The lure of double features pulled us to the Benton County Speedway in Vinton last night. The early start time also helped make the decision, plus 60 degree temperatures. However, we found the unrelenting strong southeasterly wind about 30 mph! Three make up features were on tap first thing, the IMCA SportMods, Stock Cars and Modifieds. Things got kicked off right at 5 p.m.
The Hobby Stocks came to the track first for their make up feature from last week. Last week's show had been called as the class was on the track, but persistent rain drops did them in, and the races were cancelled.
Shannon Anderson and Brian Happel were going at it for the lead. With two laps to go, Happel tried a nifty move low under Anderson coming out of corner two, but contact was made and the cars both went spinning. Both drivers retired to the pits after exchanging some "info" on the track. When racing resumed, Chris Luloff inherited the point position for the restart and would maintain it to the checkers. Luloff took the win over Kyle Parizek, Matt Brown, Nick Murty and Justin Stander.
The make up Modified feature came next, with Brandon Banks and Kyle Brown on the front row. This one never got started, as contact was made between the front row before they got to the starter's stand. Both drivers retired to the pits, Brown tagging after changing a tire, but later out with too much damage to continue. The green then flew with Joe Docekal and Patrick Flannagan at the point. A few laps in and the show was between the Angry Bird's car driven by Ronn Lauritzen and Gilman's Richie Gustin. What a show they put on. Gustin was trying everything to get around Lauritzen and one of those efforts resulted in Gustin spinning out at the bottom of turn one...in a cloud of steam. The race then restarted with a green-white-checkered situation. Lauritzen got the win, followed by Joe Docekal, JD Auringer, Troy Cordes and Vern Jackson.
The final make up feature was the IMCA Stock Cars. Damon Murty put his 99D out front at the drop of the flag and took the easy win over John Emerson. Third went to Rick Kriegel, fourth was Jerry Miles and Scott Pippert was fifth.
The first of the regular night's features came to the track before 7 p.m. The Sport Compacts saw Bill Whalen, Jr. and Nathan Chandler circle the track, lap after lap for the lead. Whalen was the victor on this night, staying just ahead of Chandler who took second. Third went to Merv Chandler, fourth to Steve Miedke and Travis Losenicky rounded out the top five. When asked in victory lane who Whalen wished to thank, he said, "well, Nathan Chandler".
The SportMod 15-lap feature came to the track. This one had at least four cautions as cars were spinning and going off the track. At the halfway mark, Danny Dvorak had put his 3R to the lead but on his tail and digging hard was Nick Roberts. Roberts had followed Dvorak up through the pack from their fourth row starting spots, and were both vying for that win. Robert's night would draw to a close, when he found himself in spin mode on the backstretch. Dvorak would then motor home to an easy victory from that last restart. Second went to Montezuma's Brett Lowry, Kurt Moeding hauled down from Mason City and scored a third place finish, fourth was Grinnell's Brad Iverson who came from well back in the starting field, and Joel Rust took the fifth spot.
The regular night's Hobby Stock feature had some spectacular incidents, one leaving one race car looking to be totaled. The first accident at lap five found the 18 of Chris Luloff rolling two times entering turn one. Luloff was announced to be okay thankfully. When the race restarted, Paul Nagle, a driver who has been absent from the racing scene for a few years, was leading the field with Shannon Anderson on his bumper. At lap ten, a bad looking flip in corner three by the 46 of Brian Happel had people concerned. Happel put it on it's nose on the track in spectacular fashion, bringing out the red flag. Thankfully, it was announced again, that the driver was okay. Not so much, the race car. Nagle seems to have not lost any of his driving skills over his absence, and completed the last five laps at the front, taking the checkers. Anderson held on to second and Justin Stander, Matt Brown and Justin Wacha finished third through fifth.
Twenty laps of IMCA Modified action found Richie Gustin once again trying to catch the leader as he had in the make up feature. Kyle Brown jumped to the lead at the drop of the green but Mike Burbridge would mount the challenge and take over that spot for a few laps. Brown managed to make the pass back past Burbridge and Gustin came calling and also passed Burbridge. The race was looking to go caution free, with Brown and Gustin making it a thrilling battle up front, as Gustin tried his hardest to make the pass. A yellow then came out on lap fifteen when JD Auringer ended up dead in the water at the bottom of turn four after spinning. On the restart, Brown was able to continue his momentum at the point, and capture his first win of the season. Gustin had to settle for runner up, despite some great attempts for the lead. Third place was Patrick Flannagan, fourth was rookie to the division, young Tyler Droste who jumped up from the SportMods, and fifth was veteran Troy Cordes.
The final racing action was the 15-lap Stock Car feature. This one turned into a yellow flag fest with a stoppage every few laps it seemed. Damon Murty however, had little trouble in getting his second win of the evening, getting to the lead at lap two. So far this season, it has turned into a "Catch the Charger" (as in the Chelsea Charger, Damon Murty), in the IMCA Stock Car division most anywhere he goes. He did avoid the bullet however, when near the end of the race, he went spinning on the backstretch. Murty was able to keep the car fired and never stopped, but another car brought out the yellow. This allowed Murty to get his spot back as per the rules. Murty then went on to score his second win of the evening, which must be at least six or seven in this early season. Norm Chesmore took the second spot, and Jerry Miles was third. Fourth and fifth went to two guys who have jumped up from the Hobby Stock ranks---Scott Pippert and John Watson.
Racing was concluded a little after 8:30 p.m. and with the wind blowing at us and the chilly temperatures, we were more than happy to be finished before the temperatures dropped any further. When we left the track and headed back west, it wasn't long until raindrops hit our windshield. Before we arrived back in Grinnell, the rain was coming down more than hard enough to have stopped the races, had the cell moved far enough to the east.
Check the calendar on the www.positivelyracing.com homepage for the events coming up this week...both weekly track programs and special events. This Sunday, April 28, the Knoxville Raceway will hosts the 2nd annual Shootout at Knoxville with Modifieds, SportMods, Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks all trying their hand at the famed half-mile. Hot laps are scheduled for 4:30 and racing at 5. Let's hope for nicer weather for sitting at a race track. Happy racing!
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