Three-wide at the finish line at Osky!

For those of us who refer to "the glory days at Osky", there was a glimpse of those bygone days at the Southern Iowa Speedway last night.  Those old times were photo finishes as several cars came to the checkers----and that is exactly what it was in the Stock Car feature last evening.  Every class also found a new winner standing in victory lane for 2015.

The very first feature of the night was the above mentioned 18-lap IMCA Stock Car feature.  This one really got the crowd going and everyone's adrenaline pumping!  It did get off to a slow start as a yellow flew at lap one, and then two restarts were also called back.  When things did pick back up, it was a familiar looking (to us anyway) #77N car holding the point spot.  That was Daniel Hilsabeck who had scooted from starting fourth, and into the lead by the time that first lap was scored.  It was but a lap or two later when, here came the "Orange Crush" cars of Zack VanderBeek and Cayden Carter.  Also making a huge charge from starting tenth, was the #52 of Nathan Wood.  It was quite the race among those top four cars, with VanderBeek snatching the lead by lap ten.  Carter and Wood were still hanging tough, with Carter and then Wood making the passes around Hilsabeck and now tight on VanderBeek's tail.  Those three broke free of the rest of the pack and they were battling for all it was worth.  Then, with one lap to go, out came the dreaded yellow flag one more time.  Now we would be going to a green-white-checkered finish....or what we often refer to as "bonus laps" or as announcer's Tony Paris and cohort for the night, Ryan Bergeson, call "overtime".  For the restart, VanderBeek was holding down the point position, Carter was second and Wood was third.  The last two laps were more than any race fan could have hoped for!  Memories of the past came rushing back as those three cars came out of turn four headed to the checkers.  It was a three-wide finish and depending upon where you were sitting, it could have been any one of the three going to the winner's circle.  But, the scorers all agreed on the finish, and this night it was the "Gasman" Cayden Carter taking the thrilling victory.  VanderBeek was scored second and Nathan Wood was third.  There was a lot of discussion going on in the stands as to who placed where, etc. From watching races for years and years, we know the angle you are watching from can make a huge difference in what you perceive as the finish.  What we do know, is that was a spectacular race for all three of those drivers and we salute them and thank them for putting on the show for the fans.  Daniel Hilsabeck finished fourth, (we mentioned the car looked familiar to us and found out it was the car formerly driven by Audubon, Iowa's Jeff Nielsen...yup same colors and all) and fifth place went to Mike Hughes.

The next feature to hit the track was the Sport Compacts.  They went ten laps in their feature which found John Whalen leading the entire race.  The last two week's winner, Trent Orwig pestered him in the early part of the race, but was never able to slip by, having to settle for second.  Third went to the winner's brother, Bill Whalen, Jr., and trailing a good distance in fourth was Jon Girdley and Curt Myers in fifth.

The IMCA Northern SportMod feature was led early by Jason McDaniel.  McDaniel looked strong even after a restart at lap three, but by lap four, he was off the pace and exited into the infield.  By that time, Brett Lowry had already made his way from seventh to chasing the leader, and then would inherit the lead with McDaniel's demise.  From there on out, it was a Sunday drive for the Montezuma racer, as he pulled away from the field and took the win, his first at Osky this year, by a comfortable margin.  Curtis VanDer Wal, who had won the other two week's races, finished in second.  Third went to Brayton Carter when he passed fourth place finisher Logan Anderson at the finish, and Cory VanZante rounded out the top five.

Mike Kincaid took the lead quickly at the start of the IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lap feature.  It didn't take long though until Craig Brown was on his bumper and taking peeks for a way around him.  It finally paid off and Brown took over the helm.  Last week's winner Dale Porter then moved up from starting tenth and swept past Kincaid and was on the hunt to catch leader Brown.  This race too, would go to "overtime" with a lap to go, setting up another green-white-checkered finish.  Brown was able to maintain the top spot, and snatched up his first win at Osky this year.  Porter had to settle for the runner up spot, third was Travis Bunnell, fourth went to Kincaid and Derek Hodges came home in fifth.

There was still one more feature to run, that being the IMCA Modified 18-lapper.  The front row starters were Brandon Banks and Kyle Brown.  Brown got the drop on Banks, flying to the lead, while Cayden Carter, who had started directly behind Brown, followed to settle into second spot, and third place starter Andrew Schroeder joined in the chase in third.  Brown hung tough until Schroeder took over to set the pace at lap eight. As the laps wound down, Carter made the pass on Brown, taking over the runner up spot, but by that time Schroeder had checked out, and kept hold of that coveted top spot the rest of the way to the win.  Carter snagged a runner up finish, Brown held on to third place, and following a distance behind in fourth and fifth, were Brandon Banks and Scott Dickey.

The fans certainly got their money's worth in the Stock Car feature alone last night, let alone all the rest of the features that followed.  There was another bit of nostalgia last night in that Stock Car class when a red Thunderbird was once again on the track.  That car had turned a lot of laps at Osky as well as other tracks around the state in years gone by.  It was the car that used to be piloted by "The Flyin' Farmer", Rick Brown, and now owned and driven by Terry Clayton of Brooklyn.

Thanks again to promoter Mike VanGenderen and crew for providing a great, racy track last night for the drivers, and giving the fans a great show.  Up next at the Southern Iowa Speedway is next Wednesday night's action that will include the Sprint Invaders.  The Sprint Invaders is a traveling series of limited/360 winged sprint cars. The racing will once again be hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30.  For more info, you can check out www.sprintinvaders.com and www.oskyspeedway.com.

