Saturday, June 11, 2011

Williams Finds Victory Lane in Fort Dodge

After most of the state received significant amounts of rain on Thursday, I went to work Friday thinking that nobody was going to be racing later that night. I got home and did a small errand before receiving a text message from a good friend from Des Moines, asking me if Fort Dodge was still racing. I told him I would check with someone connected to the track, and sure enough they were still racing. I quickly got my butt in gear and headed west on Highway 20.

Still driving in misty conditions until I reached I-35, I was skeptical as to if racing would actually happen. As I reached Webster City the highway started looking dryer, but the mist returned once I arrived at the race track. Much to my surprise, however, the track looked in great shape.

Heat races were clicked off at a good rate and it was quickly time for feature action. Dakota Flagstad would take the early command, but he would later be black flagged for leaking fuel. That handed the lead over to Mike McFarland, and he would sail away with the victory. Nate Evans would finish second, Jarid Kuchenreuther third, Mick Evans was fourth, and Mike Evans rounded out the top five.

Econo stocks were next up with eight cars taking the green flag. Austin Reicks was shot out of a cannon as he stormed to the front of the field after starting eighth.. Jason Lowe got too high exiting turn four, went off the banking and crashed into the tires on the front stretch before ending up on his top. He would get out unhurt. Reicks would pick up where he left off and took the checkered flag ahead of Todd Fredericksen, Dan Dahl, Brad Hanse, and Brad Babb.

Pole sitter Adam Suhrbier led the early laps in the hobby stock feature, but he was dethroned by Myles Michehl at the front of the pack. Suhrbier would get high in turn four, and Justin Nehring was there to take advantage as he hammered the gas into the lead. Austin Wolfgram was trying to maneuver through the field after starting ninth, but he got together with Suhrbier and lost a position. Justin Nehring would go on to pick up the feature win ahead of Myles Michehl, Jeff Lyon, Austin Wolfgram, and Zachary Angstrom.

1. 20N Justin Nehring
2. 21 Myles Michehl
3. 59 Jeff Lyon
4. 24 Austin Wolfgram
5. 01z Zachary Angstrom
6. 4 Ryan Caquelin
7. 27P Kevin Berger
8. 90 Matt Wise
9. 49 Jack Marsh
10. 30 Dave Schmauss
11. 10s Adam Suhrbier - DNF
12. 24T Paul Toms - DNS

It was then time for the limited modifieds to hit the track with fifteen cars ready for action. Outside front row starter Clay Evans continued his momentum from last week's feature win to lead in the early going in this one. Steve Reetz would replace Evans as the leader a few laps later while Jim Lampe also snuck under Evans for third. Lampe was closing in on the front two cars of Reetz and Matt Pittman, but contact between Lampe and Pittman sent both into a spin. Pittman fired his machine up but Lampe fell victim to the caution flag. Late in the race Andy Tiernan dove to the inside to take the third spot away from Evans, but the race belonged to Steve Reetz as he took the win. Matt Pittman finished second, Andy Tiernan third, Clay Evans fourth, and Rocky Caudle finished fifth in what I believe was a new car.

1. 80 Steve Reetz
2. 36 Matt Pittman
3. 321 Andy Tiernan
4. 54E Clay Evans
5. 99 Rocky Caudle
6. 40rd Bob Sutherland
7. F5 Travis Storm
8. 40 George Gilliland
9. 3 Trevor Chaplin
10. 2 Jeriel Ratzke
11. 14K Donovon Kerrebeck
12. 57 Doug Bartels - DNF
13. 22 Jim Lampe - DNF
14. 23JR Nick Roberts - DNF
15. 37 Dustin Haggard - DNF

USRA stock cars were next up with eleven cars taking the green flag. Jeff Deal raced out to the early lead with Dennis Plain and Jim Mitchell hanging tough behind him. Plain would lose the handle momentarily and slip back to eighth prior to a caution flag waving. Upon receiving the green flag on the restart Wayne Crimmins would suffer a right rear flat tire and exit to the pits. Deal continued to lead the way with Matt Mundt and Matt Fox following. Mitchell worked under Fox to take the third spot away while Jason Minnehan followed to fourth. Minnehan then ducked to the inside in turn three and passed Mitchell and Mundt for the second position. It wasn't enough though as Jeff Deal would be the victor followed by Minnehan, Mundt, Mitchell, and Fox rounding out the top five.

1. 22 Jeff Deal
2. 7 Jason Minnehan
3. 25M Matt Mundt
4. M5 Jim Mitchell
5. M2 Matt Fox
6. 57 Dennis Plain
7. 20 Malcolm Teachout
8. 93 Michael Jaennette - DNF
9. 24B Randy Biederman - DNF
10. 35 Wayne Crimmins - DNF
11. 15 Jeremy Crimmins - DNF

The finale of the evening was the nine-car field of modifieds. Scott Sturm would hold down the fort in the early going, but he slipped high and opened the door for Brad Williams to take control at the front of the field. Rod Scheuermann methodically worked his way towards the front using the bottom side of the speedway as he passed Dave Doughty and Scott Sturm to climb into second. As the field was spread out, Scheuermann began to reel in Williams in the closing laps. He would run out of time, however, as Brad Williams picked up the feature win. Scheuermann settled for second, Scott Sturm was third, Mike VanGenderen finished fourth, and Dave Doughty was fifth.

1. 22BW Brad Williams
2. 14R Rod Scheuermann
3. 23 Scott Sturm
4. 15x Mike VanGenderen
5. 68 Dave Doughty
6. z3 Mike Albertsen
7. 61 Brian Schmitt
8. 20 Kyle Segbart
9. 47 Rodney Slagle - DNS

Racing action concluded at around 9:45. I thought the track held up very well considering the moisture that was in it. Only a rough patch in turn two was visible from my eyes.

Check out the Mineral City Speedway website for upcoming races, results, and point standings. Be sure to check out the USMTS show coming up Monday night, June 13th!

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

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