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!
No comments:
Post a Comment