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VANDERBEEK TAKES TWO, MOFFITT AND FRANCIS ALSO SCORE IN SOUTHERN IOWA SPEEDWAY OPENER
by Tony Paris
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (April 18) -- The 2007 season kicked off at the Southern Iowa Speedway Wednesday with a new look for the Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster. Tons of new clay around the historic oval, widening of the racing surface and re-shaping the turns made for a great night of racing on the first night for USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series.
The addition of the USRA B-Mod division to the regular line-up made for four exciting classes. The USRA B-Mod feature was won by 14-year-old Brett Moffitt of Grimes, who held off Raymond Lundry of Maynard for the win. Andrew Schroeder of Keswick and Ronnie Pumphrey of Batavia battled for the third spot with Schroeder taking the position, followed by Pumphrey in fourth.
Pete Hutzel of State Center took the early race lead in the USRA Stock Car main event and paced the field until veteran Bobby Greiner Jr. of Ottumwa took the lead on lap 6. Greiner led until lap 13 before New Sharon's Zack VanderBeek took the lead away never looked back. Greiner settled for second, followed by Steve Landgrebe of Oskaloosa and another Osky driver, Josh Newell, in fourth.
Driving the Mark Ford-owned No. 7s machine, Wade Francis of Oskaloosa out-classed the USRA Hobby Stock field to take the win. Francis and Jason McDaniel of Eldon swapped the lead six different times to bring the crowd to their collective feet numerous times. At the finish, McDaniel took the second spot with Mike Shelton of Ottumwa in third and Tyler Ford of Lovillia fourth.
The final feature of the night was a thriller as the MUSCO Lighting USRA Modifieds staged a barnburner on the big half-mile oval. Zack VanderBeek scored his second win of the night after passing Ryan Gustin coming to the checkered flag. Gustin, 15, passed VanderBeek after a lap 14 caution and looked to have the win well in hand, but a flat left rear tire slowed the rookie and perhaps cost him a $500 payday and winner's trophy. Gustin settled for the second spot while 2005 track champion Steve Stewart of Washington finished third and early race leader Stephen Blattler of Oskaloosa took the fourth spot.
Next Wednesday, April 25, the USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series will return with MUSCO Lighting USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks in action. Pit gates will open at 5 p.m. while spectator gates open at 5:30. Hot laps will start around 7:15 and the first green flag is slated to wave at 7:30 sharp. General admission adult tickets are $9 while juniors (12-17 years old) and seniors (62 and older) get in for $7. Kids ages 11 and under get in for FREE. Pit passes are $25.
The Southern Iowa Speedway is located 0.5 mile west of US 63 on SR 92, then 0.3 mile north on N. I St. (at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds). For day-of-race information, call the track hotline at (507) 634-4281 or visit www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa online.
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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series
Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
USRA HOBBY STOCKS
Heat #1: 1. Wade Francis, Oskaloosa; 2. Jared Sanders, New Sharon; 3. Steve Allen, Oskaloosa; 4. Mark Moore, Ottumwa; 5. Jimmy Hayes, Moravia; 6. Dave Breuklander, Oskaloosa; 7. Danny Thrasher, Agency.
Heat #2: 1. Bill Gibson, Knoxville; 2. Jason Vanzomeren, Oskaloosa; 3. Jason McDaniel, Eldon; 4. Dustin Griffiths, Ottumwa; 5. Cory Adams, W. Des Moines; 6. Shannon Sherwood, Oskaloosa; 7. Wes Almond, Oskaloosa.
Heat #3: 1. Mike Shelton, Ottumwa; 2. Tyler Ford, Lovillia; 3. Rick Landgrebe, Sigourney; 4. Chase Mitrisin, Oskaloosa; 5. Randy Veldhuizen, Oskaloosa; 6. Rick Wilson, Ottumwa.
"A" Main: 1. Francis; 2. McDaniel; 3. Shelton; 4. Ford; 5. Griffiths; 6. Landgrebe; 7. Sherwood; 8. Thrasher; 9. Hayes; 10. Vanzomeren; 11. Wilson; 12. Adams; 13. Breuklander; 14. Mitrisin; 15. Moore; 16. Almond; 17. Sanders; 18. Veldhuizen; 19. Gibson; 20. Allen.
USRA B-MODS
Heat: 1. Raymond Lundry, Maynard; 2. Brett Moffitt, Grimes; 3. Ronnie Pumphrey, Batavia; 4. Andrew Schroeder, Keswick; 5. Paul Underwood, Ottumwa.
"A" Main: 1. Moffitt; 2. Lundry; 3. Schroeder; 4. Pumphrey; 5. Underwood.
USRA STOCK CARS
Heat #1: 1. Josh Newell, Oskaloosa; 2. Matt Greiner, Washington; 3. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon; 4. Steve Landgrebe, Oskaloosa; 5. Nathan Wood, Keswick; 6. Bobby Greene, Eddyville; 7. Bert McDaniel Jr., Eldon.
Heat #2: 1. Bobby Greiner Jr., Ottumwa; 2. Jared Miller, Des Moines; 3. Pete Hutzel, State Center; 4. Rich Reed, Des Moines; 5. A.J. Johnson, Oskaloosa; 6. Corey Stout, Oskaloosa; 7. Colt Mather, Webster.
"A" Main: 1. VanderBeek; 2. B. Greiner; 3. Landgrebe; 4. Newell; 5. Stout; 6. Miller; 7. Johnson; 8. Reed; 9. M. Greiner; 10. Hutzel; 11. Wood; 12. Greene; 13. McDaniel; 14. Mather.
MUSCO LIGHTING USRA MODIFIEDS
Heat #1: 1. Stephen Blattler, Oskaloosa; 2. Jon Snyder, Ames; 3. Allison Quick, Redding; 4. Tom Lathrop, Ottumwa; 5. Steve Stewart, Washington; 6. Richie Gustin Jr., Marshalltown; 7. Brad Pinkerton. New Sharon; 8. Kyle Harwood, Oskaloosa; 9. Gordon Head, Des Moines.
Heat #2: 1. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown; 2. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon; 3. Brandon Banks, Washington; 4. Jim Lynch, Bloomfield; 5. Randy Killen, Des Moines; 6. Jesse Dennis, Prescott; 7. Scott Dickey, Packwood; 8. Greg Cox, Des Moines; 9. Terry Walker, Riverside.
"A" Main: 1. VanderBeek; 2. Ryan Gustin; 3. Stewart; 4. Blattler; 5. Quick; 6. Snyder; 7. Cox; 8. Banks; 9. Lathrop; 10. Head; 11. Walker; 12. Killen; 13. Dickey; 14. Harwood; 15. Dennis; 16. Lynch; 17. Richie Gustin; 18. Pinkerton.
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