Saturday evening was a beautiful night to be sitting at what is more than likely, our last race of the 2016 season. It was Night #2 of the 30th Annual MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, The winners in the Modified, Stock Car, SportMod and Hobby Stocks went home again with the $1,000 prize money, the Sport Compact winner took home $250 and they all received the impressive trophies for their accomplishments.
The Sport Compacts ran their 10-lap feature first and found Darin Smith and Adam Gates sitting on the front row for the start. Smith grabbed the immediate lead, but by lap three, Gates had taken over. He soon had the #89 of Ron Kibbe to contend with and the two would then do battle for the lead the rest of the way to the checkers. Gates was successful in holding on for the win, Kibbe crossing in second place. Third went to Darin Smith, Levi Heath was fourth,and fifth went to Austen Becerra who was driving the 04 car of Trent Orwig, who had gone to Victory Lane the previous night. Orwig, had won when he was moved up from crossing in second due to a questionable driving situation dealt to Brad Havel. Ironically, the outcome of this race was also changed in a turn of events when it was announced that the original winner Adam Gates was found to be illegal with ported heads, and disqualified. This handed the win over to Ron Kibbe. It was great to see Kibbe then brought to Victory Lane to be awarded his rightful win and trophy.
The Stock Cars were up next and once again, it was Cayden Carter in the "Orange Crush" car owned by Roger Kelderman, putting a hurting on the field. Carter, who had won the Stock Car feature the previous night, started ninth on the field and had to catch leader John Oliver, Jr. Carter patiently and methodically picked off car after car, and was able to successfully make the pass into first place with four laps remaining. He then distanced himself from the field and took another comfortable win. Second place went to Derrick Agee, who I believe was driving brother Cody's #25 car, third went to seventh place starter, veteran racer Johnny Spaw, John Oliver, Jr. finished fourth and eleventh place starter Mike Hughes made it to fifth.
It was a rerun of the previous night in the SportMod feature when Curtis Van Der Wal won the marathon 16-lap event. It did not start off well, as it took three tries before lap one got in the books. Carter VanDenBerg held down the top spot when things finally got going and then the red flag was thrown at lap seven when Tony Johnson had an incident at the turn three exit area. I didn't see the incident, but when the car was finally pulled into the pits on a flatbed, it had to be a scary situation as the car was a mangled mess. Thankfully, driver Johnson was okay. When things picked back up, it didn't take but one lap before tenth starter Curtis Van Der Wal went to the lead. Two more cautions were no hindrance to his march to a repeat of his previous night's win. Logan Anderson finished second, Jason McDaniel raced his way from thirteenth starting spot, to finish third, Carter VanDenBerg finished fourth and Eric Flander came from ninth place, to finish fifth in his "rent a ride" car. Van Der Wal took home another $1,000 and another huge trophy for his feat.
It was another deja vu in the 20-lap Modified feature as Cayden Carter swept to his fourth win of the weekend. Carter pulled the #9 starting spot for the main event and was up on his elbows immediately. Andrew Schroeder led the early portion of the race but by lap three, he had a three-car battle behind him with Steve Stewart, Jimmy Gustin and now Carter jousting for position. Schroeder saw his comfortable lead vanish when at lap seven, Carter took command and sped off. Lap traffic looked to make it interesting about lap fourteen, drawing Schroeder closer. Carter, however, sliced through the lap cars expertly, maintaining his lead. At lap sixteen, a caution flew when Jimmy Gustin had motor issues and pulled off into the backstretch area, his night ending. On the restart, Carter had no trouble in keeping his lead, and would take the comfortable win. The 43 car of Derrick Stewart made good headway in the closing laps, and finished as the runner up. Third was veteran racer Bruce Hanford, and early leader Andrew Schroeder held off Colt Mather as they finished fourth and fifth respectively.
It was nearly another rerun in the 15-lap Hobby Stock feature as Dustin Griffiths looked destined to repeat from Friday night. However, it was Mike Hughes who spoiled that scenario. Griffths led from the start of the race, jumping to the lead from his outside pole starting spot. He had a comfortable lead until lap ten's caution threw a kink into his plans. Danny Thrasher was holding second place and right behind in third was Mike Hughes. Hughes, who had started tenth, was eager for the restart, and flew to the lead by lap eleven. Hughes then kept the lead to the checkers, winning by a comfortable margin. Griffiths had to settle for second, third was Thrasher, fourth went to Decorah, Iowa's Chris Hovden who often races in the USRA league, and Richard Yaw, driving the 21zc usually piloted by Cody Cleghorn, completed the top five.
Last evening, three new members were inducted into the Southern Iowa Speedway Hall of Fame. The former drivers all had successful careers, turning many laps at the historic half-mile. Larry "Pokie" West was best known from the past when he piloted his yellow #92 during his years of racing. Dean Hughes, father of current racer Mike Hughes, was remembered as he piloted a yellow #11 in both the Stock Car and Modifieds classes....a Mopar beating under the hood. The third inductee was Terry Schroeder, who joins brother Randy Schroeder from the first class of Hall of Famers. Schroeder piloted the #02 around the Monster Half-Mile during his successful racing career. Congratulations to all three drivers who now take their rightful place in the Hall of Fame.
There is still racing to be had around the area. Be sure and check the racing calendar at Positively Racing for a race you may like to attend. The Lee County Speedway in Donnellson will be holding their Fall Extravaganza on October 14 and 15. The following week on October 21 and 22, the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri will be in action for their Fall Nationals. Then the annual Shiverfest will look to end the racing in our area at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson on Saturday October 29. As it stand right now, it appears we will not be able to make any of these great shows, and our 2016 racing season may be at a close. Hopefully, many of you will be able to attend.
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