Osky - 4-29-15

Unofficial results:

Modified:

1. 02 Andrew Schroeder
2. 10c Cayden Carter
3. 21K Kyle Brown
4. 22 Brandon Banks
5. 40 Scott Dickey
6. 9X Tyler Groenendyk
7. 48J Jacob Murray
8. 14J Jake Neal
9. 7V Carter VanDenberg
DNF: 40RC Rod Clement

Stock Car - 3 Wide at the finish line

1. 10CC Cayden Carter
2. 33Z Zack VanderBeek
3. 52 Nathan Wood
4. 77N Daniel Hilsabeck
5. 11 Mike Hughes
6. 82X Randy Killen
7. 22R Todd Reitzler
8. 18 Kris Walker
9. 12 Doug Sylvester
10. 4M Mike McClure
11. 31 Eric Knapp
12. 9 Terry Clayton
DNF:
72 Jerry Pilcher
19 Donnie Pearson
54 Mike Brown
79S Jason See
17P Brad Pinkerton
17 Brock Welch
3D Daniel Gordon
64 Casey Greubel

SportMod

1. 72 Brett Lowry
2. 1V Curtis VanDerWal
3. 01 Brayton Carter
4. 9A Logan Anderson
5. 34Z Cory VanZante
6. A5 Austin Paul
7. 40 Dakota Simmons
8. 33 Derek Liles
9. 16 Matthew VanGelder
10. 84B Trent Brink
DNF:
26 Scott Brau
16J Ashton Johnson
DNS: 21D Dan Drury
          7A Aaron Osweiler

Hobby Stock

1. 69 Craig Brown
2. 10 Dale Porter
3. 3 Travis Bunnell
4. 12 Mike Kincaid
5. 77 Derek Hodges
6. 19 Bill Bonnett
7. 10G Dustin Griffiths
8. 84 Danny Thrasher
9. 3S Steve Allen
10. 32T Bobby Greene
11. 77G Doug Gordon, Jr.
12. 73 Aaron Martin
13. Jared Stephens
14. 224 Gina Greubel
15. 96R Jamie Songer
DNF: 71S Dave Seddon
          55 Brad Stephens
            2 Brandon Potts
DNS: 00 Kyle Dirks - rolled in heat race

Sport Compact

1. 77 John Whalen
2. 33 Trent Orwig
3. 00W Bill Whalen
4. 118 Jon Girdley
5. 22M Curt Myers
6. 5 Oliver Monson
7. 81 Troy Wonders
DNS: 2M Matt Moore

Schmidt goes flag-to-flag for Stock Car win at Boone. Wieben and Bennett take first wins at speedway

Saturday dawned overcast, damp, rainy, breezy, and cold.  Would there be racing anywhere in the state of Iowa?  The rained out alerts kept coming all day, but this week, not for the Boone Speedway. They did have plenty of rain however, but with the good drainage system in place and the top notch track prep crew busy at work, racing went on for race starved drivers and fans.

There were three familiar faces gracing victory lane last night, while the SportMod class and the Hobby Stock class saw first time winners ever at the track.

In the MADCRA Mod Lite class, veteran Jimmy May made it to the winner's circle for the first time in 2015, finishing ahead of his son Josh May.  May led the entire 15 laps on his way to victory. Josh May took the runner up spot, passing Cory Dennis in third, at the finish line in a squeaker.  Fourth was Bryan Zehm and Joel Keenan rounded out the top five.

A driver we see have success at other tracks around the state, finally can add a win at the Boone Speedway to his list.  Sam Wieben, the young driver from Dysart, Iowa, raced his way from tenth starting spot, grabbing the lead at lap ten and never relinquished it.  Jonathan Logue, who had started alongside Wieben in row five, captured a second place finish.  Clint Luellen moved up from starting eleventh, to snag third place, fourth was Randy Roberts, and Ben Wilson was fifth.

The Hobby Stocks were up next, for their 12-lap main event.  Solomon Bennett, who hails from Perry, Iowa, went wire-to-wire to take his first ever win at Boone....and since we have just seen him racing for the first time this year, we venture to guess that it could have been his first ever win anywhere. Andrew Burg started eleventh, and slipped by pole sitter Daniel Haggen on the final lap as they finished second and third respectively.  Aaron Rudolph was fourth and Cody Gustoff was fifth.

John Logue, no stranger to seeing the checkers fly first, won the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature.  Logue led all the race on his way to chalking up another victory.  Kyle Brown came from fifth starting spot, to finish second.  Russ  Dickerson tried the topside in an effort to catch Brown, but had to be content with third place.  Jammin' Jimmy Gustin, who had won the previous two times this year on the track....the Frostbuster and regular season opening night, finished in fourth and Scott Davis took fifth at line over veteran Denny Pittman in sixth.

The IMCA Stock Cars raced their 18-laps caution free.  Jay Schmidt leaped to the immediate lead from starting on the outside front row, and never gave the coveted spot up on his way to the win.  Trent Murphy gave it his all in an attempt to catch and pass Schmidt, but in the end, could only garner the runner up position.  Tyler Pickett, who jumped up this year from the Hobby Stock division, finished a solid third.  Fourth went to opening night winner, Wayne Gifford, and "Hot Rod" Richards came home in fifth.

It wasn't the pleasantest of nights to be sitting at a race track, but those who did brave the elements on a damp, dreary and cold night, saw some good racing.  We were a bit surprised that more than a handful of drivers who had their weekly racing rained out, did not make the trip to race.  Boone had a plentiful rainfall during the day, but when we arrived, and though the track was worked up and looked plenty wet, the water truck did make a couple of trips around the high side before the tractors and equipment went to work and packing it in.

We were joined last night by Jeff Broeg, our partner in crime at Positively Racing.  He opted to make the long drive from southeast Iowa, knowing the reputation of Boone Speedway and their show being  completed in a timely manner, and that it was....the last race was completed at 9:07 p.m.  The usual farming session after the heats and B mains was eliminated, and the first feature quickly came to the track.

Next Saturday night, racing reverts to it's regular starting times.  Grandstands open at 5, hot laps are 6:45 and racing at 7:30.

Lauritzen and his "Frozen" ride scores another victory

It was a beautiful night for racing at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night.  It was hard to believe, as the previous two races this year, the Frostbuster and last week's opener, were cold ones---for the fans as well as the drivers.  No coats required this week!  The drivers came out in full force too, with 110 cars filling the pits at the High Banks of Marshalltown.

