It was another Saturday Night Series of weekly points racing at the Boone Speedway, and a beautiful night to be setting at a racetrack.
Two drivers, Troy Jerovetz in the Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Cars, and Eric Knutson in the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stocks made it two in a row, repeating their wins from last week. Jimmy Gustin, defending track champion saw victory lane for the first time this season, when he won the Snap-On-Tools IMCA Modified feature. Austin Kaplan won the Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMod feature, after what he said was a long drought, and Mike Kennedy earned his second win of the year in the My Race Pass Mod Lites, as did the tag team of Don Mason and Mike Agan in the Cruiser Cars....different car, but same results.
Mike Kennedy ran down early leader Tanner Gannon in the Mod Lite 15-lap feature. He took command just after a handful of laps were in the books....and never looked back on his way to victory in the caution free race. Gannon finished as the runner up Charlie Brown was third, Randy Bryan took fourth and Ben George was fifth. Kennedy also won on opening night.
Up next was the 18-lap IMCA Northern SportMod main event. This one would finish under the green-white-checkered with Austin Kaplan holding off Daniel Tasler to take the win. Early leader Dustin Lynch finished third, fourth went to Cam Reimers, and eleventh place starter Johnathon Logue finished a close fifth at the checkers. Kaplan said in his victory lane interview that it was his first visit to the winner's circle in thirteen years.
Jimmy Gustin led all 20-laps of the IMCA Modified feature to visit the winner's circle for the first time at the speedway in 2020. Paul Nagle chased Gustin much of the way and at one time, peeked his nose underneath the leader. That was the wrong thing to do! Gustin was having none of that and shot off. Gustin would then go on to secure the win. Heavy lap traffic late in race saw Nick Meyer take the runner up position, Tim Ward came from twelfth to take third, fourth went to Paul Nagle, and rookie to the class Jake McBirnie took fifth, after starting thirteenth.
Jeff Mueller got the early race lead in the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap A main. He was quickly tailed by last week's winner Troy Jerovetz and then the race was on between the two. Mueller held on to that top spot until the final lap when Jerovetz was able to take the low road, grab the lead, and hang on to the flying checkers. Jeff Mueller held on to keep the runner up spot. Then came three Smith brothers, David in third from starting sixteenth, Devin in fourth from eleventh, and Donavon came from fifteenth to round out the top five. Jerovetz matched his win from last week.
Hobby Stock winner Eric Knutson also matched his win from last week in taking the checkers first. Aaron Rudolph gave it his all as the two raced to the finish line, but fell just short and had to be content with a second place finish. Dylan Nelson took third after starting tenth, Solomon Bennett came from eleventh to finish fourth, and Shaun Wirtz completed the top five. Knutson came from twelfth starting spot, to make back-to-back visits to victory lane.
Next Saturday will be the first Super Saturday of the season, with $1,000 to win for the IMCA Modifieds, and $750 for the Northern SportMods, along with all other regular classes in competition. Grandstands open at 4, hot laps at 5, and racing at 6. Those times hold true until after July 4. That show will not have Hobby Stocks, but a couple of fun events are being thrown in to excite the Independence Day Crowd....a roll over contest and leap of death. Stay tuned for more on that date to come.
Get out and support a racetrack near you. Keep the sport we all love, alive and well!
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Fans in the stands watch Agee take Stock Car win at the Big Old Half-Mile
Finally....fans returned to the stands at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. After the first two races of the season had no fans, it was great to see a nice crowd on hand for opening night in the grandstand.
It was Bill and Ray's Truck Repair Night at the races, with kids 15 and under getting a free night. Youngsters were also treated to some pre-race rides around the track in a race car.
Johnathan Hughes scored his third in a row, keeping his season perfect so far at the Monster Half-Mile in the Non-Wing Sprints. Hughes took command at lap four after passing Doug Sylvester, and from there on never looked back. He finished a good distance ahead of Sylvester in second. Another good distance behind was Kelly Graham in third. Garrett Alexander and Tyler Graves rounded out the top five. After taking the checkered flag, Tyler Graves took a high tumble going into turn one, but thankfully, he was not hurt.
Nathan Chandler handled the field of Sport Compacts, wining the 10-lap feature with little trouble. He led all laps on his way to the checkers. The fight for the runner up spot was determined at the flagstand, when Billy Cain just sneaked by Nebraska visitor Denny Bergahan, Jr., as they finished second and third respectively. Nathan Moody and Tyler Haring completed the top five.
Young rookie in the SportMod class, Maguire DeJong flashed to the lead immediately in the 16-lap feature, only to find himself in spin mode just after lap one was in the books. This handed the lead over to Scott Brau for the restart, but not for long. By lap two, defending track champion Blaine Webster was in command. That lead also didn't last long, as veteran racer Curtis VanDerWal was coming with a head of steam, and took over at lap four. VanDerWal, who had started sixth, would then pull away and put another notch in his winner's belt. Blaine Webster trailed a distant second. Scott Brau took third, fourth went to Jarrett VanDenBerg, (who was piloting the 7V) and Colton Livezey was fifth.
Dustin Griffiths had the pole position for the start of the 14-lap Hobby Stock feature, and found the dry slick track to his liking. Only one caution flew, that coming at lap four when Jaydn Stevens brought out the yellow, but it was of no issue for Griffiths on the restart as he pulled away from the field. Griffiths scored his first win of the year at the track. Aaron Martin ran second the entire race to finish as the runner up. Third went to Brad Stephens, Rick VanDusseldorp was fourth and Jesse Williams was fifth.
