Victory Lane Turns Into Family Reunion
By Denny Grabenbauer

BUENA VISTA, Ia. (May 17, 2006) - For only the second time in this 2006 racing season, mild-weather would greet the large crowd of race fans in the stands and the eighty-four race teams at the Buena Vista Raceway. Even though the temperatures would be mild a new challenge would face promoter Lee Meyer as Farm Bureau week number six, literally blew in on Wednesday night. With a strong westerly breeze, the normally wet and heavy racetrack would take on a new face unfamiliar for many of the competitors. “Our hands were tied, we just felt helpless,” said promoter Lee Meyer. “We put are regular amount of water on the track, but with the wind blowing as hard as it was, the water was not staying on the ground. We were putting the water on, but the track was not getting wet, it was drying so quickly.”

The dry slick racing conditions made for some interesting moments on the track as drivers would have to adjust to this type of track conditions, and with dry comes dust, again, something new for many of the competitors.

Farm Bureau night quickly turned into a Smith Family Reunion in victory lane as the Smith brothers would dominate in the BVR Bombers, I.M.C.A. Hobby Stocks and the I.M.C.A. Stock Cars.

Devin Smith would take the lead on the opening lap of the Rasmussen Ford BVR Bomber feature. Working to the front and around lap traffic Smith would post his third win of the season. Last weeks winner Eric Puhrman would finish second followed by point leader Adam Hicks and Nick Smith.

Paul Toms would hold the early lead in the Storm Lake Truck & Trailer I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock feature before giving way to Dustin Smith on lap two. Donovan Smith would join his brother at the top spot by lap five as the two who started tenth and eleventh respectively, would drive off and leave the rest of the field in the dust. Behind the Smith’s were Matt Schmillen and Tom’s.

Jake Simpson would make it four wins in his four weeks of racing in the Storm Lake Artic Cat 360-B-Mod division. Jason Grage would lead through out the first four circuits before giving way to Simpson on lap five. Point leader Dan Hanselman would finish second followed by Matt Sangwin and Casey Friedrichsen.

Defending track champion David Smith would make the Smith sweep by winning his first feature of the year in the Scooters Bar & Grill I.M.C.A. Stock Car feature. Mark Stanley and Randy Andreason would both share the top spot until at the half way point when Smith, who started ninth would take the lead and go on for his first win of 2006. Jason Mickelson who was involved in a early lap incident would come back to finish second followed by Brian Blessington and Andreason.

The final event of the night would be the Fitzpatrick Auto Center I.M.C.A. 20-lap Modified feature. Yellow flags would be sprinkled out through the race but the turning point in the event would come as the green flag was coming out on lap eleven. Mike Albertson and Brad Williams each would lead in the early going before Jay Noteboom would fly to the front to take the lead on lap four. Noteboom appeared to be on his way to his fifth win of the year when a yellow flag would come out on lap eleven. With Noteboom leading and Jeff Anderson running second, on the restart, Anderson and Noteboom would lock bumper’s and would spin out right as the race was getting starting bringing out the yellow again, and sending both lead drivers to the rear. This would open the door for Williams to go on and score his first win of the year. Ricky Stephan, Albertson and Mike Hansen would round out the top four. Point leader Noteboom would come back to finish seventh and Anderson twelfth.

Next Wednesday night the racing action resumes with the annual Christian Motorcycle Association being on hand at the

3/8-mile raceway. Hot laps will begin at 6:45 with racing to follow at 7:30.

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

HEAT 1: Brad Williams-Lytton—Jay Noteboom-Orange City—Mike Hansen-Alton

HEAT 2: Jeff Anderson-Atlantic—Clay Christensen-Spencer—Randy Brands-Boyden

HEAT 3: Derek Smith-Merrill—Ricky Stephan-S. Sioux City Neb—Mike Albertson-Audubon

FEATURE: Brad Williams—Ricky Stephan—Mike Albertson—Mike Hansen—Jim Thies—Derek Smith—Jay Noteboom—Randy Brands—Brian Schmidt—Jim Mathisson—Jeff Stephens—Jeff Anderson—Jess Cowles—Jason Briese—James Slawson—Clay Christensen—Joel Ziegmann—Bruce Bonnesen



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

HEAT 1: Brian Blessington-Breda—Randy Andreason-Lytton—Bud Mattson-Alta

HEAT 2: David Smith-Lake City—Randy Lawrey-Marcus—Jason Mickelson-Storm Lake

FEATURE: David Smith—Jason Mickelson—Brian Blessington—Randy Andreason—Mark Stanley—Bud Mattson—Jay Brannon—Brian Mattson—Chris Ullrich—Josh Suhr—Stephan Sebesma—Randy Lawrey—Mike Scharn—Mel Elsberry—Tom Sierck



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

HEAT 1: Tony Pogeler-Cherokee—Kyle Robinson-Cherokee—Paul Toms-Lytton

HEAT 2: Dustin Smith-Lake City—Drew Barglof-Sioux Rapids—Merle Bass-Varina

HEAT 3: Donavan Smith-Lake City—Matt Mahoney-Pierson—Trent Murphy-Jefferson

FEATURE: Dustin Smith—Donovan Smith—Matt Schmillen—Paul Toms—Kyle Robinson—Trent Murphy—Troy Woelbur—Matt Mahoney—Mark Hill—Drew Barglof—Jeff Frederich—Cody Lucas—Tony Pogeler—Josh Bieret—Kyle Timmerman—Ross DeWall—Galen Freese—Merle Bass—Michael Loutsch—Mike Jergens—Doug Smith



RASMUSSENS FORD BVR BOMBERS:

HEAT 1: Devin Smith-Lake City—Jess Bieret-Wall Lake—David Hildreth-Rockwell City

HEAT 2: Gary Duitsman-Fonda—Eric Puhrman-Newell—Shawn Halder-Spencer

FEATURE: Devin Smith—Eric Puhrman—Adam Hicks—Nick Smith—Gary Duitsman—Tim Hansen—Shawn Halder—Jess Bieret—Thomas Haukap—Justin Nehring—David Hildreth—Steve Wetherell—Ramon Luna



STORM LAKE HONDA ARTIC CAT BVR 360 B-Mods:

HEAT 1: Casey Friedrichsen-Arthur—Chris Grothe-Schaller—Jason Grage

HEAT 2: Dan Hanselman-Algona—Jason Schneiders-Sioux City—Harvey VanDeWeerd-Granville

HEAT 3: Austin Lucas-Cherokee—Jake Simpson-Algona—Mike Bailey-Schaller

FEATURE: Jake Simpson—Dan Hanselman—Matt Sangwin—Casey Friedrichsen—Jason Schneiders—Austin Lucas—Doug Ockerman—Nick DeLeeuw—Jason Grage—Ronnie Fogelman—Brandon Lucas—Chris Grothe—Harvey VanDeWeerd—Travis Schueller—Tony Ross—Mike Bailey—Doug Cook