Logue logs SportMod win, Rust and Reynolds go back to back

The full moon was shining over the high banks of the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night and its effect was in full force with several incidents occurring. The IMCA Northern SportMods were shooting for the Speed Shift $1,000 pay day, and Johnathon Logue went home a grand richer when he took the checkers.  Joel Rust in the IMCA Modifieds and Kaden Reynolds in the IMCA Hobby Stock division, matched their wins from last week.  Damon Murty returned to victory lane in the IMCA Stock Car class, Randy Bryan took his first checkers of the year in the Mod Lites, and the XL600 Mod Lite visitors saw Russ Olson in the winner's circle.

Randy Bryan took his first win of the season in the Mod Lites.  Bryan came from seventh starting spot and had the lead at lap two, never to relinquish it on his run to the checkers.  Eighth place starter Joel Huggins chased the winner most of the race, but could only muster a runner up finish.  It was a close finish for third and fourth with twelfth place starter Terry Brown holding off Tanner Gannon at the finish line.  Charlie Brown completed the top five.

The race was red flagged on lap one, when Mike Morrill rolled his ride, landed on his wheels, fired it up, and tagged the field to finish ninth. That incident was just the first of several that happened on full moon night at the speedway. 

The IMCA Hobby Stocks came to the track next for their 15-lap main event.  The full moon effect continued when on lap two William Klosterman launched his #11K up and over turn four in a spectacular incident.  Thankfully he was okay, and miraculously, no one was hurt in the pits or catwalks.  After a lengthy delay for clean up, the race resumed with Scott Ellis leading the field back to green.

 Kaden Reynolds was quickly making his way through the field from his tenth starting position and was pressuring Ellis at lap six.  By the time lap seven was in the books, Reynolds had taken command.  As the race wore down, Leah Wroten had caught the leader and was looking for a way around, but on this night, it wasn't to be as Reynolds kept a tight hold on that top spot and scored the win.  Wroten had to be content with the runner up.  Visiting racer Tyler Ollendieck from Tipoli made his trip worth while, and finished third from his twelfth place starting spot.  Pole sitter Travis Merical finished fourth and Ben Newhouse was fifth.  Reynolds won for the second week in a row and scored his third win of the season.

The headliners of the night, the IMCA Northern SportMods, were vying for a $1,000 to win.  The race found Tony Olson and Johnathon Logue going at it at the front of the pack much of the twenty lap race, with Olson holding back Logue.  Then at lap fifteen, the red flag flew again.  This time,  Dylan VanWyk ended up on his lid down between turns one and two, and he too, thankfully was not hurt.

With a handful of laps remaining, Olson kept the upper hand when the race returned to green, but had Logue and Jenae Gustin fighting tooth and nail for that coveted top spot.  On lap seventeen, Olson drifted a bit high in turn four, which was all that Logue needed to slip under him and into that top spot.  Logue held on to take the checkers and the win, Olson was second, and Jenae Gustin a close third.  Cory VanZante finished in fourth place and Travis Peterson started fifteenth and rounded out the top five.

The visiting XL600 Micro Mods ran a 12-lap feature next, and at the end, it was Russ Olson visiting with announcer Jerry Vansickel in Victory Lane. Olson took the comfortable win over second place Chad Dugan, Donny Erger was third, Jeremy Schaufenbuel took fourth, and Will Bird was fifth.

Damon Murty scored his fourth IMCA Stock Car win.  Murty started fifth, put it on the top shelf, and had the lead with just a handful of laps down.  He held it the rest of the distance to take the checkers.  Ninth place starter Todd Reitzler was a distant second, followed by Curt Hook in third, Steve Meyer started fourteenth and charged through the field to finish fourth, and Kyle Everts was fifth.

The night cap was 20-laps of IMCA Modified feature racing.  Joel Rust wrestled the lead away from Garrett Wilson on lap four, and would go on to maintain that lead all the way to the flying checkers.  Tim Ward challenged the leader in the early portion of the race, but at the finish line, trailed the leader and took a distant runner up spot.  Ron Lauritzen threw his hat in the ring and duked it out with Ward in a good contest, but in the end had to be content with third.  Thor Anderson and Ethan Braaksma were fourth and fifth.  Rust, who started eight, repeated his win from last week, and his sixth over all at Marshalltown this season.

