Thompson Slides To Turkey Challenge Win at Park Jeff

 Cody Thompson threw a lap nineteen  "slider" on Shane DeMey in turn two to grab a late lead and then held on for the Modified win to wrap up the 2024 racing season at the Park Jefferson International Speedway in Jefferson South Dakota on Saturday afternoon, November 2nd. 

It seems crazy to be talking racing in South Dakota in November but the folks at Park Jeff are having such a good time with their newly reconfigured oval and wanting to show case the new track to as many fans and drivers as possible, decided to schedule one last race after their last special which was supposed to wrap up their season. 

Keeping an eye of the weather this week, when a cold front was supposed to slam into the area on Saturday night, they opted to move up the starting time of the event by two hours in the hopes of beating the rain and they were able to accomplish that. While the temperature was claimed to be almost sixty degrees, a raw and strong wind was blowing and those of us in the stands were wearing our Winter weather gear anyway. But surprisingly, despite the fact it was a Saturday afternoon and none to pleasant out side, a pretty decent sized crowd was on hand to wave good bye to racing until 2025. 

The biggest topic of discussion continues to be the whole sale changes made to Park Jeff since I was last at the track in early August. My goodness, it hardly looks like the same track, and in actuality, it isn't. Only the front chute is in the same place at it was previously but the entire rest of the track has been pulled in, making what was close to a half mile track now somewhere in the neighborhood of a big quarter or perhaps third mile. Both ends of the track have been  drawn and the radius of the corners tightened plus lots of banking was added. The back chute is much closer than it used to be, making the infield smaller and where the back chute used to run, there is now a row of pit parking there as they have gained considerable pit space. 

Boone was used as the guide when the new track was laid in recently, but to my untrained eye, it seems like the straights might be just a tad bit longer than Boone. No matter, you get the idea on what a considerable change they made, and in such a short time that they were back and racing in just a few weeks. Someone not paying attention during the break in their season must have been shocked when they walked into the grandstand and saw a whole new track had been laid out. With the high banking in the corner, it also reminded me a bit of the new Mason City track too. 

I was told that things had not been going good at Park Jeff with lots of complaints about the track and they felt it was either make a drastic change or close the gates forever. Well, I think they made the correct decision as the track now seems like a real keeper for the long run. 

A few more refinements are yet to be completed and the wall in turn four scares me with its blunt end but those are fixable. The scoreboard was moved and I'm just not sure the new location is going to be the best as the odds are now being placed just when the first car goes out of control on the back chute and hits it. I'm hoping they might reconsider its location. A new observation tower has been built on the back chute with a spectacular view of the track for the pit folks but wow, that stairway is steep, steep, steep. I believe a spotted the capital building in Lincoln from there before it started to cloud up!

A lot of rain earlier in the week made the track quite bumpy for practice and while they pounded it hard afterward, there were still a few "character" points on the track and it was also the first afternoon race on the new surface but overall, I thought the racing to be very good later. 

One hundred and twenty four drivers signed in to race in the five division program that was offered on Saturday afternoon. Not a sanctioned event, they made a couple of class decisions to better the event. The Stock Cars from USRA were also allowed to race and I saw a couple cars using American Racer tires for this day. Also, USRA B Mods were allowed to race with the Sport Mods and there were a considerable number of drivers that took advantage of the opportunity as there is quite a large number of B Mod drivers from the Sioux Falls area. The best of them though, Corbin Erickson, finished ninth in the main event. 

Racing would be begin right at the advertised time of 2 pm and there were enough drivers on hand that B Features were needed for both the Hobby Stocks and Sport Mods/B Mods. A short break was taken to get the main events lined up and then it was time for feature racing. Of note, other than for the racers to roll in the high groove a bit before their race, no track prep work was done once the first green flag dropped. 

The Sport Compact feature would be first to run and eighteen drivers started this event. It was bad news for the opposition when Dillon Richards drew the outside pole to start the race as he would grab an immediate lead and then never be seriously challenged as he drove on to victory. 

Nathan Wahlstrom would hold the second spot for just one lap before Gilbert Aldape took over and he then provided the stiffest challenge to Richards. It was tough to get much rhythm to this race early as the yellow waved six times in the first three laps for a multitude of reasons including spins, cars traveling over the end of the banking and several debris yellows. 

However, once everyone got squared away, the last nine laps ran off green to checkers and under a longer green flat period, Richards would pull away from the pack and there were enough cars eliminated by this time that lapped traffic was never an issue. The winner last week at Marshalltown backed up that win with another at Park Jeff with Aldape second and Wahlstrom third. 

Twenty five drivers started the Sport Mod feature and although Justin Klynsna was scored the leader of all eighteen laps, there were a number of times when he was behind as much as he was in the lead. For he was having a great battle with Chris Abelsen who was driving a second car for Rusty Montague. Klynsma took the immediate lead with Abelson quickly into second and they then produced an exiting race as they took turns slide jobbing each other and pulling even with each other as they raced for the lead. 

This race was also broken up by a number of yellows but everything the green would wave, the two front runners would go at it again. However, it was refreshing as while they battled hard, each left the other driver with racing room and all slide jobs were of the "clean" variety with no one taking each other's nose off. All the yellows and restarts seemed to have taken their toll on Abelson's car however, as following restart number five, he didn't fire as good and several drivers were able to get past him as he struggled for traction. Matthew Looft started ninth on the grid and had moved up to third by the halfway point of the race and then took second and he pushed Klynsma to the finish but just couldn't produce a passing effort while settling for runner up honors. Connor VandeWeert started twelfth and would work his way up to third at the finish. 

Twenty five drivers started the Hobby Stock feature but it was Bo Lundquist that they all chased as he started on the outside pole and was the leader for the entire race. Zach Ankrum and Dillon Richards fought back and forth for second, with Richards finally securing the spot on lap six. After that, he chased Lundquist for the duration of the race but Bo neither made a mistake nor let Richards get close. The last half of this race ran off green to checkers and Lundquist maintained a comfortable lead as the top three kept their respective positions throughout the race. 

Jeffrey Larson made one of the most impressive drives of the day, only to have it all end with mechanical failure. While Josh Kelderman would take the early lead in the Stock Car feature, it took only five laps for Larson to move up from his eighth starting spot and challenge as he was picking off drivers with ease as he advanced to the front. 

