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BACK TO BACK FEATURE WINS FOR CLAUSSEN, ANDERSON AT SHELBY COUNTY SPEEDWAY
BY Shannon Lowe

HARLAN, IA (May 9) - Cold weather will not deter Shelby County Speedway fans and despite a spotty track drivers put on an exciting show. With an abundance of racers entered in the modified class fans were treated to a “B” feature qualifying race right after intermission. With troubles on the track whittling down the field, the race comes down to a 4 car finish and the final 4 cars earn a ticket to the “A” feature.

In the KNOD Kool Gold Sport Compacts, the David Knoell dives through the pack to grab the lead just after the start and digs in hard to hold it as last week’s winner, Brandon Claussen weaved through traffic like an A+ student driver through orange cones. As 70d worked his way into lap traffic, Claussen catches him and takes the checkered flag for the second week in a row, leaving Knoell in second, Cain Mahlberg, Bryan Smith and Jaimie Mahlberg rounding out the top five.
In the Country Tire, Harlan Firestone Hobby Stock feature race, drivers took the track with a hunger born of a long winter and for several laps the pack stayed tightly packed with inches to spare as they rounded the track 3 and 4 wide. Jeff Hansen grabbed the early lead from the point but as the pack began to spread out, Joel Tiggs, Shannon Anderson and Jason Fusselman, donned their hunting gear and stalked Hansen as the laps ticked by. Anderson worked alongside Jeff Hansen and powered past with 4 laps to go. A late caution in the race set the pack up for a two lap rundown but Anderson proved uncatchable this week and he cruised to O’Reilly Victory Lane for the second time this year with Jeff Hansen finishing second, Joel Tiggs in third, Chuck Madden and Kurt Hansen rounding out the leaderboard.

In the Wam Performance Sport Mods, Dennis Cook grabbed the lead and set a fast pace as sport mod drivers battled for position on the track behind him. Jesse Sobbing and Tanner Powers worked their way through the pack and into the top 5 before contact between Sobbing and Jon Plowman took them both out of the race. As other race incidents whittled the race field, Tanner Powers used the momentum of a restart to cut the distance to Cook, and after dragging the bottom, slid into the top spot. With more cautions time ran out on the class with 9 laps still on the scoreboard. Powers lived up to his name as he powered past the halfway point and lead the field to the yellow checkered flag with David Hulsebus in second, Chad Dills in third, Dillon Peterson in fourth, Chris Vannausdle in fifth.

The Pizza Ranch Stock Cars took the checkered flag and drove hard with cars 3 and 4 wide on every corner. As the racing heated up, the 01 car grabbed the lead but Dustin Smith drove around him to lead the pack with other favorites gunning for him. Brian Blessington and Tim Bengard dove into the top five and Bengard dug in to take the second spot and mark a target on Smith. With the best fishing still in the catfish lane, Bengard worked the low side trying to dig up enough to challenge and Blessington worked in behind him. Smith kept the win by a nose, with Bengard, Blessinton, Kent Husted, and Doug Adamy rounding out the top five.

Budweiser Late Models took the track 13 strong, and thundered under the green flag with Don Smith hoping to take his point starting spot straight to the lead but David Livingston rocketed from the outside to the lead and drove away from the pack stretching his lead with each lap. The battle for second had Brian Kenkel and Jay Stewart facing off and with several near misses as they struggled for grip on the track. Stewart raced away with second as Kenkel settled into third. Jeff Segebart pulled into the top five and drove around Smith for 4th as the leaders closed the gap with the back of the pack. With lap traffic to contend with, Stewart began to close the gap but Livingston pulled off the win, followed by Stewart, Kenkel, Jeff Segebart, and Don Smith.

IMCA Pitts Chiropractic Modifieds hit the track as Brandon Monson took the early lead, finding his line on the high side. After a caution brought the racers to a crawl, Jeff Jones found some bite in the bottom lane and took over the top spot with young driver Nick Deal closing the gap on Monson as well. Luke Wanniger drove his way into the top five and with the front of the pack loaded with stellar drivers a caution brought them all together for another restart. Deal wasted no time besting Monson on the high side for second and a lap later drove out the lead using the long lane, leaving Jeff Jones to hold off Monson for second. Deal ran too high in turn 1 with two to go and nearly handed his lead over to Jones as he pegged the high rail before digging in to win the checkered flag and the trip to O’Reilly Victory Lane with Jones in second, Brandon Monson in third, Ryan Webb in fourth and Bob Moore in fifth.

With another great night of racing in the record book, we look to next Saturday night, KNOD night at the races! Fans will find KNOD’s Relay for Life Team “Stayin’ Alive with 105” selling raffle tickets on a basket of summer fun, and selling tattoos! All proceeds will go to benefit Shelby County’s Relay for Life. Gates open at 5, hot laps at 6:15 and racing is under the green flag at 7.

We’ll see you at the Speedway!