Saturday, January 28, 2012

Jones taking the win late in the Clone Heavy at Thunder Dome Race #4

After being off since December 3rd for the Coke Syrup Races in Mason City and Des Moines its back to the Thunder Dome for Race #4. We had around 60 entries on the day signed in to compete, hot laps start at noon and scheduled to start racing but got started a little behind schedule but was still done by 7p.

Kid Karts would only have 1 entry and that was Dalton Filloon. Filloon would have fun out there competing even if its by himself.

Jr 2 Pro Heavy would see Tyler Havens take the lead and not look back in the feature. For Havens this would be his 3rd straight feature win in the Thunder Dome. Andrei Allen was 2nd, Cole Nicoletto was 3rd, Christian Kennedy was 4th and Colton Livezey was 5th.

Rookies was split up in to 2 classes Amateurs and Pros, Amateurs were the least experience and Pros the most experience. Rookie Amateurs would go to Keaton Woosley taking win, Brayden Greubel in 2nd, Kamden Criss taking 3rd and Alissa Palsrok in 4th.

Rookie Pros were split into 2 features and in Feature #1 it was Kadence Davenport leading lap 1 but Dallon Murty would take the lead on lap 2. Murty look to be going on to the win but would lose the handle off turn 4 and that would give the win over to Keegan Havens. Logan Duffy would get by and take 2nd, Murty would get 3rd, McKenzie Culbertson was 4th and Kadence Davenport was 5th. In Feature #2 it was Blake Dullard taking the early lead but he would be passed by Brady Kohrs on lap 2. Dullard would get the lead back from Kohrs with just a handful of laps to go giving the win to Dullard. Reid Sorenson would get 2nd. Kohrs and Landon Duffy would finish 3rd and 4th.

UAS 4 Strokes, UAS, KT100 and Stock Mediums were combined for the evening. Timmy Bontrager (UAS 4 Strokes) would take the win with Jason Block (KT100) finishing 2nd. The UAS & UAS 4 Strokes were combined earlier in the date because Brian Nellis was racing at UAS 4 Strokes and KT100 but he left early resulting the the combination of the UAS 4 Strokes and KT100. All will receive points in their respective class.

Jr Quads would see one entry on the day and it was Bryce Paulson from Emmetsburg. Jr Bikes would see Brandon Webster dominate and take the win with Clayton Moyer finishing 2nd.

Amateur Quads would see Zach Myers getting the wholeshot and not looking back, Donny Teninty would take 2nd. Brandon Rice, Mike Webb and  Justin Sutherlin rounding out the top 5.

Restricted Box Stock Non Winged Karts had 1 solo entry on the day and that was Riley Plain from Webster City. Plain would use every part of the racing surface even though he was the only entrant on the day.

Madison Clark would the the early lead in the Jr 1 Pro Heavy but would then experience some lap traffic trouble mid-way through the race that would allow Nick Rose take the lead until Rose experienced some trobule and that would allow Mark Maas to take the lead and cruise on to the win. Clark would come back and finish 2nd, Rose was 3rd, Brooke Havens was 4th and Gage Nayes was 5th.

Clone Heavy would see a caution filled feature event, when the racing got going Ryan Gustin would take the lead early but got up with a lap car and brought out the yellow. Casey Luke would be granted the lead lead but Luke would lose the handle coming to the checkered. Meanwhile Mike Jones and Gustin would racing for the win off turn 4 and it was Jones winning by a bumper over Gustin. Banzhaf was 3rd, Kody Havens was 4th, Bryan Nevins was 5th.  Kristopher Haak, Jared Daggett, Brandon Sohl, Tyler Nevins, Kyle Wahlert and Albert Wolfgram would round out the field.

Brandon Webster would get the wholeshot in the Pro Singles feature but it was his brother Clayton Webster taking the win. Brandon would settle for 2nd with Clayton Moyer in 3rd.

The final feature of the day was Pro Quads. Spenscer Hopwood would lead the first 4 laps but it Mark Johnson making the pass on lap 5 and going on to win. Drew Ostrander was 2nd, Hopwood would get 3rd, Jordan Brown was 4th and Mike Webb was 5th.