On lap six, the lead was his as he pulled away from the field. As Larson continued to dominate, Elijah Zevenbergen, also charging hard, moved into second after starting twelfth as yellow flags allowed him to pick off drivers each time the race resumed. Zevenbergen grabbed the second spot but Larson still looked to be the star of the field. 

However, following a yellow on lap eleven for a spinning car, Larson, instead of pulling away from the pack again, went straight off the first turn when he suffered a right front suspension failure and was lucky to have avoided the wall and instead sailed into the shut off area. However, his effort for the day was done and he was removed to the pits by a wrecker and Zevenbergen then inherited the lead. 

Showing the speed that saw him work up to second, he then pulled away from the field to earn the victory. The battle for second was a good one with veteran Hans Houfek holding off Kelderman for the spot. What an unusual situation resulted from this finish. I doubt that anywhere in the country this year in the Stock Car class have two cars finished back to back in front sporting 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle sheet metal but that was the case here on Saturday. 

The Modifieds would wrap up the afternoon race and they ran clean to the checkers, twenty laps without a yellow flag. From the outside pole, it was Shane DeMey that took the lead as he sprinted out to a healthy early advantage. Working their way through the busy field were both Cody Thompson and Chris Abelson, coming from the third and fourth rows respectively. It took some time for them to work their way through but by the halfway point of the race, they had moved into second and third and started shortening up DeMey's lead. 

Shane, however, still looked to be in command until he caught a wad of slower cars and trying to get past them cost him dearly as he lost a considerable amount of time but still couldn't clear the four cars that were in front of him. 

Thompson smelled blood and he quickly closed on DeMey with Abelson close behind. Thompson caught DeMey, set him up perfectly and coming out of turn two with just less than two laps to go, pulled off a slide job to take over the lead. Thompson was then able to navigate through the traffic and pulled away on the final lap. Abelson used the same move to get past DeMey on the final lap and he would finish second with a frustrated DeMey having to settle for third. Fifteen of the seventeen starters will still racing when the checkers flew. 

The final checkers of the day flew right at 6 pm. Thanks to everyone at Park Jeff for a fine way to conclude the Midwestern racing season. Folks at Park Jeff and their fans must be going into the off season feeling mighty good about what 2025 will bring. With time yet this Fall to complete some of the landscaping work and finish off the new pit area etc., everyone must be really excited to see what 2025 holds in store for the track.  

Familiar Winners Top Harvest Hustle

 The 2024 outdoor racing season concluded on Saturday night, October 26th. While a goodly number of drivers were finishing out 2024 in Southeast Iowa at the Shiverfest in Donnellson, a packed pit area of racers from several states were on hand in Marshalltown as the Fast Shafts Harvest Hustle was concluded at the Marshalltown Speedway. 

Drivers in five IMCA divisions along with the Mod Lites ran off a series of heat races and Last Chance events to determine just who of the many competitors would get the opportunity to race in the main events. In the early afternoon, the kids had a chance to do some trick or treating in the expanded pit area that included all the field to the South of the regular pit area before the 4 pm start time for the scheduled heat races. 

It certainly can't be said that the drivers didn't get enough opportunities to make the various feature races. The top ten in each  class were locked in after the double heat races on Friday night with everyone else coming back to try again on Saturday. Heat races, lined up by points earned on Friday, would qualify some more cars for the main events and then everyone else that didn't get in by that method would still have one more chance as everyone could run the Last Chance race. Finally, the twenty four car fields were determined for each of the classes and it was time to do some feature racing. 

Some serious track prep work was done after the heat races were completed, the first time we had seen this all weekend but then, once that was completed, the track was never touched again after that. And as is the norm at Marshalltown, the racing surface would be wide, fast and smooth and as seems to be a trade mark here, drivers are racing three and four wide throughout the fields, no matter the class. 

We were wishing that the Last Chance races would have utilized the one spin rule that had been used for the earlier heats because these were the only races of the weekend that got a bit bogged down, with more yellow flags seen in these few races than the rest of the weekend put together. We kept our patience and eventually it was time to go feature racing. 

The main events would be marked by long periods of green flag racing with few yellow flags and the vast majority of the starters still around at the conclusion of their mains. Big crashes were not seen with the exception being a wild two car flip in the Hobby Stock feature but we'll get to that soon. 

The running order was consistent throughout the weekend and the Sport Mods would be always up first for their events, with their feature following that same pattern. All the feature races were loaded with talent and this race was no exception with some of the hottest drivers in this class starting right in the front two rows after having much success on Friday. In fact, the top three were tied in total points after two rounds of heat races on Friday with their starting order determined by the number that they drew for the heats. 

This put Logan Anderson on the pole and he would take the early lead with Brayton Carter quickly moving into second. The first few laps were very interesting as Carter tested different grooves to likely get Anderson moving around on the track while Carter figured out where his car worked the best. These two drivers have both had exceptional years and "head games" they were playing on each other early was fun to watch if you knew what to look for. 

It is clear that Carter has supreme confidence in his new car right now and he was like a shark, waiting for the proper moment to spring. On lap eleven he spotted his chance and he quickly moved past Anderson, who couldn't block him quick enough, to take over the lead. After that, the pack was left to chase him. He put some distance on Anderson who has having his issues with Tyler Nerud to hold on to second. Carter lapped a series of cars as this race continued under the green, only being stopped once with just four laps left in it. 

Carter got away clean on the one restart and drove away again, as he claimed the victory. The restart benefitted Nerud, who got past Anderson for second and would hold him off to claim that spot at the finish. Only one car in the starting field of twenty four failed to complete the contest. 

The Stock Car feature would see another dominant driver of this year, Dallon Murty, take the win. Murty caught a nice break on the opening lap when as he field pounded into turn one for the first time, pole starter Jim Horejsi pushed very badly up the track, bogging down the whole outside line. Murty, who started on the inside of row tow, said thanks and quickly drove into the lead, taking the point on lap one and never giving it away in the following twenty nine laps. That first lap scramble allowed Jimmy Gustin to quickly move into second after starting seventh and he did his best to track down Murty. 

