The last time I had been to Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City was around 10 years ago when I attended a Deery Brothers Summer Series event. Although I was there to cheer on local favorites, I remember that night well because I was asked to serve as a backup scorer for the Late Model portion of the show from a tractor tire in the infield. Tuesday night, I made a return to Hamilton County Fairgrounds and took in my first race there from the grandstands (with no tractor tires in sight) as the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds paid a visit to the 1/2-mile oval.
Jeremy Mills took the lead at the drop of the green in the 30-lap Mod main, survived a handful of early cautions, then one late stoppage to drive to the win in the event dubbed the Wayne Redmond Rumble. The event was named in memory of the longtime racer and businessman who unexpectedly passed away last year.
Despite a quartet of cautions that slowed action over the first eight laps, there was movement in the top five. Those position changes included third row starting Mark Schulte, who snuck beneath Scott Olson to nab second place before the first yellow flag on lap two. Ronn Lauritzen also advanced a few positions during that time, moving from eighth into the top five. Making the most noise early, however, was Jay Noteboom. Noteboom, who qualified by winning a B feature and started in the seventh row, raced into the fourth spot by the time the caution waved on lap eight.
The first long green flag run came when racing resumed following the lap eight stoppage. Mills quickly pulled away from Schulte and built over half a straightaway lead while Richie Gustin and Noteboom pursued. Kevin Pittman, the other B feature winner, raced from the other seventh row starting position and into the top five shortly after racing resumed.
The top four broke away from the pack - Mills nearly half of a track ahead of Pittman - and put a lot of distance between themselves until impending backmarkers came within a straightaway view for the leader. As Mills approached the slower traffic over the final seven laps, Schulte quickly cut into the huge lead. Schulte was within 10 car-lengths of the leader with a handful of laps to go, then cut that margin in half by the completion of the 26th lap when the caution flag waved one last time.
On the restart, Schulte briefly challenged before Mills drove away to the win. Gustin worked the low side of Schulte in turn four with only a couple of laps remaining to steal second. Schulte, Noteboom and Pittman completed the top five. Lauritzen ran sixth ahead of Rich Smith and Darin Duffy, both B feature transfers. Mark Elliott ran ninth following an engine change after a smoke show from his #12X at the checkers of his second-place heat race run. Scott Olson made a good run to finish 10th after being involved in a lap five caution.
In companion action, Randy Embrey won an entertaining 12-lapper in the IMCA Hobby Stock division. Devin Smith took the lead from his pole position start and set sail on his way to a seemingly easy win when he suffered a flat tire entering turn three on the fourth circuit. He made contact with the wall and limped to the work area to check things over before the race resumed.
On the restart, Ty Griffith took charge with heavy pressure from Cody Nielsen, Embrey and Craig Graham. Griffith's pursuers sliced and diced behind him until his own engine let go with just a couple of laps remaining. On the restart, Embrey took charge and never looked back to take the win ahead of Graham. Smith made an impressive run from the back following his tire change to beat Nielsen to the line for third. Austin Wolfgram completed the top five.
From his second row starting spot, Carter VanDenBerg worked the low side and inched ahead of pole-sitter Scott Davis at the line to complete one lap before the caution flag waved in the 15-lap IMCA SportMod feature.
When racing resumed, VanDenBerg built a straightaway lead over Davis and Matt Lettow, who engaged in a terrific battle for second. VanDenBerg's lead disappeared when the caution flag waved on lap 14, setting up a green, white, checker shootout. He held serve on the final restart to take the victory, leading all 15 laps in the process. Lettow worked the high side around Davis exiting turn four on the final lap to take second. Joel Rust and Brandon Leeman rounded out the top five.
Lance Deal took charge on the second lap, then destroyed the field to take the win in the 15-lap Stock Car feature. Adam Silvey raced to a second place finish, a straightaway behind Deal. Ryan Leeman, Dennis Plain and Vincent Loewen ran third through fifth.
Thanks to guest announcer Jerry Vansickle and regular HCS voice Ryan Bergeson for the Positively Racing shoutouts. Well, thanks to Ryan, anyway. Jerry did tend to get a bit snarky on the mic. Just kidding, Jerry! Be sure to check out the report from fellow PR.com bloggers Dick and Joyce Eisele, who were also in attendance tonight. Their story will be available at the 4D Fan Report.
Tomorrow, it's likely (although not a certainty) that I'll head south to Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa for the double/makeup features from last week's show. I understand there will be double features in the Hobby Stock, Stock Car and Modified divisions due to last week's untimely rain. Add to that the head-shaving of IMCA Modified driver Brandon Banks and I can't think of a better place to be tomorrow night!
Have a great Wednesday!
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