7/28/2024
Tom Berry Jr.
Trio of top-10 finishes for Berry Jr. in Hawkeye State swing
Tom Berry Jr. took on multiple Late Model and Modified races throughout Iowa during the last full week in July. He came away with solid results at four diverse dirt tracks.
Berry had planned to open the week at Davenport Speedway in the One Nation Under Modifieds (ONUM) portion of the Davenport Deal, but both his Tuesday preliminary night and Wednesday’s $20,000-to-win event finale were rained out.
Instead, Berry raced in the $3,000-to-win PRO Late Model Victory Ford Tour event at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway on Wednesday evening. He was one of 23 Late Model competitors on hand at the 3/8-mile Dubuque oval. Berry raced from sixth to third in his heat, putting him seventh on the grid to start the 30-lap feature. He climbed five positions in the race to record a runner-up result, taking the checkered flag 0.845 seconds behind Ron Klein. Matt Ryan, Sean Johnson and Luke Pestka rounded out the top five.
The next night, Berry followed the tour to Fayette County Speedway in West Union, where 17 Late Models dotted the pit area. Berry claimed fifth in his heat on the 3/8-mile track and started 15th in the 25-lap, $1,000-to-win A-Main. He moved forward five spots to finish 10th.
On Friday, Berry switched vehicles and piloted his IMCA Modified in a 34-car field on hand for the Dale DeFrance Memorial at the quarter-mile Marshalltown Speedway. After an eighth-to-third charge in his heat, Berry started and finished fourth in the 30-lapper paying $1,544 to the winner. He crossed the start-finish line behind Tim Ward, Zack VanderBeek and Tripp Gaylord, with Brandon Beckendorg rounding out the top five.
Saturday saw Berry travel to Boone Speedway, where he raced among 50 IMCA Modified competitors seeking a $3,000 winner’s share on the final night of the Hunting with Heroes Salute to Veterans Tour. Berry turned in a third-place effort in his heat race and started 18th in the 30-lap A-Main. However, ran into trouble and recorded a 21st-place result after a DNF.
Berry had originally planned to close the week at Stuart Speedway on Sunday, but elected to load up and not start after seeing unfavorable track conditions.
Full results from the week are here for Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway, and at www.racefayettecountyspeedway.net, www.marshalltownspeedway.com and www.raceboone.com.
Article Credit: Tyler Hagen Photography image