The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa continued their weekly racing program on Wednesday night. There will now be a two-week hiatus before weekly racing resume again on August 20. A couple of drivers just keep adding to their wins for the season, keeping their winning streaks alive, while another driver had his streak end. There was a King of the Hill contest for the Stock Cars, and a candy toss for the youngsters. Sponsor for the night was Bill & Ray's Wrecker and Truck Repair Service.
The King of the Hill for Stock Cars was the first item on the agenda after the heats were completed. The final round found Zack VanderBeek going up against Todd Reitzler for the top of the mountain title. VanderBeek took the win and in doing so an extra $250 and a new Hoosier tire.
Hobby Stocks ran their 15-lap feature next. There was scrambling on the start, and Aaron Osweiler ended up smacking the wall in turn one. He was however, able to limp to the pits without bringing out the caution. Craig Brown was leading by the second lap and who should now be right behind him in second, but Mike Hughes. Hughes was looking strong in an attempt to keep hold of his win streak and was challenging. He gave it several peeks on the low side, but on this night, it was Craig Brown holding tight to his top spot, and taking the win. Hughes had his six victory win streak end, having to settle for second. Third went to a distant Danny Thrasher, Dustin Griffiths was fourth and Shannon Sherwood was fifth. The race went flag to flag. This was Brown's second win of the season which has still had only three drivers in victory lane---Brown, Hughes and Dustin Griffiths.
There was all sorts of action going on in the SportMod 16-lap feature. Charlie Weber was hanging tough as he led the field of cars through lap six. That was when a yellow flew when Bill Wears lost hold of his ride in turn two. On the restart, Brayton Carter, who had quickly worked up to the runner up spot from starting eighth, was immediately challenging Weber, and took command in turn two. At lap nine, Weber did a 360 in turns one and two, and another yellow flew. For the restart, Carter was still in command, but Curtis VanDerWal and Brett Lowry were now right behind and chomping at the bit for the restart. VanDerWal took a brief lead before lap ten could be scored, but Carter fought back. The dueling went on until lap fourteen when VanDerWal got crossed up, from what was called "questionable driving" by Carter, the yellow flew, and both drivers restarted at the back of the pack. Brett Lowry, who had been running in third, was now the recipient of the lead when the race was restarted. Just a lap later, another yellow flew, this time when VanDerWal again sat still at the bottom of turn one, this one deemed "questionable driving" by Colton Livezey who made contact with the 1V. VanDerWal's had to retire to the pits, the cause of two yellows. The finish was now going to be a green-white-checkered.....Lowry still holding the top spot. He kept that the remaining way to the checkers and the win. Tony Johnson took second place, Carter VanDenBerg finished third, fourth went to Corey VanZante, back after several week's absence, and Brayton Carter came back through the pack to take a top five finish. This was Lowry's fourth win at Osky on the season. Lowry started eleventh on his way to taking the checkers.
Grinnell's Todd Reitzler snapped up the lead when the green flew in the 18-lap Stock Car event. He soon had company though, in Cayden Carter. Carter, who started sixth, was on Reitzler's tail by lap two, and applying pressure. By lap five, the Orange Crush #10cc machine was in the lead. The runner up spot was now where the action was, as the other orange machine of Zack VanderBeek was hounding Reitzler. It was soon to be the familiar sight of the two Orange Crush machines circling the track at the front of the pack, ending it at the checkers, one-two. Carter took the win, his fifth in a row and seventh of the season (plus winning the Frostbuster), VanderBeek finished as the runner up. Third went to Reitzler, Corey Stout was fourth and new driver Mike Harward from Floris, barely beat out Nathan Wood at the checkers as they went fifth and sixth. The race went flag to flag.
Sport Compacts ran a 10-lap feature. Matt Moore grabbed the lead and held it until Trent Orwig swung around his outside at lap four and into first. Bill Whalen was battling with Moore for second, soon took the runner up spot, and then with two laps remaining, flew around Orwig and took over the top spot. He kept it the final two circuits to the checkers and the win. Orwig held on to finish as the runner up, and Matt Moore was third. John Whalen finished fourth on three wheels as his wheel rolled down the frontstretch, and Jon Menius was fifth. This made it four in a row for Bill Whalen, and ninth over all.
The racing ended with the 16-lap Modified feature. Bill Davis, Jr. led the troops through the first handful of laps, but Tyler Groenendyk had been pestering him the entire time. At lap six, Groenendyk sneaked under Davis and into the lead. A caution flew at lap eight and by then, Cayden Carter was breathing down Groenendyk's neck, Davis and Andrew Schroeder right behind as well. Schroeder took advantage of the restart situation and made the pass into second on the backstretch. Groenendyk, Schroeder and Carter were soon to be locked in a tight three-way battle for the lead, Schroeder getting the upper hand, Carter taking over second place. The race was completed without another caution, Schroeder pulling away to take the comfortable win. Carter finished in second place, Groenendyk was third, Davis took fourth and veteran racer Jerry Pilcher rounded out the top five.
As mentioned above, the next two Wednesday nights at Osky will be silent. This is due to the Sprint week coming up at nearby Knoxville and the Iowa State Fair run. There will however, be racing action at Osky on Monday, August 4, when the 19th annual Front Row Challenge for Sprints will come to town. Regular Wednesday night action will pick up again on August 20. There was a bit of winged Sprint action at the track last night, as Terry McCarl was trying out his brand new #24 machine between racing action.
Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Osky - 7-30-14
Unofficial results:
Modified:
1. 02 Andrew Schroeder
2. 10C Cayden Carter
3. 9T Tyler Groenendyk
4. 1+ Billy Davis, Jr.
5. 7W Jerry Pilcher
DNF: 40 Scott Dickey
3R Ray Bunnell
64 Casey Greubel
Stock Car
1. 10CC Cayden Carter - 5 in a row
2. 33Z Zack VanderBeek
3. 22R Todd Reitzler
4. 94 Corey Stout
5. 01i Mike Harward
6. 52 Nathan Wood
7. 4J Bob Lynch
8. 17C Shane Paris
9. 18 Kris Walker
10. 17 Brock Welch
11. 1X Mike Petersen
DNF: 7K Kelsie Spilman
12 Duawayne Herb
DNS: 85 Doug Sylvester
King of the Hill Stock Cars:
Zack VanderBeek beat Todd Rietzler
SportMod
1. 72 Brett Lowry
2. 8T Tony Johnson
3. 7 Carter VanDenBerg
4. 34Z Cory VanZante
5. 01 Brayton Carter
6. 85 Jason McDaniel
7. 352 Charlie Weber
8. 29 Colton Livezey
9. 2+ Bill Wears
10. 53 Greg Strohman
DNF: 1V Curtis VanDerWal
10R Ryan Fullenkamp
6T Siraj Thomason
Hobby Stock
1. 69 Craig Brown
2. 11 Mike Hughes
3. 84 Danny Thrasher
4. 10G Dustin Griffiths
5. 6S Shannon Sherwood
6. 12 Mike Kincaid
7. 3S Steve Allen
8. 55 Brad Stephens
9. 3 Travis Bunnell
10 224 Gina Greubel
11. 74 Matt Smith
DNF: 21 Nick Ulin
32T Bobby Greene
7A Aaron Osweiler
Sport Compact
1. 00W Bill Whalen, Jr. 4 in a row
2. 04 Trent Orwig
3. 2M Matt Moore
4. 77 John Whalen
5. 5J Jon Menius
6. 33 Matt Gridley
DNF: 8up Renny McCarty
Modified:
1. 02 Andrew Schroeder
2. 10C Cayden Carter
3. 9T Tyler Groenendyk
4. 1+ Billy Davis, Jr.
5. 7W Jerry Pilcher
DNF: 40 Scott Dickey
3R Ray Bunnell
64 Casey Greubel
Stock Car
1. 10CC Cayden Carter - 5 in a row
2. 33Z Zack VanderBeek
3. 22R Todd Reitzler
4. 94 Corey Stout
5. 01i Mike Harward
6. 52 Nathan Wood
7. 4J Bob Lynch
8. 17C Shane Paris
9. 18 Kris Walker
10. 17 Brock Welch
11. 1X Mike Petersen
DNF: 7K Kelsie Spilman
12 Duawayne Herb
DNS: 85 Doug Sylvester
King of the Hill Stock Cars:
Zack VanderBeek beat Todd Rietzler
SportMod
1. 72 Brett Lowry
2. 8T Tony Johnson
3. 7 Carter VanDenBerg
4. 34Z Cory VanZante
5. 01 Brayton Carter
6. 85 Jason McDaniel
7. 352 Charlie Weber
8. 29 Colton Livezey
9. 2+ Bill Wears
10. 53 Greg Strohman
DNF: 1V Curtis VanDerWal
10R Ryan Fullenkamp
6T Siraj Thomason
Hobby Stock
1. 69 Craig Brown
2. 11 Mike Hughes
3. 84 Danny Thrasher
4. 10G Dustin Griffiths
5. 6S Shannon Sherwood
6. 12 Mike Kincaid
7. 3S Steve Allen
8. 55 Brad Stephens
9. 3 Travis Bunnell
10 224 Gina Greubel
11. 74 Matt Smith
DNF: 21 Nick Ulin
32T Bobby Greene
7A Aaron Osweiler
Sport Compact
1. 00W Bill Whalen, Jr. 4 in a row
2. 04 Trent Orwig
3. 2M Matt Moore
4. 77 John Whalen
5. 5J Jon Menius
6. 33 Matt Gridley
DNF: 8up Renny McCarty
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Woods, Murphy and Rieks, first time winners at Boone
It was a hot and muggy July night in Iowa for racing at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night. It sure didn't keep the crowd away, nor the 130 drivers who came to try their hand at the track. More drivers added their name to the growing list of first time winners for the year, and two classes repeated winners.
Mod Lites kicked off the night's racing. Chargin' Charlie Brown took home another win in this division. Brown fought past Dusty Masolini just after lap eleven was in the books, passing him on the highside, and keeping the lead to the checkers. Masolini held on to the runner up spot, Joel Keenan just held off Josh May at the flag as they finished third and fourth in that order. Corey Dennis, who had the upper hand for the first handful of laps, finished fifth. This was Brown's fifth win at Boone for the season.
Michael Murphy made an appearance last week for the first time in the SportMod division. This week, he went home with the win. Murphy, who started on the pole, jumped to the lead immediately, and from there on, was never really challenged. A couple of cautions didn't deter Murphy, as he pulled away at the checkers for a comfortable win. Anthony Onstot chased the winner most of the race, but had to settle for the runner up spot. Third went to last week's winner, Johnathon Logue, Jr., coming from eleventh starting spot to finish at the front of the pack. Fourth was Tara Longnecker and point leader, Ben Kates was fifth. Kates, who experienced trouble in the heat race, had to run a B main, won it, and started in 22nd place and flew through the pack to finish in the top five. Murphy is a first time winner at Boone this year.
After last week's disastrous end for David Rieks in the Hobby Stock feature, he got redemption this week by taking the checkers. Rieks had fought tooth and nail, lap after lap, with Andrew Burg last week, and it was coming right down to the wire for the win. It was then that a lap car got in his way, and he ended up in the infield with a damaged car. Rieks took command by lap eight, and withstood a caution at lap nine, maintaining his lead to the flying checkers. A "glob" of cars fought it out behind him, trying to sort themselves out for positions. In the end, it was Tyler Pickett getting the second place finish over Josh Saunders in third. Fourth went to Cody Gustoff and point leader, John Watson came from twelfth starting spot, to round out the top five. Rieks was another one who added his name to the growing list of first time winners at the track.
There was quite the action in the 20-lap Modified feature. Kent Croskey held the lead through the first five laps, then Shay Woods snatched it away. By this time, Mike VanGenderen had made his way to third, and was up to challenge Croskey. Just past the halfway mark, VanGenderen got the job done, and was in the hunt to catch the leader. As the two came down the frontstretch at lap fourteen, there was contact, breaking VanGenderen's tie rod, and sending him spinning. He tried to continue but then discovered the car would not turn, and he collected a couple of other cars in the process of trying to control his car. This brought out the yellow, but Woods was ready for the restart, maintained his lead and took the win. Scott Davis came from tenth starting spot, to earn the runner up position, Russ Dickerson started eleventh, and finished third. Fourth place was Kent Croskey and last week's winner, Josh Truman completed the top five. This was Woods' first victory at Boone this season.
For anyone leaving before the final feature, the IMCA Stock Cars, you missed a good one! This class always produces some of the best racing of the night. The only caution of the race came at lap one, and from there on, it was fast, and frantic scrambling for positions! Eric Brown held the lead through lap thirteen, just holding off veteran Robert Stofer. Stofer took command at lap fourteen and pulled away the final four laps to secure the win. Behind him, cars were jockeying for spots, three and four wide, and a lap car even got in the mix, racing with them. That made for some "hold your breath" moments and a real scramble to the finish line! At the stripe, it was Jerry Gifford taking the runner up spot, Donavon Smith once again made the bottom of the track work, taking third place. Fourth was Jay Schmidt, crossing the finish line in his white, battered looking race car, and Mike Goldsberry was fifth. Early leader Eric Brown, finished sixth. Stofer won for the second time in 2014.
It is great to see that three steel cables have been added to the frontstretch fence. This is a great added safety feature at the track and for the upcoming Super Nationals. The Super Nationals are coming quickly too---September 1-6. Make plans to catch some or all of America's Racin' Vacation.
Thanks for reading, and happy racing!
Mod Lites kicked off the night's racing. Chargin' Charlie Brown took home another win in this division. Brown fought past Dusty Masolini just after lap eleven was in the books, passing him on the highside, and keeping the lead to the checkers. Masolini held on to the runner up spot, Joel Keenan just held off Josh May at the flag as they finished third and fourth in that order. Corey Dennis, who had the upper hand for the first handful of laps, finished fifth. This was Brown's fifth win at Boone for the season.
Michael Murphy made an appearance last week for the first time in the SportMod division. This week, he went home with the win. Murphy, who started on the pole, jumped to the lead immediately, and from there on, was never really challenged. A couple of cautions didn't deter Murphy, as he pulled away at the checkers for a comfortable win. Anthony Onstot chased the winner most of the race, but had to settle for the runner up spot. Third went to last week's winner, Johnathon Logue, Jr., coming from eleventh starting spot to finish at the front of the pack. Fourth was Tara Longnecker and point leader, Ben Kates was fifth. Kates, who experienced trouble in the heat race, had to run a B main, won it, and started in 22nd place and flew through the pack to finish in the top five. Murphy is a first time winner at Boone this year.
After last week's disastrous end for David Rieks in the Hobby Stock feature, he got redemption this week by taking the checkers. Rieks had fought tooth and nail, lap after lap, with Andrew Burg last week, and it was coming right down to the wire for the win. It was then that a lap car got in his way, and he ended up in the infield with a damaged car. Rieks took command by lap eight, and withstood a caution at lap nine, maintaining his lead to the flying checkers. A "glob" of cars fought it out behind him, trying to sort themselves out for positions. In the end, it was Tyler Pickett getting the second place finish over Josh Saunders in third. Fourth went to Cody Gustoff and point leader, John Watson came from twelfth starting spot, to round out the top five. Rieks was another one who added his name to the growing list of first time winners at the track.
There was quite the action in the 20-lap Modified feature. Kent Croskey held the lead through the first five laps, then Shay Woods snatched it away. By this time, Mike VanGenderen had made his way to third, and was up to challenge Croskey. Just past the halfway mark, VanGenderen got the job done, and was in the hunt to catch the leader. As the two came down the frontstretch at lap fourteen, there was contact, breaking VanGenderen's tie rod, and sending him spinning. He tried to continue but then discovered the car would not turn, and he collected a couple of other cars in the process of trying to control his car. This brought out the yellow, but Woods was ready for the restart, maintained his lead and took the win. Scott Davis came from tenth starting spot, to earn the runner up position, Russ Dickerson started eleventh, and finished third. Fourth place was Kent Croskey and last week's winner, Josh Truman completed the top five. This was Woods' first victory at Boone this season.
For anyone leaving before the final feature, the IMCA Stock Cars, you missed a good one! This class always produces some of the best racing of the night. The only caution of the race came at lap one, and from there on, it was fast, and frantic scrambling for positions! Eric Brown held the lead through lap thirteen, just holding off veteran Robert Stofer. Stofer took command at lap fourteen and pulled away the final four laps to secure the win. Behind him, cars were jockeying for spots, three and four wide, and a lap car even got in the mix, racing with them. That made for some "hold your breath" moments and a real scramble to the finish line! At the stripe, it was Jerry Gifford taking the runner up spot, Donavon Smith once again made the bottom of the track work, taking third place. Fourth was Jay Schmidt, crossing the finish line in his white, battered looking race car, and Mike Goldsberry was fifth. Early leader Eric Brown, finished sixth. Stofer won for the second time in 2014.
It is great to see that three steel cables have been added to the frontstretch fence. This is a great added safety feature at the track and for the upcoming Super Nationals. The Super Nationals are coming quickly too---September 1-6. Make plans to catch some or all of America's Racin' Vacation.
Thanks for reading, and happy racing!
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Jenae Gustin is baaack! Richie Gustin repeats at Marshalltown
Marshalltown Speedway had a good soaking early Friday morning, right at 2.5 inches according to promoter Toby Kruse. But by the time for racing, the huge lake that had appeared in the infield had nearly drained, (but gooey enough that the infield was not used) and the track was packed and ready for the night's racing. An added attraction for the night was the Spectator Eliminator competition.
The MADCRA Mod Lites ran their usual 15-lap feature. Josh May didn't let three cautions interrupt his run at the front after taking the helm from Mike Kennedy at lap two. He took the win, his second of the year at Marshalltown, by a comfortable margin over Charlie Brown in second. Point leader Andy Hennigar finished third after starting ninth, James May was fourth and Eric Hendrickson finished fifth.
The IMCA Hobby Stock feature saw Eric Stanton back in victory lane, repeating his win from last week. Stanton had to work to get to the front, as a good battle brewed between him, John Watson, and Brice Udelhoven. Stanton finally got the lead with two laps remaining, getting by Udelhoven. Stanton took the win, Udelhoven kept second, and John Watson was third. The rest of the pack was a distance behind at the checkers, but it was Garrett Eilander winning out over Jason See for fourth and fifth places. This was Stanton's fourth win at the Speedway this year.
