Agee, VanWyk, Overton, Bickford, and Hughes put their names in the record book for the 2022 kickoff of Osky's 92nd year of racing.

 Wednesday night, the Southern Iowa Speedway opened their 92nd year of racing at the historic Monster half-mile with racing in five divisions....Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts, and Non-wing Sprints.  Seventy-six cars checked in for the traditional mid-week racing. 

Derrick Agee picked up where he left off last season, taking the Stock Car feature.  Dylan VanWyk has already shown he is going to be a contender at any track he attends, as he sailed to the SportMod victory.  Tyson Overton was dominate in taking the Hobby Stock win.  Terry Bickford, Sport Compact driver, was a happy camper in victory lane, after winning his first ever checkers, and Jonathan Hughes continued to chalk up another one of his numerous wins at the track in the Non-Wing Sprint.  

There were nine of the Non-Wingers in the house last evening, but only seven ran their A feature, as Doug Sylvester and Robert Bell were not able to get their rides running for even the heat race.  The feature also did not start off well when the 71A of Jayson Alexander went for a ride mid turns three and four before lap one was scored....the first of several delays for mishaps in feature racing. 

Jonathan Hughes started on the outside of the front row, and was pretty much gone immediately, despite having a light trail of smoke most of the race.  Ben Woods came from seventh to finish as the runner up.  Rounding out the top five were Tyler Graves, Kelly Graham, and Garrett Alexander.

The Sport Compacts were up next with thirteen of the mighty little powerhouses checked in for the night.  A new driver, to us anyway, was Terry Bickford from Shannon City, Iowa.  He made the haul up from the southwest Iowa area and put on an impressive run in the divisions ten-lap main event.  He quickly caught early leader Matt Moore and was challenging for the lead in the early laps.  A roll-over stopped the action on lap four when Allen Young ended up on his top down low in the middle of turns three and four, halting the action for another clean up of the track. When the action picked back up, Bickford quickly seized the opportunity and made the pass for the lead, never to relinquish it all the way to the checkers.  Matt Moore took the runner up spot, third went to Seth Meinders, followed by Kevin Garrett and Braelynn Long.  In Bickford's post-race interview, he said this was his first ever win.  Always nice to witness one of those occasions.  Congratulations to Terry Bickford on his nice run.

The Hobby Stocks had the biggest field of cars last night, with twenty checking in for competition.  Brad Stephens was the opening laps leader, but Tyson Overton voided that by lap seven and swept to the lead going down the backstretch.  He had no trouble in keeping that lead the remainder of the race, and took the flying checkers.  Ryan Havel, Iowa City, Iowa, was in a nice looking #0x last night, a former Kaden Reynolds car who races other tracks in the area.  He started around eleventh, and zigged and zagged his way through the field to finish an impressive second. Keaton Gorden was third,  fourth went to early leader Brad Stephens, and Aaron Martin was fifth.  Overton said in victory lane he hopes to make it to Wednesday night racing often in 2022.

The SportMods had nineteen in the pits and their sixteen lap feature was pretty much a runaway with Dylan VanWyk winning easily.  He would lead all laps and made it look easy.  Curtis Van Der Wal came from seventh starting spot, but trailed a distant second at the finish.  Kyle Harwood was third, followed by Logan Anderson in fourth, and twelfth place starter Carter VanDenBerg in fifth. 

The finale of the night was sixteen laps of Stock Car racing, and there were some heavy hitters in the house among the fifteen cars in competition.  Dylan Thornton, (no relation to the Ricky Thornton, Jr. Arizona native who now resides in Clive, and who has had such success the last few years all over the country in different classes) a California native who is now living in the Keystone, Iowa area, started alongside the pole sitter, Josh Foster, a former Modified racer who has moved around the state in recent years, starting out in the southeastern part of Iowa, then moved to Newton, and now is calling Fairfax, Iowa home base. A yellow flew early in the race when Martelle, Iowa's Dusty Vis, another hot racer who was the winner of the Bristol Dirt race earlier this year, went spinning on the frontstretch as he was in hot battle, stopping just short of the billboards.  When racing picked back up, it was last years track champion, Derrick Agee in command with Thornton doing everything to take back the lead.  It wasn't to be on this night however, as Agee held off the challenges, taking his first win of the year.  Thornton, who also pilots a Modified, kept second place. Third went to a hard charging Dusty Vis, who after tagging the field after his early spinout, made a great comeback.  Fourth went to Dustin Griffiths, and Todd Reitzler completed the top five.

