Mather marches to Osky season opener win

There was a stiff breeze blowing, and the damp temperatures hovering in the 40's, made for more than just a chilly night...it was down right COLD...for the Southern Iowa Speedway's season opener.
There was a nice field of cars, however, and the track seemed to be at their liking, as the bundled up fans looked on.

The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks were on hand and they were thirteen strong.  Their feature was marred early when an incident on the front stretch found the #2M of Tony Moro flipping violently in the air, pieces flying.  Thank goodness for all the safety features, and for the catch fence, as he emerged from his mangled ride unscathed.

When the action got back under way, veteran racer, Steve Jackson was in command and he would never relinquish it on his way to an easy win.  Brad Moyer finished in second, third was Lou Sipolt, fourth to Anthony Moro (grandson of Tony Moro) and Andrew Clark was fifth.  Jackson, who has many laps around the speedway from his Stock Car days, had not lost his touch in circling the track.

The IMCA Sport Compacts ran next.  They had a field of sixteen 4 cylinder power houses in the pits for opening night.  A rookie contender to the class, Daniel Fellows, showed that he is a force to be reckoned with in the division.  He started third and took the lead immediately, never to look back on his way to the win.  Jake Dietrich followed him across the line to take the runner up spot, third was Josh Barnes (piloting the 57 car of Barry Taft) fourth went to Brandon Housley and Cody VanDusen rounded out the top five.

The IMCA Stock Cars always seem to put on one of the best shows at any track they run.  It was no different last night at Osky.  It was all 18-laps of close competition.  Dustin Griffiths, who jumped up this year to the Stock Car class from being a fierce competitor in the Hobby Stocks, grabbed the early lead, but soon had Mike Hughes knocking at the door, and Derrik Agee quickly joined the two to make it a 3-way battle.  Hughes was able to make the pass on the backstretch coming to the white flag for the lead, and would then hold the advantage to the checkers and the win.  Agee slipped by Griffiths in the waning moments to go second and third respectively.  Todd Reitzler had caught up with the front runners, but ran out of time to muster more than fourth place.  Jason See completed the top five.

Jason McDaniel would lead all sixteen laps of the IMCA Northern SportMod feature to take the win.  Curtis VanDerWal chased him for most of the race, but had to be content with second on this night.  Third went to Logan Anderson, Carter VandenBerg was fourth and Colton Livezey was fifth.

There was stout competition in the IMCA Modified division with eleven cars checked in on this night.  We were thinking it was over when we saw the Missouri hot shoe, Hunter Marriott drawing the lucky #1 pill to start on the pole.  However, defending track champion, Colt Mather wasn't having any of that.  Mather started third, and by lap two, had the lead.  From there on out, Mather would drive himself to another victory.  Marriott held on to second place, Todd Shute came from sixth starting spot, to take third, Cayden Carter was fourth and Andrew Schroeder was fifth.

The final race was the IMCA Hobby Stocks.  Shannon Anderson, multi-time IMCA National Champion, showed his prowess by getting to the lead from third starting spot, by lap one.  Anderson would then hold that coveted spot to the finish and the win.  Eric Stanton finished second, and Bill Bonnett was a close third.  Fourth went to Aaron Martin and Scott Shull was fifth.

We noted a couple of drivers changing classes this year.  Danny "The Dude" Thrasher is now in the Stock Car class, jumping from the Hobby Stocks and Dustin Griffiths did the same.  Griffiths is piloting the former Kelderman owned car that Zach VanderBeek raced. Corey Stout, "from just across the street", was a former Stock Car racer for many years, though absent recently.  Last evening, he was trying his hand at Dirt Truck racing...though perhaps not permanently.

The track was fast and in great shape last night, considering all that Mother Nature has thrown at us.   The drivers in their post race interviews in Victory Lane, all seemed to agree.  The weather could have been more pleasant, even a few sprinkles falling occasionally thrown in with the brisk wind and chilly temperatures, but the racing was definitely not hurt due to any of those conditions.  Racing will continue next Wednesday night with hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30.  Join us for some mid-week racing at the Monster Half-Mile at Osky.

Leytham takes Boone season opener

Boone Speedway held its season opener on Saturday night after last week's initial scheduled date was washed out.  The pits were packed with 143 race cars.  There was exciting racing action in all six divisions, that this year includes the  IMCA RaceSaver Sprints for the first time.

The defending track champion in the Mod Lite division, Bryan Zehm, picked up where he left off by leading the entire 15-lap feature for the win.   Josh May chased  Zehm much of the latter portion of the race, but had to settle for second. Travis Stensland came from sixteenth starting spot to finish third, fourth went to Joe Glick, and Randy Bryan was fifth. The race went red on lap three, when Charlie Brown and Joel Keenan, in what looked like a synchronized swimming move,  got upside down in corner two. Neither driver was injured.

