Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Gustin Wins Exciting "Hogan Memorial" Modified Feature

Vinton, IA (Sunday, July 3, 2016) - Sunday was not my first ever visit to the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa, but it was my first time taking in the Hogan Memorial. Which was the 22nd Annual event, that featured racing in the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Micro Mods.

It was great to see the racers and fans come out on the holiday weekend to support the hard work the Hogan family does to put on this event. They went out and got many sponsors to step up to help put extra money on the line, without requiring the drivers to pay an entry fee. All of their efforts paid off with 133 drivers signed in for competition on the night, in front of a standing room only crowd. After the 21 qualifying races were complete, it was time to move into the feature events.

The standing room only crowd showed up on Sunday, July 3rd at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa to support the "22nd Annual Hogan Memorial".

The first feature to take to the track was the 12 lap Micro Mods, with Josh Havlik and Cole McNeal leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But it was sixth place starter Don Erger who shot to the front to lead lap 1 over McNeal and Havlik. While Erger set a fast pace out front, the remaining drivers battled for positions behind him. With no caution to slow the pace, Erger would cruise to an easy win. McNeal was 2nd, Havlik was 3rd, Matt Post came from 7th to finish 4th, with Scott Beaty rounding out the top 5.
Don Erger cruised to an easy win in the Micro Mod feature on Sunday, July 3rd at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, IA. Which was also part of the "22nd Annual Hogan Memorial".

Up next was the 14 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Benji Irvine and Dustin Graham drawing the front row. Just as the green flag was dropped, the caution light would come on. As Kyle Dulin, who started 3rd, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Irvine grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Nathan Ballard and Bill Bonnett. After the completion of lap 2 another caution came out, as David Simpson spun in turn 3 and collected Chad Siems to bring out the yellow. Irvine moved back out front on the restart, with Ballard and Leah Wroten, who started 9th, close behind. Ballard would look under Irvine over the next 5 laps, until the final caution of the race appeared on lap 8 to slow the action. This time August Bach spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Irvine moved back out front, with Ballard and Bonnett, who over took Wroten for third, glued to his back bumper. Once again Ballard tried to work under Irvine for the top spot over the final 5 laps. But Irvine would hold him off to pick up the win and the $750 top prize to go with it. Ballard settled for 2nd, Bonnett was 3rd, Wroten was 4th, with Justin Wacha passing 15 cars from his 20th place starting spot to finish 5th.
The IMCA Hobby Stock portion of the "22nd Annual Hogan Memorial" at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa on Sunday, July 3rd was won by Benji Irvine.

Ben Chapman and Cory Pestotnik drew the front row for the 18 lap IMCA SportMod feature. But just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as Pestotnik spun in turn 2 and collected Kurt Hogan to bring out the yellow. On the restart Chapman jumped out into the lead over Matt Petrzelka and Taylor Musselman. Petrzelka would use the topside momentum off turn 4 to take the top spot away from Chapman on lap 2. Only to have Chapman come back on the bottom to regain the lead on lap 6. While Chapman and Petrzelka battled for the lead, Tony Olson, who started 12th, worked his way into third on lap 7. The action up front was slowed on lap 8, when Andy Edwards clipped a tire in turn 4 and spun to bring out the yellow.  Chapman grabbed the lead on the restart, with Petrzelka working to hold off Olson for the runner up spot. On lap 12 smoke started to appear from Chapman's engine compartment. Then on lap 14 the final caution of the event appeared, as Kyle Bentley stopped in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Chapman moved back out front. with Olson over taking Petrzelka for second. Coming to the white flag the smoke on Chapman's car got heavier, as Olson was working to get under him. But Chapman would hold on to claim the win and the $1,000 top prize. Olson settled for 2nd, Petrzelka was 3rd, Danny Dvorak came from 13th to finish 4th, with Carter VanDenBerg finishing 5th after starting in 9th.
Ben Chapman took home the $1,000 to win "22nd Annual Hogan Memorial" IMCA SportMod feature on Sunday, July 3rd at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa.

