I made my annual fall trip to the "Mahaska County Monster" the Southern Iowa Speedway for the Silver Anniversary of the Musco Lighting Fall Challenge. This race would also be the last for Track Promotors Todd and Janet Staley.
On Friday Night there was interesting twist to the program as drivers that finished in the top 8 on friday night's features would have the option to take a guaranteed starting spot on saturday or take the money. Most of them would just keep their starting spot for saturday.
Saturday Night would bring another full night of racing with a draw-redraw format. I was well welcomed by Todd Staley when i arrived and want to thank him for letting me attend the event again.
USRA Hobby Stocks was up first for their 25 lap feature. It was the racing veteran Bill Bonnett taking the lead from the pole (a position he earned on friday). It appeared Bonnett would be walking away with the event but then Donavon Nunnikhoven and Clayton Crump would chase him down and make a move on Bonnett on lap 15 and 16. Bonnett didn't give up as he would get back by both of them and take the lead back on lap 24. Bonnett took the win and Nunnikhoven was 2nd. Crump would cross in 3rd but would be diaqualifed in post race tech inspection moving Adam Cline to 3rd, Steve Larson to 4th and Chris Hovden to 5th.
Musco Ligthing USRA Modifieds feature would see the "Z-Man" Zack VanderBeek take the lead from the outside front row. VanderBeek would not be slowed even when he started hitting the lap traffic. The race had 2 race cautions, first one on lap 15, first one was the ambulance and then the 2nd one on lap 16 for Colt Mather getting into the turn 2 wall. VanderBeek would lead the final 9 laps to take the victory, Steve Blattler was 2nd, Ron Ver Beek was 3rd, Kurt Kile was 4th and Bob Timm would end up 5th.
Carter's Manufacturing USRA B-Mods feature would start off wild as Carter Vandenberg would hit a tractor tire down in the bottom of turn 2 and that would send him air borne and would flip 5-7 times before coming to a rest on his wheels. Vandenberg would climb from his car and be okay just a little shaken up, the car however would be destroyed.
When then race got going it was Vandenberg's Cousin Cayden Carter taking the race lead and it appeared nothing was going to slow him down but then another race caution came out on lap 10, this cousin was for Bobby Greene in turn 3. Carter wouldn't let that bother him as again he would start pulling away until the next race caution came out on lap 20 for Gene Claxton in turn 2. Carter and the field would see the caution again 2 laps later for a big tractor tire on the race track in turn 2. Carter would still manage to hold everybody off and take the win which was his 31st win of the year. Bryon Weyer would start 2nd and finish 2nd, Jason Mallicoat was 3rd, Jake Timm was 4th and Jared Timmerman was 5th.
The final feature of the night was the USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars and it was Nathan Wood taking the lead from the outside front row but just after 1 lap was completed the caution would come out for Chad Walter and Dan Christopher would get together in turn 2, Walter would keep going but Christopher would bring out the yellow and be only one sent to the tail. Wood again would resume command but Shane Weller would stay close and behind them there would some great 3 to 4 wide racing battles behind them. The final race caution came out on lap 16 for Dan Christopher in turn 4. Wood would have to now battle with Weller and Jackson the last 9 laps but manage to hold off both of them and take the win. Weller, Jackson, Matt Greiner and Mike Van Genderen would round out the top 5.
Racing would come to an end at 12:17 am putting an end to the tenure of Todd and Janet Staley at the Southern Iowa Speedway as they would look to put their focus on getting the United States Racing Association (USRA) sanctioning body to more tracks around the country. The Southern Iowa Fairboard will be starting a search for a new promotor for the "Mahaska County Monster".
Meanwhile thanks to Todd and Janet Staley for the past several years at the "Mahaska County Monster" and also thanks goes out to Terry and Jenni Hoeing for the past 14 years at Lee County Speedway. I have had a chance to meet all of you and you are all very friendly to everybody.
Friday Night Results from Osky are at http://www.usraracing.com/newsdetail.asp?NewsID=11886
Saturday Night Results from Osky are at http://www.usraracing.com/newsdetail.asp?NewsID=11893
Some photos i took from in the pits at Osky are now posted at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150421428722195.418692.333727462194&type=1