The Mod Lite feature did not get off to a good start as the yellow rag flew three times with just one lap down.  When action did resume, it was the familiar #99 of Josh May in command.  From there on out, the race went caution free, May taking the win easily.  Mike Morrill chased May the entire race, but finished a distant second.  Third went to Travis Stensland, fourth was last week's winner, Jimmy May, and Joe Glick was fifth.  Josh May redeemed himself from last week after he had to drop out with a flat tire while leading.

A field of 31 SportMods came to compete.  A B main was required to get their feature down to 24 cars.  That B main was won by Colby Heishman.  The 18-lapper started with rookie to the class, Dusty Masolini (who jumped up from the Mod Lite class this year) and Pella's Jayme Duinink, on the front row.  Masolini held down the point through the first three laps, but then lost the handle going into turn one, bringing out the yellow.  Duinink then inherited the lead on the restart.  He had pressure from behind though, as Travis Peterson and Jared VanDeest were gathering steam.  VanDeest made it to the runner up spot and at lap nine, took over the lead.  VanDeest would then remain the leader the rest of the way to the checkers.  Duinink held on to second place, Peterson was third, fourth went to Sam Wieben and a close fifth was Jenae Gustin.  This race was marred by caution flags, and looking to be completed under a time limit.  However, the drivers got it together, and the race went all 18 laps.

Andrew Burg held the lead from the drop of the green in the 15-lap Hobby Stock A main.  He quickly had the 7B of Eric Stanton, who started ninth, to contend with, and then the two went to battle.  Stanton gained the upper hand by lap seven and now Nathan Ballard, who had started tenth, was attempting the pass on Burg for second.  Ballard knocked on Burg's door for several laps, making the hounding work by lap twelve, and taking over the runner up spot.  There was no catching Stanton however, as he continued to take the win in comfortable fashion.  Ballard had to be content with second, Burg went third, fourth was John Watson, who started twelfth, and Benji Irvine came from fifteenth, to finish fifth.

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars went 18-laps in the featured race.  Steve Meyer threaded the needle after starting seventh, to take the lead at lap three.  He had some strong runners applying pressure quickly though as Trent Murphy and Donavon Smith were in the second and third spots.  Murphy pulled off the pass on the back stretch and claimed the lead as lap fifteen was scored.  He never relinquished it the closing three laps, scoring the win.  Meyer held on to second place, and Smith to third.  A distance behind in fourth was last week's winner, Michael Jaennette and fifth went to Dave Atcher who started back in tenth spot.

The usual finale for the track was the 20-lap Modified main.  Jammin' Jimmy Gustin sat on the pole with Brett Ladehoff alongside.  Gustin was gone as the race went green, content to let the rest battle it out behind him.  A yellow at lap six would then bunch the field for the restart, and who should be sitting in second, but defending track champion, Ronn Lauritzen in his "Frozen" car.  Lauritzen had quickly fought through the pack from starting eleventh.  It took but a couple of laps before Lauritzen maneuvered around Gustin on the back stretch, taking over the number one spot.  Lauritzen would keep command of the helm the remaining distance, and taking the win.  Rookie to the class, Brian Irvine, who is proving in this early season to be a real threat after his dominating in Stock Cars in previous years, made it past Gustin and into second place by lap nine.  He then set his sights on leader Lauritzen, but all for naught, as there was no catching him. Lauritzen nabbed his first win of the season at Marshalltown, Irvine went second after starting tenth, and Gustin was third.  Josh Gilman, last week's winner, came from twelfth starting position to take fourth and Eric Elliott was a close fifth.

It will be regular season racing again next Friday at the high banks of Marshalltown Speedway.  Hot laps at 6:50 and racing at 7:30.  For more information you can check www.marshalltownspeedway.com.  Find a race somewhere to attend and keep supporting the sport we love....dirt track racing.  You can check the calendar of events at www.positivelyracing.com for a race you may wish to attend.  

Murray posts Osky opener win

The Southern Iowa Speedway opened it's regular season of racing on Wednesday night.  That after having it's scheduled opener rained out last week.  It was a night that saw every driver get in for FREE in a special promotion at the Monster half-mile and it brought 85 cars for some mid-week racing.

We saw the IMCA Sport Compacts for the first time in 2015.  Nine cars came for some fun. They ran their 12-lap feature to kick things off.  Trent Orwig held the pole starting spot with Bill Whalen along side.  Orwig got the drop on Whalen as the race started.  Orwig held down that spot until lap three, when Whalen took over.  But Orwig would not go away as he kept hounding the leader.  Orwig dipped low to make the pass with just two laps remaining.  Whalen tried for a come back but had nothing for Orwig who took the checkers.  Behind Whalen's second place finish, was Matt Moore in third, fourth was John Whalen and Seith Woodruff was fifth.

Up next, it was the 16-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature.  The front row starters were Frostbuster winner, Danny Thrasher and the wily veteran, Bill Bonnett.  Thrasher got the drop as the race started, and Jamie Songer, who had started right behind Thrasher, followed through to take the runner up spot.  Bonnett didn't go away either, as he hung tight, running in third.  By lap six, defending track champion, Dustin Griffiths had made his way around Bonnett and was setting his sights on the leaders.  A yellow flew at lap 7 when Daniel Dyer lost a wheel on the front stretch, thus setting up a restart situation.  Bonnett took advantage as the race went green, getting the better of Griffiths, and regaining third place.  The race then went caution free to the finish.  Thrasher won for the second time this year after his Frostbuster win back on April 1.  It was a tight battle for second place, but Jamie Songer won out over Bonnett in third.  Griffiths held on for a fourth place and Derek Hodges was fifth.

