I'd like to start off this blog by saying I hope everybody enjoyed their Christmas Day celebrations. Hopefully the weather didn't affect your plans too much this Holiday season.
My 2009 race season was another wild and exciting season. I didn't think there was any way I could top the 2008 season I experienced, but I was wrong. Of course the first thing that happened to me in 2009 was receiving a phone call from Jeff Broeg, asking me if I wanted to be a part of the Positivelyracing.com "staff". I agreed after taking some time to think it over.
I kicked off the 2009 season much the same way I did in 2008, with visits to Abilene, Texas in February and then in McCool Junction, Nebraska the first weekend in March. Trips to Humboldt (Kansas), West Plains (Missouri), and Beatrice (Nebraska) finished up March.
The racing season in Iowa got kicked off in April with frostbusters at Marshalltown and Burlington the first weekend. I made my first ever visit to 24 Raceway in Moberly, Missouri during this month for a USMTS race while also visiting Adrian Speedway in Missouri for an MLRA late model show.
May saw first visits to the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland (Missouri), US 30 Speedway in Columbus (Nebraska), and Raceway Park in Jefferson (South Dakota).
June's highlights included a mini trip into South Dakota. I followed the USMTS series to Park Jefferson Speedway (Jefferson, SD), Casino Speedway (Watertown, SD), and Huset's Speedway (Brandon, SD). Casino and Huset's were first-time visits for me.
More first-time visits were made in July as I attended a weekly show at Dubuque and Corning. Later in the month I made an inaugural visit to the Elko (MN) Speedway. The asphalt track brought in truck loads of dirt for their "Dirt Nationals", an event that saw the USMTS series along with IRA Sprint Cars.
Highlights of August begin with my first-ever trip to Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin. I attended the final night of the USA Nationals late model event that saw home-state hero Jimmy Mars take the lead on lap 48 and take home the big money. August was also the month in which the USMTS Hunt For the Championship began in Missouri. I visited the Monett (MO) Speedway along with the Caney Valley Speedway (Caney, KS) within a few days on a six-day USMTS swing. I also ventured up to the newly re-designed Mississippi Thunder Speedway, formerly known as the Tri-Oval Speedway, in Fountain City, Wisconsin. The track used to be a tri-oval, but owner Bob Timm transformed it into a 3/8-mile oval.
September saw me attend every night of the IMCA Supernationals in Boone again this year. In the middle of the month I ventured north to the North Central Speedway in Brainerd for a couple of USMTS events before seeing them race again at the Fall Jamboree at the Deer Creek Speedway near Spring Valley, Minnesota. That event saw Jason Hughes nip Terry Phillips at the line on the final night, and also saw Kelly Shryock be crowned the national champion for the ninth time. September was memorable for me as I had traveled to all 18 of the USMTS Hunt races, something very few can probably say.
October was a difficult month weather-wise. Many of my plans got changed, so I was constantly looking for "backup plans". The Knoxville Late Model Nationals was reduced to a one-day show on a Sunday this year, which saw Scott Bloomquist win it for the second time. The second weekend of the month, the races in Oskaloosa got "SNOWED OUT", so I made the quick decision to go north and hit a race in Wisconsin. Go figure, right!?! October also saw long-distance, first-ever trips to Hays (Kansas) and Muskogee (Oklahoma).
November saw me visiting the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri for the first time in a couple years. The weekend before Thanksgiving saw me travel south to Highlands, Texas for what was supposed to be a three-day USMTS show. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and only one show was able to be run. I checked out the internet to see if there were any other races I could hit on the way home. Sure enough there was. I headed out at 4am Saturday morning and made it to Cleveland, Tennessee to catch a Southern All-Stars late model race. On that trip I traveled through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and a little bit of Georgia for the first time ever. Then on the way home from there I traveled through Kentucky for the first time. Definitely a memorable trip!!
December was supposed to cap off my season at the Houston Raceway Park with a three-day USMTS show. It would crown their Southern Series Hunt champion. Unfortunately that weekend saw the earliest SNOWFALL in the Houston area and only one race was run. That one event proved to be note-worthy though, as Jason Hughes took home the win and eclipsed Kelly Shryock's slim lead to win the championship. USMTS officials have rescheduled those two days for February, but will be part of the 2010 season.
I capped off my 2009 season at Kemper Arena the weekend before Christmas with the Bull Ring Midget Nationals. Those who know me know that I'm not a sprint car/midget fan by any stretch of the imagination. I was curious to see how the event was run and see what it was like. It was definitely unique!
Here are my 2009 stats:
156 races
62 different tracks
25 new tracks (I'd never been to before)
11 different states
43,194 miles traveled (almost 34,440 on my car)
22 rainouts/cancellations
For those interested in seeing EXACTLY where I ventured to this year, you can check out my personal website at http://tapfanstours.freehosting.net and click on the "Kevin's 2009 races" on the left-hand side. You can see a month-by-month breakdown or a composite listing, along with results from most events.
This will likely be the last blog entry for me in 2009. With that being said, I'd like to wish everybody a safe New Year's Eve celebration along with a Happy New Year!!
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
2009 Bull Ring Midget Nationals
I made my first-ever trip to Kemper Arena for the running of the Bull Ring Midget Nationals on Dec. 18-19. It was the second year for this event, and from the sounds of it things were dramatically improved from a year ago. Listening to what others had to say, the ventilation was much better this year as was the racing surface. Officials were able to keep a cushion on the top side so that the racers didn't have to "follow the leader" around the inside.
Along with midgets, dwarf cars/mod-lites and Lightning Winged Sprints were on the card. Four mod-lite drivers from Iowa made the trek to Kansas City to experience some fun. I don't recall off hand how Friday night turned out, but all four were up front in the Saturday feature. Johnny Murdock was running in second when the leader spun, handing him the reigns up front. He would get passed by the eventual winner, but as luck would have it he spun in turn four on the final lap and collected fellow Iowa driver Mike Kennedy. Randy Bryant finished in third while Dusty Masolini came home fifth.
Not only was this my first trip to Kemper Arena, but it was also the first race in which the midgets were the headlining class. I'm not much of a sprint car or midget fan, so therefore I was completely out of my comfort zone. I did recognize a few names, which helped me enjoy the show.
Bryan Clauson and Brad Loyet sat on the front row when the green flag waved on Friday night for the thirty-lap feature event. It would be Loyet grabbing the checkers and taking home the $5,000 payday.
Saturday night saw Danny Lasoski and Brad Loyet on the front row. Loyet got the early lead and maintained his lead ahead of the similarly looking Lasoski car. Over the forty lap race, Lasoski continued to put pressure on Loyet but couldn't make the pass stick as he tried to use the slingshot move in the corners. Loyet proved to be too strong as he took home the win again, this time bagging a cool $10,000 for his efforts.
This was also my first race indoors. I've watched go-kart races at Waterloo or last year at the Battle at the Barn in Des Moines, but nothing like what I saw over the weekend. It was a different, but fun atmosphere. I only had two complaints about the event. First off, I realize it was being held at Kemper Arena, but the concession stand prices were outrageous!! $4.00 for a bottle of water?!! I opted not to buy anything from there and stopped afterwards for something to eat. The other complaint was the amount of time between "sessions" of racing. I realize they wanted to air things out, but Friday night saw lapses of more then an hour between heats and features. I also realize they had scheduled times on the website and perhaps wanted to stick to it, but there isn't much to do other then talk in that amount of time, especially when you couldn't exit the building and re-enter.
Overall it was a fun and new experience. I think it also will bring a curtain down on a memorable 2009 race season for me. Stay tuned as I'll have a 2009 wrapup blog in the near future.
If I don't get that blog before Friday, I'd like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Along with midgets, dwarf cars/mod-lites and Lightning Winged Sprints were on the card. Four mod-lite drivers from Iowa made the trek to Kansas City to experience some fun. I don't recall off hand how Friday night turned out, but all four were up front in the Saturday feature. Johnny Murdock was running in second when the leader spun, handing him the reigns up front. He would get passed by the eventual winner, but as luck would have it he spun in turn four on the final lap and collected fellow Iowa driver Mike Kennedy. Randy Bryant finished in third while Dusty Masolini came home fifth.
Not only was this my first trip to Kemper Arena, but it was also the first race in which the midgets were the headlining class. I'm not much of a sprint car or midget fan, so therefore I was completely out of my comfort zone. I did recognize a few names, which helped me enjoy the show.
Bryan Clauson and Brad Loyet sat on the front row when the green flag waved on Friday night for the thirty-lap feature event. It would be Loyet grabbing the checkers and taking home the $5,000 payday.
Saturday night saw Danny Lasoski and Brad Loyet on the front row. Loyet got the early lead and maintained his lead ahead of the similarly looking Lasoski car. Over the forty lap race, Lasoski continued to put pressure on Loyet but couldn't make the pass stick as he tried to use the slingshot move in the corners. Loyet proved to be too strong as he took home the win again, this time bagging a cool $10,000 for his efforts.
This was also my first race indoors. I've watched go-kart races at Waterloo or last year at the Battle at the Barn in Des Moines, but nothing like what I saw over the weekend. It was a different, but fun atmosphere. I only had two complaints about the event. First off, I realize it was being held at Kemper Arena, but the concession stand prices were outrageous!! $4.00 for a bottle of water?!! I opted not to buy anything from there and stopped afterwards for something to eat. The other complaint was the amount of time between "sessions" of racing. I realize they wanted to air things out, but Friday night saw lapses of more then an hour between heats and features. I also realize they had scheduled times on the website and perhaps wanted to stick to it, but there isn't much to do other then talk in that amount of time, especially when you couldn't exit the building and re-enter.
Overall it was a fun and new experience. I think it also will bring a curtain down on a memorable 2009 race season for me. Stay tuned as I'll have a 2009 wrapup blog in the near future.
If I don't get that blog before Friday, I'd like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
2010 Deery Brothers Late Models Schedule Released
For many people, me included, the much anticipated release of the 2010 IMCA Deery Brothers late model schedule is upon us. After scheduling a record 22 dates in 2009, the schedule isn't quite as full this year. Series director Kevin Yoder stated that the 2010 schedule will be "user friendly" for the drivers, meaning that "drivers only have to take off about 6 days of work to participate in the whole series." Sixteen stops are on the docket for 2010.
With fewer races, Yoder also hopes that more drivers will be able to compete at all the events, leading up to the series finale at 34 Raceway in Burlington for the Ironman challenge race.
While there are many familiar stops on the schedule, a new track has been added to the list. The Dubuque Speedway in Dubuque will host their first-ever Deery show on Sunday, April 18th. Dubuque's "sister track", the Farley Speedway, will also host an event this year. It is slated for Friday, June 18th. Farley hasn't been on the schedule since 2003.
For a complete rundown, check out www.imca.com/series.php?seriesid=2
With fewer races, Yoder also hopes that more drivers will be able to compete at all the events, leading up to the series finale at 34 Raceway in Burlington for the Ironman challenge race.
While there are many familiar stops on the schedule, a new track has been added to the list. The Dubuque Speedway in Dubuque will host their first-ever Deery show on Sunday, April 18th. Dubuque's "sister track", the Farley Speedway, will also host an event this year. It is slated for Friday, June 18th. Farley hasn't been on the schedule since 2003.
For a complete rundown, check out www.imca.com/series.php?seriesid=2
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Local Drivers at the Next Level
When flipping through the channels Saturday night, I came across the SPEED channel. The NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series were holding their annual awards ceremonies to culminate the 2009 race season. It was at that point that my uncle reminded me that a local driver, Michael Annett, ran in that series this year.
Michael Annett, a Des Moines native, had a solid rookie season in the NASCAR Nationwide series. Annett finished tenth in the final point standings. While Annett didn't make it to Victory Lane, he did finish with four top-10's in thirty-five starts. His best finish was sixth at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Annett drove for Germain Racing, a team that also yields a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team with Todd Bodine behind the wheel. Annett is just 23 years old.
Another native Iowan, Brett Moffitt, also enjoyed a very successful season. Moffitt finished third in the NASCAR Camping World Series East while also taking home Most Improved Driver honors. In just thirteen starts, Moffitt finished in the top ten eleven times, including two wins and five top-5's. At the young age of 17 Moffitt broke many age-related records in the Camping World East Series, including youngest ever to lead the point standings, youngest pole sitter, and youngest to win a race. Moffitt drives the #44 Andy Santerre Motorsports Chevy Impala. Moffitt also had the opportunity to jump behind the wheel of Win-Tron Racing's ARCA car at Rockingham late in the season. Moffitt had never sat in a seat of an ARCA car and had never been at the Rockingham track, but that didn't phase the teenager as went home with a tenth place finish.
Another notable dirt track racer, Steve Arpin, also finished his rookie season in the ARCA series. He finished seventh in the final point standings on the strength of eleven top-10's. His best finish was a fourth-place at Pocono Raceway. Arpin is perhaps most noted as a driver of a dirt modified. Some of his accomplishments on dirt include winning the 2007 Florida Speedweeks UMP modifieds Nationals, winning the IMCA Dakota Tour championship in '07, Featherlite Fall Jamboree modified champion in '06, and winning the Wissota 100 at the Cedar Lake Speedway in 2002.
While many dirt track racing enthusiasts may not like asphalt racing much (I'm included in that group), it is neat to see many drivers from the local area and with dirt backgrounds make it to the next level. Obviously drivers like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Ryan Newman have been extremely successful as well. But the success that Annett and Moffitt have attained so far, from the small state of Iowa, goes to show that the state does have talented drivers. They just need a little recognition to get to the next level.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Michael Annett, a Des Moines native, had a solid rookie season in the NASCAR Nationwide series. Annett finished tenth in the final point standings. While Annett didn't make it to Victory Lane, he did finish with four top-10's in thirty-five starts. His best finish was sixth at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Annett drove for Germain Racing, a team that also yields a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team with Todd Bodine behind the wheel. Annett is just 23 years old.
Another native Iowan, Brett Moffitt, also enjoyed a very successful season. Moffitt finished third in the NASCAR Camping World Series East while also taking home Most Improved Driver honors. In just thirteen starts, Moffitt finished in the top ten eleven times, including two wins and five top-5's. At the young age of 17 Moffitt broke many age-related records in the Camping World East Series, including youngest ever to lead the point standings, youngest pole sitter, and youngest to win a race. Moffitt drives the #44 Andy Santerre Motorsports Chevy Impala. Moffitt also had the opportunity to jump behind the wheel of Win-Tron Racing's ARCA car at Rockingham late in the season. Moffitt had never sat in a seat of an ARCA car and had never been at the Rockingham track, but that didn't phase the teenager as went home with a tenth place finish.
Another notable dirt track racer, Steve Arpin, also finished his rookie season in the ARCA series. He finished seventh in the final point standings on the strength of eleven top-10's. His best finish was a fourth-place at Pocono Raceway. Arpin is perhaps most noted as a driver of a dirt modified. Some of his accomplishments on dirt include winning the 2007 Florida Speedweeks UMP modifieds Nationals, winning the IMCA Dakota Tour championship in '07, Featherlite Fall Jamboree modified champion in '06, and winning the Wissota 100 at the Cedar Lake Speedway in 2002.
While many dirt track racing enthusiasts may not like asphalt racing much (I'm included in that group), it is neat to see many drivers from the local area and with dirt backgrounds make it to the next level. Obviously drivers like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Ryan Newman have been extremely successful as well. But the success that Annett and Moffitt have attained so far, from the small state of Iowa, goes to show that the state does have talented drivers. They just need a little recognition to get to the next level.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Jason Hughes Pilots to Victory at Winternationals
Jason Hughes came into last night's event at Houston Raceway Park trailing Kelly Shryock by eight points in the USMTS Southern Series point standings with three races remaining. But when all was said and done last night, Hughes picked up a win and took over the point lead with two races left on the slate.
While neither driver made the redraw, both were able to qualify out of the heat races via passing points. Hughes started ninth with Shryock on his rear bumper in eleventh. Randy Timms led the first lap after starting on the pole, but he was soon challenged by Sam Haftertepe, a regular late model pilot. Haftertepe gained command of the race on lap four as he dove to the inside of Timms. Meanwhile, Shryock and Hughes were making their way forward with Shryock advancing to third. A caution flag came out, allowing Jason Hughes to get a great restart and get by Shryock and Timms to snag the third spot.