A lap thirteen yellow when Jay Schmidt, having a good run slowed and triggered the caution. Murty continued to lead with Gustin and Jeff Mueller close behind. Jake McBurnie was up to fourth after starting twelfth and he continued to charge until a flat tire later would end his run. 

Up front though, it continued to be Murty showing the way as Gustin would get close, then lose a bit of ground in his attempt to challenge, but always it was Murty in the lead. The entire field was running fast and close and even though the final eighteen laps would go green, there was not a single car that Murty had to deal with in terms of slower running drivers. 

Dallon would extend the lead late and he would drive home for the win with Gustin and Mueller holding on to their spots the rest of the way. 

Trip Gaylord had a great season at Marshalltown, claiming the point title in the Modified class and after winning a pair of heats on Friday night, he would start on the pole for the forty lap finale. Murty started beside him in the front row as he looked for a double win but it was Gaylord that took the early lead. 

Murty, however, would struggle a bit as his car pushed up the track a few times and other drivers were able to scoot past him. Following a yellow when Austin Kuehl flew off the end of the track, Zach VanderBeek was able to move into second with Cody Laney grabbing third. 

The last twenty seven laps of this race would go green to checkers and for the only time all night, the track started to take some rubber and most of the drivers lined up in the top side lane with passing at a premium. VanderBeek was closing following Gaylord and would stick his nose inside the leader on occasion but each time Gaylord would cover the grove and continue up front. 

Right near the end of the race, just as the last few laps were being completed, Gaylord caught the back of the pack. We were expected perhaps an attempted slide job by VanderBeek with Gaylord trying to fend off the slower cars while staying in the preferred groove. However, VanderBeek chose to respect the leader and while he closely followed Gaylord right to the checkers, he didn't try any wild or crazy last lap moves. Laney, Tom Berry Jr and Murty completed the top five. 

One of two Nebraska feature winners would make a strong statement in the Hobby Stock feature. When Nathan Ballard has the lead, he generally is pretty tough to beat. And after he took the initial lead from the outside pole over Dylan Nelson, he seemed to be in pretty good shape to take the win. 

This race was the lone feature to get a bit bogged down with yellows as three plus a red flag would slow this contest. Adam Wasserman started fifth on the grid but quickly found his way up to third. He would battle through the first few laps with Nelson before claiming the second spot. 

Running in very heavy traffic, which it seemed was the norm for the Hobby Stocks all weekend, Bradly Graham was clipped by another car and as he slid toward the infield, he in turn clipped the car of Brandon Bombardo. Both cars then proceeded to flip wildly down the front chute, with Bombardo's spill particularly violent. Fortunately, both drivers were OK but both cars looked severely damaged but the crowd was just happy to see both drivers up and walking as they were checked out by promoter Jerry VanSickel. 

The restart found Ballard still in the lead but Wasserman was making his presence felt, as he moved right in on the leader. Wasserman tried several times to get under the leader and in fact, on two occasions he actually cleared the leader, only to find the yellow flag waving and his passes nixed. 

But as the laps ran down, he continued to press, nosing ahead out of turn two a few times and when he finally got the whole car past Ballard to take over the lead, he was greeted with the white flag being waved. He pulled away on the last lap to take the win over Ballard with John Watson claiming third. 

The black smooth track made the Sport Compacts lightning fast and they were literally using just about the entire track as they breathtakingly raced around the high banks. Another "Cornhusker" would claim victory as Dillon Richards, running this class this weekend, led the race from start to finish to claim victory. There was a swarm of cars chasing him and they were swapping spots often. This race was stopped only once for the yellow for a stalled car with team car Johnny Thomas running second at that point. 

While Richards continued to lead and pull away from the pack, it was Luke Fraise who put on the move, coming from fourth at the halfway point to pass Thomas and claim second. Thomas, Caine Mahlberg and Devin Jones finished off the top five. Remarkably, all twenty four cars that started the feature were still running at the finish with only a single car a lap behind. That's how competitively the entire field ran. 

It was amazing how hard the fields in all the features ran, with the position and lane swapping almost constant yet they did this without wrecking each other or even triggering yellow flags. Certainly the track conditions at Marshalltown make that just a bit easier to do with the track being very forgiving, that is except for the guard rail in turn three which looks just a bit scary from the grandstands as it appears that there just isn't room for all the cars to squeeze together and get down the back chute without incident but they did it time after time. 

It was a cool night in central Iowa but despite that a very nice sized crowd was on hand for the season finale. They saw a good show that was concluded just about 11 pm. I have been to Marshalltown multiple times this year and always get a great reception from the staff, led by J VAN himself. 

There was quite a bit of interesting talk in the pits before the races as teams were discussing 2025 rules for IMCA that would impact the Sport Mods and Modifieds specifically but not surprisingly, it depended who you were talking to whether or not they liked the proposed changes. Look for announcements on these changes in the coming days. In the meantime, thanks to all the Hawkeye tracks that I visited this year for showing me a good time.  Now if the football team will just lay a dud next Saturday, I would be even happier!

Preliminaries Competed For The Harvest Hustle

 The opening night of the Harvest Hustle at the Marshalltown Speedway produced a big field of race cars on Friday night, October 25th  that qualified for the main events in each class that will be held on Saturday night. 

Previously held earlier in the Fall, this final event of the 2024 racing season was pushed back this year to the last full weekend of October, pushing the racing season in the Hawkeye state just about as far as one would dare. It turned out to be a cool one on Friday night, after a week of very nice temperatures and a Northwesterly breeze that seems to follow me here to Marshalltown every time I'm here, didn't disappoint either, helping make a cool night just a bit more uncomfortable. 

There was a decent sized crowd on hand though, especially considering that there are many other Friday night events going on and it was just qualifying heats on the ticket for Friday. 

However, there were obviously still a lot of race drivers that wanted to get at least one more weekend of racing in the books before calling it a season as the pit area was swelled to the bursting point. Two hundred and ten race cars in the five IMCA classes that I score were in attendance and if so desired, you can add on the twenty four Mod Lites that also raced their heats, thus producing a gigantic field of cars. Drivers were on hand from a number of states as much of the racing activity in the Midwest is now completed for 2024. The largest field of cars was in the Hobby Stocks where fifty eight drivers signed in to race on Friday but there were enough cars on hand in all classes that at least four full heat races were needed for each class. 