The IMCA Stock Cars ran 18-laps for their A main.  There were 28 cars on hand with 26 taking the green.  The redraw put Shane Weller and Todd Reitzler (have to get use to his new #11X ride instead of his usual #22R) on the front row.  The second row held Mike Hughes....taking the leap up from Hobby Stock ranks, and Chelsea Charger, Damon Murty.  Murty held the lead as lap one was scored, but what a pack of cars behind him!  A yellow flew at lap three, Murty still in command, Reitzler was holding second and "one of those orange cars", the 33Z of Zack VanderBeek was now up to third and tightening the screws!  It didn't take long after the restart, until VanderBeek took over the runner up spot.....and the chase was on!  The two went at it for several laps, with the 33Z finally establishing the top spot.  More action was taking place a bit back in the pack as Nathan Wood had worked his way up from an eleventh starting spot and was running third, and "that other orange car", the 10C of Cayden Carter was fourth after starting in eighth.  Carter then caught and passed Wood for third, just about the time smoke began coming from the 10C.  Carter wasn't done just yet though, as he pressured second place Murty.  VanderBeek continued easily on his way to the victory, and Carter made the pass in the waning laps, to capture a runner up finish.  Murty had to be content with a third place, that after he had taken the Frostbuster win on April 1, Wood was fourth and the rookie to the class, Mike Hughes was fifth.  Winner VanderBeek earned an extra $100 on the night thanks to Edel Lawn Care sweetening the pot.

The Northern SportMods saw 15 cars take the green in their 16-lap A, and it was a mad scrambling right from the get go!  Somehow, fifth place starter, Curtis VanDerWal came out on top of the 3-wide back stretch battle, leading by lap one.  From there on, it was just a race for second place, as VanDerWal was gone.  The 2014 track champion of Brett Lowry held on for a second place finish, barely ahead of third place Brayton Carter.  No one could miss the bright blue chrome car of Jake McBirnie, piloting the #82 and coping a fourth place finish, and fifth went to track regular, Jason McDaniel.

The night ended with the running of the 18-lap Modified feature.  Jammin' Jimmy Gustin came down from Marshalltown to test his luck on "The Monster" track and was the lucky guy pulling out the #1 pill to start on the pole.  Along side him, was Jake Murray.  Murray got the drop on Gustin and wheeled off to the lead.  At lap six, Murray was running a comfortable distance ahead of Gustin who was in second, when a spectacular incident occurred, putting the race under red.  Though we only saw the car of Cole Ferguson, the young racer from Dexter, flying high in the air off of turn three, it was thought to be caused when he jumped the cushion and while trying to correct, got sideways, and then he took the wild ride.  It was quickly confirmed that he was okay, though the car took a real beating.  When things finally got back underway, Murray easily pulled away from the field, but now Gustin was having to contend with Carter VanDenberg.  VanDenberg fought his way into second place, and was now trying to reel in Murray.....the builder of his car.  Time ran out however, and Murray was never challenged on his route to victory.  VanDenberg had to settle for second, Gustin held on to third place, fourth went to Tyler Groenendyk and "Downtown" Kyle Brown, drove his Harris chassis to fifth place after starting tenth on the field.

It was really quite a pleasant evening to be sitting at the races as the winds calmed considerably during the evening.  Some things of note on the night were some of the drivers making the tow to race at Osky.  Kelly Shryock, the driver who has quite the string of championships in the USMTS series, was piloting the orange #3 IMCA Modified.  We also noticed another USMTS Modified driver participating in the Stock Car class, Daniel Hilsabeck in the #77N.  And it was quite nostalgic to see the #54 Stock Car of Michael Brown......looking SO much like his late father Aaron Brown's cars of days gone by.  Races were completed just before the tick of 10 p.m.

It was a great opening night at the Southern Iowa Speedway, thanks to promoter Mike VanGenderen and crew.  They provided a track that gave the fans some real exciting racing action. Also, I am sure the drivers, as well as the fans, were appreciative of the generous free racing for each of the drivers.

Next Wednesday night, regular season racing will continue....with a special incentive for the Hobby Stocks.  They will have a draw/redraw format with $500 on the line for the win.  Also, extra money is going into the Stock Car and SportMod classes thanks to generous sponsors on the night. Hot laps are 7 with racing at 7:30.

Osky - 4-15-15

Season Opener

Unofficial results:

Modified:

1. 48J Jacob Murray

2. 7V Carter VanDenBerg

3. 19 Jimmy Gustin

4. 9X Tyler Groenendyke

5. 21K Kayle Brown

6. 10C Cayden Carter

7. 5 Todd Shute

8. 3 Kelly Shryock

9. 02 Andrew Schroeder

DNF: 22 Brandon Banks

          3F Cole Ferguson (spectacular flip high in air off turn three...he was ok)

          40 Scott Dickey

DNS: 8J AJ Johnson

Stock Car (28 cars)

1. 33Z Zack VanderBeek

2. 10CC Cayden Carter

3. 99D Damon Murty

4. 52 Nathan Wood

5. 11 Mike Hughes

6. 20Dub Shane Weller

7. 25 Cody Agee

8. 17P Brad Pinkerton

9. 11X Todd Reitzler

10. 12 Doug Sylvester

11. 1X Michael Peterson

12. 4J Bob Lynch

13. 18 Kris Walker

14. 38 Rich Vogt

15. 81X Randy Killen

16 . 3D Daniel Gordon

17. 77N Daniel Hilsabeck

18. 77T Trent Jeanes

19. 62 John Hunnell

20. 79s Jason See

21. 14 Derrick Agee

22. 17 Brock Welch

23. 19A Alan VanGorp

24. 54 Michael Brown (son of Hall of Famer at Osky...Aaron Brown and driving a nostalgic look alike car)

