Sunday night I stopped back by the I-35 Speedway in Mason City after watching races in the state of Minnesota Friday and Saturday. It was also the time of year for the North Iowa Fair, so I took a little time to walk around the grounds to scope out the attractions and rides. I'm not much of a fair person, so this was pretty unusual. But I had plenty of time to kill that day until the green flag dropped on the races later on in the evening.
The closest race of the night happened in the junior hornet feature. Ken Winkowitsch beat Blake Cole by the slimmest of margins at the line to pick up another win. Cole tried to ride the cushion in turn four and got the momentum he needed, but he ran out of time before the flagstand to make the pass. In the hornet feature Megan Lappegard led every lap on her way to her first Mason City feature win of the season.
After a few cars were unable to make the call, seventeen hobby stocks took the green flag for their main event. Chris Monson set the pace early on while Stac Schroeder was working his way forward deeper in the pack. Schroeder started eleventh, but quickly made his way to fourth in just three laps as he drove around many cars on the top side of the speedway. Schroeder moved up another spot a lap later before the caution flag waved. On the restart Jeremy Solberg's car didn't come up to speed and Schroeder was able to take advantage and advance another spot. Monson drifted high in turn two a lap later, opening the door for Schroeder to dart to the inside and grab the lead. From that point on Stac Schroeder put it on cruise control as he took home another feature win. Chris Monson was second, Mick Meyers got by Heath Tulp late in the race for third and fourth, respectively, and Chad Gentz rounded out the top five.
George Nordman took command early on in the bmod feature, but there were some fast movers slicing through the field behind him. Shane Swanson started eighth, but worked his way to third in just two laps. Nate Chodur found himself in fifth place after starting ninth before a caution came out.
Perhaps the biggest mover of the field was Dan Tenold. After experiencing problems his heat, he tagged the tail of the feature and used the cushion to crack the top six on lap five. One lap later Nick West dove inside of Swanson to take over the runner up spot. Swanson would come to a stop to bring out a caution after suffering a flat tire, but his crew was able to get it changed before the green flag resumed the races. Tenold continued his march forward as he slid into the third spot while West and Nordman raced wheel to wheel in front of him. With two laps remaining, Nick West made the bottom side stick as he made the winning pass and went on to take the win. George Nordman finished second, Nate Chodur edged out Dan Tenold at the line for third, and Tony Ranes came home fifth.
Coming into Sunday night's action, Mike Jergens had won the previous three IMCA stock car features. That streak appeared to be ready to fall as Brad Broers paced the field early on while Calvin Lange followed behind in second. Travis Shipman made the pass on Lange to take the second spot away on lap three and then make the same move on Broers to take the lead a lap later. Jergens quickly got to the front and challenged Shipman for the lead, but couldn't make it stick on the bottom side. Jergens again got a run on Shipman exiting turn two just after the crossed flags, but again was unable to complete the pass entering turn three. Jergens would later drive his car deep into turn three, slide up, and take the lead away from Shipman. Brad Broers would lose the third spot as Travis Hoeft motored by with three laps to go, but Mike Jergens kept his streak going as he took home his fourth win in a row at Mason City. Travis Shipman was second, Travis Hoeft third, Brad Broers fourth, and Kevin Opheim rounded out the top five.
Levi Nielsen grabbed the early lead in the twenty-lap IMCA modified feature while T.J. Stalker drove by Terrance Prochaska on the top side to take over second on the second lap. Track point leader Jeremy Mills was the only car to work the bottom of the speedway and battled with Curt Badker for the fifth spot. After Stalker pulled off with mechanical issues, Mills found himself battling with Prochaska for third. Race leader Nielsen's luck would come to an abrupt end as his driveshaft went flying in the air as he entered turn one. That handed the lead over to pole sitter Eric Dailey. With Mills right on his heels, Dailey hit his marks while Mills tried everything in his power to make the pass. Eric Dailey was able to keep Jeremy Mills behind him as he took home his first win of the season in Mason City. Jeremy Mills was second, Terrance Prochaska finished third, Curt Badker fourth, and Alex Hanson backed up last week's win with a top five.
With just four weeks left before season championship night, many drivers are looking to maintain or advance in the point standings. After Sunday night, Nate Chodur enjoys a twenty-one point lead over Adam Ackerman in the bmods while Jeremy Mills holds a twenty-six point advantage over Rob Rose in the IMCA modifieds. Kevin Opheim leads Travis Hoeft by nine points in the IMCA stock cars. The closest point battle is found in the hobby stock ranks as Chad Gentz holds a two point lead over Heath Tulp and a three point lead over Mick Meyers. Things will definitely heat up as the first race night of August nears.
For more results and expanded point standings, check out the Mason City website at www.i-35speedway.com
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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