Next Thunder Dome Race is on Saturday February 11th with the gates open at 9a, hot laps at noon and racing at 1p. Admission is $10 and that includes a pit pass for more information you check out http://www.thunderdomeiowa.com/

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Battle at the Barn IV Brought Excitement On Syrup in Des Moines

My 2012 racing schedule starts out just like my 2011 one did by attending the Battle at the Barn. Of the 4 years of  the Battle at the Barn this was my 3rd to attend and it was a fun day of watching racing, i was standing most of the afternoon/evening need the Carter & DeJong Racing team pit area so thanks for them on letting me do that you guys are a great group of people.

The heat races started at 1:30p and Features were started at 7p it was a great show.

Round 1 heat race winners
Kid Karts : Cruz DeJong & Kennedy Davenport
Quad Jr: Tristan Rethmeier & Mason Merfeld
Putt Putts: Aaron Waller, Conner Ruge & Cole Suckow
10" Pit Bike 12 & Under: Brandon Webster
370 Clones: Ryan Nelson & Eddie Brose
12" Pit Bikes: Joe Weissenburger, Keeton Fleener & Austin Kaplan
Jr 1 Medium: Caymen DeJong & Dylan Van Wyk
16" Pit Bikes: Trent Meimann & Matt Burton
Stock Medium: Zach Axlen & Corey Forsyth
Amateur Bikes: Twitch Stewart
Jr 2 Medium: Ryan Maitland
Pro Singles: Darren Carter
KT100: Johnny Emerson & Ryan Nauratil
Open 4 Cycles: Dusty Trail
Outlaw Golf Carts: Kevin Kirkpatrick
Outlaw Lawn Mowers: Justin Altemeier & Duane Ferguson III
Jr 1 Heavy: Brody Willett
Outlaw 3 Wheelers: Eric Moore
390 Clones: Jason Dunn, Ryan Nelson & Dustin Heath
Open 2 Cycles: DJ Palmer & Josh Higday
Jr 2 Heavy: Ryan Maitland
Quad C: Joe Glick & Mike Adams
Stock Heavy: Jason Dunn & Dusty Trail
Quad Open A: Eric Vanderploeg & Mike Horn
Run What Ya Brung: Josh Higday & Steve Smith
Quad B: Blake Miller & Spenscer Hopwood

Round 2 Heat winners
Kid Karts: Maguire DeJong & Kennedy Davenport
Quad Jr: Kayden Dyer & Mason Merfeld
Putt Putts: Cruz DeJong, Kadence Davenport & Braydn Greubel
10" Pit Bike 12 & Under: Brandon Webster
370 Clones: Jason Dunn & Zach Axlen
12" Pit Bike: Colin Hickman
Jr 1 Medium: Caymen DeJong & Dylan Van Wyk
16" Pit Bike: Austin Kaplan & Matt Burton
Stock Medium: Zach Axlen & Jason Dunn
Amateur Bikes: Mikeal Strable
Jr 2 Medium: Ryan Maitland
Pro Singles: Mikeal Strable
KT100: Steve Smith & Ryan Nauratil
Open 4 Cycle: Dusty Trail
Outlaw Golf Carts: Kevin Kirkpatrick
Outlaw Lawn Mowers: Justin Altemeier & Brandon Patave
Jr 1 Heavy: Michael DeJong
Outlaw 3 Wheelers: Mike Moore
390 Clones: Jason Dunn, Cayden Carter & Thor Anderson
Open 2 Cycle: Mike Hughes & Jeremy Hills
Jr 2 Heavy: Ryan Maitland
Quad C: Rob Crandell & Mike Adams
Stock Heavy: Jason Dunn & Dusty Trail
Quad Open A: Eric Vanderploeg & George Hood
Run What Ya Brung: Ryan Humphrey & Chris Burke
Quad B: Drew Ostrander & Brandon Hagins

After all of the heats were complete b-features, celebrity race and then the buddy races. The B-feature winners were Josh Swanson in 12" Pit Bike, Cayden Carter in 390 Clones, Aaron Young in KT100 and Jamie Gilbert in Quad B.

Celebrity race would follow them and the competitors included Wes Callison (Meteorologist) and Jackie Schmillen (Track Reporter) for KCCI, Toby Kruse (Promotor) and Doug Fritz & Steve French (Iowa Speedway). Kruse would take the lead the lead but would be black flagged handing the win over to Steve French.