The Stock Cars were the best race of the evening, with clusters of cars vying at times for position. Early leader Jason McDaniel and Scott Dickey went at it, racing side-by-side down the backstretch and then Nathan Wood joining in to make it three-wide. Wood took over the top spot on lap five and seemed to be sailing along nicely in his Cadillac race car, when appearing quickly on his bumper was Derrick Agee, the driver from Moberly, Missoui who makes the haul up to Osky to run weekly. It didn't take long for Agee to dive under Wood, and take the lead. Wood hung close by the rest of the laps, giving it a last lap shot, but had to be content with second on this night. Jason McDaniel was scored third, fourth went to Scott Dickey, and Andrew Schroeder was fifth. It's appearing that Nathan Wood,"the Cadillac Kid", and Agee in his Terminator, may be putting up some good battles this year wherever they appear.
It was great to be back in the grandstand at Osky for our traditional Wednesday night race fix as it has been for many, many years. It was also great to see a nice crowd on hand as well as hearing the winning drivers say how great it was to be racing before the fans again. We have heard that at every race track we've been to this year, and good to know how much it means to the drivers.
Get out and find a race to attend in support of the sport we all love.....dirt track racing!
It was Bill and Ray's Truck Repair Night at the races, with kids 15 and under getting a free night. Youngsters were also treated to some pre-race rides around the track in a race car.
Johnathan Hughes scored his third in a row, keeping his season perfect so far at the Monster Half-Mile in the Non-Wing Sprints. Hughes took command at lap four after passing Doug Sylvester, and from there on never looked back. He finished a good distance ahead of Sylvester in second. Another good distance behind was Kelly Graham in third. Garrett Alexander and Tyler Graves rounded out the top five. After taking the checkered flag, Tyler Graves took a high tumble going into turn one, but thankfully, he was not hurt.
Nathan Chandler handled the field of Sport Compacts, wining the 10-lap feature with little trouble. He led all laps on his way to the checkers. The fight for the runner up spot was determined at the flagstand, when Billy Cain just sneaked by Nebraska visitor Denny Bergahan, Jr., as they finished second and third respectively. Nathan Moody and Tyler Haring completed the top five.
Young rookie in the SportMod class, Maguire DeJong flashed to the lead immediately in the 16-lap feature, only to find himself in spin mode just after lap one was in the books. This handed the lead over to Scott Brau for the restart, but not for long. By lap two, defending track champion Blaine Webster was in command. That lead also didn't last long, as veteran racer Curtis VanDerWal was coming with a head of steam, and took over at lap four. VanDerWal, who had started sixth, would then pull away and put another notch in his winner's belt. Blaine Webster trailed a distant second. Scott Brau took third, fourth went to Jarrett VanDenBerg, (who was piloting the 7V) and Colton Livezey was fifth.
Dustin Griffiths had the pole position for the start of the 14-lap Hobby Stock feature, and found the dry slick track to his liking. Only one caution flew, that coming at lap four when Jaydn Stevens brought out the yellow, but it was of no issue for Griffiths on the restart as he pulled away from the field. Griffiths scored his first win of the year at the track. Aaron Martin ran second the entire race to finish as the runner up. Third went to Brad Stephens, Rick VanDusseldorp was fourth and Jesse Williams was fifth.
The Stock Cars were the best race of the evening, with clusters of cars vying at times for position. Early leader Jason McDaniel and Scott Dickey went at it, racing side-by-side down the backstretch and then Nathan Wood joining in to make it three-wide. Wood took over the top spot on lap five and seemed to be sailing along nicely in his Cadillac race car, when appearing quickly on his bumper was Derrick Agee, the driver from Moberly, Missoui who makes the haul up to Osky to run weekly. It didn't take long for Agee to dive under Wood, and take the lead. Wood hung close by the rest of the laps, giving it a last lap shot, but had to be content with second on this night. Jason McDaniel was scored third, fourth went to Scott Dickey, and Andrew Schroeder was fifth. It's appearing that Nathan Wood,"the Cadillac Kid", and Agee in his Terminator, may be putting up some good battles this year wherever they appear.
It was great to be back in the grandstand at Osky for our traditional Wednesday night race fix as it has been for many, many years. It was also great to see a nice crowd on hand as well as hearing the winning drivers say how great it was to be racing before the fans again. We have heard that at every race track we've been to this year, and good to know how much it means to the drivers.
Get out and find a race to attend in support of the sport we all love.....dirt track racing!
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Thornton keeps dominating, Smith goes back-to-back
Race cars were not the first to hit the track at Boone Speedway on Saturday night. It was the Boone High School Class of 2020 that got to parade down the frontstretch and take the checkered flag first. Such a cool way to celebrate and salute the students in this unprecedented year.
After the recognition of those students, regular racing began and it was Doug Smith winning for the second week in a row in the IMCA Elmquist Towing Northern SportMods. Ricky Thornton, Jr. won the IMCA Snap-On-Tools Modified feature, and Troy Jerovetz won the IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Stock Car main event in convincing fashion. It was Eric Knutson hard charging to the front to take the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock checkers, and Bryan Zehm flashed across the finish line first to take the win in the My Race Pass Mod Lites. There was a new winning combination in the two-person cruisers, with the team of Dale Jones, and Bobby Smith taking home the trophy.
Mike Kennedy, known as "Bus Man" due to his duties with the school bus program and who earlier, had driven a Boone Community School District bus down the frontstretch in honor of the Class of 2020, was the early leader in the Mod Lite 15-lap feature. Bryan Zehm was on the hunt however, and by lap six was the new leader. Kennedy would hang close until the final laps when Zehm pulled away to take the comfortable win, Kennedy having to be content with the runner up position. Randy Bryan took third, Jon Braathun was fourth, and Joe Glick rounded out the top five. Zehm came from ninth starting spot, to take the checkers.