The IMCA Northern SportMod feature came next. Jenae Gustin, who has been having a tough go of it lately with mechanical problems, upon mechanical problems, was immediately to the lead at the drop of the green. From there on, it was a case of who would get second! Gustin maneuvered through lap cars, effortlessly it seemed, and still increased her lead over her closest competitors. The race went green-to-checkered, Gustin winning a good distance ahead of second place Clint Luellen. Third was Sam Wieben, fourth went to Jared VanDeest who had won the two previous races, and Jake McBirnie rounded out the top five. Jenae Gustin told announcer Jerry VanSickle in victory lane, that she is hoping that her bad luck is now all behind her. This is her third win at Marshalltown this year, the last coming back at the end of May.
Michael Jaennette put his ride to the front in the opening laps of the 18-lap Stock Car feature, after starting sixth. He looked destined to repeat his win from last week, getting a good lead on the pack. That all melted away when a yellow flew at lap ten for Trent Murphy who was off power. On the restart, it was Donavon Smith sitting in second and loving that caution that had flown---Jaennette, not so much! It was two laps later when Smith got under Jaennette and took the lead. From there on, Smith motored home comfortably to the win. Jaennette had to settle for second. Third went to Tracy Gienger who seems not to have missed a beat after just returning to racing a couple of weeks ago. Fourth was veteran Robert Stofer and Robbie Merkle was scored fifth. As a note, Jay Schmidt did cross in fourth places, but from what we heard, was penalized for some questionable contact during the race. Winner Donavon Smith made last night's win his sixth of the year, and adds to his track point lead.
The racing portion of the night finished up with the Modified 20-lap feature. Action was immediately fast and frantic in the field. But it was polesitter Jake Strayer putting his ride to the point, and pulling away from the pack. Strayer was looking smooth and confident, and content to let them fight it out behind him for position. Two of those duking it out were Joel Rust and Richie Gustin. Gustin, who had started twelfth, was fighting tooth and nail for the runner up spot, getting it with a handful of laps remaining. Point leader Ronn Lauritzen had been making headway as well, and was up to third after starting eleventh just a lap or so later. In the final laps, it was all eyes on the top three runners, Strayer, Gustin and Lauritzen. Just after lap seventeen was scored, Gustin got around Strayer on the backstretch, and took over the lead. Lauritzen followed up with his pass on Strayer as well, and was doing his best to catch leader Gustin. It wasn't to be on this night however, as Gustin held the lead to the flying checkers and the win....his second in as many weeks. Lauritzen finished as the runner up, and Strayer had a great run, but had to be content with third place. Fourth was Joel Rust and Adam Larson finished fifth after starting tenth. Gustin can now claim three wins at Marshalltown this year.
The evening's festivities ended with the annual Spectator Eliminator competition. When it was all said and done, a little silver Mitsubishi got all the glory---winning out over a black pickup in the final round. Others competing were a silver Subaru and an older Cadillac "grocery getter".
Still a lot of racing left in the season. Get out and find a race to attend and help support the dirt track racing we all love. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
The MADCRA Mod Lites ran their usual 15-lap feature. Josh May didn't let three cautions interrupt his run at the front after taking the helm from Mike Kennedy at lap two. He took the win, his second of the year at Marshalltown, by a comfortable margin over Charlie Brown in second. Point leader Andy Hennigar finished third after starting ninth, James May was fourth and Eric Hendrickson finished fifth.
The IMCA Hobby Stock feature saw Eric Stanton back in victory lane, repeating his win from last week. Stanton had to work to get to the front, as a good battle brewed between him, John Watson, and Brice Udelhoven. Stanton finally got the lead with two laps remaining, getting by Udelhoven. Stanton took the win, Udelhoven kept second, and John Watson was third. The rest of the pack was a distance behind at the checkers, but it was Garrett Eilander winning out over Jason See for fourth and fifth places. This was Stanton's fourth win at the Speedway this year.
The IMCA Northern SportMod feature came next. Jenae Gustin, who has been having a tough go of it lately with mechanical problems, upon mechanical problems, was immediately to the lead at the drop of the green. From there on, it was a case of who would get second! Gustin maneuvered through lap cars, effortlessly it seemed, and still increased her lead over her closest competitors. The race went green-to-checkered, Gustin winning a good distance ahead of second place Clint Luellen. Third was Sam Wieben, fourth went to Jared VanDeest who had won the two previous races, and Jake McBirnie rounded out the top five. Jenae Gustin told announcer Jerry VanSickle in victory lane, that she is hoping that her bad luck is now all behind her. This is her third win at Marshalltown this year, the last coming back at the end of May.
Michael Jaennette put his ride to the front in the opening laps of the 18-lap Stock Car feature, after starting sixth. He looked destined to repeat his win from last week, getting a good lead on the pack. That all melted away when a yellow flew at lap ten for Trent Murphy who was off power. On the restart, it was Donavon Smith sitting in second and loving that caution that had flown---Jaennette, not so much! It was two laps later when Smith got under Jaennette and took the lead. From there on, Smith motored home comfortably to the win. Jaennette had to settle for second. Third went to Tracy Gienger who seems not to have missed a beat after just returning to racing a couple of weeks ago. Fourth was veteran Robert Stofer and Robbie Merkle was scored fifth. As a note, Jay Schmidt did cross in fourth places, but from what we heard, was penalized for some questionable contact during the race. Winner Donavon Smith made last night's win his sixth of the year, and adds to his track point lead.
The racing portion of the night finished up with the Modified 20-lap feature. Action was immediately fast and frantic in the field. But it was polesitter Jake Strayer putting his ride to the point, and pulling away from the pack. Strayer was looking smooth and confident, and content to let them fight it out behind him for position. Two of those duking it out were Joel Rust and Richie Gustin. Gustin, who had started twelfth, was fighting tooth and nail for the runner up spot, getting it with a handful of laps remaining. Point leader Ronn Lauritzen had been making headway as well, and was up to third after starting eleventh just a lap or so later. In the final laps, it was all eyes on the top three runners, Strayer, Gustin and Lauritzen. Just after lap seventeen was scored, Gustin got around Strayer on the backstretch, and took over the lead. Lauritzen followed up with his pass on Strayer as well, and was doing his best to catch leader Gustin. It wasn't to be on this night however, as Gustin held the lead to the flying checkers and the win....his second in as many weeks. Lauritzen finished as the runner up, and Strayer had a great run, but had to be content with third place. Fourth was Joel Rust and Adam Larson finished fifth after starting tenth. Gustin can now claim three wins at Marshalltown this year.
The evening's festivities ended with the annual Spectator Eliminator competition. When it was all said and done, a little silver Mitsubishi got all the glory---winning out over a black pickup in the final round. Others competing were a silver Subaru and an older Cadillac "grocery getter".
Still a lot of racing left in the season. Get out and find a race to attend and help support the dirt track racing we all love. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Friday, July 25, 2014
Lanigan loves Indee, Cordes takes HDT
The Independence Motor Speedway was the scene Thursday night for the Hawkeye Dirt Tour and the World of Outlaws Late Models. Radar showed a threat of rain moving from the northwest, but it didn't scare away the fans. The stands were packed! Thirty-one IMCA Modifieds and 25 WoO Late Models competed. The Late Model winner came away with a perfect night, and over $10,000 to pocket. The HDT winner had to work for his win, with the help of a late yellow thrown in the mix.
Four heat races and two B mains narrowed the starting field to 24 for the Hawkeye Dirt Tour 30-lap feature. Two HDT provisionals were tagged on the tail. Those were Jacob Murray and Tim Ward.
Last year's HDT Champion Ronn Lauritzen was looking strong, leading the pack of cars convincingly through the halfway mark of the 30-lap event. There was a battle brewing for second place as Vern Jackson, Adam Johnson and Troy Cordes duked it out, and Jeff Waterman close at hand. A yellow flew at lap twenty-two when Jacob Murray came to a halt in turn one....leaving the smell of rear end grease lingering in the air. When the race got back underway, it was Lauritzen still at the helm and Troy Cordes had made it to the runner up spot. Cordes, who had started back in the sixth row, had been picking off cars left and right. It was but a few laps after the restart when Cordes completed his march to the front, passing Lauritzen for the lead. Another yellow would fly with two laps remaining, when Nick Roberts slid off of turn four. This was no problem for Cordes, as he drove off on the restart and took the double checkers. Lauritzen finished as the runner up, Vern Jackson was third, fourth went to Jeff Waterman, and Adam Johnson rounded out the top five. Current point leader of the series, Mike VanGenderen came from ninth starting spot, to finish sixth, seventh was Scott Hogan, Jesse Sobbing came from a B main to finish eighth, Jeremy Mills was ninth and Cayden Carter was tenth. The next scheduled HDT race is on August 7, at Britt's Hancock County Speedway's Night of a 1,000 Stars.
There were 25 of the World of Outlaws Late Models in town. All eleven of the drivers who had run all 22 races so far this season, were in the pits. Those drivers represented the states of Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, Georgia, Kansas and Illinois. They ran time trials which determined their starting spot in the three heats. A B main was run with four cars tagging the field. Only one car did not make the A main, that being the #2 of Rory Metcalf. We are thinking that the WoO rules state that only 24 cars start their A mains.
The starting top six drivers had their spot determined when youngsters assigned to them, drew a ball from the pot. Frank Heckenast, Jr., who is leading rookie points in the series, had his young fan draw the #1.....even though confessing their favorite was Billy Moyer, Jr.....who was still waiting for his draw. Point leader Darrell Lanigan, got the #2 to start along side Heckenast on the front row for the 50-lap main event.
Lanigan immediately shot to the lead when the green dropped. Tussling behind him were Heckenast and Tim "T-Mac" McCreadie for the second position. The only yellow of the race flew at lap fifteen, Lanigan still easily in command, McCreadie had taken over second from Heckenast and Billy Moyer, Jr. was riding in fourth. Lanigan maneuvered through lap traffic smoothly, not missing a beat as he passed the lap cars. Lanigan took the win by a comfortable margin, for the third year in a row at Independence. Heckenast finished as the runner up, Rick Eckert passed McCreadie as they finished third and fourth in that order. Billy Moyer, Jr. rounded out the top five. Further back in the field, some cars had made some good movement toward the front. Jimmy Mars started twelfth and finished sixth, Tim Fuller came from thirteenth to finish seventh, Shane Clanton was eighth, and making the hard charge was Eric Wells. Wells started ninteenth and finished ninth. Morgan Bagley was tenth and Iowa's popular Brian Birkhofer was eleventh.
Somehow the big blob on radar missed Independence last night---drifting off to the south and then dissipating. Much to the relief of the Speedway and all the drivers and fans in attendance! We enjoyed our evening at Indee last night. It's great to see some of the drivers from the "big leagues" that seldom are in our area, and we always enjoy the IMCA Modifieds and the Hawkeye Dirt Tour series! The show was run through in a timely, professional manner and we were heading for home shortly after 10 p.m......after the parking lot cleared!
Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Four heat races and two B mains narrowed the starting field to 24 for the Hawkeye Dirt Tour 30-lap feature. Two HDT provisionals were tagged on the tail. Those were Jacob Murray and Tim Ward.
Last year's HDT Champion Ronn Lauritzen was looking strong, leading the pack of cars convincingly through the halfway mark of the 30-lap event. There was a battle brewing for second place as Vern Jackson, Adam Johnson and Troy Cordes duked it out, and Jeff Waterman close at hand. A yellow flew at lap twenty-two when Jacob Murray came to a halt in turn one....leaving the smell of rear end grease lingering in the air. When the race got back underway, it was Lauritzen still at the helm and Troy Cordes had made it to the runner up spot. Cordes, who had started back in the sixth row, had been picking off cars left and right. It was but a few laps after the restart when Cordes completed his march to the front, passing Lauritzen for the lead. Another yellow would fly with two laps remaining, when Nick Roberts slid off of turn four. This was no problem for Cordes, as he drove off on the restart and took the double checkers. Lauritzen finished as the runner up, Vern Jackson was third, fourth went to Jeff Waterman, and Adam Johnson rounded out the top five. Current point leader of the series, Mike VanGenderen came from ninth starting spot, to finish sixth, seventh was Scott Hogan, Jesse Sobbing came from a B main to finish eighth, Jeremy Mills was ninth and Cayden Carter was tenth. The next scheduled HDT race is on August 7, at Britt's Hancock County Speedway's Night of a 1,000 Stars.
There were 25 of the World of Outlaws Late Models in town. All eleven of the drivers who had run all 22 races so far this season, were in the pits. Those drivers represented the states of Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, Georgia, Kansas and Illinois. They ran time trials which determined their starting spot in the three heats. A B main was run with four cars tagging the field. Only one car did not make the A main, that being the #2 of Rory Metcalf. We are thinking that the WoO rules state that only 24 cars start their A mains.
The starting top six drivers had their spot determined when youngsters assigned to them, drew a ball from the pot. Frank Heckenast, Jr., who is leading rookie points in the series, had his young fan draw the #1.....even though confessing their favorite was Billy Moyer, Jr.....who was still waiting for his draw. Point leader Darrell Lanigan, got the #2 to start along side Heckenast on the front row for the 50-lap main event.
Lanigan immediately shot to the lead when the green dropped. Tussling behind him were Heckenast and Tim "T-Mac" McCreadie for the second position. The only yellow of the race flew at lap fifteen, Lanigan still easily in command, McCreadie had taken over second from Heckenast and Billy Moyer, Jr. was riding in fourth. Lanigan maneuvered through lap traffic smoothly, not missing a beat as he passed the lap cars. Lanigan took the win by a comfortable margin, for the third year in a row at Independence. Heckenast finished as the runner up, Rick Eckert passed McCreadie as they finished third and fourth in that order. Billy Moyer, Jr. rounded out the top five. Further back in the field, some cars had made some good movement toward the front. Jimmy Mars started twelfth and finished sixth, Tim Fuller came from thirteenth to finish seventh, Shane Clanton was eighth, and making the hard charge was Eric Wells. Wells started ninteenth and finished ninth. Morgan Bagley was tenth and Iowa's popular Brian Birkhofer was eleventh.
Somehow the big blob on radar missed Independence last night---drifting off to the south and then dissipating. Much to the relief of the Speedway and all the drivers and fans in attendance! We enjoyed our evening at Indee last night. It's great to see some of the drivers from the "big leagues" that seldom are in our area, and we always enjoy the IMCA Modifieds and the Hawkeye Dirt Tour series! The show was run through in a timely, professional manner and we were heading for home shortly after 10 p.m......after the parking lot cleared!
Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Dickey scores Mod win - Hughes takes sixth in a row
Thankfully, the weather was much more cooperative on Wednesday night for weekly racing at the Southern Iowa Speedway. The hot, sticky weather we endured on Monday and Tuesday, gave way to less humid and cooler temps. The five regular classes competed, with a new face visiting victory lane in the Modified class. All other classes saw repeat winners.....three with winning streaks continuing.
During the brief intermission, several drivers came across the track and into the grandstand. They passed their helmets through the crowd, getting donations for one of the racing family that is having a trying time. Last Tuesday, Frank Springsteen, father of Late Model driver Colby Springsteen was seriously injured when he suffered second and third degree burns while he was working under the hood of his son's car. This happened at the Southern Iowa Speedway in the far north pit area. He is now in Iowa City in the burn unit. Racing family does come together in times of need. The helmets were also passed in West Liberty last Saturday night, and nearly $4,000 was raised. Tonight, $1,380 can be added to the amount going toward medical expenses.
The Hobby Stock feature was looking to have a new name for 2014 stamped in the books as a feature winner. Steve Allen led from the drop of the green flag with Danny Thrasher nipping at his heels. Allen continued to hold off Thrasher, keeping him at bay through lap eleven of the fifteen lap event. But don't count out the #11 of Mike Hughes. Hughes, who started back in ninth place made it around Thrasher and into the runner up spot with just two laps remaining. Allen still continued his hold on the top spot until just after he saw the white flag wave. Hughes slipped under Allen, passing him on the backstretch, and got to the checkers first. This was Mike Hughes' sixth win in a row, and his tenth at Osky this year. Allen finished what had to be a disappointing second place finish. Third was Dustin Griffiths, who came from eighth starting spot, fourth was Danny Thrasher, and Nick Ulin was fifth.
Seven Sport Compacts took the green flag for their 10-lap A main. Matt Moore led the opening laps, only to have Bill Whalen snatch it away at lap five. A yellow at lap eight still had Whalen in the lead, and a green-white-checkered lay ahead. On the restart, Trent Orwig slipped by Matt Moore, in the charge to the checkers. Whalen was the winner, Orwig took second and Moore was third. Fourth place was John Whalen. This was Bill Whalen's third win in a row and he now has eight for the season.
There was a new winner in the IMCA Modified division last night. Scott Dickey nabbed the lead as soon as the race started and motored easily home to the victory. A couple of cautions didn't slow Dickey on his way to his first win at Osky this year. Dickey stretched his lead from the field and won comfortably as he crossed the checkers. Cayden Carter finished as the runner up, Schroeder was third, Kyle Brown was fourth and Casey Greubel rounded out the top five.
The IMCA Northern SportMod feature went flag to flag. Tony Johnson led the troops in the opening laps, but the familiar #1V of Curtis VanDerWal was soon up to challenge. VanDerWal was second by lap five and pestering Johnson. Just after lap eight was in the books, VanDerWal slipped under Johnson and into the lead. In the waning laps, VanDerWal powered off from the field, taking his fifth win of the year. Fullenkamp was second and Brett Lowry made late race headway reeling in cars, but ran out of time for more than third. Johnson kept fourth and Carter VanDenBerg completed the top five.
The Stock Car 16-lap feature was a blur of orange up front again. Cayden Carter drove around then leader Todd Reitzler on a restart on lap one and Zack VanderBeek did the same. From then on, it was the two orange cars of Roger Kelderman circling the track at the front---diving low in turns one and two, and circling the top of the track in turns three and four. Carter won for the fourth time in a row, making it another win for the Orange Crush team. VanderBeek was second, Corey Stout held off Todd Reitzler as they went third and fourth respectively, and Tobin Smith was fifth.
Osky will be racing next Wednesday night, July 30, before taking two weeks off from the weekly program. August 4, will be the Front Row Challenge for Sprint week in nearby Knoxville. The following week will be silent due to the Iowa State Fair. Then on August 20, the weekly show will be back in action.
Get out and find a race to attend somewhere. There is a lot still going on with specials in abundance. We plan to head to the Independence Speedway tonight for the Hawkeye Dirt Tour for Modifieds and the big boys will be in town---the World of Outlaws Late Models.