25. 73C Carl Yaw

26. 64 Casey Greubel

DNS: 46B Michael Bilyeu

          19 Donnie Pearson

SportMod - 

1. 1V Curtis VanDerWal  - ran away

2. 72 Brett Lowry

3. 01 Brayton Carter

4. 82 Jake McBirnie

5. 85 Jason McDaniel

6. 9A Logan Anderson 

7. 12D Brandon Dale

8. A5 Austin Paul

9. 16 Matthew VanGelder

10. 29K Dan Keltner

11. 29 Colton Livezey

12. 84B Trent Brink

13. 34Z Cory VanZante

14. 4G Michael Guthrie

15. 6T Siraj Thomason

Hobby Stock

1. 84 Danny Thrasher

2. 19 Bill Bonnett

3. 96R Jamie Songer

4. 10G Dustin Griffiths

5. 77 Derek Hodges

6. 3 Travis Bunnell

7. 3S Steve Allen

8. 10 Dale Porter

9. 68 Craig Brown

10. 32T Bobby Greene

11. 2 Brandon Potts

12. 55 Brad Stephens

13. 74 Matt Smith

14. 73 Aaron Martin

15. 12 Mike Kincaid

16. 14 Christian Huffman

17. 224 Gina Greubel

DNF: 00 Kyle Dirks

         19D Daniel Dyer

DNS:  9 Jared Stephens

Sport Compact

1. 33 Trent Orwig

2. 00W Bill Whalen

3. 2M Matt Moore

4. 77 John Whalen

5. 36W Seith Woodruff

6. 118 John Girdley

7. 95 Tim Bevins

8 22M Curt Myers

DNS: 409 Nick VanHemert 

Gustin visits victory lane again in Boone

Another year of regular racing began at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night when they held their 2015 season opener.  The five regular classes were all in competition with 146 cars in the pits.  There were also familiar names back in the winner's circle in all classes.  

We saw the Mod Lites run for the very first time this year, as they were absent from all of last week's Frostbusters.  Travis Stensland make quick work of getting to the lead past initial leader Charlie Brown.  From there on, he never looked back, taking the flag-to-flag win.  Josh May made a surge past brothers Charlie and Terry Brown in the latter portion of the 15-lapper, to take the runner up spot.  Charlie and Terry Brown were scored third and fourth and Randy Bryan completed the top five.

The Northern SportMods were the first of the IMCA classes to run a feature.  This one was nearly over from the beginning when the familiar #12 of Doug Smith sat on the pole....his good fortune with the #1 pill draw.  Smith never relinquished the lead on his way to the checkers.  Clint Luellen, who had won last week's Frostbuster at Boone, came in as the runner up.  Sam Wieben drove his hot rod from starting ninth, to a third place finish, ahead of Jonathan Logue in fourth and tenth place starter Randy Roberts, in fifth.   

There seems to be no stopping Austin Luellen this early season.  He lead all laps of the Hobby Stock 12-lap A main on his way to what I believe to be his fifth win of the year at various tracks.  He distanced himself from the pack of cars and scored the comfortable win.  Andrew Burg ran out of time to get any more than a runner up spot, after starting back in twelfth place.  Cody Gustoff finished in third, fourth went to Eric Stanton....back again in his familiar "coup" style ride, and last week's Frostbuster winner, Aaron Rudolph was fifth.

Jimmy Gustin, last year's track champion, pulled the #1 pill out of the pot and got a pole starting position for the 20-lap Modified race.  He withstood a couple of caution situations with little trouble on his way to leading every lap and another visit to victory lane.  That after scoring the Frostbuster win a week ago.  Veteran racer Denny Pittman gave it all he had in an effort to catch Gustin, but in the end, had nothing for him.  Pittman had to be content with the runner up spot.  It was a close one for third and fourth places, as Josh Most, the driver from Red Oak who can be found piloting just about anything, made a last ditch effort coming out of turn four to take third place over the Flying Dutchman, Mike VanGenderen in fourth.  Joel Bushore rounded out the top five.

The usual finale of the evening was the IMCA Stock Car 18-lap feature.  Area favorite, Jay Schmidt was looking to have a good shot at a win with his draw on the pole.  However, a cut tire was soon to put him out of the race with but a couple of laps in the book.  Boone racer, Wayne Gifford was in the lead with less than a handful of laps down, and brothers, Chris Pruitt, in his neon orange 22P ride, and Terry Pruitt, piloting the 78P, were intent on running down the leader.  A caution at lap eleven and the resulting restart would find Chris Pruitt sliding up the bank in turn one, causing him some positions.  There was no looking back for the #22 of Wayne Gifford however, as he completed the rest of the race at the helm, taking the win.  Terry Pruitt was second, third went to Kellerton, Iowa's, Matt West, Chris Pruitt recovered from his slip up on the restart, and got back to fourth and the familiar #35 of Donavon Smith came from twelfth, to finish fifth.

Racing was completed right at 9:30....thanks in part to the early starting times for the month of April. The rest of the month will continue with those early starts with hot laps at 5:45 and racing at 6:30. 

Racing is starting up in full force in our area again as many tracks hosted early specials and are now into their regular weekly racing.  You can find a track you may wish to attend by checking out the calendar at www.positivelyracing.com.  Just click on "calendar" at the top of the page for both weekly racing and for specials.  Let's all support the sport we love.....dirt track racing!      

Nippy night of racing ends on a "Happy" note

Marshalltown Speedway opened it's regular season of racing on Friday night---their 51st straight year of racing on the fast quarter-mile.  It was a chilly, windy night to start things off, with strong gusts out of the northwest.  The fans that braved the weather saw 108 cars in competition and some good side-by-side racing.

We saw the Mod Lites for the first time in 2015.  They ran a 15-lap main to kick feature racing off.  Travis Stensland led the troops early on but had Mike Morrill and Josh May hot on his tail.  Soon, it was May taking over and Morrill followed him into the runner up spot.  Morrill's night would end, when his machine experienced issues, and he had to exit the race.  It was looking as if Josh May was about to take the checkers and now his father, James May was chasing him.  However, you can't count it over until someone takes that checkered flag.  Josh May was off the pace after taking the white flag, and on this night, it was dad James May taking the trophy home.  Chargin' Charlie Brown came home in second, third was Travis Stensland, and Cory Sauerman and Randy Bryan completed the top five.

