Thursday marked the first of three races promoted by Joe Ringsdorf at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Spencer, Iowa. The night's racing card would include hobby stocks, bmods, IMCA stock cars, and IMCA modifieds. The modifieds were racing for a top prize of $1,000 as well as a spot on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational race at the IMCA Supernationals in Boone later on in September.
When I first arrived at the track, the inside half of the backstretch and the inside of turns one and two appeared to be a muddy mess as well as a spot coming out of turn four on the inside. However, the sunshine and a few trips around by the grader during intermission helped widen the track out for the features.
Perenial contender Andy Boeckman redrew the pole position for the hobby stock feature, but he quickly backslided a few spots on the start. Instead it would be Tim Sidles grabbing the lead from the outside front row while Drew Barglof settled in behind him. After a caution, Boeckman and Devin Smith made their way to the front and waged war for the lead. Boeckman would power his machine to the lead, but Smith didn't give up very easy. Smith tried to get around Boeckman on the low side, but couldn't keep his momentum enough to complete the pass. Behind them five cars were battling for the third spot, with Tim Sidles getting the better of the bunch. But up front, it would be Andy Boeckman racing his way to victory lane. Devin Smith was second, Tim Sidles third, Dustin Larson fourth, and Corey Gronewald rounded out the top five.
Randy Joynt grabbed the lead from his pole redraw position in the bmod feature. Brandon Ostwald and Bruce Wickman made their way to second and third before Ostwald slipped up high to allow Wickman by on the low side. Tad Reutzel made his move to the front as he settled in to the fourth spot. With two laps to go Bruce Wickman was gaining on Randy Joynt for the lead, but he slipped off the track a bit on the backstretch to allow Joynt to take home the win. Bruce Wickman was second, Brandon Ostwald was third, Jake Simpson fourth, and Tad Reutzel completed the top five.
The IMCA stock cars were up next for their fifteen lap main event. Twenty-two cars took the green flag, but David Wickman's night would end before making it to the flagstand as he and Jack Byers got together that resulted in Wickman's car hitting the concrete barrier in front of the temporary flagstand. When racing resumed, pole sitter Donovan Smith would take the lead as his brother David got by Calvin Lange for second. Mike Jergens would catch Lange and challenge him for his spot, but Lange was able to hold him at bay for the remainder of the race. Lapped cars allowed David Smith to close in on his brother Donovan for the lead, but once Donovan cleared traffic he was able to increase his lead on his way to the win. David Smith was second, Calvin Lange was third, Mike Jergens fourth, and Elijah Zevenbergen rounded out the top five.
Seventeen IMCA modifieds took the green for a chance at the $1,000 top prize. Chris Abelson tried to keep the string going as up to that point, every winner had started on the pole. Abelson jumped out front early on as excitement behind him happened. Jay Noteboom got crossed up coming out of turn four and looked to be headed straight for the concrete barriers and the flagstand. He was able to slow his car down enough to swerve right and drive between the outside wall and the flagstand and barriers and continue back onto the racing surface. Fortunately for him, he only lost a few positions on the track.
With Abelson leading and Stacey Mills running second, a battled shaped up for third as Josh Meyer tried to hold off Jeremy Mills and Eric Dailey. Mills was able to get by Meyer at the halfway point of the race before a caution came out that involved race leader Chris Abelson. Apparently the slower car of Dwaine Hanson was trying to exit the track and Abelson had to lock up the brakes to avoid hitting him and came to a stop. This handed the lead over to Stacey Mills, but behind him Dailey would get by Meyer for third. Stacey hit a rut entering turn three that pushed his car up the track, allowing his brother Jeremy passed to take the top spot away. Two laps later, a backpedaling Josh Meyer would slide up to allow Reese Coffee to get by for fourth.
Eric Dailey's run would come up three laps short as he pulled into the infield before the end of the race. But the night belonged to Jeremy Mills as he took home the $1,000 payday followed by his brother Stacey in second. Reese Coffee, Josh Meyer, and Clayton Christensen rounded out the top five.
With all the rain Iowa has received in the past several days, the track had its share of ruts and soft spots. Promoter Joe Ringsdorf graded the track during intermission and made it better for the features. The next race on the schedule at the Clay County Fairgrounds is set for Thursday, July 23rd.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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