It was a long night of racing at the Marshalltown Speedway Friday. The night kicked off with five make up features from June 12 to be finished, and then the regular program was run in its entirety. Right around 140 cars ran on the high banks last night....some seeming to have forgotten how to get around the fast quarter-mile. There was a plague of caution flags as well as several reds when cars ended up without all four wheels on the ground....some in spectacular fashion. Safety equipment prevailed and the drivers were all okay.
Two drivers would earn their first ever wins, Dalton Simonsen in the IMCA Late Models, and Kyle Everts in the IMCA Stock Cars. Kaden Reynolds would double up in the IMCA Hobby Stocks. Make up features were also won by Darrel DeFrance, IMCA Late Model, Joel Rust in the IMCA Modifieds, and Brian Schrage in the IMCA Northern SportMods. Other winners from the regular night's racing went to Tom Berry, Jr., IMCA Modified, Jeff Mueller in the IMCA Stock Cars, Kyle Olson in a thriller for the IMCA Northern SportMods, and Joe Glick took home the honors in the Mod Lite feature.
The first of the make up features was the IMCA Northern SportMod event. This one would be led from start to finish by Brian Schrage in a dominating performance. The winner's son, Austin Schrage came from eighth starting position to finish in the runner up spot. Third went to Kyle Olson, Jenae Gustin started fifteenth and took fourth, and twenty-fourth place starter, Brady Hilmer rounded out the top five.
The first scary incident of the night happened in that make up race for the SportMods. Cory VanZante flipped wildly off of turn two when contact was made with another car. Cory was walking under his own power afterwards, but his car was towed back to the pits on the rollback not looking so good.
The regular night's feature for the IMCA Northern SportMods was a hard fought battle between cousins. Tony Olson led most of the race but it wasn't an easy task holding back cousin Kyle Olson who was hot on his tail for much of the contest. In the closing laps, Travis Petersen also joined in the hunt. The final circuits were nip and tuck and just after the white flag flew, Petersen got squeezed out allowing Kyle Olson to seize his chance and fly into the lead. He then held off cousin Tony Olson to take the win. Third went to Austin Kaplan, Austin Schrage came from eleventh to finish fourth, and Johnathon Logue was fifth.
The IMCA Hobby Stock make up feature came next. Kaden Reynolds chased early leader Christian Huffman until a rolled tire put him out of the contest, putting Reynolds to the point. From there on he held the top spot the rest of the way to the checkers and the win. Solomon Bennett was second, third went to Ben Newhouse, Austin Mehmen started tenth and finished fourth, and Mike Kincaid came from twelfth to finish fifth.
Kaden Reynolds, took his second feature win of the night, snapping up the regular night's main event. He finished comfortably ahead of second place runner Braden Richards. Third went to veteran racer Bill Bonnett, fourth was Austin Mehmen who started eleventh, and Michael Kimm was fifth. Reynolds came from twelfth starting spot to double up on the night.
The IMCA Late Model make up feature win was a popular one with the fans as hometown boy Darrel DeFrance took the checkers. DeFrance took command at lap four and never relinquished it on his way to the flying checkers. Jill George followed in second place, third went to Shawn Cooney, and Colton Leal and Michael Leal from Pacific Junction were fourth and fifth.
The regular Late Model feature of the night found a driver stepping into victory lane for the very first time....that being Dalton Simonsen from Fairfax, Iowa. Simonsen got past early leader Darrel DeFrance on lap five and from there on, pulled away to secure his first ever win. Darrel DeFrance finished second, just holding off Logan Duffy in third. A close fourth was Curtis Glover, and Michael Leal was fifth. The race went caution free, a rarity on the night.
Another first time winner was Kyle Everts when he won the IMCA Stock Car make up feature. Jason Hall led from the drop of the green and was poised for a win until he slipped up in turn one, allowing Everts to take over the number one spot. The finals laps saw Damon Murty make his usual hard charge through the field, coming from eleventh starting spot, but he would fall just short and finish second. Third went to Todd Reitzler, Jason Hall was fourth and Scott Rice was fifth.
Jeff Mueller would take home the trophy in the regular feature for the IMCA Stock Cars. Mueller caught early leader Dusty Vis and took command on lap thirteen never to look back. The "Chelsea Charger" Damon Murty once again came from eleventh to finish second, Dusty Vis was third, fourth went to ninth place starter Dallon Murty, and Shawn Ritter rounded out the top five.
It was Joel Rust taking the make up feature for the IMCA Modifieds. Rust had to throw off the challenges of Tom Berry, Jr. much of the race, but was able to do so and secure his first win at the speedway this year. Berry started near the back of the starting grid, and hustled through the field to finish as the runner up, third went to Ethan Braaskma, pole sitter Ron Lauritzen finished fourth and Jared VanDeest was fifth.