Ryan Gustin, who finished second in the National Tour Hunt this season, also made the trip south for his first ever Southern Series event. Gustin finished second to Hughes in his heat race and easily won one of three b-main events. Gustin started eighteenth on the grid, but he quickly used every line en route to the front. By around lap eight Gustin had already advanced to the top ten. Hughes and Shryock engaged in a heated battle for the runner up spot before another caution flag waved. Hughes would take advantage of the yellow as he got by Haftertepe on the restart to take command of the race. Howard Willis, the USMTS Southern Series race winner two weeks ago at Battleground Speedway near Highlands, was also on the move as he raced under Jon Tesch for the fourth position. However, his luck would run out as he spun in turn one. As luck would have it, Dereck Ramirez was unable to avoid Willis and clipped his front bumper on the way by, sending Ramirez in a "gentle" roll.
At that point, Hughes was leading the way ahead of Haftertepe, Shryock, Tesch, Rodney Sanders, and Gustin. Gustin's good run would end early as he suffered a left rear flat tire. He was running fifth at the time. Haftertepe would also be a victim of bad luck as he spun in turn four late in the race, giving up the runner up spot. Bumper Jones, involved in a wreck early in the race, did a great job of recovering as he rebounded nicely to finish seventh. But up front it was all Jason Hughes as he not only took the win, but took over the point lead as well. Jon Tesch finished second, Kelly Shryock third, Rodney Sanders fourth, and Randy Timms rounded out the top five.
1. 12 Jason Hughes
2. 14 Jon Tesch
3. 3 Kelly Shryock
4. 20 Rodney Sanders
5. 5T Randy Timms
6. 33z Zack VanderBeek
7. 111 Bumper Jones
8. E Howard Willis
9. c8 Timothy Culp
10. 9 Shane Hebert
11. 5R Morgan Bagley
12. 88xx Bobby Malchus
Also on the card last night were the limited modifieds. Derek Ross led from the start, but he would lose the handle and spin through the infield to hand the lead over to Shane Hebert. Hebert would hold off challenges from Howard Willis and Paul White to take home the big paycheck ahead of Willis and White.
1. 9 Shane Hebert
2. 461 Howard Willis
3. 216 Paul White
By my count, 73 modifieds and forty limited modifieds were in competition last night. The track did get pretty rough as the night progressed, but that is understandable considering all the rain the Baytown area had received earlier in the week. As I type this blog, snow is coming down. According to the Weather Channel, schools are letting out early and the reporter mentioned the town does not have snowplows. The snow has let up here lately, and I was informed last night that the track crew does everything in their power to get the show in.
Speaking of the track, one of the diehard race fans in attendance last night mentioned that Houston Raceway Park will not be running a weekly show next year. Rather they are going to hold about eight special events throughout the season. That is a shame to hear as Houston Raceway Park is a top-notch facility.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
While neither driver made the redraw, both were able to qualify out of the heat races via passing points. Hughes started ninth with Shryock on his rear bumper in eleventh. Randy Timms led the first lap after starting on the pole, but he was soon challenged by Sam Haftertepe, a regular late model pilot. Haftertepe gained command of the race on lap four as he dove to the inside of Timms. Meanwhile, Shryock and Hughes were making their way forward with Shryock advancing to third. A caution flag came out, allowing Jason Hughes to get a great restart and get by Shryock and Timms to snag the third spot.
Ryan Gustin, who finished second in the National Tour Hunt this season, also made the trip south for his first ever Southern Series event. Gustin finished second to Hughes in his heat race and easily won one of three b-main events. Gustin started eighteenth on the grid, but he quickly used every line en route to the front. By around lap eight Gustin had already advanced to the top ten. Hughes and Shryock engaged in a heated battle for the runner up spot before another caution flag waved. Hughes would take advantage of the yellow as he got by Haftertepe on the restart to take command of the race. Howard Willis, the USMTS Southern Series race winner two weeks ago at Battleground Speedway near Highlands, was also on the move as he raced under Jon Tesch for the fourth position. However, his luck would run out as he spun in turn one. As luck would have it, Dereck Ramirez was unable to avoid Willis and clipped his front bumper on the way by, sending Ramirez in a "gentle" roll.
At that point, Hughes was leading the way ahead of Haftertepe, Shryock, Tesch, Rodney Sanders, and Gustin. Gustin's good run would end early as he suffered a left rear flat tire. He was running fifth at the time. Haftertepe would also be a victim of bad luck as he spun in turn four late in the race, giving up the runner up spot. Bumper Jones, involved in a wreck early in the race, did a great job of recovering as he rebounded nicely to finish seventh. But up front it was all Jason Hughes as he not only took the win, but took over the point lead as well. Jon Tesch finished second, Kelly Shryock third, Rodney Sanders fourth, and Randy Timms rounded out the top five.
1. 12 Jason Hughes
2. 14 Jon Tesch
3. 3 Kelly Shryock
4. 20 Rodney Sanders
5. 5T Randy Timms
6. 33z Zack VanderBeek
7. 111 Bumper Jones
8. E Howard Willis
9. c8 Timothy Culp
10. 9 Shane Hebert
11. 5R Morgan Bagley
12. 88xx Bobby Malchus
Also on the card last night were the limited modifieds. Derek Ross led from the start, but he would lose the handle and spin through the infield to hand the lead over to Shane Hebert. Hebert would hold off challenges from Howard Willis and Paul White to take home the big paycheck ahead of Willis and White.
1. 9 Shane Hebert
2. 461 Howard Willis
3. 216 Paul White
By my count, 73 modifieds and forty limited modifieds were in competition last night. The track did get pretty rough as the night progressed, but that is understandable considering all the rain the Baytown area had received earlier in the week. As I type this blog, snow is coming down. According to the Weather Channel, schools are letting out early and the reporter mentioned the town does not have snowplows. The snow has let up here lately, and I was informed last night that the track crew does everything in their power to get the show in.
Speaking of the track, one of the diehard race fans in attendance last night mentioned that Houston Raceway Park will not be running a weekly show next year. Rather they are going to hold about eight special events throughout the season. That is a shame to hear as Houston Raceway Park is a top-notch facility.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Martin, Essary Top Turkey Classic
A gorgeous November fall day on Saturday allowed me the chance to return to the Springfield Raceway yesterday for the 3rd Annual Turkey Classic. I was on hand last November for the event before persistent light rain forced officials to postpone the show until March. The bright sunshine and warmer temperatures allowed both drivers and fans alike to show up in bunches at the speedy quarter mile oval. It was announced that 170 race teams were packed in the pits, and the stands were probably close to capacity.
After finding a group of friends from Iowa that also made the trip, I sat down and visited a bit while hot laps were running. Much to my surprise, the modifieds and late models ran their heat races first. Seventy-five modifieds and thirty-five late models were on hand, a number that I hadn't expected. Modifieds ran eight heat races and five b-main events to narrow the field down to twenty, while the late models held four qualifying heats and two b-mains for the same starting field. Passing points was used for both classes to determine qualifiers out of the heat races along with starting lineups for the b-mains.
The modifieds would be the first feature to hit the track. After two failed attempts to get the race going, officials opted to use a single file start. Pole-sitter Steve Martin jumped out front early. The race would be plagued by several caution periods, roughly eight by my calculations. After one of the restarts, there was two and three-wide racing going on in the middle of the pack, showing fans how well prepared the track was. After bringing out the initial yellow flag as a result of a spin, Scott Drake was proving he would still be a factor as he set sail on the top side to try to make up ground. After restarting ninth, he quickly made his way up to the third spot before another caution flag waved, putting him back in fourth. Drake would advance to the runner up spot and put pressure on Martin, but the caution flag haulted his efforts every time. Steve Martin would be able to keep his distance out front as he pocketed the win. Scott Drake was second, Rex Merritt third, Jim Body fourth, and Paul Reeder I believe rounded out the top five.
1. 21M Steve Martin
2. 12D Scott Drake
3. 25 Rex Merritt
4. 71 Jim Body
5. 97 Paul Reeder
6. 09 Casey McClaskey (sp?)
The late models were up next for their feature event. Ken Essary and Johnny Fennwald paced the field to the green flag with Fennwald getting the edge on lap one. Essary and Justin Wells quickly challenged Fennwald's lead and made it three-wide down the front stretch before both were able to split Fennwald's machine going into turn one. Essary would get the advantage off the corner before he and Wells distanced themselves from the field. Wells would make his move on the outside as Essary got caught behind lapped traffic, giving him the lead. However, that pass would not stick as the caution flag came out before the lap could get completed, handing the lead back over to Essary. Four more caution flags would appear before the end of the race, which helped Brad Looney advance towards the front of the field. Looney used the low line to drive by Fennwald's machine to take over the third spot. A little further back, Chuck Comer was working the top groove as he climbed to sixth after starting fifteenth. Unfortunately as soon as I noticed that, he slowed entering turn three and pulled off the track. Up front Ken Essary maintained his lead as he went on to take the checkered flag ahead of Justin Wells, Brad Looney, Johnny Fennewald, and Matt Johnson.
1. 55 Ken Essary
2. 98 Justin Wells
3. 23 Brad Looney
4. 91 Johnny Fennewald
5. 5J Matt Johnson
6. 77A Justin Asplin
7. 97M Joey Mack (started 18th)
I would like to give the Springfield Raceway a big shout out. The track was in great shape all afternoon and evening and provided a lot of great racing. However, I would also like to give them one piece of constructive criticism. From a fan's perspective, it would be much appreciated if you had more then one official with a headset when trying to realign cars following a caution. I felt sorry for the guy on the front stretch having to do all the work pretty much by himself.
Due to the lengthy time of realigning cars and all the caution flags, I opted not to stick around for the bmods and legends as I had a 6 1/2 hour trip back home. For those of you who believe I am "crazy", I can had reinforcement to your belief as I pulled into my driveway around 3:15AM after leaving the track around 8:00pm.
The Springfield Raceway also made the announcement that they will be running E-mods next year. No rules were mentioned, but be sure to check out their track website throughout the winter months on this new class. Also mentioned was a pure stock/enduro shootout event scheduled for Memorial Day. The winner will receive a lofty paycheck of $2,000 as told by the announcer. As mentioned before, check out the track website at www.springfieldraceway.com.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
After finding a group of friends from Iowa that also made the trip, I sat down and visited a bit while hot laps were running. Much to my surprise, the modifieds and late models ran their heat races first. Seventy-five modifieds and thirty-five late models were on hand, a number that I hadn't expected. Modifieds ran eight heat races and five b-main events to narrow the field down to twenty, while the late models held four qualifying heats and two b-mains for the same starting field. Passing points was used for both classes to determine qualifiers out of the heat races along with starting lineups for the b-mains.
The modifieds would be the first feature to hit the track. After two failed attempts to get the race going, officials opted to use a single file start. Pole-sitter Steve Martin jumped out front early. The race would be plagued by several caution periods, roughly eight by my calculations. After one of the restarts, there was two and three-wide racing going on in the middle of the pack, showing fans how well prepared the track was. After bringing out the initial yellow flag as a result of a spin, Scott Drake was proving he would still be a factor as he set sail on the top side to try to make up ground. After restarting ninth, he quickly made his way up to the third spot before another caution flag waved, putting him back in fourth. Drake would advance to the runner up spot and put pressure on Martin, but the caution flag haulted his efforts every time. Steve Martin would be able to keep his distance out front as he pocketed the win. Scott Drake was second, Rex Merritt third, Jim Body fourth, and Paul Reeder I believe rounded out the top five.
1. 21M Steve Martin
2. 12D Scott Drake
3. 25 Rex Merritt
4. 71 Jim Body
5. 97 Paul Reeder
6. 09 Casey McClaskey (sp?)
The late models were up next for their feature event. Ken Essary and Johnny Fennwald paced the field to the green flag with Fennwald getting the edge on lap one. Essary and Justin Wells quickly challenged Fennwald's lead and made it three-wide down the front stretch before both were able to split Fennwald's machine going into turn one. Essary would get the advantage off the corner before he and Wells distanced themselves from the field. Wells would make his move on the outside as Essary got caught behind lapped traffic, giving him the lead. However, that pass would not stick as the caution flag came out before the lap could get completed, handing the lead back over to Essary. Four more caution flags would appear before the end of the race, which helped Brad Looney advance towards the front of the field. Looney used the low line to drive by Fennwald's machine to take over the third spot. A little further back, Chuck Comer was working the top groove as he climbed to sixth after starting fifteenth. Unfortunately as soon as I noticed that, he slowed entering turn three and pulled off the track. Up front Ken Essary maintained his lead as he went on to take the checkered flag ahead of Justin Wells, Brad Looney, Johnny Fennewald, and Matt Johnson.
1. 55 Ken Essary
2. 98 Justin Wells
3. 23 Brad Looney
4. 91 Johnny Fennewald
5. 5J Matt Johnson
6. 77A Justin Asplin
7. 97M Joey Mack (started 18th)
I would like to give the Springfield Raceway a big shout out. The track was in great shape all afternoon and evening and provided a lot of great racing. However, I would also like to give them one piece of constructive criticism. From a fan's perspective, it would be much appreciated if you had more then one official with a headset when trying to realign cars following a caution. I felt sorry for the guy on the front stretch having to do all the work pretty much by himself.
Due to the lengthy time of realigning cars and all the caution flags, I opted not to stick around for the bmods and legends as I had a 6 1/2 hour trip back home. For those of you who believe I am "crazy", I can had reinforcement to your belief as I pulled into my driveway around 3:15AM after leaving the track around 8:00pm.
The Springfield Raceway also made the announcement that they will be running E-mods next year. No rules were mentioned, but be sure to check out their track website throughout the winter months on this new class. Also mentioned was a pure stock/enduro shootout event scheduled for Memorial Day. The winner will receive a lofty paycheck of $2,000 as told by the announcer. As mentioned before, check out the track website at www.springfieldraceway.com.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Howard Willis Picks Up Night 1 @ Battleground Speedway
The USMTS Southern Series was back in action at the Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas last night as the first night of a triple-header weekend. Forty-five USMTS modifieds were on hand along with 48 limited modifieds in action Thursday night at the 3/8-mile speedplant. Upon arrival, USMTS president Todd Staley greeted me and introduced me to the promoter. After spending a few minutes chatting with me, he was off to continue getting things ready for the evening.
As mentioned forty-eight limited modifieds were on hand, which were run in six heat races. The top three transferred directly to the feature while the rest went to one of two B-main events. The feature was scheduled to go twenty-five laps with Paul White leading the field to the green from the pole. White jumped out front by turn one, but the first lap failed to get put in the books as ten cars were involved in a big wreck in turn one. Four of those cars were able to return to the track after making repairs, but the decision was made to reduce the scheduled distance down to twenty laps.
White would again get the jump on the field when the green flag waved again, with Howard Willis giving chase close behind. Another caution would fly about five laps in, where once again the decision was made to reduce the laps to just fifteen. By this time, only thirteen cars remained on the track. White was able to keep a steady distance between himself and Howard Willis the remainder of the race, picking up a cool $1,000 paycheck. Brad Ball took home third place.
Also scheduled for twenty-five laps and a $1,000 payday, the USMTS modifieds made their presence on the track. New Mexico driver Bumper Jones redrew the pole position, but it would be Garrett Durrett assuming the top spot on lap one. Scott Green made his presence known as he dove to the inside of Jones a couple laps in to grab the runner up spot. Green would not stop there as he carried his momentum to the lead around Durrett on the next circuit. Howard Willis was a man on a mission as he quickly climbed his way to fourth after starting tenth. A caution on lap six bunched the field up, with Jones regaining the top spot on the restart. Willis and Scott Green both slipped under Durrett to move up to second and third, respectively.
Willis closed in on the rear bumper of Jones before slipping back a couple of car lengths. Meanwhile, the two drivers atop the Southern Series point standings were going at it side by side deeper in the pack as Kelly Shryock and Jason Hughes battled for the eighth spot. Both drivers advanced out of a B-main event. Morgan Bagley also had a great run as he started sixteenth and was up to the fifth spot around the midway point of the race. Up front, Willis made the low side stick as he passed Jones for the lead amidst lapped traffic. Willis would not look back as he slowly separated himself and went on to take the win. Bumper Jones, Scott Green, Dereck Ramirez, and Morgan Bagley rounded out the top five.
1. E Howard Willis
2. 111 Bumper Jones
3. 25 Scott Green
4. 4R Dereck Ramirez
5. 5R Morgan Bagley
6. 33z Zack VanderBeek
7. 12 Jason Hughes
8. 3 Kelly Shryock
9. 58 Garrett Durrett
10. 561 David Horner
11. 20 Rodney Sanders
Hughes gained a few points on Shryock's slim lead, narrowing the gap to just eight points in the Southern Series Hunt. Two more races are on hand at the Battleground Speedway this weekend before the Hunt concludes with a three-day extravaganza at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas the first weekend of December.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
As mentioned forty-eight limited modifieds were on hand, which were run in six heat races. The top three transferred directly to the feature while the rest went to one of two B-main events. The feature was scheduled to go twenty-five laps with Paul White leading the field to the green from the pole. White jumped out front by turn one, but the first lap failed to get put in the books as ten cars were involved in a big wreck in turn one. Four of those cars were able to return to the track after making repairs, but the decision was made to reduce the scheduled distance down to twenty laps.