Up next was 18-laps of IMCA Northern SportMod racing. Curtis Veber looked to be on his way to capturing the checkers until a caution at lap eleven tightened the field on the restart. By this time, it was Colton Nelson in the runner up position, and Doug Smith now running third. This was just what Smith was hoping for, as on the restart, he flew to the lead, and from there on, never looked back. Veber took second place, third going to Colton Nelson, Daniel Taser was fourth, and Johnathon Logue finished fifth. Smith, who started eleventh, won for the second week in a row, and his third of the year at the speedway. He's been having a very successful season, taking wins at multiple shows at other tracks as well.
Ricky Thornton, Jr. showed once again just why he has been so successful behind the wheel of a race car. RT started twelfth in the 20-lap A Main for the IMCA Modifieds, and put another notch in his belt when he took the checkers. He caught early leader Thor Anderson with eight laps in the books, and then the two exchanged sliders before Thornton establishing the top spot for good on lap eleven. He would stay in charge the remainder of the race and finish nearly a straight away ahead of second place Anderson. Nick Roberts tried the high line, and the low line in his quest to catch the leaders, but had to settle for third. Fourth went to Tim Ward who started eleventh, and veteran Russ Dickerson finished fifth.
Thornton also won the King of the Hill held earlier in the evening. He topped all other fifteen cars that competed in the contest. They included eight drivers that had already been locked into the show by virtue of being top in points in attendance for the year. The other eight were the top finishers of their heats. The final go around pitted Thornton, Tim Ward, Paul Nagel, and Cory Sauerman, with Thornton taking the victory to set atop the hill.
Thornton has been on a roll this year, having already won seventeen various races scattered around the country. He snagged a World of Outlaw Late Model race last month at the Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minnesota, taking the $20,000 to win race, and leaving spectators as well as fellow race drivers with their mouth agape.
Troy Jerovetz took command at lap four of the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature, and dominated from there to the checkers. He finished well ahead of second place Kyle Everts. Scott Davis had a good run coming from eleventh starting spot to finish third. Donavon Smith, last week's winner, searched high and low to find the best line but could only get to fourth place this night. Pole sitter Ben Walding completed the top five.
Capping off the night's racing was the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. This one came right down to the wire with Eric Knutson getting past Bryant Johnson in the closing laps to capture the win. Following second place Johnson was Daniel Smith in third, Curt Reed took fourth, and Jeremiah Andrews was fifth. Knutson hard charged from eighteenth starting spot to take his first victory of the season.
Racing continues next Saturday night, June 20 with pits opening at 3:30, grandstands at 4, hot laps at 5, and the green flag drops at 6.
After the recognition of those students, regular racing began and it was Doug Smith winning for the second week in a row in the IMCA Elmquist Towing Northern SportMods. Ricky Thornton, Jr. won the IMCA Snap-On-Tools Modified feature, and Troy Jerovetz won the IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Stock Car main event in convincing fashion. It was Eric Knutson hard charging to the front to take the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock checkers, and Bryan Zehm flashed across the finish line first to take the win in the My Race Pass Mod Lites. There was a new winning combination in the two-person cruisers, with the team of Dale Jones, and Bobby Smith taking home the trophy.
Mike Kennedy, known as "Bus Man" due to his duties with the school bus program and who earlier, had driven a Boone Community School District bus down the frontstretch in honor of the Class of 2020, was the early leader in the Mod Lite 15-lap feature. Bryan Zehm was on the hunt however, and by lap six was the new leader. Kennedy would hang close until the final laps when Zehm pulled away to take the comfortable win, Kennedy having to be content with the runner up position. Randy Bryan took third, Jon Braathun was fourth, and Joe Glick rounded out the top five. Zehm came from ninth starting spot, to take the checkers.
Up next was 18-laps of IMCA Northern SportMod racing. Curtis Veber looked to be on his way to capturing the checkers until a caution at lap eleven tightened the field on the restart. By this time, it was Colton Nelson in the runner up position, and Doug Smith now running third. This was just what Smith was hoping for, as on the restart, he flew to the lead, and from there on, never looked back. Veber took second place, third going to Colton Nelson, Daniel Taser was fourth, and Johnathon Logue finished fifth. Smith, who started eleventh, won for the second week in a row, and his third of the year at the speedway. He's been having a very successful season, taking wins at multiple shows at other tracks as well.
Ricky Thornton, Jr. showed once again just why he has been so successful behind the wheel of a race car. RT started twelfth in the 20-lap A Main for the IMCA Modifieds, and put another notch in his belt when he took the checkers. He caught early leader Thor Anderson with eight laps in the books, and then the two exchanged sliders before Thornton establishing the top spot for good on lap eleven. He would stay in charge the remainder of the race and finish nearly a straight away ahead of second place Anderson. Nick Roberts tried the high line, and the low line in his quest to catch the leaders, but had to settle for third. Fourth went to Tim Ward who started eleventh, and veteran Russ Dickerson finished fifth.
Thornton also won the King of the Hill held earlier in the evening. He topped all other fifteen cars that competed in the contest. They included eight drivers that had already been locked into the show by virtue of being top in points in attendance for the year. The other eight were the top finishers of their heats. The final go around pitted Thornton, Tim Ward, Paul Nagel, and Cory Sauerman, with Thornton taking the victory to set atop the hill.
Thornton has been on a roll this year, having already won seventeen various races scattered around the country. He snagged a World of Outlaw Late Model race last month at the Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minnesota, taking the $20,000 to win race, and leaving spectators as well as fellow race drivers with their mouth agape.
Troy Jerovetz took command at lap four of the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature, and dominated from there to the checkers. He finished well ahead of second place Kyle Everts. Scott Davis had a good run coming from eleventh starting spot to finish third. Donavon Smith, last week's winner, searched high and low to find the best line but could only get to fourth place this night. Pole sitter Ben Walding completed the top five.
Capping off the night's racing was the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. This one came right down to the wire with Eric Knutson getting past Bryant Johnson in the closing laps to capture the win. Following second place Johnson was Daniel Smith in third, Curt Reed took fourth, and Jeremiah Andrews was fifth. Knutson hard charged from eighteenth starting spot to take his first victory of the season.
