Windy weather with a threat of rain shower’s quickly gave way to two wheel vehicles on
Wednesday night at the Buena Vista Raceway
By Denny Grabenbauer

Buena Vista, Ia. (May 24, 2006) - Windy weather with a threat of rain shower’s quickly gave way to two wheel vehicles on Wednesday night at the Buena Vista Raceway as the yearly stop over from the Christian Motorcycle Association were on hand for week number seven. For the second week in a row, very strong westerly winds would have the track crew scrambling, trying to keep the track in good racing condition. “This week we anticipated for the wind, but then the sun didn’t come out, so the water stayed on top, it was a little muddy when we started but at least the dust wasn’t a problem, and it did make for a good track by feature time,” said Lee Meyer.

Cary Klatt would start the evening off with the invocation followed by Henry Derkson singing the National Anthem and then it was time to release the horsepower of the eighty-six race teams that were on hand. Visitors at the raceway would range from Berlin Germany to Petaluma California, as week number seven was ready to come alive.

All of the heat races were run with only a couple of yellow flags as all drivers seemed to be on there good behavior, and just wanted to get there Memorial weekend off and running.

Joel Ziegmann would be the only first time feature winner of the evening, as Ziegmann would start inside the second row inside of the Fitzpatrick Auto Center I.M.C.A. Modified feature. James Slawson would take the lead from his pole position start, but would lose the lead to Ziegmann on the opening lap. A quick yellow would bunch the field together on the restart, as Jeff Anderson, Ziegmann and Slawson would race three wide for position. While this trio was racing and battling for the lead, Ricky Stephan, who started tenth was working his way toward the front. By lap seven, Stephan would have the lead. It would be a side-by-side battle as Stephan and Ziegmann would race other side by side. Between laps thirteen and sixteen this duo would exchange the lead during every lap. With four laps to go, Ziegmann would make a pass for the lead and start to pull away from Stephan, making this feature of the best Modified features of the year. Finishing third was Justin Sackett and forth would go to Jeff Stephens.

With only seven weeks into the year, the point battle in the Scooters Bar & Grill I.M.C.A. Stock Cars is living up to its billing. The battle between Brian Blessington and David Smith is quickly showing its strength. The two former track champions will either be tied, or one will have a slight advantage over the other at the end of weekly action and this week carried true to form. Tied at the start of the night, Smith would win his second feature in a row to now have a one-point lead over Blessington who finished second. Dale Woodard who crashed hard two week earlier would have his second top four finish of the year in a car that Woodard said was bent, because of the accident, which left him on top of the retaining wall on the back straight a way. Finishing forth would be Randy Lawrey.

Matt Sangwin would again prove that his moving up to the Storm Lake Artic Cat 360 B-Mod class was the right thing to do as he would take the lead on lap four and pick up his second win of the season. Driving like a seasoned veteran, Matt who started fifth would run a perfect race in route to the victory. Harvey VanDeWeerd, defending track champion Mark White and four-time feature winner Jake Simpson, followed Sangwin across the finish line.

For the fifth time in the first seven weeks, Donovan Smith would go to victory lane in the Storm Lake Truck & Trailer I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock class. Donovan would take the lead from brother Doug on lap ten to score the victory, in the only one yellow flag run race. Kyle Timmerman would post his best run of the year as he finished third followed by Dustin Smith.

Devin Smith would score his forth win and his second in as many weeks in the Rasmussen Ford BVR Bomber division. Smith would take the lead from Jess Bieret on the opening lap, then drive off and leave the field in the green to checkered feature event. Bieret would finish second followed by point lead Adam Hicks and Gary Duitsman who posted his second top four finish after coming out of retirement just one week before.

The month of May will come to an end at the raceway next Wednesday night with the Bobs Garage & Auto Shop week number eight at the races. The gates will open up at 6:00 followed by hot laps at 6:45 and the first race of the evening will begin at 7:30. Any young lady that is interested in becoming the next Alta Raceway Queen, the entries forms and now available and can be picked up at the raceway or contact Christy Danielson at 712-213-1297 for more information. Judging will be on the afternoon of June 14th, and the winner will be announced that evening at the races.


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

HEAT 1: Brad Williams-Lytton—James Slawson-Spencer—Brian Schmitt-Wall Lake
HEAT 2: Jeff Anderson-Atlantic—Joel Ziegmann-Odebolt—Ricky Stephan-S. Sioux City

FEATURE: Joel Ziegmann—Ricky Stephan—Justin Sackett—Jeff Stephens—Jim Thies—Jay Noteboom—Derek Smith—Bruce Bonnesen—Loren Reuter—Clay Christensen—Mike Albertson—Randy Brands—James Slawson—Jason Briese—Mike Hansen—Brad Williams—Jeff Anderson—Brian Schmitt



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

HEAT 1: Bud Mattson-Alta—Brian Blessington-Breda—Mark Stanley-Storm Lake
HEAT 2: David Smith-Lake City—Randy Lawrey—Marcus—Dale Woodard-Storm Lake

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



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

HEAT 1: Donovan Smith-Lake City—Kyle Timmerman-Lake City—Doug Smith-Lake City
HEAT 2: Tony Pogeler-Cherokee—Ross DeWall-Lytton—Paul Toms-Lytton
HEAT 3: Dustin Smith-Lake City—Drew Barglof-Sioux Rapids—Troy Woelbur-Hull

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



RASMUSSENS FORD BVR BOMBERS:

HEAT 1: Jess Bieret-Wall Lake—Eric Puhrman-Newell—Dave Hildreth-Rockwell City
HEAT 2: Adam Hicks-Lake City—Devin Smith-Lake City—Nick Smith-Storm Lake

FEATURE: Devin Smith—Jess Bieret—Adam Hicks—Gary Duitsman—Eric Puhrman—Merle Bass—Justin Nehring—Shawn Halder—Tomas Haukap—Tim Hansen—Dave Hildreth—Ramon Luna



STORM LAKE HONDA ARTIC CAT BVR 360 B-Mods:

HEAT 1: Doug Cook-Whittemore—Mark White-Spencer—Jason Grage-Remsen
HEAT 2: Austin Lucas-Cherokee—Matt Sangwin-Aurelia—Harvey VanDeWeerd-Granville

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