Sunday we decided to switch things up and make our first visit since 2024 to the home of IMCA, the Benton County Speedway - "The Bullring" - in Vinton, Iowa. Five IMCA classes would be in action along with a visit by the Karl Chevrolet Premier Late Models. It was cloudy and cool in Canton, but by the time we pulled into the quarter mile fairgrounds facility, the sun was out and the temp hit the mid seventies. There was a breeze blowing as well, fortunately for those of us in the grandstands it was blowing from west to east - perhaps not so good for those watching from the pits.
One hundred and sixteen race teams checked in, and with the big rig Late Model haulers, both the regular and overflow pit area was bulging. As a side note, for those who have not had the opportunity, grab a pit pass and take in a drivers' meeting at the track. Corey Dripps definitely has a way with words and leaves no doubt about policies and procedures!
Hot laps were due to kick off at 4:30 with racing to follow. Unfortunately, it felt more like mid summer than early May as the sun and wind did the racing surface no favors. The track crew worked hard and by feature time there were multiple grooves, as least in the early events.
Each class had two or three heat races except for the Hobby Stocks who turned out a whopping thirty two cars, requiring four heats plus a B main to whittle the starting grid to twenty four.
With their consy tucked in ahead of the Stock Car heats, the Hobbys would be up first in the feature lineup. Leah Wroten blasted to the lead from outside row one in the fifteen lapper, taking along pole sitter Darin Bloomquist. Eighth starting Justin Wacha would take up the chase on lap two ahead of the first of six caution periods. The worst of those came when a trio of cars got together off the top of turn three. Cameron Graham would take the blunt of the damage as he flipped his #33 machine, ripping the body away from the frame. A Delaware restart just before the halfway mark saw row five starter Zach McNeese, who had been involved in a tight battle with Wacha for second, power around both Justin and Leah to grab the lead. Five circuits later it would be sixteenth starting Karter Miles charging to the runner up spot. Two more caution periods would come in the final three laps, and Wacha saw his strong run end as he slipped off the track on the backstretch. McNeese was able to hold serve through a final single file restart to pick up the win. Miles advance fourteen positions to take second followed by Jaice Tuttle, Wroten and Joren Fisher.
Twelve laps would be the distance for the twenty two Sport Compacts. As the green flag flew, nine cars would stack up at the exit of turn two! Aaron Swearingen would then pace lap one before seventh starting Cristian Grady took over the next trip around ahead of a second yellow flag. Back to racing, Grady built a nice lead even as runner up Lukas Rick also separated from the pack. The leaders were exiting turn four coming to the checkers when there was a hard flip in turn one. After a brief pause, the race was called complete. Grady took the win chased by Rick, Devin Coghlan, Jake Anderson and Robert Rundle. Only nine cars were still running at the conclusion of the dozen scored laps.
`All but one of the eighteen Northern Sport Mods lined up for fifteen laps. Outside row one starter Jacob Berry grabbed the initial lead ahead of Jackson Carey. Brady Hilmer climbed to second before a lap two caution. Berry could not hold on as racing resumed, gradually falling back in the field. It was sixth starting Will Wolf moving to the front, chased now by Hilmer and Ben Chapman. Following a caution four laps in, the three leaders pulled away from the pack, Wolf running a high line while Hilmer and Chapman worked around the tire barriers. With five laps to go, the caution flag waved again, and back under green Wolf dropped to the inside line in turns one and two, gaining a bit of separation from his challengers. A final stoppage set up a green, white, checkers finish, but there would be no catching the #7W. Hilmer and Chapman would follow, with Tony Olson coming home in fourth. Josh Banes was the mover of the race, picking up twelve spots to finish in fifth.
The Karl Chevrolet Pro Late Model 16 car twenty five lapper proved a bit anti climatic. Nick Marolf drew the pole position and he set sail in search of his third series win of the young season. Third starting Troy Morris III tagged along in second as the field mostly migrated to the inside line around the speedway. Morris kept the pressure on, staying close, looking inside and waiting for Marolf to make the mistake that never came. The race ran caution free with the leader catching the back of the pack just before halfway, then encountering heavy traffic about lap nineteen. But the driver from Moscow was up to the task, scoring the flag to flag victory. Morris III had to be content with a runner up finish. Jerry King would round out the podium while Jeff Aikey and C.J. Horn finished where they started to complete the top five. Luke Pestka ran sixth in front of Matt Ryan, J.D. Auringer, and the Duffys, Logan and Landon.
Two features remained on the card, but I was staring at a full plate starting early on Monday (thus this somewhat late report,) so we regretfully headed for the exit. Thanks to MY Race Pass, the Modified win went to row one starter Ethan Krall over pole sitter Rayce Mullen, Patrick Flannagan, Jed Freiburger and hometown driver Jerry Dedrick.
Kyle Olson came from row four to top the Stock Car finale ahead of Brandon Tharp, Shawn Stinger, Kodey Miles and Dakoda Sellers.
A big thank you to Rick, Corey and staff for their hospitality. It was fun to visit with some "racin'" folks we don't get to see often enough!
Our next planned stop will be Thursday at Lincoln, Illinois Speedway as the Flo Racing Night in America tour makes their third stop of a five night swing, supported by open Modifieds. Stop and say "Hi!" if you see us there!
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