Osky Fall Challenge Night #1 in the books, Night #2 falls to Mother Nature

The Southern Iowa Speedway held Night #1 of its annual Musco Lighting Fall Challenge on Friday night, and with beautiful weather to be at a dirt track race with Fall just around the corner.  Of course, Mother Nature was not so nice for Saturday's show, and it was a wash out by the afternoon.  Thus, the Mahaska Monster Half-Mile has closed out their racing for the year.  Despite the draw of High School Friday night football in the state, 75 entries in five classes came to have a last gasp run before calling it a season.

Seven non-wing Sprints ran and it was Jonathan Hughes covering the field, winning easily in his #67 ride.  Doug Sylvester led the race through the first six laps of the 10-lapper, but Hughes was chasing him the entire time, and made it look easy with his pass on the backstretch coming to lap seven.  From then on, Hughes stretched it out and took the win easily.  Sylvester took the runner up spot, third went to Chuck Alexander, Kelly Graham was fourth, and Dylan Alexander was fifth.  Logan Alexander, the driver who earlier in the year took a dramatic high roll incident, was sixth, and Lance Silvers took seventh place.

Fourteen Sport Compacts came for a little Friday night action on the half-mile and it was Jeffrey Delonjay standing in the winner's circle at the end of their ten-lap feature.  However, he led only the final lap, getting past Ryan Havel on the final dash to the checkers when Havel sent forth a cloud of smoke and was off the pace.  Kyle Boyd crossed the line in second, and Havel coasted across to finish in third place.  Brandon Housley took fourth and Billy Cain was fifth.

Craig Brown and Mike Hughes put on the show up front in the Hobby Stock 14-lap feature.  Brown led from the drop of the green with Hughes tucking in right behind to run second.  The two cars ran shoulder to shoulder with Hughes showing his nose in the corners for several laps until he was finally able to make the pass coming out of turn two and take over the top spot at lap eight.  Hughes went on to the flying checkers and sealed the win.  Brown held the runner up spot, Brad Stephens was third, fourth went to Dustin Griffiths, and Tyson Overton rounded out the top five.

There were 23 SportMods in action on Friday night with Dylan VanWyk leading the field in their 16-lap A main in the early portion.  A red flag brought the action to a halt at lap ten when veteran racer Steve Ruepke took a tumble exiting turn two when he got together with Steve Berry.  Both drivers were okay.

The action picked back up with VanWyk still in charge. Logan Anderson had made his way to run second and it was Norway, Iowa's Tim Plummer charging up to run third and wanting more. Plummer made his move and took the lead, scored the leader on lap twelve after recovering from some contact between himself and Anderson as they fought for position.  In the final circuits, Plummer pulled the field and took the checkers comfortably.  Curtis VanDerWal charged the field from starting  near the back and took the runner up spot.  Dylan VanWyk finished third, fourth went to Ainsworth, Iowa racer Derrick Stewart who charged through the field from starting in row seven, and Logan Anderson was fifth.

Plummer, who acknowledged his displeasure with the racing incident with Anderson (though we thought it just a hard racing deal) also thanked Mike Schulte for much of what he has learned with his racing experience.  Schulte, who was on hand in Victory Lane, now residing in Cedar Rapids, was the first IMCA Super National's Champion and the National Champion in 1983. We recently enjoyed a reminiscing racing conversation of the early years with him at this year's Super Nationals.

The final event of the night was the 16-lap Stock Car main event.  Nathan Wood, who started on the outside of the front row, put an exclamation mark on his season, leading all laps on his way to the win. The race ended under green-white-checkered allowing second place runner Todd Reitzler to have a last chance at overcoming the leader.  It wasn't to be however, and Wood held the lead and took the checkers first, Reitzler a close second.  Third went to Donovan Nunnikhoven, Dustin Griffiths came from mid-pack to finish fourth, and veteran racer Johnny Spaw completed the top five.

Earlier, the top ten in points were recognized with track titles going to Trent Orwig in the Sport Compacts, Dustin Griffiths in the Hobby Stocks, SportMod track champion was Blaine Webster, and Nathan Wood is the Stock Car champion.

It was announced that the track is actively looking for a race director for next year, but to rest assured, there WILL be racing next year at the historic track.

The forecast did not sound good for racing on Saturday, but we were keeping our fingers crossed.  However, the announcement came in the afternoon that Night #2 of the Fall Challenge was cancelled, with no make-up.  This did allow us to get in two softball games, a flag football game, and a soccer game in the Des Moines area though!  All this for a nine year old grandson, and seven year old granddaughter.  Yup...sat in the rain for some of those!

The racing scene in our area is wrapping up, with a few specials still on tap.  Check out the racing calendar at Positively Racing, and find a race to attend.  We hope to get in another race or two.