Racing continues next Saturday night, June 20 with pits opening at 3:30, grandstands at 4, hot laps at 5, and the green flag drops at 6.
Saturday, June 13, 2020
Sonner takes first career win, and then lights out
It was a beautiful Friday night for RBF Electric Night at the Marshalltown Speedway, but ironically, racing ended early with an electrical issue when the lights in turns three and four would not come on.
One feature, the Mod Lites did get completed but not without more than its share of woes.
That Mod Lite 15 lap feature saw several lead changes, with pole sitter Terry Brown leading lap one, but Mike Morrill taking command by lap two after starting eighth. Morrill continued to lead the troops with eight laps to go when a red flew when Ryan Mills took a tumble coming out of turn four. On the restart, second running Joel Huggins made the pass around Morrill to take over the top spot, only to have an incident the following lap take out both Huggins and Morrill....Morrill getting the worst end of the deal when he flipped over. Cory Sonner then inherited the lead for the restart. but Tanner Gannon was having none of that and shot to the point spot.....only to go spinning in corner two! Sonner would now keep it out in front the remainder of the race and take the checkers for his first career win. Ben George came from sixteenth starting spot to capture the runner up spot. Third went to tenth place starter Charlie Brown, Bryan Zehm came from twelfth to finish fourth, and Kaden Cochrun from Bakersfield, California completed the top five.
Winner Sonner is the grandson of the late Gil Sonner, owner of the ever popular #47 sprint car and who is enshrined in the Knoxville and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. His cars were piloted by many successful drivers including Danny Lasoski, Johnny Herrera, Jac Haudenschield, and Sammy Swindell to name a few.
At the conclusion of the Mod Lite feature, after two electricians...Mike O'Lear and the night's sponsor, Jeremiah Andrews, had desperately been trying to fix the lights between corners three and four, the races were called. Since no parts were available and for safety reasons it was called a night. Next Friday night, the racing will kick off immediately with the B feature for the IMCA Hobby Stocks, followed by makeup features in the IMCA Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Stock Cars, Modifieds, and Late Models. Then a full show for all classes will be run in its entirety. The green flag drops promptly at 7:30.
One feature, the Mod Lites did get completed but not without more than its share of woes.
That Mod Lite 15 lap feature saw several lead changes, with pole sitter Terry Brown leading lap one, but Mike Morrill taking command by lap two after starting eighth. Morrill continued to lead the troops with eight laps to go when a red flew when Ryan Mills took a tumble coming out of turn four. On the restart, second running Joel Huggins made the pass around Morrill to take over the top spot, only to have an incident the following lap take out both Huggins and Morrill....Morrill getting the worst end of the deal when he flipped over. Cory Sonner then inherited the lead for the restart. but Tanner Gannon was having none of that and shot to the point spot.....only to go spinning in corner two! Sonner would now keep it out in front the remainder of the race and take the checkers for his first career win. Ben George came from sixteenth starting spot to capture the runner up spot. Third went to tenth place starter Charlie Brown, Bryan Zehm came from twelfth to finish fourth, and Kaden Cochrun from Bakersfield, California completed the top five.
Winner Sonner is the grandson of the late Gil Sonner, owner of the ever popular #47 sprint car and who is enshrined in the Knoxville and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. His cars were piloted by many successful drivers including Danny Lasoski, Johnny Herrera, Jac Haudenschield, and Sammy Swindell to name a few.
At the conclusion of the Mod Lite feature, after two electricians...Mike O'Lear and the night's sponsor, Jeremiah Andrews, had desperately been trying to fix the lights between corners three and four, the races were called. Since no parts were available and for safety reasons it was called a night. Next Friday night, the racing will kick off immediately with the B feature for the IMCA Hobby Stocks, followed by makeup features in the IMCA Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Stock Cars, Modifieds, and Late Models. Then a full show for all classes will be run in its entirety. The green flag drops promptly at 7:30.
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Fans in the stands see two Smith's, two Brown's, and Hidlebaugh take wins at Boone
Fans were finally allowed back in the grandstands Saturday night at the Boone Speedway for the first time this season. Not only were the fans happy to be once again setting in the stands, but the drivers were happy to see them there as well! More than one winning driver expressed in Victory Lane just how much the fans being there meant to them.
Kyle Brown was impressive in taking the Snap-On Tools IMCA Modified victory. Two Smith brothers prevailed again this week, Donavon claiming the Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Car win, and Doug capturing the win in the Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMod class. Young Miciah Hidlebaugh went to Victory Lane when he took the checkers in the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock division, and Charlie Brown won the Mod Lite trophy. The Cruiser cars also ran for the first time this season. Five cars hit the track...one a house car, and it was the team of Donnie Mason and Michael Agan taking the checkers. They look to be picking up where they left off last year, winning nearly every week. You can't miss their light sticks on the trunk of their hot rod.
Charlie Brown took home his first trophy of the year in winning the Mod Lite 15-lap feature. Brown, who started tenth, had to run down Randy Bryan and Mike Kennedy who were out front through the halfway mark of the race. Brown was in third spot when a yellow flew at lap ten, and he was Johnny on the spot for the restart, slipping into the lead. He and Randy Bryan would then race side by side for several laps, drag racing down the frontstretch. However it was Brown maintaining that top spot to the checkers and the win. Bryan had to be satisfied with the runner up spot, Kennedy went third, Randy Zehm and Joel Huggins rounded out the top five.
