After a few days of suffering through the heat and humid conditions, a breeze was welcomed by fans at the Southern Iowa Speedway on Wednesday night as it hosted the USMTS during the Southern Iowa Fair. Also on the slate were the USRA Iron Man Challenge for stock cars and b-mods along with hobby stocks.
First up for feature action would be the USRA Iron Man Challenge race for b-mods. Pole sitter Ben Kates from Kansas would take command when the green flag dropped, but his time there was short as Andrew Schroeder made the pass using the inside line. Cayden Carter quickly slipped into the second position after starting seventh, but on lap three he muscled his machine to the top spot utilizing the heavy cushion. Kates would receive pressure from Carter VanDenBerg before giving up the third position. Kates would later get his car sideways in turn three and collect Bryon Weyer in the process. The caution flag would wave, and on the restart Schroeder would get an unusually slow start and lose a couple positions. Two more cautions would slow the action, but it didn't phase Cayden Carter as he picked up yet another feature win on the season. Track announcer Tony Paris mentioned it may have been his 20th win of the season. Carter VanDenBerg finished second, Andrew Schroeder was third, John VanDenBerg fourth, and Curtis VanDerWal completed the top five. Twenty-two bmods were on hand tonight.
Next up would be the USRA hobby stocks. While only ten cars were in action tonight, they made it five-wide in turn two after the green flag dropped. Dustin Griffiths would emerge with the lead after starting sixth. Griffiths would never relinquish the lead as he picked up his fourth win in a row at the Southern Iowa Speedway. Don Nunnikhoven was second, Todd Reitzler third, Steve Allen fourth, and Kris Walker was fifth.
The Iron Man Challenge for USRA stock cars were up next as twenty cars were checked in for the night. Ryan Leeman blew up in his heat race, but the rest were ready to go when the green flag dropped. Again four-wide was the signature in turn two with Jason Minnehan getting the nod early on up front. The caution flag quickly came out though as Nathan Wood made significant contact with an implement tire in turn four and the tire rolled onto the racing surface. Wood would duck into the pits and remove most of the sheet metal in the front end of his machine. On the restart Mike VanGenderen made a nifty move to the inside to sweep under Shane Weller for second, but Jeff Joldersma had momentum from the top side to overtake VanGenderen for the spot. Another quick yellow flew and Justin Temeyer took advantage of starting on the inside of the second row as he ducked low of Minnehan and captured the lead. VanGenderen again hugged the inside groove to get by Joldersma along with Minnehan to move into the runner up position.
I noticed Temeyer's right front tire appeared to be wet or have something on it, and a few short laps later he pulled up and exited to the pits from apparent overheating issues. That handed the lead over to VanGenderen. A caution with six laps remaining bunched the field once again and this time Kevin Donlan took advantage as he worked his way under Joldersma for third. Up front though it was Mike VanGenderen picking up the win ahead of Jason Minnehan, Kevin Donlan, Jeff Joldersma, and Nathan Wood rebounded to finish fifth.
The finale of the evening would be the USMTS thirty-lap feature. Pole sitter Ryan Gustin rocketed to the lead and quickly opened up a comfortable margin as Corey Dripps settled in behind. Jason Krohn worked under Dripps and took over the second position while Zack VanderBeek passed Kelly Shryock on the inside for fourth on lap four. Dripps would regain the second spot after finding some momentum on the cushion to get back by Krohn, and a few laps later VanderBeek also found a quick way past Krohn for third. VanderBeek made the pass on the inside of Dripps on lap eleven and began to shrink Gustin's margin with each lap. As VanderBeek closed in with some help from lapped traffic, the caution flag erased what was going to be an interesting few laps and allowed the drivers to catch their breath with eleven laps to go.
Gustin must have looked at the leader board entering turn one under yellow as he dove to the inside groove on the restart and thwarted VanderBeek's momentum, but little did he know that it opened up the door for Dripps on the top shelf. Dripps used the high line to get by VanderBeek for second before taking the lead away from Gustin with nine laps to go. Gustin would continue to run the low line after using the high side the entire first half of the race and pull even with Dripps down the back stretch with four to go. Gustin would change his entry line into turn one and allowed VanderBeek to squeeze under him to take over second with two laps remaining. VanderBeek continued to claw his way closer to Dripps and he would make the pass in turn two after taking the white flag. Dripps would power his machine to the top side in turn three, but it wasn't enough as Zack VanderBeek took home the trophy at his home track. Corey Dripps would finish second, Ryan Gustin was third, Colt Mather fourth, and Kelly Shryock completed the top five.
While the car counts were less then stellar, those in attendance provided great racing action in all divisions. I was impressed that the track stayed in great shape throughout the night and did not get dusty despite the hot temperatures.
I'd like to thank Todd and Janet Staley along with Public Relations director Jeff Nun for their hospitality tonight. Nun is a guy who is readily available to answer many of my questions that I have brought up in the past along with providing great detail in his press releases. Jeff has also allowed me to get my name out into a few different media outlets as he uses my blog for the USRA stock cars from Fort Dodge when I attend, and for that I am greatly appreciative!
The USMTS series heads south to the Davis County Fairgrounds in Bloomfield Thursday night as part of the Davis County Fair. If you're in the area be sure to check it out as the USRA Iron Man Challenge series for stock cars and bmods will also be in action. For more results from Wednesday night's action in Oskaloosa, be sure to check out the USMTS and USRA websites.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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