Aikey holds off Kastli, scores Late Model win at Highway 3 Raceway

I made the 40-minute drive to Highway 3 Raceway in Allison on Thursday night for my 40th race of the season. The "specials-only" track offered a Late Model event, offering Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, B Mods and 4-Cylinders along with the headlining Late Models. While attendance was low, the fans on-hand were treated to some pretty good racing and witnessed a pair of close finishes in the Late Models and B Mods.

Pole-sitter Jeff Aikey assumed the early command of the 20-lap Late Model feature. Jerry King, driving the #60 normally driven by Dean Wagner, settled into the second spot before Greg Kastli challenged for the position.

While Kastli worked on making his way through, Aikey put nearly half of a straightaway on the field. Kastli made his way into second a few laps into the race and went to work on cutting into Aikey's big lead.

With a handful of laps remaining, Kastli closed on the rear bumper of Aikey's #77 and appeared to be on his way to the front. Catching the leader and passing him, however, proved to be two entirely different challenges. With Aikey glued to the bottom of the 1/2-mile oval, Kastli was unable to work below him and lost ground when running a groove higher. He continually chased down the leader after losing ground, however was unable to make the pass.

On the final lap, in the final set of turns, Kastli went in on the high side of three and four and was able to pull even through the corners, however Aikey held on for the exciting win. Ryan Griffith raced to a third place finish ahead of King, who held off Bobby Hansen for fourth.

Jeff Aikey drove to the Late Model victory after holding off Greg Kastli's late charge. (photos courtesy of Scott Tjabring/ Action Track Photography/ www.actiontrackphotos.com)

Although a series of cautions throughout the first handful of laps slowed the B Mod feature, it set up a great finish for that 15-lap event. Outside front row starter Chad Louk held the advantage throughout the yellow-fest over the first six laps as Brandon Hare remained right on his bumper.

The lead pair engaged in an exciting two-car battle for the lead during the race's first long green flag run following a lap six restart. Louk, running high, and Hare, down low, raced wheel to wheel and swapped the top spot numerous times over the final nine circuits.

Louk eventually built up a four or five car-length lead in the waning laps, however he drifted high in turn four with only a couple of laps remaining. This allowed Hare to close the gap and challenge out front. Louk collected himself over the final two laps to hold off the charging Hare and score the victory. A trio of drivers made good top-five runs after starting in the middle of the 19-car field. Mike Shelton, who made the long trek north from Bloomfield, passed Alex Zwanziger late to take third after starting seventh. Zwanziger, who was 12th on the starting grid, finished fourth ahead of Tyler Groenendyke, who started right in front of Zwanginer's #32Z.

Chad Louk was victorious in the B Modified division.

Arlen Hoy held the early lead in the 15-lap Stock Car feature. He paced the field while fellow front row starter Dan Trimble pressured him for the top spot. Hoy's stay out front ended a handful of laps into the event when he spun in turn four to bring out the yellow flag. When racing resumed, Trimble pulled away from the field to take the win ahead of Tony Schimmels. Hoy came home third ahead of Jim Mitchell and Dan Feltus.

Flagman Grant Oskvig presents Dan Trimble with the checkers after the Stock Car feature.

Danny Sacquitne made quick work of the Hobby Stock division. He led that 12-lapper in its entirety to take the win a considerable distance ahead of Dan Hovden. Alex George, Dan Homeister and

Robert Black completed the field.

Danny Sacquitne dominated the Hobby Stock feature.

Seven 4-Cylinder Hornets were also on-hand and they brought the evening to an end with their 12-lap feature. The Hornets competed on a small track in the infield that circled the figure-8 track. Although I never heard a specific length of the track, the most common number I heard during the night was 1/10th of a mile.

Justin Wacha took charge early, survived the beating and banging, then cruised to the win in that entertaining event ahead of Bill Whalen, Ruben Standbrough and Bob Swenson.

Justin Wacha on his way to victory in the 4-Cylinders.

Thank you to the H3R crew for inviting me up to call tonight's show. While the car count and crowd were lean, it was an efficiently run show that took right at two hours to complete. If you haven't been to Highway 3 Raceway, a couple more specials remain this month that were rescheduled from rainouts earlier this season. Included is an event for August 17, along with the Dart Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series on August 26. To stay current on the details of those upcoming events in Allison, be sure to log onto the track website at http://www.highway3raceway.com/.

The final month of the season at Independence Motor Speedway gets underway this Saturday night. Remember, early start times are in effect for the remainder of 2010 as gates open at 3:30, driver check-in by 5:30 and racing at 6. Also, the first feature of the Fantasy Race Night of Champions has concluded on the track's facebook page. While the Hobby Stocks are complete, the Stock Car fantasy feature begins tomorrow. Be sure to log on to facebook and submit your results! The winners of all four fantasy races will be announced on season championship night at the speedway on August 28.

Only a few more nights of weekly points racing are left in the region. Be sure to get out and support a track near you before the post-season specials come in full force next month! See you at the races!