Pole sitter Thomas Egenberger jumped to the immediate lead in the IMCA Northern SportMod contest. Egenberger was still leading when a caution flew at lap eleven. By the time lap twelve was scored, Doug Smith, who had restarted in twelfth position , was the new leader. Two more yellows would fly, but were of no hindrance to Smith as he motored off from the field to secure his second win of this early season. Cam Reimers took the runner up spot, third going to Egenberger. Austin Kaplan came from eleventh starting position to score a fourth place, and Colton Nelson was fifth. Smith was one of those drivers glad to see the fans in the stands, and expressed his thanks to them for being there. This was the third win within the week for Smith, having won Alta and Denison earlier.
Up next was the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature. This one saw Gatlin Leytham and Jimmy Gustin lead the field to green, but by corner one, sixth place starter Kyle Brown was already leading the race! From there on Brown showed total domination in securing his first win of the 2020 season. Joel Rust chased Brown across the finish line in second place, Tim Ward came from ninth starting spot to finish third, Russ Dickerson was scored in fourth, and rookie to the class, Jake McBirnie, was fifth. Brown was another of those drivers who said just how much seeing fans in the stands meant to him.
IMCA Stock Cars came next for their 20-lap A Main event. Pole sitter Kyle Everts looked to be on his way to a win as he held back the trio of Jeff Mueller, Devin Smith, and Donavon Smith who were busy vying for position behind him. Then Donavon Smith decided to try his hand at the top of the track, not usually where he runs, and made it pay off. He took the lead on lap sixteen and then sailed home the victor for the night. Everts kept the runner up spot, Devin Smith started eleventh and was third, Mueller finished fourth, and Tyler Pickett finished fifth. Winner Donavon Smith took his first win of the season after starting back in tenth starting spot.
Shaun Wirtz led the early portion of the IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lap feature. with seventh place starter Miciah Hidlebaugh giving chase. Hidlebaugh was able to get the upper hand on the backstretch, and had the lead when lap ten was scored. Hidlebaugh, the youngster out of Adel, was then able to hold the top spot the rest of the way to the checkers. Hard charging Eric Knutson came from fourteenth starting spot and tried his best to run down the leader, but had to settle for second. Early leader Shaun Wirtz was third, fourth went to Solomon Bennett who started eleventh, and Dylan Nelson, who had won the two previous weeks and was fighting an ill handing machine, was fifth. I believe this was Hidlebaugh's first win at Boone. He had a good early 2020 season when he traveled to Texas to run the Sniper Speed tour, getting a win under his belt there according to announcer Jerry Vansickel.
Racing continues next week with early start times. Pits open at 3:30, grandstands at 4, hot laps 5, and racing at 6. Those early starting times will continue through the month of June. Then in July, it will be grandstands at 5, hot laps at 6, and racing at 7. And yes, the IMCA Super Nationals are on as scheduled.
Kyle Brown was impressive in taking the Snap-On Tools IMCA Modified victory. Two Smith brothers prevailed again this week, Donavon claiming the Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Car win, and Doug capturing the win in the Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMod class. Young Miciah Hidlebaugh went to Victory Lane when he took the checkers in the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock division, and Charlie Brown won the Mod Lite trophy. The Cruiser cars also ran for the first time this season. Five cars hit the track...one a house car, and it was the team of Donnie Mason and Michael Agan taking the checkers. They look to be picking up where they left off last year, winning nearly every week. You can't miss their light sticks on the trunk of their hot rod.
Charlie Brown took home his first trophy of the year in winning the Mod Lite 15-lap feature. Brown, who started tenth, had to run down Randy Bryan and Mike Kennedy who were out front through the halfway mark of the race. Brown was in third spot when a yellow flew at lap ten, and he was Johnny on the spot for the restart, slipping into the lead. He and Randy Bryan would then race side by side for several laps, drag racing down the frontstretch. However it was Brown maintaining that top spot to the checkers and the win. Bryan had to be satisfied with the runner up spot, Kennedy went third, Randy Zehm and Joel Huggins rounded out the top five.
Pole sitter Thomas Egenberger jumped to the immediate lead in the IMCA Northern SportMod contest. Egenberger was still leading when a caution flew at lap eleven. By the time lap twelve was scored, Doug Smith, who had restarted in twelfth position , was the new leader. Two more yellows would fly, but were of no hindrance to Smith as he motored off from the field to secure his second win of this early season. Cam Reimers took the runner up spot, third going to Egenberger. Austin Kaplan came from eleventh starting position to score a fourth place, and Colton Nelson was fifth. Smith was one of those drivers glad to see the fans in the stands, and expressed his thanks to them for being there. This was the third win within the week for Smith, having won Alta and Denison earlier.
Up next was the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature. This one saw Gatlin Leytham and Jimmy Gustin lead the field to green, but by corner one, sixth place starter Kyle Brown was already leading the race! From there on Brown showed total domination in securing his first win of the 2020 season. Joel Rust chased Brown across the finish line in second place, Tim Ward came from ninth starting spot to finish third, Russ Dickerson was scored in fourth, and rookie to the class, Jake McBirnie, was fifth. Brown was another of those drivers who said just how much seeing fans in the stands meant to him.
IMCA Stock Cars came next for their 20-lap A Main event. Pole sitter Kyle Everts looked to be on his way to a win as he held back the trio of Jeff Mueller, Devin Smith, and Donavon Smith who were busy vying for position behind him. Then Donavon Smith decided to try his hand at the top of the track, not usually where he runs, and made it pay off. He took the lead on lap sixteen and then sailed home the victor for the night. Everts kept the runner up spot, Devin Smith started eleventh and was third, Mueller finished fourth, and Tyler Pickett finished fifth. Winner Donavon Smith took his first win of the season after starting back in tenth starting spot.
