Well since i have had so much fun attending the Thunder Dome Kart Races in October, November and December and made so many friends i decided to make the adventure out to the Central Iowa Fairgrounds to watch the 4th race of 8 races for the Thunder Dome Indoor Racing Series on January 8th. This event would make my first race event of 2011 already.
This time around there was a few more people attending this event compared to the show in December. Most of the competitiors pitted indoor while others pitted outside and used their trailers to do work inside.
On to the racing action for the day as 56 competitors would sign in an the show was ran smoothly and done a little after 5pm!
The first set of heat race winners would be: Lucas Gunderson in the Putt Putts, Kevin Hurst in the Animal Heavy, Morgan Schrage in Jr .1 & Jr. 2 Flathead Heavy, Dallon Murty in Kid Karts, Nathan Kelly in Stock Heavy A, Brian Allen in Stock Heavy B, Tim Eilts in RWYB (2 & 4 Cycles), Clayton Webster in Mad Dog Bikes, Levi Laymon in Amateur Singles, Cam Reimers in Pit Bikes/Jr. Pit Bikes, Jeff Robinson in Pro Quads, Ron Love in SuperStock Lawnmowers, Kevin Hurst in Clone Heavy and Tim Eilts in Open 4 Cycle.
A little track work would be done then it would be time for the second set of heat races and the winners were: Landon Murray in the Putt Putts, Tim Eilts in the Animal Heavy, Austin Schrage in Jr. 1 & Jr. 2 Flathead Heavy, Dallon Murty in Kid Karts, John Leonard in Stock Heavy A, Brian Allen in Stock Heavy B, Tim Eilts in RWYB (2 & 4 Cycles), Clayton Webster in Mad Dog Bikes, Levi Laymon in Amateur Singles, Cam Reimers in Pit Bikes/Jr. Pit Bikes, DJ Robinson in Pro Quads, Dan Love in SuperStock Lawnmowers, Josh Omans in Clone Heavy and Tim Eilts in Open 4 Cycle.
Then there would be a some track maintenance as the feature line-ups were completed and the drivers were making final preparations to their rides for the feature events.
First up in the features was the Putt Putts and Kid Karts. All the drivers are winners and all receive trophies. Walker Ashton from Beamon in the #7R would take the win in the Putt Putts part, Landon Murray #21 from Hartford was 2nd with Lucas Gunderson from Liscomb in 3rd. In the Kid Karts part it was Dallon Murty #99 from Chelsea taking the win with Gaige Stratton #1 from Amana taking 2nd.
Next up was the Animal Heavy feature and it was Tim Eilts in the #5 taking the win from Chicago, Illinois. Kevin Hurst #39 from Janesville was 2nd, Ashlee Becker #27 from Cresco was 3rd, Jason Crane #31 from Keosauqua was 4th, Austin Sears from Macomb, Illinois was 5th and Aaron Burkey #33 from Vinton would finish 6th.
Jr. 1 & Jr. 2 Flathead Heavy divisions were up for their feature. In the Jr.1 Flathead Heavy it was Morgan Schrage in the #14 from Cresco taking the win with Ben Hron #121 from Cresco. In the Jr. 2 Flathead Heavy it was Austin Schrage in the #14A from Cresco taking the win.
Stock Heavy was up next, this class had the most entrants on the day and it was Cole Liekweg #C4 from Rockwell taking the win, Travis Swanson #126 from Dakota City in 2nd, Justin Minders #22 from New Sharon in 3rd, Brian Allen #11 from Van Meter in 4th, Charlie Provenzano #97 from Aurora, Illinois was 5th. John Leonard #4 from Vinton was 6th, Ryan Swanson #124 from Dakota City was 7th, Nathan Kelly #73 from Coal City was 8th.
In RWYB (2 & 4 Cycles) it was Tim Eilts #5 from Chicago, Illinois picking up his 2nd feature of the day. Jared Thomas #22 from Beacon and Jeremy Clearwater #34 from Des Moines would not make the call for the feature.
Mad Dog Bikes saw Clayton Webster #155 from Ottumwa taking win, Tim Bontrager #78 from Oxford was 2nd, Jake Janseen #7 from Pella was 3rd and Leon Borgomainerloi #34 from Des Moines.
Amateur Singles saw Levi Laymon #5 from Muscatine taking the win over Clayton Webster #155 from Ottumwa. Jordan Baber #27 from Carlisle was 3rd, Ethan Roth #3 from Ames was 4th and Aaron Dowdell #570 from Marshalltown was 5th.
Pit Bikes saw Cam Reimers #117 from Ogden taking the win, Albert "Pep" Wolfgram #78 from Boone was 2nd and Brandon Wilson #3 from Bondurant was 3rd. Meanwhile the Jr. Pit Bikes had only 1 entry and that was Brandon Webster #22 from Ottumwa taking the win.
Pro Quads saw Colby Heishman #19RR from Brooklyn taking the win with Jeff Robinson #18 from Des Moines in 2nd. Rick Reeves #19 was 3rd, DJ Robinson #33 from Ankeny was 4th and Kevin Irwin #21 from Story City was 5th.
For the first time this year the SuperStock Lawnmowers would appear and they were up next. It was Marty Kunkel #C2 from Newton taking the win, Brandon Bataba #61 from Moonville was 2nd, Dan Love #3 from Hartford was 3rd and Ron Love #63 from Hartford was 4th.
Clone Heavy would see Josh Omans #14 from Mason City taking the win, Mike Jones #00 from Lone Tree would follow in 2nd, Kevin Hurst #11 in Janesville was 3rd and Albert "Pep" Wolfgram #1 in Boone was 4th.
The final division to compete was the Open 4 Cycle, Tim Eilts #5 from Chicago, Illinois would make it a clean sweep and take his 3rd feature of the day that he competed in. Cole Liekweg #C4 from Rockwell was 2nd, Ashlee Becker #27 from Cresco was 3rd, Eric Brown #99x from Boone was 4th and Austin Sears #31 from Macob, Illinois was 5th.
Special thanks to Brian Kauffman, Kristy Schweer, Randy Nielsen, Morgan Nielsen, Dean McMartin, Ashley Zuck, Tyler Wollam and Jeff Wollam for making the great indoor go-kart racing inside the Thunder Dome!
Next up for the Kart Racing in Iowa is the the 3rd Annual Battle at the Barn Coke Syrup Races at the Richard O. Jacobson Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on January 21st and 22nd. Doors Open at 12p, Practice from 6-9p on Friday January 21st. Doors Open at 9a, Practice from 11a-12:30p, Racing beginning at 1:30p, Features Start at 7p. 2 Day Pit Pass $35 or $20 a day, Grandstands: Adults $12, Kids 10 & Under Free!
All the Kart Classes running are Putt Putts, Kid Karts, Jr. 1 & Jr. 2 Medium, Jr. 1 & Jr. 2 Flathead Heavy, Clone Medium, Clone Heavy, Stock Medium, Stock Heavy, KT100, Open 4 Cycle, Open 2 Cycle and Run What You Brung. Bikes & Quad Classes include Jr. 10" Pit Bike, Adult 10"Bike, 12" Pit Bike, 14" Pit Bike, Amateur Bikes, Pro Singles, Pro Twins, Outlaw Golf Karts, Outlaw Three Wheelers, Jr. Quads, Quad C, Quad B and Quad Open A. For Payouts check out http://www.battleatthebarn.com/
Next Race inside the Thunder Dome is on January 29th then that will be followed up by races on February 12th, February 26th and March 5th. If you haven't been there to watch the races yet this winter you need to get out there and see the fastest seconds of your life so until next time have fun!