Up next was the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Jared Daggett and Kevin Rose leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Daggett took advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Rose and Jeff Mueller, who started 5th. Rose's run up front came to an end on lap 3, as he spun in turn 2 and collected Lon Mercer to bring out the one and only yellow of the race. On the restart Daggett jumped back out front, with Mueller and Damon Murty, who started 8th, now glued to his back bumper. Coming out of turn 2 on lap 6 Mueller, who was on the bottom, Daggert, who was in the middle, and Murty who was up top, raced three wide down the backstretch and into turn 3. The same trio raced that way coming out of turn 4 to complete lap 7, with Murty scored as the new leader. While Murty worked to hold off Mueller for the top spot, Kyle Brown, who was driving Murty's back up car and started 11th, had worked his way into the battle for the top spot. The bottom of the speedway seemed to be the preferred line, as Mueller tried to get under Murty for the lead, while Brown looked under Mueller for the runner up spot. But Murty would make no mistakes over the final laps, as he held on to pick up the win and the $1,000 top prize to go with it. Mueller held on for 2nd, Brown was 3rd, Daggett was 4th, with Scooter Dulin coming home in 5th.
The IMCA Stock Car portion of the "22nd Annual Hogan Memorial" at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa on Sunday, July 3rd was won by Damon Murty.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 50 lap IMCA Modifieds, with Richie Gustin and Mike Jergens drawing the front row. Gustin would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Jergens and Todd Shute. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 12, Shute was able to slip under Gustin to take over the top spot. The 1/4 mile track provided the fans with some great racing, as several grooves were being used by the drivers to battle for positions throughout the 26 car starting field. The lead cars would work into lapped traffic by lap 19. With the first caution of the race appearing on lap 20, to slow the action down. Jergens, who was running 3rd, slowed in turn 1 with front end troubles to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gustin used the bottom of the track to over take Shute for the lead, while Corey Dripps, who started 12th, moved into the battle for the top spot. With Gustin working the bottom of the track, Shute went to the top and used the momentum off turn 4 to grab the lead back on lap 22. Shute then held it until the caution on lap 25, which was the halfway point in the race. All cars were brought to a stop on the front stretch for a 5 minute pit stop. Shute was scored the leader at this point, with Gustin 2nd, Dripps was 3rd, Cody Laney from Torrance, California was 4th, with J.D. Auringer, who started 13th, completing the top 5.

On the restart Shute moved back out front, with Dripps over taking Gustin for the runner up spot. With Shute choosing to run the bottom of the track, Dripps would go to the top. Dripps then used the momentum off turn 4 to take the top spot away from Shute on lap 33. The battle up front was slowed on lap 39, when debris in turn 4 and down the front stretch brought out the yellow. Once again Dripps grabbed the lead on the restart, with Gustin and Shute battling for second. Two laps later, lap 41, Troy Cordes would spin in turn 1 to bring out the caution. Gustin would slip under Dripps on the restart to take the top spot away. A few laps later Dripps got his right rear over the edge of the track in turn 4, which allowed Shute, Auringer, and Joel Rust, who charged from 19th, to all slip past him. Rust's run to the front would come to an end on lap 48, when he clipped a tire in turn 4 while trying to work under Auringer for 3rd. As a result Rust spun to bring out the caution, and set up a two later dash to the checkered flag. Gustin grabbed the lead on the restart, with Shute and Hunter Marriott, who started 21st, looking for a way around Gustin. But Gustin would hold on to claim his second "Hogan Memorial" race win and the $3,100 top prize. Shute held on for 2nd, Marriott was 3rd, Auringer was 4th, with Dripps coming home in 5th.

Richie Gustin topped an exciting IMCA Modified feature to score his second Hogan Memorial win on Sunday, July 3rd at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa.
Second place finisher in the "22nd Annual Hogan Memorial" IMCA Modified feature on Sunday, July 3rd at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa was Todd Shute.
Hunter Marriott started 21st and finished 3rd during the "22nd Annual Hogan Memorial" IMCA Modified feature on Sunday, July 3rd at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa.
J.D Auringer started 13th and finished 4th during the "22nd Annual Hogan Memorial" IMCA Modified feature on Sunday, July 3rd at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa.
Corey Dripps settled for 5th, after starting 12th and leading some laps, during the "22nd Annual Hogan Memorial" IMCA Modified feature on Sunday, July 3rd at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa.