Thanks for reading, and happy racing!
During the brief intermission, several drivers came across the track and into the grandstand. They passed their helmets through the crowd, getting donations for one of the racing family that is having a trying time. Last Tuesday, Frank Springsteen, father of Late Model driver Colby Springsteen was seriously injured when he suffered second and third degree burns while he was working under the hood of his son's car. This happened at the Southern Iowa Speedway in the far north pit area. He is now in Iowa City in the burn unit. Racing family does come together in times of need. The helmets were also passed in West Liberty last Saturday night, and nearly $4,000 was raised. Tonight, $1,380 can be added to the amount going toward medical expenses.
The Hobby Stock feature was looking to have a new name for 2014 stamped in the books as a feature winner. Steve Allen led from the drop of the green flag with Danny Thrasher nipping at his heels. Allen continued to hold off Thrasher, keeping him at bay through lap eleven of the fifteen lap event. But don't count out the #11 of Mike Hughes. Hughes, who started back in ninth place made it around Thrasher and into the runner up spot with just two laps remaining. Allen still continued his hold on the top spot until just after he saw the white flag wave. Hughes slipped under Allen, passing him on the backstretch, and got to the checkers first. This was Mike Hughes' sixth win in a row, and his tenth at Osky this year. Allen finished what had to be a disappointing second place finish. Third was Dustin Griffiths, who came from eighth starting spot, fourth was Danny Thrasher, and Nick Ulin was fifth.
Seven Sport Compacts took the green flag for their 10-lap A main. Matt Moore led the opening laps, only to have Bill Whalen snatch it away at lap five. A yellow at lap eight still had Whalen in the lead, and a green-white-checkered lay ahead. On the restart, Trent Orwig slipped by Matt Moore, in the charge to the checkers. Whalen was the winner, Orwig took second and Moore was third. Fourth place was John Whalen. This was Bill Whalen's third win in a row and he now has eight for the season.
There was a new winner in the IMCA Modified division last night. Scott Dickey nabbed the lead as soon as the race started and motored easily home to the victory. A couple of cautions didn't slow Dickey on his way to his first win at Osky this year. Dickey stretched his lead from the field and won comfortably as he crossed the checkers. Cayden Carter finished as the runner up, Schroeder was third, Kyle Brown was fourth and Casey Greubel rounded out the top five.
The IMCA Northern SportMod feature went flag to flag. Tony Johnson led the troops in the opening laps, but the familiar #1V of Curtis VanDerWal was soon up to challenge. VanDerWal was second by lap five and pestering Johnson. Just after lap eight was in the books, VanDerWal slipped under Johnson and into the lead. In the waning laps, VanDerWal powered off from the field, taking his fifth win of the year. Fullenkamp was second and Brett Lowry made late race headway reeling in cars, but ran out of time for more than third. Johnson kept fourth and Carter VanDenBerg completed the top five.
The Stock Car 16-lap feature was a blur of orange up front again. Cayden Carter drove around then leader Todd Reitzler on a restart on lap one and Zack VanderBeek did the same. From then on, it was the two orange cars of Roger Kelderman circling the track at the front---diving low in turns one and two, and circling the top of the track in turns three and four. Carter won for the fourth time in a row, making it another win for the Orange Crush team. VanderBeek was second, Corey Stout held off Todd Reitzler as they went third and fourth respectively, and Tobin Smith was fifth.
Osky will be racing next Wednesday night, July 30, before taking two weeks off from the weekly program. August 4, will be the Front Row Challenge for Sprint week in nearby Knoxville. The following week will be silent due to the Iowa State Fair. Then on August 20, the weekly show will be back in action.
Get out and find a race to attend somewhere. There is a lot still going on with specials in abundance. We plan to head to the Independence Speedway tonight for the Hawkeye Dirt Tour for Modifieds and the big boys will be in town---the World of Outlaws Late Models.
Thanks for reading, and happy racing!
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Osky - 7-23-14
Unofficial results:
Modified
1. 40 Scott Dickey
2. 10C Cayden Carter
3. 02 Andrew Schroeder
4. 21K Kyle Brown
5. 64 Casey Greubel
6. 9 Tyler Groenendyk
DNF: 3R Ray Bunnell
Stock Car
1. 10CC Cayden Carter
2. 33Z Zack VanderBeek
3. 94 Corey Stout
4. 22R Todd Reitzler
5. 18 Kris Walker
6. 22S Tobin Smith
DNF: 17 Brock Welch
7K Kelsie Spilman
85 Doug Sylvester
SportMod
1. 1V Curtis VanDerWal
2. 10R Ryan Fullenkamp
3. 72 Brett Lowry
4. 8T Tony Johnson
5. 7 Carter VanDenBerg
6. 01 Brayton Carter
7. 85 Jason McDaniel
8. 352 Charlie Weber
9. 29 Colton Livezey
DNF: 53 Greg Strohman
6T Siraj Thomason
DNS: 9A Logan Anderson
Hobby Stock
1. 11 Mike Hughes - 6 in a row
2. 3s Steve Allen
3. 10G Dustin Griffiths
4. 84 Danny Thrasher
5. 21 Nick Ulin
6. 6S Shannon Sherwood
7. 69 Craig Brown
8. 7A Aaron Osweiler
9. 66 Brandon Cox
10. 3 Travis Bunnell
11. 32T Bobby Greene
12. 224 Gina Greubel
Sport Compact
1. 00W Bill Whalen, Jr.
2. 04 Trent Orwig
3. 2M Matt Moore
4. 77 John Whalen
DNF: 5J Jon Menius
33 Matt Gridley
5 Matt Beal
Modified
1. 40 Scott Dickey
2. 10C Cayden Carter
3. 02 Andrew Schroeder
4. 21K Kyle Brown
5. 64 Casey Greubel
6. 9 Tyler Groenendyk
DNF: 3R Ray Bunnell
Stock Car
1. 10CC Cayden Carter
2. 33Z Zack VanderBeek
3. 94 Corey Stout
4. 22R Todd Reitzler
5. 18 Kris Walker
6. 22S Tobin Smith
DNF: 17 Brock Welch
7K Kelsie Spilman
85 Doug Sylvester
SportMod
1. 1V Curtis VanDerWal
2. 10R Ryan Fullenkamp
3. 72 Brett Lowry
4. 8T Tony Johnson
5. 7 Carter VanDenBerg
6. 01 Brayton Carter
7. 85 Jason McDaniel
8. 352 Charlie Weber
9. 29 Colton Livezey
DNF: 53 Greg Strohman
6T Siraj Thomason
DNS: 9A Logan Anderson
Hobby Stock
1. 11 Mike Hughes - 6 in a row
2. 3s Steve Allen
3. 10G Dustin Griffiths
4. 84 Danny Thrasher
5. 21 Nick Ulin
6. 6S Shannon Sherwood
7. 69 Craig Brown
8. 7A Aaron Osweiler
9. 66 Brandon Cox
10. 3 Travis Bunnell
11. 32T Bobby Greene
12. 224 Gina Greubel
Sport Compact
1. 00W Bill Whalen, Jr.
2. 04 Trent Orwig
3. 2M Matt Moore
4. 77 John Whalen
DNF: 5J Jon Menius
33 Matt Gridley
5 Matt Beal
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Logue, Jr. Takes First Career Win
Fans at the Boone Speedway Saturday night, got to witness another driver get his first ever career win---the second driver to do so in as many weeks. The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks were an addition to the regular program, bringing the total to 142 racing machines filling the pits. It was KCWI-TV Channel 23 night at the races, with some of the crew from the morning "Great Day" show on hand. They greeted fans as they entered the grandstand area where a couple of the Dirt Trucks were on display.
Mod Lites ran their feature first. It didn't get off to a good start. While a tire was rolling in corner one from a disabled car, corner four found Duane Coffman sitting on his lid, prompting the yellow flag to then go red. Coffman was ok. When the track was cleared and racing did get back underway, Eric Hendrickson took the lead, soon to have eighth place starter Terry Brown on his tail. Before lap five was scored, Brown made the pass on the backstretch for the lead. From there on, he drove at the front of the field the rest of the way to the checkers, untouched. He maneuvered through lap traffic flawlessly and took the checkers and the win by a lengthy margin over Hendrickson in second. David Schmalzried took third, Randy Bryan moved from starting tenth, to finish fourth and James May came from eleventh to finish fifth. This was Brown's third win in a row, and his fourth for the year.
The SportMod A main was one for the record books. Johnathon Logue, Jr. has had that elusive first win slip away from him several times, but not Saturday night. Logue, the son veteran racer John Logue, slipped by then leader Doug Smith on a restart at lap fourteen and motored home to the win. Logue, in his excitement, stopped at the flagstand and asked flagman Nick Breucklander for the checkered flag, taking a brief moment to take a "Polish Victory Lap" in celebration and to the cheers of the large crowd on hand. Point leader Ben Kates....sporting a new car, or at least a new look, came from eleventh starting spot, to finish second. Brian Eppert, who just recently came back on the racing scene, crossed in third, but a post race weigh in, found him light and he was DQ'd. Tim Love was then awarded third place. Last week's winner, and who also got his first career win, was Jake McBirnie. Jerry Hinton rounded out the top five.
Logue had to work his way from starting tenth for the win.
The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks were an added attraction to the program last night. They ran a 12-lap A main event. Bret Moyer was holding down the lead at lap five when a yellow flew. Right behind him riding in second place was the #3 Truck usually driven by Carl Moyer, but on this night, it was veteran Modified racer Randy Havlik behind the wheel. Moyer held the lead on the restart until drifting high in turn four as lap six was about to be scored, allowing Havlik to slip under him and into the lead. Havlik held that lead to the checkers and the win. Bret Moyer finished second, and Pat Gordin was third. KCWI personality, Lou Sipolt, who races Trucks regularly as a "weekend warrior", placed fourth and AJ Nelson took fifth.
The Hobby Stock 12-lap feature didn't end up as most had foreseen it playing out. Much of the race saw a couple of #78 cars battling back and forth for the lead. Andrew Burg in the 78B held first at lap nine, the 78XX of David Rieks scored in first on lap ten. It was going to be a battle to the finish! That is until a lap car changed that up. After the white flag was thrown, the two lead cars entering turn one came upon the lap car, Rieks ending up colliding with him. Burg avoided the mess and raced home to the checkers first. Rieks car sat on the infield disabled with much damage after the race. John Watson avoided the incident the final lap, and scored the runner up spot. Dustin Graham finished third, Tyler Pickett was fourth and Eric Stanton was fifth. This was Burg's first win at Boone this year.
The Modifieds came to the track next---20-laps lying ahead of them. Twenty-seven cars were on hand and all but two were able to start the feature. Joel Bushore took advantage of his pole starting spot, flying to the lead as the green fell. Josh Truman tucked into second place and Robert Avery into third. Bushore looked destined to visit victory lane again, keeping command even after a restart at the halfway mark. Bushore had been riding the high line of the track comfortably until lap fourteen. That was when he slipped off of the top of turn two, and came to a stop. This brought out the yellow, and handed first over to Truman. By this time, Kyle Brown was right behind Truman after having started in eleventh place. The final handful of laps saw another guy making a bid for a top spot. Jimmy Gustin had been flying and was in third place. At the checkers though, it was Truman keeping the lead, and taking the win. Kyle Brown finished in second with Jimmy Gustin breathing down his tailpipes in third. Fourth went to Robert Avery and Matthew Meinecke rounded out the top five. Truman scored his second win of the year.
The 18-lap Stock Car feature ended the night's racing. As always, there was close racing through out the pack of cars. Larry Crocheck led the first couple of laps, only to have Craig Carlson put his #77C to the point by lap three. Meanwhile, Wayne Gifford had moved to the top of the track, and after starting eighth, had all eyes on him as he passed car after car. By lap four, he was leading! No one was going to touch Gifford from there on. He held the lead the remaining caution free distance to the win. Carlson held on to second place. The winner's brother, Jerry Gifford moved from starting eleventh, to finish third, Mike Goldsberry got around Bob Daniels in the closing laps, as they went fourth and fifth in that order. This was Wayne Giffords second win of the season.
Several Modified and SportMod drivers stuck around the area after their run at the Harris Clash in Knoxville on Thursday. In the SportMod class, Chad Shaw from Trimble, Missouri, and Arron Duvall from Trenton, Missouri opted to run at Boone. In the Modified's, it was Josh Blumer out of Kansas....in his "Sponge Bob"
car, Clint Homan from Bellevue, Nebraska, and Bill Pittaway's #137 car from Corpus Christi, Texas ran, but was piloted by local racer Brian Efkamp.
We are taking a night or two off from racing after doing nine nights out of eleven. Our next race looks to be back at the Southern Iowa Speedway for our usual Wednesday night fix of racing. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Mod Lites ran their feature first. It didn't get off to a good start. While a tire was rolling in corner one from a disabled car, corner four found Duane Coffman sitting on his lid, prompting the yellow flag to then go red. Coffman was ok. When the track was cleared and racing did get back underway, Eric Hendrickson took the lead, soon to have eighth place starter Terry Brown on his tail. Before lap five was scored, Brown made the pass on the backstretch for the lead. From there on, he drove at the front of the field the rest of the way to the checkers, untouched. He maneuvered through lap traffic flawlessly and took the checkers and the win by a lengthy margin over Hendrickson in second. David Schmalzried took third, Randy Bryan moved from starting tenth, to finish fourth and James May came from eleventh to finish fifth. This was Brown's third win in a row, and his fourth for the year.
The SportMod A main was one for the record books. Johnathon Logue, Jr. has had that elusive first win slip away from him several times, but not Saturday night. Logue, the son veteran racer John Logue, slipped by then leader Doug Smith on a restart at lap fourteen and motored home to the win. Logue, in his excitement, stopped at the flagstand and asked flagman Nick Breucklander for the checkered flag, taking a brief moment to take a "Polish Victory Lap" in celebration and to the cheers of the large crowd on hand. Point leader Ben Kates....sporting a new car, or at least a new look, came from eleventh starting spot, to finish second. Brian Eppert, who just recently came back on the racing scene, crossed in third, but a post race weigh in, found him light and he was DQ'd. Tim Love was then awarded third place. Last week's winner, and who also got his first career win, was Jake McBirnie. Jerry Hinton rounded out the top five.
Logue had to work his way from starting tenth for the win.
The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks were an added attraction to the program last night. They ran a 12-lap A main event. Bret Moyer was holding down the lead at lap five when a yellow flew. Right behind him riding in second place was the #3 Truck usually driven by Carl Moyer, but on this night, it was veteran Modified racer Randy Havlik behind the wheel. Moyer held the lead on the restart until drifting high in turn four as lap six was about to be scored, allowing Havlik to slip under him and into the lead. Havlik held that lead to the checkers and the win. Bret Moyer finished second, and Pat Gordin was third. KCWI personality, Lou Sipolt, who races Trucks regularly as a "weekend warrior", placed fourth and AJ Nelson took fifth.
The Hobby Stock 12-lap feature didn't end up as most had foreseen it playing out. Much of the race saw a couple of #78 cars battling back and forth for the lead. Andrew Burg in the 78B held first at lap nine, the 78XX of David Rieks scored in first on lap ten. It was going to be a battle to the finish! That is until a lap car changed that up. After the white flag was thrown, the two lead cars entering turn one came upon the lap car, Rieks ending up colliding with him. Burg avoided the mess and raced home to the checkers first. Rieks car sat on the infield disabled with much damage after the race. John Watson avoided the incident the final lap, and scored the runner up spot. Dustin Graham finished third, Tyler Pickett was fourth and Eric Stanton was fifth. This was Burg's first win at Boone this year.
The Modifieds came to the track next---20-laps lying ahead of them. Twenty-seven cars were on hand and all but two were able to start the feature. Joel Bushore took advantage of his pole starting spot, flying to the lead as the green fell. Josh Truman tucked into second place and Robert Avery into third. Bushore looked destined to visit victory lane again, keeping command even after a restart at the halfway mark. Bushore had been riding the high line of the track comfortably until lap fourteen. That was when he slipped off of the top of turn two, and came to a stop. This brought out the yellow, and handed first over to Truman. By this time, Kyle Brown was right behind Truman after having started in eleventh place. The final handful of laps saw another guy making a bid for a top spot. Jimmy Gustin had been flying and was in third place. At the checkers though, it was Truman keeping the lead, and taking the win. Kyle Brown finished in second with Jimmy Gustin breathing down his tailpipes in third. Fourth went to Robert Avery and Matthew Meinecke rounded out the top five. Truman scored his second win of the year.
The 18-lap Stock Car feature ended the night's racing. As always, there was close racing through out the pack of cars. Larry Crocheck led the first couple of laps, only to have Craig Carlson put his #77C to the point by lap three. Meanwhile, Wayne Gifford had moved to the top of the track, and after starting eighth, had all eyes on him as he passed car after car. By lap four, he was leading! No one was going to touch Gifford from there on. He held the lead the remaining caution free distance to the win. Carlson held on to second place. The winner's brother, Jerry Gifford moved from starting eleventh, to finish third, Mike Goldsberry got around Bob Daniels in the closing laps, as they went fourth and fifth in that order. This was Wayne Giffords second win of the season.
Several Modified and SportMod drivers stuck around the area after their run at the Harris Clash in Knoxville on Thursday. In the SportMod class, Chad Shaw from Trimble, Missouri, and Arron Duvall from Trenton, Missouri opted to run at Boone. In the Modified's, it was Josh Blumer out of Kansas....in his "Sponge Bob"
car, Clint Homan from Bellevue, Nebraska, and Bill Pittaway's #137 car from Corpus Christi, Texas ran, but was piloted by local racer Brian Efkamp.
We are taking a night or two off from racing after doing nine nights out of eleven. Our next race looks to be back at the Southern Iowa Speedway for our usual Wednesday night fix of racing. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Richie "G Money" Gustin takes the "G" at Marshalltown
Friday night at Marshalltown Speedway, extra cars filled the pits for the draw/redraw format and for the prize of $1,000 to the Modified winner. This has become an annual thing for several years now, on the night after the Harris Clash. Drivers from Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Kansas were represented at the Speedway. But on this night, it was a racer from "just down the road" who went home with the smile on his face and the $1,000.