The IMCA Northern SportMod 18-lap event saw a crowd favorite back in victory lane.  Jenae Gustin showed the fellas how it's done, leading the entire race which went flag to flag.  She had some company behind her and two of those, Doug Smith and Sam Wieben were going at it tooth and nail.  Wieben won that war, slipping by Smith in the closing laps, to take second, leaving Smith to settle for a third place finish.  Fourth was Clint Luellen who started eleventh, and Travis Peterson was scored fifth.

After the SportMods had run caution free, it wasn't so for the IMCA Hobby Stocks as they suffered through several of the yellow rag cautions. Their usual 12 lap feature was 14 or 15 laps last night.  We will check to see if there has been a change in their class for this year at the track.  Marengo, Iowa's Nathan Ballard was looking strong and leading the pack in the early going, but at lap four, Austin Luellen was leading.  Soon, it was a fight behind him with Eric Stanton, and Ballard going at it, Stanton winning out for second place.  It was a 3-wide battle going down the back stretch as the race wound down, but Luellen won out, snagging the win.  This is Luellen's second win of 2015 at the fast 1/4 mile as he won the Frostbuster last Friday.  Ballard was the runner up, followed by Stanton, Dustin Elliott, and Jamie Songer third through fifth.  Stanton started eleventh on the field and Songer came from fifteenth.

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars was up next.   They went fast and furious throughout their caution free 18-laps. Steve Meyer took the initial lead until Jaennette took over. Then up front, it was Michael Jaennette, Jay Schmidt and Steve Meyer putting on the show for the fans.  Schmidt briefly took the lead on the backstretch just after a handful of laps was in the books, but Jaennette grabbed it back by the time they passed the flagstand.  Meyer was still in the picture too, and now Donavon Smith and Damon Murty wanted a taste of the action as well.  When the checkers flew, it was Jaennette keeping hold of that top spot, winning it easily.  A distance behind in second, it was Steve Meyer, and Donavon Smith a close third.  Fourth went to Chelsea Charger, Damon Murty who came from eleventh starting spot, and Jay Schmidt rounded out the top five.

The final feature was 20-laps of Modified racing.  A surprise visitor on the night, Kelly Shryock, was the lucky recipient of the pole redraw position.  I think many in the crowd were thinking it was over with the veteran Shryock on the pole.  Tonight, that didn't happen.  A yellow flew at lap six when Rod Clement left the track over turn two, and Shryock was still claiming the number one spot, but Ronn Lauritzen, defending track champion had other things in mind as he sat in second.  On the restart though it was the car sitting in third, Josh, "Happy" Gilman, that got the jump on both Shryock and Lauritzen, snapping up the lead.  A few laps later, Lauritzen got around Shryock and the 10K "Frozen" ride of Lauritzen, was setting his sights on Gilman now.  Lauritzen dipped low in an effort to get under Gilman, but it just wouldn't stick.  Gilman claimed the win, Lauritzen going second.  Third went to  new to the class, Brian Irvine, the veteran Stock Car racer who jumped up to Modifieds this year and who had started seventeenth on the field.  Kelly Shryock took fourth place and fifteenth place starter, Justin Medler, the North Dakota racer who is hanging around the area for some early season racing, was fifth.

The fans were all thankful that the wind died down about the time the features began, but it was still a cold night sitting in the stands.  We weathered it well though, but are sure hoping that Spring finally gets here and no more of this cold and windy stuff!  Racing continues for the season next Friday night at Marshalltown Speedway.  Hot laps are 6:50 and racing at 7:30.

Boone Frostbuster Series Night #4

Boone Speedway opened it's doors for the first time in 2015 on Saturday night for their annual running of the Frostbuster. This was the final race in the four race/four track IMCA Frostbuster Series.  The pits were filled with 200 race cars, many from Wisconsin, and North Dakota as well as other states and one Stock Car racer from Canada.  While the out of state drivers have been doing very well in the Frostbuster Series, on this night, it was all Iowa in the winner's circle.

The Northern SportMods ran their 20-lap feature first.  This was after three B mains were required to complete the 24 car field line up.  One of the out of state drivers who has been having a very successful Frostbuster Series run is 16 year old Lucas Lamberies from Clintonville, Wisconsin.  His luck was looking to continue as he drew the outside pole for the start of the race, and scooted to the immediate lead.  He held that lead until lap ten when the previous night's winner at the Marshalltown Speedway's Frostbuster, Doug Smith, came calling and snatched it away.  Meanwhile, it was Clint Luellen making big moves getting to the front from starting twelfth, as he grabbed the runner up spot by lap twelve and in pursuit of Smith who had a sizable lead....but now, lap traffic was entering the picture.  Brandon Williams was riding along in third after getting by Lamberies.  It looked to be another Smith victory.....but hold on.....it's never over until it's over!  As they raced to the white flag, Smith appeared to get crossed up coming out of four, and enough for Luellen to take advantage of being in the right place at the right time, flying around to take the lead.  Luellen then raced it back to the checkers for the win.  Smith's bobble also allowed a couple of other drivers to seize the moment, as Lamberies moved into the runner up finishing position, and the 69jr car of Jonathan Logue, who had started twentieth, finished third.  Smith held on for fourth place, and Ryan Besaw from Wisconsin, rounded out the top five.

In the IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lapper, it was Aaron Rudolph leading all laps to score the victory.  Cody Gustoff challenged Rudolph during heavy lap traffic toward the end of the race, but when a tire went down, he was out of the game. Adel racer Andrew Burg claimed the runner up spot, with "The Mayor" John Watson a close third.  Fourth went to Austin Luellen and Mike McDonald, who started fifteenth, was fifth.   

There was a stellar field of 58 IMCA Modifieds on hand....requiring three B Mains to complete their starting line up.  Jammin' Jimmy Gustin jumped to the lead from starting third, and lead lap one as well as all the remaining laps.  He had the field covered the entire distance, but the battle for who would finish second was what everyone was watching!  It was a toss up as to who it would be, as a five car wild and furious battle was ensuing!  Those going at it were Jason Wolla, the North Dakota hot shoe, Ronn Lauritzen in his "Frozen" ride (it's going to be a real hit with the youngsters this year),  Mike VanGenderen, who is kept busy with promoting duties at several tracks,  Missourian, Hunter Marriott, who always seems to end up at the front of the pack no matter where he starts,  and Josh Most, the driver from Red Oak that you can see piloting everything from a go kart to a late model and beyond.  Those drivers shuffled back and forth, back and forth, but at the flag, it was VanGenderen taking the runner up spot, just ahead of Marriott in third. "Uncle Ronnie", Ronn Lauritzen (he has a plethora of nieces and nephews) took fourth ahead of Most in fifth.

