Monday, May 30, 2016

Ballard and Erger post wins.....then Mother Nature wins

Sunday night, we ventured over to the Benton County Speedway for some racing action.  They were having a $1,000 to win IMCA Modified feature, along with their regular classes.  It was a little tune up for today's Hawkeye Dirt Tour for the Modifieds.  There was a packed house on hand.  No surprise, as the facility always seems to draw a great crowd at their regular Sunday shows, and it was nearly standing room only last night.  Thirty-six Modifieds showed up for the "tune-up" show, and it was a stout field.

Nathan Ballard took home the win in the IMCA Hobby Stock A feature.  Ballard fought by opening laps leader, Matt Brown, and took command at lap three of the 15-lap event.  From there on, he remained as captain of the ship the rest way to the checkers.  Seventh place starter, Justin Wacha finished a distant runner up.  Third was tenth starter, Brian Happel, Brown finished in fourth, and Matt Pohlman rounded out the top five.

The Micro Mod feature went to veteran racer, Don Erger.  Young Dallon Murty showed his poise, taking his ride through the field to capture second place.  Scott Beaty, Matthew Dugan and Chad Dugan completed the top five.

There was a great field of 36 IMCA Modifieds on hand last evening, all with their eye on the $1,000 prize. The show, which was draw/redraw, brought the drivers in for today's first Hawkeye Dirt Tour of 2016.  Heat winners were Jason Snyder, J. D. Auringer, Corey Dripps, and Kyle Brown.  One B main had been completed---won by Tony Snyder, and the second B main was on the track when Mother Nature cut loose.  We had been watching radar and knew that it was going to be close if the pesky little cell would miss...or hit, the track.  Unfortunately, it HIT.  The downpour didn't last long, but it was heavy when it did fall.  Thank goodness for a covered grandstand, or we would have been soaked!!

The call was made to try and work the track in.  The sheepsfoot  was on the track, and then the big-tired water wagon, in hopes of making the track race-able. You could still see water standing on the track after many passes, and it was decided to cancel the rest of the night's show.  With racing already scheduled for today, the decision was made to run the remaining B main for the Modifieds today, and then the feature, before the HDT show.  I believe we understood that the Stock Car, and SportMod's would have double features at next Sunday's show.

We won't be returning for today's show at Vinton, but for anyone going, it should be a dandy---with a bonus of an extra Modified feature thrown in!!  We are heading to the Boone Speedway today, for the IMCA Deery Brothers Late Model annual Memorial Day show.  The IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Hobby Stocks are also on the docket.  Grandstands open at 3, hot laps at 4, and racing at 5.

Enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day weekend.   Remember the true meaning of the holiday.

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