Snow Didn’t Stop the Thunder Dome From Racing
By Jeremy Fox
Marshalltown, Iowa (February 23rd, 2013) – Earlier in the week the weather people were predicting heavy snow which led to many people questioning to go racing and that was still the case until early friday afternoon. The decision was made by head track prep, line-up guy and fairboard member Randy Nielsen and despite that they got it all cleared up outside enough to be able to race. At the same time, they also had to deal with mositure that finally came up on the race track because it had froze so they had to take care of that issue.
First feature of the day was the Jr 1 Animal and Jr 2 Animal feature racing together as there was only one entry in the Jr 1 Animal and two Jr 2 Animal. Mark Maas would lead 11 laps before pulling off just as after seeing the white flag that would hand the lead over to Michael Pfalzgraf. Pfalzgraf would go on to take the win in the Jr 2 Animal meanwhile Ethan Starrett would finish 2nd and take the win in the Jr 1 Animal. Maas would finish 3rd and finish 2nd in the Jr 2 Animal
In the Quad C Trophy Class there was only one entry so Justin Sutherlin would take home the win.
Jr 2 Medium feature would see Tyler Havens lead the entire 12 laps to take the win which would also complete the clean sweep on the day. Mark Maas would finish 2nd, Shawn Cooney was 3rd, Brock Badger was 4th and Thomas Egenberger was 5th.
Rookie Beginners again would see “Ty Man” Ty Solverson jump to the lead and cruise to the easy win. Keegan Thompson was 2nd and Izac Mallicoat would finish 3rd. Braden Wilden would run in a race by himself to get some more lap experience.
The Rookie Advanced class would see only 2 competitors and it would be Brady Kohrs, just days after his birthday and his sister’s birthday, grabbing the lead and not looking back in root to the win. Landon Duffy, fellow friend from Independence would finish 2nd.
Jr Quads feature would go to Jackson Misel from Des Moines with JP Strawn from Des Moines coming home 2nd but this race was really cool to see and the crowd and officials were all making some noise when this race winded down.
In the Jr 1 Amateur division it would again have its troubles getting going but when it did it was Keaton Woosley from Conrad grabbing the early lead before Walker Ashton from Beamon would grab the lead on lap 4. Woosley and Caleb Peterson would battle for 2nd and even bring the yellow out but it would be Ashton taking the win. Peterson would finish 2nd and Woosley was 3rd.
McKinzie Culbertson would grab 2 heat race wins so that means she would get to start on the pole and she would capitalize on that as she would lead the entire 12 lap Jr 1 Medium feature despite 3 yellows slowing the event down. Culbertson would take her first Jr 1 Medium win and completing the clean sweep, looks like dads work in the garage paid off. Nick Rose would finish 2nd, Logan Duffy was 3rd, Kadence Davenport was 4th and Blaine Webster was 5th.
After being one of the largest classes last week, this week the Stock Heavy would have only four entries signed in. Kody Havens would lead every lap in the feature to take the win and sole position of the points lead. Albert Wolfgram would get 2nd after Travis Hatch and Clair Messor would get into each other a couple of times. Hatch would get 3rd and Messor was 4th.
UnlimitedAll-Stars had only 1 entry on the day and that would be Scott Badker and he would run with the Stock Heavy class all day.
Quad A Feature would see David Petithory complete the sweep as he would get his 3rd wholeshot victory of the day. Blake Miller would finish a close 2nd, Vance Misel was 3rd, Doug Slyvester was 4th and George Hood was 5th.
Final feature of the day was the Mad Dogg Bikes and Pro Bikes. There was two Mad Dogg Bikes and one Pro Bike on the day. Clayton Webster would grab the win in the Pro Bike divison meanwhile his brother Brandon Webster would take the win in the Mad Dogg Bike division over Race Promoter Brian Kauffman.
The Thunder Dome has only two events left on the schedule and they are Saturday March 16th and Saturday March 23rd. Smokin’ Smoe Memorial is on March 23rd and following the races that day will be the Annual Banquet. Hot Laps at Noon and Racing to Follow and pit admission is $10.
For additional information, rules and special throw down classes for each show for the Thunder Dome, log on at: http://www.ftpiowa.com/, or call Brian Kauffman at 319-551-0077.
Unofficial Results
Jr 1 Animal
1) 7 Ethan Starett (Clear Lake, IA)
Jr 2 Animal
1) 1 Michael Pfalzgraf (Cedar Falls, IA)
2) 24 Mark Maas (Epworth, IA)
Quad C
1) 8y Justin Sutherlin (Des Moines, IA)
Jr 2 Medium
1) 1 Tyler Havens (Polk City, IA)
2) 24 Mark Maas (Epworth, IA)
3) 30 Shawn Cooney (Des Moines, IA)
4) 50 Brock Badger (Bagley, IA)
5) 29 Thomas Egenberger (Ankeny, IA)
Rookie Beginner
1) Z1 Ty Solverson (Fort Dodge, IA)
1) 02 Keegan Thompson (Runnells, IA)
1) 11 Izaac Mallicoat (Jefferson, IA)
1) 30 Braeden Wilden (Des Moines, IA)
Rookie Advanced
1) 17 Brady Kohrs (Independence, IA)
2) 10 Landon Duffy (Independence, IA)
Jr Quads
1) 1 Jackson Misel (Des Moines, IA)
1) 44X JP Strawn (Des Moines, IA)
Jr 1 Amateur
1) 7R Walker Ashton (Beamon, IA)
2) 23P Caleb Peterson (Des Moines, IA)
3) 14 Keaton Woosley (Conrad, IA)
Jr 1 Medium
1) 18 McKinzie Culbertson (Dubuque, IA)
2) 0 Nick Rose (Boone, IA)
3) 10 Logan Duffy (Independence, IA)
4) 8 Kadence Davenport (Madrid, IA)
5) 7 Blaine Webster (Ottumwa, IA)
6) 11 Keagan Havens (Polk City, IA)
7) 53 Amy Thomas (Brandon, IA)
8) 7v Ethan Starrett (Clear Lake, IA)
Stock Heavy
1) 14 Kody Havens (Ankeny, IA)
2) 78 Albert Wolfgram (Boone, IA)
3) 22 Travis Hatch (Marshalltown, IA)
4) 9 Clair Messor (Marshalltown, IA)
Unlimited All-Stars (UAS)
1) 57 Scott Badker (Klemme, IA)
Quad A
1) 20 David Petithory (Des Moines, IA)
2) 1 Blake Miller (Des Moines, IA)
3) 17 Vance Misel (Des Moines, IA)
4) 69 Doug Slyvester (Ottumwa, IA)
5) 79 George Hood (Des Moines, IA)
6) 57 Brandon Gillette (Pleasant Hill, IA)
DNS: 4 Daniel Hollingsworth (Des Moines, IA)
Mad Dogg Bikes
1) 22 Brandon Webster (Ottumwa, IA)
2) 78 Brian Kauffman (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Pro Bikes
1) 155 Clayton Webster (Ottumwa, IA)
I WAS GOING TO WRITE ABOUT MY THOUGHTS ABOUT DAYTONA SPEED WEEKS BUT AFTER SATURDAY'S NATIONWIDE SERIES CRASH AT THE TRACK, MY THOUGHTS GO TO EVERYBODY THAT WAS INJURED IN THAT CRASH AND HOPE THEY HAVE A SPEEDY RECOVERY.
