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.
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