Moudry motors to exciting B Mod win at Highway 3 Raceway

Although he started on the pole Tuesday night, Ben Moudry earned what was probably one of the most hard-fought B Mod wins of his career at Highway 3 Raceway. On a night when the B Mods were hailed as the "premier" division, the strong field of 29 cars delivered.

At the start of the 20-lap feature, Moudry quickly shot into the lead with Chad Louk, Brandon Hare and Alex Zwanziger in pursuit. Following a lap one yellow, Moudry again went to work out front as Cayden Carter was working through the field from a seventh row start. Already into the top five after just five laps, Carter was looking for more when smoke billowed from the bottom side of his #10C. After the smoke came the loss of power as Carter stalled on the front straightaway to bring out the caution once more on lap six.

When racing resumed, Moudry continued to pace the field while Zwanziger worked past Hare in the first set of turns. With Hare pressuring in turns three and four on lap seven, contact between the two sent both cars spinning. Although both continued on, Hare slowed on the front straightaway to bring out the yellow flag one lap later. Hare was penalized for bringing out the yellow and Zwanziger, who gathered himself late following the lap seven yellow, was resigned to restart at the tail after the eighth circuit counted in the score book.

When racing resumed, Jimmy Broszeit went to work on the top side of the speedway and started to run down the leader. Midway through the event, Broszeit and Louk reeled in the leader as the top three broke away from the field and entered a terrific three-car battle out front.

Following a final stoppage on lap 13, Broszeit again went to work up top with Louk down low as that pair attempted to make their own bids for the lead. Meanwhile, Tyler Droste was quietly making his way into a battle with the leaders as he settled into fourth with Kyle Brown also making his way through the field after starting 15th. In addition, Hare, who was long since forgotten, also made a strong run back through the pack and into a top-five battle.

Broszeit, able to pull alongside Moudry, challenged to his outside, while Droste worked into the top three. Hare, as well, improved his position by passing Louk late and making his way into the top four. Moudry, however, proved too strong for his competitors and held on for the win by less than a car-length over Broszeit. Droste, Hare and Louk completed the top five.

Ben Moudry (85) held off Jimmy Broszeit (88X) to score top honors in the B Mod feature. (all photos courtesy of Scott Tjabring/ Action Track Photography/ http://www.actiontrackphotos.com/)

One night removed from a strong seventh place finish in a field of 38 IMCA Stock Cars at the State Fair race in Des Moines, Mike Van Genderen continued his domination on the Allison half-mile by taking his third win in his last three appearances at the speedway.

From his pole position start, Van Genderen opened up a sizable lead early with fellow front row starter Loren Kuennen in pursuit. Van Genderen stretched his lead while Dan Trimble made his way from the third row and into the mix late. Van Genderen led the 15-lapper in its entirety to score the victory. Keunnen held off Trimble for second while Mark Massey and Jim Mitchell completed the top five.

Mike Van Genderen was victorious in the Stock Car division. The Newton driver has earned wins in each of his last three appearances at the speedway.

Danny Sacquitne earned his second straight win in the Hobby Stock division after holding off repeated pressure from Stac Schroeder. Sacquitne bested pole-sitter Steve Holthaus at the drop of the green to assume the early command while Schroeder tussled with Holthaus for the runner-up spot.

After Schroeder broke free from Holthaus a few laps into the 15-lapper, he and Sacquitne pulled away from the fray and engaged in one of the best two-car battles I've seen all year.

Schroeder was able to close the gap as the leaders navigated the turns and, lap after lap, exchanged racing grooves and positions on the track. Schroeder was able to rocket off the corners, but Sacquitne was able to slip back past him on the straightaways. Sacquitne surged ahead at the end to take the thrilling win with Schroeder in second. Holthaus, Chris Hovden and Mick Meyers rounded out the top five.

Danny Sacquitne (6) fights back on the high side of Stac Schroeder (51) as Schroeder works to steal the lead in the Hobby Stock feature. Sacquitne led throughout the 15-lap event to score his second straight win at the speedway.

After the heat race finish was inverted from front to back, pole-sitter Bill Whalen ran away and hid in the 10-lap 4-Cylinder Hornet feature. Over a straightaway ahead of the field and dodging lapped traffic in the process throughout much of the event, Whalen held on for the win over Irv Fosaaen following a late caution. Blake Fosaaen ran third ahead of Kelly Miller and Andrew Lokenvitz.

Bill Whalen Jr. (00W) started inside of Lisa Cole (7C2) on the front row of the 4-Cylinder feature. Whalen didn't stay there long as he dominated much of the event to take home the win.

Prior to the night's action, I was surprised to run into Mark Massey while making my way through the pit area. Massey, who has been behind the wheel of a Modified at Farley, West Liberty, Dubuque and Independence in recent years, said he almost called it quits earlier this season after he totaled his Mod at West Liberty. Some sponsors thought otherwise and helped him get behind the wheel of a Stock Car. The Dominator Chassis he now drives was formerly handled by Jeff Mueller of New London.

Done with open wheel (for now, anyway), Mark Massey makes his way around Highway 3 Raceway in a Stock Car.

Following tonight's show, I had a nice visit with Hobby Stock driver Chris Wiltse and his family. Chris is a newcomer to the circle track family this year with previous experience behind the wheel of a go-kart. He has made a number of visits to Allison this season and has competed regularly with us at Independence. In addition, he has hit a few other tracks on chance nights throughout the season and has done a great job in his first year wheeling a Hobby Stock. One of the more grounded first-year drivers I've met, his is a name you'll want to watch out for in the coming years.

Chris Wiltse (69) battles for position with Dan Homeister (2H) in the Hobby Stock feature.

Along with Chris, I talked to Mike Van Genderen and a couple other drivers following the races. Everyone I spoke with said positive and great things about the half-mile in Allison. Actually, no negative comments were heard. While car counts were up tonight from previous shows, it was admittedly disappointing to see the small numbers in the grandstands. Although it's been reported that the race committee hasn't broken the bank on advertising this year, the best form of advertising in this business is word of mouth. If you don't believe me, ask the drivers and anyone else in attendance tonight. The track was smooth and provided multiple grooves of racing all night long. Quite honestly, if you're a reader of the message boards on the Internet and come across people bad-mouthing or speaking ill of Highway 3 Raceway... ignore them. Simply put, they have no idea what they're talking about and I will guarantee you they haven't set foot on the grounds this season.

I'm not generally one to endorse any specific race track or tell people at which track they should spend their hard-earned money, but I'm going to change that up, at least for today. Not only would I encourage you to take in one of the final specials in Allison this year, I'm flat out asking you to spend a race night at Highway 3 Raceway. Those who know me can tell you I'm not partial to anyone or any track, especially half-miles. The last two nights, though, I've seen some of the best racing all season at Des Moines and Allison. Even if you've been there already this year, there are still two specials left at Highway 3 Raceway. Next Thursday, August 26, the Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series comes to town. Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and the same B Mods that tonight provided some of the best racing I've seen anywhere this season will be on-hand.

Tonight was race night number 45 for me this season. My goal (as amateurish as it may seem to Mr. Broeg) is 60 for the season. Six days in Boone will guarantee me at least a tie with my all-time high of 51 in 2005, but there is still plenty of more racing to take in as season championship racing is approaching at area tracks, along with a loaded schedule of special events for many weeks to follow. The recent weather has been the best of the season so take advantage of it and get out to support your local track!