Qualifying would be done different that at most events run this year. Each driver ran two heat races and the combination of the points earned in both races would determine where they would be lined up for Saturday. Drivers drew for starting positions in the first round of heats and then for the second round, they would get a totally different starting spot and running against different drivers. Points would be awarded for their finishing positions and they would also be deducted points for losing positions in their heat races, which is the fairest way of doing this, in my opinion. And the double heat races is an even fairer way of doing this, with the lone down side being the time it takes to run double heat races for well over two hundred cars. The one spin rule was also used which is a god send in moving the show along even if some drivers don't necessary like how it plays out for them and the black flag was used several times for over aggressive driving that caused other competitors to spin out. That was also met with mixed feelings on occasion. 

Logan Kelly, who flags at several North Iowa speedways, was brought in to do the flagging for this event and he worked in good accord with the Race Director to keep the show moving which was critical on a night with forty four heat races to be run, all of them packing an equal amount of importance to the drivers. 

The track itself sported a new look for this season ending race. A new triple high guardrail has been installed that starts half way down the back chute and runs through corner three with the drivers exiting the track in front of the guardrail off turn three and then heading to the pits. Apparently the neighbors next door at the construction company were growing tired of race cars visiting their site after flying off the track , so this was done to help them with liability probably as issue also. The blunt end of the wall is a bit of a concern and despite the fact that it was protected with some big ute tires, several times cars hit the tires while racing and then had to be re positioned with wreckers. And there still managed to be at least two cars that hit the big dirt piles next door after flying off turns one and two. 

Solid, consistent finishes were key to establishing a good point total to be used to start tomorrow's events and a bad finish or non finish in a heat would certainly put one behind the eight ball for Saturday. 

And there were some drivers that certainly stood out and with two heat races wins the ultimate prize on Friday, there were ten drivers able to accomplish that feat. In the Sport Compacts, both Dillon Richards and Devin Jones won both their heat races and with the top ten in overall points locked into Saturday night's feature, they should start right up front. 

The Hobby Stocks also had a pair of double heat winners with Nathan Ballard and Dylan Nelson each winning both of their heats. 

The Sport Mods had the most domination as even though they had just four heats per round, there were three drivers that won both their heats. They were Brayton Carter, Tyler Bannister and Logan Anderson. That should be quite the battle on Saturday night. 

The Stock Car heats had only one double winner and that was Minnesota driver Jim Horejsi. The Modifieds also had a pair of double winners in Tripp Gaylord and Dallon Murty. Everyone other than the top ten in points in each class must qualify on Saturday through either heats or B Features. 

Track officials did a great job of moving along the show on Friday  but it takes time to run off that many races. Once they dropped the first green flag, it was nonstop racing and they took no break after the first round but went right into round two. The track held up well and there were no breaks to pamper the surface once they started. It did throw a little dust the second round of racing and did dry out but the drivers still seemed to be able to find passing lines and were moving around on the track right up to the last events. The final checkers waved just at Midnight, after which those of us that stuck it out to the end headed for warmth as Mother Nature reminded us that we are living on borrowed warm weather that will soon turn. 

Doar Tops The List Of Winners At Ogilvie Topless Finale

 The fourteenth annual Topless Nationals concluded on Saturday night, October 19th at the Ogilvie Raceway. The program on Saturday would consist of eleven B Features to be followed by main events for the seven classes that were in competition this weekend. 

A few more entries showed up on Saturday night, most to run at the back of feature races that didn't have full fields of cars but several also that came, only to find themselves at the back of Jeff Broeg sized B Features where only a couple cars would move on to the mains. They had very tough sledding indeed. In total, two hundred and seventy five race cars competed here this weekend. 

Things got off to a surprising start on Saturday when some unexpected rain showers moved into an area where measurable rain hadn't been seen for almost a month. It came as a surprise to just about everyone and while it caused some grief, it wasn't enough to put a kabosh on the racing. 

The track was left hard after the Friday night show as that was easily rolled in but an hour of pretty steady rain made the pit area quite a muddy mess which was somewhat unfortunate that all the trick or treaters that hit the pits in the afternoon had to wade through some pretty mucky places. This has gotten to be quite the tradition at this event as anyone that wants to trick or treat is allowed in the pits for a ninety minute period where they go car to car and collect candy, autographs and pictures. Virtually every car has candy and decorations out for the kids with some of the drivers even in costume. The kids come in costume also and it makes for quite the sight and a grand way to wrap up the racing season. It has become a really big deal and even for yours truly, not in mask anymore than normal, still walks out of the pits about ten pounds heavier from all the chocolate that I eat. I didn't hear who won the contest for best decorated race car but there were a number of really strong entries as I  can't believe the ends some of the teams go to make their cars unique looking. 

While most the teams were participating in the trick or treat, the Late Model team of Josh Zimpel was busy replacing a motor in their car. They had finished a strong second in their heat on Friday night but blew the motor just at the finish line. They refused to give up such a good starting spot however, and changed motors with the other Zimpel entry that had crashed on Friday night. They use 525 crate motors in their cars and report that the motor that blew had one hundred and sixteen shows on it so they felt like they had more than gotten their quota from that motor which was still running very competitively when it blew. 

Unfortunately though, while running in fourth spot in the Late Model main on lap twenty five, Josh would hammer the turn one wall and now they have both a car and a motor to fix. 

The Last Chance races were just that as they were marked by some very hard racing and several wild crashes that saw a Limited Modified up side down and a Street Stock hit the wall so hard that the entire rear stub was launched free from the car. However, no injuries were reported and reflected by the way that many drove, they reasoned that they had all Winter to fix anything they wrecked!

The Super Stock feature would be first to the grid for feature racing and this would be the Dexton Koch show. Soon to be crowned as the WISSOTA National Champion in this class, Koch completed what has been a career best season. He started on the outside pole and led all twenty five laps to take the win. He immediately opened up a nice sized lead and would maintain that pace through the whole race. His win on Saturday would be his twenty eighth feature win of the year. For a number of years, he has been very successful in this class but always seemed to end up second best to Shane Sabraski who has dominated this class for years. Sabraski opted to focus in his Late Model program this year and with only limited appearances in the Super, Koch used this opening to surge through as the best in the class. Dan Nissalke would finish second with Ryan Kostreba third. There would be only two yellows in this event and only a few cars that didn't finish it. 