White would again get the jump on the field when the green flag waved again, with Howard Willis giving chase close behind. Another caution would fly about five laps in, where once again the decision was made to reduce the laps to just fifteen. By this time, only thirteen cars remained on the track. White was able to keep a steady distance between himself and Howard Willis the remainder of the race, picking up a cool $1,000 paycheck. Brad Ball took home third place.
Also scheduled for twenty-five laps and a $1,000 payday, the USMTS modifieds made their presence on the track. New Mexico driver Bumper Jones redrew the pole position, but it would be Garrett Durrett assuming the top spot on lap one. Scott Green made his presence known as he dove to the inside of Jones a couple laps in to grab the runner up spot. Green would not stop there as he carried his momentum to the lead around Durrett on the next circuit. Howard Willis was a man on a mission as he quickly climbed his way to fourth after starting tenth. A caution on lap six bunched the field up, with Jones regaining the top spot on the restart. Willis and Scott Green both slipped under Durrett to move up to second and third, respectively.
Willis closed in on the rear bumper of Jones before slipping back a couple of car lengths. Meanwhile, the two drivers atop the Southern Series point standings were going at it side by side deeper in the pack as Kelly Shryock and Jason Hughes battled for the eighth spot. Both drivers advanced out of a B-main event. Morgan Bagley also had a great run as he started sixteenth and was up to the fifth spot around the midway point of the race. Up front, Willis made the low side stick as he passed Jones for the lead amidst lapped traffic. Willis would not look back as he slowly separated himself and went on to take the win. Bumper Jones, Scott Green, Dereck Ramirez, and Morgan Bagley rounded out the top five.
1. E Howard Willis
2. 111 Bumper Jones
3. 25 Scott Green
4. 4R Dereck Ramirez
5. 5R Morgan Bagley
6. 33z Zack VanderBeek
7. 12 Jason Hughes
8. 3 Kelly Shryock
9. 58 Garrett Durrett
10. 561 David Horner
11. 20 Rodney Sanders
Hughes gained a few points on Shryock's slim lead, narrowing the gap to just eight points in the Southern Series Hunt. Two more races are on hand at the Battleground Speedway this weekend before the Hunt concludes with a three-day extravaganza at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas the first weekend of December.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Duel in the Desert
Although I wasn't able to make the trip out to the dirt track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, I found myself glued to my computer screen watching the webcast of the 12th annual Duel in the Desert. The Duel boasts the biggest winner's check every year for IMCA modifieds, and this year's winner will take home $7,777.77.
Several Iowa stock car and modified drivers made the trip west. Stock car drivers included Trent Murphy, Kevin Opheim, and Jake Masters. The list of modified drivers included Jeremy Mills, Chris Abelson, Vern Jackson, Jay Noteboom, Reese Coffee, Troy Cordes, and Phil Penney. I may have missed a few, and if that's the case, I apologize.
The IMCA stock cars would run their 20-lap feature first with North Dakota driver Robby Roselli grabbing the early lead. Kevin Opheim made his presence felt a few laps in as he overtook the lead. Opheim appeared to be on his way to victory until the final set of corners. Opheim slid up the track and fellow Iowa driver Trent Murphy, the Boone Speedway track champion, was there to take advantage and steal the jackpot away. Robby Roselli would finish third.
Over 200 modifieds were on hand for the weekend's racing action, but the field was narrowed down to the best twenty-eight drivers. Sioux City's Chris Abelson and Colorado hotshoe Ricky Alvarado paced the field to the green flag of the forty-lap finale. Abelson would lead the first couple of laps before sliding up the track, handing the lead over to Alvarado. Alvarado, who had already picked up a Wild West Shootout victory earlier in the night, opened up a good lead while Johnny "The Jet" Saathoff followed him by Abelson.
The first caution flag would wave on lap twenty-one when Kellen Chadwick came to a stop. On the restart, Bob Moore slid up the track and lost several spots. The only other caution would bunch the field back up with thirteen laps remaining. Alvarado slid up in turn four, opening the door for Saathoff to scoot by underneath. Phillips also got by on the low side to snag the second spot, but "Jet" powered out to a commanding lead that was never challenged as he went on to pick up the big payday. Terry Phillips, Ricky Alvarado, Dominic Ursetta, and Scott Drake rounded out the top five.
Although watching on the internet isn't quite the same as being there live in person, I'd like to say thanks to the people who put on the webcast. They had a few bugs here and there, but for the most part the coverage was excellent. As they mentioned on the webcast, it takes a lot of work to get things lined up in order to provide that type of service to people that aren't able to be there.
While watching the events, I had an amazing thought run through my head. After looking back through my records, I discovered that this weekend was the first non-racing weekend since the end of March!! Two races were on my schedule for that weekend, but weather forced both tracks to cancel.
I'm not sure if I'll be able to hit any more races yet this year or not. I know there are a few left on my own personal schedule, but only time will tell. The only race left on the Positivelyracing.com calendar is the Turkey Classic held at the Springfield Raceway in Springfield, Missouri on November 28th. So if you're willing to sit out in chilly weather on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, don't be surprised if you see me there!
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Several Iowa stock car and modified drivers made the trip west. Stock car drivers included Trent Murphy, Kevin Opheim, and Jake Masters. The list of modified drivers included Jeremy Mills, Chris Abelson, Vern Jackson, Jay Noteboom, Reese Coffee, Troy Cordes, and Phil Penney. I may have missed a few, and if that's the case, I apologize.
The IMCA stock cars would run their 20-lap feature first with North Dakota driver Robby Roselli grabbing the early lead. Kevin Opheim made his presence felt a few laps in as he overtook the lead. Opheim appeared to be on his way to victory until the final set of corners. Opheim slid up the track and fellow Iowa driver Trent Murphy, the Boone Speedway track champion, was there to take advantage and steal the jackpot away. Robby Roselli would finish third.
Over 200 modifieds were on hand for the weekend's racing action, but the field was narrowed down to the best twenty-eight drivers. Sioux City's Chris Abelson and Colorado hotshoe Ricky Alvarado paced the field to the green flag of the forty-lap finale. Abelson would lead the first couple of laps before sliding up the track, handing the lead over to Alvarado. Alvarado, who had already picked up a Wild West Shootout victory earlier in the night, opened up a good lead while Johnny "The Jet" Saathoff followed him by Abelson.
The first caution flag would wave on lap twenty-one when Kellen Chadwick came to a stop. On the restart, Bob Moore slid up the track and lost several spots. The only other caution would bunch the field back up with thirteen laps remaining. Alvarado slid up in turn four, opening the door for Saathoff to scoot by underneath. Phillips also got by on the low side to snag the second spot, but "Jet" powered out to a commanding lead that was never challenged as he went on to pick up the big payday. Terry Phillips, Ricky Alvarado, Dominic Ursetta, and Scott Drake rounded out the top five.
Although watching on the internet isn't quite the same as being there live in person, I'd like to say thanks to the people who put on the webcast. They had a few bugs here and there, but for the most part the coverage was excellent. As they mentioned on the webcast, it takes a lot of work to get things lined up in order to provide that type of service to people that aren't able to be there.
While watching the events, I had an amazing thought run through my head. After looking back through my records, I discovered that this weekend was the first non-racing weekend since the end of March!! Two races were on my schedule for that weekend, but weather forced both tracks to cancel.
I'm not sure if I'll be able to hit any more races yet this year or not. I know there are a few left on my own personal schedule, but only time will tell. The only race left on the Positivelyracing.com calendar is the Turkey Classic held at the Springfield Raceway in Springfield, Missouri on November 28th. So if you're willing to sit out in chilly weather on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, don't be surprised if you see me there!
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Hovden Pulls Off The Trifecta
A rare accomplishment was made over the weekend in racing. Chris Hovden, the 2009 USRA hobby stock national champion, picked up wins on Friday and Saturday night at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. He then backed it up with another victory on Sunday at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa. And to add to the impressive weekend, Chris noted in his post-race interview at Oskaloosa that he had never visited the Memphis track until this past weekend.
USRA modifieds were on tap first as only sixteen cars were checked in for action. Outside front row starter Brad Pinkerton wasted no time in assuming command of the race as he sprinted to the lead utilizing the top side. Ryan Gustin and Scott Dickey settled into the second and third positions, respectively, and tried to run down Pinkerton but were unable to gain any ground. The first caution waved on lap ten, but it wouldn't take Pinkerton long to put plenty of distance on the pack. His lead grew to a full straight away with six laps remaining while he was also putting cars a lap down. Scott Dickey rode the cushion to get by Ryan Gustin with three laps to go, and Gustin would lose another spot to Zack VanderBeek on the last lap. Pinkerton's dominance meant only five of the thirteen cars running at the end were on the lead lap. Pinkerton took home the impressive win followed by Scott Dickey, Zack VanderBeek, Ryan Gustin, and Donovan Lodge.
Thirty-two USRA bmods were narrowed to a field of twenty-four for their feature event, which saw Colter Deutsch jump out front early. A.J. Johnson would take the lead away from him on lap three as Johnson used the high line to zoom past. Scott Davis, who started twelfth, quickly drove his way up to the third spot by lap four. Cayden Carter would get by Davis and challenge Deustch for the runner up spot. Johnson extended his lead to a comfortable advantage, letting the rest of the pack duke it out behind him. Carter, Davis, and Deutsch were grouped together closely as the laps were winding down. A.J. Johson took the checkered flag first followed by Cayden Carter, Scott Davis, Colter Deutsch, and Matt Lettow. Andrew Schroeder had a great run as he transferred out of a b-main, started 21st, and finished in the sixth spot.
The USRA hobby stocks were next to hit the track for their feature event, with Chris Hovden taking the early command from his second row starting spot. Todd Reitzler challenged Hovden on the inside, but Hovden's momentum on the top side kept him out front. The field got spread out and primarily ran the top side of the speedway. Don Nunnikhoven began to close the gap on Hovden late in the race, but was unable to find a way by as Hovden pocketed yet another victory on the weekend. Nunnikhoven was second, Todd Reitzler third, Danny Thrasher was fourth, and Kris Walker fifth.
The finale of the night would be the USRA stock cars. Matt Greiner used the outside groove to propel himself into the lead on the first lap with Nathan Wood and Mike VanGenderen closely behind. Just a couple of laps into the race, Wood's machine broke something in the right front as his tire was wobbling down the front stretch. Heading into turn one, VanGenderen opted to shoot to the outside. Wood apparently was unaware of his malfunctioning car and drove it deep into the corner, sliding up and making heavy contact with VanGenderen's car. A chain reaction ensued behind them, totaling six cars involved in the melee. In fact, Todd Staley's machine stood up on its nose and landed on Dan Christopher's hood. Shane Weller was also involved, but had a tow truck transport him to the work area. Beings there was only one tow truck on hand Weller opted to make repairs, including changing an A-arm. He was able to get things fixed just in time to tag the restart after what seemed to be at least a twenty-minute delay.
Brian Mitrisin would snag the lead away from Greiner on lap three, but would later drop off the backstretch and hand the lead back to Greiner. Mitch Hovden would be the next to challenge Greiner's lead, but all eyes were on Shane Weller at that point. Weller was quickly making his way back to the front as he snuck inside of Steve Jackson for the fourth spot with four laps to go. He closed up on the front two cars and was within striking distance after taking the white flag. Weller got a great run off turn two, swung to the inside down the backstretch, and passed both front running cars along with a lapped car before entering turn three. The fans rose to their feet in anticipation of a great finish in which Weller held on for the win! Matt Greiner would settle for second, Mitch Hovden third, Mike Bergan fourth, and Steve Jackson fifth. Weller also picked up the opening night of the Fall Challenge in Oskaloosa back in October.
What an exciting way to cap off a good night of racing!! While many cars got torn up throughout the night and several suffered mechanical troubles, the racing was good throughout the night. Todd Staley and his staff kept the show moving all night. It was very nice sitting in the 60+ degree temperature throughout the first weekend of November.
I'd personally like to thank Todd and Janet Staley. They have shown me a lot of hospitality throughout the 2009 racing season, and for that I am very thankful. They always take the time to talk either before or after the races and answer my questions.
While we are in the month of November, the Staley's are not done promoting. They have two separate weekends of the USMTS Southern Series yet to go down in the state of Texas. It was announced at Oskaloosa that free tickets are available for those interested in going to the Houston Raceway Park triple-header. Simply call the USMTS office at 515-832-7944 for more information.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
USRA modifieds were on tap first as only sixteen cars were checked in for action. Outside front row starter Brad Pinkerton wasted no time in assuming command of the race as he sprinted to the lead utilizing the top side. Ryan Gustin and Scott Dickey settled into the second and third positions, respectively, and tried to run down Pinkerton but were unable to gain any ground. The first caution waved on lap ten, but it wouldn't take Pinkerton long to put plenty of distance on the pack. His lead grew to a full straight away with six laps remaining while he was also putting cars a lap down. Scott Dickey rode the cushion to get by Ryan Gustin with three laps to go, and Gustin would lose another spot to Zack VanderBeek on the last lap. Pinkerton's dominance meant only five of the thirteen cars running at the end were on the lead lap. Pinkerton took home the impressive win followed by Scott Dickey, Zack VanderBeek, Ryan Gustin, and Donovan Lodge.
Thirty-two USRA bmods were narrowed to a field of twenty-four for their feature event, which saw Colter Deutsch jump out front early. A.J. Johnson would take the lead away from him on lap three as Johnson used the high line to zoom past. Scott Davis, who started twelfth, quickly drove his way up to the third spot by lap four. Cayden Carter would get by Davis and challenge Deustch for the runner up spot. Johnson extended his lead to a comfortable advantage, letting the rest of the pack duke it out behind him. Carter, Davis, and Deutsch were grouped together closely as the laps were winding down. A.J. Johson took the checkered flag first followed by Cayden Carter, Scott Davis, Colter Deutsch, and Matt Lettow. Andrew Schroeder had a great run as he transferred out of a b-main, started 21st, and finished in the sixth spot.
The USRA hobby stocks were next to hit the track for their feature event, with Chris Hovden taking the early command from his second row starting spot. Todd Reitzler challenged Hovden on the inside, but Hovden's momentum on the top side kept him out front. The field got spread out and primarily ran the top side of the speedway. Don Nunnikhoven began to close the gap on Hovden late in the race, but was unable to find a way by as Hovden pocketed yet another victory on the weekend. Nunnikhoven was second, Todd Reitzler third, Danny Thrasher was fourth, and Kris Walker fifth.
The finale of the night would be the USRA stock cars. Matt Greiner used the outside groove to propel himself into the lead on the first lap with Nathan Wood and Mike VanGenderen closely behind. Just a couple of laps into the race, Wood's machine broke something in the right front as his tire was wobbling down the front stretch. Heading into turn one, VanGenderen opted to shoot to the outside. Wood apparently was unaware of his malfunctioning car and drove it deep into the corner, sliding up and making heavy contact with VanGenderen's car. A chain reaction ensued behind them, totaling six cars involved in the melee. In fact, Todd Staley's machine stood up on its nose and landed on Dan Christopher's hood. Shane Weller was also involved, but had a tow truck transport him to the work area. Beings there was only one tow truck on hand Weller opted to make repairs, including changing an A-arm. He was able to get things fixed just in time to tag the restart after what seemed to be at least a twenty-minute delay.
Brian Mitrisin would snag the lead away from Greiner on lap three, but would later drop off the backstretch and hand the lead back to Greiner. Mitch Hovden would be the next to challenge Greiner's lead, but all eyes were on Shane Weller at that point. Weller was quickly making his way back to the front as he snuck inside of Steve Jackson for the fourth spot with four laps to go. He closed up on the front two cars and was within striking distance after taking the white flag. Weller got a great run off turn two, swung to the inside down the backstretch, and passed both front running cars along with a lapped car before entering turn three. The fans rose to their feet in anticipation of a great finish in which Weller held on for the win! Matt Greiner would settle for second, Mitch Hovden third, Mike Bergan fourth, and Steve Jackson fifth. Weller also picked up the opening night of the Fall Challenge in Oskaloosa back in October.
What an exciting way to cap off a good night of racing!! While many cars got torn up throughout the night and several suffered mechanical troubles, the racing was good throughout the night. Todd Staley and his staff kept the show moving all night. It was very nice sitting in the 60+ degree temperature throughout the first weekend of November.