The finale for the evening was 20-laps of the Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars.  When the race started, Jefferson, Iowa racer Trent Murphy claimed the top spot, and Jay Schmidt "threaded the needle", in a move that put him in second place.  Schmidt would then have to be content to chase Murphy the rest of the race, as his peeks for a way around were to no avail.  Murphy claimed the win, Schmidt having to settle for the runner up spot.  Finishing third, was the lone Canadian, Brendon LaBatte from Saskatchewan.  We've been impressed with his showing on the short tracks in the Frostbuster Series, especially since his true calling is playing in the Canadian Football League.  The 14R of Jim Redmann, a veteran racer from southern, Iowa who is making a return to racing, finished fifth.

The regular season racing at the Boone Speedway will get underway next Saturday night, April 11.

Please note that for the month of April, racing will start earlier than normal.  The pit gate will open at 4:30, hot laps at 5:45 and racing at 6:30.  Racing weekly will be the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks, along with the MADCRA Mod Lites. Check their website for additional information at www.raceboone.com. 

This week will also bring about some other area track's season openers.  Wednesday night, the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa will again start another year of mid-week racing.....hot laps 7 and races at 7:30 (Check www.oskyspeedway.com for more information) and on Friday nights, Marshalltown will be starting their 51st consecutive year of racing, with racing at 7:30.  You can check their schedule, etc. at www.marshalltownspeedway.com.  Try and get out to a track and support the sport we all love, dirt track racing!  

Cordes wins a thriller at Night #2 of the IMCA Frostbuster Series

The pits were filled to over flowing Thursday night at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton for night #2 of the annual IMCA Frostbuster Series.  Many of those haulers had out of state plates.  134 race cars participated and gave the fans more than their money's worth for an early season race fix. The final feature of the night, the IMCA Modifieds was a real nail biter!

The feature racing began with the Micro Mods class that runs weekly at the track.  The winner of their feature was Don Erger.  Erger is a veteran driver who has raced in several other divisions.

Sixteen IMCA Hobby Stocks were on hand.  Their 16-lap feature was nearly over from the drop of the green when hot shoe Benji Irvine jumped to the lead from his lucky draw of the pole spot.  Irvine weathered a couple of caution flags with no problem and sailed to the win.  Second was Austin Luellen who got around third place finisher Nathan Ballard late in the race.  Fourth was Eric Stanton and Justin Wacha rounded out the top five.

The Northern SportMods drew 40 cars in their class.  It took three B's to whittle the starting A feature to 24 cars.  Those wins went to Falun, Kansas racer Kurtis Phil, Austin Luellen and Dawn Krall.  In the early portion of the 18-lap affair, it was looking as if the previous night's winner at Osky was going for two-in-a-row as the #0 of Lucas Lamberies held down the lead.  A caution tightened up the field and after the restart, a crowd favorite, Sam Wieben took over the helm.  More yellows flew, but Wieben never relinquished his lead to the checkers, Lamberies finishing a close runner up.  Tony Olson was third, fourth went to Jenae Gustin from a fifth row starting spot, and Clint Luellen came from deep in the field, to finish fifth.

There were nineteen IMCA Stock Cars running their 20-lap feature event.  Sigourney, Iowa's Nathan Wood drew the pole with Dubuque area driver Jerry Miles along side. Wood took command when the green flew, Miles tailed him and to no ones surprise, the familiar 99D of the Chelsea Charger, Damon Murty was sniffing his tailpipe.  Murty, who has had great success at the quarter-mile track, quickly nabbed second, but Miles grabbed it back....a surprise. Woods and Miles were battling hard for the lead, and now it was the 65 of Wisconsin racer Bret Koehler taking third from Murty.  A yellow at lap nine bunched up the field and Murty took advantage of the restart, flying around both Miles and Koehler....this time, no surprise!  A yellow about lap nine again bunched the field and on the restart, it was a fight....and Miles came out the worst for wear, cutting a tire and sending him to the pits.  It took only a couple more laps until Murty claimed the lead from Wood, and then kept it to the checkers flying. Koehler got around Wood in the waning laps to claim the runner up spot, and Wood having to settle for a third place finish.  Fourth was the #57 of Canadian Brendon LaBatte, who started deep in the starting line up (a Canadian Football League player....who has fun in the off season behind the wheel) and Wisconsin racer Rick Mahlberg was fifth.

It was now time for the 25-lap IMCA Modified feature.  There was a strong field of 47 of the "ground pounders" in competition this night.  Three B Mains weeded this field to a 24-car starting field.  Those B's were won by Wisconsin's Mike Mullen, Richie Gustin, and Joe Docekal.  A surprising number of really good drivers, had to load and watch the A main.

When we saw the front row of the feature, we knew it was going to be a good one!  Des Moine's Todd Shute and local favorite Troy Cordes were no doubt going to put on a show.  They did not disappoint!! Shute took the initial lead on the start, holding off Cordes until lap five when the 71 took the top spot.  Now....throw in the previous night's winner, North Dakota's Jason Wolla and the contest was getting even more interesting.  As the race wore on, Cordes still leading, we had been keeping an eye on another driver who you can never count out.  We've watched the 62 of Hunter Marriott enough in recent years.....at many different tracks.....and he always seems to be a top finisher. He was now battling Wolla for third, and eventually took it.  The last few laps of this race were a fan's delight!  What a battle.  Cordes and Shute were locked in an awesome race, nearly neck and neck.  Marriott lurked close at hand waiting for any opportunity.  The crowd was on it's feet when the three approached the waving checkers......Cordes winning by the slimmest of margins over Shute.  Marriott finished a very close third, Wolla not far behind in fourth and Tyler Droste was fifth.