After a strong performance in the make up feature, Tom Berry made it one position better and got the feature win in the regular night's A main for the IMCA Modifieds. Berry started eleventh and worked his way through the pack, catching then leader Kollin Hibdon with four laps remaining and then go on to take the checkers. Following second place Hibdon was Tim Ward in third, fourth went to Sam Wieben, and Joel Rust was fifth.
The only class running one feature was the Mod Lites. They got their feature completed on June 12, that being won by Cory Sonner with his first ever career win.
Charlie Brown started seventh and flew to the lead in the Mod Lite 15-lap feature as the race went green. But on this night he would have to settle for the runner up spot as Joe Glick took the checkers first, taking over the top spot on lap eight, never to give it up. Randy Bryan was third, and Bryan Zehm and Terry Brown rounded out the top five.
A lot of racing was to be had, and with the large car count, the make up features, plus all the cautions, it made for a night of racing that lasted well past the midnight hour. Thankfully, the rain stayed well to our south....producing a light show behind the grandstand.
Find a race to attend race fans. We need to keep dirt track racing alive and well.
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Young DeJong scores first career win
It's always great to see a driver get their very first win, and that is just what happened to 15 year old Maguire DeJong last night at the Southern Iowa Speedway. It was also done with an exclamation point! It was also voting night for the 2020 class of Hall of Fame inductees and fans could vote for three of the deserving names on the ballot. The winners will be announced and honored later this season.
The speedway ran its second race with fans in the stands, and it was also another kids night with a huge candy toss. All regular classes ran, with the SportMods running for an extra $100 bonus that an anonymous fan had kicked in, and there was a $100 bounty on Jonathan Hughes...the non-wing Sprint driver who had a streak of seven consecutive wins going, dating back to last season. An unfortunate incident of the evening, also left a driver with what appeared to be a destroyed race car....but thankfully he was okay.
The 10-lap non-wing Sprint feature came first and after starting third, it took less than three laps for Jonathan Hughes to take command, and drive off into the sunset. He finished well ahead of early leader Doug Sylvester. Kelly Graham was third, Garrett Alexander took fourth, fifth went to Tyler Graves...the driver who took a wild ride last week after the race was over, and the sixth, and final position went to Lance Silvers. Next week, an additional $50 will be added to the bounty on the head of Jonathan Hughes, as he seeks his ninth win in a row according to announcer Jerry Mackey, dating back to 2019.
The Stock Cars always put on one of the best shows wherever they show up, and the close racing in the 16-lap feature last evening was no different. That close racing also led to an unfortunate incident for Nathan Wood. Wood was racing close with several cars, all vying for position as they tried to run down leader of the pack, Derrick Agee. On lap twelve, that battle turned into a nightmare for Wood. His car flipped after contact with a couple of cars, down low between corners three and four. Seeing the aftermath of the car being pulled into the pits, Wood was lucky to come out of that incident unscathed. Thank goodness for safety features and equipment.
When the race restarted with just four laps remaining, Agee had things well in hand and would go on to take the checkers....winning for the second week in a row. Howard Gordon, Jr. would follow in second place, Jason McDaniel took third, followed by Jason See in fourth, and Andrew Schroeder in fifth.
The Sport Compacts went caution free in their 10-lap feature event. Nathan Moody would lead all ten of those laps on his way to the win. He finished well ahead of second place Billy Cain, and following a distance behind him in third was Lewie Winkelman. Seth Meinders and Tyler Haring rounded out the top five. Moody said in his post race interview that this was just his second win ever. EDIT: I found the official results to show that Nathan Moody was disqualified, handing the win over to Billy Cain.
The 14-lap Hobby Stock feature saw Dustin Griffiths back in victory lane, also for the second time in as many weeks. Griffiths started sixth, and had the lead by lap three, never to look back in the race that went green to checkers. He finished a good distance ahead veteran racer Rick VanDusseldorp in second. Third went to early leader Christian Huffman, who sped past Craig Brown at the finish line. Brown had been running third, but let forth with a cloud of smoke, spewing parts down the frontstretch and had to drift across the finish line in fourth place. Aaron Martin completed the top five.
Fifteen year old rookie Maguire DeJong, the youngster who cut his teeth in the racing world in the go kart ranks, started on the outside front row of the 16-lap SportMod feature, and immediately dropped the hammer and flew to the lead. DeJong sailed away from the pack and looked to be easily on his way to victory. A caution would fly at lap eight, but on the restart, DeJong once again shot off from the pack. Another yellow flew with ten laps down...and by this time it was Curtis VanDerWal that was running second, and anxious for the restart in hopes of running down the rookie. VanDerWal did grab the lead, going low in corner one as the race restarted and most people were thinking, "well, this is over". But wait, it wasn't to be! DeJong took back the lead on lap thirteen, and then pulled away to take the win....his first EVER. VanDerWal finished as the runner up, after what Jerry Mackey said was a bent front left after hitting a corner tire, third went to Blaine Webster, fourth was Logan Anderson, and Scott Brau was fifth. DeJong was a bit overwhelmed in victory lane with just winning his first ever feature, but he better get use to visiting the winner's circle as he appears to be a very talented young man with a bright racing future ahead.
