We seldom go racing on Sunday's, but on a whim, opted to head east to the Benton County Speedway for a little racing action. It was a night where the late daughter of racer Buck Swanson was honored on the date of her passing.
The night's features started with the running of the Micro Mods. This is the only track we see these race, but more often than not, the winner is veteran racer Don Erger...as it was again last evening. Erger started fourth, but already had the lead at lap one. Then on lap two, the race was red-flagged when Scott Beaty went for a ride, rolling his #13 in corner one. He was okay. When the race went back to green, Erger maintained his lead, and scored the 12-lap feature victory. Cole McNeal made his way to second from starting sixth, and tried to reel in Erger. It was to no avail, and he had to settle for the runner up spot. Third went to heat winner Kaden Reynolds, fourth was Dallon Murty, son of Stock Car racer, Damon Murty, and Derrick Knutsen was fifth. Erger is the point leader.
It was an exciting finish to the IMCA Stock Car 16-lapper, but in the end, it was once again Damon Murty standing in victory lane. He is also a driver we see win at the track most of the time we happen to be there. Murty started in row five and let some of the field ahead get sorted out before he began his usual ride at the rim of the track. Curtis Roster had taken the lead with a handful of laps in the books, with Austin Evens and Scooter Dulin stalking him. Murty began closing in on the top runners, and when leader Roster was out of the game after suffering a flat, it was Murty quick to get to the top spot when lap nine was scored. Then it became a shoot out between Murty and Dulin. That would end when Dulin went for a spin, bringing out a yellow at lap thirteen. By that time, it was Justin Stander at the ready on the restart, and he was able to make the move around Murty to take over first. He held on for two laps, but then Murty made his patented topside move on the final lap, sweeping around corners three and four, and beating everyone to the checkers for the win. Scott Pippert got around Stander in the closing moments, as they went second and third. Curtis Roster rallied back after having to change a tire, and finished fourth, just ahead of fifth place Norm Chesmore, who maintains his point lead. I believe this was career win #211 for Murty.
After that exciting finish in the Stock Cars, it was on to the 16-lap SportMod A main. Curt Hilmer held down the lead through lap six. That would be when the race was halted for medical assistance in the grandstand. When the race restarted, second place runner Danny Dvorak, was able to nose under Hilmer and take over the top spot. He then extended that lead, taking the comfortable win. The two #22's had been doing battle for the runner up spot, and it was Matt Petrzelka winning the war for second, over Curt Hilmer in third. Fourth was Kurt Hogan and Tony Olson, point leader, completed the top five.
Shawn Ritter held down the lead in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature the first five laps. At lap eight, it was Patrick Flannagan getting the pass for the lead on the backstretch. Then as the two entered turn one, contact was made bringing out a yellow, and their run at the front was ended. Tony Snyder then inherited the lead with young Ryan Maitland running second. Maitland was then able to move around Snyder, taking over the helm at lap thirteen, and Ronn Lauritzen soon followed suite, taking over second. Lauritzen closed in on Maitland, but was not able to do more than that, as 17 year old Maitland scored the victory, Lauritzen, the track point leader, going second. Snyder held third place, over Scott Hogan in fourth and younger brother (15 years old) of the winner, Brandon Maitland, was fifth.
Nathan Ballard took home the IMCA Hobby Stock win in the 15-lap evening finale. He had command at lap six and kept it to the finish...though having to endure five restarts due to cautions. Ballard started eighth on his march to victory, finishing ahead of second place Brett Vanous. Leah Wroten finished third, Matt Pohlman came from starting near the back of the pack, to finish fourth, and Justin Wacha was fifth. Ballard is the track point leader.
It's nice to get back on the road home early on a Sunday evening after Vinton's fast-running show. The first heat was on the track at 6:15 and the show was completed just a tick after 8:30 p.m. If you haven't made the trip over to the Benton County Speedway, you may want to try and make one of their remaining Sunday shows.
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