Shaun Wirtz led the early portion of the IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lap feature. with seventh place starter Miciah Hidlebaugh giving chase. Hidlebaugh was able to get the upper hand on the backstretch, and had the lead when lap ten was scored. Hidlebaugh, the youngster out of Adel, was then able to hold the top spot the rest of the way to the checkers. Hard charging Eric Knutson came from fourteenth starting spot and tried his best to run down the leader, but had to settle for second. Early leader Shaun Wirtz was third, fourth went to Solomon Bennett who started eleventh, and Dylan Nelson, who had won the two previous weeks and was fighting an ill handing machine, was fifth. I believe this was Hidlebaugh's first win at Boone. He had a good early 2020 season when he traveled to Texas to run the Sniper Speed tour, getting a win under his belt there according to announcer Jerry Vansickel.
Racing continues next week with early start times. Pits open at 3:30, grandstands at 4, hot laps 5, and racing at 6. Those early starting times will continue through the month of June. Then in July, it will be grandstands at 5, hot laps at 6, and racing at 7. And yes, the IMCA Super Nationals are on as scheduled.
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Meyer takes Stock Car season opener at Marshalltown
Marshalltown Speedway held its long awaited season opener and Oldtimer's Lounge Night on Friday, with 143 hungry race drivers on hand for some racing action. Not only were the drivers hungry for racing, but so were the fans who finally got to set in the stands and see the racing live.
Logan Duffy claimed the IMCA Late Model feature, and Tom Berry, Jr. snagged a win in the IMCA Modified division. It was Steve Meyer taking home the trophy in the Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars, Kaden Reynolds took the checkers in the IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Bryan Zehm won in the Mod Lites.
Logan Duffy claimed the IMCA Late Model feature, and Tom Berry, Jr. snagged a win in the IMCA Modified division. It was Steve Meyer taking home the trophy in the Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars, Kaden Reynolds took the checkers in the IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Bryan Zehm won in the Mod Lites.
Feature racing kicked off with the Mod Lites with twenty-three cars vying for the checkers. This one was quickly red flagged just after the first lap when Travis Messamer from Redfield took a tumble in corner four. Messamer was okay, and soon the field was back to green flag racing.
Bryan Zehm would take the early race lead and never look back on his way to that checkered flag. Joe Glick took the runner up spot, Charlie Brown came from thirteenth starting spot to take third place, Randy Bryan was fourth, and Jonathan Braathun rounded out the top five. After the lap one incident, the race went caution free.
Bryan Zehm would take the early race lead and never look back on his way to that checkered flag. Joe Glick took the runner up spot, Charlie Brown came from thirteenth starting spot to take third place, Randy Bryan was fourth, and Jonathan Braathun rounded out the top five. After the lap one incident, the race went caution free.
The IMCA Northern SportMods went eighteen laps for their main event with twenty-five entrants checked in. Austin Kaplan would lead all laps in the race that went flag to flag to take the checkers. He finished comfortably ahead of second place Brayton Carter. Johnathon Logue started tenth, and finished third, Jenae Gustin, sporting a new look and a new #44....her mom Judy Gustin's number back in her racing days, was fourth, and Maquire DeJong came home in fifth.
Up next was the fifteen lap IMCA Hobby Stock A feature. There were twenty-eight cars checked into the pits, and a B main was run. It was really not needed, as only six cars came out for the consy race, leaving just two cars that did not make the feature. Jeremiah Andrews won that.
Kaden Reynolds went home with the season opener win for the Hobby Stocks. Tom Killen finished a distant runner up. Solomon Bennett was third, Aaron Rudolph came from thirteenth starting spot to capture fourth place, and Dustin Filloon completed the top five. Early race leader Dylan Nelson was looking strong, but abruptly left the track and drove to the pits.
Kaden Reynolds went home with the season opener win for the Hobby Stocks. Tom Killen finished a distant runner up. Solomon Bennett was third, Aaron Rudolph came from thirteenth starting spot to capture fourth place, and Dustin Filloon completed the top five. Early race leader Dylan Nelson was looking strong, but abruptly left the track and drove to the pits.
The IMCA Stock Car twenty lap feature, with all twenty-seven cars starting, had a hard time getting the first lap in the books. When they found their rhythm and did get going, it was Damon Murty at the front of the field. Jeff Mueller was up to challenge quickly, and then the two swapped the top spot back and forth several times. Meanwhile, Steve Meyer had set his ride on the topside and was coming fast. The final circuits would have all eyes on Meyers as he worked the rim, inching closer to leader Murty. His timing was perfect, gaining the upper hand with a lap to go.... and keeping it to the flying checkers and the win. Murty had to be content with second, Mueller, who started eleventh, finished third, fourth went to Jay Schmidt, and pole sitter Dallon Murty was fifth.
Logan Duffy found himself in the winner's circle at the conclusion of the fifteen lap IMCA Late Model main event. Duffy led all laps on his way to victory in the caution free race. Curtis Glover took the runner up spot, Luke Pestka went third, hometown boy Darrel DeFrance took fourth, and Dalton Simonsen was fifth. There was short field of eight Late Models last evening.
The night cap was twenty laps of IMCA Modified ground pounders going at it. A thirty-two car field called for a B main in this one too to set the twenty-four car starting field. Justin McCreadie from Phoenix, Oregon won it. More on the contingency from out of state later.
Tom Berry, Jr. made it look easy in the Modified feature, taking command early, and pulling away from the field to take the checkered flag. Jeff Aikey and rookie Jake McBirnie battled it out for position, but it was Aikey making it a runner up finish, McBirnie going third. Fourth went to Joel Rust, and Tim Ward came from eleventh starting spot, to finish fifth.