The Limited Modified feature was a hot mess with more yellows than perhaps the rest of the night combined. Jason VandeKamp would start on the pole and lead all twenty five laps but the race was slowed eight times by yellow flags with many being of the multi car variety. While VandeKamp dominated, there was some good racing for second with Jesse Brekke and Blake Adams trading that position back and forth several times until Adams suddenly pulled off the track. 

Late in the race, David Swearingen, who had started thirteenth on the grid, charged up and took over the second spot. Brekke, the crop duster pilot from North Dakota that only gets to race in the Fall and Winter when his business doesn't have him airborne constantly, came home third. 

There were three different leaders in the Late Model feature but in the end, it was Pat Doar that won once again at Ogilvie. Doar, who has an amazing streak of success at this track, didn't let the fact that he was starting seventh in the race bother him. He gradually worked his way to the front and was up to second by the halfway point. Sabraski had taken the early lead but Shane Edginton, all the way down from Winnipeg and back using his own number for this race, slipped under Sabraski on lap five to take over the lead. 

Doar continued to press and one lap past the halfway point, he moved past Edginton to take over the lead. Near the end of the race, Doar got himself in some heavy traffic and Edginton closed back in on him, but Pat would hang on by a couple car lengths for the win. Blake Boelens, a rookie in this class with less than a half years experience, would drive a hard race up against the outside wall and move up to fifth at the finish behind Ryan Mikkelson with two rookie drivers in the top five finishing positions as WISSOTA currently has an exceptional crop of young drivers moving into the class. 

I don't know what management at Ogilvie has against their Street Stock drivers but for the last two years they have allowed the Stock Cars to  run with the Streets at this event and for the second straight year, Tim Johnson has shown that this is not a fair situation. If you were a Street Stock driver and your home track put you at a disadvantage for a special event, wouldn't you be upset? But they have done this now for two straight years, all in the name apparently for seven Stock Cars that entered the show. 

Andrew Hanson started on the pole and led the first fourteen laps of the main event. In fact, he had built up nearly a full straightaway lead over the pack as Johnson, one of the Stock Car drivers, had a tough time moving forward after he started ninth. Just before the lap fourteen yellow waved, he had finally grabbed second and this yellow was his saving grace. 

When the green flew, he simply gassed his car and with the additional horsepower the Stock Cars have, he simply drove right around Hanson to take the lead with nothing Hanson could do about it. On the final lap, Kaden Woodie, in one of the other Stock Cars, also got past Hanson for second. 

Johnson, who also has a Street Stock and Super Stock as well as his Stock Car, is a very accomplished driver and it is no surprise when he wins a feature race in one of several classes he races in. However, with the choice of having both cars available, he is no fool and selected the Stock Car as his choice for the weekend, which paid off for him. If management wants to run Stock Cars, fine with me but it is totally unfair to run them with the Street Stocks heads up. They are two distinct beasts. 

Clayton Wagamon, of the Wagamon family that owns Ogilvie, led from start to finish to take the Modified feature race. He started on the outside pole and got the early jump on Dave Cain. Cain would not give up though, and after losing some distance, he gradually used the high side to close in on Wagamon who for some reason, had moved down the track. In fact, Cain was just about ready to blow past Clayton on the outside when Wagamon figured out what was what and he moved back to the cushion which shut off Cain's passing lane. 

After that, Wagamon gradually pulled away to build up a comfortable lead which he held to the finish. Joseph Thomas and Sabraski would get past Don Eischens on the last corner when Eischens went for broke with a slider hoping for the win but it cost him two spots in the gamble. 

Perhaps the best drive of the night was put on by Tommy Bawden who made a thrilling last lap pass for the win in the Mod Four class. Blake Hawker led for a lap until Bob Holtquist passed him for the top spot. Bob then battled with his son Dustin before the kid passed him on lap four. 

The two Holtquist's then began to pull away from the field over a long stretch of green flag racing. Bawden moved up right against the outside wall and seemed to be "flat footing" it around the Ogilvie oval and he started to close in on the two leaders. He got past Bob for second and then closed up on Dustin, making up a considerable amount of real estate in the last five laps. 

As they came around the corner for the white flag, Bawden went screaming by on the outside in a very daring pass that probably surprised Holtquist. Dustin tried to fight back on the final lap but Bawden had the momentum and blazed home for the win. 

Justin Schelitzche will soon be crowned the WISSOTA National Champion in the Hornet class for the second straight year. So when he drew the pole, it was no surprise that he would drive on for the win. However, the difficulty he had was a bit surprising as Jenna Hagemann gave him everything he could handle. 

They did start side by side with Justin taking the early lead. However, Jenna was not giving up and caught back up after he had built a small lead. When he slid off the bottom on lap seven, Jenna dove inside of him and took over the lead. They raced in tight formation with Jenna continuing to hold the lead until on lap fourteen, Schelitzche got past here once again and while she remained nailed to his rear bumper, she could not perform the magic once again and would have to settle for second as Justin drove home for the win. Matt Dittman would finish third. 

Unlike the great racing weather that the Midwest has enjoyed for the last few weeks, it felt more like mid October on Saturday with damp conditions, wind in the face and cooler temperatures. There was even a fog scare the last couple races but it held off enough that they were able to complete the show. However, despite the less than perfect night, the grandstands were packed as this event has established an identity of its old in recent years. 

Thanks to the Wagamon family and promoter Nate Fischer for his help this weekend. It was another successful season for "The Big O" and it will be interesting to see what their schedule looks like for 2025. 

Topless Kicks Off at Ogilvie

 The last racing event of the 2024 season in the state of Minnesota  began on Friday night, October 18th at the Wagamon family owned Ogilvie Raceway near Ogilvie Minnesota. 

The fourteenth annual Topless Nationals began on a whim years ago, with the racing season completed in this area but nice  weather still in the offing, It was suggested to have a fun weekend at Ogilvie with one more race, non sanctioned with drivers from the three major bodies that have a presence in Minnesota all allowed to race, and for fun, let's take the roofs off the cars. 