I'd personally like to thank Todd and Janet Staley. They have shown me a lot of hospitality throughout the 2009 racing season, and for that I am very thankful. They always take the time to talk either before or after the races and answer my questions.
While we are in the month of November, the Staley's are not done promoting. They have two separate weekends of the USMTS Southern Series yet to go down in the state of Texas. It was announced at Oskaloosa that free tickets are available for those interested in going to the Houston Raceway Park triple-header. Simply call the USMTS office at 515-832-7944 for more information.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Greiner, Hovden Double Up In Memphis
Once was not enough for Chris Hovden and Matt Greiner, as both drivers pulled off the back-to-back weekend at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri Saturday night. A great field of 143 race teams jammed the pit areas for another great night of racing that saw the same classes of cars in action while also adding the outlaw hobby stocks.
The outlaw hobby stocks would be first to run their feature event. Sixteen cars were on hand and Dean Kratzer would take home the win. He was followed across the line by Dan and Jake Wenig, Brandon Symmonds, and Jeremy Pundt.
Next up would be the USRA hobby stocks. Twenty-five competitors took the green flag with Todd Reitzler grabbing the early lead. The red flag would wave twice early on in this race as Alan Hultz and Dale Porter wound up upside down in separate incidents. Both drivers would be okay. With Reitzler still out front, the battle for second heated up among Nathan Wood, Scott Spilde, and Chris Hovden. Spilde would lose two spots to Wood and Hovden before those two engaged in a battle with Reitzler for the lead. Reitzler would get caught on the outside of the three-wide row and fall back to fourth while Hovden would pull ahead of Wood for the lead. Spilde would battle back and challenge Wood for the runner up spot, and he would solidify that spot a lap later. A late race restart proved to be costly once again for Nathan Wood as he suffered a right rear tire on the final lap, ending his great run. Chris Hovden went on to take his second set of twin checkers of the weekend. Scott Spilde, Derek Kirkland, Todd Reitzler, and Clayton Crump rounded out the top five.
Pole-sitter Rodger Dresden led the first couple of laps the USRA bmods before giving it up to Cayden Carter on lap three. Andrew Schroeder mounted a challenge, but his luck ran out when he looped his machine in turn two. Geoff Olson took advantage of the double-file restart as he darted to the inside of Carter to take over the race lead. Several caution flags would wave before the end of the race, but Olson was able to keep his focus and take home the big payday. Brad Iverson, Friday night's feature winner Colter Deutsch, Cayden Carter, and Jason McDaniel rounded out the top five. McDaniel sliced through the field after starting sixteenth.
Only nineteen of the twenty-three USRA stock cars took the green flag, but that didn't prevent the class from putting on a great show for the packed stands. Outside front row starter Kurt Krauskopf appeared to have things well in hand early on, but Friday night's winner Matt Greiner was working his way to the front as he slid inside of Jason Cook to snag the second position. Greiner would pull even with Krauskopf and later take the lead away. Krauskopf would slide back a few more spots, but there was no sliding back for Greiner has he pocketed another big check. He was followed across the line by Nathan Wood, Jason Cook, Kurt Krauskopf, and Rich Vogt. A surprise competitor entered his name into the stock car class, as Todd Staley hopped behind the wheel of Zack VanderBeek's car and drove it Saturday night. Staley drove it Thursday night during practice and loved it, so he opted to race it Saturday night. Staley looked pretty good for a "rookie", until he drove off turn three in the feature after getting in too hot. Staley would boast a 13th place finish.
Twenty-four USRA modifieds hit the track for the final event of the night. Scott Weber would assume the lead at the start, but Corey Dripps would slowly begin to reel in the hotshoe. Dripps would take the lead, but Weber regained the lead before a caution flag waved. Zack VanderBeek was on the charge once again as he claimed the second spot away from Dripps, while Michael Long was trying to repeat Friday night's performance from deeper in the field. Long made his way up to fourth after starting twelfth, but up front VanderBeek powered his car around Weber on the outside to the lead. Long would work under Dripps for third, but a caution flag negated the pass. Weber would challenge VanderBeek's lead for a few laps, but VanderBeek was able to put some distance between them late in the race to take home the win. Scott Weber was second, and Corey Dripps was third. Ryan Gustin used the high line to get by Michael Long at the line for fourth and fifth, respectively.
The USRA hobby stock and stock car features were the best ones of the night, providing fans with plenty of side-by-side action throughout the field and boasting numerous battles for the lead. The track held up pretty good again, so once again I have to give the track crew big props for their hard work.
The action moves north and west today (Sunday) as the Southern Iowa Speedway will host their second day of the Fall Challenge, previous postponed twice. Action is scheduled to get underway with hot laps at 2:30 and racing at 3:00 I believe.
For complete results from Saturday night's action, check out http://www.usraracing.com/ and click on the "news and results" tab.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
The outlaw hobby stocks would be first to run their feature event. Sixteen cars were on hand and Dean Kratzer would take home the win. He was followed across the line by Dan and Jake Wenig, Brandon Symmonds, and Jeremy Pundt.
Next up would be the USRA hobby stocks. Twenty-five competitors took the green flag with Todd Reitzler grabbing the early lead. The red flag would wave twice early on in this race as Alan Hultz and Dale Porter wound up upside down in separate incidents. Both drivers would be okay. With Reitzler still out front, the battle for second heated up among Nathan Wood, Scott Spilde, and Chris Hovden. Spilde would lose two spots to Wood and Hovden before those two engaged in a battle with Reitzler for the lead. Reitzler would get caught on the outside of the three-wide row and fall back to fourth while Hovden would pull ahead of Wood for the lead. Spilde would battle back and challenge Wood for the runner up spot, and he would solidify that spot a lap later. A late race restart proved to be costly once again for Nathan Wood as he suffered a right rear tire on the final lap, ending his great run. Chris Hovden went on to take his second set of twin checkers of the weekend. Scott Spilde, Derek Kirkland, Todd Reitzler, and Clayton Crump rounded out the top five.
Pole-sitter Rodger Dresden led the first couple of laps the USRA bmods before giving it up to Cayden Carter on lap three. Andrew Schroeder mounted a challenge, but his luck ran out when he looped his machine in turn two. Geoff Olson took advantage of the double-file restart as he darted to the inside of Carter to take over the race lead. Several caution flags would wave before the end of the race, but Olson was able to keep his focus and take home the big payday. Brad Iverson, Friday night's feature winner Colter Deutsch, Cayden Carter, and Jason McDaniel rounded out the top five. McDaniel sliced through the field after starting sixteenth.
Only nineteen of the twenty-three USRA stock cars took the green flag, but that didn't prevent the class from putting on a great show for the packed stands. Outside front row starter Kurt Krauskopf appeared to have things well in hand early on, but Friday night's winner Matt Greiner was working his way to the front as he slid inside of Jason Cook to snag the second position. Greiner would pull even with Krauskopf and later take the lead away. Krauskopf would slide back a few more spots, but there was no sliding back for Greiner has he pocketed another big check. He was followed across the line by Nathan Wood, Jason Cook, Kurt Krauskopf, and Rich Vogt. A surprise competitor entered his name into the stock car class, as Todd Staley hopped behind the wheel of Zack VanderBeek's car and drove it Saturday night. Staley drove it Thursday night during practice and loved it, so he opted to race it Saturday night. Staley looked pretty good for a "rookie", until he drove off turn three in the feature after getting in too hot. Staley would boast a 13th place finish.
Twenty-four USRA modifieds hit the track for the final event of the night. Scott Weber would assume the lead at the start, but Corey Dripps would slowly begin to reel in the hotshoe. Dripps would take the lead, but Weber regained the lead before a caution flag waved. Zack VanderBeek was on the charge once again as he claimed the second spot away from Dripps, while Michael Long was trying to repeat Friday night's performance from deeper in the field. Long made his way up to fourth after starting twelfth, but up front VanderBeek powered his car around Weber on the outside to the lead. Long would work under Dripps for third, but a caution flag negated the pass. Weber would challenge VanderBeek's lead for a few laps, but VanderBeek was able to put some distance between them late in the race to take home the win. Scott Weber was second, and Corey Dripps was third. Ryan Gustin used the high line to get by Michael Long at the line for fourth and fifth, respectively.
The USRA hobby stock and stock car features were the best ones of the night, providing fans with plenty of side-by-side action throughout the field and boasting numerous battles for the lead. The track held up pretty good again, so once again I have to give the track crew big props for their hard work.
The action moves north and west today (Sunday) as the Southern Iowa Speedway will host their second day of the Fall Challenge, previous postponed twice. Action is scheduled to get underway with hot laps at 2:30 and racing at 3:00 I believe.
For complete results from Saturday night's action, check out http://www.usraracing.com/ and click on the "news and results" tab.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Long Dominates Pepsi Memphis Nationals Opening Night
For the first time in 2009, the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri hosted a racing event. According to some local people, the track looked more like a hay field earlier in the year. But a group of people were able to turn that "hay field" into a lightning-fast, smooth race track for Friday night's action. 116 race teams packed the pits on Friday night.
Up first would be the USRA hobby stock feature. Nathan Wood, the 2007 USRA national champion, would grab the lead on lap one while 2009 USRA national champion Chris Hovden was making his way through the field. After starting twelfth, Hovden found himself in third at the completion of the second circuit. Hovden used a restart to get inside of 2008 USRA national champion Jason McDaniel to take over the runner up spot and set his sights on the leader Wood. McDaniel would continue to falter as Scott Spilde and Todd Reitzler both got by him, along with Clayton Crump a few laps later. Wood's good run would come up short as he suffered a right rear flat tire as he exited turn two, handing the reigns over to Chris Hovden. Among the turn of events, Crump made his way to the second spot. Several cautions plagued the finish to the race, including an incident that involved Crump, Spilde, and McDaniel (2nd, 3rd, and 4th place drivers). Hovden would take advantage of that and take home the win followed by Andrew Hustead, Todd Reitzler, Scott Spilde, and Clayton Crump. Only eight of the twenty-one cars finished the race.
1. 70 Chris Hovden
2. 20 Andrew Hustead
3. 22R Todd Reitzler
4. 18x Scott Spilde
5. 3c Clayton Crump
6. 27 Clint Nelson
7. 62 T.J. Henderson
8. Big O Jordan O'Haver
Next up would be the USRA bmods. A field of over thirty cars were narrowed down to a starting field of twenty-four, with Bobby Penney and Geoff Olson up front early. Olson would solidify the lead on lap two while Ellsworth, Minnesota driver Colter Deutsch was working his way through the field. Deutsch started twelfth and was up to sixth by lap four. Bert McDaniel drove his machine to the inside of Penney to snare the second position away from Penney, but Brad Iverson would slip under McDaniel a lap later. Deutsch climbed his way to third by McDaniel before a caution flag waved. On the restart, Deutsch took command of the race by powering his machine to the inside of Geoff Olson and sprinting away from the rest of the field. Olson would come home second, Brad Iverson third, Bert McDaniel fourth, and Bobby Penney in fifth.
1. 5 Colter Deutsch
2. 2G Geoff Olson
3. 8 Brad Iverson
4. 98 Bert McDaniel
5. 16P Bobby Penney
6. 1 Paul Underwood
7. 16 Mike Shelton
8. 0 Mike Wanders
9. 62 Bill Gibson
10. 85 Jason McDaniel
A field of twenty-three USRA stock cars took to the track next for their twenty-lap feature. Front row starters Mike VanGenderen and Matt Greiner were side by side on lap one before Greiner took the slight edge the following lap. Following an early caution, VanGenderen and Kurt Krauskopf engaged in a side-by-side battle for the runner up spot. This would be the theme of the race as there were four rows of two-wide racing behind the leader. Nathan Wood used a late restart to get under Krauskopf for the runner up spot and closed in on Greiner. On the final circuit Wood shot off turn two and pulled even going into turn three. Wood was able to gas it up in the corner and take home an exciting win. Greiner finished second, Krauskopf third, a 3w car was fourth (sorry, didn't catch name; it was not Jeff Wollam), and Mike VanGenderen rounded out the top five.
1. 52 Nathan Wood
2. 29 Matt Greiner
3. 60 Kurt Krauskopf
4. 3w Werth ??
5. 57v Mike VanGenderen
6. 27J Jason Cook
Twenty-five laps was the distance for the USRA modifieds. After starting tail of the field in his heat race and picking up the win, Michael Long was almost a sure bet to win the feature after redrawing the outside front row. Long would grab the lead ahead of pole-sitter Mark Schulte at the drop of the green flag, while Ryan Gustin quickly moved into third. After a lap four caution, Gustin powered his machine to the outside of Schulte to snare the second position while Scott Dickey would also get by Schulte a bit later. The field would spread out in the middle part of the race before another caution would wave. Gustin would challenge Long for a couple laps, but Long was able to distance himself from the youngster and the rest of the field. Long took home the win followed by Gustin, Zack VanderBeek, Scott Dickey, and Donovan Lodge. VanderBeek was the one to watch late in the race as he used the high line to work his way from his 18th starting spot to finish third in his brand new 2010 Skyrocket car.
Racing action was concluded by 10:35, a respectable time considering racing action didn't get started until shortly after 7:00. The temperatures were very comfortable throughout the night, especially considering it is the first part of November. Temperatures were still hovering around 60* when I left the track.
One thing that I must note that makes the Memphis track a very unique one. It was nice to see that the "Missouri catwalk" was still in place. When I first visited this facility several years ago, I rode down with Positivelyracing.com's webmaster Sue McDaniel. When we got to the track, she pointed out this tall mound of dirt located on the pitside of turn one. When I asked her what that was for, she replied "that's the Missouri catwalk." Crew members stand on the dirt pile to watch their driver.
As mentioned in the opening paragraph, a lot of kudos must be mentioned to the people that worked on the track. I heard several people comment on how smooth the track was for practice Thursday night. While I did notice a bump or two in turn one during the modified feature, that was well beyond my expectations of a great surface to run on after the track had been shut down for almost a year.
The announcer also introduced the crowd to the promoter for next year. Wayne Messamaker will be the man in charge next year and is looking forward to hosting five classes of cars. After seeing the track surface and the multiple-groove racing last night, I hope he has hired the guys in charge of track prep for this weekend.
For more information regarding last night's races, including full results, check out the USRA website at www.usraracing.com and click on news and results.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Up first would be the USRA hobby stock feature. Nathan Wood, the 2007 USRA national champion, would grab the lead on lap one while 2009 USRA national champion Chris Hovden was making his way through the field. After starting twelfth, Hovden found himself in third at the completion of the second circuit. Hovden used a restart to get inside of 2008 USRA national champion Jason McDaniel to take over the runner up spot and set his sights on the leader Wood. McDaniel would continue to falter as Scott Spilde and Todd Reitzler both got by him, along with Clayton Crump a few laps later. Wood's good run would come up short as he suffered a right rear flat tire as he exited turn two, handing the reigns over to Chris Hovden. Among the turn of events, Crump made his way to the second spot. Several cautions plagued the finish to the race, including an incident that involved Crump, Spilde, and McDaniel (2nd, 3rd, and 4th place drivers). Hovden would take advantage of that and take home the win followed by Andrew Hustead, Todd Reitzler, Scott Spilde, and Clayton Crump. Only eight of the twenty-one cars finished the race.
1. 70 Chris Hovden
2. 20 Andrew Hustead
3. 22R Todd Reitzler
4. 18x Scott Spilde
5. 3c Clayton Crump
6. 27 Clint Nelson
7. 62 T.J. Henderson
8. Big O Jordan O'Haver
Next up would be the USRA bmods. A field of over thirty cars were narrowed down to a starting field of twenty-four, with Bobby Penney and Geoff Olson up front early. Olson would solidify the lead on lap two while Ellsworth, Minnesota driver Colter Deutsch was working his way through the field. Deutsch started twelfth and was up to sixth by lap four. Bert McDaniel drove his machine to the inside of Penney to snare the second position away from Penney, but Brad Iverson would slip under McDaniel a lap later. Deutsch climbed his way to third by McDaniel before a caution flag waved. On the restart, Deutsch took command of the race by powering his machine to the inside of Geoff Olson and sprinting away from the rest of the field. Olson would come home second, Brad Iverson third, Bert McDaniel fourth, and Bobby Penney in fifth.