Buddy Race was won by Matt Burton and his friend, Burton said it was won on an electric bike.

It was then time for the feature events and the first division on the track for features was the Kid Karts as they were split up into 2 features. In Feature #1 it was Maguire DeJong taking the win, Cruz DeJong was 2nd and Connor Kriegel 3rd, Talan Drake was 4th and Dayton Filloon was 5th. In Feature #2 it was Kennedy Davenport taking the win. Jack Anderson, Luke Daniels, Mason Hausman and Keagan Thompson rounding out the top 5. 

Quad Jr would be up next and they were also split into 2 features. In Feature #1 it was Chance Nekola taking the win, Tristan Rethmeier, Kayden Dyer, Dillon Romaneo, Mason Merfeld and Madison Rice rounding out the field. In Feature #2 it was Conner Ruge taking the win, Randy Schmitz took 2nd, Brody Northway was 3rd, Byrce Paulson and Jackson Misel would finish 4th and 5th.

Putt Putts would be split into 3 features because of the big field of 22 karts. In Feature #1 it was Maguire DeJong returning to victory lane for the 2nd time on the night and once again Cruz DeJong would fall short and take 2nd. Aaron Waller, Dallon Murty, Hailee Wendel, Jackson Miller, Brandon Wray and Bobby Daniels would round out the field. In Feature #2 it was Kadence Davenport matching her sister by getting to victory lane. Conner Ruge would end up 2nd and Rich Audas was 3rd. Sammy Smith, Keaton Woosley, Noah Garr and Gabbi Jo Miller would round out the field. In Feature #3, the real show was by Madison Clark as she would go from last to 2nd in 2 laps but infortunately for Madison she would fall short and end up 2nd as Cole Suckow took the win. Kamde Criss, Braydn Greubel, Brant Murray, Trevor Parcel and Jayson Alexander would finish behind Suckow & Clark.

10" Pit Bike 12 & Under was up next and it was Brandon Webster from Ottumwa taking the win. Tyler McClellan was 2nd, Krishyon Grabovskis was 3rd, Ashley Grabovskis was 4th and Mason Merfeld.

370 Clones feature would see a Des Moine Native Bryan Nevins taking the top prize. Ryan Nelson, Zach Axlen, Jason Dunn and Zach Hahn would finish 2nd through 5th.

12" Pit Bike feature when to IMCA Sport Mod Driver Austin Kaplan taking the feature win, Joe Weissenburger would end up 2nd. Colin Hickman, Jake Gould and Devin Reed round out the top 5.

Jr 1 Medium would see another DeJong 1 and 2 finish, this time it was Caymen DeJong taking the win with Michael DeJong in 2nd. Tyler Inman, Dylan Van Wyk & Brody Willett was 3rd through 5th.

In the 16" Pit Bike feature it was Matt Burton on his electric bike winning the feature. Austin Kaplan would end up 2nd, Keeton Fleener was 3rd, Ben Brommel was 4th and Trent Meimann was 5th.

In the Stock Medium feature it was Zach Axlen taking the win with Corey Forsyth, Jason Dunn, Cayden Carter and Eric Vanderploeg right behind him.

Amateur Bikes would see Mikeal Strable taking the win, Jason McClellan, John Houston, Jeremy Flannery and Tim Sears finishing 2nd through 5th.

In the Jr 2 Medium it was Ryan Maitland taking the spot and not really looking back. Dane Balzer, Brayton Carter, Andrei Allen and Taylor Inman would finish 2nd through 5th.

Pro Singles would go to Darren Carter with Jordan Baber in 2nd. Clayton Webster, Matt Burton and Mikeal Strable would finish 3rd through 5th.

Jim's Johns KT100 feature would see the pole sitter Ryan Nauratil taking the challenge by going to the back to win an extra $1,000. Steve Smith would take advantage as he would move to the pole and would go on to the win. Johnny Emerson would finish 2nd and Jamie Ferrell was 3rd. Nauratil would end up 4th and would earn an extra $100 for his effort. Chase Young came home in the 5th position.

Open 4 Cylces would see Dusty Trail take the top honors, Chris Burke would end up 2nd. Bryan Nevins, Cayden Carter and Skyler Prochaska was 3rd and 4th.

In the Outlaw Golf Carts it was Kevin Kirkpatrick taking the win and Josh Kirkpatrick was 2nd. Justin Kirkpatrick came home in 3rd and Russ Haefner was 4th.

