Friday night the Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge held a Fan Appreciation night. Tickets were just $5 for adults and many prizes were given away either off the ticket numbers or the lucky number programs. Things got off to a late start as a brief rain shower went through the area prior to
the start of the show, so track crew along with the drivers spent some time packing the surface in.
Feature action got kicked off with the hornet division with Nick Crimmins taking the lead early. His time up front was brief as smoke appeared from under his machine and he exited to the pits, handing the lead over to Mike McFarland. Mick Evans would take over the second spot prior to the only caution of the race. Jarid Kuchenreuther would duck to the inside of Nate Evans for the third position. Kuchenreuther wasn't quite done as he dove to the inside and door slammed Devin Collins to advance to second while Collins fell a few spots to fifth. Mike McFarland would pick up the win ahead of Nick Hogan, Mick Evans, Nate Evans, and Jarid Kuchenreuther.
Econo stocks were up next and Brad Hanse made a great move to split front row starters Jason Lowe and Brad Babb to pick up the race lead. Colby Davis moved into the third spot before challenging Lowe and making the pass for second. Davis closed in on Hanse with one to go, but Hanse was able to hold him off and pick up the win. Colby Davis was second, Jason Lowe third, Todd Frederickson was fourth, and Brad Babb fifth.
Fourteen hobby stocks hit the track next and outside front row starter Nick Weiss took command in the early going. Adam Suhrbier followed in second, but quickly swung to the outside and made the pass for the lead on lap three. Last week's feature winner Jeff Lyon was moving forward as he got by Jack Marsh for fourth before also passing Josh Niemand and Weiss for second. Suhrbier enjoyed a nice margin as he picked up the win. Lyon finished second, Weiss third, Niemand fourth, and Myles Michehl completed the top five.
Doug Bartles would jump out front in the limited modified feature after starting outside the front row. Andy Tiernan quickly found his way to fourth after passing Jerid Ratske on lap two and then getting by Steve Reetz for third using the same line. The first of two cautions came out and the field formed in double file formation, something I don't recall the track doing in the past. In either case, Brett Meyer was able to dive to the inside and pass Andy Tiernan and Jamie Ganoe to move into the second position. Another caution came out later, but Meyer was unable to mount any kind of serious challenge as Doug Bartles took home the win. Brett Meyer finished second, Andy Tiernan was third, Jim Lampe fourth, and Matt Pittman rounded out the top five.
Seven USRA stock cars were on hand Friday night, but Randy Biederman was unable to make the call for the feature. Pole sitter Matt Mundt would lead the opening lap, but Wayne Crimmins quickly took to the outside and made the pass on Mundt for the lead on lap two. Any early caution came out for Matt Fox as he slowed and stopped outside of turn three, but when racing resumed Jason Minnehan took his machine to the top side and passed Mundt for second. Minnehan closed in on Crimmins and hounded him the rest of the way, even making contact on a few occasions. Crimmins would not fold to the pressure, however, as he took home top honors. Minnehan would settle for second, Adam Silvey was third, and Matt Fox rounded out the cars left on the track. Dennis Plain was fifth and Mundt sixth.
Eight modifieds were ready to go for their finale of the evening as Scott Sturm took command from his outside front row start. Brian Schmitt slowed in turn three and made it to the infield, ending his night early. Second place runner Brad Williams would also suffer the same fate, so Sturm would have Jeff Stephens on his rear bumper following the only caution flag of the race. Rod Scheuermann used the restart to get by Stephens and then later Sturm to take command up front, but the real story was happening behind him. Stephens would pull up slow in turn three and exit the track, and later Bill Crimmins and Rodney Slagle suffered the same bad luck as they too exited while running in third place. At the finish it would be Rod Scheuermann taking the win, Scott Sturm second, and Kyle Segebart in third. Slagle and Crimmins were credited with fourth and fifth, respectively.
Despite the rain and humid conditions, the night seemed to go pretty good with the exception of track work between the heats and features. The track crew worked on a big rut in turns one and two for quite awhile, but then it appeared the cars stayed below that line in the features.
For a full field rundown of results, along with updated point standings and upcoming schedule, check out the Mineral City Speedway website.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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