On a night that saw 106 race teams packed the pit area Sunday night in Vinton, two IMCA sportmod features would be run as a result of thirty-three cars in that division. It was the first time I've seen two features in that class.
The IMCA sport compacts kicked feature action off with fifteen cars on hand. Bill Whalen Jr raced to the early lead, but he would soon have company in the name of Dallas Chandler. Nathan Chandler, the point leader, moved his way up to third after sneaking inside of Brett Vanous. However, Nathan Chandler's luck would run out as he suffered a right rear flat tire as he faded further back. Dallas Chandler momentarily stole the lead away from Whalen Jr with two laps to go, but Chandler would regain it as the white flag was displayed and went on to take the checkered flag. Chandler was second, Vanous third, and Brad Chandler rounded out the top four.
1. 00w Bill Whalen Jr
2. 3 Dallas Chandler
3. 35 Brett Vanous
4. 2nd Brad Chandler
5. 77 ??
6. 02 Merv Chandler
7. 36DD Gary Peiffer
8. K12 Cody Swanson
9. 22T Travis Losenicky
10. 8M Jacob McVay
A field of eighteen IMCA hobby stocks would then make their way to the track. Jacob Keiser would rocket to the lead at the drop of the green flag, but eyes were focused on Vince Buchholz towards the middle of the pack. After starting eighth, he quickly dissecting the field and found himself in fourth after just two laps. Following a restart, Buchholz drove by Doug Laughridge for the runner up spot before another caution waved. With Keiser maintaining the low line, Buchholz went to the cushion and made the pass for the lead on the next lap. Brad Forbes raced his way to third and then late in the race snuck under Keiser for second when the checkered flag waved, but he ran out of time to catch Vince Buchholz. Keiser managed a third place finish followed by Wes Stanek and Scott Pippert.
1. 55 Vince Buchholz
2. 09 Brad Forbes
3. 07 Jacob Keiser
4. 16 Wes Stanek
5. 47 Scott Pippert
6. 67 Justin Stander
7. 17K Kyle Parizek
8. 76S Adam Streeter
9. 77 Rod Grother
10. 33x Max Leonard
11. 4JR Russell Damme Jr
Up next would be the first of two feature events for the IMCA sportmods. Randy Sines jumped out front early on, but track points leader Austin Kaplan was on the move early as he settled into fifth in just two laps. A caution flag set up a restart in which Kaplan split Curt Hilmer and David Schulze to climb to third as Joel Rust took over the runner up spot. Rust would use the low line to get by Sines for the race lead while Kaplan would later use the same line to get by Sines for second. Kaplan would keep utilizing the inside groove to make his way by Rust for the lead prior to the halfway point in the race. Kaplan would go on to take the checkered flag ahead of Joel Rust, Randy Sines, Kurt Hogan, and Curt Hilmer.
16 cars
1. 1 Austin Kaplan
2. 26J Joel Rust
3. 28 Randy Sines
4. MR09 Kurt Hogan
5. 22H Curt Hilmer
6. 18 Chris Luloff
7. 19G Gaitlin Leytham
Mike McDonald set the pace early in the second IMCA sportmod feature, but that would be short-lived as Kent Kozitsky powered his machine around the outside to take over the race lead. A bit further back Drew Fish was making strides towards the front as he ventured his way to fourth just three laps into the race. Fish continued his march towards the front when he passed Shane Ebaugh and McDonald to snare the runnerup position. A caution with three laps remaining reset the field. Fish continued to stalk Kozitsky, but was unable to make his move as Kent Kozitsky picked up his first career win. Fish settled for second, Danny Dvorak finished third, Jim Buhlman fourth, and Mike McDonald rounded out the top five.
16 cars
1. 0K Kent Kozitsky
2. 3D Drew Fish
3. 3R Danny Dvorak
4. 00 Jim Bulhman
5. 95 Mike McDonald
6. K3 Kyle Olson
7. 7 Tim Swope
8. 00c John VanWechel
9. 3B Brian Anderson
On track next would be the fourteen car field of IMCA stock cars. Jeff Mueller would get the jump on the field from the pole. After getting sideways on the backstretch and losing a couple positions, Norman Chesmore started to make his way back towards the front. He passed Damon Murty for the fourth spot with with two laps remaining he powered up his machine on the outside to advance to second. Justin Temeyer would make his way Chesmore on the final corner to steal the runner up position, but Jeff Mueller cruised to the win ahead of both of them. Phil Holtz and Murty rounded out the top five.
1. 77M Jeff Mueller
2. 56T Justin Temeyer
3. 15 Norman Chesmore
4. 7H Phil Holtz
5. 99D Damon Murty
6. 3T Scooter Dulin
7. 6x Bob Ahrendsen
8. 10 John Schaefer
9. 77 Andy Bryant
10. 76 Mike Galli
11. 83E Thomass Thomson
The finale of the night would be the twenty-four car IMCA modified feature. Buster Pate grabbed the reigns on the first lap, but John Thimmesch hugged the tires on the inside to sneak past for the lead on lap two. Dennis Betzer and Patrick Flanigan then engaged in a battle for the third position, and they would soon be joined by Max Corporan before the caution flag waved. When the green flag was displayed again, Flanigan powered to the outside and took the lead exiting turn two. Thimmesch wasn't about to give up so easily as he fought back and regained the lead the following lap on the inside. The two front runners would race side-by-side for several laps with Flanigan again getting out front before a caution came out with five to go. That caution hurt Thimmesch as he was never able to get enough momentum built back up to challenge Flanigan as he went on to take the win. Thimmesch was second, Max Corporan third, Dennis Betzer fourth, and Mark Schulte rounded out the top five.
24 cars
1. F7 Patrick Flanigan
2. 85 John Thimmesch
3. 3c Max Corporan
4. 57B Dennis Betzer
5. 27M Mark Schulte
6. 111 Buster Pate
7. 18 Jerry Luloff
8. T23 Tony Olson
9. 33D Scott Hogan
It was a good night of racing despite a rough surface. People around me mentioned it ranked right there with the roughest it's been all year. It did provide for some good racing in the last two races though, so I won't complain too much. For more complete results, check out www.speednetdirect.com and select Benton County Speedway.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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