New drivers continue to travel to our local tracks.  Last night, in the Modified class, Cody Schroeder, Wisconsin, Dustin Kroening, Illinois, and two Alberta, Canada racers, Trent Guest and Danny Meier came to play.  Josh Most, the driver from Red Oak, Iowa, who will hop into any class of car, was piloting what was assumed to be Tommy Hensley's Modified as it was a look alike to his SportMod. In the Stock Car class, Derrick Agee made the haul up from Hunstville, Missouri to tackle the high banks and Eric Hamilton is racing around the area in the Stock Car class and is from Hanford, California. 

It was noted that there were many top twelve IMCA National point drivers in the house last night as well.  In the SportMod class, the current point leader Cody Thompson from Sioux City was on hand.  Also in the top points are Chase Rudolf, Jake McBirnie, Hunter Longnecker, and Tony Olson. In the Modified class, Joel Rust is fourth in point standings, and Tim Ward is ninth.  Jay Schmidt is shown as ninth in points in the Stock Car class, and Damon Murty is eleventh.  The Hobby Stocks also have national point contenders in Leah Wroten in fifth, and Kaden Reynolds in eighth.  These standing were all as of August 16.  All those top notch drivers at a little track in the middle of Iowa on a Friday night.   

Next Friday, August 23 is Larry Wollam Season Championship night already.  The racing season is beginning to wind down!  Get out and find a race to attend to support what we love....dirt track racing!

Ward is repeat Modified winner at Boone, Sport Compacts tune up for Super Nationals

The pits were packed with 172 cars Saturday on Elmquist Towing night at the Boone Speedway.  Add to that the 14 Cruiser cars, which do not run for track points, and the count swelled to 186!  They were however, competing for the coveted Tag Team trophy belts. The team of Donny Mason and Carl Agan continued their win streak, taking home the win and the belts.

The IMCA Sport Compacts ran on Saturday night for the first time this year, getting tuned up for their upcoming run at the 37th Annual Super Nationals.  They ran a 15-lap feature that saw Kaytee DeVries lead the field to green.  She kept her ride at the point until lap eight when Mitchell Bunch made the pass into the lead.  He would then keep it there the remaining distance to the checkers and secured the win.  DeVries held the runner up spot, Devin Jones, a former Super Nationals champion in the Sport Compact division, was third, Riley Paysen was fourth and Jay DeVries, husband of runner up Kaytee DeVries, completed the top five.

The My Race Pass Mod Lites came to the track next for their 15-laps of feature racing.  An initial incident caused the start to be called back, but then the race went green to checkers with Jeff Stensand leading from start to finish to take the win.  His son Travis Stensland chased his dad the full fifteen laps and finished in second place.  Terry Brown took third, Mike Kennedy was fourth, and Bryan Zehm finished fifth.  This was Jeff Stensland's third trip to victory lane at Boone this year. The Stensland's had a good weekend of racing, as son Travis had just won the previous night at the Marshalltown Speedway, and dad Jeff took second.

Jake McBirnie took advantage of a restart situation after a caution at lap seven in the Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods, and passed both leader Dusty Masolini and Johnathon Logue by the time lap eight was scored.  He pulled away in the closing laps and scored the comfortable win.  Johnathon Logue trailed the leader to score second place, third went to Cory Pestotnik, Doug Smith came from eleventh starting spot to finish fourth, and early leader Dusty Masolini was fifth.  This was McBirnie's sixth feature win at the speedway in 2019.

The Elmquist Towing Dash for Cash for the IMCA Northern SportMods went to Bedford, Iowa racer Tommy Hensley. The eight drivers who finished fourth and fifth in the heats got the chance to run for the $100 pay off.

The Snap-on Tools IMCA Modifieds ran a 20-lap feature next.  Austin Kuehl, the Cave Creek, Arizona racer who has been spending time this summer on the Iowa dirt tracks, grabbed the immediate lead from his outside front row starting spot.  Kuehl had big time company chasing him with Jimmy Gustin, Jeremy Mills, and Tim Ward hot on his heels.  Tim Ward decided that the topside looked good to him, and he set sail on the rim of the track.  He made it pay off flying into the lead on lap thirteen....never to look back.  He motored off to a comfortable win ahead of second place finisher Jimmy Gustin.  Jeremy Mills was third, fourth went to Austin Kuehl, and Joel Rust rounded out the top five.  Ward scored his second feature win of the year.

The Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Cars, the "Class too Tough to Tame", saw Tyler Pickett pick up his first feature win of the year.  Pickett started fourth, grabbed the lead away from Jesse Smith at lap five, and held it to the flying checkers.  Bryan Snell challenged the leader several times, but had to be content with the runner up position.  Devin Smith took third place, Todd Reitzler started twelfth and finished fourth, and early leader Jesse Smith was fifth.

Another driver found his way to the winner's circle for the first time, when Ackley, Iowa's William Klosterman snagged his first win in the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lap A main.  Klosterman led all the but the opening lap on his way to victory.  Curt Reed took runner up honors, Shaun Wirtz, last week's winner was third, Eric Knutson was fourth and Aaron Rudolph came from tenth starting spot, to finish fifth.

Seven states were represented last night, with racers from Arizona, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, as well as Iowa.  The Flying Hall Brothers were among those in attendance, tuning up for the Super Nationals.

Jeremy Mills, in his bright orange hot rod was running in the Modified class.  Mills is stuck on 99 IMCA wins, and though he has been close several times, that record breaking number 100 keeps eluding him.

We had a short delay for a rain shower during the final Stock Car heat, maybe a 15 minute break while the John Deere's re-packed the track.  From then on, it was non-stop racing....no more farming, no intermission, and no on track winner's interviews.  Much appreciated by the fans.

Bruening claims "Dirty 30" Late Model victory, checkers also to Rust, Schmidt, Olson, Reynolds and Stensland

The IMCA Late Models returned to the high banks of the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday evening for the running of the Kevin Sharp Shooter Miller Lite "Dirty 30".  When the dust had settled and the final checkers flew, it was Tyler Bruening taking home the $1,500.  Other winners on the night were Joel Rust, in the IMCA Modifieds, Jay Schmidt was the winner in the IMCA Stock Cars, Tony Olson won a hard fought battle to snag the IMCA Northern SportMod feature win, Kayden Reynolds went home the victor in the IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Travis Stensland out ran his father to capture the Mod Lite feature. It was also a bit of a throw back night too, as the former "voice of the Marshalltown Speedway", Denny Grabenbauer was the man behind the mic.

Feature racing kicked off with the 15-lap Mod Lite main event.  Jeff Stensland quickly moved from his seventh starting position to snag the lead away from Charlie Brown, taking command on lap three.  Travis Stensland then tagged on to his dad's bumper and the chase was on.  The father/son duo ran in that order lap after lap, often side by side down the backstretch, until lap twelve when Travis Stensland made his persistence pay off, and took over the top spot.  He held off his dad the final three laps to take the checkers, Jeff Stensland having to settle for the runner up spot.  Mike Morrill came from tenth starting spot to finish in third, fourth went to Randy Bryan, and Joel Huggins rounded out the top five.  This marked Travis Stensland first trip to victory lane at Marshalltown this season.

Kayden Reynolds put it in the winner's circle for the second time by winning the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Reynolds has had a string of bad luck this year, having his car damaged in incidents at the track, but it appears he is back at top form again.  Reynolds came from eighth starting position and had the lead by lap two.  Ninth place starter, Leah Wroten, the last two week's winner, followed the leader through the field to give Reynolds a run for his money, but had to be content with second place.  Jamie Coady and Ray Fees went third and fourth respectively, and hard charger of the race was Jacob Floyd who had a top five finish after starting in fifteenth place.

It was an epic battle between cousins for much of the 18-lap IMCA Northern SportMod A main.  Kyle Olson held the top spot with Tony Olson giving chase.  The #T23 of Tony Olson made the pass to take over at lap six, with Austin Schrage joining in the battle for a top spot. As the laps wore down, Tony Olson continued to lead with Schrage settling into the number two spot, content to let Kyle Olson and Cory VanZante duke it out for third and fourth.  When the checkers flew, it was Tony Olson claiming the win and Austin Schrage was the runner up. Travis Peterson made a last lap surge after a green-white-checkered to finish third in the dash to the finish line, with Cory VanZante taking fourth over Kyle Olson in fifth.  Tony Olson scored his first win at the speedway for 2019.