Seventeen Mod Lites came for some fun around the high banks last night. After two tries, the feature finally got its first lap in the books---Joe Glick leading the field. Glick continued to hold down the top spot through two more yellows. At that second yellow at lap seven, Glick had Travis Brandt sitting in second behind him, but Jimmy May had been pressuring as he rode in third. After the restart, May made the pass on Brandt and into the runner up spot and was now in hot pursuit of leader Glick. May kept peeking to the outside and finally made it pay off, leading at lap thirteen. May kept hold of that point spot and took the checkers and the win. Glick took home the runner up prize, Terry Brown finished third, Andy Hennigar came from starting ninth, to finish fourth, and Travis Brandt fell back a bit and took fifth. May won for the third time at the track this year.
The Hobby Stock 12-lap feature went flag to flag. Veteran racer, Steve Fricke who has just returned to the racing scene this year after being absent for quite some time, led the opening laps. He had some FAST company behind him though. Eric Larson started in the fifth row, and took over the point at lap four. By this time, Eric Stanton was fighting his way around Fricke for second and looking for more. By lap six, Stanton had established the lead, Larson falling to second. Stanton maintained that coveted spot to the checkers flying and nabbing the win. Larson held second, John Watson came from starting eleventh, to finish third.
Fourth place went to Austin Luellen who just beat Garrett Eilander in fifth. Stanton was a happy camper in victory lane, getting his fourth victory of the season at Marshalltown.
The SportMods went 18-laps. It looked as if visiting Wisconsinite Tracy Wassenberg was going home with a win under his belt, looking strong in the lead in the early portion of the race. It was a yellow plagued race for sure, and after one of those yellows at lap nine, Jared VanDeest made his way around Wassenberg and into the lead. From there on, he withstood more yellows and finished with the win. The racer really making an exciting charge through the pack, was Clint Luellen. Luellen had to go to the pits to change a tire after a car spun out right in front of him, and he had no place to go. He tagged the field and FLEW through the pack to take the runner up spot. He finished just ahead of Wassenberg in third. Fourth was Travis Petersen and Chad Shaw, from Missouri, had a nice run after starting well back in the field, and finished fifth. VanDeest repeated his win from last week.
The IMCA Stock Cars went their usual 18-laps. The feature was pretty much dominated by Newton's Michael Jaennette. Jaennette led by lap two and held it to the checkers. He survived an unusual amount of yellow flag situations in the Stock Cars, but held off any challenges on the restart. As laps wound down, Trent Murphy mounted a challenge for a front position, and at lap thirteen, Jaennette, Murphy and Donavon Smith went at it three-wide down the back chute. At the checkers, Jaennette won comfortably, and Murphy held of Smith as they finished second and third in that order. Visiting Jason Minnehan was fourth and Steve Meyer recovered from a near spin earlier, and took fifth. Jaennette took his third win of the season at Marshalltown.
The evening was capped off with a 25-lap Modified feature and a $1,000 waiting for the winner. All 26 cars started the race. It was a draw/redraw----Eric Elliott, and Joel Rust getting the front row. Elliott held the advantage for lap one, but Adam Larson quickly took over by lap two. Luke Wanninger tucked into second place and tenth place starter Richie "G Man" Gustin was running third by lap four. Larson was holding tight to the top spot as Wanninger and Gustin duked it out. Gustin took the runner up spot at lap fifteen and a couple of laps later, made a slide job in turn four work to his advantage, slipping in front of Larson as they came to the flagstand. A yellow at lap twenty-one was no hindrance to the Gilman, Iowa driver as he sped off at the restart. He motored home comfortably to the checkers and the win. Larson held on to the runner up spot, Wanninger was third. Point leader "Uncle" Ronn Lauritzen looked good on his more comfortable short track, racing from starting eighth to take fourth, and visiting Missouri racer, Hunter Marriott rounded out the top five. Richie Gustin isn't called "G Money" for no reason. He often takes home the big bucks at a high paying race. It was no different on this night, as he went home $1,000 richer.
The Marshalltown Police force was represented at the track last night. They had a nostalgic old police cruiser on display behind the stands, as well as two other new units. One was a "K-9" unit and a police dog---that they explained was also called "an officer". He demonstrated some of his skills in front of the stands....going at a person with a padded sleeve when given the command....immediately and aggressively. It was explained that he knows when he is "working" and when not. He is with the officer and his family at home and is a gentle, family pet/member there.
Last night completed our fifth straight night of racing.....tonight at Boone Speedway will end a six-night run. We've enjoyed our travels for "Iowa Hawkeye Speed Week", but will look forward to a little R and R until our next race. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Seventeen Mod Lites came for some fun around the high banks last night. After two tries, the feature finally got its first lap in the books---Joe Glick leading the field. Glick continued to hold down the top spot through two more yellows. At that second yellow at lap seven, Glick had Travis Brandt sitting in second behind him, but Jimmy May had been pressuring as he rode in third. After the restart, May made the pass on Brandt and into the runner up spot and was now in hot pursuit of leader Glick. May kept peeking to the outside and finally made it pay off, leading at lap thirteen. May kept hold of that point spot and took the checkers and the win. Glick took home the runner up prize, Terry Brown finished third, Andy Hennigar came from starting ninth, to finish fourth, and Travis Brandt fell back a bit and took fifth. May won for the third time at the track this year.
The Hobby Stock 12-lap feature went flag to flag. Veteran racer, Steve Fricke who has just returned to the racing scene this year after being absent for quite some time, led the opening laps. He had some FAST company behind him though. Eric Larson started in the fifth row, and took over the point at lap four. By this time, Eric Stanton was fighting his way around Fricke for second and looking for more. By lap six, Stanton had established the lead, Larson falling to second. Stanton maintained that coveted spot to the checkers flying and nabbing the win. Larson held second, John Watson came from starting eleventh, to finish third.
Fourth place went to Austin Luellen who just beat Garrett Eilander in fifth. Stanton was a happy camper in victory lane, getting his fourth victory of the season at Marshalltown.
The SportMods went 18-laps. It looked as if visiting Wisconsinite Tracy Wassenberg was going home with a win under his belt, looking strong in the lead in the early portion of the race. It was a yellow plagued race for sure, and after one of those yellows at lap nine, Jared VanDeest made his way around Wassenberg and into the lead. From there on, he withstood more yellows and finished with the win. The racer really making an exciting charge through the pack, was Clint Luellen. Luellen had to go to the pits to change a tire after a car spun out right in front of him, and he had no place to go. He tagged the field and FLEW through the pack to take the runner up spot. He finished just ahead of Wassenberg in third. Fourth was Travis Petersen and Chad Shaw, from Missouri, had a nice run after starting well back in the field, and finished fifth. VanDeest repeated his win from last week.
The IMCA Stock Cars went their usual 18-laps. The feature was pretty much dominated by Newton's Michael Jaennette. Jaennette led by lap two and held it to the checkers. He survived an unusual amount of yellow flag situations in the Stock Cars, but held off any challenges on the restart. As laps wound down, Trent Murphy mounted a challenge for a front position, and at lap thirteen, Jaennette, Murphy and Donavon Smith went at it three-wide down the back chute. At the checkers, Jaennette won comfortably, and Murphy held of Smith as they finished second and third in that order. Visiting Jason Minnehan was fourth and Steve Meyer recovered from a near spin earlier, and took fifth. Jaennette took his third win of the season at Marshalltown.
The evening was capped off with a 25-lap Modified feature and a $1,000 waiting for the winner. All 26 cars started the race. It was a draw/redraw----Eric Elliott, and Joel Rust getting the front row. Elliott held the advantage for lap one, but Adam Larson quickly took over by lap two. Luke Wanninger tucked into second place and tenth place starter Richie "G Man" Gustin was running third by lap four. Larson was holding tight to the top spot as Wanninger and Gustin duked it out. Gustin took the runner up spot at lap fifteen and a couple of laps later, made a slide job in turn four work to his advantage, slipping in front of Larson as they came to the flagstand. A yellow at lap twenty-one was no hindrance to the Gilman, Iowa driver as he sped off at the restart. He motored home comfortably to the checkers and the win. Larson held on to the runner up spot, Wanninger was third. Point leader "Uncle" Ronn Lauritzen looked good on his more comfortable short track, racing from starting eighth to take fourth, and visiting Missouri racer, Hunter Marriott rounded out the top five. Richie Gustin isn't called "G Money" for no reason. He often takes home the big bucks at a high paying race. It was no different on this night, as he went home $1,000 richer.
The Marshalltown Police force was represented at the track last night. They had a nostalgic old police cruiser on display behind the stands, as well as two other new units. One was a "K-9" unit and a police dog---that they explained was also called "an officer". He demonstrated some of his skills in front of the stands....going at a person with a padded sleeve when given the command....immediately and aggressively. It was explained that he knows when he is "working" and when not. He is with the officer and his family at home and is a gentle, family pet/member there.
Last night completed our fifth straight night of racing.....tonight at Boone Speedway will end a six-night run. We've enjoyed our travels for "Iowa Hawkeye Speed Week", but will look forward to a little R and R until our next race. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Friday, July 18, 2014
"Clash" cash to Abelson - Lowry takes SportMod portion
The 23rd Annual Harris Clash was held last night at the famed Knoxville Raceway. This year, the Modifieds were also running as a Hawkeye Dirt Tour race for the first time. The SportMods had their Harris Clash portion of the program as well, plus the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks were a support class.
The Dirt Trucks ran their 12-lap feature as the Mods and SportMods readied for their turn. There were nine competitors in attendance. Matt Moro led the first lap only to have a yellow fly. At lap two, another yellow flew, this time it was Kevin Sather at the helm. Those two would make it a close contest upfront with Moro getting command as the race was winding down. However, Sather wasn't done yet and with a move down in turn one, did a little "rubbin' is racin" move to take over the top spot. He would then sail home to the checkers first, Moro behind him in second. Third place was Carl Knight, AJ Nelson was fourth and Pat Gordin was fifth. Bret Moyer and Brad Moyer were the final two finishers. Lou Sipolt ended up being towed off on the hook and Bryan Spangler also did not finish. Sather hurried to victory lane, but it was quickly announced that he was being penalized one spot for "questionable driving" and Moro was declared the winner. This brought some vocalization from the crowd in attendance!!
The SportMods ran a 20-lap main event on the historic half-mile. They qualified through six heats and four B mains. The 58 cars were locked down to 24 on the start. It did not start well at all as three cars ended up in a mishap in turn one, halting the action. It took a while to clear the track and one car had to be hauled off on the rollback....the B00K of Dylan Book. Glen Gladson and former two-time winner of the Clash, Matt Lettow were also involved. Lettow was able to rejoin the field for the restart. The race leader when the race was stopped was the 222 of Dustin Crist from Missouri. But while still under caution, he would suddenly exit to the pits! This put second place runner Brett Lowry in command for the restart. From there on, the race went caution free with Lowry at the helm the entire time. Lowry circled the track smoothly, lap after lap, putting his ride mid-track in turns three and four, and low in corners one and two. He stretched his lead and took the checkers by almost a straightaway. The 777 of Omaha driver Cody Olson was second after starting tenth on the grid. Behind him, is where there had been some real action on the track. Minburn, Iowa driver Ty Luellen was third, holding off Matt Looft from Swea City in fourth and Minnesota racer Jared Boumeester in fifth. Winner Lowry who hails from Montezuma, Iowa celebrated in victory lane, receiving hardware and the $1,000 payoff.
The IMCA Modifieds had qualified through eight heats and four B mains. This weeded the 80 cars to twenty-four. Three provisionals were tagged to the tail those being Cayden Carter, Tim Ward and Jay Noteboom. I believe Carter and Ward were for first non-qualifying HDT drivers, and Noteboom as a previous Clash winner.
Lap one scored Aaron Turnbull, from Estavan, Saskatchewan, Canada as the leader. Turnbull still led at lap four when a red flag was flown for a nasty incident right before the flagstand, It appeared to be a chain reaction when a car bogged down, with Jesse Sobbing, Colt Mather and Todd Shute getting the worst end of the deal when they piled into each other. All drivers emerged unaided from their cars.... Sobbing noticeably limping to the pits. When things got back underway after the lengthy stoppage in action to clear the track, plus another no go caution, Turnbull pulled off from his competitors. Kurt Kile made his way to second, Mike VanGenderen followed in third, and Jeff Joldersma not far behind. However, it was the guy running fifth that was flying through the pack. It was the 1X of Sioux City's Chris Abelson. Abelson had qualified through a B main and was really making headway. Turnbull continued his comfortable ride at the point, VanGenderen had moved around Kile to take over second when another caution flew with nine laps remaining. On the restart, Kile got the jump on the 57V of VanGenderen, and took over the runner up spot, and Abelson flew around the outside passing VanGenderen too and into third. There were just six laps remaining, when Abelson, who had now taken second, was reeling in leader Turnbull. A lap later, Abelson flew to the lead and motored off from Turnbull. Abelson crossed under the checkers a comfortable distance ahead of Turnbull in second. He went home with the $2,000 winner's prize. VanGenderen fought back around Kile in the final laps and was scored in third, Kile scored fourth. Luke Wanninger, started sixteenth and was scored fifth. Shortly after the race was completed, it was announced that second place finisher, Aaron Turnbull had not made weight and was disqualified. This gave second place to Mike VanGenderen, third to Kile, fourth to Wanninger and Kyle Strickler was credited with fifth. Strickler, the North Carolina driver had won the two previous Harris Clashes. He had issues early in the race, went to the pits and recovered nicely for a top placing finish.
It was a late night, racing completed right at 11:47 p.m., due much in part to the numerous cautions throughout the night. We were hoping the Modifieds would continue their "Hawkeye Modified Speed Week" as it had been going......all going caution free in the features. It was not to be. Still, we enjoyed our night at Knoxville. We always love seeing the drivers who show for this prestigious show from near and far. All corners of Iowa and in between were represented, plus the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, and North Carolina and Canada. As the evening wore on, those of us sitting at the top of the grandstand were getting pretty cold. It was more like football weather, than a July racing night!
Thanks for reading, and happy racing!
The Dirt Trucks ran their 12-lap feature as the Mods and SportMods readied for their turn. There were nine competitors in attendance. Matt Moro led the first lap only to have a yellow fly. At lap two, another yellow flew, this time it was Kevin Sather at the helm. Those two would make it a close contest upfront with Moro getting command as the race was winding down. However, Sather wasn't done yet and with a move down in turn one, did a little "rubbin' is racin" move to take over the top spot. He would then sail home to the checkers first, Moro behind him in second. Third place was Carl Knight, AJ Nelson was fourth and Pat Gordin was fifth. Bret Moyer and Brad Moyer were the final two finishers. Lou Sipolt ended up being towed off on the hook and Bryan Spangler also did not finish. Sather hurried to victory lane, but it was quickly announced that he was being penalized one spot for "questionable driving" and Moro was declared the winner. This brought some vocalization from the crowd in attendance!!
The SportMods ran a 20-lap main event on the historic half-mile. They qualified through six heats and four B mains. The 58 cars were locked down to 24 on the start. It did not start well at all as three cars ended up in a mishap in turn one, halting the action. It took a while to clear the track and one car had to be hauled off on the rollback....the B00K of Dylan Book. Glen Gladson and former two-time winner of the Clash, Matt Lettow were also involved. Lettow was able to rejoin the field for the restart. The race leader when the race was stopped was the 222 of Dustin Crist from Missouri. But while still under caution, he would suddenly exit to the pits! This put second place runner Brett Lowry in command for the restart. From there on, the race went caution free with Lowry at the helm the entire time. Lowry circled the track smoothly, lap after lap, putting his ride mid-track in turns three and four, and low in corners one and two. He stretched his lead and took the checkers by almost a straightaway. The 777 of Omaha driver Cody Olson was second after starting tenth on the grid. Behind him, is where there had been some real action on the track. Minburn, Iowa driver Ty Luellen was third, holding off Matt Looft from Swea City in fourth and Minnesota racer Jared Boumeester in fifth. Winner Lowry who hails from Montezuma, Iowa celebrated in victory lane, receiving hardware and the $1,000 payoff.
The IMCA Modifieds had qualified through eight heats and four B mains. This weeded the 80 cars to twenty-four. Three provisionals were tagged to the tail those being Cayden Carter, Tim Ward and Jay Noteboom. I believe Carter and Ward were for first non-qualifying HDT drivers, and Noteboom as a previous Clash winner.
Lap one scored Aaron Turnbull, from Estavan, Saskatchewan, Canada as the leader. Turnbull still led at lap four when a red flag was flown for a nasty incident right before the flagstand, It appeared to be a chain reaction when a car bogged down, with Jesse Sobbing, Colt Mather and Todd Shute getting the worst end of the deal when they piled into each other. All drivers emerged unaided from their cars.... Sobbing noticeably limping to the pits. When things got back underway after the lengthy stoppage in action to clear the track, plus another no go caution, Turnbull pulled off from his competitors. Kurt Kile made his way to second, Mike VanGenderen followed in third, and Jeff Joldersma not far behind. However, it was the guy running fifth that was flying through the pack. It was the 1X of Sioux City's Chris Abelson. Abelson had qualified through a B main and was really making headway. Turnbull continued his comfortable ride at the point, VanGenderen had moved around Kile to take over second when another caution flew with nine laps remaining. On the restart, Kile got the jump on the 57V of VanGenderen, and took over the runner up spot, and Abelson flew around the outside passing VanGenderen too and into third. There were just six laps remaining, when Abelson, who had now taken second, was reeling in leader Turnbull. A lap later, Abelson flew to the lead and motored off from Turnbull. Abelson crossed under the checkers a comfortable distance ahead of Turnbull in second. He went home with the $2,000 winner's prize. VanGenderen fought back around Kile in the final laps and was scored in third, Kile scored fourth. Luke Wanninger, started sixteenth and was scored fifth. Shortly after the race was completed, it was announced that second place finisher, Aaron Turnbull had not made weight and was disqualified. This gave second place to Mike VanGenderen, third to Kile, fourth to Wanninger and Kyle Strickler was credited with fifth. Strickler, the North Carolina driver had won the two previous Harris Clashes. He had issues early in the race, went to the pits and recovered nicely for a top placing finish.
It was a late night, racing completed right at 11:47 p.m., due much in part to the numerous cautions throughout the night. We were hoping the Modifieds would continue their "Hawkeye Modified Speed Week" as it had been going......all going caution free in the features. It was not to be. Still, we enjoyed our night at Knoxville. We always love seeing the drivers who show for this prestigious show from near and far. All corners of Iowa and in between were represented, plus the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, and North Carolina and Canada. As the evening wore on, those of us sitting at the top of the grandstand were getting pretty cold. It was more like football weather, than a July racing night!
Thanks for reading, and happy racing!
