There was almost a bit of normalcy last night when we pulled into the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds. The Fair was running in full force per usual.....livestock, a carnival, live entertainment, displays, and food vendors. Of course, we were there for the first of two nights of racing in the grandstand. Todd Staley brought his USMTS series to the big old Monster Half-Mile.
The car count was short.... many local drivers did not show due to it not being a track points night, plus some of the traveling USRA support classes did not make the trip since we understand it was not one of their "Iron Man" shows. The night would also be marred by a horrific flip by a B-Mod on the backstretch, silencing the crowd.
There were only two Sport Compact drivers in the house last night. Yes...TWO. That did not make the victory by Robbie Wilson any less exciting. On just his first night out this year, Wilson piloted his ride to the checkers ahead of Billy Cain, marking his first career win.
Four Hobby Stocks were in the house. Dustin Griffiths would lead this one from start to finish, and step into victory lane for the fourth time this season. Aaron Martin would finish as the runner up. Jaydn Stevens came home in third place, and Rick Dusseldorp was fourth.
A dozen B-Mods came for a little mid-week action. This one did not start off well at all. After having two initial starts called back, the third time is usually the charm. Not so last night. The third try saw veteran racer from Moravia, Steve Ruepke take a horrific ride when he hit one of the big old white tractor tires coming out of turn two. He flipped wildly in the air, pieces flying everywhere, and a fire erupting. The race was red flagged immediately, and the crowd grew silent as rescue quickly got to the scene. The fans broke into cheers and claps when it was announced that Ruepke was out of the car and conscious. He was transported to the hospital.
When racing got underway after the red flag delay, it was Carter VanDenBerg leading the field in the opening laps, with cousin Brayton Carter nipping at his tail. Logan Anderson was on the hustle and moved into third. When a yellow flew at lap seven, Anderson flew into the lead on the restart. From there on he stretched his lead to take the checkers well ahead of the field and score the win. VanDenBerg (in a plain blue car which we would assume is a new chassis) finished as the runner up, Brayton Carter took third with Colton Livezey fourth, and Maguire DeJong rounding out the top five. This was Anderson's second trip to the winner's circle at Osky this season.
Eight Stock Cars came for some fun and games last evening. Cody Agee would lead the field to green but when it was all said and done, it would be brother Derrick Agee taking the checkers. Cody Agee and Dustin Griffiths jostled up front in the early going, but Derrick Agee quickly caught up to the two. At lap eight of the fifteen lapper, Derrick Agee had made the move into the lead. He would then fend off Dustin Griffiths to take his fourth win at the track this season. It was a close one at the line for third. My angle saw Nathan Wood a bit ahead of Cody Agee, but scoring said Agee took third, leaving Wood in fourth. Donnie Pearson completed the top five.
The headliner of the evening, the USMTS modifieds capped off the racing for the night. Fifteen cars, most from out of state, came to try and tame the Monster Half-Mile.
Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Oklahoma, started on the outside front row, and quickly grabbed the lead for the 25-lap event. Pole sitter, Hunter Marriott from Brookfield, Missouri settled in to run second. Ramirez, who was holding down second place in the national points battle was looking for his third win of the year as he maneuvered the half-mile flawlessly. Bad luck however, would bite Ramirez at lap fifteen, and he would be out of the race with mechanical issues. This handed the lead over to Marriott with ten laps remaining. He would go on to hold the top spot the rest of the way to score his fourth USMTS career win, and the second of the 2020 season. Point leader Rodney Sanders from Happy, Texas came home in second, Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kansas took third place, Haysville, Kansas racer Tyler Davis was fourth, and Jason Hughes, Watts, Oklahoma finished fifth.
The USMTS series now moves to I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska for the 10th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals for a July 24-25 event. They will be sharing the spotlight with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
A few notes of the evening. Nathan Wood was back racing in the Stock Car class after having his ride destroyed a few weeks back. His new ride, a red Jet I believe, came on strong late in the race. Also, please keep Steve Ruepke in your thoughts and prayers after his horrific accident last evening.
We plan to be back at the Southern Iowa Speedway again tonight where it will be the weekly show as well as the Caleb Hammond Memorial race. The local youngster was a big fan of racing, who lost his battle with cancer a couple of years ago. The Modifieds will be joining the regular field of Wednesday night racers. Hot laps are scheduled for 7:15, with racing to follow.
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