1. 5 Colter Deutsch
2. 2G Geoff Olson
3. 8 Brad Iverson
4. 98 Bert McDaniel
5. 16P Bobby Penney
6. 1 Paul Underwood
7. 16 Mike Shelton
8. 0 Mike Wanders
9. 62 Bill Gibson
10. 85 Jason McDaniel
A field of twenty-three USRA stock cars took to the track next for their twenty-lap feature. Front row starters Mike VanGenderen and Matt Greiner were side by side on lap one before Greiner took the slight edge the following lap. Following an early caution, VanGenderen and Kurt Krauskopf engaged in a side-by-side battle for the runner up spot. This would be the theme of the race as there were four rows of two-wide racing behind the leader. Nathan Wood used a late restart to get under Krauskopf for the runner up spot and closed in on Greiner. On the final circuit Wood shot off turn two and pulled even going into turn three. Wood was able to gas it up in the corner and take home an exciting win. Greiner finished second, Krauskopf third, a 3w car was fourth (sorry, didn't catch name; it was not Jeff Wollam), and Mike VanGenderen rounded out the top five.
1. 52 Nathan Wood
2. 29 Matt Greiner
3. 60 Kurt Krauskopf
4. 3w Werth ??
5. 57v Mike VanGenderen
6. 27J Jason Cook
Twenty-five laps was the distance for the USRA modifieds. After starting tail of the field in his heat race and picking up the win, Michael Long was almost a sure bet to win the feature after redrawing the outside front row. Long would grab the lead ahead of pole-sitter Mark Schulte at the drop of the green flag, while Ryan Gustin quickly moved into third. After a lap four caution, Gustin powered his machine to the outside of Schulte to snare the second position while Scott Dickey would also get by Schulte a bit later. The field would spread out in the middle part of the race before another caution would wave. Gustin would challenge Long for a couple laps, but Long was able to distance himself from the youngster and the rest of the field. Long took home the win followed by Gustin, Zack VanderBeek, Scott Dickey, and Donovan Lodge. VanderBeek was the one to watch late in the race as he used the high line to work his way from his 18th starting spot to finish third in his brand new 2010 Skyrocket car.
Racing action was concluded by 10:35, a respectable time considering racing action didn't get started until shortly after 7:00. The temperatures were very comfortable throughout the night, especially considering it is the first part of November. Temperatures were still hovering around 60* when I left the track.
One thing that I must note that makes the Memphis track a very unique one. It was nice to see that the "Missouri catwalk" was still in place. When I first visited this facility several years ago, I rode down with Positivelyracing.com's webmaster Sue McDaniel. When we got to the track, she pointed out this tall mound of dirt located on the pitside of turn one. When I asked her what that was for, she replied "that's the Missouri catwalk." Crew members stand on the dirt pile to watch their driver.
As mentioned in the opening paragraph, a lot of kudos must be mentioned to the people that worked on the track. I heard several people comment on how smooth the track was for practice Thursday night. While I did notice a bump or two in turn one during the modified feature, that was well beyond my expectations of a great surface to run on after the track had been shut down for almost a year.
The announcer also introduced the crowd to the promoter for next year. Wayne Messamaker will be the man in charge next year and is looking forward to hosting five classes of cars. After seeing the track surface and the multiple-groove racing last night, I hope he has hired the guys in charge of track prep for this weekend.
For more information regarding last night's races, including full results, check out the USRA website at www.usraracing.com and click on news and results.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Terry Phillips Pockets $5,000 in Muskogee
After laying claim to the pole starting spot Friday night by virtue of winning the qualifying feature, Terry Phillips increased his chances of winning the $5,000 payday Saturday night. He would be flanked by Oklahoma hotshoe Jason Hughes with drivers like Kelly Shryock, Jeremy Payne, Greg Skaggs, and Johnny Bone Jr. sitting right behind them in rows two and three.
Phillips raced out to the early lead and the track quickly locked down on the bottom groove. A caution came out on lap eleven of the thirty-lap finale, bunching the field up. Another eleven laps clicked off until another yellow flag was displayed. On the restart, Johnny Bone Jr. worked to the inside of Jeremy Payne to take the third spot away while Phillips sped away from the field. A final yellow on lap twenty-six erased a big lead for Phillips, but nothing was going to stand in his way that night as he pocked the cool $5,000 top prize. Jason Hughes was second, Johnny Bone Jr third, Jeremy Payne fourth, and Kelly Shryock finished fifth.
Other feature winners on Saturday night include Jaren Frailey in the 360 modified class, Dale Richardson in the grand nationals / hobby stocks, and Matt Burnett in the pure stocks.
I was intrigued by one of the comments a driver made while being presented his trophy from a win a few weeks back. Modified track champion Joe Duvall was asked what he thought about the "heavy hitters" that were on hand for the high-dollar top prize, to which he replied "I guess they are heroes to their mamas." That got quite a chuckle from the crowd, and I'll assume he's a character on the microphone from what the announcer was saying later. However, Duvall did not back up his words in the feature as he started 16th on the grid and was the first car to retire from the race.
One note that I failed to mention from Friday night's races: when a caution flag waves, the field races back to the finish line (like the old NASCAR days). If the incident occurs between the leader and the finish line, the red flag/lights are displayed and the field stops and are realigned from the previously scored lap.
Friday night saw Tim Karrick end up on his side during the qualifying feature event. Karrick was unable to make repairs to his car, so his car builder Kelly Shryock loaned him his backup car to run on Saturday. Karrick started ninth and finished in seventh.
Kids wore their Halloween costumes to the races and were given the chance to walk through the pits to go Trick-or-Treating. Drivers handed out candy in front of their haulers to prevent kids from possibly getting injured from sharp parts on the race cars.
The racing action concluded just before 9:00 Saturday night, allowing those of us who traveled a distance to either get an early start on the trip home or get some extra sleep for the next day's travels. Of course the extra hour of sleep from the time change also helped in the lengthy trip back to Iowa!!
It was good to catch up with Wisconsin's Ed Reichert. Ed writes a column for the Hawkeye Racing News and I'm sure contributes to others as well. It's always fun to chat with him about where he's been lately and possible future races he might attend. It sounds like he still has a handful of races left on his 2009 list.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Phillips raced out to the early lead and the track quickly locked down on the bottom groove. A caution came out on lap eleven of the thirty-lap finale, bunching the field up. Another eleven laps clicked off until another yellow flag was displayed. On the restart, Johnny Bone Jr. worked to the inside of Jeremy Payne to take the third spot away while Phillips sped away from the field. A final yellow on lap twenty-six erased a big lead for Phillips, but nothing was going to stand in his way that night as he pocked the cool $5,000 top prize. Jason Hughes was second, Johnny Bone Jr third, Jeremy Payne fourth, and Kelly Shryock finished fifth.
Other feature winners on Saturday night include Jaren Frailey in the 360 modified class, Dale Richardson in the grand nationals / hobby stocks, and Matt Burnett in the pure stocks.
I was intrigued by one of the comments a driver made while being presented his trophy from a win a few weeks back. Modified track champion Joe Duvall was asked what he thought about the "heavy hitters" that were on hand for the high-dollar top prize, to which he replied "I guess they are heroes to their mamas." That got quite a chuckle from the crowd, and I'll assume he's a character on the microphone from what the announcer was saying later. However, Duvall did not back up his words in the feature as he started 16th on the grid and was the first car to retire from the race.
One note that I failed to mention from Friday night's races: when a caution flag waves, the field races back to the finish line (like the old NASCAR days). If the incident occurs between the leader and the finish line, the red flag/lights are displayed and the field stops and are realigned from the previously scored lap.
Friday night saw Tim Karrick end up on his side during the qualifying feature event. Karrick was unable to make repairs to his car, so his car builder Kelly Shryock loaned him his backup car to run on Saturday. Karrick started ninth and finished in seventh.
Kids wore their Halloween costumes to the races and were given the chance to walk through the pits to go Trick-or-Treating. Drivers handed out candy in front of their haulers to prevent kids from possibly getting injured from sharp parts on the race cars.
The racing action concluded just before 9:00 Saturday night, allowing those of us who traveled a distance to either get an early start on the trip home or get some extra sleep for the next day's travels. Of course the extra hour of sleep from the time change also helped in the lengthy trip back to Iowa!!
It was good to catch up with Wisconsin's Ed Reichert. Ed writes a column for the Hawkeye Racing News and I'm sure contributes to others as well. It's always fun to chat with him about where he's been lately and possible future races he might attend. It sounds like he still has a handful of races left on his 2009 list.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Fall Brawl Night #1 in Muskogee, OK
Upon the news on Friday that the Fall Challenge in Oskaloosa was postponed til next Sunday, I made the quick decision to pack my bags and head south for warmer and dryer weather. My travels took me to the Outlaw Motor Speedway, located about 10 miles south of Muskogee, Oklahoma. The Fall Brawl special includes modifieds, 360 modifieds, pure stocks, and grand nationals (which are also called hobby stocks). Friday night saw heat races along with qualifying features for all four classes, with the top eight in modifieds and top six in the other classes locking themselves into the feature for Saturday night.
First up for feature action would be the 360 modifieds. Shannon Reheard would grab the lead from the pole and looked to hide from the rest of the competition. Track points champion Patrick Goodnight finished third in his heat, but apparently was disqualified for something as he started shotgun on the field. Goodnight put the pedal to the metal and immediately made his way towards the front as he found himself up to ninth by the completion of lap four. Goodnight continued to move forward a couple spots before the caution flag waved on lap ten. Goodnight used the low line to climb into second late in the race, but Reheard had built up an insurmountable lead in which he would not give up. The top six locked themselves into Saturday's feature.
1. 72 Shannon Reheard
2. 2G Patrick Goodnight
3. 38F Jeran Frailey
4. 327 Dale Richardson
5. 18 Casey Lindell ??
6. 57 ??
Eighteen pure stocks hit the track next for their twenty-lap feature. Pole sitter Matt Burnett took the lead early on, but Mike Bantaa would take over the top spot by using the low line on lap five. Bantaa would bobbled in turn four, allowing last week's feature winner Russell McLain to take the point. Burnett and Bantaa would make contact, resulting in a caution flag with both drivers suffering flat tires. Burnett went to the pits and would not return, while Bantaa went to the work area (known as "hot pit" down south) and returned. McLain would open up a straight away lead as the laps clicked off and would go on to the win. Once again, the top six locked themselves into the feature for Saturday night.
1. 6 Russell McLain
2. 19 Kyle Slader
3. 10x ??
4. 33 ??
5. 66 Mike Bantaa
6. 83M ??
Only nine grand nationals were on hand for their feature event. Colton Dunlap took over the lead on lap five and was able to take home the easy win. I believe the top six are in Saturday's feature.
1. 47 Colton Dunlap
2. 327 ??
3. 12K Billy Kelley
4. 73 Jay Arnold
5. 56D ??
The final event of the night would be the twenty-lap modified feature. Jason Hughes and Terry Phillips sat on the front row while Brian Bolin and Kelly Shryock made up row two. Hughes got the early jump with Shryock close behind. Phillips would push high on lap three, allowing Greg Skaggs to make the inside pass for third. Hughes would open up a straight-away lead on Shryock by lap five, but a caution flag bunched the field back up on lap ten. Tim Karrick and Randy Timms were two of the drivers involved, with Karrick ending up on his side. Both drivers were okay, but did not return. On the restart, Jeremy Payne maneuvered his machine from fifth to third in one lap before falling back a spot to his teammate Phillips. Shryock was able to keep pace with Hughes after the restart, but couldn't find a way around him. Phillips would close in on both front runners with three laps to go and get by Shryock on the top side after taking the white flag. Hughes continued using his low groove, allowing Phillips to drive his car deep into turn three on the top side. Phillips was able to make it stick and made the last corner pass on Hughes to take the win!! Shryock finished third, Payne fourth, and Skaggs fifth. The ironic thing about Phillips' last-lap pass, is that he was the victim of the same situation last month at the Deer Creek Speedway when Hughes made the low groove work on him on the final night.
1. 75 Terry Phillips
2. 12 Jason Hughes
3. 3 Kelly Shryock
4. 74 Jeremy Payne
5. 27 Greg Skaggs
6. 12x Johnny Bone Jr
7. 26 Brian Williams
8. 10c ??
9. 88 Chad Wheeler
10. F5 Fausten Whilhite
Racing action concluded before the 10:00 hour, with racing starting at 7:30. While there weren't a bunch of cars in the pits (I counted 70 total, 23 modifieds), the racing was pretty good throughout the night.
The Outlaw Motor Speedway is a wonderful facility with a high concrete wall and tall catch fence surrounding the track surface. The tall wall makes it difficult for spectators to see the numbers on the cars as they drive down the front stretch. The lighting is top-notch and the VIP/scorer's tower also appears to be nice. The grandstand seats plenty of people, although the crowd did not support the show as well as anticipated Friday night. The PA system is awesome, but a little unusual as the bigger speakers are actually on top of the VIP tower behind the fans in the stands. The announcer was very energetic throughout the night, but unfortunately there were times when he talked a little too fast when I tried jotting down driver names.
Night two is scheduled to get kicked on Saturday afternoon with hot laps at 4:00 and racing slated for 5:00. For more information, check out www.outlawmotorspeedway.com.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
First up for feature action would be the 360 modifieds. Shannon Reheard would grab the lead from the pole and looked to hide from the rest of the competition. Track points champion Patrick Goodnight finished third in his heat, but apparently was disqualified for something as he started shotgun on the field. Goodnight put the pedal to the metal and immediately made his way towards the front as he found himself up to ninth by the completion of lap four. Goodnight continued to move forward a couple spots before the caution flag waved on lap ten. Goodnight used the low line to climb into second late in the race, but Reheard had built up an insurmountable lead in which he would not give up. The top six locked themselves into Saturday's feature.
1. 72 Shannon Reheard
2. 2G Patrick Goodnight
3. 38F Jeran Frailey
4. 327 Dale Richardson
5. 18 Casey Lindell ??
6. 57 ??
Eighteen pure stocks hit the track next for their twenty-lap feature. Pole sitter Matt Burnett took the lead early on, but Mike Bantaa would take over the top spot by using the low line on lap five. Bantaa would bobbled in turn four, allowing last week's feature winner Russell McLain to take the point. Burnett and Bantaa would make contact, resulting in a caution flag with both drivers suffering flat tires. Burnett went to the pits and would not return, while Bantaa went to the work area (known as "hot pit" down south) and returned. McLain would open up a straight away lead as the laps clicked off and would go on to the win. Once again, the top six locked themselves into the feature for Saturday night.
1. 6 Russell McLain
2. 19 Kyle Slader
3. 10x ??
4. 33 ??
5. 66 Mike Bantaa
6. 83M ??
Only nine grand nationals were on hand for their feature event. Colton Dunlap took over the lead on lap five and was able to take home the easy win. I believe the top six are in Saturday's feature.
1. 47 Colton Dunlap
2. 327 ??
3. 12K Billy Kelley
4. 73 Jay Arnold
5. 56D ??
The final event of the night would be the twenty-lap modified feature. Jason Hughes and Terry Phillips sat on the front row while Brian Bolin and Kelly Shryock made up row two. Hughes got the early jump with Shryock close behind. Phillips would push high on lap three, allowing Greg Skaggs to make the inside pass for third. Hughes would open up a straight-away lead on Shryock by lap five, but a caution flag bunched the field back up on lap ten. Tim Karrick and Randy Timms were two of the drivers involved, with Karrick ending up on his side. Both drivers were okay, but did not return. On the restart, Jeremy Payne maneuvered his machine from fifth to third in one lap before falling back a spot to his teammate Phillips. Shryock was able to keep pace with Hughes after the restart, but couldn't find a way around him. Phillips would close in on both front runners with three laps to go and get by Shryock on the top side after taking the white flag. Hughes continued using his low groove, allowing Phillips to drive his car deep into turn three on the top side. Phillips was able to make it stick and made the last corner pass on Hughes to take the win!! Shryock finished third, Payne fourth, and Skaggs fifth. The ironic thing about Phillips' last-lap pass, is that he was the victim of the same situation last month at the Deer Creek Speedway when Hughes made the low groove work on him on the final night.
1. 75 Terry Phillips
2. 12 Jason Hughes
3. 3 Kelly Shryock
4. 74 Jeremy Payne
5. 27 Greg Skaggs
6. 12x Johnny Bone Jr
7. 26 Brian Williams
8. 10c ??
9. 88 Chad Wheeler
10. F5 Fausten Whilhite
Racing action concluded before the 10:00 hour, with racing starting at 7:30. While there weren't a bunch of cars in the pits (I counted 70 total, 23 modifieds), the racing was pretty good throughout the night.
The Outlaw Motor Speedway is a wonderful facility with a high concrete wall and tall catch fence surrounding the track surface. The tall wall makes it difficult for spectators to see the numbers on the cars as they drive down the front stretch. The lighting is top-notch and the VIP/scorer's tower also appears to be nice. The grandstand seats plenty of people, although the crowd did not support the show as well as anticipated Friday night. The PA system is awesome, but a little unusual as the bigger speakers are actually on top of the VIP tower behind the fans in the stands. The announcer was very energetic throughout the night, but unfortunately there were times when he talked a little too fast when I tried jotting down driver names.
