Racing got back underway at the Southern Iowa Speedway on Wednesday night, after a two week absence---one planned, one via Mother Nature. It was a full night of racing as IMCA Late Models and the Iowa Sportsman Series joined the weekly classes.
The traveling Iowa Sportsman Series brought 11 cars to test the waters. They ran a 20-lap feature. Clayton Webster, who also runs an IMCA Hobby Stock at Osky, led the opening laps. By lap eight, Damien Hamann had taken command in the blue #2 car. As the race wore on, another #2 appeared, closing in right behind Hamann....the #2J of Cole Jackson. Those 2 cars would run lap after lap in the 1-2 positions with Hamann keeping command to the checkers and the win. Jackson, who is the son of Steve Jackson, former racer who had much success in years past in the IMCA Stock Car class, finished a close second. Third was Gene Tish, fourth went to Darin DeZwarte and Clayton Webster rounded out the top five.
The IMCA Stock Cars ran their 18-lap feature next. Zack VanderBeek led as the race went green....and pulled away. There were three cars vying for second a ways behind him however, Todd Reitzler, Cayden Carter and Mike Hughes. When a yellow flew at lap twelve, VanderBeek was still in command, but now he had the other orange car to deal with as Carter had taken over the runner up spot, and Hughes was in third place. When the race restarted, it was Mike Hughes getting the jump on them all, flying to the lead. Carter followed closely in the runner up spot, chasing Hughes determinedly in the final laps. Hughes took the white flag, but the "Gasman" wasn't done yet! Carter pulled Hughes on the back stretch and was able to get around him on the final run to the checkers---snatching the win. Hughes had to be content with the runner up spot on this night, VanderBeek finished in third, Reitzler was fourth and Donnie Pearson was fifth. Carter won his sixth Stock Car feature of the season at Osky.
The IMCA Sport Compacts had seven cars competing and all started their 10-lap feature. Quite noticeably, the #77 of John Whalen was missing for the night. It was announced that the weekly competitor was in the hospital and everyone wishes him well. His brother, Bill Whalen looked to be taking home another feature win, as he jumped to the lead. However, lap seven was his nemesis, as he erupted in a cloud of smoke. A new comer, the 92E of Shane Evans from Iowa City, inherited the lead as the race picked back up. He would then pull away for the easy win. Trent Orwig was second, Ryan Havel took third, fourth went to Jon Girdley and Tim Bevins was fifth. Evans stamped his name in the winner's books for the first time at the speedway.
Sixteen laps of IMCA Northern SportMod racing came next, and it was Austin Paul flying to the early lead. Paul circled the 1/2 mile, keeping the lead for the entire caution free race on his way to the win. Corey VanZante ran second most of the race and came away with the runner up spot. Third went to Jason McDaniel, fourth was Brett Lowry, and Curtis Van Der Wal fell back on the final lap, to finish fifth. This was the first time that Paul had won at the Southern Iowa Speedway. We noticed that the 85 of McDaniel's was sitting in the tech/claim area for quite some time after the completion of the race, and was eventually pushed to his pit area. No word on if that was due to a mechanical issue or a possible claim.
The IMCA Modifieds ran their 18-lap feature caution free also. Colt Mather started fourth and established his dominate lead immediately. Mather pulled away to a sizeable lead, taking the comfortable win.....his first at Osky this year. Following a distant second was Scott Dickey. Cayden Carter was third, Tyler Groenendyk was fourth and Carter VandenBerg (who had just received word during the day that he had been voted into the Fast Shafts All-Star race at this year's IMCA Super Nationals) was fifth.
It was chaos on the front stretch at the start of the 15-lap Hobby Stock main event. Cars went spinning out of control as they approached the starter's stand! Luckily, all cars were able to restart the race.
Craig Brown, wasted no time in taking the lead when the race did get underway. He held tight to that lead all the way to the checkers and the win. It was a fight for second place between Travis Bunnell and Dustin Griffiths, with Bunnell losing second momentarily, but regaining it as he crossed the finish line, securing the runner up spot. Griffiths was third, Dale Porter took fourth and Aaron Martin completed the top five. Brown won for the second time this season.
The IMCA Late Models made an appearance for the first time this year at the Monster 1/2 mile. And, if anyone had any doubts as to how rookie Cayden Carter would do in a Late Model, those doubts may have been put to rest last night.
The race did not start well, as John VandenBerg barely made it out of turn four as the green flag flew for the 20-lapper. The yellow came out immediately for that situation and he was towed to the pits, his night done.
When the race did get started, it went flag to flag. Curtis Glover led the early laps but almost immediately smoke began to roll from his car and he soon exited to the pits. Cayden Carter was now the man in charge and with the race continuing green to the checkers, he put the car in over drive, pulled away, lapping every car still running on his way to the win. Paul Nagel was second, more than a lap down, third was rookie Derek Liles, Todd Johnson was fourth, and fifth was Jenna Johnson. I believe she is the daughter of Todd Johnson.
Carter, who was doing triple duty last night, racing in the Modified, Stock Car and the Late Model classes, has plans to run the Late Model full time next season....racing for car owner Roger Kelderman.
Please notice, there will not be racing on Wednesday nights for the next two weeks. One week will be silent for the Iowa State Fair week and the other, due to the nearby Knoxville Nationals running. Things will pick back up on August 26. However, if you want to get a little sprint car action in, make plans to attend the 20th Annual Front Row Challenge at the speedway on Monday, August 10. More information can be found at www.oskychallenges.com on that race. The remaining schedule for weekly racing and Fall Challenge can be found at www.oskyspeedway.com.
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