A beautiful Friday afternoon in central Iowa led me to believe the night was going to be filled with some great racing action. I headed west on Highway 20 and made my fourth stop at the Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The unique setting has had their peaks and valleys as far as car counts go, but the racing was top notch last night as the track was in great shape with the exception of a big rut in turn one.
Outside front row starter Dakota Flogstad would grab the early lead in the hornet feature that saw thirteen cars take the green flag. Lyle Oberhelman would slowly reel in the leader and would overtake the lead using the outside line at the midpoint of the race. Flogstad would keep pace and keep the pressure on, but Lyle Oberhelman took the checkered flag first. Flogstad settled for second, Nick Hogan was third, Mike McFarland fourth, and Jarid Kuchenreuther rounded out the top five.
Econo stocks were up next with nine cars making the call. Jake Bieret wasted no time in taking command in this one from his second starting spot. Brad Hanse would pull to within a couple car lengths and maintain it the remainder of the race. Bieret would take the win ahead of Hanse, Colby Davis, Todd Fredericksen, and Brad Babb.
Fourteen hobby stocks took the green flag, but it was quickly replaced with the yellow as Kevin Berger got sideways coming out of turn four to the green flag. Berger would wind up going nose-first into the concrete wall on the front stretch and making significant contact and ending his night early. Back under way, Joel Tigges secured the top spot with Paul Toms and Austin Wolfgram behind him. A lap or two later the red flag would come out as Dave Schmauss rolled violently down the front stretch in front of where I was sitting. I didn't see what started it, but he soared into the air before eventually landing on all four wheels. Schmauss got out under his own power and appeared to be okay. While under the red flag Austin Wolfgram was seen leaving the track on the back end of a wrecker after apparently losing a right rear tire.
When the green flag came back out Toms rocketed around Tigges on the outside in turns one and two to take over the lead. Ryan Caquelin and Cody Nielsen were making their ways to the front as the settled in to third and fourth, respectively. These two drivers had rubbed on each other in the heat race and it boiled over into the feature as they beat on each other throughout the closing laps. Up front though it would be Paul Toms taking the win ahead of Joel Tigges, Cody Nielsen, Ryan Caquelin, and Jeff Lyon. Lyon had started fourteenth.
The biggest class of the night belonged to the b-mods as nineteen had checked in for the night. Bruce Egeland unfortunately had a brief night after suffering left rear damage in hot laps. Jim Lampe would hold the lead after the first lap with Andy Tiernan and Brett Meyer quickly working their ways to second and third, respectively. Tiernan would use the inside groove to make the pass on Lampe for the lead before opening up a comfortable cushion between he and Lampe. A timely caution came out as David Calmer spun his machine in turn three just ahead of the leaders. Meyer would use the double-file restart to power by Lampe on the outside to take over second. Jake Simpson also used the cushion to climb into the top five. Suddenly Tiernan slowed on the back stretch and pulled to the infield ahead of the pack, handing the reigns over to Brett Meyer. Meyer would keep his car out front the remainder of the race as he picked up another feature win. Jim Lampe followed in second, Jake Simpson was third, Eric Elliott finished fourth after starting eleventh, and Matt Pittman rounded out the top five.
The USRA stock cars were next to the track with eleven cars on hand. Outside front row starter Matt Mundt set the early pace, but the caution came out early as Jason Minnehan spun in turn four. He showed his displeasure to Wayne Crimmins before tagging the tail, and on the restart Jeremy Crimmins would overtake Mundt at the front of the field. Jeff Deal was on the charge as he passed Malcolm Teachout on the inside line for third before getting by Mundt for second. Wayne Crimmins settled into third while Minnehan was working his way back up through the field to fifth at the midpoint of the race. Mundt would get a little too high, allowing Minnehan to slip by for fourth. Back up front Deal tried a slingshot move exiting turn two and came up across the nose of Jeremy Crimmins for the lead, but as the two made contact it allowed Wayne Crimmins to sneak by and take the top spot. A caution came out again, and Minnehan was the beneficiary this time as he powered by Deal on the top side for second. Matt Mundt would lose his top five spot when he spun out to bring out the final caution. Deal would use the top side to get back by Minnehan for second, but it would be Wayne Crimmins finding himself in victory lane at the end of the race. Jeff Deal finished second, Jason Minnehan was third, Matt Fox fourth, and Jeremy Crimmins completed the top five.
1. 35 Wayne Crimmins
2. 22 Jeff Deal
3. 7 Jason Minnehan
4. M2 Matt Fox
5. 15 Jeremy Crimmins
6. 24B Randy Biederman
7. 25M Matt Mundt
8. M5 Jim Mitchell
9. 27M Mike Munson
10. 20T Malcolm Teachout
11. 57 Dennis Plain
The modifieds were ready to close out the evening as eight cars took to the track. Pole sitter and last week's feature winner Bill Crimmins shot to the lead. Rod Scheuermann quickly moved into the second position on lap two. After fading from second to sixth on the first lap, Brian Schmitt quickly rebounded and passed Mike Albertsen for fourth. Schmitt found the low line to be to his liking as he passed Dave Doughty for third. Scheuermann would sneak under Crimmins for the lead, and a few laps later Crimmins hit the rut in turn one to allow Schmitt to race by for second. With Scheuermann out front by nearly a straight away, the rest of the field would string out as well. Just then something flew off of Scheuermann's car in turn one and he exited the track on the back stretch, handing the lead over to Schmitt with five laps to go. Brian Schmitt would go on to pick up his first win of the season ahead of Bill Crimmins, Mike Albertsen, Dave Doughty, and Scott Sturm.
As mentioned in the opening paragraph, I thought the track was in great shape with the exception of the rut in turn one on the top side. Cars were able to use two grooves of racing throughout the night and it made for some exciting racing action. For a full rundow of results and updated point standings, be sure to log on to the Mineral City Speedway website.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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