Finally! The Southern Iowa Speedway got to open it's doors on Wednesday night, and the season opener at the track got in the books. The five regular divisions were joined by the Iowa Sportsman Series, on a cool but better than usual night as our finicky Iowa Spring has been.
The IMCA Sport Compacts ran their 10-lap feature first. John Whalen led early until veteran Merv Chandler took over with Bill Whalen, Jr. in tow. Some spirited challenges between the two ensued, but Bill Whalen was the victor on this night. Whalen outdistanced Chandler as they finished one and two, followed by John Whalen in third, fourth went to Matt Moore and Alex Sampson was fifth.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks 14-lap feature started with a pair of #10's sitting on the front row--Dale Porter in his new ride this year, an old Dustin Griffiths car, and Dustin Griffiths, in his new ride! Griffiths took the lead at the drop of the green and had little trouble the remainder of the way home, leading a good distance over second place finisher Bill Bonnett. Porter finished in third ahead of Danny Thrasher and Craig Brown in fourth and fifth.
The IMCA SportMod feature was dominated by Curtis VanDerWal. VanDerWal came from starting sixth and led by lap three when a caution flag flew for a spinning car. VanDerWal had no trouble on that restart, or the caution at lap six, and pulled away from the field, for the comfortable win. Second went to Brett Lowry who ran down Ben Kates, the young Tongonoxie, Kansas driver who has plans to run the Monster Half-Mile weekly, Following third place Kates, was Carter VandenBerg for fourth and who had started well back in the starting field for a good run. Rounding out the top five was Jason Hall.
Looking at the starting line up for the 18-lap IMCA Stock Car A main event, we were thinking it was going to be a contest between the front row starters...Damon Murty, the "Chelsea Charger" and Nathan Wood. Wood led the first couple of laps, until Murty took the lead and once again, as we've seen over and over again this season, it turned into "Chase the Charger" the remainder of the race to the checkered flag. Woods kept second place, but the third place was only determined at the finish line, when Cory Stout, "from just over turn one" just nosed past Alan VanGorp as they went three and four. Tom Killen completed the top five. In Victory Lane, announcer Tony Paris asked Murty how his season had been going so far. Murty replied he had won 8 out of 9 times. What a season start!
We were pleased to see 18 cars competing in the IMCA Modified class. As the cars came to the track, we were keeping an eye on the radar as a storm front appeared to be moving ever closer. We had already heard earlier that hail and rain were falling in the Norwalk area, so we were hoping that Mother Nature would be kind tonight. Seventeen cars were able to start the main event, only Brandon Banks having to keep it in the pits due to mechanical issues. Cayden Carter wasted little time in getting to the lead in this one, leading by lap two. As the race wound down, Carter pulled away to a comfortable lead, but the #5 of Todd Shute was now pursuing "The Gasman". This race went caution free, and was appearing to end with Carter winning in dominating fashion. However, a late race charge by Shute didn't have him out of the contest yet!
It was just a little too late, as Shute made it a close finish at the flagstand, but had to settle for second. Third place was Jesse Sobbing, the Glenwood, Iowa driver who has jumped up into the A modified ranks from the SportMod division, fourth was Kyle Whalert, who came from mid-pack and fifth was Jacob Murray who came from starting near the tail.
We slipped out before the final 30-lap feature of the night, the Iowa Sportsman Series was completed.
Earlier, their heat race was won by a guy who has turned many laps at the track, Kris Walker.
Next week, all five classes will again be in competition BUT a big added attraction on the docket will be the IMCA Late Models. It's always entertaining to see this class run at the track, so make plans to attend. Hot laps are scheduled for 7 and racing at 7:30. More information can be found at www.oskyspeedway.com.
This weekend is sounding a lot better weather-wise, so we hope for a full weekend of racing. Sunday, we are looking forward to the 2nd Annual Shootout at Knoxville run on the famed half-mile. Modifieds, SportMods, Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks will be competing with a 50-car limit for each class. Hot laps are 4:30, racing at 5. You can find more information as well as a pre-registered list at the track's website at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
Happy racing!
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