It was another first time winner in the 2019 season with Jay Schmidt capturing the win in the "Class too Tough to Tame", the IMCA Stock Cars in a race that went green to checkered.  Schmidt started sixth, and quickly caught then leader Jared Daggett.  The two drivers then went to battle as Schmidt took peeks under the leader lap after lap, looking for a way around.  Then just after lap fifteen had been scored, Schmidt made it work, making the pass in turn two to take over the top spot.  He kept hold of that lead the rest of the way to the checkers and the win.  Dave Atcher finished as the runner up, Steve Meyer came from tenth to finish third, Scott Rice and Todd Reitzler completed the top five.  Daggett suffered mechanical issues in the final lap and dropped out. Schmidt said in his post race interview that he was ready to "load it up" after his heat race, but with the help of his crew and fellow racers, they got it race ready.  Ya gotta love racing camaraderie!

Joel Rust took his ride from the eight starting spot and into the lead in just four laps.  He never relinquished it the remaining distance to the checkers, taking the win in the IMCA Modified 20-lap main event.  Hot shoe Todd Shute made a guest appearance at the track and finished as the runner up.  Point leader Tim Ward came from tenth starting position, and finished third, Sam Wieben was fourth and D.J. Shannon from Merced, California rounded out the top five.

The featured event of the evening put a night cap on the racing with the running of the IMCA Late Model 30 lap Miller "Dirty 30". Darin Duffy, piloting the usual ride of Jeff Aikey, led the cars to the green flag.  Tyler Bruening was soon on the hustle, moving his hot rod from eighth place to fall in behind leader Duffy.

 At the halfway mark of the race, Bruening was leading, holding John Emerson at bay, then the two began swapping the top spot back and forth. Then the nemesis...in this case, a tire in turn one, got the best of John Emerson, and sent him for a tumble.  The race was red flagged but thankfully Emerson was okay.  When the race returned to green, Bruening was holding down the top spot which he held the final circuits to the checkers and the win.  Hometown favorite, Darrel DeFrance finished in second place, Curtis Glover was third, fourth went to tenth place starter Jeremiah Hurst, the 2019 track champion, and Darin Duffy was fifth.

There were racers in attendance from across the country last night, with the states of Arizona, California, Missouri, and Wisconsin as well as Iowa, trying their hand at the High Banks.  Out of state racers seem to flock to our state to test and tune, and with so many race tracks to choose from, we often get to see a diversified gathering of racers from parts beyond our borders. 

Next Friday, August 16 will be a $1,000 to win for the IMCA Northern SportMods on Speed Shift TV Night.  The XL600s have also been added to the show.

Get to a track and help support dirt track racing!

   

Busy night at Boone Speedway on Super Saturday, TiLUBE Challenge and Watermelon Classic Night

It was a Super Saturday at the Boone Speedway for sure as there was a lot going on.  Super Saturday found the IMCA Modifieds as the highlighted class of the evening, going for $1,000 to win their feature. They were also vying for a chance at the TiLUBE Challenge paying another $1,000 to the winner, plus a second chance race paying $500.  The IMCA Northern SportMods had a chance at $750 for a lucky draw finishing position, and the IMCA Stock Cars were sponsored for a $400 pay day.  As an added attraction, the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks were also in town.  To top it off, all heat winners were awarded the infamous watermelon, on Watermelon Classic night that saw 160 cars pack the pits!

Feature racing started with the My Race Pass Mod Lite 15-lap A main.  This one saw Bryan Zehm lead the entire distance to capture the win.  Joel Huggins claimed the runner up position, third went to Randy Bryan, Mike Kennedy came from the tenth starting spot to finish fourth, and Terry Brown was fifth.  This was Zehm's third win at the track this season.

The Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods came next for their 18-lap feature.  Cory Pestotnik claimed the early lead but had it wrestled away by Johnathon Logue on lap thirteen.  Logue held off the competition the rest of the way to the checkers and claimed the win.  Cory Pestotnik finished second, followed by Jake McBirnie in third, Dusty Masolini in fourth, and Dustin Lynch rounded out the top five.  Logue claimed his second feature win of the season at Boone, and was fresh off of a win the night before at Marshalltown. Dusty Masolini was the lucky recipient of the $750 mystery position.

The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks made their second appearance of the year with nine in competition.  They ran a 20-lap A main that saw Myles Michehl lead from the drop of the green to the checkered flag.  Bill Davis, Jr. closed in on the leader, took some peeks low, but could do no better than finish second.  Jeff Frevert, Shawn Mapes, and Lou Sipolt completed the top five.

The IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Stock Cars saw Brandon Pruitt take advantage of his outside front row starting position, grabbing the lead immediately, and soon cars were going three and four wide in the corners.  Pruitt was able to hold off some heavy competition, maintaining that top spot all the way to the flying checkers.  David Smith started sixth, and chased the leader the entire race, but had to be content with the runner up spot.  Third went to seventh place starter Jeff Mueller, longtime racer Robert Stofer, "the living legend", was fourth, and Bryan Snell drove his hot rod from twelfth starting spot, to finish fifth.

The Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stocks ran 15-laps and it was Shaun Wirtz standing in victory lane at the conclusion.  Wirtz caught early leader, Bryant Johnson from Graettinger, Iowa, by setting sail on the top of the track, taking over the number one spot with five laps down. A yellow flew at lap twelve that halted action for some time when Daniel Smith and Miciah Hidlebaugh collided at the bottom of turns three and four, causing a fuel spill that had to be burned off, producing a big old bonfire!   Then just one lap later, the race was red flagged when rookie driver Braden Richards, son of veteran racer Rod Richards, took a scary ride, ending up in the catch fence just past the flagstand.  He was okay, as was flagman Wes White, who had to make a hasty retreat off of his flagging perch.  When the race resumed, Wirtz was able to maintain his lead the final circuits to take the flying checkers and the win.  Bryant Johnson held second place, third was Cherokee, Iowa's James Johnson, and Eric Knutson held off Matt McDonald as they went fourth and fifth respectively.  Wirtz bounced back after rolling his car last Saturday night, and claimed his second trip to the winner's circle this year.

The Snap-on Tools IMCA Modifieds took center stage with three main events on tap.  They ran their usual 20-lap feature which paid $1,000 on Super Saturday.  Cody Laney, Torrance, California driver who likes to spend time back in our neck of the woods during the summer, would collect the money in this feature, leading all laps and winning going away. Another Californian, Ethan Dotson takes a liking to Iowa in the summer as well, and drove his ride from sixth starting spot to finish second.  Thor Anderson ran at the front of the field all race, and finished third, fourth went to Randy Havlik, and Jeff Aikey finished fifth.  This marked Laney's first win at the track for 2019.

Earlier, all Modified drivers ran time trials, with the top twelve qualifying for the TiLUBE $1,000 to win feature. Cody Laney had quick time over all.  The next twelve in times went to a 2nd Chance Showdown.  The 2nd Chance race was 15-laps and went to Richie Gustin.  Gustin overtook early leader Cory Wray and never relinquished the lead on his way to the $500 check.  Wray held the runner up spot, Kelly Shryock, Cody Bauman, and Tony Cox completed the top five.

It was a 3-wide start for the 15-lap TiLUBE Challenge. Ricky Thornton, Jr. took command on lap three, and never gave it up. Tim Ward came from fifth, to finish as the runner up, Cody Laney started on the pole and finished third, Thor Anderson started tenth, and finished fourth, and Jon Snyder took fifth, from starting eleventh.  Thornton took the $1,000 and an impressive trophy for the showcase.

It was a full house in the pits and a big crowd in the grandstands last evening. The extra pay, the fact that some tracks were not running last night, and the opportunity to get some laps in before the upcoming Super Nationals brought out the drivers! Nine states were represented in the Modified class alone with drivers from Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, California, Nevada, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota as well as Iowa. Forty-three Modifieds were in the house, thirty-seven Stock Cars, twenty-nine Northern SportMods, and thirty Hobby Stocks. It was also a beautiful night to be at the races weather wise, and despite it being a late night, races ending just a tick before midnight, few people headed out early.

Racing season is winding down. Get out and find a race to attend, and support the sport we all love....dirt track racing.

Lauritzen wins Modified night cap in a thriller!

The Marshalltown Speedway produced its usual great night of racing Friday, and if anyone left before the final race of the evening, they missed a jim-dandy! That Modified night cap of the evening came right down to the wire.

Feature racing kicked off with the Mod Lites and their 15-lap main event. Joel Huggins quickly worked his way to the front to lead early, but Joe Glick and Mike Morrill were hot on his heels. Morrill took to the topside and passed both Huggins and Glick with just a lap remaining and then sailed home to the checkers and the win. Glick took the runner up spot after starting eighth, Huggins came from ninth to finish third, and Jeff Stensland and Randy Bryan rounded out the top five. This was Morrill's fifth win at the speedway in 2019.