It's a wrap for the 2019 IMCA Super Nationals!

The 2019 IMCA Super Nationals is in the books.  It was six days/nights of some really great racing with drivers from all across the country, Canada, and Australia.  Over 800 cars checked in during the week long festivities. Very few "blips" were on the radar....until Saturday, the championship night, when rain delayed the program for about six hours and 40 minutes and the famous Boone Speedway jet dryer was used two times.  It did the trick. The format was adjusted in order to get the show completed, and it is now stamped into record book history.

Monday, September 2 was the first day of the 37th IMCA Super Nationals with the Deery Brothers Late Models on tap, along with qualifying for the Northern SportMods, and the Hobby Stocks and fifty-five total races. You may recall that the Late Models had their entire show scraped last year due to the unrelenting rain. This year, the show went on and by the end of the night, a first time winner was standing on the podium. 

Hot shoe Ricky Thornton, Jr., an Arizona native who now calls Adel, Iowa home, showed why he is a contender to win in any class he may strap into.  This time, he was piloting the #30 Late Model owned by Todd Cooney.  Cooney, who raced the car earlier in the year, but then had some health issues, offered up his car to Thornton.  Not a bad choice! 

The 50-lap feature found Joe Zrostlik, outside front row starter, leading the first fourteen laps of the race, but Ricky Thornton, who started fifth, had his sites set on the leader from the start. Most eyes were on Thornton as he reeled in the leader. Thornton threw a perfectly timed slider out of turn four and had the lead as lap fifteen was scored.  From there on, it was a walk in the park for Thortnton, as he sliced and diced through traffic effortlessly.  He won by half a lap to claim the checkers. Justin Kay came from tenth on the starting grid, to claim a distant runner up.  Tyler Buening took third place after starting in thirteenth, and Nick Marolf and Terry Neal completed the top five.  

After Thornton's clinic in the Late Model show, and being entered in two more classes, the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars, the buzz was now if he could win more than one Super Nationals Championship in the same year....something that had never been done....and maybe even THREE! Racing was completed on the first night at 10:27 p.m.  

Tuesday, September 3 and a shower delayed the start of the program, but only by about fourteen minutes from the daily 2 p.m. scheduled starting time.  Today the IMCA Sport Compacts, sixty-six of them, were on tap for their complete show and championship run.  The SportMods and Hobby Stocks continued their qualifying as well.  There were seventy-one races on this night and scheduled 616 laps. 

A second-time winner came out of the Sport Compacts.  Nate Coopman, Mankato, Minnesota copped this honor.  Coopman, started on the outside of the three-wide front row, and ran second to then leader Mitchell Bielenberg, Charlotte, Iowa racer, until he was off power at lap fifteen.  Coopman inherited the lead and had no problem keeping it at the front, and took his second Super Nationals title...his previous coming in 2015.  Brandon Reu was the runner up, Trent Orwig ran third, Ramsey Meyer was fourth, and Caine Mahlberg came from 19th starting spot, to take fifth.  

Tuesday's show was completed at 12:14 even after the fourteen minute delayed start time due to rain.

Wednesday, September 4, the IMCA Stock Cars and Modifieds were on tap for the first time of the week.  Sixty-six races were held including the final qualifying for the SportMods and Hobby Stocks. Ethan Dotson took his first step toward winning a potential first-time Super Nationals belt, winning his A qualifier and Ricky Thornton, Jr. took the win in the second A qualifier....with a potential for a second championship in the same year after his earlier Late Model win. Racing wrapped up at 12:07 a.m.

There was a scary incident on the frontstretch of the first A qualifier for the Modifieds when Eric Elliott and Jimmy Gustin got together in just a racing deal.  Elliott took a scary ride, ending up upside down just past the flagstand.  Gustin was the first person to get to Elliott after the accident.  Elliott did get checked out later at the hospital according to what we were told, and released.  However, with not only a battered race car, but also a battered body, his run at the 2019 Super Nationals was over.  

Thursday, September 5, and qualifying continued for the IMCA Modifieds and Stock Cars along with their qualifying heats for the Race of Champions in their divisions.  Seventy-five races done by 11:32 p.m.  

Friday, September 6, and more qualifying for the Modifieds and Stock Cars along with the Fast Shafts All Star Invitational feature.  This was for drivers who had qualified by winning a $1,000 Fast Shafts race to even get on the ballot. Then fans were able to vote them into the prestigious race. Twenty-nine of the thirty cars eligible ran, with Jason Wolla, the North Dakota racer unable to attend. 