It was great to see the Howard Gordon, Jr. #409 doing the honors of pace car last night. Howard, a racing fixture at the track and around the area for 25 years, had a stroke in January, and has been recovering....recently at On With Life in Ankeny.  It was great to hear that he is to be released and going home today, but with still a recovering period ahead of him.  Drivers passed their helmets last night to help in the expenses, and over $1,000 was collected.  A special note was that Hobby Stock racer, Ryan Havel donated all of his winnings for the night of $250 for feature finish as well as being hard-charger in the class. I'm sure there were others drivers donating some of their winnings as well.  Racing family is the best! 

It was a beautiful night when we first arrived at the track last evening, a light southerly breeze, and 70 degrees.  What a difference during the night as Mother Nature is just not being kind!  The wind picked up, changed to out of the east, and blew STRONG all night long, and of course, the temperature dropped.  It was not pleasant setting in the stands, especially if not prepared.  Don't trust the weather forecasts!  

Next week's races on May 4, will be popcorn night sponsored by DeJong Manufacturing.  Free popcorn for all!  Hot laps are scheduled for 7:15, with racing to follow.     

Kuehl goes back to back at Boone, Lamberies, Shafroth, Waltson, and Huggins also score on opening points night

 Boone Speedway held its season points opener on Saturday night, with 138 cars checked into the pits, and drivers hungry for racing. It was another chilly one for April racing, but the racing action was hot all night.

Wisconsin racer, Lucas Lamberies took the top prize in the IMCA Modified class, Taylor Kuehl made it back to back wins in the IMCA Northern SportMod division after her Frostbuster special win last Saturday.  Buck Shafroth made it a first ever weekly win at Boone in the IMCA Stock Cars, while John Watson made it to victory lane in the IMCA Hobby Stock class, and Joel Huggins took the honors in the IMCA STARS Mod Lites.

The first feature to come to the track was the IMCA STARS Mod Lites with their 15-lap main event.  Joe Glick was the early leader but was being hounded by Randy Bryan.  Bryan made the pass for the lead on lap thirteen, but then before lap fourteen could be scored, the race was red flagged. Rookie David Bailey had the dubious honors of being the first rollover of the season when his ride flipped over in turn four.  Thankfully, he was unhurt.

When the action once again picked up for the green-white-checkered finish, Bryan maintained the lead, taking the white flag. However, Joel Huggins kept up his persistent dogging of the leader and made it pay off, getting around Bryan on the final run to the checkers and snatched the win.  Bryan had to settle for the runner up spot.  Joe Glick was third, fourth went to Bryan Zehm, and Fontanelle, Iowa racer, Dustin Ford rounded out the top five. Huggins also won at the Marshalltown Speedway the night before, getting his 2022 season off on a good foot.

The Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods ran their 18 lap feature next.  Taylor Kuehl picked up where she left off at last week's Frostbuster, taking the checkers again.  She led all laps on her way to victory.  Izac Mallicoat was on her heels the entire contest, but had to settle for second place.  Tyler Nerud came over from Dorchester, Nebraska hoping for a good run, and went home with a third place finish.  Kaylin Lopez came from sixteenth starting spot to finish fourth, and Jake Sachau was fifth. She is quickly becoming a crowd favorite.  

The weather has not been conducive to racing in the state of Wisconsin, and one driver, Lucas Lamberies opted to seek some racing in Iowa this weekend.  His decision paid off as the Clintonville, Wisconsin driver took the season opener win in the IMCA Modified class.  Lamberies jumped to the immediate lead from his outside front row starting position, and never looked back.  He held off challenge after challenge by Tim Ward, but was able to maintain the upper hand and take the checkers, Ward going second.  Todd Shute started fourteenth, and took home a third place finish, fourth went to Jake McBirnie, and Johnathon Logue came from fifteenth to finish fifth in his rookie season in the Modified division. Lamberies knows his way around the Boone Speedway, as he was the 2015 Super Nationals Champion in the Northern SportMod division, and the 2017 Prelude to the Super Nationals Northern SportMod Champion.  He is continuing his winning ways now in the Modified class.  

The IMCA Stock Cars saw Buck Shafroth, Orient, Iowa finally get the elusive win at the speedway. Shafroth was running third in the closing laps of the race when the two leaders, Michael Jaennette and Dallon Murty got together, taking them both out of the running, and bringing out a yellow.  Shafroth then inherited the lead and was able to hold off Devin Smith in the final laps to score the win.  Smith was second, third went to Troy Jerovetz who started fourteenth, fourth was Johnathon Logue, and Trent Murphy came from twentieth, to finish fifth. Jay Schmidt was hard charger of the race, starting in twenty-fourth spot, and finishing in seventh.  

