We were back at the Southern Iowa Speedway on Wednesday night---our home away from home for years and years. Six divisions were in competition, the Late Models making their last appearance until fair time, and the SportMod class saw a driver take his first career win.
There were seven of the IMCA Sport Compacts in attendance. The ten lap race was led start to finish by John Whalen. Runner up, brother Bill Whalen, Jr., had to battle Matt Moore and Kassady Kirkpatrick as they put on a three-way contest. Kirkpatrick took third, Matt Moore was fourth and Jason Breuklander was fifth after resolving his safety infraction that had eliminated him from participating in the heat. This was John Whalen's first win at Osky this year....ending his brother Bill's two-win streak.
Corey "from just across the street" Stout, was looking to get a second win of the year as he led the cars though the first nine laps in the Stock Car feature. He had the heat behind him though! Cayden Carter and Brad Pinkerton were both coming fast and were looking to challenge the leader. Carter, who had started seventh was running second and Pinkerton had worked his way from eleventh to run third. At lap nine, the cars passed the start/finish line three wide, Pinkerton on the outside...often his preferred line. He got the momentum coming off the corners, and grabbed the lead by the following lap, Carter in second. The closing laps saw Pinkerton hold his lead and take the win, his first of the season. Stout and Carter battled back and forth as the laps wound down, with Carter taking second and Stout in third at the checkers. Nathan Wood came from ninth starting spot to finish fourth over Shane Paris in fifth.
The IMCA Late Models ran a 20-lap feature. The start of the race was called off when pole sitter Jeremy Grady ended up sideways, before reaching the flagstand, ending his night. Todd Cooney inherited the first place restart position, and from there on, the race was all his. Colby Springsteen closed the gap a bit in the final laps, but could do no better than a second place finish. Tom Darbyshire made a first time visit to the big old half-mile, passing Tommy Elston at lap eleven, as they finished third and fourth. John VanDenBerg debuted his #7M ride and finished fifth. The race went flag-to-flag after the initial call back.
Casey Greubel had a fast car last night as he led the first eight laps of the IMCA Modified A main. Never count out the #99 of Jesse Sobbing though. Sobbing took over the top spot at lap nine and kept it to the checkers flying, Greubel finishing as the runner up. Todd Shute, this season's only previous winner---three in a row---had to be content with a third place finish. Andrew Schroeder was fourth and Cayden Carter completed the top five. The race went caution free. Sobbing won for the first time in the regular season, having won the preseason Frostbuster special.
The IMCA Hobby Stock feature was a no go initially, when Dustin Griffiths came to a stop in a mishap at the top of corner four---having to tag the tail of the field on the realignment for the restart. Mike Hughes wasted no time in getting to the lead, taking over at lap four and putting a lot of distance between him and his nearest competitor. By lap eight, Griffiths was already pressuring second place runner Craig Brown after flying through the field. A couple of laps later, Griffiths took over that runner up position, but with Hughes' near straightaway lead, could not run him down, and finished in second place. Third went to Craig Brown, Brandon Cox was fourth and Nick Ulin finished fifth. This race too, went caution free after the start was called back. Mike Hughes took his third win of the year at Osky.
The IMCA SportMod feature was three-wide immediately, Logan Anderson establishing the lead at lap one. A yellow flew just after that first lap was scored (the only caution of the race) and from there on, it was all Anderson's night. Anderson hit his line each and every time, taking his first career win by a comfortable margin. Carter VanDenBerg held off Curtis VanDerWal as they went second and third. Brett Lowry moved up from starting ninth, to take fourth and Brayton Carter rounded out the top five. Congratulations to Anderson on getting that first win under his belt.
There was a medical emergency in the grandstands last evening during the Stock Car feature, calling for a half hour or so delay. The medical personnel and track is to be commended for the professional way it was handled. We send our thoughts and prayers to the stricken gentleman and his family.
Fellow blogger Ryan Clark made the trip over....a pleasant surprise to have him join us. Be sure and read his thoughts on the night's racing at "In Staging" at Positively Racing as well.
Oskaloosa had received 1.25 inches of rain the previous night, rain that had completely missed us. It tried to mess up the racing surface, but thanks to diligent attention to the track during the night, racing was great and the track smooth.
Next Wednesday night, June 4, will be Jerry's Automotive Pro Collision Hobby Stock Special. Hobby Stocks will be draw/redraw format. Join us for mid-week racing at the Southern Iowa Speedway. Hot laps are 7 and racing at 7:30. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
No comments:
Post a Comment