Clay County Fair Results

Thursday night saw the Clay County Fair host the final night of the Arnold Motor Supply Summer Shootout Series in Spencer. A great field of cars were on hand for the evening as I'm sure some of the teams spent part of the day wandering through the fair. While walking into the grandstand area, it was noticed that a new flagstand had been put in place along with cement barriers down the front stretch. Definitely an upgrade from the forklift in previous trips to Spencer!!

Twenty-three hobby stocks took the green flag, but two quick cautions waved before a lap could get completed. The third time would be the charm with Darin Johnson leading the first lap before giving way to Shane Klaassen on lap two. Klaassen would extend his lead and cruise to the win as well as earning the series points title. Johnson would finish second followed by Mathias Lux, Nick Meyer, and Kurt Fothergill.

1. 901 Shane Klaassen
2. 20J Darin Johnson
3. 33M Mathias Lux
4. 2 Nick Meyer
5. 9 Kurt Fothergill
6. 59 Corey Gronewald
7. 8 Merle Bass
8. 20z Zach Bales
9. T1M Tim Sidles
10. 74K Brad Kathman
11. 20N Justin Nehring
12. T8 Brandon Nielsen
13. 30 Kevin Kajewski
14. 33c Cory Schreiber
(all cars that finished)

Next up would be the 360's (bmods) for their twelve-lap event. They too, would have a caution before the first lap was completed. When the green flag stayed out long enough, it was Greg Sidles leading lap one before the yellow flag waved two more times. The green flag would stay out longer, giving drivers a chance to get in a rhythm. Josh Ruby took advantage in a big way as he took his machine to the top side and made it work as he climbed to fifth and then second within two laps of the restart. A lap later Ruby would take the lead away at the halfway point when the caution came out yet again. Sidles would receive an intense challenge from Eric Puhrmann for the second spot late in the race as the two swapped positions within the same lap, but it would be Puhrmann getting the edge at the line. Bruce Wickman suffered a flat tire during the race, but was able to get it changed and rejoin the field, enabling him to grab the series points title for the year.

1. 30 Josh Ruby
2. 59 Eric Puhrmann
3. 1 Greg Sidles
4. 98 Dan Hanselman
5. 14z Zach Norgaard
6. 35 Bo Egeland
7. 14 Jason Fisher
8. 57 Doug Bartles
9. 33 Tim Rupp
10. 27 Bruce Wickman
11. 75 Mike Albert
12. 79A Adam Onken
13. 27B ??
(all the cars that finished)

Twenty-five IMCA stock cars hit the track next for their finale. Jake Masters used his pole start to grab the early lead until Chad Palmer got by on the inside on lap three to take over command of the ship. Elijah Zevenbergen and Luke Sathoff battled it out side by side for several laps, swapping the third position. Zevenbergen would get the upper hand with a handful of laps remaining while Masters challenged Palmer for the lead. Palmer was able to keep Masters behind him as he took the checkered flag first. Zevenbergen would be crowned the points champion.

1. 14 Chad Palmer
2. 11 Jake Masters
3. 66z Elijah Zevenbergen
4. 5 Luke Sathoff
5. 56 Tom Sierck
6. 67 Max Hoffer
7. 12 Eric Flander
8. 7L Jeffrey Larson
9. 04 Roger Verdoorn
10. 17 Corey Oftedahl
11. 21B Bryce Bodle
(all I was able to get)

Twenty-two IMCA modifieds would be led to the green flag by Jim Thies and Brian Schmitt. The field would also include tv personality and NASCAR Nationwide competitor Kenny Wallace on this night. Wallace would start in the fifth position, but an early multi-car wreck in turn one on the second lap would a damper on his thoughts of winning. I counted at least eight cars involved, but luckily all of them would rejoin the field on the restart. After being involved in that wreck, Jay Noteboom worked his way back into the fifth spot utilizing the cushion. Noteboom would push things a little hard entering turn three and hop the left rear wheel of Oliver Kollofski, sending Kollofski into a spin and bringing out the yellow flag. Restarting in fifth, it would only take a few laps before Noteboom replaced Thies as the leader of the pack. It was clear sailing from there as Noteboom took the checkers ahead of Jeremy Mills, Reese Coffee, Chris Abelson, and Jim Thies.

1. 7N Jay Noteboom
2. 10 Jeremy Mills
3. 16 Reese Coffee
4. 1x Chris Abelson
5. 23 Jim Thies
6. 1cc Clayton Christensen
7. 36 Kenny Wallace
8. 17s James Slawson
9. 16x Chris Rakness
(all I got)

Overall the track held up pretty good considering there was a lot of dust in turns one and two during hot laps. Track crew continued to sprinkle water on the racing surface throughout the night to keep the dust down to a minimum which also provided two racing grooves for the features. I then had to endure the lengthy 3 1/2 hour drive home as I pulled into my driveway at 1:45 Friday morning.

Thursday's race concluded the season at the Clay County Speedway, but promoter Joe Ringsdorf is just getting started on his busy weekend as his Fairmont Raceway will host the Bob Shryock Memorial Friday and Saturday. Ringsdorf will be busy next weekend as well as Fairmont will be racing Friday, Algona on Saturday, and Mason City next Sunday to cap off the season. For more information on the Shryock Memorial race, check out www.fairmontraceway.com for details.

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