Stanton, Bryant, Pickett, Auringer and Griffith Nab Night Three Wins at Sports Park Raceway

On Friday Night, I had the opportunity to make the 95 mile trip up to the Sports Park Raceway in Fort Dodge for their 3rd night of racing in 2020. New Promoter Andy Jones has not had the ideal season to start out with as the COVID-19 pandemic has meant No Grandstands, until next week June 6th.

With Grandstand seating closed, a limited number of personal vehicles was allowed again to park at the top of the grandstands parking lot. The cost was $10 per person and each vehicle could have a maximum of ten poeple, keeping the social distancing recommended by the CDC.

Sixy-Seven cars checked in for night number 3 of the Summit Racing USRA Weekly Racing Series at Sports Park Raceway in Fort Dodge. The racing action was exciting through out the night including one driver spinning early and coming back to nab the checkers. Three first time winners also nabbed their first feature wins at the half-mile clay oval on Friday.

First feature of the night was the Pickett Salvage USRA Hobby Stocks for 15 laps. Danny Sassman started inside row two but by the end of lap one he was in the number one spot. However just after the completion of lap one, the caution came out when Caden Lowmiller spun in turn two. Sassman did not let the restart bother him this time as he held off 2019 USRA National Champion Eric Stanton and Jeremy Crimmins but then just after completing lap two, Stanton spun in turn three and Crimmins would end up making minimal contact forcing the caution to come out again.

Sassman looked to be the man out front as he held of Eric Knutson and Crimmins on the restart and looked to be heading on to the win until the caution came out again on lap six when Lowmiller spun in turn three and four. Sassman got another great restart but the caution came out one more time on lap twelve for debris on the topside of turn three. On the final restart, Sassman did not get a great restart and would be passed Crimmins, Cory Roe and Knutson.

Crimmins experienced issues on the final lap allowing Stanton, who worked his way back through the field to take his second win in Fort Dodge. Roe grabbed runner-up honors ahead of Knutson, Drew Barglof and Tyson Overton. Sassman the race lead for most of the race slipped back to sixth.

The USRA Tuners was next to wage war on the half mile oval for their 10 lap feature. Mason City's Ryan Bryant started inside row two but found himself leading on lap one. Bryant had a battle early with Fort Dodge's Matt Oberhelman and Humboldt's Jade Lange. Bryant got some separation until the caution came out on lap six when Lange experience mechanical issues in turn two. Bryant held off Marshalltown's John Gill and Oberhelman on the restart.

Caution came out again a lap later when Oberhelman spun at the top side of turn three. Bryant, 2018 USRA National Champion, went on to take the win becoming the third different winner this season. Gill was running second and tried to make the last lap move to steal the win away got sideways in turn three and four and fell back to seventh at the line.

Michael Heun finished second, Oberhelman worked his way back to a third place finish. Josh Dahlsten finished fourth and Joe Mastin was fifth.

American Racer USRA Stock Cars saw only eight cars check in to race so they would run their 15 lap feature third. Fort Dodge's Myles Michehl grabbed the early race lead and appear to heading on to take the win but Michehl exited the speedway on lap nine handing the lead over to Boxholm's Tyler Pickett who held off Waterloo's Dylan Suhr.

Pickett continued to lead until the only race caution was displayed on lap thirteen when Jesse Brown slid off the topside of turn three. Pickett held off Suhr and Webster City's Todd Staley on the restart to go on and take his first win of the season. Pickett would also be third different winner in the Stock Cars. Staley, Suhr, Bill Crimmins and Jeff Lyon rounded out the top five.

Blairsburg's Scott Olson took the lead early in the 15 lap USRA Modified main event and he would lead until JD Auringer found the right groove. Auringer took the lead away on lap eight and never looked back going on to be third different winner in the Modifieds.

Olson settled for a second place finish meanwhile Birthday Boy Garrett Wilson from Carlisle took home a third place finish. Devon Havlik from Iowa Falls was fourth ahead of Duke Erickson from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The final feature of the night was the USRA B-Mods 16 lap main event but before a single lap was scored in the books the caution came out when Jason Carney but a implement tire on the bottom side of turn two. Webster City's Ty Griffith started right where he left off and pulled away from the field.

However just as it looked as Griffith was going to take the demanding win, the caution came out on lap fifteen when Wade Gilliland spun on the back stretch. It came out again on the restart when Jeremiah Reed and Doug McCollough got together on the back stretch causing handful of cars to get together in turn three.

Reed spun in turn three on the restart forcing the caution to come out again but Griffith was not to be denied as he went on to take his second win of the season. "Rock Star" Rocky Caudle worked his way from eighth to finish second, McCollough finished third. Jared Timmerman and twelfth place starter Bryer McCoy was fifth.

Final checkered flag was displayed at 9:53pm. Thanks to Promoter Andy Jones for allowing me to make the visit up.