Notes from BCS: 47 Modifieds, 37 SportMods, 21 Hobby Stocks, 19 Stock Cars and 9 Micro Mods made up the 133 cars signed in on the night......Russ Olson started the Micro Mod feature in 9th and passed 3 cars to come home in 6th......Matt Pohlman finished 7th in the Hobby Stock feature after starting in 11th....Justin Hansen started 12th and finished 8th....Matt Brown passed 8 cars from his 17th place starting spot to come home in 9th....Adam Petrzelka finished 10th after starting in 13th....David Simpson recovered from his spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish 11th....Brett Vanous finished 12th after coming from the back from pitting on the first caution of the race....August Bach recovered from his spin on lap 8 to come back up to finish 13th....Jacob Floyd started 18th and finished 14th....Bryan Keeney came from 21st to finish 15th....Randy Byerly, who started 16th and had worked his way to 7th, pulled off on the lap 8 caution with a left front flat to end his night in 16th......Ryan King started the SportMod feature in 20th and passed 9 cars to come home in 11th....Andy Edwards recovered from his spin on lap 8 to come back up to finish 12th....Jim Buhlman finished 13th after starting in 21st....Mitch Manternach started 19th and finished 14th....Erick Knutsen received a track points provisional and started 24th. He then passed 5 cars to come home in 19th......John Oliver Jr. passed 12 cars from his 18th place starting spot in the Stock Car feature to finish 6th....Norman Chesmore started 12th and finished 7th....Scott Pippert finished 8th after starting in 14th....Curtis Roster came from 13th to finish in 9th....Shane Ebaugh started 15th and finished 10th....Kevin Rose recovered from his spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish 11th......Cayden Carter passed 18 cars from his 24th place starting spot in the Modified feature to finish in 6th....Mooresville, North Carolina's Kyle Strickler started 10th and finished 7th....Kyle Brown came from 14th to finish in 8th....Torrance, California driver Cody Laney was 9th.... While Bakersfield, California driver Ethan Dotson was 10th....Racer Hulin finished 11th after starting in 18th....Scott Hogan came from 22nd to finish in 14th....Tony Snyder was 16th after starting in 20th....Ryan Maitland finished 18th after starting in 23rd.

A lot of racing action can be found in the central Midwest this week, and I encourage you to get out and support these events. Because they can't be put on the schedule for next year if people don't get out and show how much they want to see dirt track racing survive! Here is a list of events that I know are going on:

-Tuesday, July 5th is night 1 of the IMCA Stock Car Shootout at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, and IMCA Sport Compacts will run double heat races on qualifying night.

-Wednesday, July 6th will be the final night of the Stock Car Shootout at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The Stock Cars will be racing for $2,000 to win, while the SportMods and Hobby Stocks are going for a top prize of $1,000. The Sport Compacts will compete for $700 to win. Also joining the card will be the IMCA Modifieds, racing for $500 to win.

-Wednesday, July 6th the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models will be at the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, Iowa to race during the fair. Also racing will be the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA SportMods.

-Wednesday. July 6th the Peoria Speedway in Peoria, Illinois will play host to the UMP Summernationals "The Hell Tour" for the UMP Late Models. Also racing will be the Summit Nationals Modified Tour and UMP Hornets.

-Thursday, July 7th the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa will hold their annual fair race, The IMCA Stock Cars will be battling for $1,000 to win. Plus an additional $1,000 winner take all race from the top 20 in points from Tuesday and Wednesday at the Southern Iowa Speedway. Also racing on the night will be the Lee County Late Models, 305 Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, and IMCA Sport Compacts.

-Thursday, July 7th the World of Outlaw Late Models invade the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa for the first time ever. Also racing will be the USRA Iron Man Stock Cars and SportMods.

-Thursday, July 7th the 165th, Illinois' oldest running county fair, Knox County Fair in Knoxville, Illinois will host their annual Stock Car races. In action will be the Modifieds, Steel Block Late Models, Street Stocks and Hornets.

-Friday, July 8th the CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction, Iowa will be holding the "Firecracker 25", featuring the IMCA Stock Cars racing for $750 to win and $100 to start. Also in action will be the Modifieds, SportMods, Mod Lites, IMCA Sport Compacts, and CJ Mini Haulers.

-Friday, July 8th the World of Outlaw Late Models move to the Mason City Motor Speedway in Mason City, Iowa. This will be the first ever visit by the Outlaws to this track. Also racing will be the USRA Iron Man Stock Cars and SportMods.

-Sunday, July 10th the UMP Summernationals "The Hell Tour" for UMP Late Models invades the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois. Also racing will be the Summit Nationals Modified Tour and IMCA SportMods.

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