Thursday night, October 1st, the seventh annual Summit USRA Nationals started their three night run at the historic Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City Iowa. With three full nights of racing and three complete programs, this event was the only race program in the country offering USRA points this weekend plus drivers would be racing for some healthy bonuses, based on the number of starts they had made with the organization this year.
Four classes of cars would be racing on Thursday night with the Modifieds, Stock Cars, B Mods and Hobby Stocks all running in complete programs with the Tuners joining the event for both Friday and Saturday night program when the biggest money would be handed out. Drivers would earn points from both the Thursday night and Friday night programs that would determine the starting order for Saturday night's finales as well as racing for money each night also.
The biggest news I heard before the show started was somewhat stunning to me but since it came right from the mouth of USRA executive Ryne Staley, I would certainly take it to be the truth. He told me that following the racing season here at Hamilton County that the historic half mile will be shortened with the number one and two turns being pulled in. The exact new dimensions I did not get from him but I took it to be significant enough as to change the way the track is raced. Already part of the back chute wall has been removed and the area off turns one and two will likely be added pit space next year as they will be losing some of the infield pit parking with the change. I did not ask the reason for the change but it seems likely that it will be done in an effort to improve the closeness of the racing plus many drivers just don't like the big tracks anymore as they are so much harder on the racing equipment, specifically the motors. Anyway, the track will still be historic but just not a half mile after this year. This decision must have just happened as I had heard nothing of it and news of it certainly would have generated some comment, both pro and con, in this currently explosive world in which we live.
Good fields of cars were on hand in all four classes and B Features were required for all but the Modifieds. Since there was a practice night held on Wednesday night, no hot laps were run on Thursday which allowed them to start the program right on time. And it was an early start with the first green dropped just after 6 pm. It was a cool night and the goal was to move the show along at a rapid pace and beat the worst of the cool weather. And it was indeed a rapid pace as the whole program rolled along at breakneck speed and the drivers had to be on their toes as there was no waiting from race to race but instead nonstop racing action.
Drivers from northeast Iowa and the Sioux Falls area dominating the entries as these are both strong areas for USRA racing with several sanctioned tracks and lots of competitors. Several other drivers made long tows chasing the national point standings with a number from Missouri and Kansas and also several from Texas, Oklahoma and the New Mexico area. Nine of the top ten in national points were on hand in all classes except the Mods where only half the top ten were on hand.
I spoke to a member of the Gallardo Racing Team who told me that it has been a tough year for them, having to chase all over to find races to run at with their super facility at Vado still shut down and they told me they weren't expecting to see any racing there now until possibly 2021. Jake Gallardo is also high in the national points so this journey to Iowa was necessary. With an open week, Rodney Sanders was also on hand along with Joe Duvall and Clyde Dunn Jr.
Passing points, a USRA staple, were used to set the fields for the four feature races with those not making the grade through their heats forced to run one of two B Features to make their way into the main events. So twenty four car fields would be the norm for the main events.
Hobby Stocks would be up first and current national point leader Dustin Gulbranson would add to his totals with a resounding win. Tyler Schlumbohm would be the early leader with Chris Hovden and Gulbranson moving in to challenge. Schlumbohm would lead the first half of the race with Hovden particularly challenging him as Gulbranson moved up from his sixth starting spot.
A yellow flag bunched the field and Gulbranson made a great move back under green as he slid up in front of Schlumbohm and took over the top spot which he would then maintain the rest of the race. The battle for second would remain a good one with Schlumbohm holding off Hovden for the spot. For Gulbranson it was his twenty third feature win of 2020.
The B Mod feature provided heart break for Dan Hovden as he would lead nineteen and three quarter laps, only to be overtaken coming out of corner four on the last lap by Kris Jackson for the win. Hovden started on the pole and was the leader all the way until the final corner but he was challenged all the way by Jake Richards and Jackson. With Hovden several car lengths in front, the other two would be swapping that spot back and forth several times before the outcome was decided.
In fact, the racers were on their last lap with Hovden in front when the yellow was triggered by a spin and the last two laps of the race would have to be tried once again. Jackson has actually slipped back to third but on the final green, he powered past Richards and then closed on Hovden. Dan/s car seemed to be sliding out farther on the track then earlier and he was losing valuable time in the turns as Jackson creeped up on him. Going through the final turn, Hovden got very high and lost some time and Jackson ducked under him, and out raced him to the line to get the stunning win and a very surprising late turn of events. Hovden would have to settle for second.
Miles Michehl is probably not known very well outside of central Iowa but the Stock Car driver showed he had what it took as he led all twenty laps to win the fender class main event. He started on the outside of row one and powered away on the start with Kyle Falck and Mitch Hovden chasing him. However, no matter what the chasers tried, they couldn't cut into the lead that Michehl built up as he powered off the high side of the track and was very fast down the chutes.
Only a couple yellows slowed the action and each time back under green Michehl would again pull away. The followers tried, but they had nothing for the leader who drove home for an uncontested win.
Schott was strong on the bottom and he moved up from row two to be scored the leader on the opening lap of the Modified feature and he proceeded to control the rest of the contest. He was flying and built up a sizable lead as the Gallardos and Jacob Bleess chases him.
Rodney Sanders would slowly press his advantage as he drove up from the seventh spot and would eventually move into third. A late yellow wiped out Schott's big lead but the two lap sprint to the finish would see him pull away once again while Sanders would move up to second at the end but was not in a position to challenge for the win. Jake Gallardo would settle for third.
There would be no sneaking by on the rules this weekend clearly as four drivers got the big DQ Thursday but all four were in heat races so that they could still make changes and race the rest of the program.
I believe the track was in perhaps the best shape I had seen here in quite some time as it held moisture and provided a multi lane racing situation with drivers certainly using the whole track successfully. With the early start time and a great job of ramming through the program without delays, the final checkered flag waved right at 10 pm which was appreciated by all on this chilly Fall night. There was good racing across the board and the final two nights would hold much promise that this would continue.
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