Racing action continues next Friday June 6th and for the first time Grandstand Admission will be allowed at 50% capacity per Iowa Governor's Office. The pits will be opened to all spectators with social distancing. USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and USRA Tuners are all on the card. Hot Laps at 7pm, Racing to Follow

The Sports Park Raceway is located 0.9 mile north of US 20 on US 169, then 0.5 mile east on 230th in Fort Dodge, Iowa. If you have any questions, visit SportsParkRaceway.com or email info@sportsparkraceway.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

I took pictures and they can be found on the Trackside Report by Foxman Facebook Page or the direct link to the photos Sports Park Raceway Weekly Racing Series 5-29-20. All the photos are unedited and free to use as long you give me a shout out and remember I do not take pictures full time, I take pictures because I love the sport of racing.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
Sports Park Raceway, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Friday, May 29, 2020

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown.

USRA MODIFIEDS

Heat #1:
1. (5) 14E Chase Ellingson, Williams, Iowa
2. (3) 3W Garett Wilson, Carlisle, Iowa
3. (2) 2 Jerid Ratzke, Williams, Iowa
4. (4) 55 Nathan McHale, Webster, Minn.
5. (1) 15 Chris Loberg, Elma, Iowa
6. (6) 00 Tristan Vesterby, Webster City, Iowa

Heat #2:
1. (2) 5D Devon Havlik, Iowa Falls, Iowa
2. (4) 00J J.D. Auringer, Waterloo, Iowa
3. (3) 8X Scott Olson, Blairsburg, Iowa
4. (5) 45H Jason Hickingbottom, Duncombe, Iowa
5. (1) 57 Duke Erickson, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Feature:
1. (5) 00J J.D. Auringer, Waterloo, Iowa
2. (1) 8X Scott Olson, Blairsburg, Iowa
3. (3) 3W Garett Wilson, Carlisle, Iowa
4. (6) 5D Devon Havlik, Iowa Falls, Iowa
5. (10) 57 Duke Erickson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
6. (4) 2 Jerid Ratzke, Williams, Iowa
7. (11) 00 Tristan Vesterby, Webster City, Iowa
8. (2) 14E Chase Ellingson, Williams, Iowa
9. (8) 45H Jason Hickingbottom, Duncombe, Iowa
DNS – 15 Chris Loberg, Elma, Iowa
DNS – 55 Nathan McHale, Webster, Minn.

AMERICAN RACER USRA STOCK CARS

Heat
1. (1) 21X Myles Michehl, Fort Dodge, Iowa
2. (2) 87 Dylan Suhr, Waterloo, Iowa
3. (8) 35 Bill Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa
4. (7) 14 Todd Staley, Webster City, Iowa
5. (5) 11 Jesse Brown, Nashua, Iowa
6. (3) 5A Tyler Pickett, Boxholm, Iowa
7. (6) 43 Calvin Lange, Humboldt, Iowa
8. (4) 59 Jeff Lyon, Duncombe, Iowa

Feature:
1. (1) 5A Tyler Pickett, Boxholm, Iowa
2. (6) 14 Todd Staley, Webster City, Iowa
3. (4) 87 Dylan Suhr, Waterloo, Iowa
4. (5) 35 Bill Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa
5. (8) 59 Jeff Lyon, Duncombe, Iowa
6. (3) 11 Jesse Brown, Nashua, Iowa
7. (7) 43 Calvin Lange, Humboldt, Iowa
8. (2) 21X Myles Michehl, Fort Dodge, Iowa

USRA B-MODS

Heat #1:
1. (1) 7+ Jared Timmerman, Norwalk, Iowa
2. (2) 4 Jason Bass, Fort Dodge, Iowa
3. (3) 18 Roger Caquelin, Dows, Iowa
4. (5) 21W Wade Gilliland, Callender, Iowa
5. (4) 40 George Gilliland, Lehigh, Iowa
6. (6) 21X Xander Treichel, Greene, Iowa

Heat #2:
1. (3) 56 Ty Griffith, Webster City, Iowa
2. (1) 1 Doug McCollough, Webster City, Iowa
3. (5) 511 Matt Grall, Fort Dodge, Iowa
4. (6) 26 Jason Carney, Boone, Iowa
5. (4) 52 Ryan Sams, Fort Dodge, Iowa
6. (2) 13 Lucus Jones, Fort Dodge, Iowa

Heat #3:
1. (3) 99 Rocky Caudle, Elsworth, Iowa
2. (4) 9J Jeremiah Reed, Otho, Iowa
3. (5) 75 Cole Suckow, Cresco, Iowa
4. (1) 88 Bryer McCoy, Webster City, Iowa
5. (6) D1 Damion Elliott, Webster City, Iowa
6. (2) 18K Donovan Kennebeck, Lytton, Iowa

