Another ideal weather day was in store for race fans in and around the Oskaloosa area for night two of the 24th Annual Musco Lighting Fall Challenge Saturday night. With temperatures in the 80's and a light breeze, fans flocked to the "Mahaska County Monster" half-mile facility to get perhaps their last taste of dirt track racing before the end of the season. The feature winner in all four divisions would pocket a cool $2,000 paycheck for their efforts. With the added money on the line, there was definitely a lot of excitement and anticipation to go along with the large field of cars.
After all the qualifying events were completed, the USRA b-modifieds quickly took to the track for their feature. Another stellar field of forty-nine cars were narrowed down to twenty-four on the starting grid with Cayden Carter rocketing to the lead from his outside front row start. Row five starters Tyler Groenendyk and Jason Schlangen quickly moved forward as they found themselves in third and fourth, respectively, at the completion of lap three. The caution waved on lap five when Scott Davis and Schlangen made the slightest of contact going into turn one that resulted in Schlangen going around. That brought about a chain reaction that eventually included eight cars stopped on the track. When the green flag came back out, however, Schlangen was back up front rather then at the back of the pack as officials apparently decided he was still moving when the caution waved. Two more quick yellows kept the field bunched, but when the green flag stayed out Cayden Carter checked out as he picked up his 19th win of the season and the $2,000 top prize. It seems Carter is always at the top of the results when there is a big money special at Oskaloosa, and last night was no different. Tyler Groenendyk came home second, Scott Van Buskirk was third, Scott Davis fourth, and Jason Schlangen rounded out the top five. Lucas Lundry drove from his 21st starting spot up to seventh while Tad Reutzel advanced eight spots to finish ninth.
Keeping the open-wheeled theme going, the USRA modifieds were next up for their twenty-five lap feature. Colt Mather, driving one of Kelly Shryock's cars, and Shryock sat on the front row with Shryock getting the advantage in the early going. Missouri's Matt Dotson followed Shryock to the second spot while Corey Dripps and Brad Pinkerton battled side by side for the fourth spot. Dotson began to reel in Shryock a few laps before they caught lapped traffic, but that all went for not as the caution flag waved on lap nine. A series of cautions plagued the next couple of laps before the red flag came out when Mark Elliott, Terry Walker, and a couple others tangled on the front stretch and blocked the track. On the ensuing restart Mather got a great jump and powered by Dotson on the inside. The caution came back out a lap later, and while under caution Shryock's car came to a stop to end his night in a disappointing fashion. That handed the lead over to Mather with Jake Neal and Matt Dotson right behind him. As the race picked back up both Zack VanderBeek would exit the track and Ron VerBeek and Matt Dotson both suffered flat tires. When the dust settled it was Colt Mather celebrating in victory lane with a $2,000 check and trophy. Jake Neal finished second, Corey Dripps was third, Bruce Hanford fourth, and Brandon Banks completed the top five.
USRA hobby stocks again boasted a big field of cars as forty-five were on hand Saturday night. Two of the best in the business paced the field to the green flag with Andy Boeckman and Chris Hovden sitting on the front row. Hovden would get the advantage while Boeckman slid back to third after Nathan Wood passed him on the outside. Boeckman continued to fade after he got too high and opened the door for several competitors behind him to slip past. A caution came out on lap five, and while driving under yellow Boeckman went to the work area to change a flat tire. Ryan Vicker and Don Nunnikhoven split Jason Kohl as they advanced to third and fourth, respectively. Up front Hovden and Wood were nose to tail by themselves until Vicker eventually caught them. A caution with four laps to go set up a shootout. Vicker was able to drive by Wood on the outside to snag the second spot while Shane Klaassen did the same to Nunnikhoven for fourth. When the checkered flags waved it was Chris Hovden holding on for the big money. Ryan Vicker settled for second, Nathan Wood was third, Shane Klaassen fourth, and Jason Kohl rebounded for fifth. Klaassen is the USRA hobby stock national points leader and likely clinched the championship.
The USRA stock cars were set to close out the evening once again as they again fielded forty cars. Elijah Zevenbergen grabbed the lead on lap one, but fifth starter Mark Elliott quickly pounced and sliced his way to second when he passed Barry Sanderman. Elliott made the pass on Zevenbergen on lap three, but that was wiped out when the red flag came out for Nathan Wood as he made heavy contact with the turn four fence. Wood would be okay. Zevenbergen would lose a couple spots following the restart as Elliott and Lynn Panos both scooted by. Another red flag was displayed when Shane Weller got high and climbed the wall in turn three before gravity took over and rolled the car over. He too would be okay. Following another restart with eleven laps remaining, Randy Killen made a great move to the inside as he passed two cars to advance to third. He would later work his way under Panos for second, but bobbled a bit and allowed Panos to get the spot back. Panos would get momentum and pull even with Elliott down the backstretch before claiming the top spot exiting turn four.
A caution with six laps to go spelled trouble for the leaders. Elliott and Killen made contact entering turn one, giving Killen a flat tire. Killen would push up the track and make contact with Todd Staley, sending him into the wall. The caution would wave again with Killen and Elliott retiring from the race. Staley would restart in second behind Panos, but it was soon evident that the contact had done some damage as he quickly backed up through the field. Panos would push high, opening the door for Darin Toot and Bryan Webb to get by. As they came to the line, Darin Toot would hang on by a slim margin for the win. Matt Greiner snuck by Bryan Webb for the second spot with Lynn Panos finishing fourth and Steve Jackson fifth.
The action was not complete with the waving of the checkered flags though. Webb would drive in deep in turn one and made contact with Toot and Panos, starting a chain reaction that involved several cars. Webb's car I believe rolled, but came to a rest on all four tires. He would walk away, but definitely provided an exciting finish to conclude the Fall Challenge and therefore the 2010 season at the Southern Iowa Speedway.
Earlier in the night, stock car driver Jeremy Swanson also went for a scary ride as he rolled his machine several times. He hit the turn one fencing and got air born while rotating violently and coming to a rest on all four's. He was responsive, but was transferred to a hospital. The announcer mentioned that the x-rays came back good, but further tests were being performed. Here's hoping that Swanson's injuries are not too severe.
Racing action concluded right at the midnight hour last night. For more complete results, check out www.usmts.com and click on the appropriate link. For race fans that want to continue traveling, next weekend there are a couple options within a couple hours of drive time. The Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri is holding their Pepsi Memphis Fall Nationals next Friday and Saturday. Check out www.scotlandcountyspeedway.com for more info on that race. Also next Friday and Saturday the Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, Iowa is scheduled to run their "Going Topless at the Beaver" event. For more information on that event, check out www.buenavistaraceway.net. I haven't totally made up my mind yet as to which direction I'll be heading, but you can be sure I'll be at one of them.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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