There was a contingency of out of state drivers last night. Most coming from the IMCA Western Region. Some of those drivers were seeking a place to just race I believe, as some of their hometown states still have more of a Covid 19 lock down. They always seem to love coming to the Midwest at other times as well, so some of them just might have packed their bags a bit fuller and plan to hang around for an extended time. Some of those out of state drivers were Justin McCreadie, Phoenix, Arizona, Dylan Thornton, Santa Maria, California, Jeremy Richey, Phoenix, Arizona, Casey Delp, Rock Springs, Wyoming, and Justen and son Braxton Yeager from Green River, Wyoming. Throw a couple of other regulars for the summer into it, Tim Ward who lists Chandler, Arizona as home, and young Kolin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nevada, and the Modified class was packed with west coast drivers. Even the Mod Lites had a west coaster in the mix with Kaden Cochrun from Bakersfield, California. Winner Tom Berry, Jr. use to hail from Oregon, then moved to Newburg, North Dakota, but word from announcer Jerry Vansickel last evening, is that he is now calling Des Moines home.
Tom Berry, Jr. made it look easy in the Modified feature, taking command early, and pulling away from the field to take the checkered flag. Jeff Aikey and rookie Jake McBirnie battled it out for position, but it was Aikey making it a runner up finish, McBirnie going third. Fourth went to Joel Rust, and Tim Ward came from eleventh starting spot, to finish fifth.
There was a contingency of out of state drivers last night. Most coming from the IMCA Western Region. Some of those drivers were seeking a place to just race I believe, as some of their hometown states still have more of a Covid 19 lock down. They always seem to love coming to the Midwest at other times as well, so some of them just might have packed their bags a bit fuller and plan to hang around for an extended time. Some of those out of state drivers were Justin McCreadie, Phoenix, Arizona, Dylan Thornton, Santa Maria, California, Jeremy Richey, Phoenix, Arizona, Casey Delp, Rock Springs, Wyoming, and Justen and son Braxton Yeager from Green River, Wyoming. Throw a couple of other regulars for the summer into it, Tim Ward who lists Chandler, Arizona as home, and young Kolin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nevada, and the Modified class was packed with west coast drivers. Even the Mod Lites had a west coaster in the mix with Kaden Cochrun from Bakersfield, California. Winner Tom Berry, Jr. use to hail from Oregon, then moved to Newburg, North Dakota, but word from announcer Jerry Vansickel last evening, is that he is now calling Des Moines home.
Next up at Marshalltown Speedway will be this Tuesday, June 9, for the Dale DeFrance Memorial and 500th IMCA Deery Brothers Late Model Summer Series race. Also on tap is the Dirt Knight IMCA Modified Tour Series opener. The IMCA Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks will also be competition. The green flag drops at 7:30.
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Dirt Duel championships to Zevenbergen and Logue, Carter takes Davis Memorial win
Night #3 of the Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duels at Stuart Speedway was THE place to be for racing last night. That fast little quarter-mile provided great racing action all night long, with 125 race cars packing the pits. Brandon Cox came out the victor in the IMCA Hobby Stock division, while it was Cayden Carter taking home the honor of winning the Bill Davis, Sr. Memorial race for the IMCA Modifieds. Dirt Duel championships went to Johnathon Logue in the IMCA Northern SportMod class, and Elijah Zevenbergen took the trophy in the IMCA Stock Cars.
The sixteen lap feature for the Hobby Stockers found Dylan Nelson and Brandon Cox dueling it out for the lead most of those laps. Cox and Nelson would swap that top spot several times before Cox laid a firm hold on the lead in the final laps to secure the win. Solomon Bennett made the pass on Nelson on the final run to the checkers to score the runner up spot, Nelson going third. Miciah Hidlebaugh moved up nine spots to finish in fourth, and Travis Fenton came from eleventh to snag a top five.
On tap next was the 50-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature for the title of Dirt Duel champion.....and a duel it was! Eight cars had already secured their starting spots from the two previous nights qualifying, the final sixteen cars qualifying through last chance heats and a B main.
Shane Paris and Brayton Carter led the field to green. Carter shot to the initial lead but Cody Thompson powered around him to take over the top spot by lap seven. Thompson, running low, and Carter poised on the top of track. By lap eleven, Carter took back the lead and began to pull away, hitting his mark in his smooth driving style lap after lap....he looked to be well on his way to taking back-to-back Dirt Duel wins at the track. However, bad luck for Carter struck with just ten laps left when he was dealt a broken left front suspension, ending his night. This handed the lead over to Cody Thompson with Johnathon Logue waiting in the wings running in second place as the race returned to green. Thompson would hold that top spot through two more cautions, the final coming at lap forty-nine,...but Logue was not about to go away! He was able to claim the lead as the white flag flew, keeping it to the flying checkers and a $3,000 pay off. Thompson held second, Josh Most, the driver from Red Oak who will hop into any kind of racing machine, came from ninth to finish third, fourth went to Algona's Colby Fett, and Colby Langenberg out of Norfolk, Nebraska advanced fourteen positions to finish fifth.
Elijah Zevenbergen and Todd VanEaston had earned their front row starting spot the two previous nights for the 50-lap IMCA Stock Car Dirt Duel feature with a plethora of top notch drivers behind them in the field. This one would get off to a bad start before the first lap was scored, drivers piling up in corner four. When the race did get started, it was Zevenbergen and VanEaton shooting off to lead the field with young gun Dallon Murty running third and back in the pack, cars going three wide for position. A yellow flew at lap twenty-one for a car spinning in corner four and by this time, it was Dallon Murty and dad Damon Murty running second and third.....Zevenbergen leading. Those three would run nose-to-tail lap after lap. The final yellow of the race flew with six laps left in the books, and on the restart those three cars would remain the same. The "Game Changer", Dallon Murty gave it his all in the closing moments, make it very interesting with a last corner slide that just wasn't quite enough, Zevenbergen keeping his cool and flashing across the finish line in first, Murty finishing an every so close second. Dad, Damon Murty took third place, it was Jesse Sobbing moving up nine spots to take fourth place, and Carthage, Missouri's Abe Huls came home in fifth. Zevenbergen was crowned Dirt Duel's champion and got the $3,000 check.