Night two is scheduled to get kicked on Saturday afternoon with hot laps at 4:00 and racing slated for 5:00. For more information, check out www.outlawmotorspeedway.com.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Shiverfest Provides Warmth and Rain, Not Shivers
Early Sunday morning I made the lengthy trek from southwest Missouri to southeast Iowa to attend the annual Shiverfest race held at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. Fellow and head positivelyracing.com personality Jeff Broeg would help promote this event along with Terri Hoenig and his wife. Shiverfest is typically billed as the last race in Iowa, but the month of October has been so crazy as far as weather goes, that you never know anymore. I drove through rain the first couple of hours during my trip, but eventually drove out of it the closer I got to the border.
Upon arrival at the track, the grounds had plenty of puddles in the driveways and grass. I walked over to the pit shack to sign in (thanks Jeff for the hospitality!!) and also saw Positivelyracing.com's webmaster Sue McDaniel. After a short conversation with her, I walked back to the car to get my layers of clothing and headed toward the grandstand. After finding a seat, I noticed the track appeared to be dry in turn three. That quickly changed after hot laps as the dirt was flying up from the low groove. After hot laps were completed, drivers who were participating in the trick-or-treating for the kids brought their cars out to the front stretch. Kids in costumes walked from car to car to collect candy, which allowed for me to catch up with racing friends in the stands.
All of the heat races were run in a relative efficient manner. The modifieds came out to run their bmain, which would transfer the top four cars to the feature. Tony Olson made his way to the pit area after being involved in a caution. For one reason or another, Olson attempted to come back out as the rest of the field hit the backstretch. The leader of the race had nowhere to go and made heavy contact with Olson, sending him into a tailspin. As officials were nearly completed with the cleanup, the rain made it's appearance at the track. Officials brought out the hobby stock bmain cars to help keep the track worked in, but Mother Nature was persistent and forced officials to cancel the rest of the event.
It was announced that fans should hold on to their ticket stubs as promoter Terry Hoenig will let fans use those next spring at the season opener and get $5 off that ticket. While the show was considered complete, I thought that was very generous of him to come up with that idea. The top twelve would equally share the prize money of all those positions while qualifiers 13-24 equally shared that prize money.
Despite the show being cancelled, the show had to be considered a success. The 60+ degree temperature allowed for fans to show up in the stands along with 140-some drivers in the pits. Money raised through sponsorships along with the 50/50 drawing helped raise over $1,800 for the Southeast Regional Dialysis Center to help with their battle against kidney disease.
While I am disappointed that the features were unable to be run, I'm already looking forward to next year's Shiverfest event. It's always a fun event, especially for the kids.
For more information on the Lee County Speedway, check out www.leecountyspeedway.com. I'd like to thank Jeff Broeg for his hospitality and his efforts to continually make Shiverfest a great race. Be sure to check out his blogs from the weekend and future races by checking out www.positivelyracing.com and clicking on "Back Stretch".
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Upon arrival at the track, the grounds had plenty of puddles in the driveways and grass. I walked over to the pit shack to sign in (thanks Jeff for the hospitality!!) and also saw Positivelyracing.com's webmaster Sue McDaniel. After a short conversation with her, I walked back to the car to get my layers of clothing and headed toward the grandstand. After finding a seat, I noticed the track appeared to be dry in turn three. That quickly changed after hot laps as the dirt was flying up from the low groove. After hot laps were completed, drivers who were participating in the trick-or-treating for the kids brought their cars out to the front stretch. Kids in costumes walked from car to car to collect candy, which allowed for me to catch up with racing friends in the stands.
All of the heat races were run in a relative efficient manner. The modifieds came out to run their bmain, which would transfer the top four cars to the feature. Tony Olson made his way to the pit area after being involved in a caution. For one reason or another, Olson attempted to come back out as the rest of the field hit the backstretch. The leader of the race had nowhere to go and made heavy contact with Olson, sending him into a tailspin. As officials were nearly completed with the cleanup, the rain made it's appearance at the track. Officials brought out the hobby stock bmain cars to help keep the track worked in, but Mother Nature was persistent and forced officials to cancel the rest of the event.
It was announced that fans should hold on to their ticket stubs as promoter Terry Hoenig will let fans use those next spring at the season opener and get $5 off that ticket. While the show was considered complete, I thought that was very generous of him to come up with that idea. The top twelve would equally share the prize money of all those positions while qualifiers 13-24 equally shared that prize money.
Despite the show being cancelled, the show had to be considered a success. The 60+ degree temperature allowed for fans to show up in the stands along with 140-some drivers in the pits. Money raised through sponsorships along with the 50/50 drawing helped raise over $1,800 for the Southeast Regional Dialysis Center to help with their battle against kidney disease.
While I am disappointed that the features were unable to be run, I'm already looking forward to next year's Shiverfest event. It's always a fun event, especially for the kids.
For more information on the Lee County Speedway, check out www.leecountyspeedway.com. I'd like to thank Jeff Broeg for his hospitality and his efforts to continually make Shiverfest a great race. Be sure to check out his blogs from the weekend and future races by checking out www.positivelyracing.com and clicking on "Back Stretch".
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Terry Phillips Wins Father's Memorial Race
With Shiverfest pushed back from Saturday to Sunday, I made alternate plans and attended the Larry Phillips Memorial race held at the Springfield Raceway in Springfield, Missouri Saturday afternoon. Classes in action included late models, modifieds, sportmods, and bombers. The pit area was packed with good car counts in every division.
The first feature to be run would be the sportmods. Steve Muilenburg paced the field early from his pole start, but he would give up that lead three laps later when David Kirkland used the high side to snag the lead away. Muilenburg would continue to lose spots as Billy Street and Dean Willie advanced one spot each. Street would lose the third spot when he bobbled and allowed Willie to drive around him. Muilenburg's car came alive as he persistently ran the bottom groove on his way back to the front. He passed Willie for the runner up spot with three laps to go before pulling even with Kirkland on the final lap. Muilenburg got the advantage exiting turn four and took the checkers ahead of David Kirkland, Dean Willie, Billy Street, and JC Morton.
Late models hit the track next with veteran drivers Terry Phillips and Bill Frye sitting on the front row. The two ran side by side at the line on lap one before Phillips got the edge on lap two. That didn't last long as Frye muscled his machine around the top groove and grabbed the lead on the next circuit. Phillips would make the pass back before the leaders caught up to the back of the field, but a caution flag would realign the lapped cars to the tail. Phillips got a great restart and moved ahead by nearly five car lengths and eventually a full straight away advantage. He would go on to take the win from there, but the battle was shaping up behind him. Jeremy Payne closed in on second-place runner Frye, and on the final set of corners Payne drove into the left rear of Frye and spun him out. Payne crossed the line in second, but when he drove around on the cool-down lap, Frye blasted over the front nose of Payne's machine in turn four. The crowd cheered as a result, and later Payne would be disqualified for rough driving. Brad Looney, Justin Wells, Eric Turner, and Tony Jackson Jr. would then round out the top five of the Larry Phillips Memorial.
Twenty modifieds were next on the card. Johnny Fennewald jumped out to the early command and set sail on the rest of the field. Erik Maggard and Rex Merritt swapped the runner up spot early on, but Merritt claimed that spot when the checkers waved. Fennewald was never challenged despite several caution flags throughout the race as he took home the top prize. Merritt was second, Maggard third, Jody Tillman fourth, and Jamie Ragland completed the top five.
With a long trip to Donnellson ahead of me on Sunday, I opted not to stick around for the bomber feature. The racing action seen at Springfield was top notch for a late October special. One late model heat race saw three cars battling three-wide for several laps for the lead. The trip to Springfield was my fourth in two years, but unfortunately it was only the second complete show I've witnessed. A USMTS show last year was cancelled before it started while last year's Turkey Classic was cancelled after hot laps when the rains came.
The Springfield Raceway will hold one more race yet this year before dropping the curtains on the year. The annual Turkey Classic is set for Saturday, November 28th where late models, modifieds, sportmods, and legends will be in action. Check out the track website at www.springfieldraceway.com for more information.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
The first feature to be run would be the sportmods. Steve Muilenburg paced the field early from his pole start, but he would give up that lead three laps later when David Kirkland used the high side to snag the lead away. Muilenburg would continue to lose spots as Billy Street and Dean Willie advanced one spot each. Street would lose the third spot when he bobbled and allowed Willie to drive around him. Muilenburg's car came alive as he persistently ran the bottom groove on his way back to the front. He passed Willie for the runner up spot with three laps to go before pulling even with Kirkland on the final lap. Muilenburg got the advantage exiting turn four and took the checkers ahead of David Kirkland, Dean Willie, Billy Street, and JC Morton.
Late models hit the track next with veteran drivers Terry Phillips and Bill Frye sitting on the front row. The two ran side by side at the line on lap one before Phillips got the edge on lap two. That didn't last long as Frye muscled his machine around the top groove and grabbed the lead on the next circuit. Phillips would make the pass back before the leaders caught up to the back of the field, but a caution flag would realign the lapped cars to the tail. Phillips got a great restart and moved ahead by nearly five car lengths and eventually a full straight away advantage. He would go on to take the win from there, but the battle was shaping up behind him. Jeremy Payne closed in on second-place runner Frye, and on the final set of corners Payne drove into the left rear of Frye and spun him out. Payne crossed the line in second, but when he drove around on the cool-down lap, Frye blasted over the front nose of Payne's machine in turn four. The crowd cheered as a result, and later Payne would be disqualified for rough driving. Brad Looney, Justin Wells, Eric Turner, and Tony Jackson Jr. would then round out the top five of the Larry Phillips Memorial.
Twenty modifieds were next on the card. Johnny Fennewald jumped out to the early command and set sail on the rest of the field. Erik Maggard and Rex Merritt swapped the runner up spot early on, but Merritt claimed that spot when the checkers waved. Fennewald was never challenged despite several caution flags throughout the race as he took home the top prize. Merritt was second, Maggard third, Jody Tillman fourth, and Jamie Ragland completed the top five.
With a long trip to Donnellson ahead of me on Sunday, I opted not to stick around for the bomber feature. The racing action seen at Springfield was top notch for a late October special. One late model heat race saw three cars battling three-wide for several laps for the lead. The trip to Springfield was my fourth in two years, but unfortunately it was only the second complete show I've witnessed. A USMTS show last year was cancelled before it started while last year's Turkey Classic was cancelled after hot laps when the rains came.
The Springfield Raceway will hold one more race yet this year before dropping the curtains on the year. The annual Turkey Classic is set for Saturday, November 28th where late models, modifieds, sportmods, and legends will be in action. Check out the track website at www.springfieldraceway.com for more information.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Jet Sails to Cool McCool 100 Victory
After spending the previous night in Hays, Kansas, I made the journey to McCool Junction, Nebraska for Sunday's running of the Cool McCool 100. This special event is typically one of the last races of the year in Nebraska and perhaps the region. The "100" aspect refers to the total amount of feature laps of the combined classes of competition. Cruisers, hornets, hobby stocks, stock cars, modifieds, and crate late models were on the card for Sunday afternoon's races.
The hobby stocks were the first class to be run in which I kept notes. Shannon Anderson started on the pole and despite receiving constant pressure from Jason Wilkinson, was able to lead every lap on his way to the checkered flag. Jason Wilkinson finished right behind Anderson with Andy Gregg, Kyle Bond, and Brandon Stange rounding out the top five.
Stock cars would hit the track next as twenty-two cars were ready to make the dirt fly. Mike VanGenderen and two other cars were three-wide at the line on lap two before VanGenderen would assume the lead on the next circuit. The field dropped into single file formation with a lot of bumping and pushing going on throughout. Several cautions waved throughout the twenty-lap feature, but VanGenderen was able to hold off all the challenges and take home the big money. Clay Christian and Michael Jaennette finished second and third, making it an all-Iowa podium finish.
Twenty-one modifieds were now ready for their twenty-five lap finale. Jon Thompson led lap one from the pole, but Reese Coffee shot around him in turn two on lap three to snare the lead away. Thompson would give up the runner up spot as he slid up the banking, allowing Kyle Berck and Johnny Saathoff to race by. With ten laps to go, Berck would slide up the banking and drop back to the eighth position. Two laps later Coffee would make the same mistake and wouldn't be able to get back in line until Berck passed him. That handed the lead over to Saathoff, and that was all he needed as he raced away from the field and took the checkered flag first. Chris Abelson, Brett Behrends, Jason Friesen, and Andy Wilkinson completed the top five.
I opted not to stick around for the crate late model feature. It was 8:30 at that point and it was a lengthy 5-hour trip home. The announcers at the Junction Motor Speedway mentioned that they will be hosting the Spring Thaw once again in March, an event put on by the Junction Motor Speedway and the USMTS. That has always been the first race of the season in the upper midwest region the past several years. It's also been a tradition of mine for the past couple of years to kick my racing season off. Hopefully that trend will continue next year.
Check out the Junction Motor Speedway website for full results from the Cool McCool 100 at www.junctionmotorspeedway.com.
The racing schedule is getting smaller and smaller as the weeks go by. One event that I circle on the calendar every year is coming up this Saturday, October 24th. That event is "Shiverfest" held at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. While the event doesn't boast a large payout, it promotes fun for the kids as there are hayrack rides and trick-or-treating before the races. "Shiverfest" is typically the last race of the season in Iowa, although that won't be the case this year. It will still be a fun race with a lot of good cars, many of which will travel some distance. For more information on this race, check out www.leecountyspeedway.com.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
The hobby stocks were the first class to be run in which I kept notes. Shannon Anderson started on the pole and despite receiving constant pressure from Jason Wilkinson, was able to lead every lap on his way to the checkered flag. Jason Wilkinson finished right behind Anderson with Andy Gregg, Kyle Bond, and Brandon Stange rounding out the top five.
Stock cars would hit the track next as twenty-two cars were ready to make the dirt fly. Mike VanGenderen and two other cars were three-wide at the line on lap two before VanGenderen would assume the lead on the next circuit. The field dropped into single file formation with a lot of bumping and pushing going on throughout. Several cautions waved throughout the twenty-lap feature, but VanGenderen was able to hold off all the challenges and take home the big money. Clay Christian and Michael Jaennette finished second and third, making it an all-Iowa podium finish.
Twenty-one modifieds were now ready for their twenty-five lap finale. Jon Thompson led lap one from the pole, but Reese Coffee shot around him in turn two on lap three to snare the lead away. Thompson would give up the runner up spot as he slid up the banking, allowing Kyle Berck and Johnny Saathoff to race by. With ten laps to go, Berck would slide up the banking and drop back to the eighth position. Two laps later Coffee would make the same mistake and wouldn't be able to get back in line until Berck passed him. That handed the lead over to Saathoff, and that was all he needed as he raced away from the field and took the checkered flag first. Chris Abelson, Brett Behrends, Jason Friesen, and Andy Wilkinson completed the top five.
I opted not to stick around for the crate late model feature. It was 8:30 at that point and it was a lengthy 5-hour trip home. The announcers at the Junction Motor Speedway mentioned that they will be hosting the Spring Thaw once again in March, an event put on by the Junction Motor Speedway and the USMTS. That has always been the first race of the season in the upper midwest region the past several years. It's also been a tradition of mine for the past couple of years to kick my racing season off. Hopefully that trend will continue next year.
Check out the Junction Motor Speedway website for full results from the Cool McCool 100 at www.junctionmotorspeedway.com.
The racing schedule is getting smaller and smaller as the weeks go by. One event that I circle on the calendar every year is coming up this Saturday, October 24th. That event is "Shiverfest" held at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. While the event doesn't boast a large payout, it promotes fun for the kids as there are hayrack rides and trick-or-treating before the races. "Shiverfest" is typically the last race of the season in Iowa, although that won't be the case this year. It will still be a fun race with a lot of good cars, many of which will travel some distance. For more information on this race, check out www.leecountyspeedway.com.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
RPM Fall Nationals in Hays, KS (Part 2)
This is a couple days late, but I didn't have enough time to get on the computer Saturday night or Sunday. So for that I apologize.
Saturday's action at Hays saw hot laps start at 1pm. Racing action would resume with the remaining heat races from Friday night. By my count, 15 races were carried over to Saturday.
The format used was passing points, as stated in my night one recap. Drivers were able to use their highest passing point total to position themselves and determine what race they would be involved in next. Officials opted to use D, C, and B-mains to determine the remaining field of cars. The top seven in modifieds and top 5 in the stock cars, hobby stocks, and sportmods from each "session" of heat races were locked in to the front rows of the feature. Friday night's qualifiers made up the inside row and Saturday's the outside row.
