There was a bigger power in the works on Wednesday night at the Benton County Speedway for the final running of the Hogan Memorial. Radar looked ominous, and with fan after fan coming into the grandstands, the report was, "I just drove through a downpour" not far from here. But perhaps on this night, there was someone from above having a hand in things, for the radar cell parted, and the final running of the Hogan Memorial is in the books.
The grandstands and pits were packed with fans and drivers. One hundred fifty-three cars....a Hogan Memorial record, were on hand to run in the six classes on the docket for the night. The race honors Dick and Janet Hogan, two highly respected residents of the town and big supporters of racing. Dick suffered a heart attack back in June of 1995 while watching son Scott race at the track. The very first Hogan Memorial was run the very next month in July. Scott's mother Janet continued to be a big supporter of her son's racing, and racing in general until her death in 2006. The race honoring them has grown year after year, and the final tribute was an emotional one last evening.
There were a couple of showers while we waited in the grandstand, and the program was a bit late in starting, but after a short packing session, and quick hot laps for the cars, the show was started in hyper mode! The Micro Mods and the Sport Compacts ran only features and no classes were running for track points.
The Micro Mod feature ran first with Cole McNeal taking the checkers. Chad Dugan finished a distant second, and Shawn Fisher was third.
The Sport Compacts had a 15-car field for their A feature. Adam Gates led the first couple of circuits until Barry Taft took over with four laps in the books. Taft would lead the rest of the way to claim the victory. Korey Lana was second, third went to Nathan Chandler, Adam Gates was fourth, and Travis Losenicky was fifth.
A full field of twenty-four Hobby Stocks were on hand. Their 16-lap A main went to Daniel Wauters. Wauters held off a hard charging Leah Wroten who took runner up honors. Nathan Ballard, Brent Vanous, and Erick Knutson rounded out the top five.
Kyle Brown took home the hardware in the Stock Car class. Brown drew the pole of the 20-lap event, and fended off the constant challenges of both Damon Murty and Abe Huls. The three ran tightly in formation as they hugged the bottom of the track. Murty tried to nose under Brown, who never faulted in his protecting that bottom line. The final lap found Huls surging past Murty at the stripe, as they finished second and third respectively. Johnny Spaw was fourth, and Dan Trimble went fifth. Brown, who was doing double duty on the evening also running in the Modified class, bounced back from an earlier incident in his Modified heat race. He received a hard blow from another car during that heat race, and his car came to a halt on the track. When the window net did not immediately go down, the ambulance was summoned. He was momentarily knocked out, and after a check from the ambulance crew, was released to race.
Jake McBirnie has been having some good runs this year in the Northern SportMod class, continuing his Super National's championship form from 2018. McBirnie came from row seven to catch and pass then leader Tyler Soppe with five to go in the 20-lap feature, and then pulled away to take the comfortable win at the flying checkers. Soppe held the runner up position, early leader Kyle Olson was third, just beating out Ben Chapman in fourth, and Joe Docekal (driving the #22H of Curt Hilmer) went fifth. McBirnie, in his post race interview, announced that this was his final year in the SportMod class as he plans to move up to Modified next season.
The grand finale was the 50-lap Modified feature and after six heat races, and three B mains, and two provisionals (Ed Thomas and Scott Hogan as two previous winners) the starting field was set. The cars were brought to the front stretch for introductions along with a moving tribute to the Hogan family. The four-wide salute by the starting field to the rendition of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" was quite moving....with the Hogan family leading the way in the pace truck.
The top twelve drivers from the heats drew for their starting positions, and former winner of the event, Cayden Carter, drew the pole. When 50-lap event went green, Carter shot to the lead. Austin Howes, Memphis, Missouri and Cody Laney, Torrence, California challenged Carter briefly, but at the halfway mark of the race, Carter still held down the top spot, Joel Rust was running second, Jeff Aikey was third, Laney was in fourth and Tim Ward was fifth. The race was halted at 25-lap down and the cars were stopped on the front stretch for a 5 minute pit stop.
When the race returned to green, Carter once again shot off to maintain that top spot. He was never to be denied as he took the win...his second Hogan Memorial...and claim the prestigious award. Jeff Aikey held the second spot, Rust went third, Ward was fourth, and Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Missouri, was fifth. After the initial start of the race was called back, only one yellow flew in the first segment of racing, and one in the second. Carter went home with $4,908 for the win. Just a portion of the over $22,000 worth of winnings and prizes awarded on the night.
The final flag for the Hogan Memorial flew at 11:17 p.m. after the early rain delay, and ceremonies, not bad with handling 153 race cars. Thanks for the memories Hogan family! It was great!
Happy 4th of July and be safe!
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