What began as a small event for fun has grown over the years until the present when it is looked upon eagerly by both drivers and fans as a great way to wrap up the racing season. This race now produces probably the eclectic field of cars all year as WISSOTA competitors mix it up with USRA and IMCA drivers plus with it being non sanctioned and no driver's license to purchase, drivers race in classes they normally wouldn't plus a number of drivers make debuts in different classes and a few newly purchased or brand new race cars make their debuts at this race. 

This race has also turned into a gigantic promotion for Breast Cancer awareness month which is in October. A local group runs the 50/50 drawing for this weekend and also has other means of raising both awareness and money for this group. The track goes along with this theme, painting all the walls that surround the race track in pink plus all the infield ute tires and everything else that can be painted, is pink for this weekend. 

Halloween is the other theme for this weekend with Trick or Treating in the pits before the show on Saturday a gigantic attraction. There are also costume contests for kids and adults and prizes for best decorated race cars. You would not believe just how many racers decorate the roll cages(now visible because there are no roofs) and other parts of the race cars with lights, skulls, skeletons and other things that really give the cars and show a once a year type of theme. There are now so many that do this that judging is a monumental task. There is also a live band after the races on Friday night in the pits. 

But let's not forget, there is also plenty of hard racing going on with seven classes in action. The heat races are contested on Friday night with the B Features and main events on Saturday. The reason there is only one show over the two days is the large car count on hand. This year two hundred and sixty seven drivers from four states and two Canadian provinces signed in to race. While that is a huge number, it actually was twenty cars smaller than last year's turnout, a bit surprising given the fantastic racing weather that he have been receiving here in the upper Midwest. 

Basic rules are run this weekend so as to allow drivers from different sanctioning bodies the chance to also race at this WISSOTA sanctioned track. Late Model run under WISSOTA rules, Modifieds under whatever rules the driver declares with Modifieds from all three bodies on hand. The Limited Mod class is a combination of Midwest Mods, B Mods and IMCA Sport Mods, all running together under their home rules. The Super Stocks and Mod Fours run under WISSOTA rules while the Hornets run under home body rules. They, by the way, are the only class required to keep their roofs on due to  the structural effect roofs have on the small cars. All other classes are required to remove their roofs for this race. 

The Street Stocks are probably the class that has the most integration of all seven. Street Stocks run under WISSOTA rules but the Stock Cars of IMCA and USRA are also allowed to race. This year the Stock Cars are required to run a two barrel carb and are maxed out at 6400 rpm on their chip box as it has been found that the Stock Cars are just a bit more powerful than the Streets and it isn't really fair to handicap the class that runs weekly at your track and put the drivers that support you all year at a disadvantage. There were seven Stock Cars that ran with the Street Stocks with three making the show during heat races and one, Kaden Woodie, winning a heat race. Woodie, by the way, has both IMCA and WISSOTA cars that he races at various events. 

The most impressive thing to me about opening night of this event was the huge turnout of Canadian drivers that were in attendance, far more than were ever seen for this event previously. In total, there were twenty seven drivers on hand from the province of Ontario plus another nine from the province of Manitoba. 

Most of the Ontario drivers were from the Thunder Bay area and it is twenty hundred and ninety two miles, mostly on two lane highways, from Thunder Bay to Ogilvie. The fact that many drivers made that trek this weekend is unbelievable. They had drivers all the way from Late Models to Hornets on hand to race this weekend and they took up a large segment of the pit area. 

It is even farther to Winnipeg Manitoba where most of the Manitoba drivers were from, four hundred and three three miles to be exact, yet there were also nine racers from there that pulled down to race. I've always said that Canadian racers and fans were among the most passionate for their sport of any I've ever known and this is just another example of that. Visit Thunder City Speedway in Thunder Bay some time to find the most rapid fans in the sport. 

One odd factor about his program this weekend was that they reverted to using the old draw/redraw form of lining up the races. This is the first draw/redraw program I have been to since Labor Day weekend with passing points being used for all the specials that have been run, a much fairer way of determining who makes the features than using a draw when there are so many race cars on hand. 

Back in the flag stand to work his last weekend was Brian Reidemann. Brian is a veteran flag man in this area, having worked at a number of tracks over the years. He has also worked as a Race Director and done more than his share of track prep over the years. Ogilvie has been breaking in a new flag man over the course of this Summer but since Brian is retiring, he was in the stand for his last weekend. He is retiring from both tracks he works at and he told be that he will joining the WISSOTA organization is some capacity next year. 

The program on Friday night would consist of heat races, set up by the draw, in all seven classes. Twenty nine heat races would be held, with a certain number, depending on class, qualifying for the main events on Saturday night. A number of B Features will then set the rest of the running order for the seven features. 

Racing began just after 7 pm on Friday night with all qualifying complete before 11 pm at which point the music fired up until the wee hours, I would guess since I wasn't there to turn out the lights. For the first time in nearly a month, there was one light shower that blew over the track just as the Street Stocks were ready to begin, but with all cars called to the track to help roll it in when the light rain/mist quit, the delay was no more than fifteen minutes. 

A good crowd was on hand Friday night, despite high school football in the area and the number of campers was large indeed with folks coming from far and near for their last racing adventure of 2024.  

A Review of the ASCS and Tri- State Late Models at Spencer

 After a ton of various things conspired to keep from reporting on this event more promptly, it was still necessary and appropriate that the ASCS National Sprint Car Series and the Tri-State Late Model Series get their due after their appearance on Tuesday night, September 10th at the Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer Iowa. 

The biggest and best county fair in Iowa and perhaps even farther was in full swing on Tuesday. This Fairgrounds is gigantic compared to most county fairgrounds and in fact, I have been to at least two state fairs that would not even compare to this fair. 

It was a warm and windy day for September but the track prep crew did a good job of getting moisture into the racing surface and the wind was self cleaning in that any dust produced flew across the road and not into the grandstand. 

Along with the ASCS Sprints and the finale for the Tri-State Late Models, Sport Mods and Stock Cars would also be running as a prelude to their big final event of 2024 to be contested on Wednesday night. 

A very good field of Sprint Cars was on hand with thirty four signing in to race. The to thirteen in the current point standings would be on hand racing and the field was benefitted by a nice turnout of cars that race at Jackson and Huset along with even a couple 305 Sprints. 

