We got back to our regular Wednesday night routine for racing at the Southern Iowa Speedway on Wednesday night. What with the numerous rain outs, and a couple of other obligations on Wednesday nights, our visits have been few this season. It was good to get back to our norm again. It was also nice to see four new drivers get to victory lane for 2011, as they tamed the half-mile monster.
The B-mods ran first with their 15-lap race. LeRoy Groenendyk dueled it out with Bill Gibson the first five laps until a yellow flag resulted in a restart situation.
It was Andrew Schroeder who took advantage of the bunched-car restart, swung around Groenendyk to grab the lead, and Cayden Carter soon followed suit to get the runner up position. However, Groenendyk wasn't done, as he grabbed second back from Carter but had nothing for leader Schroeder. Andrew Schroeder, known as the "Kool-Aid Kid" was a happy camper in victory lane, taking his first win of the 2011 season at the track, and it being his birthday as well! Groenendyk was second, Carter third, fourth went to Bill Gibson, and Carter VandenBerg came from the tail of the starting field, to take fifth.
The USRA modifieds only had eight cars in attendance. Wade Francis and Scott Dickey were unable to start the A main as they suffered mechanical issues. Ron VerBeek and Zack VanderBeek put on quite a show early, battling back and forth for the lead. VanderBeek eventually took command and pulled away, taking his first win of 2011. Ron VerBeek took the runner up spot over Steven Blattler in third, fourth was visitor for the first time, Ryan Dolan driving the #11D car, and fifth was Corning, Iowa driver, Ryan Schafter.
The 15-lap hobby stock feature was a battle to the finish line between Kris Walker and Dustin Griffiths. Griffiths would be the victor on this night as he nipped Walker for the win....popping all the way. The popping noise was actually the rev limiter on the crate motor, as he explained in the post race interview with announcer Tony Paris. Calvin Dhondt, Kellogg, Iowa, finished in third, followed by last week's winner, Craig Brown in fourth, and Steve Allen rounded out the top five.
A couple of visiting drivers in the stock car class came to do a little "testing of the waters" in probable anticipation of next Monday and Tuesday's Great American Stock Car Shootout at the track. One of those drivers, veteran Rick Gustin, driving one of John Hunnell's stable cars, was in command through lap twelve of the 18-lap feature. On that fateful lap twelve, a caution flag flew, and Gustin's car then let loose with smoke, and he came to a stop in turn four. His night would be over, the apparent victim of a blown motor.
When the action resumed, Cory Stout, Steve Jackson and Nathan Wood were the cars fighting for the front; Stout leading. With three laps remaining, Wood made a move under Stout in turn three, Stout ended up kissing the wall, and cars behind took evasive action, which in turn brought out the yellow flag. On the restart, Wood was relegated to the tail, evidently for what was deemed questionable driving, and Stout was returned to the leader position. Stout would then keep the lead to the finish line, taking his first win of the year at the track. Steve Jackson finished in second, Brian Mitrisin in third, Wood made it back up to finish in fourth, and Rick Todd was fifth.
As I spoke earlier about our usual Wednesday night trip to the Southern Iowa Speedway, we will be adjusting our schedule this coming week to Monday and Tuesday, July 11 and 12, for the 15th Annual Great American Stock Car Shootout, and there will be NO racing on Wednesday night. There will be two complete shows each night, with all four classes. We note that according to the flyers, on Tuesday night, the modified class will be running with "alternative" rules, similar to IMCA modified rules. It will be interesting to see if this "alternative" rule will draw more cars to come try their hand at the "Monster" 1/2-mile. For more information on the Stock Car Shootout, check out www.rlpromotions.com. Until next time, happy racing!
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