Sports : A View from the Grandstands

Ron Lauritzen

Mod Winner Ron Lauritzen

Drew Fish

Sport Mod Winner, Drew Fish

Scooter Dulin

Stock Car Winner Scooter Dulin

Doug Laughridge

Hobby Stock Winner Doug Laughridge

Bill Whalen Jr.

Sport Compact Winner, Bill Whalen Jr.

Article courtesy of...Brian Bries

Welcome to another round of Views from the Grandstands from Benton County Speedway. It was a hot night for racing as the show wrapped up the 2011 Benton County Fair. My caps off to all of the individuals who helped get the grounds in shape after last week's devastating storm in the Vinton area. Anyway onto the show.

The first feature tonight was the IMCA Hobby Stock class with 13 cars on hand to fight on teh 1/4-mile bullring. Justin Wacha was the early leader, but got in the corner a little hot and spun out on lap 6. This handed the lead over to Doug Laughridge. 3 more cautions would not deter Laughridge from taking the win by a bumper over a hard charging Scottie Pippert. Brad Forbes, Justin Stander, and Rod Grother rounded out the top 5. Heat races were won by Laughridge and Kyle Parizek.

Next up was the IMCA Sport Compacts with 10 cars on hand tonight. Bill Whalen, Jr was the early leader and would lead the race flag-to-flag with no cautions. Merv Chandler finished second. Nate Chandler, Brett Vanous, and Nate Coopman were the top 5. Coopman is from Mankato, MN visiting family and decided to bring his Sport Comapct down to battle with the locals. Heat races were won by Bryce Bailey and Tyler Whalen.

The IMCA Northern Sport Mods were next with 15 cars here tonight. Dave Schulze took the early lead but had company in teh form of Drew Fish who battled with Schulze for about 4 or 5 laps. Just past halfway Fish was able to clear Schulze and wnet on the take the win. Schulze finished second with Jim Buhlman, 21x, and Danny Dvorak the top 5. Heat races wsere won by Ken Kositsky and Fish.

The next class in line was the IMCA Stock Cars. 11 cars were on hand. Scooter Dulin took the early lead. Three cautions would not deter Dulin from taking the checkers. Norman Chesmore finished second with Phil Holtz, Damon Murty, and Curtis Roster the top 5. Dulin also earned an extra $100 bounty that was on the head of Justin Temeyer. Heat races were won by Holtz and Roster.

The final feature of the night was the "Knights of Thunder" IMCA Modifieds. 12 cars were on hand tonight. As was the case in the Hobby Stock feature, early race leader Tony Snyder spun while leading. On lap 3 Ronn Lauritizen passed then leader Tony Olson and would go on to the feature win. Patrick Flanagan finished second with Joe Docekal, Brandon Banks, and Scott Hogan the top 5. Heat races were won by Hogan and Snyder.

The final checkers flew at 7:44. Please note that starting next week hot laps will start at 6pm, instead of 5:30 with racing immediately following. The gates will also open 30 minutes later than normal at 4:30.

Pictures courtesy of Scott Tjabring - Action Track Photography www.actiontrackphotos.com