The Tri-State Series field was not quite as strong. They race most of their races in South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota and rather than professional racers as many of the Sprint Racers are, a Tuesday night show for forty hour a week racers on the side many miles from home is much tougher and this was their final point race of the year with leader Blair Nothdurft so far in front he may not have to even be here, but he was. The field was fortified by several new Late Model drivers from north Iowa who are new to the class, having driven until recently in other classes like the Palsroks, Eric Faber, Dyllan Ricks Cory Bosma and Luke Sathoff. 

There would be twenty one Stock Cars and sixteen Sport Mods also a part of the racing action. I was just a bit hesitant about a four division program on a Tuesday night and I would prove to be correct, but only to a point. 

There was quite a difference in style between the two premier classes with the ASCS having a full field of staffers to run the show and announce their program with support trucks etc. while the Tri-State group had just a couple staffers with both the pre race and post race publicity considerably different. 

Both groups qualify their groups for racing action so we were treated to not just one but two sets of time trials. Aaron Reutzel was the quick qualifier for the Sprints at 14.039 seconds while Tad Pospisil was quick in the Late Models at 16.472. A difference in philosophy would see the Late Models straight up for their heats while the Sprints inverted four but then took four for the main. Only the Sprints would need a Last Chance race and once that was completed, they moved right into the Stock Car feature which was the first main. 

Kelly Shryock started on the outside pole for the Stock Car main and took the initial lead. After a lap two spin, this race would go green to checkers with Shryock maintaining the lead for several laps until he was passed by Jake Masters. 

However, Colby Fett was really flying and he closed in on both leaders and one lap past the halfway point, he drove into the lead and he would never be challenged after that point. Masters would finish second with Shryock holding on for third. 

Hank Davis took the initial lead in the ASCS feature after starting on the pole after Sam Hafertepe Jr slid up briefly over the banking in turn two but fighting his way back to the track without losing significant time. Reutzel was on the move as he took over second and began to put the heat on Davis. a yellow for a stalled car slowed the action on lap seven. 

The restart was interesting with Davis and Reutzel sharing slide jobs on each other with Reutzel's giving him the lead. Hafertepe then rejoined the top two battling for the lead and as Reutzel put a little distance on them, Hafertepe and Davis went at it for second. The leaders began to battle through traffic as the number of green flag laps increased with Reutzel advancing a little during this time. 

A potential battle at the end was snuffed when Hafertepe suffered a flat tire with just two laps to go and stalled on the track. There was no challenge for Reutzel the last two laps as he drove home for the win over Davis. Seth Bergman, in a tight point battle with Hafertepe, benefitted from that flat tire as he drove to a conservative third but was most helpful with Hafertepe's late issues. Nineteen of the twenty five starters were still on the track at the end. 

A late yellow provided a stunning change in the Late Model feature where Tad Pospisil had led from the drop of the green flag. He had pulled away from the field, running the low line that most were using as the Sprints had polished up the track. For much of the race, Justin Zeitner and Shane DeMey had battled for second with DeMey running the low side and Zeitner slamming off the cushion where ever he could find it and managing to hold on to second but not really gaining on Pospisil who was the better part of a straightaway ahead. 

However, when DeMey spun with just two laps to go, the field was bunched and when Pospisil had a terrible restart and missed his line totally, Zeitner took advantage with a "Hail Mary" move into corner one that saw him take over the lead. 

As Zeitner started to pull away, things went from bad to worse for Pospisil who suddenly was challenged for second by Corey Zeitner. As Justin pulled away for the win. Pospisil continued to struggle and Corey would pass him for second. Ricks and Chase Alves completed the top five with fifteen of seventeen starters taking the checkers. 

Sport Mods wrapped up the evening with Jared Boumeester taking the initial lead in what would be a nonstop main. Boumeester led a few laps but couldn't hold off the speeding Jake Sachau who drove by him and started to pull away. 

By the halfway point of the race, Matthew Looft had moved up from ninth to move into the second spot and the final eight laps would see the two outstanding drivers in this class race for the win. On this night, Sachau had a good line and a fast race car and despite trying his best, Looft was not able to close up on the leader and Sachau drove home for the win by a comfortable margin. Justin Klynsma would round out the top three. 

Once they dropped the first green flag, it was a tightly run program that would last for just under three hours. However, because the time trails took some time, the first race didn't see the green until almost 8 pm. Oh well, it was Fair time and no one was worried about the time anyway, right? Except perhaps those race fans that had to go to work on Wednesday before coming back for the second night show. 

As usual, thanks go out to Trent Chinn and the folks from Chinn Racing Promotions who always treat me right. But as is also usual, because Trent does much watering on race night, he is a hard person to connect to so his plans and the plans for Clay County for 2025 will have to wait for another day. 

Ward Wins Challenge Series Finale at Park Jeff; Brands Tops Green Stock Car Tribute

 It was a very special Monday night of racing on August 19th at the Park Jefferson International Speedway in North Jefferson South Dakota. With midweek special events soon to be history with school starting or already having started for some, this night would be the wrap up event for the Farley's Modified Summer Challenge Series as well as the Don Green Stock Car Spectacular. Fifteen hundred dollars was on the line for the Modified feature winner and a grand for the Stock Cars. The Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts would also be racing with all three having extra money on the line for the winners. 

It was about as perfect a night for racing as one could ever imagine as far as the temperature was concerned. The only draw back, as such, was that the breeze was just a bit out of the Northeast, giving us a sample of the track as a bit of dust was flying. It wasn't near enough to be uncomfortable and a small price to pay if that was what they needed to do in preparing a race track where drivers could run all over it and race side by side, which was exactly what we saw. 

Representing the Farley's Mod Tour and functioning as Race Directors for the Mods was the tandem of Mike VanGenderen and Trent Chinn. VanGenderen is in the midst of a month long break before his services will be needed again at Bloomfield and Independence along with another trip to Batesville Arkansas. 

Chinn still has a few races left on his plate also with Season Championships this coming Wednesday at Alta and then the great Clay County Fair in Spencer. But on Monday there were kind of on a busman's holiday, having to worry about just one class and none of the track prep. This was the first chance I had to talk to Trent since the 500 year flood in Spencer and he reported that about half his house was damaged on the lower level by floodwaters and that many of the businesses South of the river in Spencer still haven't reopened and that some may never reopen as the face of the town has been changed forever by the flood. He said it's pretty tough to look at right now with some of the long term damage still not having been addressed as yet. 