Outlaw Lawn Mowers would go to Justin Altenmeier would take the win with Randy Vasseau in 2nd, Duane Ferguson III in 3rd, Brandon Patave in 4th and Marty Murphy in 5th.

Jr 1 Heavy feature would go to Brandon Maitland, Michael DeJong's efforts of doubling up in the Jr 1 division would fall short as he would end up 2nd. Dylan Van Wyk was 3rd, Tyler Inman was 4th and Caymen DeJong was 5th.

Outlaw 3 Wheelers would have only 4 entries and it was Eric Moore taking the win. Mark Johnson, Michael Cook and Mike Moore would finish 2nd through 4th.

In the 390 Clones feature it was Cayden Carter from Oskaloosa taking the win with Eddie Brose in 2nd. Josh Most came home in 3rd, Ryan Frye was 4th and Brad Carter was 5th.

Open 2 Cycle feature saw Mike Hughes make the pass late on DJ Palmer to take the win. Steve Smith would finish 3rd behind Hughes and Palmer. Johnny Emerson was 4th and Jamie Ferrell was 5th.

In the Jr 2 Heavy another business would offer a bonus for the pole sitter to go to the tail, however the pole sitter Ryan Maitland would denie the offer and it was then given to Dane Balzer and Balzer decides to go to the tail. Maitland would lead every lap but the last one as he would run into some lap car trouble and spin out and Andrei Allen would sneak by and take the win. Brayton Carter would finish a close 2nd, Dane Balzer would take 3rd, Kade Higday was 4th and Maitland would finish 5th.

Quad C feature would go to Mike Adams. Clint Brightman, Brnadon Hagins, Donny Teninty and Scott Brown finishing 2nd through 5th.

In the Stock Heavy both Jason Dunn and Dusty Trail were offert to go to the tail for some extra money but both denied. Dunn would go on to the win, Trail would have trouble and end up 14th. Finishing behind Dunn to round out the top 5 was Corey Forsyth, Eric Vanderploeg, Dustin Heath and Zach Axlen.

In the Quad Open A feature it was Eric Vanderploeg taking the top spot midway through the race after experiencing some trouble in the early going. Vanderploeg would go on to the win, Kyle McCarl was 2nd, George Hood was 3rd, Travis Brandt was 4th and Mark Johnson was 5th.

Run What Ya Brung would see DJ Palmer making the trip to victory lane as Ryan Nauratil would finish in a close 2nd. Johnny Emerson was 3rd, Jacob Haws was 4th and Jamie Ferrell was 5th.

The final feature of the night was the Quad B feature and it was Brandon Hagins taking the win. Jordan Brown, Drew Ostrander, James Brown and Shawn Smith would finish 2nd through 5th.

For more complete B and A Feature Results you can click on them here: http://www.scribd.com/foxman1987/d/79052621-Battle-at-the-Barn-Features

Races came to an end just a few minutes past 10:30 and meaning i was back home in Marshalltown at shortly after 11:30. Special Thanks to Toby Kruse for letting me attend the Battle at the Barn and i look forward to working for you again at the place "What Friday Nights are Made For".

I also want to thank all the sponsors: Marshalltown Speedway, Knoxville Raceway, Toby K's Hideaway of Boone, Cookies BBQ Sauce of Wall Lake, Iowa Speedway, Karl Chevrolet, IMCA Racing, Golf Cars of Iowa, Allen's Lawn Care and Landscaping, Van Wall Group, Larry Fleck & Sons Trucking LLC, Chase Decals, PodiumInk.com, Jim's Johns Portable Toilets and Econolodge. Special Thanks to the Iowa State Fairboard for making this happen and i am looking forward to Battle at the Barn V in 2013!

For me its back to the Thunder Dome on Saturday (January 28th) after that the Thunder Dome will have races February 11th and 25th & March 17th and 31st before my season starts at the High Banks of the Marshalltown Speedway!

More Coke Syrup Races are coming up on February 3rd and 4th as round 2 of the A Day of Thunder on The Syrup Races Takes place in Mason City at the North Iowa Fairgrounds infortunately i won't be able to attend as i have a couple of basketball games that night to do some pa announcing.

Hope to see you at the races real soon!