Unfortunately from a fan's perspective, the Saturday show drug out like none other. Racing action got underway at 3pm with the 15 heats from Friday night to be run first. Those heats did not get finished until 6pm. At that point the alphabet would be run in the modifieds and stock cars with both classes running the D, C, and B-mains while the sportmods and hobby stocks also ran B-mains.
I failed to take notes on paper as the wind was overbearing, blowing directly towards the crowd. The temperatures were quite cold as well, as I had every layer of clothing I took with me for the trip. I did opt to hurry and type car numbers on my cell phone, so I can give a few results from the features.
BJ Dauer led every lap in the IMCA hobby stock main event. Tyler Frye sat on the pole of the IMCA sportmod finale and would run away from the field to capture the win. IMCA sportmod national champion Jesse Sobbing would finish second, but was several car lengths back at the finish after starting 10th.
Seven Iowa IMCA stock car drivers made the feature on Saturday, which paid $3,000 to win. Tim Bengard came home 3rd, Randy Brands (driving Aaron Haggerty's #62 ride) was 5th, Mike Nichols 6th, Abe Huls (from Carthage, IL) 7th, and Mike Jergens was 8th. Travis Shipman also made the show, but am uncertain where he finished as he went to the pits and rejoined the tail of the field.
The IMCA modified feature saw Jordan Grabouski sit on the pole and lead the first part of the race. That lead would shrink and he would eventually be overtaken by David Murray, who started 13th. Murray would immediately open a big advantage and take home the win followed by Wisconsin drive Benji LaCrosse, Iowan Chris Abelson, Jordan Grabouski, Ricky Alvarado, Iowan Jeremy Mills, Jason Schoenberger, and Iowan Jay Noteboom.
The modified feature finished at 11:30pm, with the three Kansas State Race of Champions Shootout races left to be run. I opted not to stay for those, as I had already been at the track for 10 1/2 hours.
I realize the theme of this website is to be positive, but there really wasn't much that was positive on Saturday. Officials opted to do track prep after the first 3 hobby heat races run Saturday, which seemed to take 45 minutes to work back in. There was at least one other intermission taken in which I only saw one truck driving around the top side of the track. Perhaps that time was used so officials could calculate the passing points and determine which alphabet race drivers would be placed in. If that is the case, then I suggest either having more people to help out so that time is not needed, or do away with that type of format of qualifying.
There is no reason a person should sit at a race track for 10 1/2, especially at least 8 or so before seeing a feature. Not to mention the cold temperatures and the persistent wind. Fans opted to leave early throughout the night, many leaving before some of the features had even started.
Back to the positive thinking... the facility is still one of the better ones I've been to this year. Great grandstands with a good PA system. The food was reasonably priced and for the most part, the racing was good. Unfortunately, this avid race fan will likely not make the 8-hour trip down again due to the time issue.
For full results, be sure to check out the track website at www.rpmspeedway.net.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Saturday's action at Hays saw hot laps start at 1pm. Racing action would resume with the remaining heat races from Friday night. By my count, 15 races were carried over to Saturday.
The format used was passing points, as stated in my night one recap. Drivers were able to use their highest passing point total to position themselves and determine what race they would be involved in next. Officials opted to use D, C, and B-mains to determine the remaining field of cars. The top seven in modifieds and top 5 in the stock cars, hobby stocks, and sportmods from each "session" of heat races were locked in to the front rows of the feature. Friday night's qualifiers made up the inside row and Saturday's the outside row.
Unfortunately from a fan's perspective, the Saturday show drug out like none other. Racing action got underway at 3pm with the 15 heats from Friday night to be run first. Those heats did not get finished until 6pm. At that point the alphabet would be run in the modifieds and stock cars with both classes running the D, C, and B-mains while the sportmods and hobby stocks also ran B-mains.
I failed to take notes on paper as the wind was overbearing, blowing directly towards the crowd. The temperatures were quite cold as well, as I had every layer of clothing I took with me for the trip. I did opt to hurry and type car numbers on my cell phone, so I can give a few results from the features.
BJ Dauer led every lap in the IMCA hobby stock main event. Tyler Frye sat on the pole of the IMCA sportmod finale and would run away from the field to capture the win. IMCA sportmod national champion Jesse Sobbing would finish second, but was several car lengths back at the finish after starting 10th.
Seven Iowa IMCA stock car drivers made the feature on Saturday, which paid $3,000 to win. Tim Bengard came home 3rd, Randy Brands (driving Aaron Haggerty's #62 ride) was 5th, Mike Nichols 6th, Abe Huls (from Carthage, IL) 7th, and Mike Jergens was 8th. Travis Shipman also made the show, but am uncertain where he finished as he went to the pits and rejoined the tail of the field.
The IMCA modified feature saw Jordan Grabouski sit on the pole and lead the first part of the race. That lead would shrink and he would eventually be overtaken by David Murray, who started 13th. Murray would immediately open a big advantage and take home the win followed by Wisconsin drive Benji LaCrosse, Iowan Chris Abelson, Jordan Grabouski, Ricky Alvarado, Iowan Jeremy Mills, Jason Schoenberger, and Iowan Jay Noteboom.
The modified feature finished at 11:30pm, with the three Kansas State Race of Champions Shootout races left to be run. I opted not to stay for those, as I had already been at the track for 10 1/2 hours.
I realize the theme of this website is to be positive, but there really wasn't much that was positive on Saturday. Officials opted to do track prep after the first 3 hobby heat races run Saturday, which seemed to take 45 minutes to work back in. There was at least one other intermission taken in which I only saw one truck driving around the top side of the track. Perhaps that time was used so officials could calculate the passing points and determine which alphabet race drivers would be placed in. If that is the case, then I suggest either having more people to help out so that time is not needed, or do away with that type of format of qualifying.
There is no reason a person should sit at a race track for 10 1/2, especially at least 8 or so before seeing a feature. Not to mention the cold temperatures and the persistent wind. Fans opted to leave early throughout the night, many leaving before some of the features had even started.
Back to the positive thinking... the facility is still one of the better ones I've been to this year. Great grandstands with a good PA system. The food was reasonably priced and for the most part, the racing was good. Unfortunately, this avid race fan will likely not make the 8-hour trip down again due to the time issue.
For full results, be sure to check out the track website at www.rpmspeedway.net.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
RPM Speedway Hosts Fall Nationals
Night number one of the Fall Nationals at the RPM Speedway in Hays, Kansas got off to a slower start then anticipated. Upon arrival at the track, drivers were packing in the moisture laid on the track. After getting that worked in, a few hot lap sessions were run before Mother Nature reared her ugly head and dropped some more moisture on the track. Track crew immediately hit the track when the precipitation ended and drivers were called back to the track to help wheel pack.
Once things finally got under, nearly 200 cars would be in action in several heat races. Announcers mentioned that there were 69 modifieds and 56 stock cars. There were two heats of sport compacts, three heats of sportmods, and four heats of hobby stocks to go along with 6 heats of stock cars and seven heats of modifieds.
This event had a much different format than I am used to. Rather then running the traditional heat races, bmains, and features, the format would use passing points. The twist on this event was the fact that drivers who did not like their passing points total in the heats, were allowed to run another set of heat races. I've never been to an event that has run in this particular way, and with the weather delays to start the show, the first set of heat races got over well after the 11:00pm hour. At that point many of the fans opted to head for home. While it was on the colder side, there was a pretty good crowd on hand. The wind coming out of the northwest did not help things, but fortunately that wind did later lay and it almost felt as though it warmed up at that point.
Due to the delays and such, track officials decided to stop running after the second set of sportmod heat races and pick up with the stock cars and modified heat races early Saturday afternoon. Hot laps are now scheduled to get underway at 1:00 rather then the previously scheduled 3:00 racing. I'm unsure as to what the format will be after the heat races are run. I can only assume bmains will be run to fill out the field after the top so-many cars are locked in through passing points?!
There was a good contingent of Iowa drivers in attendance for this show. Rod Scheuermann and Chris Abelson pulled off wins in their heat race while Jay Noteboom finished second in his. Jeremy Mills wheeled his modified to a third place finish in his heat race. Other noteable modified drivers in attendance included David Murray, Scott Drake, Ricky Alvarado, Grant Junghans, Dave Hardesty, Ricky Stephan, Will and Matt Brack, Benji LaCrosse, Matt Gilbertson, Jason Schoenberger, and Jordan Grabouski.
Several stock car drivers made the trip including Travis Shipman, Mike Nichols, Jeff Joldersma, Mike Jergens, Tim Bengard, Elijah Zevenbergen, Rod Statts, Mike Mauer, and Randy Brands. It was also unique seeing Abe Huls from Illinois along with Missouri hotshoes Gene Stigall and Brad Whitney. Only Jesse Sobbing represented Iowa that I could tell. Sobbing was paired up with Tyler Frye in heat race #2 to set up a shootout between the top two in final IMCA national points, with Sobbing earning the championship. Three hobby stocks made the trip out that included Dylan Book, Chris Hupp, and a number #86J from Red Oak with whom I'm not familiar.
By my count, there were eleven states represented last night: Kansas, Iowa, Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Minnesota. I think I may have heard that one of the drivers was from Texas, so that would possibly make it twelve states.
The RPM Speedway is a standout facility. The grandstand is all aluminum that reminded me of Junction Motor Speedway's stands, although not quite as tall. There was plenty of room for handicapped people in the front row of the raised grandstand. The PA system was state of the art with two speakers on each pole. The track itself is a 3/8-mile oval that only has a wall on the front stretch. There is a wall in turns three and four, but that is back away from the racing surface and is used to protect the pit area. At first glance, it appears as though there is quite a drop off from turns one and two as well as the backstretch. Several cars exited the track throughout the night but were able to make their way back to the track.
That puts a wrap on night one of the Fall Nationals. Check back later for a recap of night two.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Once things finally got under, nearly 200 cars would be in action in several heat races. Announcers mentioned that there were 69 modifieds and 56 stock cars. There were two heats of sport compacts, three heats of sportmods, and four heats of hobby stocks to go along with 6 heats of stock cars and seven heats of modifieds.
This event had a much different format than I am used to. Rather then running the traditional heat races, bmains, and features, the format would use passing points. The twist on this event was the fact that drivers who did not like their passing points total in the heats, were allowed to run another set of heat races. I've never been to an event that has run in this particular way, and with the weather delays to start the show, the first set of heat races got over well after the 11:00pm hour. At that point many of the fans opted to head for home. While it was on the colder side, there was a pretty good crowd on hand. The wind coming out of the northwest did not help things, but fortunately that wind did later lay and it almost felt as though it warmed up at that point.
Due to the delays and such, track officials decided to stop running after the second set of sportmod heat races and pick up with the stock cars and modified heat races early Saturday afternoon. Hot laps are now scheduled to get underway at 1:00 rather then the previously scheduled 3:00 racing. I'm unsure as to what the format will be after the heat races are run. I can only assume bmains will be run to fill out the field after the top so-many cars are locked in through passing points?!
There was a good contingent of Iowa drivers in attendance for this show. Rod Scheuermann and Chris Abelson pulled off wins in their heat race while Jay Noteboom finished second in his. Jeremy Mills wheeled his modified to a third place finish in his heat race. Other noteable modified drivers in attendance included David Murray, Scott Drake, Ricky Alvarado, Grant Junghans, Dave Hardesty, Ricky Stephan, Will and Matt Brack, Benji LaCrosse, Matt Gilbertson, Jason Schoenberger, and Jordan Grabouski.
Several stock car drivers made the trip including Travis Shipman, Mike Nichols, Jeff Joldersma, Mike Jergens, Tim Bengard, Elijah Zevenbergen, Rod Statts, Mike Mauer, and Randy Brands. It was also unique seeing Abe Huls from Illinois along with Missouri hotshoes Gene Stigall and Brad Whitney. Only Jesse Sobbing represented Iowa that I could tell. Sobbing was paired up with Tyler Frye in heat race #2 to set up a shootout between the top two in final IMCA national points, with Sobbing earning the championship. Three hobby stocks made the trip out that included Dylan Book, Chris Hupp, and a number #86J from Red Oak with whom I'm not familiar.
By my count, there were eleven states represented last night: Kansas, Iowa, Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Minnesota. I think I may have heard that one of the drivers was from Texas, so that would possibly make it twelve states.
The RPM Speedway is a standout facility. The grandstand is all aluminum that reminded me of Junction Motor Speedway's stands, although not quite as tall. There was plenty of room for handicapped people in the front row of the raised grandstand. The PA system was state of the art with two speakers on each pole. The track itself is a 3/8-mile oval that only has a wall on the front stretch. There is a wall in turns three and four, but that is back away from the racing surface and is used to protect the pit area. At first glance, it appears as though there is quite a drop off from turns one and two as well as the backstretch. Several cars exited the track throughout the night but were able to make their way back to the track.
That puts a wrap on night one of the Fall Nationals. Check back later for a recap of night two.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Unique Twist to Saturday's Racing Trip!!
I experienced something for the first time Saturday, and it's likely that it may never happen again. But before I tell ya, let me set the stage for the day's activities....
I originally planned to head back to the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa Saturday afternoon for the second "day" of the MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge. However, those plans were spoiled when a friend of mine learned of the cancellation due to SNOW! Yes, I said SNOW... According to tv meteorologists, it's the earlier snow on record in Iowa. By the way, the race in Oskaloosa will be run on Saturday, October 31.
So I thought, no big deal... I'll head to Tipton, who was scheduled to start a couple hours later in the day. Approximately twenty minutes after receiving the Osky bad news, I pulled up the Tipton website only to find that their event was postponed as well. The date will now be Saturday, October 24.
Well... Now I was really bummed out. The only two shows in Iowa for the weekend had just postponed due to snow and cold temperatures. So I quickly did a little searching on the internet, and low and behold I found a race to attend!!
I gathered up all my winter gear and.... (wait for it) headed to Fountain City (Wisconsin) for their second night of the Fall Festival!! The further north I traveled on Highway 63, the brighter the skies were looking. Normally that's a good thing, but that meant colder temperatures without cloud cover for the night. I arrived at the track before hot laps got underway and positioned my folding chair (that track doesn't have a grandstand) before heading back to the car to put on more layers of warmer clothing.
Classes in action Saturday night included USRA modifieds, Wissota midwest modifieds, Wissota street stocks, Wissota super stocks, hornets, and vintage cars. I guess they also ran "mini mods", also known as slingshots. Or as I like to call them, "glorified go-karts". The track announcer mentioned that 125 cars were on hand, but that number did not include the vintage cars. That number was down from the previous night, but I thought that was a good number to be braving the cold weather.
Bob Timm led flag to flag in the USRA modified feature, but he had to hold off challenges from Jason Cummins and Josh Angst throughout much of the twenty-five lap feature. It would be Timm's first victory at the track this year, a track in which he promotes. Timm took over the reigns at the speedway and made significant changes to the track. Last year the track was a tri-oval, but Timm transformed it into a fast 3/8-mile oval.
To be honest, I didn't bother to take notes Saturday night as the temperatures were too bone-chilling. So for complete results, check out the track website at www.mississippithunder.com or for the results only check out their speednetdirect site.
I can tell you this... When crossing back over the Mississippi River to the town of Winona (Minnesota), I saw a sign that said the temperature was 35*. I had put on every layer I had taken with me, and even used hand warmers for the first time that I can recall. With the early start time of 5:00, the USRA modified feature got done shortly before 9:00 with only the hornets and vintage cars remaining. I decided not to stick around for those, and instead opted to head to the car for some warmth.
I had intended on heading to the Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Illinois Sunday afternoon. However, I called the track early Sunday morning to find that they had cancelled the event. I had noticed on their website that the "more information" link wasn't working on the schedule page, but thought nothing of the possibility of them cancelling. Good thing I called before heading that way!!
So as I said in the opening sentence, I experience something I may never get to again. I got snowed out in Iowa, and traveled to Wisconsin to see a race!! Go ahead, I can see you shaking your heads already! LOL.
The upcoming weekend schedule just got a little lighter. The Buena Vista Raceway in Alta has decided to cancel their two-day special that would have included topless modifieds among other classes. The Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City has rescheduled their Fall Challenge for Saturday with hot laps starting at 3:30. This event has been postponed twice already, so hopefully the third time is the charm. Friday and Saturday will also find the Dubuque Speedway in action as they will host the Spec Late Model Nationals. This event was held at the Farley Speedway last year, so time will tell if the change of venue will be a good thing. The 34 Raceway in Burlington has a special on Saturday. Looks like all weekly classes with the exception of the late models will be in action that night.
