On Tuesday night, July 18th, the Southern Iowa Speedway was back in action on the first night of back to back racing programs during the Mahaska County Fair. Last week the races were canceled due to hot weather and I don't know just how hot it was last week, but it was also darn warm at the track on Tuesday too as the state of Iowa withers under a stuffy July sun with the humidity something to behold also.
Tuesday night's program was a lead off to the Hawkeye Dirt Tour races which will highlight Wednesday night's show. While it was a regular point race on Tuesday, the Modifieds had the night off with the other four classes running a full program.
Monitoring the race results from SIS from time to time, I know that the car counts have not been huge by any means this year, but Tuesday night's gathering had to have been the smallest in quite some time at this track. Other than a solid field in the Hobby Stocks, the other three classes were definitely lacking cars. Both the Sport Compacts and Stock Cars were short on count to the point that only one heat race was run in each class with a Baker's Dozen, minus two, entered in the Sport Mod class.
However, despite the short field of cars, there was racing to be done by those drivers that did show up and a full program was run off in the four classes on hand. Other than a slightly longer than normal break after the completion of the heats, during which time a multitude of packing vehicles circled the track which had an uncharacteristic chop to it on this night, anywhere above one lane from the hub on up, the racing proceeded just as if a full field of cars were on hand.
One of the big story lines at the track all year has been the domination of two drivers who have virtually controlled the class that they race in. By name, they are Shannon Anderson and Curtis VanDerWal who have been the dominating drivers in the Hobby Stock and Sport Mod divisions respectively. While the other drivers in those classes work to try and beat them and the fans gradually get more and more tired of seeing the same drivers win week after week, those two continue to go about their jobs and win, win, win.
In fact, coming into Tuesday night's action, Anderson was pitching a perfect nine for nine in the Hobby Stock class, not having lost a feature race all year at this big half mile. That is quite a remarkable record, given that he is racing against some strong competitors and the "Law of Averages" generally catches up with a person at some point when something as simple as a flat tire or mechanical failure could end such a marvelous streak, yet Anderson continues to roll.
On Tuesday, he again had had to beat the biggest field of cars although with the draw/redraw format in affect for the Fair races, he actually didn't have to start as far back in the field as per normal. But once the green flag dropped, the "cream quickly rose to the top" as while most drivers didn't even attempt to move up the track into the somewhat unsettled territory, Anderson jumped up there right away, and quickly moved into contention.
He seemed to catch a break early too, not that he needs any help, as he was scored the leader after an early restart when it seemed like second place might have been the more appropriate spot for him to have been. No matter, as no one was going to catch him anyway as he drove on to an easy win. While is winning margin was not huge, Anderson is one of those that I believe only shows what he needs to, to get the win and only when he is really pushes will we find out just how fast he can be.
Actually, the best run was turned in by his father Jeff who spun on the first lap, went to the tail and drove back up through the field, nipping Chanse Hollatz on the last lap for second. Hollatz, who runs very well in northern Iowa at tracks like Britt and Mason City would have been a good choice to break Anderson's streak, but not on this night.
So the bounty continues to build as Anderson is now ten for ten. The only problem that I have with the bounty is that it seems to me that if Anderson continues to win, at some point he should be rewarded for his outstanding effort by giving the bounty to him! After all, if he is good enough to keep everyone behind him week after week, I think he deserves to be rewarded for his outstanding work.
The other big winner at the track, VanDerWal had a relatively easy time of it as he won once again in the Sport Mods. The "boo birds" were out in full force to greet him in victory lane after he overpowered the field once again to win an easy main event, but the old saying that if they're booing you from the stands, you must be winning still holds.
One of the drivers he passed seemed to take umbrage at his passing move and wanted to have words with him, but if getting your quarter panel wrinkled a bit when the winner blows by you is grounds for "discussion", you might be better off devoting your time to getting your own program faster rather than "jaw jacking" at the winner. While having a couple of drivers dominate divisions might not be the healthiest thing for a race track, the best way to cure that if for the rest of the drivers to pick up the pace, not find ways to complain or penalize those that are over achieving.
In quite the opposite manner, the Sport Compacts saw a very close race that featured Nathan Moody and Levi Heath running side by side for most of the race. Both were pushing to the absolute limit and with the challenging conditions, both drivers had their hands full keeping their little front wheel drive cars pointed the right direction. Eventually, the low groove won out for Moody and the word was that it was his first win at SIS.
The Stock Cars had the shortest field of all the classes which was really disappointing given that they often put on the best show at the track. And even as short as the field was, they were still nose to bumper for the lead, right to the end. Nathan Wood appeared to be the fastest on the track but he just couldn't figure out a way of getting past Dustin Griffiths who drove home for the win.
Upon entering the grounds, Race Director Mike VanGenderen announced to me that he was no longer doing the track prep at the speedway after some unfulfilled promises involving his two day holiday Stock Car special. While he is still functioning as Race Director, one must wonder about his long term association with the track after this season concludes. Thursday Mike will add a new member to his family and hopefully the timing will be such that he will still be able to get to the races at Knoxville that night.
With few racing options on Tuesday, the grandstand at SIS looked like a Positively Racing reunion and all on hand were happy to visit with California's Paul Vetter as he concludes another one of his Midwestern racing vacations before he returns for the Boone Nationals in September.
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