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Marriott, Luellen and Marolf get first SIS wins - Hall of Fame inductees honored
The Southern Iowa Speedway held its second night of Southern Iowa Fair racing on Wednesday night and a beautiful night it was. The weather was great for the second consecutive night of racing and for the inaugural induction of the first five Hall of Fame members. A nice crowd in the stands saw three first time winners emerge, and three other drivers just kept racking up the victories.
Sport Compacts found Bill "Happy Feet" Whalen back in the winner's circle. Whalen snatched the lead at lap four and was never challenged again. Second was Trent Orwig, John Whalen took third, new driver Matt Girdley finished fourth and Matt Moore was fifth. Whalen has seven wins at the Speedway and told announcer Tony Paris in the post race interview, the total for the year is seventeen.
Winner of the Hobby Stock feature, Mike Hughes said the track was "bad fast, nice and smooth". Hughes started fifth on the grid (it was another draw/redraw format) and was leading before lap two was scored. Hughes passed Nick Ulin for that lead, and from there on, was out for a Sunday drive. Dustin Griffiths came from row four to take the runner up spot, Nick Ulin was third, Craig Brown was fourth and Doug Gordon, Jr. was fifth. Hughes made this win five-in-a-row and a total of nine at Osky this season.
The IMCA Northern SportMods went sixteen laps for their A main. Tony Johnson led the field on the first lap, but hot shoe Clint Luellen had the lead even before lap two was scored. Jason McDaniel mounted a challenge and got past Luellen with a handful of laps in the book and then last night's winner Brett Lowry threw his hat in the ring too. They went three wide down the back chute on lap twelve, and when lap thirteen was scored, Luellen had once again nabbed the lead. Luellen kept hold of that coveted first position and took the double checkers. Lowry peeked under McDaniel with a lap to go, but just couldn't make it work---McDaniel holding the runner up spot and Lowry taking third. Fourth was Brayton Carter who had a great run in coming from row six, and Curtis Van Der Wal made his way through traffic from row seven, to round out the top five. This was Luellen's first win at Osky but I believe his twelfth over all. He has been having a great season and seems to always have a good run at any track we see him in attendance.
It was an 18-lap feature for the Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars. Todd Reitzler took advantage of his #1 redraw starting spot, taking the lead at lap one. However, he soon had a bunch of company behind him! By lap three, there was a pack of six cars all vying for position. Corey "from just across the street" Stout nabbed the lead away from Reitzler at lap four, Damon Murty, Brad Pinkerton, Justin Temeyer and Cayden Carter tightening the screws for a better position. Carter ducked under the battling clump of cars, taking over the runner up spot at lap eight. A yellow would come out on lap nine, when Reitzler was out of the game, his ride off power at the top of turn two. When the race got back underway, Stout held the top spot, but a three-wide battle on the back chute found Cayden Carter and his Orange Crush machine snatching it away. Carter checked out from there on, taking the flying checkers for the third race straight at Osky. It was hot and heavy racing behind him however, as the same cars duked it out that had been jousting all night long. Murty took second place, Stout was third, Temeyer finished fourth and Pinkerton was fifth. Carter is becoming a dominate driver in the fendered division this year, snaring his fifth win in the 10cc machine of Roger Kelderman. Bobby Greiner, Jr., one of the Hall of Fame inductees, was called to the frontstretch for the victory lane photos. How ironic that the car sitting in the winner's circle that night was one of Bobby's old race cars.
Many of the Modified racers from the night before's Hawkeye Dirt Tour race, stuck around for another try to tame the Osky track. Many were in the area for the Harris Clash that is on tap for the famed Knoxville Raceway tonight. There were a few new faces as well. Twenty-seven drivers took the green flag for the Modified A main.
Hunter Marriott, the driver out of Brookfield, Missouri....close to Moberly, has been fast all week at the races we have attended. He drew the pole for his heat race, won it, and followed that up with the #1 pill for the start of the 22-lap Modified feature. He kept his night perfect by winning the caution free feature by a comfortable margin, leading all laps. Colt Mather ran second all night and finished as the runner up. There was some good racing behind the two top cars, as Jacob Murray and Luke Wanninger fought it out and then Jesse Sobbing got in the mix trying to mount a challenge for a top spot. Sobbing got to third, but his move forward ended there, finishing behind Mather. Jacob Murray took fourth and Wanninger completed the top five. Marriott snared his first ever win at the Southern Iowa Speedway.
The racing ended with the 20-lap Late Model feature. This one was pretty much a snoozer for winner Nick Marolf. He led the entire caution free race. Marolf took the double checkers by more than a half-lap over second place Tommy Elston. Todd Cooney finished a distant third, Jeremy Grady was fourth and Kevin Kile was fifth.
Earlier, before racing began, there was an accident in the far back pit area. Smoke arose and a frantic call for help resulted in the safety crew called to the area. Before long, the city ambulance and fire truck were on scene and a patient was transported. Announcer Tony Paris later told the crowd that the accident caused injury to Frank Springsteen, father of Late Model racer Colby Springsteen. Please keep him and the family in your thoughts and prayers.
The coolest part of the whole evening was the induction ceremony for the inaugural five drivers voted into the Southern Iowa Speedway Hall of Fame. I had the honor to help in compiling a list of names---well over a hundred---that was whittled down to twenty-five candidates this first year. This first year, it was decided that those on the list would have to be out of racing for at least five years, only one name from a family, or deceased. Out of that list of twenty-five candidates, fans and drivers voted by ballot at the track back in June to determine the winners. It was quite an induction ceremony for sure....and very emotional and heartwarming. Drivers and friends formed a tunnel of honor for the inductees to walk through after they were introduced.
Aaron Brown was the first one introduced. Aaron tragically lost his life in a non-racing accident a number of years ago. He was always a top contender in the Stock Car class each and every Wednesday night back in the '90's. He was a respected driver who was always willing to share his knowledge of racing with others. I believe it was his son and daughter who accepted the award.
Next up was Randy Schroeder. He scored not only Modified track championships at Osky but also had a championship in the Stock Car division. The Schroeder family has long been involved with racing, brother Terry being a hot shoe at Osky as well. Randy's son Andrew Schroeder is carrying on the family tradition and having great success in the Modified class.
Denny Banks was next. His #22 Modified, often red if I recall, competed for years at the Southern Iowa Speedway. He was always a contender whenever he hit the track He was a competitor in the IMCA Modified division from it's early year's of conception. His son Brandon is carrying on that family's racing heritage, racing in the Modified division as #22.
Bill Davis, Sr. was inducted next. Davis and his familiar and always perfect looking yellow #1+ (Chevy emblem) was not only successful at the big old half-mile in Osky, but copped two IMCA National Championships in the Modified division as well. The Davis family is going strong in the racing world yet. His son Billy Davis, Jr. pilots that traditional Bill Davis #1+ machine, and grandson's campaign in the SportMod class.
The final inductee was Bobby Greiner, Jr. There was no way that he could not have been included in this year's ballot. Love him or hate him....and by the "boo birds" in the stands trying to out sound the cheers, he always was a popular driver at the track....filling the grandstand each Wednesday night just to cheer FOR or AGAINST him. Those that cheered against him, should have taken a moment to catch up with him in the pits and find out just how congenial he is. Bobby also was an IMCA National Champion in the Stock Car division....adding to the list of Champions who raced regularly at the Osky track over the years.
All five inductees deserve the honor bestowed last night. It will be interesting to see who will next be on the Hall of Fame as well in the years ahead. There are SO many that deserve this honor. Thanks to Mike VanGenderen for bringing this Hall of Fame to fruition. A banner will be hung under the grandstand for last night's honorees as well as those in the future.
Thanks for reading and Happy Racing!
Sport Compacts found Bill "Happy Feet" Whalen back in the winner's circle. Whalen snatched the lead at lap four and was never challenged again. Second was Trent Orwig, John Whalen took third, new driver Matt Girdley finished fourth and Matt Moore was fifth. Whalen has seven wins at the Speedway and told announcer Tony Paris in the post race interview, the total for the year is seventeen.
Winner of the Hobby Stock feature, Mike Hughes said the track was "bad fast, nice and smooth". Hughes started fifth on the grid (it was another draw/redraw format) and was leading before lap two was scored. Hughes passed Nick Ulin for that lead, and from there on, was out for a Sunday drive. Dustin Griffiths came from row four to take the runner up spot, Nick Ulin was third, Craig Brown was fourth and Doug Gordon, Jr. was fifth. Hughes made this win five-in-a-row and a total of nine at Osky this season.
The IMCA Northern SportMods went sixteen laps for their A main. Tony Johnson led the field on the first lap, but hot shoe Clint Luellen had the lead even before lap two was scored. Jason McDaniel mounted a challenge and got past Luellen with a handful of laps in the book and then last night's winner Brett Lowry threw his hat in the ring too. They went three wide down the back chute on lap twelve, and when lap thirteen was scored, Luellen had once again nabbed the lead. Luellen kept hold of that coveted first position and took the double checkers. Lowry peeked under McDaniel with a lap to go, but just couldn't make it work---McDaniel holding the runner up spot and Lowry taking third. Fourth was Brayton Carter who had a great run in coming from row six, and Curtis Van Der Wal made his way through traffic from row seven, to round out the top five. This was Luellen's first win at Osky but I believe his twelfth over all. He has been having a great season and seems to always have a good run at any track we see him in attendance.
It was an 18-lap feature for the Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars. Todd Reitzler took advantage of his #1 redraw starting spot, taking the lead at lap one. However, he soon had a bunch of company behind him! By lap three, there was a pack of six cars all vying for position. Corey "from just across the street" Stout nabbed the lead away from Reitzler at lap four, Damon Murty, Brad Pinkerton, Justin Temeyer and Cayden Carter tightening the screws for a better position. Carter ducked under the battling clump of cars, taking over the runner up spot at lap eight. A yellow would come out on lap nine, when Reitzler was out of the game, his ride off power at the top of turn two. When the race got back underway, Stout held the top spot, but a three-wide battle on the back chute found Cayden Carter and his Orange Crush machine snatching it away. Carter checked out from there on, taking the flying checkers for the third race straight at Osky. It was hot and heavy racing behind him however, as the same cars duked it out that had been jousting all night long. Murty took second place, Stout was third, Temeyer finished fourth and Pinkerton was fifth. Carter is becoming a dominate driver in the fendered division this year, snaring his fifth win in the 10cc machine of Roger Kelderman. Bobby Greiner, Jr., one of the Hall of Fame inductees, was called to the frontstretch for the victory lane photos. How ironic that the car sitting in the winner's circle that night was one of Bobby's old race cars.
Many of the Modified racers from the night before's Hawkeye Dirt Tour race, stuck around for another try to tame the Osky track. Many were in the area for the Harris Clash that is on tap for the famed Knoxville Raceway tonight. There were a few new faces as well. Twenty-seven drivers took the green flag for the Modified A main.
Hunter Marriott, the driver out of Brookfield, Missouri....close to Moberly, has been fast all week at the races we have attended. He drew the pole for his heat race, won it, and followed that up with the #1 pill for the start of the 22-lap Modified feature. He kept his night perfect by winning the caution free feature by a comfortable margin, leading all laps. Colt Mather ran second all night and finished as the runner up. There was some good racing behind the two top cars, as Jacob Murray and Luke Wanninger fought it out and then Jesse Sobbing got in the mix trying to mount a challenge for a top spot. Sobbing got to third, but his move forward ended there, finishing behind Mather. Jacob Murray took fourth and Wanninger completed the top five. Marriott snared his first ever win at the Southern Iowa Speedway.
The racing ended with the 20-lap Late Model feature. This one was pretty much a snoozer for winner Nick Marolf. He led the entire caution free race. Marolf took the double checkers by more than a half-lap over second place Tommy Elston. Todd Cooney finished a distant third, Jeremy Grady was fourth and Kevin Kile was fifth.
Earlier, before racing began, there was an accident in the far back pit area. Smoke arose and a frantic call for help resulted in the safety crew called to the area. Before long, the city ambulance and fire truck were on scene and a patient was transported. Announcer Tony Paris later told the crowd that the accident caused injury to Frank Springsteen, father of Late Model racer Colby Springsteen. Please keep him and the family in your thoughts and prayers.
The coolest part of the whole evening was the induction ceremony for the inaugural five drivers voted into the Southern Iowa Speedway Hall of Fame. I had the honor to help in compiling a list of names---well over a hundred---that was whittled down to twenty-five candidates this first year. This first year, it was decided that those on the list would have to be out of racing for at least five years, only one name from a family, or deceased. Out of that list of twenty-five candidates, fans and drivers voted by ballot at the track back in June to determine the winners. It was quite an induction ceremony for sure....and very emotional and heartwarming. Drivers and friends formed a tunnel of honor for the inductees to walk through after they were introduced.
Aaron Brown was the first one introduced. Aaron tragically lost his life in a non-racing accident a number of years ago. He was always a top contender in the Stock Car class each and every Wednesday night back in the '90's. He was a respected driver who was always willing to share his knowledge of racing with others. I believe it was his son and daughter who accepted the award.
Next up was Randy Schroeder. He scored not only Modified track championships at Osky but also had a championship in the Stock Car division. The Schroeder family has long been involved with racing, brother Terry being a hot shoe at Osky as well. Randy's son Andrew Schroeder is carrying on the family tradition and having great success in the Modified class.
Denny Banks was next. His #22 Modified, often red if I recall, competed for years at the Southern Iowa Speedway. He was always a contender whenever he hit the track He was a competitor in the IMCA Modified division from it's early year's of conception. His son Brandon is carrying on that family's racing heritage, racing in the Modified division as #22.
Bill Davis, Sr. was inducted next. Davis and his familiar and always perfect looking yellow #1+ (Chevy emblem) was not only successful at the big old half-mile in Osky, but copped two IMCA National Championships in the Modified division as well. The Davis family is going strong in the racing world yet. His son Billy Davis, Jr. pilots that traditional Bill Davis #1+ machine, and grandson's campaign in the SportMod class.
The final inductee was Bobby Greiner, Jr. There was no way that he could not have been included in this year's ballot. Love him or hate him....and by the "boo birds" in the stands trying to out sound the cheers, he always was a popular driver at the track....filling the grandstand each Wednesday night just to cheer FOR or AGAINST him. Those that cheered against him, should have taken a moment to catch up with him in the pits and find out just how congenial he is. Bobby also was an IMCA National Champion in the Stock Car division....adding to the list of Champions who raced regularly at the Osky track over the years.
All five inductees deserve the honor bestowed last night. It will be interesting to see who will next be on the Hall of Fame as well in the years ahead. There are SO many that deserve this honor. Thanks to Mike VanGenderen for bringing this Hall of Fame to fruition. A banner will be hung under the grandstand for last night's honorees as well as those in the future.
Thanks for reading and Happy Racing!
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Osky - 7-16-14
Unofficial results:
Late Model:
1. 33 Nick Marolf - by over half a lap
2. 45 Tommy Elston
3. 30 Todd Cooney
4. 43 Jeremy Grady
5. 88 Kevin Kile
6. 31 Chad Cooney
7. 32 Curtis Glover
DNS: 38 Colby Springsteen - a personal injury accident in pits prior to races. Please keep Frank Springsteen in your prayers.
Modified
1. 62 Hunter Marriott
2. 44 Colt Mather
3. 99 Jesse Sobbing
4. 48J Jacob Murray
5. 20X Luke Wanninger
6. 8 Kyle Strickler
7. 02 Andrew Schroeder
8. 12 Mark Elliott
9. 49J Jason Murray
10. 12D Scott Drake
11. 5 Todd Shute
12. 23JR Nick Roberts
13. 77 Kurt Kile
14. 6s Jason Schoenberger
15. 10CC Cayden Carter
16. 64 Casey Greubel
17. 71W Jeff Waterman
18. 40 Scott Dickey
19. 21 Aaron Turnbull
20. 775s Eric Scribner
21. 1+ Billy Davis, Jr.
22. 137 Bill Pitteway
DNF: 60 William Gould
21K Kyle Brown
20W Shay Woods
12J Dustin Boney (in Justin O'Brien's car)
24X Tom Silver
Stock Car
1. 10CC Cayden Carter
2. 99D Damon Murty
3. 94 Corey Stout
4. 56T Justin Temeyer
5. 62 Brad Pinkerton
6. 19 Donnie Pearson
7. 52 Nathan Wood
8. 85 Doug Sylvester
9. 87 Les Blakley
10. 7 Todd Phillips
11. 17 Brock Welch
12. 7S Kelsie Spilman
DNF: 22R Todd Reitzler
SportMod
1. 3L Clint Luellen
2. 85 Jason McDaniel
3. 72 Brett Lowry
4. 01 Brayton Carter
5. 1V Curtis VanDerWal
6. 7 Carter VanDenBerg
7. 3D Daniel Gottschalk
8. 8T Tony Johnson
9. 13T Taylor Musselman
10. 9A Logan Anderson
11. 19 Damon Murty
12. 30 Shawn Cooney
13. 29 Colton Livezey
14. 2+ Bill Wears
15. 6T Siraj Thomason
16. 53 Greg Strohman
DNF: 352 Charlie Weber
27 Bryon Weyer
1+ Kendall Davis
Hobby Stock
1. 11 Mike Hughes
2. 10G Dustin Griffiths
3. 21 Nick Ulin
4. 69 Craig Brown
5. 77 Doug Gordon, Jr.
6. 20 Andrew Hustead
7. 19 Bill Bonnett
8. 84 Danny Thrasher
9. 3 Travis Bunnell
10. 7A Aaron Osweiler
11. 32T Bobby Greene
12. 224 Gina Greubel
DNF: 3s Steve Allen
01 Brandon Potts
6s Shannon Sherwood
Sport Compacts
1. 00W Bill Whalen, Jr.
2. 04 Trent Orwig
3. 77 John Whalen
4. 33 Matt Girdley
5. 2M Matt Moore
6. 5J John Menius
7. 22K Jimmy Haring
DNF: 95 Tim Bevins
Late Model:
1. 33 Nick Marolf - by over half a lap
2. 45 Tommy Elston
3. 30 Todd Cooney
4. 43 Jeremy Grady
5. 88 Kevin Kile
6. 31 Chad Cooney
7. 32 Curtis Glover
DNS: 38 Colby Springsteen - a personal injury accident in pits prior to races. Please keep Frank Springsteen in your prayers.