Leah Wroten repeated her win from last week in the IMCA Hobby Stocks. She nabbed the lead from Gary Pfantz after the two battled it out lap after lap. Wroten finally took command at lap 12 of the the 15-lap event and snagged herself the win. Pfantz was second, Bill Klosterman finished third, Jeremiah Andrews was fourth, and Jacob Floyd took fifth. Wroten, who started tenth on the starting grid, won for the fourth time this season.

The IMCA Northern SportMods saw several lead changes. It started with Jason Hall who took the point position as the race went green. Austin Schrage got in the hunt early on and tucked in to run in the second position until a dozen laps were in the books. That's when Schrage took over the top spot, with visions of his first win in his head. Meanwhile, Johnathon Logue had moved his new Rage hot rod from twelfth up to third....and wasn't done yet. A yellow at lap thirteen bunched the field. On the restart Logue made the pass into the runner up spot, and then with two laps remaining, snatched the lead on the backstretch. He would hold that top spot the final two laps to the flying checkers and his first win at the speedway this year. Tyler Soppe made the closing laps work for him, taking the runner up spot after starting eleventh. Schrage held the third spot, Travis Peterson was fourth, and last week's winner, Jenae Gustin was hard charger, coming from fifteenth, to finish fifth.

Damon Murty loves the topside of the high banks at Marshalltown, and after just a handful of laps, he was in command and gone, winning the 18-lap IMCA Stock Car feature for the second week in a row. He finished comfortably over Justin Temeyer who was piloting Shawn Ritter's ride for the night, and came from ninth starting spot, to take the runner up position. Steve Meyer sent his hot rod from thirteenth position to third, fourth went to Scott Rice, and pole sitter Mike Petersen from Montezuma, Iowa, rounded out the top five. This was Murty's third appearance in victory lane for the year.

The night cap was a thriller, as the final laps of the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature was up for grabs between three drivers. Point leader Tim Ward hustled his powerhouse from tenth starting spot and into the lead by lap seven, only to have Joel Rust and Ronn Laurtizen tag in behind. The rest of the race was a tight one! Rust got the upper hand with six laps left but it was still anyone's race between Rust, Lauritzen, and Ward as the final laps wound down. The enthusiastic crowd was on its feet those final circuits. Lauritzen gained the lead on lap eighteen, only to have Rust regain it on the white flag lap....but the race to the checkers found Lauritzen surging ahead to cross the finish line first. Rust was the runner up followed closely by Tim Ward in third. Cody Laney was fourth, and Ethan Dotson came from twelfth to finish fifth. This was Lauritzen's first feature win of the year.

The IMCA Late Models are done with their regular season, but they return next Friday night for the Miller 50 with the wide bodies taking to the high banks for 50 laps.

As this racing season begins to wind down...seems like it just got started...seek out a race to attend and support the sport we all love. It will be over before we know it.

Track Champions crowned at Southern Iowa Speedway

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. 

Donovan Smith takes Hawkeye Challenge, besting all other classes

It was a blast from the past on Saturday night at the Boone Speedway when the Hawkeye Challenge returned.  It was also the RaceSaver Sprint Season Championship, along with the other regular weekly classes in competition.

The Hawkeye Challenge pitted four drivers from each of the six classes taking to the track at one time.  This event was previously held from 1987-1993.  Each class point leader was locked into the feature, with the other three qualifying through a passing points system from their earlier heat races.  The over all winner went home $1,000 richer, and with a Snap-on Tools Tool Box/Grill combo.  Every other class winner took home $500.

The classes were aligned on the starting grid with Sprints, Modifieds, SportMods, Mod Lites, Stock Cars, and Hobby Stocks in that order. This was determined according to calculations through transponder timing and each class was given a certain number of laps to finish.  At the end of the race, it was Stock Car driver Donavon Smith winning the over all championship.  The other winners were Tim Ward in the Modifieds, Cam Reimers in the SportMods, Mike Houseman in the Sprints, John Watson in Hobby Stocks, and Mike Kennedy in the Mod Lites.  EDIT: After further review, the results changed and the over all winner was determined to be John Watson in the Hobby Stocks.  Donovan Smith was the Stock Car winner, Cam Reimers retained the SportMod win, as did Tim Ward in the Modifieds, Mike Houseman in Sprint, and Mike Kennedy in the Mod Lite.  

