The Casey's General Store United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) made another visit to the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa Wednesday night, August 5th. Thirty-two cars were on hand in hopes of taking home the win as the "regular season" winds down before the Hunt begins next week. Also on hand would be the USRA stock cars, USRA bmods, and USRA hobby stocks.
The evening was also a little extra special for the fans as NASCAR personalities Kenny Wallace was on hand to race and Michael Waltrip was there watching. Both were gracious enough to take time to sign autographs before the races as well. Waltrip would later throw the green flag to start the USMTS feature.
Before that could happen, the other three classes of competition would run their features. A great field of nineteen bmods took the green flag and Carter VanDenBerg would get the jump from the pole to snare the early lead. Cayden Carter would move up to the third spot on lap two while Andrew Schroeder was on a mission to sneak up to fourth on the bottom side by lap three. A caution came out on lap six, and Schroeder was on the gas on the restart as he powered his machine to second. Track point leader Tyler Groenendyk also had a great restart as he manuevered his way from seventh to the runner up spot on the next circuit. Schroeder and Groenendyk raced side by side for the lead until another caution flag waved. Groenendyk made the pass for the lead on the cushion, but his night would come to an end as he slowed down the backstretch and pulled in to the pits. Two more cautions would wave allowing Mike Shelton to advance his way to the runner up spot, but on the final lap Carter VanDenBerg would sneak by on the outside at the line to take it away. But the night belong to Andrew Schroeder as he took home the win. Perhaps just as special to him was having Michael Waltrip being in victory lane photos with him. Carter VanDenBerg was second, Mike Shelton third, Bryon Weyer fourth, and Cayden Carter rounded out the top five. Schroeder started ninth on the grid.
Next up would be the USRA stock car fifteen lap feature that saw Shane Weller take the top spot from the drop of the green flag. Matt Greiner made his way to fourth after starting eighth, but most of the cars would utilizing the top side which provided minimal passing throughout the race. Greiner would get by Mike VanGenderen with two laps remaining to take over the second spot, but he couldn't catch Shane Weller on his way to the checkered flag. Again Michael Waltrip would join Weller in victory lane. Matt Greiner finished second, Mike VanGenderen third, Nathan Wood fourth, and Chase Mitrisin in fifth.
Fifteen USRA hobby stocks were now ready to rumble for fifteen laps that saw Danny Thrasher take command early from the pole. Nathan Wood, who started twelfth, quickly made his way to fifth by the completion of lap four and three laps later made the bottom side work to get by Andrew Hustead for third. Hustead would lose another spot to Kris Walker on the next circuit while Hustead and Jimmy Hayes battled it out behind him. Those two raced side by side for a couple laps before Hustead was able to secure the spot. Wood would close in on Dustin Griffiths for the second spot late in the race, but was unable to make the pass. Danny Thrasher would take the flag-to-flag win followed by Dustin Griffiths, Nathan Wood, Kris Walker, and Andrew Hustead.
Sixteen year old Chase Junghans and local favorite Zach VanderBeek found themselves on the front row of the thirty-lap USMTS feature event. Junghans would race to the lead and stay there for three laps until the caution came out. Before the caution waved Ryan Gustin had already passed four cars to move up to the third spot. VanderBeek ducked low on Junghans in turn one on the restart to snare the lead away as the yellow flag was displayed once again. Kelly Shryock would use the top side to get by Junghans for the runner up spot while Al Hejna used the low groove to slide up to third. Shryock power by VanderBeek on the top side on lap six. Behind them Gustin would get back by Hejna for third while deeper in the pack, Jon Tesch and Tommy Myer would making strides towards the front as both transferred out of the first of two bmains earlier. After starting fifteenth and seventeenth, respectively, both drivers were solidly in the top ten at the completion of lap ten.
VanderBeek was determined to run the low groove and closed up to run side by side with Shryock for the lead, but they would also have to contend with Ryan Gustin as the youngster closed in on their rear bumpers. Gustin would follow Shryock on the top side and get by VanderBeek while Hejna was reeling in all four drivers. Tommy Myer was patiently making his way forward as he advanced to the sixth spot, but all eyes were on the front several cars as Hejna got by VanderBeek for third. As the laps clicked away, Gustin would take the lead from Shryock in turn two with ten laps to go. Later Hejna would scoot by Shryock to snag the second spot while Myer climbed into the top five.
A caution with four laps to go bunched the field up with Gustin leading the pack on the restart. That didn't last long as Hejna powered his machine to the middle of turns one and two and drove to the lead. Another quick caution came out with three to go, and Tommy Myer used that restart to power his way to second. He didn't have enough time to track down the leader as Al Hejna motored his way to victory lane for the sixth time this season. Tommy Myer was second, Kelly Shryock third, Zach VanderBeek fourth, and Colt Mather fifth. Gustin slipped back to seventh at the finish.
The modified feature was one of the best ones I've seen this year. Four or five cars all within striking distance for the lead is something rarely seen, and when all the cars takes turns with the lead, you know you're watching something special.
The Southern Iowa Speedway will take next Wednesday off due to the Knoxville Nationals running next week. The USMTS travels to Knoxville, Illinois tonight for their annual visit to that facility. Thanks to Todd Staley and his family/staff for the hospitality. For complete results, check out 4dfan's blog also found here at www.positivelyracing.com or you can also check out the track website at www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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