The Southern Iowa Speedway closed out its regular season on Wednesday night with the crowning of track champions. It was an evening that also saw the non-wing sprints dwindle due to attrition during their heat race.
There were driver introductions on the frontstretch prior to the running of the championship features, allowing both the drivers and fans to show their appreciation to each.
The Sport Compacts ran their caution free feature first with Brandon Allison leading the pack for the first seven laps, with Trent Orwig giving chase. Orwig shot under Allison and took the lead on lap eight and then raced home to the checkers and the win. Allison appeared to experience mechanical issues on the white flag lap and was out of the race, allowing Billy Cain to take the runner up spot. Nathan Moody, James Haring, and Lewie Winkleman completed the top five. Orwig had a fabulous season at the big old half-mile this year, winning six times to take the track title.
The Hobby Stocks followed up with another flag to flag contest, running all fourteen laps without a yellow flag. Five cars ran much of the race nose to tail at the front of the field, with Dustin Griffiths leading the charge. Griffiths got around early leader Christian Huffman and would then hold off the pack to capture the win. Huffman was second, holding off Mike Hughes knocking on his door in third, followed closely by Scott Shull in fourth, and Clint Nelson in fifth. Griffiths also had six wins this year on his way to another track title. He has not only gone back to back with the track championship, but a look back over my records, shows he has won six crowns out of the past eight years.
The SportMods had a nice field of sixteen cars in the house last night. Blaine Webster led the race in the first portion of the sixteen lap event, but Dylan VanWyk wrestled the lead away before the halfway mark. Brayton Carter had moved his way from seventh starting spot to catch the leader, and after a side by side battle, Carter took command, leading when lap ten was scored. From there on, he pulled away to take the comfortable win. VanWyk held the runner up spot, Blaine Webster was third, Tyler Inman and Colton Livezey completed the top five. "Speedy Bray" Carter scored his third trip to victory lane this season, and Blaine Webster, with one win, took the track crown, proving just how important consistency is week in and week out.
The Non-Wing Sprints had more than their share of trouble last evening as during their heat race, the race was halted three times, two for roll overs. There were nine drivers checked in last night, and all nine began the heat. That heat was called complete after the third incident. Doug Sylvester was up on the frontstretch wall as the heat began, then the 71C of Dillan Alexander went for a tumble, and then Garrett Alexander was in a spectacular incident when he hopped the wheel of Andy Simms as they raced to corner one....sending Alexander for a scary ride, pieces flying. Only two cars were running after the third incident, and Mike Mayberry was declared the winner of the heat. Thankfully everyone was okay. It was also announced that driver Chuck Graves, who was injured earlier in the season, was in the house last night watching.
The Non-Wing Sprints only had four cars pull onto the track for their feature....Mike Mayberry, Doug Sylvester, Jason Pardock, and Lance Silvers. Mike Mayberry would take his first feature at the Monster Half-Mile, leading the entire race. Sylvester was second, Pardock third, and Silvers was fourth, but did not finish.
The night and the season was closed out with sixteen laps of Stock Car racing. Derrick Agee, the driver who made the trek up from Missouri each and every Wednesday night, would lead this one from start to finish. Nathan Wood would chase him the entire distance to finish second. The race was for third on the track as Donovan Nunnikhoven and Cayden Carter went at it. The two swapped position several times, with Nunnikhoven claiming third at the checkers, Carter taking fourth. Scott Dickey rounded out the top five. Nathan Wood again proved just how important consistency is, and though having no wins at the track this year, took home the track championship, repeating from last year...and the year before. Woods has been the champion for the past three consecutive years.
Congratulations to all the winners last night and the track champions. The track suffered through numerous weather outs this past year, and the last two races held were added to the schedule giving the drivers and fans some extra race fixes.
Mark your calendars for the final track nights at the Southern Iowa Speedway coming up on September 20 and 21 for the Annual Musco Lighting Fall Challenge. Don't forget for you Sprint Car enthusiasts, the Front Row Challenge and the Ultimate Challenge are on August 6 and 7. Tony Stewart will be in the house as will Kyle Larson.
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