The IMCA RaceSaver Sprints closed out their season with their championship race and the crowning of the first of the 2019 track champions. This all played out with some strange circumstances in the 8 car feature race.

Point leader Mike Houseman, who was piloting his brother's car due to a major incident with his ride the night before at US 36 Raceway in Missouri, discovered he had issues with his rent a ride just before feature time. During the on track driver introductions, It looked bleak for him to be able to hold on for the title, and anticipated only making a few laps before heading to the pits. But...it's never over until it's over.  Fate stepped in, and Tyler Thompson, who was just six points behind in the chase for the track title, was involved in an incident just as the race began....sending him to the pits and out of the game! This was enough for Houseman to retain his point lead, and take the title of track champion for 2019.

The RaceSaver Sprint feature for the night went to a first time winner at the track, when Kade Higday, swept home to the checkers first.  He finished nearly a half a lap ahead of second place Joel Thorpe.  DJ Palmer, Ryan Navratil and Shadrach Sporaa rounded out the top five.

The Mod Lite feature saw Travis Stensland lead all 15 laps on his way to the winner's circle.  Terry Brown finished a distant second, Tanner Gannon was third, fourth went to visiting Pleasant Hill, Missouri racer Ed Griggs and Randy Bryan was fifth.

Jake McBirnie powered by early race leader Ronnie Hults on lap seven of the 18 lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature, finishing well ahead of runner up Dustin Lynch.  Hults took third, Cory Pestotnik started ninth, and finished fourth, and twelfth place starter Chris Burke was fifth.  McBirnie came from tenth starting spot, to capture his fifth feature of the year.

Joel Bushore and Jeremy Mills made contact at lap fifteen of the 20 lap IMCA Modified A main.  Bushore had his 6 cylinder wound up and had been leading when Mills finally got around him, and then a bit of a shoving match ensured.  This allowed third place runner Tim Ward to sweep around both and take command.  Bushore soon exited the track and was out of the running.  Ward then kept a tight hold on that top spot the rest of the way to the flying checkers, and scored his first victory at the track this season.  Jeremy Mills took second after starting eleventh, Joel Rust started next to Mills in the starting grid and finished third, Jimmy Gustin, who is in the points race for the track title was fourth, and Ronn Lauritzen started fifteenth and finished fifth. Tim Ward will be spending some time soon at Eldora Speedway as he has a Nascar Gander Truck ride coming up on August 1.    

Josh Daniels was dominate in taking the win in the IMCA Stock Cars.  He finished comfortably ahead of runner up Jeff Mueller.  Scott Davis came from starting tenth to finish third, Troy Jerovetz was in the hunt most of the race and finished in fourth place, and David Smith rounded out the top five.  Daniels won for the third time at the speedway this season.

The IMCA Hobby Stock feature did not start well as veteran racer Shaun Wirtz got tangled up in a situation which sent him rolling before even one lap was scored. Thankfully, he was okay, his ride, not so much. When racing got underway, Eric Knutson took the immediate lead, soon to have John Watson relentlessly pestering him for a way around.  Watson's persistence paid off on lap ten of the 15 lap event when he took over.  Knutson wasn't done however, as he surged back ahead in the closing moments to seal his trip to victory lane.  Watson had to be content with second place, Jack Phillips was third, Greg Sidles from Fairmont, Minnesota made the trip down and scored a fourth place finish, and fourteen year old Mike Smith was fifth.

The two-person Cruisers cars once again had the #00 car winning with the duo of Donny Mason and Carl Agan.

It was really interesting to see the six different classes of race cars running at one time on the track.  Many thought it might mean disaster for the little Mod Lites out on the track with the big horse-powered Sprints and Modifieds, but that wasn't the case, as they more than held their own.  Thank goodness for transponder, plus six separate hand scorers (one for each class) keeping track last night for the Hawkeye Challenge.  It was a sight to see and the fans got their money's worth.  

Next Saturday, August 3 will be the Watermelon Classic Triple Crown night at the races.  It's $2,500 to win for the IMCA Modifieds, $1,000 to win the TiLUBE Challenge, and each heat winner from all classes will be running for that infamous Boone Speedway watermelon award!  

Lots of racing left out there.  Find a race to attend and support dirt track racing!