The night cap of the evening was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature.  John Watson would take home the spoils in this one.  Watson got the lead on lap eight and then held it to the flying checkers.  Eric Knutson was scored in second place after a mishap between Eric Stanton, running in second spot, and Mike Smith, in third, took them out of the running after they had taken the white flag. Smith received the "bad dog, no biscuit" black flag for turning Stanton.  Solomon Bennett was scored in third place, Curt Reed was fourth, and Chad Rigby was fifth.

It was another nippy and breezy night at the races.  I think all race fans and drivers are wishing for warmer, and calmer nights to get in their racing fixes.  Let's hope, Mother Nature is going to start being kind.  

Next Saturday, April 23, will be weekly series #2 with the Outlaw Mini Mods scheduled to join the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and STARS Mod Lites.

It was a twofer for Thornton on Season Preview night at the Marshalltown Speedway

Mother Nature dictated the postponement of the long anticipated King of the High Banks at the Marshalltown Speedway that was on tap for April 14 and 15.  The $5,000 to win race for the IMCA Stock Cars will be held at a later date yet to be determined.  However, it was decided to hold a "2022 Season Preview" on Friday to get things underway for the first time at the speedway. There were drivers hungry for racing, traveling from Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, California, Arizona, and Oregon...though some of those last three states are Iowa transplants, some calling Iowa home during our racing season.  

The pits were packed with 131 cars in six classes and vying for extra money on the line.  Dylan Thornton made it a profitable night in winning both the IMCA Modified and IMCA Stock Car features, each paying $1,000 to win.  Blake Luinenburg, young Minnesota racer took home the trophy in the IMCA Hobby Stocks.  The IMCA SportMod feature winner was Dylan VanWyk, the IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature winner was Joel Huggins, and the IMCA Sport Compacts was won by Cristian Grady.

The IMCA STARS ModLites kicked off the night's feature racing.  Early leader Derrick Knutsen had his motor go south at lap ten of the fifteen lapper.  In the meantime, Joel Huggins had just taken over the top spot...a spot he would never relinquish on his way to the checkers.  Randy Bryan ran second, and Dustin Ford was third. It was a short field of cars in the Mod Lites with only six drivers checking in.

The IMCA Northern SportMods were front and center next, running a 20 lap main event.  Several yellows would mar the racing action in this one, but in the end it was Oskaloosa's Dylan VanWyk, who started fourteenth, making the winner's circle.  Tyler Soppe gave VanWyk a challenge, but had to settle for second place.  Third went to Kyle Olson, who was hard charger of the race, coming from twentieth starting spot.  Tony Olson came from eighteenth spot, to finish fourth, and Jenae Gustin completed the top five. 

The 20 lap IMCA Hobby Stock race was led flag to flag by young Blake Luinenburg, the Reading, Minnesota High School hockey player.  He was never seriously challenged on his way to the checkered flag.  Veteran racer John Watson took the runner up position, third went to Luke Schluetter, Solomon Bennett started tenth and finished fourth, and Joren Fisher came from sixteenth starting spot, to take fifth.  

Dusty Vis and Dylan Thornton made it an exciting IMCA Stock Car 20 lap feature event, as they jockeyed for the top spot through the final ten laps.  Vis who was in command, was able to throw off a slide job once in the closing laps, but the final corner attempt looking at the checkers stuck....giving the win to thirteenth place starter Thornton by a nose.  Third went to "The Game Changer", Dallon Murty who came from seventeenth starting spot, dad Damon Murty was fourth, and Jay Schmidt had a great run coming from twenty-third, to finish fifth as he hard charged through the stout field of cars. Thornton is one of those Iowa transplants who still lists home as Santa Maria, California.

The IMCA Sport Compacts were in competition with 21 checked in on this brisk April night. They ran a 15 lap feature.  Going home with the win was Cedar Rapids, Iowa driver, Cristian Grady.  He fended off the challenges of Blake Driscol in second, and Grenada, Minnesota driver RJ Esqueda in third.  Ashton Blain and Tyler Fiebelkorn rounded out the top five.  

