Season Winding Down, Drag Racing

Well after ten straight days of racing a couple of weeks ago I’m rested up and ready for a new column. I’m excited to read so many positive reviews of the new Friday Knoxville Nationals format in Speed Sport, Area Auto Racing News, and even Jeff Broeg’s Back Stretch. The only complaints I heard was that it ran a little late that night. When you start hot laps at 7:45pm, the track is heavy, builds up a ledge on the cushion, and it needs some work in the middle of the show that happens.

I made it to Marshalltown Speedway last Friday night and saw a good show as usual. It was nice to see the Mississippi Valley vintage cars there. I learned that Lenard McCarl built his own chassis back in the day. Not sure how I didn’t know that until last week, and that Terry McCarl won his first race in a McCarl chassis.

Jimmy Gustin won his eighth Modified race of the year at Marshalltown, but it was in a new 2013 Harris chassis. Nice looking car. The SportMod race was awesome with Janae Gustin getting the win, but it wasn’t easy as she raced up through the field. Nice to see Curtis Van Der Wal venture up to Mtown and run fourth. Tracy Geinger of Newton won the stock car feature holding off Damon Murty at the end. It’s been a long time since I saw my home town guy Geinger win a feature, so was happy for him. I just really enjoy the shows at Marshalltown and the whole experience there.

The Marshalltown point races are looking like Jimmy Gustin has the field covered in Modifieds, Scott Pippert has Hobby Stocks in hand, Steve Meyer has a good handle on the Stock Cars as well. The SportMod race is heated and will go to the end with Joel Rust and Racer Hulin tied for the lead and Jake Strayer is only four points behind them. Season Championship is August 31 so only two weeks to go.

Saturday I went to Eddyville Raceway Park to the Altered Fuel Nationals. I’ve only been to Eddyville once before when I was a kid so I haven’t been exposed to drag racing much at all. To me it’s not a lot of fun to watch from the stands, but I sure do appreciate this type of racing. To me drag racing is “racing” in its purest form. Let’s build a car and see how fast it can go… period. I had a great experience there all day and I have to say it’s something I look forward to do again next year, but I will remember my ear plugs for sure! I have a video on my YouTube channel if you want to see. www.youtube.com/arniebhg

This week at Knoxville is Season Championship and Terry McCarl has a slim eight point lead over Davey Heskin in the 410 class. Clint Garner has the 360 title clinched. Matthew Stelzer has a 52 point lead over Mike Van Haafton in the 305 class. With 165 points up for grabs in all classes it will come down to the features. TMac is going for his seventh track championship (aka the Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series) while Heskin is trying for his first. Heskin has been the point leader most of the season, but the Sunday night Capitani Classic event was run as a full points race and his cushion was erased when he didn’t make the feature and McCarl did. Tough break, but he still has a good chance to win it.

Hoping to make it to the Boone Super Nationals finale on Sep 8th. I wish it wasn’t the same day as the Iowa-ISU football game though. Never understood the timing of that event in football season, but you have to have it after most tracks have their season in the books to build the car count.

I’ll be covering Oskaloosa tonight and next week for season championship. It’s looking like Cayden Carter has the Modified title wrapped up, same for Shannon Anderson in Hobby Stock. Stock Car leader is Matt Greiner but Nathan Wood is lurking 13 points behind. One bad night for Greiner and it could get close. Jesse Sobbing will likely win the SportMod title unless he has a DNF. Curtis Van Der Wal is six points behind and waiting to take advantage if the opportunity is there.