Modified
1. 62 Hunter Marriott
2. 44 Colt Mather
3. 99 Jesse Sobbing
4. 48J Jacob Murray
5. 20X Luke Wanninger
6. 8 Kyle Strickler
7. 02 Andrew Schroeder
8. 12 Mark Elliott
9. 49J Jason Murray
10. 12D Scott Drake
11. 5 Todd Shute
12. 23JR Nick Roberts
13. 77 Kurt Kile
14. 6s Jason Schoenberger
15. 10CC Cayden Carter
16. 64 Casey Greubel
17. 71W Jeff Waterman
18. 40 Scott Dickey
19. 21 Aaron Turnbull
20. 775s Eric Scribner
21. 1+ Billy Davis, Jr.
22. 137 Bill Pitteway
DNF: 60 William Gould
21K Kyle Brown
20W Shay Woods
12J Dustin Boney (in Justin O'Brien's car)
24X Tom Silver
Stock Car
1. 10CC Cayden Carter
2. 99D Damon Murty
3. 94 Corey Stout
4. 56T Justin Temeyer
5. 62 Brad Pinkerton
6. 19 Donnie Pearson
7. 52 Nathan Wood
8. 85 Doug Sylvester
9. 87 Les Blakley
10. 7 Todd Phillips
11. 17 Brock Welch
12. 7S Kelsie Spilman
DNF: 22R Todd Reitzler
SportMod
1. 3L Clint Luellen
2. 85 Jason McDaniel
3. 72 Brett Lowry
4. 01 Brayton Carter
5. 1V Curtis VanDerWal
6. 7 Carter VanDenBerg
7. 3D Daniel Gottschalk
8. 8T Tony Johnson
9. 13T Taylor Musselman
10. 9A Logan Anderson
11. 19 Damon Murty
12. 30 Shawn Cooney
13. 29 Colton Livezey
14. 2+ Bill Wears
15. 6T Siraj Thomason
16. 53 Greg Strohman
DNF: 352 Charlie Weber
27 Bryon Weyer
1+ Kendall Davis
Hobby Stock
1. 11 Mike Hughes
2. 10G Dustin Griffiths
3. 21 Nick Ulin
4. 69 Craig Brown
5. 77 Doug Gordon, Jr.
6. 20 Andrew Hustead
7. 19 Bill Bonnett
8. 84 Danny Thrasher
9. 3 Travis Bunnell
10. 7A Aaron Osweiler
11. 32T Bobby Greene
12. 224 Gina Greubel
DNF: 3s Steve Allen
01 Brandon Potts
6s Shannon Sherwood
Sport Compacts
1. 00W Bill Whalen, Jr.
2. 04 Trent Orwig
3. 77 John Whalen
4. 33 Matt Girdley
5. 2M Matt Moore
6. 5J John Menius
7. 22K Jimmy Haring
DNF: 95 Tim Bevins
Schroeder wins HDT Fair race at Osky
The Hawkeye Dirt Tour for Modifieds came to Osky on Tuesday night. The Southern Iowa Fair was in full swing and among the sounds and smells of the fair, the roar of not only the Modifieds, but the IMCA Late Models, Stock Cars, SportMods and Hobby Stocks added to the atmosphere. Thirty-two Modifieds competed, representing eight states and one from Canada. Elvis was even in the house! More on that later.
The Stock Cars saddled up first for 18-laps on the Monster. The Orange Crush machine piloted by Cayden Carter, put it in victory lane again for owner Roger Kelderman. Carter leaped to the lead immediately from his outside front row starting position, (it was a draw/redraw format last night for all but the Late Models) and pretty much had it on cruise control from then on. What could have been a real ugly situation high in corner one, halted the racing action at lap six. Brad Pinkerton appeared to have a flat, causing the cars behind to take evasive action. Pinkerton was spun around and Kris Walker and Nathan Wood got caught up in the incident--Wood's car tipped sideways but did not go over thankfully. Pinkerton and Walker exited, while Wood was able to rejoin the field. When racing resumed, Carter drove off again. This wasn't to say that there wasn't a lot of action going on in this race however! There were four cars battling for second! Justin Temeyer, Scott Drake (he was racing Perry Misner's car) Damon Murty and Todd Reitzler were really going at it for much of the race, positions being swapped often. In the end, Carter sailed to the easy victory. Scott Drake held off Justin Temeyer as they were scored second and third. Damon Murty was fourth and Todd Reitzler was fifth.
The Hobby Stock 15-lap event saw Dustin Griffiths take advantage of his outside front row starting spot, leap to the lead and chased by Randy Embrey. A red flag flew at lap seven when Gina Greubel appeared to hit a track tire down in corner four and rolled her machine. She was okay. When racing restarted, Griffiths still held command, Embrey in second, and the familiar #11 of Mike Hughes had made his way into third from starting back in eighth. By the following lap, Hughes made the move into second place, and by lap ten, was leading. Hughes stretched out his lead, and took home another win at Osky. Randy Embrey, Granger, Iowa made his trip over pay off and took home second. Griffiths finished third, Derrick Hodges was fourth and rounding out the top five was Danny Thrasher. Hughes has now scored eight wins at the track this year and four in a row.
The SportMod feature winner was Brett Lowry. Lowry did battle in the early portion of the race with Brayton Carter and finally established the lead for good at lap six. Lowry motored off from the competition while things were getting changed up behind him. Curtis Van Der Wal made the move into second around Carter and then attempted to chase down the leader. He closed the gap a bit, but at the checkers, Lowry was untouched, taking the win comfortably. This was his third win of the season. Van Der Wal finished as the runner up. Minburn, Iowa racer, Clint Luellen, who has been having a very successful season so far, was third, just ahead of Brayton Carter in fourth. Ryan Fullenkamp was scored in fifth.
The top twelve qualifiers in the Hawkeye Dirt Tour heats, were called to the front of the grandstands to get their starting spot determined by a pick of the draw....keep it or pass it to someone else. Todd Shute ended with #1 and Luke Wanninger #2 and it was then time for the 25-lap HDT A main.
Todd Shute liked his pole starting position and leaped to the lead at the start of the 25-lap feature. Shute maintained that lead but by lap eight, company was comin' a knocking. Andrew Schroeder had started fifth and was tucked into second, just ahead of the Flyin' Dutchman, Mike VanGenderen. Those three were sailing out in front of the pack, unchanged until lap twenty-two. Shute jumped the cushion due to lap traffic and Schroeder sneaked under him to take the lead. Schroeder took the double checkers, Shute having to settle for second place. Mike VanGenderen held down third place, Luke Wanninger finished fourth and Jacob Murray made the most headway, coming from starting twelfth, to finish fifth. The race went flag to flag.
I mentioned earlier, the drivers that made the long haul to race last night. Most of those you could see again tonight at Osky for their regular Wednesday night program. The Modifieds are paying $1,000 again tonight, so no doubt, some, if not all, will be looking to take the money home. Those drivers in attendance last night were #60 William Gould from Oklahoma, #12D Scott Drake, and #62 Hunter Marriott from Missouri, the 4TW of Tim Ward out of Arizona, Jeff Waterman, though not that far from home, lives in Illinois, the #137 was Bill Pittaway from Corpus Christi, Texas, Jason Schoenberger is from Kansas, the J14 who unfortunately had his motor go south, was Joey Franklin from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Canada was represented as #21 of Aaron Turnbull came from Saskatchewan, Canada. I mentioned earlier that Elvis was in the house. Joey Franklin, the driver from Las Vegas, is an Elvis impersonator! Yup, the black hair and sideburns and all. He sat not far from us in the grandstand after his night ended up in smoke.
The IMCA Late Models capped off the night's racing. Todd Cooney slipped around Nick Marolf at lap fifteen, withstood a restart situation at lap sixteen when Spencer Dierks hit turn one wall, and held off Marolf in the closing laps to score the win. Marolf took the runner up spot, Keokuk's Tommy Elston was third, and Kevin Kile barely beat out Colby Springsteen at the checkers as they went fourth and fifth respectively.
It's back to the Southern Iowa Speedway for us again tonight. Remember, if you make the trip, the Fair is still on. The Modifieds are racing for $1,000 to win, and all regular classes will be on tap, plus the Late Models come to town for the second night in a row. Thanks for reading, and happy racing!
The Stock Cars saddled up first for 18-laps on the Monster. The Orange Crush machine piloted by Cayden Carter, put it in victory lane again for owner Roger Kelderman. Carter leaped to the lead immediately from his outside front row starting position, (it was a draw/redraw format last night for all but the Late Models) and pretty much had it on cruise control from then on. What could have been a real ugly situation high in corner one, halted the racing action at lap six. Brad Pinkerton appeared to have a flat, causing the cars behind to take evasive action. Pinkerton was spun around and Kris Walker and Nathan Wood got caught up in the incident--Wood's car tipped sideways but did not go over thankfully. Pinkerton and Walker exited, while Wood was able to rejoin the field. When racing resumed, Carter drove off again. This wasn't to say that there wasn't a lot of action going on in this race however! There were four cars battling for second! Justin Temeyer, Scott Drake (he was racing Perry Misner's car) Damon Murty and Todd Reitzler were really going at it for much of the race, positions being swapped often. In the end, Carter sailed to the easy victory. Scott Drake held off Justin Temeyer as they were scored second and third. Damon Murty was fourth and Todd Reitzler was fifth.
The Hobby Stock 15-lap event saw Dustin Griffiths take advantage of his outside front row starting spot, leap to the lead and chased by Randy Embrey. A red flag flew at lap seven when Gina Greubel appeared to hit a track tire down in corner four and rolled her machine. She was okay. When racing restarted, Griffiths still held command, Embrey in second, and the familiar #11 of Mike Hughes had made his way into third from starting back in eighth. By the following lap, Hughes made the move into second place, and by lap ten, was leading. Hughes stretched out his lead, and took home another win at Osky. Randy Embrey, Granger, Iowa made his trip over pay off and took home second. Griffiths finished third, Derrick Hodges was fourth and rounding out the top five was Danny Thrasher. Hughes has now scored eight wins at the track this year and four in a row.
The SportMod feature winner was Brett Lowry. Lowry did battle in the early portion of the race with Brayton Carter and finally established the lead for good at lap six. Lowry motored off from the competition while things were getting changed up behind him. Curtis Van Der Wal made the move into second around Carter and then attempted to chase down the leader. He closed the gap a bit, but at the checkers, Lowry was untouched, taking the win comfortably. This was his third win of the season. Van Der Wal finished as the runner up. Minburn, Iowa racer, Clint Luellen, who has been having a very successful season so far, was third, just ahead of Brayton Carter in fourth. Ryan Fullenkamp was scored in fifth.
The top twelve qualifiers in the Hawkeye Dirt Tour heats, were called to the front of the grandstands to get their starting spot determined by a pick of the draw....keep it or pass it to someone else. Todd Shute ended with #1 and Luke Wanninger #2 and it was then time for the 25-lap HDT A main.
Todd Shute liked his pole starting position and leaped to the lead at the start of the 25-lap feature. Shute maintained that lead but by lap eight, company was comin' a knocking. Andrew Schroeder had started fifth and was tucked into second, just ahead of the Flyin' Dutchman, Mike VanGenderen. Those three were sailing out in front of the pack, unchanged until lap twenty-two. Shute jumped the cushion due to lap traffic and Schroeder sneaked under him to take the lead. Schroeder took the double checkers, Shute having to settle for second place. Mike VanGenderen held down third place, Luke Wanninger finished fourth and Jacob Murray made the most headway, coming from starting twelfth, to finish fifth. The race went flag to flag.
I mentioned earlier, the drivers that made the long haul to race last night. Most of those you could see again tonight at Osky for their regular Wednesday night program. The Modifieds are paying $1,000 again tonight, so no doubt, some, if not all, will be looking to take the money home. Those drivers in attendance last night were #60 William Gould from Oklahoma, #12D Scott Drake, and #62 Hunter Marriott from Missouri, the 4TW of Tim Ward out of Arizona, Jeff Waterman, though not that far from home, lives in Illinois, the #137 was Bill Pittaway from Corpus Christi, Texas, Jason Schoenberger is from Kansas, the J14 who unfortunately had his motor go south, was Joey Franklin from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Canada was represented as #21 of Aaron Turnbull came from Saskatchewan, Canada. I mentioned earlier that Elvis was in the house. Joey Franklin, the driver from Las Vegas, is an Elvis impersonator! Yup, the black hair and sideburns and all. He sat not far from us in the grandstand after his night ended up in smoke.
The IMCA Late Models capped off the night's racing. Todd Cooney slipped around Nick Marolf at lap fifteen, withstood a restart situation at lap sixteen when Spencer Dierks hit turn one wall, and held off Marolf in the closing laps to score the win. Marolf took the runner up spot, Keokuk's Tommy Elston was third, and Kevin Kile barely beat out Colby Springsteen at the checkers as they went fourth and fifth respectively.
It's back to the Southern Iowa Speedway for us again tonight. Remember, if you make the trip, the Fair is still on. The Modifieds are racing for $1,000 to win, and all regular classes will be on tap, plus the Late Models come to town for the second night in a row. Thanks for reading, and happy racing!
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Osky - 7-15-14
Unofficial results:
Hawkeye Dirt Tour Modified Series
1. 02 Andrew Schroeder
2. 5 Todd Shute
3. 57V Mike VanGenderen
4. 20x Luke Wanninger
5. 48J Jacob Murray
6. 10M Jeremy Mills
7. 44 Colt Mather
8. 99 Jesse Sobbing
9. 77 Kurt Kile
10. 21 Aaron Turnbull - Canada
11. 10C Cayden Carter
12. 19G Richie Gustin
13. 12 Mark Elliott
14. 23JR Nick Roberts
DNF: 10K Ronn Lauritzen
71W Jeff Waterman
66 Jeff Joldersma
62 Hunter Marriott - Missouri
12D Scott Drake - Missouri
4TW Tim Ward - Arizona
37 Mike Jergens
6s Jason Schoenberger - Kansas
60 William Gould - Oklahoma
40 Scott Dickey
DNQ: 65D Brandon Brown
21K Kyle Brown
19 Jimmy Gustin
3R Ray Bunnell
J14 Joey Franklin - Las Vegas, Nevada
7N Jay Noteboom
77L Jim Lynch
137 Bill Petteway - Corpus Christi, Texas
Late Model
1. 30 Todd Cooney
2. 33 Nick Marolf
3. 45 Tommy Elston
4. 38 Colby Springsteen
5. 88 Kevin Kile
6. 43 Jeremy Grady
7. 32 Curtis Glover
8. 91 Gabe Umbarger
DNF: 29 Spencer Dierks
Stock Car
1. 10CC Cayden Carter
2. 20M Scott Drake (in Perry Misner's car)
3. 56T Justin Temeyer
4. 99D Damon Murty
5. 22R Todd Reitzler
6. 52 Nathan Wood
7. 87 Les Blakley
8. 19 Donnie Pearson
9. 7 Todd Phillips
10. 85 Doug Sylvester
11. 17 Brock Welch
12. 12 Adam Hagen
DNF: 68 Cole Simmons
62 Brad Pinkerton
77T Trent Jeanes
18 Kris Walker
94 Corey Stout
SportMod
1. 72 Brett Lowry
2. 1V Curtis VanDerWal
3. 3L Clint Luellen
4. 01 Brayton Carter
5. 10R Ryan Fullenkamp
6. 85 Jason McDaniel
7. 8T Tony Johnson
8. 198 Sam Wieben
9. 13T Taylor Musselman
10. 7+ Jared Timmerman
11. 352 Charlie Weber
12. 30 Shawn Cooney
13. 3D Daniel Gottschalk - Kansas
14. 29 Colton Livezey
15. 19 Damon Murty
DNF: 9A Logan Anderson
DNS: 7 Carter VanDenBerg
Hobby Stock
1. 11 Mike Hughes
2. 40 Randy Embrey
3. 10G Dustin Griffiths
4. 77 Derrik Hodges
5. 84 Danny Thrasher
6. 69 Craig Brown
7. 21 Nick Ulin
8. 3 Travis Bunnell
9. 19 Bill Bonnett
10. 6s Shannon Sherwood
11. 7A Aaron Osweiler
12. 01 Brandon Potts
13. 3S Steve Allen
14. 9H Ken Hay
DNF: 31 Rex Bonnett
224 Gina Greubel
32T Bobby Greene
Hawkeye Dirt Tour Modified Series
1. 02 Andrew Schroeder
2. 5 Todd Shute
3. 57V Mike VanGenderen
4. 20x Luke Wanninger
5. 48J Jacob Murray
6. 10M Jeremy Mills
7. 44 Colt Mather
8. 99 Jesse Sobbing
9. 77 Kurt Kile
10. 21 Aaron Turnbull - Canada
11. 10C Cayden Carter
12. 19G Richie Gustin
13. 12 Mark Elliott
14. 23JR Nick Roberts
DNF: 10K Ronn Lauritzen
71W Jeff Waterman
66 Jeff Joldersma
62 Hunter Marriott - Missouri
12D Scott Drake - Missouri
4TW Tim Ward - Arizona
37 Mike Jergens
6s Jason Schoenberger - Kansas
60 William Gould - Oklahoma
40 Scott Dickey
DNQ: 65D Brandon Brown
21K Kyle Brown
19 Jimmy Gustin
3R Ray Bunnell
J14 Joey Franklin - Las Vegas, Nevada
7N Jay Noteboom
77L Jim Lynch
137 Bill Petteway - Corpus Christi, Texas
Late Model
1. 30 Todd Cooney
2. 33 Nick Marolf
3. 45 Tommy Elston
4. 38 Colby Springsteen
5. 88 Kevin Kile
6. 43 Jeremy Grady
7. 32 Curtis Glover
8. 91 Gabe Umbarger
DNF: 29 Spencer Dierks
Stock Car
1. 10CC Cayden Carter
2. 20M Scott Drake (in Perry Misner's car)
3. 56T Justin Temeyer
4. 99D Damon Murty
5. 22R Todd Reitzler
6. 52 Nathan Wood
7. 87 Les Blakley
8. 19 Donnie Pearson
9. 7 Todd Phillips
10. 85 Doug Sylvester
11. 17 Brock Welch
12. 12 Adam Hagen
DNF: 68 Cole Simmons
62 Brad Pinkerton
77T Trent Jeanes
18 Kris Walker
94 Corey Stout
SportMod
1. 72 Brett Lowry
2. 1V Curtis VanDerWal
3. 3L Clint Luellen
4. 01 Brayton Carter
5. 10R Ryan Fullenkamp
6. 85 Jason McDaniel
7. 8T Tony Johnson
8. 198 Sam Wieben
9. 13T Taylor Musselman
10. 7+ Jared Timmerman
11. 352 Charlie Weber
12. 30 Shawn Cooney
13. 3D Daniel Gottschalk - Kansas
14. 29 Colton Livezey
15. 19 Damon Murty
DNF: 9A Logan Anderson
DNS: 7 Carter VanDenBerg
Hobby Stock
1. 11 Mike Hughes
2. 40 Randy Embrey
3. 10G Dustin Griffiths
4. 77 Derrik Hodges
5. 84 Danny Thrasher
6. 69 Craig Brown
7. 21 Nick Ulin
8. 3 Travis Bunnell
9. 19 Bill Bonnett
10. 6s Shannon Sherwood
11. 7A Aaron Osweiler
12. 01 Brandon Potts
13. 3S Steve Allen
14. 9H Ken Hay
DNF: 31 Rex Bonnett
224 Gina Greubel
32T Bobby Greene
VanGenderen wins HDT thriller at Donnellson
We began our "Speedweek" at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson last night. The two plus hour trip was well worth it as the Hawkeye Dirt Tour Modified race was a thriller! Also on the docket were the Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts...making for a full night of racing action.