It was another great Frostbuster race kicking off the racing season around Iowa.  It's been great getting to enjoy the last two night's with other racing friends and fans.  Always makes the time more enjoyable.

Our plan had been to head for night #3 of the Frostbuster's at the Marshalltown Speedway.  However, with the thermometer hoovering about the 40 degree mark and the wind coming from the north at about 20 mph, this old couple is bowing out and opting to watch the show via Speed Shift TV tonight!  Good luck to all the drivers, and we will be cheering you on from the comfort and WARMTH of home.  We WILL be at the Boone Speedway for the fourth and final installment of the IMCA Frostbuster Series tomorrow though.  This show will be starting earlier, with hot laps at 4 and racing at 5.

$1,000 Frostbuster wins to Wolla, Murty, Lamberies and Thrasher

It may have been called a "Frostbuster", but it didn't much feel like it at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa on Wednesday night.  The temperature was in the 70's and if it hadn't been for the strong southerly wind, it would have been a near perfect night to be sitting at the Monster half-mile to watch a race.  The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods and Hobby Stocks were all in competition and all looking for the $1,000 to win in each of those classes.  The Modifieds drew the biggest field with 38 cars.  Not far behind with 36 entries was the SportMod division, followed by 24 Stock Cars and 17 Hobby Stocks.

The Hobby Stocks kicked off the feature racing with a 16-lap A.  Dustin Griffiths who has had his fair share of checkers at the Monster Half-Mile, jumped to the immediate lead as the green flew and Danny Thrasher tucked in on his bumper.  Griffiths drifted just a tad too high in turn four and handed the lead over to Thrasher on lap three.   Thrasher threw off Griffiths many tries to regain the lead, but it was in vain as Thrasher took the checkers.  Jamie Songer started in the eighth position, and finished third, Austin Luellen was fourth and Adam Bonnett, piloting his Uncle Rex Bonnett's car, took fifth after starting eleventh.  The race went flag to flag.

The IMCA Northern SportMod feature didn't get off to a good start when pole sitter Kegan Scott got crossed up as they approached the starter's stand, causing a melee of scattering cars. About fourteen cars were involved, calling for a restart, and Scott having to tag the field.  Brayton Carter was then moved to the pole spot, sitting beside the 0 of Clintonville, Wisconsin's Lucas Lamberies.  Lamberies grabbed the lead but Carter nabbed the lead by lap five.  From there on, Carter pulled the field and took the checkers with ease.  Lamberies finished second, followed by tenth place starter Jenae Gustin in third.  Fourth was Curtis Van Der Wal, and fifth went to Cedar Fall's Kip Siems.  After the initial "no go", this race also went caution free.  It was announced later that Carter was disqualified for "an illegal distributor", thus handing the win over to Lamberies.

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars, are indeed just that.  They always put on a great show and they did not disappoint last night.  Their 20-lap feature was a dandy!  Tama's Jay Schmidt was the leader at lap one and Chelsea's Damon Murty was hot on his tail.  Cayden Carter was again piloting the orange machine, and quickly joined them for the tussle.  Schmidt held fast to his lead, but Murty was peeking under him at every opportunity and then Carter tried his hand for the pass.  The three cars passed the finish line several times in a tight, tight fight.  On lap twelve, Murty's persistence finally paid off, as he made the pass for the lead.  Just a couple of laps later, Carter made an outside move to get by Schmidt and take over second place.  A yellow flew at lap fifteen, but on the restart, Murty tossed off Carter's attempts to get by him, and motored home to the checkers first.  Carter held the runner up spot, and Schmidt held third.  Fourth was Independence racer Justin Temeyer in his bright green machine, and rounding out the top five was Shane Weller from Agency.

There was a fine field of IMCA Modifieds in attendance.  The front row saw Jammin' Jimmy Gustin on the pole spot, and Jason Wolla from Ray, North Dakota sat along side him.  Wolla got the jump as the 22-lap feature began, and stretched out a good lead.  At around the half-way mark, Wolla was still enjoying his lengthy lead, Gustin rode in second and Todd Shute was riding in third.  The car on the move however, was the #62 of Brookfield, Missouri's Hunter Marriott! Marriott had started tenth and was continuing his move methodically toward the front.  At lap fourteen, Marriott had taken over third and had his eye set on Gustin in second.  Lap seventeen saw Marriott and Gustin battle hard, and evidently that battle led to a tire being cut, sending Gustin out of the game, and Marriott taking over second.  The reeling in continued but time ran out to catch Wolla, who took the win.  Marriott had to settle for second, followed by Shute in third, fourth was Scott Dickey and Cole Ferguson had a good run to complete the top five.  This race also was caution free.

Former NASCAR driver, Ken Schrader, the Missouri native who now calls North Carolina home,  was on hand last night, but did not have a good start to his 4-race Frostbuster series run.  Other states represented by drivers were Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, Kansas, Minnesota, Wyoming, Missouri and Montana. The #57 Stock Car driven by Brendon LaBatte came all the way from Canada. I believe he is or was, a player in the Canadian Football League.

When we arrived at the track, it was great to see the backstretch pits on the other side of the track lined with haulers.  Not only in anticipation of the great competition we were about to see, but thankful that fans could see all around the track!!  The track stayed in great shape all night long as well.  Just one yellow flag flew in feature racing.  Thanks to promoter Mike VanGenderen for giving the fans a great kick off to the racing season.  The weekly racing at the Southern Iowa Speedway will begin next Wednesday night, April 11.

There are three more nights of Frostbuster racing this week.  Tonight, the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa will hold night #2 with racing at 7 pm. Friday night, Marshalltown Speedway will host night #3 with the racing to begin at 7 pm.  Then Frostbuster #4 will be on Saturday at the Boone Speedway.  Hot laps are 4 p.m. and racing will begin at 5.