Over eighty cars signed in to race on Monday with multiple heats for all classes with the Stock Cars and Modifieds having the largest number, which makes sense since they were also racing for the most money. 

The first part of the program was almost flawless as they dropped the first green flag right at the advertised time with the twelve heat races being stopped just three times by the yellow flag, making it a quick first half of the racing. The Modifieds were using passing points on Monday while the other four IMCA classes were using the draw/redraw plan. 

Things didn't go quite as smoothly in the five main events with a couple of them having their share of issues but the two biggest events on the card did go very smoothly. And most importantly, all mains with the possible exception of the Sport Compact finale came right down to the wire. 

The Modifieds certainly didn't let anyone down as they put on a fine feature race to close out the night. Twenty cars started the main event and all but one finished the race and most importantly, they ran green to checkers at a thirty lap distance without a single yellow flag. 

It seemed the for most of the features, the top side seemed to be the preferred line for the start and it was again in the Mods as Cody Laney grabbed an early lead using that top side. However, Joel Rust, who started inside Laney, then picked up some speed on the low side and drove into the lead just one lap later. Rust would then hold the top spot for the next twenty laps, at one point opening up quite a comfortable lead that was gradually eaten into. 

Cody Thompson, Kyle Brown Bob Moore fought for the next spots but the driver really on the move was Tim Ward. He had started eighth on the grid and while most of the drivers were rim riding, Ward chose to work the low side and it eventually paid dividends for him. By the halfway point of the race, Ward was up to second as Rust was now forced to move all over the track to pass the slower cars. A great battle for third saw Thompson and Brown joined by Chris Abelsen who had really picked up the pace. 

Ward continued to gain chunks of territory as he continued to work the bottom and on lap twenty two, he was able to drive under Rust and take over the lead. Rust did fight back and keep it close but in the last few laps, Ward started to pull away. At this point, Rust was more worried about protecting second as Abelson had finally gotten past Thompson for third and was reeling in the leaders at a remarkable pace. He caught Rust on the final lap but Joel managed to hold him off but it was a good thing that the race was not any longer as Abelson was clearly the fastest driver on the track at the end. 

As for Ward, he used most of the track to find success and he drove home for the win, having lapped eight cars with only eleven on the lead lap at the finish. 

The Green Stock Car Tribute race was also a nail biter with Austin Brands holding off some severe challenges to take the win. The Stock did a good job of racing too, with only two yellow flags to slow their race and both of them coming in the first four laps. 

Greg Peck took the early lead which he would hold for the first three laps. Brands made great strides early, coming from seventh on the grid to drive past Peck and take the lead on lap three. Brian Seibold and Sid Mosher were battling with Peck for second following that lap four yellow while Brands started pulling away from the pack. 

The "One Thousand Pound Gorilla in the Room" and the driver that everyone keeps an eye on, Mike Nichols was also on the move. Nichols started way back in tenth but by the halfway point of the race, he moved up to second and as the laps started to wind down, Nichols kept shortening up the gap on Brands. Austin changed up his line a few times to protect the low groove on turns three and four and that might have saved him as this cut an open path for Nichols. 

Nichols would keep the pressure up but Brands would not falter and he drove across the line as the winner over Nichols and Jackson Mulder. 

The Sport Mods had a difficult time keeping their machines pointed in the proper direction and the yellow got quite a work out, waving five times during their sixteen lap main. Jonah Chinn had started on the pole and maintained the lead through all the yellows. By the halfway point of the race though, he was under the gun as Willy Kirk was putting much heat on him for the top spot and then Justin Klynsma also working his way forward after starting in the fifth row. 

In fact, the lap fourteen yellow saved Chinn's hide as Klynsma had made the pass for the lead but was not able to hold that spot for a full lap before the yellow waved again and Chinn was restored to the lead. 

There were only two laps left in the race but Chinn had both Klynsma and Kirk to worry about. He chose to work the top side which blocked Klynsma but it also left the inside line open and as they raced to the white flag, Kirk was able to drive into the lead and then extend it on the final lap to claim the win. Chinn was able to hold off Klynsma for second. 

Paul Dagel started on the pole for the Hobby Stock feature and despite tons of pressure on him by a variety of drivers, he managed to hold the lead for the first four laps and through the first four yellows as a variety of issues slowed this race. Cory Probst started tenth on the grid but using lots of speed combined with the bunching field due to the yellows, he was able to drive past Dagel  on lap five and take over the top spot. 

After that, all eyes were on Kaylb Brunssen as he made a monumental charge through the field after he started twelfth in he feature. By the halfway point of the race, he was up to fourth and he just kept right on charging with the later yellows helping his cause. By the time the final yellow waved on lap ten, he was up to second and knocking on the rear bumper of Probst and one lap later he was able to make the pass to take over the lead. 

Probst didn't give up however, and he pulled back beside the leader as they raced off turn two. The two touched at least twice down the back chute and on the second incident, Probst lost control and went sliding off the third turn. He chose to keep racing however, and the yellow flag was not displayed. Brunssen continued on to drive home the winner and the late scrambling allowed Dagel to regain second at the line ahead of Tyler Smith while a no doubt deflated Probst finished ninth. 

One of the larger fields of Sport Compacts that I have seen of late, fourteen, took the green flag for their main event and after one faltered attempt, the race then would go nonstop for twelve laps. 

Mike Vogt started on the pole and it would be Mike Vogt that would lead all laps and take the win. He was never seriously challenged during the race and hold hold a narrow but consistent lead over Tyler Thompson to take the win. Johnny Thomas came home third followed by Anthony Clark who had to come from the back after he missed his heat race. 

An interesting comment was made by track owner Wayne Becker when asked by a fan while Wayne happened to have the microphone in his hand. When asked, he replied that racing would likely take place on Friday nights in 2025 which is a change since they have been racing the majority of their events on Thursday nights this year. 

Thanks to everyone at Park Jeff and special thanks for their help and understanding to the best ladies in the business at their job, Amy and Raegan.