Johnathon Logue won the time-limit shortened IMCA SportMod feature.  Numerous yellows plagued the race, but Logue was captain of the ship throughout.  Jake McBirnie started eleventh and took the runner up spot.  Third went to Hunter Longnecker, fourth to Brian Efkamp, and Austin Luellen rounded out the top five. 

This race had it's issues as it all began with Curtis Veber rolling his ride on the back shoot before even one lap was scored.  He was okay, but this just began the first of many stoppages in the scheduled 18-lap race.  The time limit loomed after the fifth yellow...and only five laps in the books.  The race was finally called complete right before lap nine was scored.  

The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature was next on the agenda.  Michael Moore, Des Moines driver, secured the first ever weekly race in the division.  He passed Mike Houseman at lap eleven of the 20-lap event, and never looked back from there on.  Kaleb Johnson was the runner up, Houseman finished third, fourth was pole sitter Michael Johnston, and Justin Allen was fifth.

The Sprints didn't get their initial introduction off to the greatest of starts either.  Their feature saw more than a handful of yellow flags, with it ending at the full 20-laps under a yellow-checkered as they approached a time-limit also.

Gatlin Leytham led the entire 20-lap IMCA Modified feature to win for the first time at the Boone Speedway.  Jimmy Gustin chased him from the beginning, but had his final attempt for a pass fail when he lost a wheel on the white flag lap. (Jimmy's quote was, "I drove the wheels off the thing".)  This would set up a green-white-checkered finish that saw Leytham hold the lead for the win, as Russ Dickerson followed him across the finish line in second place.  Eric Elliott was third, defending track champion Mike VanGenderen started twelfth, and finished fourth, and pole sitter Matthew Meineke completed the top five. This may have been Leytham's first ever career win, or at least, that we have witnessed.  

Jay Schmidt prevailed in the IMCA Stock Car feature, taking the victory.  Schmidt, who started thirteenth, caught up to then leader Todd Reitzler by lap five, continued to pester him, until finally making the pass on lap eleven.  Schmidt never looked back from there until the flying checkers.  Trent Murphy finished second after starting eleventh, tenth place starter Donavon Smith was third, fourth went to Todd Reitzler, and Robert Stofer finished in fifth.

The 12-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature concluded the night's racing.  Aaron Rudolph snagged himself the win in this division, holding off Shannon Anderson who finished in the runner up spot.  Dustin Graham finished third, fourth was Dustin Lynch, and Todd Bass finished in the fifth position.

Sixteen of the 305 winged RaceSaver Sprints came to try and tame the track last night.  As mentioned earlier, they were having some issues learning the new track.  They will be on the schedule weekly this year, allowing them a track to race after the closing....and sadly, the tearing out, of the Iowa State Fair Speedway.  

Next week, April 29 will be a regular points night with racing in all six divisions.  Scheduled starting time for hot laps is 5:30, with racing at 6:30.  Then in May, the times should be returning to racing starting at 7:30.  

Hughes takes Marshalltown Season Opener

It was a chilly, breezy night at the Marshalltown Speedway Friday night, but the pits were filled with eager drivers to test their skill on the quarter-mile high banks.  It was the season opener for the speedway, after Mother Nature washed out last week’s original scheduled opener. 

No stranger to the winner’s circle, Josh May put his #99 Mod Lite across the finish line first for the feature win.  Mike Morrill and Bryan Zehm duked it out behind the leader in the closing laps, with Morrill taking second over Zehm.  Eric Turner finished fourth and Randy Bryan took fifth.

There were 30 IMCA Northern SportMods on hand  that had to be whittled down to a 24-car starting field by a B Main, won by Shawn Cooney.  When the 18-lap A main went green, defending track champion, Jared VanDeest wasted no time in swinging his ride to the top from starting fourth, and took the lead coming out of turn two.  From there on, VanDeest never looked back, leading all laps on his way to victory.  Sam Wieben chased the leader the entire distance, but had to settle for the runner up spot.  Eighth place starter, Doug Smith finished third, fourth went to Jake McBirnie and Austin Luellen rounded out the top five.

Another driver who visits the winner’s circle often took the win in the IMCA Hobby Stock feature.  Shannon Anderson bided his time in getting to the front, racing closely with Eric Knutson and Eric Stanton.  Anderson grabbed his chance at lap six, taking the lead around Knutson, and keeping it to the end of the fifteen lap race.  Stanton took second, followed closely by Knutson in third.  Fourth went to Justin Wacha and veteran racer from Knoxville, Iowa, Bill Bonnett was fifth.

