Smiths Gather Two Wins in Algona

Despite an unfavorable forecast and gloomy skies all around on Saturday, I decided to make the journey to Algona with some friends for the night. I drove into some spotty sprinkles just south of my friends' house as the skies were darkening, but the track officials at Algona had done their work and the track was in good shape in spite of the big puddle inside the frontstretch.

Feature action would get kicked off with the junior hornets. Joe Devries would pick up that win while Tyler Manning held off Tim Doocy to claim the "pro" hornet victory. The tandem of Troy Krug and Kyle Sidles powered their machine to victory lane in the cruiser feature.

We were then set for the seventeen-car IMCA hobby stock feature. Heath Tulp took command on lap one ahead of Drew Barglof and Chad Krug while Nick Meyer worked under Dustin Smith for fourth a few laps in. Following a caution and double-file restart, Devin Smith (no relation that I know of) powered his machine to the outside of Meyer to take over fourth. Ahead of him Barglof lost the handle and lost several spots before the caution came out. On the restart, both Nick Meyer and Chad Krug got by the Tulp machine as they took the crossed flags signaling the halfway point. Tulp would regroup as he and Devin Smith both got by Krug to move into second and third, respectively. Meyer and Tulp would exchange the lead for a couple laps before Devin Smith hugged the inside line and made the pass for the lead coming to the white flag. Smith went on to take the win ahead of Heath Tulp, Nick Meyer, Chad Krug, and Kyle Ricke.

Fifteen IMCA sportmods had their share of troubles to say the least. Several early cautions quickly dwindled the field down significantly. Justin Zimmerman led early, but he suffered a flat tire under one of the cautions to end his night. That handed the reigns over to Troy Rink. Greg Sidles would challenge Rink's lead, but made contact with the leader and wound up spinning himself and collecting three other cars. Matt Hoeft looked to the inside of Rink to take the lead away, but just behind them Doug Smith was on the prowl as he advanced to second past Rink. It wouldn't be long before Smith motored by Hoeft on the outside for the lead. Entering turn one Smith would lose the handle, but Hoeft was right there and would wind up straightening him out. Unfortunately for Hoeft, he would have to take evasive action to miss an implement tire and drove through a big puddle of water as he tried to get back on track. Doug Smith would go on to take the win ahead of Jake Simpson, Troy Rink, Nate Hughes, Denny Penning, and Matt Hoeft as they were the only cars left running when the checkers waved.

A stellar field of twenty IMCA stock cars were on hand last night. John Campbell raced to the lead with Calvin Lange right on his rear bumper. Kevin Opheim worked to the inside of Andrew Inman to snare the third position away while Lange used the same line to pass Campbell for the lead. Bruce Wickman then entered the equation as he used the low line to pass Opheim for third and later Campbell for second.

The top four at the halfway point would be Lange, Wickman, Opheim, and Chad Palmer. Palmer would get the inside line working to his advantage as he passed Opheim and Wickman to advance to the runner up spot. Those three cars would race wheel-to-wheel for a couple laps before Wickman regained the second position. Just when it appeared the race would go caution-free, the yellow flag appeared just after the white flag had been thrown. The double-file restart would prove to be exciting as Lange, Wickman, and Palmer were three-wide at the starter's stand as they received the white flag. Unfortunately Calvin Lange would spin in turn two and collected two other cars. While the yellow light would be displayed prior to the checkered flag waving, the race would end with Bruce Wickman picking up the win. David Smith got credit for second, Kevin Opheim third, Chad Palmer fourth, and Travis Shipman fifth.

The IMCA modifieds saw thirteen cars take the green flag for their feature in which pole-sitter Chris Rakness set the early pace. Ricky Stephan worked his way under Austin Wolf for second while Ryan Watnem and Jeremy Mills took advantage of Eric Dailey pushing up the track for fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Jeff Feaster powered his machine in the middle of the banking to pass Wolf for third just prior to the halfway point. Mills would follow Feaster to fourth while Feaster continued forward by passing Stephan for second and eventually Rakness for the lead exiting turn two. Rob Hughes would then find the top side to his liking as he motored by Stephan for third. Hughes' luck would come to and end when his machine spun between turns one and two to bring out the caution with two laps remaining. Ricky Stephan used the restart to get by Mills for second, but up front it was all Jeff Feaster as he pocketed the win. Stephan was second, Jeremy Mills third, Austin Wolf fourth, and Chris Rakness fifth.

The evening concluded with mechanics races and the final checkers waved around 9:45pm. While the track proved to be tricky for some, I personally thought it was in good shape considering all the rain in the area the last couple of days. For more complete results, check out www.algonaraceway.com. I'd like to thank promoter Joe Ringsdorf for his continued hospitality and also thank announcer Jerry Vansickel for the Positivelyracing.com plug.

- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!