The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature was the night cap.  This would be another race that was led flag to flag by the winner.  Dylan Thornton had already won the IMCA Stock Car feature, but he made it a twofer night, dominating in the Modified main event. Austen Beccera, Carthage, Illinois, last year's IMCA Northern SportMod Super National's champion, chased Thornton for most of the race, but could only manage a second place finish.  Third went to Tim Ward, fourth was Drew Janssen, and Tom Berry, Jr., was fifth.

A sparse crowd of hearty soles braved the cold temperatures to get their racing fix last night, but they saw some great racing.  No doubt, this was just a preview of the action we can expect to see at the track in 2022. 

Next Friday night, April 22 will be the first track points race of the season. The green flag drops at 7:30.       

Lady racer Taylor Kuehl puts her name in the record books with Boone Frostbuster win

 Boone Speedway opened its season on Saturday night, with their annual IMCA Frostbuster, with the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks all in competition.  The pits were chocked full with 190 cars and drivers hungry to get their racing season underway.  And, although the sun was shining and there was a much calmer than usual southerly breeze, the race was still appropriately named!  

Feature racing kicked off with the 25 lap main event for the IMCA Northern SportMods.  The 56 entrants were whittled down to a 24 car starting field requiring three B mains.  

Taylor Kuehl, the Arizona native lady racer, had just returned to the state of Iowa three days prior to the Frostbuster kickoff, and she wasted no time in putting her name into the record books.  Kuehl would lead all 25 laps on her way to a popular victory with the crowd on hand.  She had to fend off several challenges by Wisconsin driver, Tim Warner, but Kuehl kept her cool, and took the checkers, waving to the spectators.  Werner had to settle for the runner up spot.  Dylan VanWyk was hard charger of the event, coming from twenty-first starting spot, to take third place.  Pole sitter Kenny Wyman, was fourth, and eighteenth place starter, Dusty Masolini was fifth. 

Forty-three IMCA ground-pounding Modifieds were on hand and it was defending IMCA National Champion Jeff Larson from Freeport, Illinois leading the opening laps.  However by lap eleven, another Arizona native, Tim Ward had grabbed the top spot.  Ward would never relinquish his lead from there on as he motored home to the feature event honors.  Clear Lake, Iowa racer, Jeremy Mills, chased Ward for much of the race, but had to be content with second place.  Third went to Jeff Larson, Devin Fouquette, St. Cloud, Minnesota was fourth, and Johnathon Logue, in his Modified debut, rounded out the top five.

There were 48 IMCA Stock Cars on hand vying for a spot in their 25-lap A Main feature.  Todd Reitzler led the first ten laps of the race but then had some heavy hitters challenging.  A slight miscue by the leader allowed Troy Jerovetz to slip by and into the lead, and Dallon Murty, and dad Damon Murty followed suite, as Reitzler dropped to fourth. The final laps was a shoot out between son and father as the the Murtys led the troops around Iowa's Action Track.  Dallon Murty would triumph on this night, with dad Damon taking second place.  Third went to Troy Jerovetz, Todd Reitzler was fourth, and David Smith completed the top five.  Dallon returned to the winner's podium for the 2022 season, after ending it there in 2021 as the IMCA Super Nationals Champion.  

The 2022 Frostbuster special ended the night's action with the final 25 lap event with the IMCA Hobby Stocks.  Another young racer returned to the winner's circle where he also left off in 2021.  Mike Smith, the 2021 IMCA Hobby Stock Super National's winner was dominate in taking the victory.  He led all but the opening laps on his way to the final checkers of the night.  Solomon Bennett chased Smith for much of the race, to score the runner up position.  Curt Reed took third place, fourth went to Eric Stanton, and Nathan Ballard was fifth.

We were surprised to see a bit of construction just finishing up as we arrived at the track.  Seems the wooden deck used by IMCA tv to broadcast the races, had been blown off during a storm in December, ending up against the fence.  The new structure is much more substantial, with stairs leading to the deck atop the front grandstands.  

We finally got our first race of 2022 under our belts.  The annual IMCA Frostbusters have not had a good track record, and this year, the first three shows that were scheduled for Vinton, Independence, and Marshalltown, were all weathered out.  Boone was the first to get in, and it looks like the final go around at Stuart Speedway today, will also be a successful show.   

The regular season opener at Boone Speedway is next Saturday night, April 16.  Pits open at 3, grandstands at 4:30, hot laps are 5, and racing at 6.  The IMCA Mod Lites will be on the program along with the Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks.

Be sure and check the racing calendar at www.positivelyracing.com for a race you may want to catch!  Let's hope Mother Nature will be kind now for us racing fans!