Joel Rust would lead all thirty laps of the All Star race to etch his name into the record books.  Rust started in the middle of the front row to take the win.  Two yellows stopped the action, both at lap four, and from there on the race went caution free.  Rust pulled away, even though encountering lap traffic in the closing laps, to take the comfortable win. Tanner Black, Otis, Kansas racer chased Rust the entire distance to finish a distant second.  Pole sitter Jesse Sobbing finished third.  Another Kansas racer, Steven Bowers from Topeka came home in fourth, and Richie Gustin from Gilman, Iowa rounded out the top five.  Rust, picked to be one of the top contenders of the week in the Modified class, now had one title under his belt. 

Friday closed with sixty-five races and the show was complete at 11:19 p.m.  

There had hardly been a blip in the entire week's racing.....until Saturday, September 7th's Championship night.  Rain had been predicted and with that, the show was moved up one hour to start at 2 p.m. instead of 3.  There was to be fifteen Modified last chance qualifier heats with the top three from each going to an A qualifier for the Big Dance.  That all ended after the fifth LCQ heat when here came the rain!  

Six hours and 40 minutes, and two jet dryer sessions later, the racing began again at 8:19 p.m. with an altered format.  The announcement was, "The remaining LCQ heats for the Modifieds will not be run, everyone that raced and drew in the first 5 heats will keep their spots.  Top 3 based off line up in Heats 6 through 15 will draw for their starting position in their LCQ main....top 3 to the Dance.  Stock Car Dance will be lined up off first 6 in points standings."  This was good with some, not so with others.  Darned if you do, or darned if you don't!  

All four classes of the Big Dance were run right after the final Modified LCQs.  The Race of Champions for the four classes were moved to last on the program.  There were no on track introductions and no winner's interviews in order to keep the show moving.  The awards were done in the Fan Zone after all racing was completed for the night along with the motor auction. EDIT: For those wondering about the motor auction the SportMod of Logue went for $3,100, Hobby Stock of Nelson was $3,500, the Stock Car of Smith was $4,500 (and understand he bought it back...Mopar power) and Dotson's Modified was $5,500.  

The IMCA Northern SportMods "danced" first. Dylan VanWyk, Oskaloosa, Iowa, a young racer that we watched race at the Southern Iowa Speedway during the season, and that we understand got his racing career kicked off in the go kart ranks, started on the pole of the 30-lap race after claiming a qualifying win earlier in the week. He would lead the opening lap.

Kyle Olson, who started on the outside of the 3-wide feature start, powered his way into the lead at lap two, and middle front row starter, Johnathon Logue, 2014 winner, tucked in behind him to run second. Olson hung on to that lead until lap twelve when he took over the top spot coming out of corner four. 

A yellow flag flew at lap seventeen and by this time, Jake McBirnie, last year's Super Nationals champion had gotten to the runner up position and on the restart, was ready to challenge leader Logue.  It was not to be however, as Logue motored off on his run to the checkers, and won his second Super National's Northern Sport Mod championship. McBirnie took the runner up position this year as Logue had done to him in 2018.  Kyle Olson took third, Kyle Bentley fourth, and Joe Docekal fifth, making it an all Iowa top five. 

The Big Dance for the IMCA Modifieds came next.  The three-wide front row had two Californians there in Ethan Dotson, and D.J. Shannon.  Last year's winner Jeff Aikey from Cedar Falls was sitting outside that front row as they awaited the 40-lap main event.

Ethan Dotson would see a dream come true as he led all 40 laps of the event to win.  It was not without any challenge however, as Ricky Thornton, Jr. chased him the entire distance...throwing in a couple of last lap slides for life, but to no avail and had to settle for second place.  Cody Laney, another Californian started eighth, and took third place. Defending champion Jeff Aikey was fourth, and Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Nebraska and national point leader in the Modified division, came from eleventh, to finish fifth.  

The IMCA Stock cars danced next in their 30-lap event.  Devin Smith started on the pole and put an exclamation mark on his run....leading all laps and making it look easy.  Abe Huls, Carthage, Illinois finished second after starting in tenth position.  Kyle Falck started fifteenth, and finished third, David Brandies started twelfth and was third, and Oskaloosa, Iowa's Cayden Carter hard charged from twentieth, to finish fifth. Smith matched his 2014 win in the Stock Car class.

The IMCA Hobby Stocks took to the dance floor last and this 30-lapper was also led from start to finish by winner Dylan Nelson from Adel, Iowa.  Nelson started on the outside front row of the 3-wide grid, and was never seriously challenged.  Second went to Dunlap, Iowa's Kevin Bruck.  Bruck suffered serious damage to his car at the Prelude, taking a dramatic roll on the frontstretch.  It was a great recovery to come back with a runner up finish.  Worthington, Minnesota driver Malik Sampson drove his hot rod from eighteenth to finish in third place.  Corey Madden came from eighth to finish fourth, and Boone Speedway regular, John Watson was fifth, coming from fifteenth starting spot.  