There was a $100 bounty on the head of Sport Compact driver Austen Beccera. Well....it's still there as Beccera led all but the opening lap of the fifteen lap event. Beccera finished with more than a healthy lead over second place Skip Dunker. John Whalen took third over a closely contested race between Mike Grossman, Brandon Reu and Chuck Fullenkamp who finished fourth through sixth in that order.
The SportMods went 18-laps in their A main. Bobby Anders was in command when a yellow flew at lap eight, track point leader Tony Dunker riding in second. By lap fourteen, Dunker had taken over the helm and Anders was now having to fend off the challenges of Jim Gillenwater. That's when another caution flew and when the race restarted Gillenwater flew around Anders and into the runner up spot. With just a lap to go, Gillenwater made the move around Dunker for the lead and held it to the checkers and the victory. Dunker finished as the runner up, Anders was third, Sean Wyett was fourth and Joey Gower completed the top five.
The Hobby Stocks went 16-laps in their feature. Brandon Symmonds led the troops the first lap, but by lap two, it was Dustin Griffiths in charge. From there on, Griffiths was out for a Sunday cruise, winning the main event by a large margin. Second was Dane Blozovich, Symmonds was third, and Sierra Wilsey was fourth. Only four cars finished as the #12 of Mike Kincaid and Andrew Hustead did not finish.
The Stock Cars went 20-lap in their feature. The 14B of Tom Bowling, Jr. led it through lap five when he was literally pushed across the line by John Oliver, Jr. knocking on the door. The next lap, Oliver had sneaked under Bowling to take over as captain of the ship and lengthened out his lead. Bowling wasn't done though and made up ground in the closing laps....but got a little too high to mount any real challenge as Oliver scored the win, Bowling having to settle for second. Independence, Iowa racer, Justin Temeyer pulled down to Donnellson and went home with a third place finish, Louis Lynch was fourth and Jeremy Pundt was fifth.
The highlight of the night was the 30-lap Hawkeye Dirt Tour race with the Modifieds. After suffering rain outs, this would be just the third night racing completed in the series. Some of those rain outs will be made up, others will not. Going into the night, two drivers were tied for the point's lead....Tim Ward, who calls Gilbert, Arizona home, but is hanging his hat in Iowa this summer, and Newton, Iowa's Mike VanGenderen.
There were 29 Modifieds on hand, and it took two B mains to whittle the starting line up to 22 and two series point provisionals were tagged on to the starting A main. The top twelve qualifiers got to play a little game to secure their starting spot. They were all called across the track and onto the stage in front of the grandstand. Cups with a # on the bottom were chosen by each....no peeking at the number. Then they were asked if they wanted to keep or exchange the cup for one of the other qualifier's cups. The lucky two that got the front row were driver Hunter Marriott picking #1 and Bill Roberts, Jr. with the #2. Both had opted to keep their original picks.
Marriott established the lead at lap one, but by then fourth place starter Jesse Sobbing (who made the LONG haul over from Glenwood, Iowa) and fifth place starter Mike VanGenderen were up to challenge. Marriott held down the lead for a few laps while Sobbing and VanGenderen were duking it out. Sobbing got to the point by lap nine, Marriott still in second and VanGenderen riding in third. At lap seventeen, the one and only yellow flew, setting up a restart. By lap eighteen, VanGenderen had taken over second place and the chase was on to catch leader Sobbing. From there on, the fans got their money's worth! VanGenderen set sail on the topside, Sobbing choosing the low side. The final five laps were a swapping of the lead. VanGenderen took over at lap 25, Sobbing opting to ride the mid portion of the track out of turn four. Several slide jobs gave each driver the lead at certain points of the race, VanGenderen having the lead at lap 29, only to have Sobbing get back around after the white flag flew! The final run to the checkers saw VanGenderen get the advantage back, and he beat Sobbing to the checkers and the win. Wow! It was an awesome last few laps to watch! VanGenderen took his first Hawkeye Dirt Tour win, Sobbing having to settle for the runner up spot. Richie Gustin, the Gilman, Iowa hot shoe, made the most advancement. He raced from starting eleventh, to take third place. Hunter Marriott hung to the front of the field all night, and finished fourth and local area favorite, Jeff Waterman took fifth.
We will be pointing the vehicle south tonight for the second night in a row for an HDT race. It will be in Oskaloosa during the Southern Iowa Fair. Will be interesting to see how it plays out on the Monster Half Mile tonight. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
There was a $100 bounty on the head of Sport Compact driver Austen Beccera. Well....it's still there as Beccera led all but the opening lap of the fifteen lap event. Beccera finished with more than a healthy lead over second place Skip Dunker. John Whalen took third over a closely contested race between Mike Grossman, Brandon Reu and Chuck Fullenkamp who finished fourth through sixth in that order.
The SportMods went 18-laps in their A main. Bobby Anders was in command when a yellow flew at lap eight, track point leader Tony Dunker riding in second. By lap fourteen, Dunker had taken over the helm and Anders was now having to fend off the challenges of Jim Gillenwater. That's when another caution flew and when the race restarted Gillenwater flew around Anders and into the runner up spot. With just a lap to go, Gillenwater made the move around Dunker for the lead and held it to the checkers and the victory. Dunker finished as the runner up, Anders was third, Sean Wyett was fourth and Joey Gower completed the top five.
The Hobby Stocks went 16-laps in their feature. Brandon Symmonds led the troops the first lap, but by lap two, it was Dustin Griffiths in charge. From there on, Griffiths was out for a Sunday cruise, winning the main event by a large margin. Second was Dane Blozovich, Symmonds was third, and Sierra Wilsey was fourth. Only four cars finished as the #12 of Mike Kincaid and Andrew Hustead did not finish.
The Stock Cars went 20-lap in their feature. The 14B of Tom Bowling, Jr. led it through lap five when he was literally pushed across the line by John Oliver, Jr. knocking on the door. The next lap, Oliver had sneaked under Bowling to take over as captain of the ship and lengthened out his lead. Bowling wasn't done though and made up ground in the closing laps....but got a little too high to mount any real challenge as Oliver scored the win, Bowling having to settle for second. Independence, Iowa racer, Justin Temeyer pulled down to Donnellson and went home with a third place finish, Louis Lynch was fourth and Jeremy Pundt was fifth.
The highlight of the night was the 30-lap Hawkeye Dirt Tour race with the Modifieds. After suffering rain outs, this would be just the third night racing completed in the series. Some of those rain outs will be made up, others will not. Going into the night, two drivers were tied for the point's lead....Tim Ward, who calls Gilbert, Arizona home, but is hanging his hat in Iowa this summer, and Newton, Iowa's Mike VanGenderen.
There were 29 Modifieds on hand, and it took two B mains to whittle the starting line up to 22 and two series point provisionals were tagged on to the starting A main. The top twelve qualifiers got to play a little game to secure their starting spot. They were all called across the track and onto the stage in front of the grandstand. Cups with a # on the bottom were chosen by each....no peeking at the number. Then they were asked if they wanted to keep or exchange the cup for one of the other qualifier's cups. The lucky two that got the front row were driver Hunter Marriott picking #1 and Bill Roberts, Jr. with the #2. Both had opted to keep their original picks.
Marriott established the lead at lap one, but by then fourth place starter Jesse Sobbing (who made the LONG haul over from Glenwood, Iowa) and fifth place starter Mike VanGenderen were up to challenge. Marriott held down the lead for a few laps while Sobbing and VanGenderen were duking it out. Sobbing got to the point by lap nine, Marriott still in second and VanGenderen riding in third. At lap seventeen, the one and only yellow flew, setting up a restart. By lap eighteen, VanGenderen had taken over second place and the chase was on to catch leader Sobbing. From there on, the fans got their money's worth! VanGenderen set sail on the topside, Sobbing choosing the low side. The final five laps were a swapping of the lead. VanGenderen took over at lap 25, Sobbing opting to ride the mid portion of the track out of turn four. Several slide jobs gave each driver the lead at certain points of the race, VanGenderen having the lead at lap 29, only to have Sobbing get back around after the white flag flew! The final run to the checkers saw VanGenderen get the advantage back, and he beat Sobbing to the checkers and the win. Wow! It was an awesome last few laps to watch! VanGenderen took his first Hawkeye Dirt Tour win, Sobbing having to settle for the runner up spot. Richie Gustin, the Gilman, Iowa hot shoe, made the most advancement. He raced from starting eleventh, to take third place. Hunter Marriott hung to the front of the field all night, and finished fourth and local area favorite, Jeff Waterman took fifth.
We will be pointing the vehicle south tonight for the second night in a row for an HDT race. It will be in Oskaloosa during the Southern Iowa Fair. Will be interesting to see how it plays out on the Monster Half Mile tonight. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Sunday, July 13, 2014
VanGenderen, McBirnie, Stofer and Overton post first wins at Boone---T Brown three-peats
Saturdays seem to dawn the same way for weeks on end---with a gloomy forecast predicting rain. This Saturday was no different. Radar was not looking promising for many race tracks around the state, but we headed to our usual Saturday destination---Boone Speedway. We drove through rain on our journey and radar was looking "iffy". We had already received word of some tracks being rained out, then another, and another! But, for the 13th week in a row, the weekly show was completed. Add in the Memorial Day Deery Brother Special where points were awarded to the regular classes that ran, that's 14 shows straight. The only little blip so far, was the Frostbuster pre-season show back on April 12. That one only got one feature completed, but it was called a show and the make up features added to the season opener on April 19.
There were four new winners last night, one coming out of the SportMod class taking his first ever career win. A driver in the Mod Lite division made it three-in-a-row, adding to his achievements on the year.
Features kicked off with the Mod Lite division. Travis Stensland led the opening laps. A yellow at lap five for Amber Coffman sitting in turn four, set up a restart situation--- Stensland still leading, but the "Brothers Brown" sitting right behind him. Terry Brown, who had won the last two features was riding in second, his brother "Chargin' Charlie Brown in third. After the restart, Stensland hung tight to the lead, until lap twelve, when Terry Brown made a pass on the backstretch to take over the helm. Brown would then hold that point spot to the finish and the win----chalking up three-in-a-row victories. Stensland hung tough to finish second over Charlie Brown in third. Fourth was Andy Hennigar and Robert See was fifth.
It was the 18-lap SportMod feature up next. Brian Eppert took advantage of his pole starting spot, jumping to the lead as the green flew. He held off Jake McBirnie until lap six when McBirnie took command. A few laps later, Ben Kates, the point leader, had worked his way around Eppert and gotten to the runner up spot---setting his sights on McBirnie. The race continued the remaining way caution free, McBirnie lengthening his lead. He then raced his bright, metallic blue machine to the flying checkers first and securing his first ever career feature win. Kates took the runner up spot, Johnathon Logue came from starting tenth to take third. Fourth went to early leader Brian Eppert and Randy Roberts finished fifth. McBirnie, who is racing for the first time this year, is the 17 year old son of former Modified racer Joe McBirnie. Congratulations to young McBirnie on getting that first win under his belt....no doubt, just the first of many more to come.
The Hobby Stockers ran their usual 12-lap A main next. Ryan Wells was doing a good job holding off Tyson Overton, Ross Marshall and Tim Barber in the opening laps. At lap four, it was Overton taking over as captain of the ship, Barber following him around Wells and into second. The only caution of the race came at lap ten when Aaron Rudolph found himself up against the outside wall. This set up a green-white-checkered finish. Overton held on to his lead and nabbed his first win at the Boone track. Marshall took the runner up position ahead of Eric Stanton. John Watson, point leader, moved up from starting tenth, to take fourth and Tyler Pickett rounded out the top five.
The IMCA Modified feature was fast and furious......going non-stop to the checkers. Early leader Kent Croskey led the 25 starting cars through the first handful of laps. The Flyin' Dutchman, Mike VanGenderen was quickly up to second place from starting sixth, and was challenging the leader, and John Logue was tagged on his tail. VanGenderen was leading by lap seven, and a lap later, Logue followed to take the runner up spot. Tenth place starter, Russ Dickerson, threw his hat in the ring too, and by lap fourteen, had taken over second, setting his sights on VanGenderen. Tonight though, it was all VanGenderen's race, as he marked his first win at Boone in the books for 2014. Dickerson held second over Logue in third. Croskey hung tough and scored fourth place and Nick Roberts finished in fifth.
The finale was the 18-lap Stock Car feature. This too, went flag-to-flag. Veteran racer Robert Stofer took command at lap seven after getting around Corey Piffer. Stofer scored the win by a comfortable margin over the Gifford brothers, who duked it out behind him. Wayne Gifford finally won out over Jerry Gifford at the finish, as they went second and third in that order. Donavon Smith made his usual low side line work and took fourth. Jay Schmidt, the point leader, worked up from his eleventh starting spot, and took fifth. Stofer scored his first win at Boone for the year.
The rain outs around the state brought in quite a few extra racers for the night. There were 131 cars on hand. New faces in the SportMod class were Brandon Ostwald from Algona, Nick Myer from Whittemore (he scored an impressive sixth place) Jack Housley, Shawn Albers and Jesse McCollough. Minot, North Dakota driver, Brock Beeder competed in the Hobby Stock class as did Jeff Behle and Nate Bonin. Travis Prochaska ran in the Stock Car class in his first appearance at Boone and Terry Cornelison was back in his familiar #556 racing for the first time this year. The Modifieds also had new drivers. Cole Hall from Sheffield, Clint Wendel, Chase Ellingson, Tyler Prochaska and Joey Franklin. Franklin, who is from Las Vegas, usually races a Sprint Car and is also an Elvis impersonator. "Elvis" did make a brief appearance grandstand side during intermission.
My unofficial records show that last night was the seventh different driver to win in the Hobby Stock class, the eighth in the SportMod class, the eighth in the Stock Car class and the tenth in the Modified division. Not the usual case at many of the other tracks around the area.
This upcoming week is going to be hectic. It has been dubbed, "Hawkeye Modified Speed Week". The Modified's all pay at least $1,000 to win. Things kick off tonight with the 20th Hogan Memorial at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton. Monday is the Hawkeye Dirt Tour at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. Tuesday the Hawkeye Dirt Tour visits the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa and the following night, the Fair race at Osky will also pay $1,000 to the winner. Then on Thursday night, it's the prestigious Harris Clash at the famed Knoxville Raceway. It is also a Hawkeye Dirt Tour for the first time.
Thanks for reading and happy racing!
There were four new winners last night, one coming out of the SportMod class taking his first ever career win. A driver in the Mod Lite division made it three-in-a-row, adding to his achievements on the year.
Features kicked off with the Mod Lite division. Travis Stensland led the opening laps. A yellow at lap five for Amber Coffman sitting in turn four, set up a restart situation--- Stensland still leading, but the "Brothers Brown" sitting right behind him. Terry Brown, who had won the last two features was riding in second, his brother "Chargin' Charlie Brown in third. After the restart, Stensland hung tight to the lead, until lap twelve, when Terry Brown made a pass on the backstretch to take over the helm. Brown would then hold that point spot to the finish and the win----chalking up three-in-a-row victories. Stensland hung tough to finish second over Charlie Brown in third. Fourth was Andy Hennigar and Robert See was fifth.
It was the 18-lap SportMod feature up next. Brian Eppert took advantage of his pole starting spot, jumping to the lead as the green flew. He held off Jake McBirnie until lap six when McBirnie took command. A few laps later, Ben Kates, the point leader, had worked his way around Eppert and gotten to the runner up spot---setting his sights on McBirnie. The race continued the remaining way caution free, McBirnie lengthening his lead. He then raced his bright, metallic blue machine to the flying checkers first and securing his first ever career feature win. Kates took the runner up spot, Johnathon Logue came from starting tenth to take third. Fourth went to early leader Brian Eppert and Randy Roberts finished fifth. McBirnie, who is racing for the first time this year, is the 17 year old son of former Modified racer Joe McBirnie. Congratulations to young McBirnie on getting that first win under his belt....no doubt, just the first of many more to come.
The Hobby Stockers ran their usual 12-lap A main next. Ryan Wells was doing a good job holding off Tyson Overton, Ross Marshall and Tim Barber in the opening laps. At lap four, it was Overton taking over as captain of the ship, Barber following him around Wells and into second. The only caution of the race came at lap ten when Aaron Rudolph found himself up against the outside wall. This set up a green-white-checkered finish. Overton held on to his lead and nabbed his first win at the Boone track. Marshall took the runner up position ahead of Eric Stanton. John Watson, point leader, moved up from starting tenth, to take fourth and Tyler Pickett rounded out the top five.
The IMCA Modified feature was fast and furious......going non-stop to the checkers. Early leader Kent Croskey led the 25 starting cars through the first handful of laps. The Flyin' Dutchman, Mike VanGenderen was quickly up to second place from starting sixth, and was challenging the leader, and John Logue was tagged on his tail. VanGenderen was leading by lap seven, and a lap later, Logue followed to take the runner up spot. Tenth place starter, Russ Dickerson, threw his hat in the ring too, and by lap fourteen, had taken over second, setting his sights on VanGenderen. Tonight though, it was all VanGenderen's race, as he marked his first win at Boone in the books for 2014. Dickerson held second over Logue in third. Croskey hung tough and scored fourth place and Nick Roberts finished in fifth.