For those living to the south of me (or for those diehard race fans who might travel anywhere to see a race), there are a few other options with which you can choose. The I-55 Speedway in Pevely (Missouri) has their UMP Dirtcar Roundup scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Pevely is located south of St Louis for those interested in that. The Scotland County Speedway in Memphis (Missouri) will be running the Fall Nationals on Friday and Saturday. Todd Staley will be promoting this event as it will be the only races run at this track for the 2009 season. However, I had heard that a promoter has been named for the 2010 season. The final option for a Friday/Saturday twinbill is at the RPM Speedway in Hays, Kansas. IMCA modifieds will be racing for a $5,000 winner's check while IMCA stock cars will also be on the card.
For a Saturday/Sunday show, McCool Junction (Nebraska) is having their annual season closing special.
If you are interested in any of these shows, I'll be nice and list the track websites for ya.
Pevely (Missouri) - www.i55raceway.com
Dubuque - www.simmonspromotionsinc.com
Webster City - www.hamiltoncountyspeedway.com
Burlington - www.34raceway.com
Hays (KS) - www.rpmspeedway.net
McCool Junction (Nebraska) - www.junctionmotorspeedway.com
I do not have a website for Memphis (MO). However, here is the link for information on the race.
http://citrackside.com/uploads/memphisnationals.pdf
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
I originally planned to head back to the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa Saturday afternoon for the second "day" of the MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge. However, those plans were spoiled when a friend of mine learned of the cancellation due to SNOW! Yes, I said SNOW... According to tv meteorologists, it's the earlier snow on record in Iowa. By the way, the race in Oskaloosa will be run on Saturday, October 31.
So I thought, no big deal... I'll head to Tipton, who was scheduled to start a couple hours later in the day. Approximately twenty minutes after receiving the Osky bad news, I pulled up the Tipton website only to find that their event was postponed as well. The date will now be Saturday, October 24.
Well... Now I was really bummed out. The only two shows in Iowa for the weekend had just postponed due to snow and cold temperatures. So I quickly did a little searching on the internet, and low and behold I found a race to attend!!
I gathered up all my winter gear and.... (wait for it) headed to Fountain City (Wisconsin) for their second night of the Fall Festival!! The further north I traveled on Highway 63, the brighter the skies were looking. Normally that's a good thing, but that meant colder temperatures without cloud cover for the night. I arrived at the track before hot laps got underway and positioned my folding chair (that track doesn't have a grandstand) before heading back to the car to put on more layers of warmer clothing.
Classes in action Saturday night included USRA modifieds, Wissota midwest modifieds, Wissota street stocks, Wissota super stocks, hornets, and vintage cars. I guess they also ran "mini mods", also known as slingshots. Or as I like to call them, "glorified go-karts". The track announcer mentioned that 125 cars were on hand, but that number did not include the vintage cars. That number was down from the previous night, but I thought that was a good number to be braving the cold weather.
Bob Timm led flag to flag in the USRA modified feature, but he had to hold off challenges from Jason Cummins and Josh Angst throughout much of the twenty-five lap feature. It would be Timm's first victory at the track this year, a track in which he promotes. Timm took over the reigns at the speedway and made significant changes to the track. Last year the track was a tri-oval, but Timm transformed it into a fast 3/8-mile oval.
To be honest, I didn't bother to take notes Saturday night as the temperatures were too bone-chilling. So for complete results, check out the track website at www.mississippithunder.com or for the results only check out their speednetdirect site.
I can tell you this... When crossing back over the Mississippi River to the town of Winona (Minnesota), I saw a sign that said the temperature was 35*. I had put on every layer I had taken with me, and even used hand warmers for the first time that I can recall. With the early start time of 5:00, the USRA modified feature got done shortly before 9:00 with only the hornets and vintage cars remaining. I decided not to stick around for those, and instead opted to head to the car for some warmth.
I had intended on heading to the Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Illinois Sunday afternoon. However, I called the track early Sunday morning to find that they had cancelled the event. I had noticed on their website that the "more information" link wasn't working on the schedule page, but thought nothing of the possibility of them cancelling. Good thing I called before heading that way!!
So as I said in the opening sentence, I experience something I may never get to again. I got snowed out in Iowa, and traveled to Wisconsin to see a race!! Go ahead, I can see you shaking your heads already! LOL.
The upcoming weekend schedule just got a little lighter. The Buena Vista Raceway in Alta has decided to cancel their two-day special that would have included topless modifieds among other classes. The Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City has rescheduled their Fall Challenge for Saturday with hot laps starting at 3:30. This event has been postponed twice already, so hopefully the third time is the charm. Friday and Saturday will also find the Dubuque Speedway in action as they will host the Spec Late Model Nationals. This event was held at the Farley Speedway last year, so time will tell if the change of venue will be a good thing. The 34 Raceway in Burlington has a special on Saturday. Looks like all weekly classes with the exception of the late models will be in action that night.
For those living to the south of me (or for those diehard race fans who might travel anywhere to see a race), there are a few other options with which you can choose. The I-55 Speedway in Pevely (Missouri) has their UMP Dirtcar Roundup scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Pevely is located south of St Louis for those interested in that. The Scotland County Speedway in Memphis (Missouri) will be running the Fall Nationals on Friday and Saturday. Todd Staley will be promoting this event as it will be the only races run at this track for the 2009 season. However, I had heard that a promoter has been named for the 2010 season. The final option for a Friday/Saturday twinbill is at the RPM Speedway in Hays, Kansas. IMCA modifieds will be racing for a $5,000 winner's check while IMCA stock cars will also be on the card.
For a Saturday/Sunday show, McCool Junction (Nebraska) is having their annual season closing special.
If you are interested in any of these shows, I'll be nice and list the track websites for ya.
Pevely (Missouri) - www.i55raceway.com
Dubuque - www.simmonspromotionsinc.com
Webster City - www.hamiltoncountyspeedway.com
Burlington - www.34raceway.com
Hays (KS) - www.rpmspeedway.net
McCool Junction (Nebraska) - www.junctionmotorspeedway.com
I do not have a website for Memphis (MO). However, here is the link for information on the race.
http://citrackside.com/uploads/memphisnationals.pdf
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Osky Fall Challenge Night #1
A great field of cars turned out for the 23rd Annual Musco Lighting Fall Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa last night. An astounding 171 race teams packed the pits in hopes of taking home the checkered flag one last time. Competitors would have to battle cold temperatures along with other cars, but the racing action was fast and furious on the monster half-mile track. Five states were represented as drivers came from Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Illinois, and Missouri.
USRA modifieds kicked off feature races with 27 modifieds taking the green flag. Pole-sitter Josh Truman paced the field from the onset, but my eyes were glued a little further back as Ryan Gustin was quickly making strides towards the front. Gustin, who started ninth and won his heat race rather handily, got the unlucky draw of starting twelfth and advanced up to the fifth spot at the completion of lap two. Lap two produced one of the turning points of the race as leader Josh Truman apparently slid up and made contact with the wall in turn one, and over the car went into a series of rolls. I didn't catch how it started, but Josh was able to walk away from the incident.
That handed the reigns over to Corey Dripps with Brad Pinkerton and Bruce Hanford lined up behind him on the restart. Gustin would use the restart to make it up to third as the leaders engaged in heavy lapped traffic. Pinkerton and Gustin were able to close the gap to Dripps at that time before a caution waved on lap 17. Gustin would suffer a flat right rear tire at that point and decide to retire his hotrod for the evening. Pinkerton would elect to restart on the outside, allowing Zack VanderBeek the inside line. VanderBeek would get the edge, setting up a battle of Casey's General Stores sponsored cars at the front of the pack. VanderBeek pulled even several times in the corners, but Dripps' momentum on the outside propelled him to the win. VanderBeek was second, Brad Pinkerton third, and Al Hejna rounded out the field of cars on the lead lap.
Next up would be the fifteen lap USRA bmod finale. 52 cars were narrowed down to a starting field of 24 after running six heats and two bmains. Scott Davis used the outside front row start to grab the early lead until lap seven when Luke Wanninger overtook him. After securing the final transfer spot in the last bmain, Colter Deutsch made the long trip from Minnesota seem worth it as he charged all the way to the top five by lap ten. Wanninger would distance himself from the rest of the pack until the caution came out that included Scott Davis, Jason McDaniel, Tyler Groenendyk, Rocky Caudle, and Colter Deutsch. Apparently Davis got too high and hit the wall, setting up a chain reaction behind him. Wanninger would continue to set the pace the rest of the way while Tracy Johnson would slip into the runner up spot late in the race. Geoff Olson, John Davis, and USRA points leader Matt Jones rounded out the field. Johnson, who started 16th, made the long pull from Lake Preston, South Dakota while Jones started 20th.
The USRA hobby stocks had a difficult time getting things started. 46 cars were narrowed down to twenty-four to start the fifteen-lap feature. Troy Hovey found himself upside down on the backstretch on the initial start while Steve Holthaus would roll several times entering turn three and winding up outside the racing surface. Don Nunnikhoven would set the pace when the first lap finally got completed, but that lead would be short-lived as Steve Churchill snared the lead away on lap six. Chris Hovden would challenge Churchill's lead late in the race until Churchill slipped up in turn one and made contact with the outside wall, opening the door for Hovden to slam the door shut on the lead. Hovden would go on to take the win followed by Churchill, Nunnikhoven, Shannon Anderson, and Nathan Wood. Ironically, the race would end the same way it started as Bobby Greene would up rolling after taking the checkered flag. A competitor apparently blew a motor after crossing the finish line and Greene drove through the fluid, sending his car into a spin. His tires then hit the drier surface and dug in, sending his car over a couple times. He would walk away.
The final race of the night would be the USRA stock cars. Again, 46 cars would check in and get narrowed down to twenty-four. While Chad Walter and Shane Weller sat on the front row, it would be fifth-place started Mike VanGenderen taking the lead at the drop of the green flag. Nathan Wood would challenge VanGenderen on the inside and pull even, but couldn't keep his momentum up enough to take the lead. Shane Weller would follow VanGenderen until he made his move and slid under him to snare the lead away on lap eight of the twenty-lap race. USRA points leader Tory Reicks moved into the third spot three laps later while Matt Greiner was slicing his way through the field. Greiner started 22nd, but used the inside line to advance up to the sixth spot on lap thirteen. Greiner would get two more spots before the checkered flag waved for Shane Weller as he took home the win. Nathan Wood, Tory Reicks, Matt Greiner, and Kevin Donlan competed the top five.
The final checkered flag waved at 11:27 last night, capping off a full night of racing as hot laps got underway around 6:15. Considering it was Friday night and competing with high school football, there was a decent crowd of diehard racefans braving the cold temperatures in support of the event. The racing surface provided lots of side-by-side action throughout the night, although the modifieds were throwing chunks of mud as the entered turn one in the feature. I'm sure that made things more difficult for the rest of the classes.
For full results, check out the track website at www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa.
Racing resumes this afternoon at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa for the second day of the Musco Lighting Fall Challenge. No hot laps will be run today, and racing action is scheduled to start at 2pm. Promoter Todd Staley elected to bump up the start time to try to beat the weather while also hoping to finish in time to watch the Iowa Hawkeye football game as they host Michigan for Homecoming. Today's show will put the final touches on the racing action for the year at the Southern Iowa Speedway. However, fans in that area have another weekend of racing if they so choose as Todd Staley will be promoting next weekend's Memphis Fall Nationals at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri.
Thanks to Todd and Janet Staley for the hospitality last night! Let's hope for some more great racing today and hope the Hawks can prevail later tonight!!
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
USRA modifieds kicked off feature races with 27 modifieds taking the green flag. Pole-sitter Josh Truman paced the field from the onset, but my eyes were glued a little further back as Ryan Gustin was quickly making strides towards the front. Gustin, who started ninth and won his heat race rather handily, got the unlucky draw of starting twelfth and advanced up to the fifth spot at the completion of lap two. Lap two produced one of the turning points of the race as leader Josh Truman apparently slid up and made contact with the wall in turn one, and over the car went into a series of rolls. I didn't catch how it started, but Josh was able to walk away from the incident.
That handed the reigns over to Corey Dripps with Brad Pinkerton and Bruce Hanford lined up behind him on the restart. Gustin would use the restart to make it up to third as the leaders engaged in heavy lapped traffic. Pinkerton and Gustin were able to close the gap to Dripps at that time before a caution waved on lap 17. Gustin would suffer a flat right rear tire at that point and decide to retire his hotrod for the evening. Pinkerton would elect to restart on the outside, allowing Zack VanderBeek the inside line. VanderBeek would get the edge, setting up a battle of Casey's General Stores sponsored cars at the front of the pack. VanderBeek pulled even several times in the corners, but Dripps' momentum on the outside propelled him to the win. VanderBeek was second, Brad Pinkerton third, and Al Hejna rounded out the field of cars on the lead lap.
Next up would be the fifteen lap USRA bmod finale. 52 cars were narrowed down to a starting field of 24 after running six heats and two bmains. Scott Davis used the outside front row start to grab the early lead until lap seven when Luke Wanninger overtook him. After securing the final transfer spot in the last bmain, Colter Deutsch made the long trip from Minnesota seem worth it as he charged all the way to the top five by lap ten. Wanninger would distance himself from the rest of the pack until the caution came out that included Scott Davis, Jason McDaniel, Tyler Groenendyk, Rocky Caudle, and Colter Deutsch. Apparently Davis got too high and hit the wall, setting up a chain reaction behind him. Wanninger would continue to set the pace the rest of the way while Tracy Johnson would slip into the runner up spot late in the race. Geoff Olson, John Davis, and USRA points leader Matt Jones rounded out the field. Johnson, who started 16th, made the long pull from Lake Preston, South Dakota while Jones started 20th.
The USRA hobby stocks had a difficult time getting things started. 46 cars were narrowed down to twenty-four to start the fifteen-lap feature. Troy Hovey found himself upside down on the backstretch on the initial start while Steve Holthaus would roll several times entering turn three and winding up outside the racing surface. Don Nunnikhoven would set the pace when the first lap finally got completed, but that lead would be short-lived as Steve Churchill snared the lead away on lap six. Chris Hovden would challenge Churchill's lead late in the race until Churchill slipped up in turn one and made contact with the outside wall, opening the door for Hovden to slam the door shut on the lead. Hovden would go on to take the win followed by Churchill, Nunnikhoven, Shannon Anderson, and Nathan Wood. Ironically, the race would end the same way it started as Bobby Greene would up rolling after taking the checkered flag. A competitor apparently blew a motor after crossing the finish line and Greene drove through the fluid, sending his car into a spin. His tires then hit the drier surface and dug in, sending his car over a couple times. He would walk away.
The final race of the night would be the USRA stock cars. Again, 46 cars would check in and get narrowed down to twenty-four. While Chad Walter and Shane Weller sat on the front row, it would be fifth-place started Mike VanGenderen taking the lead at the drop of the green flag. Nathan Wood would challenge VanGenderen on the inside and pull even, but couldn't keep his momentum up enough to take the lead. Shane Weller would follow VanGenderen until he made his move and slid under him to snare the lead away on lap eight of the twenty-lap race. USRA points leader Tory Reicks moved into the third spot three laps later while Matt Greiner was slicing his way through the field. Greiner started 22nd, but used the inside line to advance up to the sixth spot on lap thirteen. Greiner would get two more spots before the checkered flag waved for Shane Weller as he took home the win. Nathan Wood, Tory Reicks, Matt Greiner, and Kevin Donlan competed the top five.
The final checkered flag waved at 11:27 last night, capping off a full night of racing as hot laps got underway around 6:15. Considering it was Friday night and competing with high school football, there was a decent crowd of diehard racefans braving the cold temperatures in support of the event. The racing surface provided lots of side-by-side action throughout the night, although the modifieds were throwing chunks of mud as the entered turn one in the feature. I'm sure that made things more difficult for the rest of the classes.
For full results, check out the track website at www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa.
Racing resumes this afternoon at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa for the second day of the Musco Lighting Fall Challenge. No hot laps will be run today, and racing action is scheduled to start at 2pm. Promoter Todd Staley elected to bump up the start time to try to beat the weather while also hoping to finish in time to watch the Iowa Hawkeye football game as they host Michigan for Homecoming. Today's show will put the final touches on the racing action for the year at the Southern Iowa Speedway. However, fans in that area have another weekend of racing if they so choose as Todd Staley will be promoting next weekend's Memphis Fall Nationals at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri.
Thanks to Todd and Janet Staley for the hospitality last night! Let's hope for some more great racing today and hope the Hawks can prevail later tonight!!
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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