There WILL be racing next Wednesday night, July 1, after the original schedule showed none, the event has been added. Racing will resume in all five classes with hot laps at 7:15 and racing to follow.
Get out and support a race track to keep the sport we love alive and well!
The speedway ran its second race with fans in the stands, and it was also another kids night with a huge candy toss. All regular classes ran, with the SportMods running for an extra $100 bonus that an anonymous fan had kicked in, and there was a $100 bounty on Jonathan Hughes...the non-wing Sprint driver who had a streak of seven consecutive wins going, dating back to last season. An unfortunate incident of the evening, also left a driver with what appeared to be a destroyed race car....but thankfully he was okay.
The 10-lap non-wing Sprint feature came first and after starting third, it took less than three laps for Jonathan Hughes to take command, and drive off into the sunset. He finished well ahead of early leader Doug Sylvester. Kelly Graham was third, Garrett Alexander took fourth, fifth went to Tyler Graves...the driver who took a wild ride last week after the race was over, and the sixth, and final position went to Lance Silvers. Next week, an additional $50 will be added to the bounty on the head of Jonathan Hughes, as he seeks his ninth win in a row according to announcer Jerry Mackey, dating back to 2019.
The Stock Cars always put on one of the best shows wherever they show up, and the close racing in the 16-lap feature last evening was no different. That close racing also led to an unfortunate incident for Nathan Wood. Wood was racing close with several cars, all vying for position as they tried to run down leader of the pack, Derrick Agee. On lap twelve, that battle turned into a nightmare for Wood. His car flipped after contact with a couple of cars, down low between corners three and four. Seeing the aftermath of the car being pulled into the pits, Wood was lucky to come out of that incident unscathed. Thank goodness for safety features and equipment.
When the race restarted with just four laps remaining, Agee had things well in hand and would go on to take the checkers....winning for the second week in a row. Howard Gordon, Jr. would follow in second place, Jason McDaniel took third, followed by Jason See in fourth, and Andrew Schroeder in fifth.
The Sport Compacts went caution free in their 10-lap feature event. Nathan Moody would lead all ten of those laps on his way to the win. He finished well ahead of second place Billy Cain, and following a distance behind him in third was Lewie Winkelman. Seth Meinders and Tyler Haring rounded out the top five. Moody said in his post race interview that this was just his second win ever. EDIT: I found the official results to show that Nathan Moody was disqualified, handing the win over to Billy Cain.
The 14-lap Hobby Stock feature saw Dustin Griffiths back in victory lane, also for the second time in as many weeks. Griffiths started sixth, and had the lead by lap three, never to look back in the race that went green to checkers. He finished a good distance ahead veteran racer Rick VanDusseldorp in second. Third went to early leader Christian Huffman, who sped past Craig Brown at the finish line. Brown had been running third, but let forth with a cloud of smoke, spewing parts down the frontstretch and had to drift across the finish line in fourth place. Aaron Martin completed the top five.
Fifteen year old rookie Maguire DeJong, the youngster who cut his teeth in the racing world in the go kart ranks, started on the outside front row of the 16-lap SportMod feature, and immediately dropped the hammer and flew to the lead. DeJong sailed away from the pack and looked to be easily on his way to victory. A caution would fly at lap eight, but on the restart, DeJong once again shot off from the pack. Another yellow flew with ten laps down...and by this time it was Curtis VanDerWal that was running second, and anxious for the restart in hopes of running down the rookie. VanDerWal did grab the lead, going low in corner one as the race restarted and most people were thinking, "well, this is over". But wait, it wasn't to be! DeJong took back the lead on lap thirteen, and then pulled away to take the win....his first EVER. VanDerWal finished as the runner up, after what Jerry Mackey said was a bent front left after hitting a corner tire, third went to Blaine Webster, fourth was Logan Anderson, and Scott Brau was fifth. DeJong was a bit overwhelmed in victory lane with just winning his first ever feature, but he better get use to visiting the winner's circle as he appears to be a very talented young man with a bright racing future ahead.
There WILL be racing next Wednesday night, July 1, after the original schedule showed none, the event has been added. Racing will resume in all five classes with hot laps at 7:15 and racing to follow.
Get out and support a race track to keep the sport we love alive and well!
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Back-to-back for Jerovetz and Knutson, Gustin and Kaplan also find victory lane
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!
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!
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.
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