Thursday, September 12, 2013

Davis, AJ Johnson, and Stout capture first 2013 wins at Osky

It was back to the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa on Wednesday for another night of regular season racing.  After two weeks off, it was back to business and a good night of racing it was!

The Sport Compacts feature went to veteran racer Merv Chandler....driving yet a different car on his way to the victory.  Chandler outdistanced brothers John Whalen and Bill Whalen, Jr. in second and third, and Matt Moore took fourth.  

The IMCA SportMod 16-lap feature was appearing to have Brayton Carter on his way to his first victory at Osky.  That is until turn two rose up and bit him---sending him into a dreaded spin mode.  Carter had led from the drop of the green and was looking strong while AJ Johnson, Carter VanDenBerg, and  Curtis VanDerWal were duking it out behind him for position.  Lap twelve would be Carter's undoing, as his "blip" in turn two sent him spinning, bringing out the yellow, and ending his great run. AJ Johnson would inherit the lead on the restart and was able to maintain it the remaining four laps to the checkers and score the win. Carter VanDenBerg, who had just come off winning the IMCA SportMod Super Nationals, took the runner up position.  Curtis VanDerWal, Eric Flander and Corey VanZante completed the top five.  This was Johnson's first win at Osky this year.  

The IMCA Hobby Stocks went 15-laps in their main event and what an exciting finish!  Justin Hook was the man at the helm from lap one and he pulled away to a comfortable lead letting the field jockeying for position behind him.  Bill Bonnett and Mike Hughes were battling for second place while a short distance behind them, Aaron Osweiler and Steve Allen were going at it for fourth.  Hook had clean air in front of him and was sailing along comfortably---UNTIL the closing laps.  Bonnett and Hughes had caught the leader and were hungry for more.  The final lap was the deciding factor when Bonnett was able to make the pass on leader Hook on the backstretch and Hughes did the same.  Veteran Bonnett took the checkers and the win.  Mike Hughes took the runner up spot and Hook had to be content with a third place finish.  Steve Allen and Aaron Osweiler rounded out the top five.  Bonnett scored for the fourth time this year and with a 41 point lead, has wrapped up the track championship.

The always entertaining IMCA Stock Cars ran their 18-lap feature next.  They showed their style by going three-wide several times, trying to get the advantage on the Monster Half-Mile.  Corey "from just across the street" Stout led from the get go.  Kris Walker was challenging for the lead by lap seven and then Zack VanderBeek had his bright orange hot rod sniffing at the heels of Walker. Not to be outdone, Nathan Wood joined in the fray as did Brad Pinkerton, who had suddenly caught the front of the pack.  Stout was the victor on this night as he secured the win, his first of the season at Osky.  VanderBeek took the runner up spot, Walker finished third, Wood was fourth, and Pinkerton, who had been involved in an earlier incident, having to tag the field, made up ground to finish in fifth.  Stout became the ninth different Stock Car feature winner at the Southern Iowa Speedway this year.  

In the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature, Billy Davis, Jr. was the class of the field sailing along comfortably until unlucky lap #13 when he jumped the cushion in turn two, made contact with second running Scott Dickey and had his nice lead disappear when the yellow flew.  Unfortunately, Dickey's night ended there, but who should be in that runner up position on the restart but Glenwood, Iowa's Jesse Sobbing.  Sobbing, who is trying to wrap up an IMCA National Championship, was hungry for a win, his 55th race (the magic # in IMCA on the year) and a win would have helped secure it  from what we heard. Davis however, was strong up front and kept the lead on the restart.  A final yellow at lap fifteen, had Sobbing giving it a shot on the backstretch, but he would fall short.  Davis took the win, Sobbing having to settle for second.  Cayden Carter dogged Sobbing in the final laps, taking a third place finish.  Fourth went to Brandon Banks and Jacob Murray completed the top five.  Billy Davis, Jr. won for the first time at Osky....one of ten different winners on the year. We believe we understood Davis to say this was his final year of racing, making the win special, but bitter sweet. 

Next Wednesday night will be season championship night at the Southern Iowa Speedway.  Then, on Friday and Saturday, October 4-5, it will be the 27th Annual Musco Lighting Fall Challenge.  Check www.oskyspeedway for more details on this great event.  Happy racing!  

 



  

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