Summer truly made it's presence felt on Sunday for the 21st running of the Hogan Memorial at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton. It was a hot one for sure, but the saving grace was the breeze that we had in the grandstand. The pits were absolutely packed as were the grandstands. This race has grown with each passing year---a wonderful tribute to a wonderful racing family! The event, honoring Dick and Janet Hogan, was a testimony of just how special racers and fans alike think of the Hogan family.
Micro Mods ran first. This is the only track we see this class. Their feature went to veteran racer Don Erger. Erger, that we are more familiar with piloting a Modified in years past, was the first of the night's Hogan Memorial winners.
The IMCA Northern SportMods ran an 18-lap feature. They had a tough time getting those 18 laps completed as an abundance of yellow flags plagued the race. Those cautions didn't hinder Kyle Olson however, as he lead every lap on his way to the win. Second place went to Danny Dvorak, who came from starting in row five, third was Tony Olson, Sam Wieben started eleventh and finished fourth and Ryan King came from deep in the field to score a fifth place finish.
Stock Cars ran next in a 20-lap main event. Twenty-three cars competed in the class. They too had a plethora of yellows flying through out the race. John Oliver, Jr. made the trip up from Danville, Iowa located in the southeastern part of the state, and made it pay off. Oliver took command at lap three and kept it at the front of the pack the rest of the race to the checkers and the win. Waterloo racer Kevin Rose came from the seventh row to capture the runner up spot. Phil Holtz from Manchester started eleventh and finished in third place. Fourth went to a driver pulling double duty last night.....Darin Duffy, who is most often seen piloting a Modified. Scott Pippert, a regular at the Benton County Speedway came all the way from the rear of the starting field to round out the top five.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks had just two yellows fly in their 16-lap event and one of those was for debris on the track. This was refreshing after the previous two features. Adam Petrzelka snatched the lead away from veteran Bill Bonnett by lap one and was enjoying his ride at the top of the track. Things got interesting after the restart at lap seven for debris. Petrzelka was still leading but had heavy hitters close at hand waiting for their opportunity on the restart. Brett Vanous had made his way to the runner up spot, and Nathan Ballard was lurking in third place. When the race went back to green, it was Ballard swinging to the outside line, and making his way around leader Petrzelka and taking over the top spot. Vanous soon followed, taking second spot and then the fight was on. Ballard and Vanous raced side by side, and at the white flag, crossed the flagstand in a near dead heat. Vanous was able to pull to the lead as the checkers flew and took the victory----Ballard taking the runner up spot. Crossing the line in third was local favorite Brian Happel, but a check of the results this morning, shows that he was dq'd. This gave third place to Adam Petrzelka, Bill Bonnett was scored in fourth and Zach Swanson was fifth.
Earlier, the top two drivers from each of the five Modified heats, picked a Frisbee to determine their starting position. Those drivers were Vern Jackson, Joe Docekal, Bill Roberts, Jerry Dedrick, Corey Dripps, Zach Less, Hunter Marriott, Troy Cordes, JD Auringer and Darin Duffy.....and as listed, this would be their draw for the start. Three B mains placed four each into the main event and four provisionals tagged the field. Those were Ryan Maitland, Dennis Betzer, Ed Thomas and Jerry Luloff. Thomas and Luloff were previous Hogan Memorial winners.
Prior to the start of the 50-lap main event, which included a mandatory pit stop on the track at the halfway mark, the drivers were introduced, pictures taken and then they strapped into their rides. The command, "Gentlemen, start your engines" was given by Dick and Janet Hogan's grandson, Hogan Shafer, son of their daughter Terri and husband John Shafer. It was a beautiful sight to see the field go four-wide in their parade lap.
As the race began, it was Joe Docekal taking the top spot, leading the troops. This race also saw many yellows flying, and when the second caution came out, Docekal was still in command. Hunter Marriott, the Brookfield, Missouri racer had established himself in the runner spot. By the time the halfway mark came at lap 25 for the mandatory yellow, it was caution #7. Marriott was still firmly in the lead at that point, but defending Hogan Memorial winner, JD Auringer had worked his way from ninth starting spot, up into the runner up position. Kyle Brown, who had qualified through a B main and had started seventeenth, was now up to third. Close at hand was Gilman's Richie Gustin and Zach Less in fourth and fifth.
The halfway mandatory caution allowed the drivers to make adjustments, change tires, add fuel, etc. right on the track. They were given five minutes for their changes.
The second portion of the race only produced one yellow, that coming at lap thirty-six. When that yellow rag flew, it was JD Auringer in the lead, Brown was running in second place and Richie Gustin was third, and Marriott had fallen back into fourth. When the race went green, Auringer kept his lead, but Gustin was able to push by Brown to take over the runner up spot, and flying on the topside was Cayden Carter. Carter appeared to be making headway on the topside, but soon changed his line, going back to the bottom. With the racing going green to the checkers, Auringer kept hold of the top spot, and defended his title from last year's win. It was his third Hogan Memorial over all. Gustin closed the gap on the leader, but had to settle for the runner up spot. Brown finished in the third position, Carter was fourth and veteran Vern Jackson was fifth. Gustin, Carter and Jackson were all previous Hogan Memorial winners.
Before the evening's racing began, eleven previous Hogan winners were seated before the grandstand for an autograph session. Those were Scott Hogan, Vern Jackson, Jerry Luloff, Ed Thomas, Corey Dripps, Troy Cordes, Richie Gustin, JD Auringer, Cayden Carter, Timm Jensen, and Jan Messer. A couple of drivers who had committed, but were not in attendance were Mike Sampson and Jeff Barkdoll. Forty-five IMCA Modifieds competed....a nice turn out with a lot of quality drivers trying to make their way into the starting field.
Turn three and four seemed to be a particular nemesis for many drivers last night. Many drivers went over the top and one of those was Brian Irvine during Modified heat #1. Irvine didn't just exit off of the race track....he rolled multiple times off the top side midway between turns three and four. Thankfully, he was okay, but his night was done. Stock Car driver Scott Pippert took a tour of the backstretch cornfield during his heat race.....and as he was towed past the grandstand, he had corn stalks dragging.
There were hard charger awards in all four IMCA classes. I must have been day dreaming as I missed the Hobby Stock award, but the others were Stock Car, Scott Pippert, SportMod, Brayton Carter, and Modified, Kyle Brown.
It was another very successful Hogan Memorial for sure. Plenty of competition with right at 130 cars via my count. The track stayed tacky all night, which we can attest to when walking across it after all the racing was completed.
Our next race looks to be at the Southern Iowa Speedway on Wednesday night which will include the make up for the earlier rained out Hawkeye Dirt Tour. We follow that up the following night at the Knoxville Raceway for the annual Harris Clash that also includes a Hawkeye Dirt Tour. We call this a "must see" every year.....love seeing who shows up for this big show as drivers from all over come to try their hand at the famed 1/2 mile. Hope to see you there!
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