The finale was the 18-lap Stock Car feature. This too, went flag-to-flag. Veteran racer Robert Stofer took command at lap seven after getting around Corey Piffer. Stofer scored the win by a comfortable margin over the Gifford brothers, who duked it out behind him. Wayne Gifford finally won out over Jerry Gifford at the finish, as they went second and third in that order. Donavon Smith made his usual low side line work and took fourth. Jay Schmidt, the point leader, worked up from his eleventh starting spot, and took fifth. Stofer scored his first win at Boone for the year.
The rain outs around the state brought in quite a few extra racers for the night. There were 131 cars on hand. New faces in the SportMod class were Brandon Ostwald from Algona, Nick Myer from Whittemore (he scored an impressive sixth place) Jack Housley, Shawn Albers and Jesse McCollough. Minot, North Dakota driver, Brock Beeder competed in the Hobby Stock class as did Jeff Behle and Nate Bonin. Travis Prochaska ran in the Stock Car class in his first appearance at Boone and Terry Cornelison was back in his familiar #556 racing for the first time this year. The Modifieds also had new drivers. Cole Hall from Sheffield, Clint Wendel, Chase Ellingson, Tyler Prochaska and Joey Franklin. Franklin, who is from Las Vegas, usually races a Sprint Car and is also an Elvis impersonator. "Elvis" did make a brief appearance grandstand side during intermission.
My unofficial records show that last night was the seventh different driver to win in the Hobby Stock class, the eighth in the SportMod class, the eighth in the Stock Car class and the tenth in the Modified division. Not the usual case at many of the other tracks around the area.
This upcoming week is going to be hectic. It has been dubbed, "Hawkeye Modified Speed Week". The Modified's all pay at least $1,000 to win. Things kick off tonight with the 20th Hogan Memorial at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton. Monday is the Hawkeye Dirt Tour at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. Tuesday the Hawkeye Dirt Tour visits the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa and the following night, the Fair race at Osky will also pay $1,000 to the winner. Then on Thursday night, it's the prestigious Harris Clash at the famed Knoxville Raceway. It is also a Hawkeye Dirt Tour for the first time.
Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Snyder snares win at Marshalltown
It was Central Iowa Fair time at Marshalltown last night. The county fair queen was on hand at the Speedway and helped announce a race or two, and tried her hand at running the scoreboard. There was fair food, livestock and live music as well. The youngsters got their turn on the track too, as they wheeled their bikes in some intermission competition. The real action was on the high quarter banks though. There was a driver scoring his first victory at the track this year, one going back-to-back, while the other classes saw repeat winners. The Sport Compacts did not run last night as only one car was on hand.
The MADCRA Mod Lite 15-lap feature was halted after just one lap was scored. The #99 of Josh May was off power, bringing out the yellow. While under that yellow, the #57 of Tim Hennigar also experienced trouble, and both May and Hennigar were done for the night. When action got back underway, ANDY Hennigar wasted no time in making the pass to the lead on Mike Kennedy. From there on, it was his race the remaining way to the checkers and the win. Mike Morrill fought through traffic from starting ninth, to score the runner up spot. James May took third, Eric Hendrickson was fourth and Chargin' Charlie Brown was fifth. Andy Hennigar is the current point leader but both Charlie Brown and Mike Morrill are one point behind. This was Hennigar's third win at Marshalltown this year.
Several cautions interrupted the 12-lap Hobby Stock feature. When the final caution flew at lap six, it was Travis Overton at the point spot, but he had company in Eric Larson, Austin Luellen and Dustin Elliott. Larson took over the lead, Luellen following him into second, but with two laps remaining, Luellen made his move to the front. He would hold it to the double checkers and the win. Larson had to settle for the runner up spot. Elliott got around Overton as they took third and fourth, and John Watson was fifth. Luellen scored his fifth regular season win at Marshalltown this year.
The initial start of the 18-lap SportMod feature was a no go. When lap one did get in the books, it was Jake McBirnie, son of former Modified racer Joe McBirnie, leading the troops, Shawn Ritter on his tail. Just after lap two was scored, the driver in third place, Andy Tiernan went off the top of corner three, and another yellow was required to assist him to the pits. McBirnie continued his hold on the point position, Ritter was maintaining second, and slamming the door shut on lady racer, Jenae Gustin in third. Another yellow at lap six, just as Gustin had gotten around Ritter, reverted her back to third on the restart. Gustin showed her determination when action got back under way and flew to the lead, around both Ritter and leader McBirnie, and was scored as the leader at lap seven. As the race wore on, Gustin pulled away from the field, as now second place runner Clint Luellen was a good distance behind. Another yellow at lap eleven, still didn't deter Gustin as she pulled away from the field. Gustin was looking to finally have her recent bout of bad luck at Marshalltown in her past......UNTIL....just after she took the white flag and entered turn one! The car appeared to falter as she began to set it in the corner, and then was at a stop. Drivers tried to take evasive action, Ryan King unable to avoid her, and other cars taking hits here and there. Luellen came out of the mess with a flat tire, his chance at a top finish wiped away. Ritter also received a smashed in right side from contact. The finish was now setting up to be a green-white-checkered. After the scorers sorted out the order, it was Jared VanDeest, who had gotten up to third before Gustin's bad luck, sitting on the front and in the lead. The race finished as it was lined up for the restart---VanDeest taking the win. VanDeest came from starting eleventh to take his second win at Marshalltown this year. Second place was Sam Wieben who started back in fourteenth spot, third was Neil Follett, fourth went to Travis Petersen who came out of row five, and Jared Timmerman....who we have just recently seen back racing....started seventeenth and completed the top five.
The Flying Deuce of Dave Atcher....who just brought his sharp looking hot rod out a few weeks back, put it in victory lane for the second week in a row in the IMCA Stock Car feature. Atcher grabbed the lead on the second lap after a first lap slide attempt around then leader Robbie Merkle failed. Atcher held down his lead but there was a lot of jockeying going on behind him! Michael Jaennette was duking it out with Donavon Smith, and Steve Meyer was holding off Damon Murty. Smith got to the runner up spot, and Meyer made headway into the third by setting his car up top. The fast and furious race went caution free the entire 18-laps, Atcher winning it in comfortable fashion. Smith made his usual patient trek around the bottom pay off for a runner up finish. Meyer took third over fourth place Jaennette and the Chelsea Charger was back in town after Des Moines rained out, and copped a fifth place finish. Point leader Smith holds a healthy 44 point lead on second place Steve Meyer.
The night ending Modified feature also had quite the action in the closing laps. It didn't got off to a good start however, as Jake Strayer, who has not had any good luck at the Marshalltown track, got into corner one on the start, only to have his car slide sideways and then a chain reaction occurred---all before a lap could be scored. When things were cleared and the race restarted, polesitter Joel Bushore led the field to the green, Eric Elliott right behind. Elliott soon snatched that lead, and put some distance between himself and second place Bushore. Visiting driver Chris Mills from the Sioux City area took a rolling ride off of the top of turn three, bringing out a caution at lap eight. Elliott continued his ride at the front of the pack but by lap twelve of the 20-lapper, he had Jon Snyder and Ronn Lauritzen hot on his trail. Elliott did his best, keeping the challengers at bay until lap fifteen when Snyder took to the topside and the took command. A lap later, Lauritzen took over the runner up spot. From there on, it was a closely contested battle between Snyder and Lauritzen. Lauritzen kept peeking to the inside, while Snyder ran his usual high line; keeping just the momentum to hold the lead. Snyder went to victory lane, Lauritzen had to settle for the runner up spot. Elliott held on to third, Bushore was fourth and Joel Rust came from twelfth starting spot, to complete the top five. This was surprisingly, the first win this year for the "Topside Terror" Snyder. Lauritzen holds down a comfortable 55 point lead in the track points.
This coming week is the "Hawkeye Modified Speedweek" with lots and lots of racing going on in our state. Check out the calendar at Positively Racing for some racing that you may want to catch. The news of more and more tracks closing around the country, we need to continue our support of the pastime we all enjoy. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
The MADCRA Mod Lite 15-lap feature was halted after just one lap was scored. The #99 of Josh May was off power, bringing out the yellow. While under that yellow, the #57 of Tim Hennigar also experienced trouble, and both May and Hennigar were done for the night. When action got back underway, ANDY Hennigar wasted no time in making the pass to the lead on Mike Kennedy. From there on, it was his race the remaining way to the checkers and the win. Mike Morrill fought through traffic from starting ninth, to score the runner up spot. James May took third, Eric Hendrickson was fourth and Chargin' Charlie Brown was fifth. Andy Hennigar is the current point leader but both Charlie Brown and Mike Morrill are one point behind. This was Hennigar's third win at Marshalltown this year.
Several cautions interrupted the 12-lap Hobby Stock feature. When the final caution flew at lap six, it was Travis Overton at the point spot, but he had company in Eric Larson, Austin Luellen and Dustin Elliott. Larson took over the lead, Luellen following him into second, but with two laps remaining, Luellen made his move to the front. He would hold it to the double checkers and the win. Larson had to settle for the runner up spot. Elliott got around Overton as they took third and fourth, and John Watson was fifth. Luellen scored his fifth regular season win at Marshalltown this year.
The initial start of the 18-lap SportMod feature was a no go. When lap one did get in the books, it was Jake McBirnie, son of former Modified racer Joe McBirnie, leading the troops, Shawn Ritter on his tail. Just after lap two was scored, the driver in third place, Andy Tiernan went off the top of corner three, and another yellow was required to assist him to the pits. McBirnie continued his hold on the point position, Ritter was maintaining second, and slamming the door shut on lady racer, Jenae Gustin in third. Another yellow at lap six, just as Gustin had gotten around Ritter, reverted her back to third on the restart. Gustin showed her determination when action got back under way and flew to the lead, around both Ritter and leader McBirnie, and was scored as the leader at lap seven. As the race wore on, Gustin pulled away from the field, as now second place runner Clint Luellen was a good distance behind. Another yellow at lap eleven, still didn't deter Gustin as she pulled away from the field. Gustin was looking to finally have her recent bout of bad luck at Marshalltown in her past......UNTIL....just after she took the white flag and entered turn one! The car appeared to falter as she began to set it in the corner, and then was at a stop. Drivers tried to take evasive action, Ryan King unable to avoid her, and other cars taking hits here and there. Luellen came out of the mess with a flat tire, his chance at a top finish wiped away. Ritter also received a smashed in right side from contact. The finish was now setting up to be a green-white-checkered. After the scorers sorted out the order, it was Jared VanDeest, who had gotten up to third before Gustin's bad luck, sitting on the front and in the lead. The race finished as it was lined up for the restart---VanDeest taking the win. VanDeest came from starting eleventh to take his second win at Marshalltown this year. Second place was Sam Wieben who started back in fourteenth spot, third was Neil Follett, fourth went to Travis Petersen who came out of row five, and Jared Timmerman....who we have just recently seen back racing....started seventeenth and completed the top five.
The Flying Deuce of Dave Atcher....who just brought his sharp looking hot rod out a few weeks back, put it in victory lane for the second week in a row in the IMCA Stock Car feature. Atcher grabbed the lead on the second lap after a first lap slide attempt around then leader Robbie Merkle failed. Atcher held down his lead but there was a lot of jockeying going on behind him! Michael Jaennette was duking it out with Donavon Smith, and Steve Meyer was holding off Damon Murty. Smith got to the runner up spot, and Meyer made headway into the third by setting his car up top. The fast and furious race went caution free the entire 18-laps, Atcher winning it in comfortable fashion. Smith made his usual patient trek around the bottom pay off for a runner up finish. Meyer took third over fourth place Jaennette and the Chelsea Charger was back in town after Des Moines rained out, and copped a fifth place finish. Point leader Smith holds a healthy 44 point lead on second place Steve Meyer.
The night ending Modified feature also had quite the action in the closing laps. It didn't got off to a good start however, as Jake Strayer, who has not had any good luck at the Marshalltown track, got into corner one on the start, only to have his car slide sideways and then a chain reaction occurred---all before a lap could be scored. When things were cleared and the race restarted, polesitter Joel Bushore led the field to the green, Eric Elliott right behind. Elliott soon snatched that lead, and put some distance between himself and second place Bushore. Visiting driver Chris Mills from the Sioux City area took a rolling ride off of the top of turn three, bringing out a caution at lap eight. Elliott continued his ride at the front of the pack but by lap twelve of the 20-lapper, he had Jon Snyder and Ronn Lauritzen hot on his trail. Elliott did his best, keeping the challengers at bay until lap fifteen when Snyder took to the topside and the took command. A lap later, Lauritzen took over the runner up spot. From there on, it was a closely contested battle between Snyder and Lauritzen. Lauritzen kept peeking to the inside, while Snyder ran his usual high line; keeping just the momentum to hold the lead. Snyder went to victory lane, Lauritzen had to settle for the runner up spot. Elliott held on to third, Bushore was fourth and Joel Rust came from twelfth starting spot, to complete the top five. This was surprisingly, the first win this year for the "Topside Terror" Snyder. Lauritzen holds down a comfortable 55 point lead in the track points.
This coming week is the "Hawkeye Modified Speedweek" with lots and lots of racing going on in our state. Check out the calendar at Positively Racing for some racing that you may want to catch. The news of more and more tracks closing around the country, we need to continue our support of the pastime we all enjoy. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Carter doubles up on Dave Lowry Memorial night at Osky
It was a pleasant night for watching the races at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Osky---our home away from home on Wednesday's in the summer for years and years. It was the Dave Lowry Memorial race, honoring Lowry, a longtime supporter of racing who passed away a couple of years ago, and there was a special treat in store for the youngsters. It was Trick or Treat Night in July! There was a great response by the drivers, at least 27 of them, as they lined up on the frontstretch and handed out goodies.
The Sport Compact had a familiar face back in victory lane. Bill "Happy Feet" Whalen, led the entire ten laps on his way to win #6 at the Speedway this season. He finished well ahead of his brother, John Whalen in second. Third was Tim Bevins, fourth went to Matt Moore and Matt Beal was fifth. New driver, Jon Minuis did not finish.
The SportMod feature went flag to flag, and was also led start to finish by the winner, Ryan Fullenkamp. Brayton Carter followed him in second until Curtis VanDerWal took over by lap eight. By this time, Fullenkamp was "hauling the mail" and out in front and gone. He took the double checkers comfortably over VanDerWal, who finished in second. Jason McDaniel finished in third, Brett Lowry was fourth and Brayton Carter rounded out the top five. This was Fullenkamp's first win at Osky this year. After the race was completed, the tech and claim area had some activity, as we were told that Curtis VanDerWal had his shocks claimed by the 8T of Tony Johnson.
Mike Hughes claimed another win in the Hobby Stock feature. Early leader Danny Thrasher saw his machine go up in smoke just as lap three was scored, ending his night. By this time, Hughes had already worked his way into the runner up spot, and on the the restart, inherited the lead. He had little trouble the remainder of the way to the checkers, logging his seventh victory at Osky this year. It was also his third in a row. Dustin Griffiths tried reeling him in, but to no avail, and finished as the runner up. Third went to Craig Brown, Nick Ulin was fourth, and Aaron Osweiler was fifth.
The opening laps of the 18-lap Stock Car feature was the usual scramble for position....cars going 3-wide on the backstretch. When a yellow flew at lap five for a spinning Brock Welch, it was Corey Stout's lucky day. After the yellow flew, Stout, who had gotten to second place, went spinning down in turn one, but since the yellow had already flown for Welch, he got his position back. When the race restarted, it was Bob Lynch at the helm, Stout in second, Mike Petersen sitting in third. A flying orange machine, the #10CC of Cayden Carter had just gotten to third, but the lap was called back, re-positioning him behind Donovan Nunnikhoven in fifth. When the race restarted, Stout grabbed the lead, Carter in his "Orange Crush" machine took over second, Lynch falling to third. At lap seven, Carter, "The Gasman" had swept around Stout and was now in command of the lead. From there on, he set it on cruise control, smoothly circumventing the Monster Half Mile at ease the rest of the way to the finish and the win. Stout held off the other "Team Orange Crush" car piloted by Zack VanderBeek, as they finished second and third in that order. Donovan Nunnikhoven finished a close fourth and it was a close finish for fifth with Kris Walker just beating out Nathan Wood in sixth. Carter, who had started back in tenth, looked at ease in snaring his third win of the regular season, also having won the pre-season Frostbuster.
It was a good night for "The Gasman" Cayden Carter, nabbing win #2 on the night, as he led all laps of the 16-lap Modified feature. Carter finished a good distance ahead of second place Scott Dickey in second. Colt Mather was racing the #44 Skyrocket car last night, and made a last lap pass around Jesse Sobbing, as they went third and fourth respectively. Andrew Schroeder, who had won the previous three weekly races, finished in fifth. Unbelievably, this was Carter's first Modified win this year at the Southern Iowa Speedway.
The racing was completed before 9:50 p.m., allowing fans and drivers to hit the road for home at a good time for this mid-week night of racing. A few notes of the evening: The red #7W Modified of Mark Widmar (the racer who was injured last year at the track in a nasty accident) was on hand last night. It was piloted by veteran racer Jerry Pilcher. Pilcher brought his #72 Stock Car along too and served double duty last night, running two classes. Promoter Mike VanGenderen, brought his hot rod to the track last night, in preparation for running the Hawkeye Dirt Tour Series that will be at the track on Tuesday, July 15. VanGenderen is leading points in the Series.
Next week has been dubbed "Hawkeye State Modified Speedweek". Sunday, July 13, kicks it off with the Hogan Memorial at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton. This honors Dick and Janet Hogan, parents of racer Scott Hogan. One of the nicest racing families you'd ever meet. There is a possible $4,000 payday for the Modified winner. Then on Monday, July 14, it will be the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, hosting the first of THREE Hawkeye Dirt Tour races for the week. It has a $1,000 going to the winner. Tuesday, July 15, will be the Fair race at Oskaloosa and another Hawkeye Dirt Tour with $1,000 to win. The Late Models are also on the program. The following night, Wednesday, July 16, it's the weekly show at Osky, with $1,000 to the Modified winner again, plus the Late Models are in town for the second night in a row. Thursday, July 17, is the annual Harris Clash at the famous Knoxville Raceway. This is always a must see show for us. Drivers from far and near come to test their skill on the track, and for a chance to win this prestigious race. This year, for the first time, it will also be a Hawkeye Dirt Tour race. It is $2,000 to win. There is plenty to choose from for sure! We hope to make most of them. Until next time, thanks for reading and happy racing!
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