It was a pleasant night to be sitting in the grandstands at the big old half-mile monster at the Southern Iowa Speedway for some mid-week racing action. Cayden Carter had the hot shoe on Wednesday night, taking the win in both the Stock Car and SportMod classes. Dustin Griffiths was back in the winner's circle in the Hobby Stock Class as was Trent Orwig in the Sport Compacts. It was the first win at Osky for Jonathon Hughes in just the second week of non-wing sprint competition at the track.
The non-wing Sprints were first up for their 10-lap feature. This one was led from start to finish by Jonathan Hughes from Knoxville. Doug Sylvester chased the winner the entire distance but could do no better than second. Third went to Dillon Alexander, Garrett Alexander was fourth, and Lance Silvers was fifth. The non-wing sprints are an added class to finish out this season.
Earlier in the evening for the non-wing sprint heat race, things did not go well. When the green dropped and the cars sped into turn one, Chuck Graves in the G3 car got high going into corner one, couldn't recover as he came out of turn two and then flipped violently on the back stretch. The race immediately went red. Graves was transported to the hospital and after the races were completed for the night, announcer Jerry Mackey asked for thoughts and prayers for the driver as he was life flighted to Des Moines. It was good to hear that he was awake and coherent.
Trent Orwig got back to his winning ways, as he took home the honors in the Sport Compact class. Orwig led the 10-lap feature from start to finish. He had to fend off the constant challenge of Brandon Allison who took the runner up position. Billy Cain, Nathan Moody and James Haring completed the top five. This was Orwig's fourth time in victory lane this year.
Lewie Winkleman also took a wild ride during the Sport Compact feature. He took a high and spectacular tumble on the back stretch coming out of that turn number two nemesis of the evening. Thankfully, he was able to walk to the ambulance.
Dustin Griffiths started sixth in the 14-lap Hobby Stock A main, but already had the lead by the time lap three was scored. From there on he pulled away and scored a comfortable win over second place Dereck Kirkland. Clint Nelson took third, Jamie Songer made his first appearance at the track this year in a #85 ride and took fourth, and Scott Shull was fifth. This made the fifth win for Griffiths this season.
Cayden Carter was in the #30M VanderBuilt SportMod last evening as he continues to dial in the race car for the owner. Carter started on the tail of the 16-lap race which saw Logan Anderson out in front and gone for much of the race....however Carter had other ideas! Carter diced through the field of cars and reeled in the leader. With just two laps left in the race, Carter swung to the outside and flew to the lead. He then finished well ahead of second place Anderson as the checkers waved. Curtis VanDerWal was third, Dylan VanWyk went fourth, and Brayton Carter completed the top five. Carter had won last time at the track when he first piloted the #30M.
The night cap was the 16-lap Stock Car feature....and one that did not disappoint! Cayden Carter started fourth but took the lead by lap one in his "Orange Crush" hot rod. Often, that means he will be out in front and gone, but on this night, Nathan Wood wasn't letting the leader out of his sights. Wood closed in on Carter, and then lap after lap the two raced side by side, and often neck and neck as they passed the flag stand. Those final handful of laps were nearly identical....Wood being able to get the advantage coming out of turn two, only to have Carter gain back the advantage. It was a photo finish at the finish line that had the fans on their feet. Carter was scored first....by inches, over Wood in second. Watching the race in front of him much of the race was Jason McDaniel in third place. Fourth went to Derrick Agee and Howard Gordon rounded out the top five.
Next week at Oskaloosa, the Southern Iowa Fair will be in full swing. The weekly racing program will be on TUESDAY night, July 16 for the Caleb Hammond Memorial, with a greatly inflated purse on the line in all classes. The Modifieds will also be joining the program that evening. Then on Wednesday, July 17, there will be racing action with the USMTS Modifieds on the Monster Half-Mile. It was also announced that two more racing for the season have been added to the schedule. There will be regular racing on July 24, and the season championships will be on July 31.
We continue good thoughts and prayers for Sprint Car racer Chuck Graves after his wild ride last evening, and wish him a speedy and full recovery.
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