On a night in which I was torn between two races to attend, I chose to attend the I-35 Speedway Monday night as they hosted stop number two of the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA modifieds. After seeing fifty-eight cars checked into the inaugural stop a couple weeks ago at Independence, I was looking forward to seeing a healthy field once again Monday night. Also racing were the IMCA hobby stocks, IMCA sportmods, and IMCA stock cars.
Up first would be the IMCA hobby stock feature. Cory Gansen would grab the lead early in front of a twenty-car field. Behind him the battle was heating up as Mick Meyers pushed high and allowed three cars to slip under. One of those cars, Stac Schroeder, was not content with second as he ducked under Gansen for the race lead. Gansen would lose a couple more spots to Chad Gentz and Zac Smith before a caution slowed the pace. As the laps clicked away, Gentz challenge Schroeder for the lead and pulled up to his door panel at the checkered flag, coming up just short of two consecutive wins at Mason City. Stac Schroeder took the win followed by Chad Gentz, Zac Smith, Mick Meyers, and Cory Gansen.
After the IMCA hobby stocks would be a bmain for the IMCA sportmods followed by three B's for the Hawkeye Dirt Tour IMCA modifieds. That set the stage for the IMCA sportmod feature.
Alex Zwanziger set the pace on lap one before giving way to Shane Swanson a lap later. After starting ninth, Adam Ackerman found himself hugging the inside tires and advancing to the fourth spot in just two laps when the caution flag appeared. Ackerman used the high groove on the restart to zoom past George Nordman, who's car lost power and retired to the infield. That pass didn't last long, however, as Matt Looft ducked under Ackerman to secure the third position. On the final set of corners, Swanson drug the brakes and slipped up the banking. Zwanziger, poised to react on his rear bumper, steered left and made the winning pass as they crossed the finish line. It would be Alex Zwanziger's first career win. Shane Swanson finished second, Jesse Sobbing was third, Troy Jerovetz fourth, and Matt Looft rounded out the top five. Sobbing is the defending IMCA National Champion in the sportmod division while Jerovetz made the pull down from Wisconsin.
After that exciting finish, the IMCA stock cars made their way to the track. Fourteen cars were set to do battle as Merlyn Hegland set the pace. Kevin Opheim used the inside line to advance from his inside row four starting spot to second in a matter of laps before suffering a flat tire. Following the double file restart, Travis Shipman would rocket to the inside and pass Mike Wieman for the fourth spot at the midpoint. Shipman would continue his march forward as he hugged the inside groove to pass Derek Green and Larry Portis for the runner up spot. He would run out of time, however, as Merlyn Hegland hoisted the trophy when all was said and done. Shipman settled for second, Derek Green third, Elijiah Zevenbergen fourth, and Larry Portis was fifth.
The final event of the night would be the thirty-lap Hawkeye Dirt Tour modified feature. Ron Pope and Randy Havlik sat on the front row, with both drivers boasting IMCA SuperNationals championships. The race got off to a slow start as a couple cautions prevented the first lap from being scored. Jay Noteboom spun to bring out the first yellow flag while Scott Olson made heavy contact with an implement tire on the inside of turn three, sending his machine into a whirlwind in the air before landing on all four wheels. A chain reaction ensued, collecting several cars. Only eighteen of the twenty-four starters were left when the first green flag lap was scored complete.
Ron Pope would grab the lead at the onset while Richie Gustin kept pace just behind. After restarting at the tail of the field, Jay Noteboom quickly shot to the outside groove and climbed all the way to sixth in two laps. Up front Gustin saw an opening on lap three and took advantage as he dived to the inside entering turn one. Gustin and Pope made contact, but both machines were unharmed and continued on.
The bottom side seemed to be the preferred line for all but one driver, Jay Noteboom. Noteboom continued to work the cushion, although he passed Mark Schulte for fifth utilizing the inside line. A caution waved with eleven laps remaining, which set the stage for a great finish. Noteboom again swung his machine to the outside and set sail as he passed Max Corporan and Randy Havlik to move into third. With four laps to go it appeared that Noteboom would run out of time. But each lap he seemed to close the gap and began to reel in the race leaders. On the final circuit he got to the rear bumper of Ron Pope exiting turn two, but it wasn't meant to be on this night. Richie Gustin went on to take the $1,000 payday as he led the final twenty-seven laps. Ron Pope was second, Jay Noteboom third, Max Corporan fourth, and Randy Havlik completed the top five. Gustin also pocketed an extra $100 as he picked up the Specialty Technologies Heat Race Challenge as he won both his heat race and the feature.
I'd like to give a shoutout to Chris Marchese, Bucky Doren, and Blake Anderson. Chris greeted me in the pit area upon arrival while Bucky and Blake took time to chat throughout the races. For official results and updated point standings, be sure to log on to www.dirttour.com.
That brought a close to my extended Memorial Day racing weekend. Six races in six nights. I'm going to take it easy during the week and rest up for another exciting weekend of action.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINTELY addictive!!
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