisconsin wingLESS Sprints as well Vintage Midget Laps. The pits will open at 1:30pm with gates opening at 4:00pm and opening ceremonies beginning at 6:00pm.
Photo Credit - Simply Modified
Article Credit: Zack Krueger
Submitted By: Zack Krueger