The IMCA Stock Cars had a strong field of cars for their 20-lap main event.  Jeff Mueller, who previously lived in New London, Iowa down in southeastern Iowa, but made the move to nearby Albion, sat on the pole for the start.  Mueller looked strong in leading the early portion of the race, but Jay Schmidt was in hot pursuit the entire time.  Schmidt made the pass for the lead at the flag stand on lap twelve and then stretched his lead to take the comfortable win.  Trent Murphy came from eleventh starting spot in a good run, to take second.  Donavon Smith was third, Jeff Mueller fourth, and Michael Jaennette, fifth. 

The night’s finale was the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature.  There was a stellar field of 33 cars on hand which called for a B Main to set the 24-car starting field for the feature.  Jake Strayer won that event. 

The “Mighty Miss”, Jenea Gustin drew the pole for the starting feature, with Nick Roberts to her outside.  Roberts nabbed the advantage in the early going, but soon had a lot of company fighting it out close behind.  Nate Hughes, Humboldt, Iowa, and Jesse Hoeft from Forest City as well as Clint Luellen were going at it for position.  Roberts was able to hold the lead until Nate Hughes took a liking to the topside, and flew around him for the lead at lap fourteen.  At the finish, it was Hughes taking the victory with Hoeft a close second at the line.  Roberts held on to third place, Clint Luellen was fourth and Adam Larson was fifth.

A few notes from the evening’s festivities.  We noticed some of the drivers were having a bit of trouble with some new working of the track.  There is more dirt up top in turns three and four, and several cars took a look over the topside throughout the night.  Dirt was removed from turn one, supposedly allowing for an easier entrance into the corner. It too took some drivers by surprise. There was a great field of 122 cars on hand for opening night at the High Banks.  The show was hustled right along last evening and with the chilly temps and brisk breeze blowing toward the grandstand, it was appreciated by the fans.  They even eliminated the Victory Lane interviews in order to keep the show moving right along.    

Next Friday night at Marshalltown, the IMCA Late Models make their first appearance to start their long-awaited weekly racing at the track.  Hot laps are a bit before 7  and racing starts at 7:30.  

Dickerson takes Frostbuster win Night #2

Boone Speedway held night #2 of the annual Frostbuster series races, on a beautiful Saturday night with temperatures starting out in the 70's.  Drivers from nine different states, and a total of 146 competitors put on quite a show for the crowd on hand.  The track was in excellent condition and brought 3-wide racing throughout the night.  

Kicking off the feature racing was the 20-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature.  Austin Luellen drew the lucky pole position for the start of the race.  He jumped to the lead,  but soon had Johnathan Logue and Jake McBirnie close on his heels.  McBirnie seized his opportunity at lap thirteen, making the pass for the lead.  From there on out, he kept that top spot, taking the checkers and the win.  Austin Luellen had to settle for the runner up spot, Johnathan Logue held on to third, fourth went to eleventh place starter Sam Wieben, and Wyatt Block, visiting Tigerton, Wisconsin racer, started fifteenth and finished fifth.

A stout field of 42 IMCA Modifieds had to be whittled down to the 24-car starting field for their 25-lap feature. Two B-mains were required to do so.  Those consys went to Randy Havlik, piloting the #58 that usually has veteran Denny Pittman behind the wheel, and hometown driver, Al "Pep" Wolfgram, who has flagging duties on Friday night's at the Marshalltown Speedway.

Clint Luellen, Jason Wolla and Russ Dickerson thrilled the crowd with their tight battle for position.  Three-wide racing was common in this contest.   Wolla grabbed the lead briefly, only to have Russ Dickerson take over at lap eighteen.  Dickerson maintained the coveted spot to the double checkers flying, securing the win.  Wolla, who hails from Ray, North Dakota, was second, and Luellen held on to third place.  Fourth went to defending track champion, Mike VanGenderen, and Missouri racer, Hunter Marriott completed the top five.

Eric Stanton picked up where he left off last year as defending track champion in the IMCA Hobby Stock division, sailing home to yet another victory.  Stanton, who started eighth, ran down early leaders Jack Phillips and Solomon Bennett at lap thirteen of the fifteen lap race, and went on to take a comfortable win.  Bennett followed in second place, and Phillips in third.  Bryce Sommerfield finished fourth and tenth place starter, Justin Wacha, was fifth.

