After seeing the forecast earlier in the week, I was very surprised to hear that the Hamilton County Speedway was still racing Saturday night. I got word that the pit area was the problem area, and when I showed up around 5:00 it was definitely a muddy mess. Several vehicles were on the track trying to pack it in while a couple tractors were in the infield trying to smooth over the surface.
After getting a late start due to the conditions, the program got underway. Following all the heat races track officials took the box scraper out to turns one and two and made a couple passes to blade off the top side to knock the cushion down and perhaps make a smoother surface.
The hornet feature would be first on the track following the track work. Adam Strunk would take control in the early going, but he would be challenged by Lyle Oberhelman. The two appeared to make contact a few times down the backstretch, but Strunk maintained the lead. In the closing laps it appeared Oberhelman lost a little power, allowing Mike McFarland to get by and close in on Strunk. But it was not to be as Adam Strunk took home the checkers and the win. Mike McFarland finished second, Lyle Oberhelman was third, Daniel Ayers finished fourth, and Jarid Kuchenreuther rounded out the top five.
The field of sixteen IMCA hobby stocks then made their way to the track with pole-sitter Al Dixon getting the jump and race lead. Dixon would push up high in turn four on the fourth circuit, opening the door for Brad Ratcliff to slip by under him for the lead. Robert See was on a mission behind the front runners as he passed Matt Ring and Roger Haupt Jr to crack the top three. He later worked to the inside of Dixon to grab the runner up position before a caution came out. A few more cautions would wave, and the final one was costly for Ratcliff as he exited the track on the backstretch prior to the restart and giving up the race lead. Robert See inherited the lead and was never challenged following the restart as he picked up the win. Matt Ring would finish second, Al Dixon was third, Kevin Fee crossed the line fourth, and Cory Roe rebounded from a trip to the work area to finish fifth.
A big field of IMCA sportmods had to dwindle the field down via a b-main. Outside front row starter Jeremy Embrey rocketed to the lead with rookie Shawn Albers following in second. Embrey opened up a straight away lead around the halfway point, but a caution erased his lead. On the restart Embrey again took off and left the field on his way to victory lane. Shawn Albers had a great run to finish second, Brandon Toftee was third, Travis Woodbeck finished fourth, and Jim Lampe rounded out the top five. I believe the announcer said thirty sportmods were on hand last night.
Unfortunately these three races were the only features to get run last night. Officials decided to postpone the remaining of the program until next week due to the threatening weather that was heading towards Webster City. The stock car, IMCA modified, and IMCA late model feature will be in addition to a complete show next Saturday during fan appreciation night, in which the grandstand admission will only be $5 for adults. Sounds like a heck of a bargain to me!! For more information, be sure to check out the Hamilton County Speedway website.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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