All four Race of Champions completed the night's racing.  Corey Madden won the Hobby Stocks, Doug Smith took the honors in the SportMod division, Elijah Zevenbergen was first in the Stock Cars, and Alexander, Arkansas driver Drew Armstrong was the R.O.C. champion of the Modified class.

A few notes of the week long event that saw over 800 cars compete that included a record breaking 203 IMCA Stock Cars.  

The theme for car wraps this year was "Super Heroes", and the best appearing car went to the #95 of Jeff Bodendorfer out of Waterford, Wisconsin, with the Incredible Hulk on board.

There was an official count of black flags for the week....a total of 73 were flown. Most were for "bad dog, no biscuit" moves.

"Flo" and "Mingo" the traditional pink flamingo blow ups, were riding along on one of the packers as usual....but disappeared over night....to be replaced again. They ride along on every farming session.

Mike Shulte, the very first IMCA Super Nationals champion joined us one evening.  He won the 1983 race that was held in Vinton, Iowa.  He remarked as to what a change he's seen! 

It's not all about the racing at Super Nationals, but a lot to do with catching up with racing friends that share our love of dirt track racing at the biggest dirt track race in the world. It's so great to see everyone.     

The 37th IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals was wrapped up at 12:53 a.m.  There is no where else this race could have been completed.  It takes all sorts of work, planning, team work, and those working like a well oiled machine to get this accomplished.  Hats off to everyone!  We are already looking forward to the 38th Super Nationals!

Rust, Shryock, Logue, and Watson nab Prelude wins at Boone

A whopping 323 cars checked in to the Boone Speedway for the running of the Wild Rose Casino and Resort Prelude to the Super Nationals on Saturday night.  Cars from across the U.S., Canada, and Australia came to test the waters prior to the start of the upcoming 37th running of the IMCA Super Nationals starting on Labor Day Monday, September 2.  Despite the many out of area drivers, local racers captured the wins in all four classes.

The IMCA Northern SportMod twenty-five feature was led from start to finish by Johnathon Logue.  Logue weathered two caution flag restarts to take the victory.  Tyler Soppe chased Logue the entire distance to finish as the runner up.  Jake Sachau was third, Joe Docekal started fourteenth and finished fourth, and Austin Schrage moved from eighth to finish fifth.

The IMCA Modified twenty-five lap feature went to Joel Rust, a driver who has been on a hot streak in the area as of late.  Rust started sixth, grabbed the lead from early leader Dennis LeVeine, then fended off challenges by Kyle Brown and Jeremy Mills, before pulling away to a sizable lead when he took the checkers.  Kyle Brown took second place, Cody Laney came from twelfth to finish third, Kelly Shryock started tenth and finished fourth, and Richie Gustin was fifth after starting fifteenth on the field.  Jeremy Mills who was running in third place on the white flag lap, had his vision of a good finish disappear when he slipped high in turn four as the checkers awaited, and fell back to finish eleventh.

The twenty-five lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature went flag to flag.  John Watson took the win after passing Hays, Kansas racer Tathan Burkhart on lap eighteen and held on to take the win.  Burkhart was the runner up, Dylan Nelson ran at the front of the pack all race and finished in third place, Worthington, Minnesota's Malik Sampson was fourth after starting eleventh, and Chuck Madden completed the top five.

The night cap was twenty-five laps of IMCA Stock Car racing.  The early portion of the race saw Devin Smith, Jay Schmidt, and last year's Prelude winner Andrew Borchardt putting on the show up front for the fans.  Schmidt managed to nab a brief run as captain of the ship until veteran racer Kelly Shryock came into the picture and took command on lap fifteen.  From there on Shryock pulled away from the pack and scored the comfortable win.  Jay Schmidt was second, third went to Andrew Borchardt, Troy Jerovetz finished fourth from his twelfth place starting spot, and Devin Smith was fifth. The race went caution free.

Monday, September 2 is the start of the six day run of the 37th Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals. On tap will be the Deery Brothers Summer Series with a full show, and qualifying for the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and IMCA Karl Kustom Northern SportMods.  The green flag flies at 2 p.m.  With over 800 pre-registered cars for the week long show it looks to be another outstanding event....one that is like a "happening" you will never forget.  If you've not had a chance to attend, it should be a must for any dirt track fan.  "South" Boone is alive and well again for the annual event, with RV's everywhere!  We will be here for the duration....our 32nd straight year of the Super Nationals and we are so looking forward to it all...the races, festivities, and of course, racing friends we catch up with each year, sharing our love of dirt track racing.  Here we go!!