Capping off the night was twenty-six laps of IMCA Modified racing. Why might you ask, twenty-six laps. Because it was twenty-five +1 in honor of the #+1 always piloted by the honoree of the night, the late Bill Davis, Sr. Davis, an absolute legend in area racing. was no doubt looking down on the race last evening and smiling.
Todd Shute, and Rock Springs, Wyoming racer Casey Delp would lead the field to green. Shute jumped to the immediate lead but Osky's Cayden Carter was quickly up to challenge. Carter made a slide around Shute pay off, taking over the number one position at lap eighteen and then the race was red flagged when Jesse Dennis took a hard ride into the back wall out of turn two. He was okay and the race was quickly restarted for the final eight lap dash to the checkers. Carter restarted in the first place position, with "T Dub" Tim Ward realigned in second, and Shute shuffled back to third. Carter would go on to hold the lead and saw the checkers first for his $1,000 pay day and win the 2nd Annual Bill Davis, Sr. Memorial feature. Ward finished in second place, North Dakota's Tom Berry, Jr. got the upper hand in a tight battle over Shute as they went third and fourth respectively. Grundy Center's Joel Rust rounded out the top five.
Promoter Mike VanGenderen saw his constant attention to keeping the track in racy shape last night pay off ....once again bringing forth some fabulous racing. It was a steamy, hot night, and unlike the previous two night's near hurricane force winds from the south, there was hardly a breath of air. If you've not been to a show at the track, put it on your agenda if you want to see some great racing.....it's well worth the drive.
The sixteen lap feature for the Hobby Stockers found Dylan Nelson and Brandon Cox dueling it out for the lead most of those laps. Cox and Nelson would swap that top spot several times before Cox laid a firm hold on the lead in the final laps to secure the win. Solomon Bennett made the pass on Nelson on the final run to the checkers to score the runner up spot, Nelson going third. Miciah Hidlebaugh moved up nine spots to finish in fourth, and Travis Fenton came from eleventh to snag a top five.
On tap next was the 50-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature for the title of Dirt Duel champion.....and a duel it was! Eight cars had already secured their starting spots from the two previous nights qualifying, the final sixteen cars qualifying through last chance heats and a B main.
Shane Paris and Brayton Carter led the field to green. Carter shot to the initial lead but Cody Thompson powered around him to take over the top spot by lap seven. Thompson, running low, and Carter poised on the top of track. By lap eleven, Carter took back the lead and began to pull away, hitting his mark in his smooth driving style lap after lap....he looked to be well on his way to taking back-to-back Dirt Duel wins at the track. However, bad luck for Carter struck with just ten laps left when he was dealt a broken left front suspension, ending his night. This handed the lead over to Cody Thompson with Johnathon Logue waiting in the wings running in second place as the race returned to green. Thompson would hold that top spot through two more cautions, the final coming at lap forty-nine,...but Logue was not about to go away! He was able to claim the lead as the white flag flew, keeping it to the flying checkers and a $3,000 pay off. Thompson held second, Josh Most, the driver from Red Oak who will hop into any kind of racing machine, came from ninth to finish third, fourth went to Algona's Colby Fett, and Colby Langenberg out of Norfolk, Nebraska advanced fourteen positions to finish fifth.
Elijah Zevenbergen and Todd VanEaston had earned their front row starting spot the two previous nights for the 50-lap IMCA Stock Car Dirt Duel feature with a plethora of top notch drivers behind them in the field. This one would get off to a bad start before the first lap was scored, drivers piling up in corner four. When the race did get started, it was Zevenbergen and VanEaton shooting off to lead the field with young gun Dallon Murty running third and back in the pack, cars going three wide for position. A yellow flew at lap twenty-one for a car spinning in corner four and by this time, it was Dallon Murty and dad Damon Murty running second and third.....Zevenbergen leading. Those three would run nose-to-tail lap after lap. The final yellow of the race flew with six laps left in the books, and on the restart those three cars would remain the same. The "Game Changer", Dallon Murty gave it his all in the closing moments, make it very interesting with a last corner slide that just wasn't quite enough, Zevenbergen keeping his cool and flashing across the finish line in first, Murty finishing an every so close second. Dad, Damon Murty took third place, it was Jesse Sobbing moving up nine spots to take fourth place, and Carthage, Missouri's Abe Huls came home in fifth. Zevenbergen was crowned Dirt Duel's champion and got the $3,000 check.
Capping off the night was twenty-six laps of IMCA Modified racing. Why might you ask, twenty-six laps. Because it was twenty-five +1 in honor of the #+1 always piloted by the honoree of the night, the late Bill Davis, Sr. Davis, an absolute legend in area racing. was no doubt looking down on the race last evening and smiling.
Todd Shute, and Rock Springs, Wyoming racer Casey Delp would lead the field to green. Shute jumped to the immediate lead but Osky's Cayden Carter was quickly up to challenge. Carter made a slide around Shute pay off, taking over the number one position at lap eighteen and then the race was red flagged when Jesse Dennis took a hard ride into the back wall out of turn two. He was okay and the race was quickly restarted for the final eight lap dash to the checkers. Carter restarted in the first place position, with "T Dub" Tim Ward realigned in second, and Shute shuffled back to third. Carter would go on to hold the lead and saw the checkers first for his $1,000 pay day and win the 2nd Annual Bill Davis, Sr. Memorial feature. Ward finished in second place, North Dakota's Tom Berry, Jr. got the upper hand in a tight battle over Shute as they went third and fourth respectively. Grundy Center's Joel Rust rounded out the top five.
Promoter Mike VanGenderen saw his constant attention to keeping the track in racy shape last night pay off ....once again bringing forth some fabulous racing. It was a steamy, hot night, and unlike the previous two night's near hurricane force winds from the south, there was hardly a breath of air. If you've not been to a show at the track, put it on your agenda if you want to see some great racing.....it's well worth the drive.
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