The racing action concluded with the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car feature.  It also gave the fans their money's worth in some close, exciting racing.   Jay Schmidt held down the top spot as he fended off challenges by Michael Murphy, Angel Munoz, and Marcus Fagan through much of the race.  Munoz got to second and kept working to the inside of Schmidt.  He was finally able to slip past for the lead at lap sixteen, keeping it for good and scoring the win.  Michael Murphy claimed second place, and Jay Schmidt was third.  Fourth went to Fagen, and twelfth place starter Larry Karcz, Jr. from Pulaski, Wisconsin, rounded out the top five.  Winner Munoz, is from Lamar, Colorado.

We have noted several drivers changing classes this year.  John Watson who has had great success in the IMCA Hobby Stock class, is piloting a sharp looking Northern SportMod this year. Brian Williams jumped up to the Modified class from racing SportMod, as did Andy Tiernan.  Clint Luellen moved from SportMod to Modified as well, and from what we've seen the past two nights, will have no trouble in making the leap from SportMod to Modified.  Michael Murphy, who recently raced a SportMod, is back in the Stock Car class in competition with brother Trent Murphy.  Brandon Pitts jumped up from the Hobby Stock class to the Stock Cars.  Mod Lite racer Cory Sauerman made a big leap forward and has a Modified this year.  Joe McBirnie, veteran racer who came out of retirement to race again in the Modified class, is back behind the wheel.

Another item of note is veteran Stock Car driver, Kevin Opheim from Mason City, can still wheel his 20+ year old ride around the track.  He looked good in winning his B main last evening.   

Next Saturday, April 15, is opening points night at Boone.  They will once again have early start times for the entire month of April.  Hot laps are 5:45, and racing begins at 6:30.  All four IMCA classes, along with the MADCRA Mod Lites will be competing.  Then on April 22, weekly racing for the RaceSaver Sprints will begin. 

Frostbuster #1 goes to New Mexico's Johnny Scott

Marshalltown Speedway held the first of the 2017 IMCA Frostbusters on Friday night after Mother Nature dictated some re-scrambling of the original 4-night, 4-track annual series. Originally scheduled to be the third night of the series, the high-bank's fast little quarter mile, ended up being night #1.

In the IMCA Modified class, it was Johnny Scott, a driver often seen competing in the USMTS, stopping by to try his hand at taming the track.  He had little trouble in doing so. Scott, who calls Las Cruces, New Mexico his home, started eighteenth on the starting field of 24-cars, and worked his way methodically to the front.  Hunter Marriott and Kyle Brown led the troops through much of the 25-lap race as Scott reeled in the front runners  He grabbed the lead on lap 24 and took the flying checkers. The win earned him $1,000 and qualified him for the Fast-Shafts All Star ballot as well.  Kyle Brown held on to second place, over Hunter Marriott in third. Chris Simpson, most often seen piloting a Late Model, finished in fourth position, and Clint Luellen rounded out the top five.

No stranger to the high banks of Marshalltown, Damon Murty took home yet another win in the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature.  Murty had an impressive run from starting 20th, taking the lead from Randy Brands at lap seventeen to earn his $500 prize money.  Jay Schmidt claimed the runner up spot, Brands held on to take third, Decorah, Iowa's Mitch Hovden was fourth and fifth went to Justin Temeyer.  

Pole sitter, Ethan Braaksma held off all threats in the 20-lap IMCA Northern SportMod A main event, to take home the $400 prize money, leading the race flag-to-flag.  Sam Wieben threw several challenges at the leader, but had to settle for second place.  Austin Luellen came home in third place, fourth went to Jake McBirnie, and Johnathan Logue was fifth. Braaksma, who was a regular at the track last year, has an extensive go-karting background.  This was his first victory at the track.  

Defending track champion, Eric Stanton drew the pole to start the 20-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, and held that top spot until lap eight. That's when fifth place starter Nathan Ballard grabbed the lead, and soon Benji Irvine was throwing his hat into the ring. Irvine's challenges paid off with a dozen laps in the books, when he took command. He would then keep it to the finish and the win.  Ballard held second place over Eric Stanton in third, fourth went to a hard charging Shannon Anderson who started eleventh, and Billy Rhoades, Maynard, Iowa completed the top five. The Hobby Stock class had it's share of woes last evening, when four different drivers rolled.  Thankfully, no one was injured in any of the incidents.  

Marshalltown Speedway's season opener will be next Friday night, April 14.  The green flag drops at 7:30.

Tonight, Boone Speedway will hold night #2 of the Frostbuster series.  Early start times are hot laps at 4 and racing at 5.  Then the Benton County Speedway in Vinton will hold the third installment of the Frostbusters on Sunday.  The Lee County Speedway had to scrap their Frostbuster race due to inclement weather.