Feature:
1. (1) 56 Ty Griffith, Webster City, Iowa
2. (8) 99 Rocky Caudle, Elsworth, Iowa
3. (3) 1 Doug McCollough, Webster City, Iowa
4. (6) 7+ Jared Timmerman, Norwalk, Iowa
5. (12) 88 Bryer McCoy, Webster City, Iowa
6. (16) 21X Xander Treichel, Greene, Iowa
7. (14) 52 Ryan Sams, Fort Dodge, Iowa
8. (2) 9J Jeremiah Reed, Otho, Iowa
9. (7) 21W Wade Gilliland, Callender, Iowa
10. (4) 18 Roger Caquelin, Dows, Iowa
11. (15) D1 Damion Elliott, Webster City, Iowa
12. (9) 511 Matt Grall, Fort Dodge, Iowa
13. (11) 75 Cole Suckow, Cresco, Iowa
14. (17) 13 Lucus Jones, Fort Dodge, Iowa
15. (13) 40 George Gilliland, Lehigh, Iowa
16. (5) 4 Jason Bass, Fort Dodge, Iowa
17. (10) 26 Jason Carney, Boone, Iowa
DNS – 18K Donovan Kennebeck, Lytton, Iowa

PICKETT SALVAGE USRA HOBBY STOCKS

Heat #1:
1. (4) 10 Danny Sassman Jr., Fort Dodge, Iowa
2. (3) 42T Tyson Overton, Carlisle, Iowa
3. (5) 112 Drew Barglof, Sioux Rapids, Iowa
4. (2) 24R Roger Haupt, Webster City, Iowa
5. (6) 10A John Ades, Rippey, Iowa
6. (1) 55G David Gilliland, Fort Dodge, Iowa
DNS – 10X Dylan Ades, Rippey, Iowa

Heat #2:
1. (1) 7B Eric Stanton, Carlisle, Iowa
2. (3) 56 Jake Blau, Latimer, Iowa
3. (5) 8 Adam Tiernan, Granger, Iowa
4. (2) 40SE Scott Ellis, Marshalltown, Iowa
5. (6) 34 Lincoln Miller, Eagle Grove, Iowa
6. (4) 56G Bradley Gilliland, Lehigh, Iowa

Heat #3:
1. (1) 8R Cory Roe, Webster City, Iowa
2. (4) 15 Jeremy Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa
3. (3) 4D Daniel Ayers, Webster City, Iowa
4. (5) 12K Eric Knutson, Slater, Iowa
5. (6) 35 Riley Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa
6. (2) 5 Caden Lowmiller, Jefferson, Iowa

Feature:
1. (5) 7B Eric Stanton, Carlisle, Iowa
2. (9) 8R Cory Roe, Webster City, Iowa
3. (4) 12K Eric Knutson, Slater, Iowa
4. (11) 112 Drew Barglof, Sioux Rapids, Iowa
5. (10) 42T Tyson Overton, Carlisle, Iowa
6. (3) 10 Danny Sassman Jr., Fort Dodge, Iowa
7. (16) 55G David Gilliland, Fort Dodge, Iowa
8. (13) 10A John Ades, Rippey, Iowa
9. (6) 40SE Scott Ellis, Marshalltown, Iowa
10. (1) 24R Roger Haupt, Webster City, Iowa
11. (17) 56G Bradley Gilliland, Lehigh, Iowa
12. (14) 34 Lincoln Miller, Eagle Grove, Iowa
13. (19) 10X Dylan Ades, Rippey, Iowa
14. (15) 35 Riley Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa
15. (7) 15 Jeremy Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa
16. (2) 8 Adam Tiernan, Granger, Iowa
17. (18) 5 Caden Lowmiller, Jefferson, Iowa
18. (12) 4D Daniel Ayers, Webster City, Iowa
19. (8) 56 Jake Blau, Latimer, Iowa

USRA TUNERS

Heat #1:
1. (2) 43 Jade Lange, Humboldt, Iowa
2. (6) 37 Ryan Bryant, Mason City, Iowa
3. (1) 41 Matt Oberhelman, Fort Dodge, Iowa
4. (5) 02 John Gill, Marshalltown, Iowa
5. (3) 230 Michael Heun, Manson, Iowa
DNS – 54 Josh Dahlsten, Pomeroy, Iowa

Heat #2:
1. (2) 38 Des Sells, Fort Dodge, Iowa
2. (1) 99 Joe Mastin, Des Moines, Iowa
3. (5) 45 John Dahlsten, Polmeroy, Iowa
4. (4) 10B Breanna Ades, Rippey, Iowa
5. (3) 7 Devon Jones, Clear Lake, Iowa

Feature:
1. (3) 37 Ryan Bryant, Mason City, Iowa
2. (9) 230 Michael Heun, Manson, Iowa
3. (2) 41 Matt Oberhelman, Fort Dodge, Iowa
4. (11) 54 Josh Dahlsten, Pomeroy, Iowa
5. (1) 99 Joe Mastin, Des Moines, Iowa
6. (4) 38 Des Sells, Fort Dodge, Iowa
7. (7) 02 John Gill, Marshalltown, Iowa
8. (6) 45 John Dahlsten, Polmeroy, Iowa
9. (8) 10B Breanna Ades, Rippey, Iowa
10. (5) 43 Jade Lange, Humboldt, Iowa
DNS – 7 Devon Jones, Clear Lake, Iowa