BUENA VISTA RACEWAY “LET THE SEASON BEGIN”
by: Dennis Grabenbauer

BUENA VISTA, Ia. (April 13, 2006) - With the backdrop of an unusual warm Wednesday in April, the 2006 Racing Season roared to life this past Wednesday at the Buena Vista Raceway. Ninety race teams filled the pit area and a large shirtsleeve crowd in the grandstand was on hand to kick off the first night of a twenty-one night racing schedule. “This has got to be one of the nicest opening nights that drivers and fans can and will ever remember,” said promoter Becky Meyer. “Everyone knows that we just want to be thankful for this one, because we all know that the weather will change, and it is Northwest Iowa.”

The Alta Chamber representatives were on hand to do the annual ribbon cutting to “Officially” get the season off and running, and along with Henry Derksen to give the invocation and season was just moments away from getting underway.

With a new season, you get the new looks of cars, drivers changing divisions and yes new drivers which will be making there first appearance on a race track to do battle during the course of the night. One driver who has made a move from the BVR Bombers to the 360-B Mods was Tony Ross. Ross who had a second place finish in his heat race found things a lot more challenging in the feature event. Coming off of turn two, Ross would climb the cement barriers on the back straight a way sending the car on his roof and ending his first night in his new division. Ross would climb slowly from the car but was uninjured.

The racing as always was good, close and very fast. Adam Hicks, who visited victory lane once in 2005 matched that feat by posting the opening night feature win in the Rasmussen BVR Bombers feature event. Hicks took the lead on lay three and held off challenges from Devin Smith to score the victory.

Andy Boeckman would take the early lead in the Storm Lake Truck & Trailer I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock feature only to give way to defending Track and National Champion Dustin Smith with two laps to go. Using a lap car as a pick, Smith would take the lead and the opening night feature win.

Dan Hanselman would shoot into the lead in the Storm Lake Artic Cat 360 B-Mod feature and would hold the top spot through out the first half of the race. Brandon Lucas would put the pressure on Hanselman in the early going but at the half waypoint of the race it would be Jake Simpson who would make the power move. Simpson would take the lead coming off of turn four, at the mid-way point of the race, work through yellow flags to post his opening night feature win.

As always the race of the night would be the Scooters Bar & Grill I.M.C.A. Stock Car feature. Brian Mattson had the field covered in the early going of the fifteen lap event, but as always the “Class to Tough to Tame” would live up to its expectations. Mike Nichols would start sixth but would challenge for the lead on lap five. By lap seven Nichols would take the lead coming off of turn two. It looked like Nichols was going to run away and hide, but David Smith had different ideas. The 2005 Track Champion would move to the back bumper of Nichols and the two would stay tied together for the remaining laps. With the white flag out, Smith would move to the inside as they exited turn two. The two would stay side by side through three and four and when they crossed the line, it was a photo finish with Nichols being declared the winner by inches.

In the final race of the night the Fitzpatrick Auto Center I.M.C.A. Modifieds would take to the raceway. Marred by numerous yellow flags and drivers driving in erratic ways, Jay Noteboom would to on to score the victory in the 20-lap marathon.

BUENA VISTA RACEWAY WEDNESDAY April 12, 2006

By Denny Grabenbauer


Wednesday Race Results:

FITZPATRICK AUTO CENTER I.M.C.A. MODIFIED:

HEAT 1: Rod Scheuermann-Scranton—Mike Albertson-Audubon—Randy Brands-Boydon

HEAT 2: Brian Schmidt-Wall Lake—Joel Ziegmann-Odebolt—Clay Christensen-Spencer

HEAT 3: Jay Noteboom-Orange City—Mike Hansen-Alton—Brad Williams-Lytton

FEATURE: Jay Noteboom—Rod Scheuermann—Clay Christensen—Jim Thies—Mark Gaskill—Justin Sackett—Mike Albertson—Ricky Stephan—Jeff Stephens—Dale Ransom—Jason Briese—Derek Smith—Randy Brands—Brad Williams—Bruce Bonnesen—Rogar VanBeek—Joel Ziegmann—Jeff Anderson—Brian Schmidt—Loren Reuter



SCOOTERS BAR & GRILL I.M.C.A. STOCK CAR:

HEAT 1: Dave Smith-Lake City—Jason Mickelson-Storm Lake—Brian Blessington-Breda

HEAT 2: Mike Nichols-Harlan—Brian Mattson-Alta—Randy Lawrey-Marcus

FEATURE: Mike Nichols—Dave Smith—Brian Mattson—Jason Mickelson—Dale Woodard—Randy Lawrey—Randy Andreason—Josh Suhr—Jay Brannon—Daniel Mattson—Brian Blessington—Mark Stanley—Rogar Tripp—Mike Scharn



STORM LAKE TRUCK & TRAILER I.M.C.A HOBBY STOCK:

HEAT 1: Matt Mahoney-Pierson—Cody Lucas-Cherokee—Josh Bieret-Wall Lake

HEAT 2: Trent Murphy-Jefferson—Mark Hill-Cherokee—Andy Boeckman-Wall Lake

HEAT 3: Tony Pogeler-Alta—Donovan Smith-Lake City—Kyle Robinson-Cherokee

FEATURE: Dustin Smith—Andy Boeckman—Josh Bieret—Tony Pogeler—Cody Lucas—Mark Hill—Matt Schmillen—Trent Murphy—Matt Mahoney—Kyle Robinson—Merle Bass—Paul Toms—Ross DeWall—Derrick Barglof—Galen Freese—Randy Harlow—Pat Cross—Drew Barglof—Luke Wanninger—Lenny Tucker—Kyle Timmerman—Donovan Smith



RASMUSSENS FORD BVR BOMBERS:

HEAT 1: Nick Smith-Storm Lake—Tim Hansen-Newell—Dan Marrow-Lake City

HEAT 2: Adam Hicks-Lake City—Eric Puhrman-Newell—Shawn Halder-Spencer

FEATURE: Adam Hicks—Devin Smith—Eric Puhrman—Shawn Halder—Nick Smith—Tim Hansen—Dan Marrow—Chris Duitsman—Thomas Haukap—Jess Bieret—Justin Nehring—Keith Demery—Ramon Luna—Jay Wiederin



STORM LAKE HONDA ARTIC CAT BVR 360 B-Mods:

HEAT 1: Jake Simpson-Algona—Mark Utesch-Sioux Center—Doug Ockerman

HEAT 2: Mark White-Spencer—Austin Lucas-Cherokee—Casey Friedrichsen-Arthur

HEAT 3: Greg Hammon-Moville—Tony Ross-Marcus—Travis Schueller-Primghar

FEATURE: Jake Simpson—Austin Lucas—Casey Friedrichsen—Brandon Lucas—Dan Hanselman—Jason Grage—Greg Hammon—Jon Ziegmann—Ronnie Fogelman—Harvey Van De Weer—Mark White—Doug Ockerman—Matt Sangwin—Mark Utesch—Tony Ross—Travis Schueller—Doug Barglof