STEPHENS HOLDS STRONG FOR THE WIN AT SHELBY COUNTY SPEEDWAY
by Bonnie Errett

HARLAN, IA (July 22, 2006) – Drivers were locked, loaded, and ready to race for Pitts Chiropractic night at Shelby County Speedway this Saturday with an amazing Modified feature finishing out the night.

Jeff Stephens had control of the IMCA Modified feature by the end of lap one with Chase Mewhirter in second. After a caution four laps into the race, Jeff Anderson, who began the race in tenth, powered into third with Brad "Blackie" Madsen right behind in fourth. Three laps later, Anderson sharply gained control of second and Madsen followed to grab third. Halfway through the race, the two Jeffs had stretched out in front of the pack and began their grueling battle for the win. Down the backstretch, Anderson pulled along the low side of Stephens but was held off until the next lap when the two expertly began running side-by-side. Throughout their battle, Stephens and Anderson remarkably pulled into an even larger straight-a-way lead. A caution at three laps to go paused racing action. Stephens was the leader at this point, but a fight to the finish was anticipated from last week’s feature winner, Anderson. At the next start, Ricky Stephan stole third from Madsen as Anderson looked high. The white flag was thrown with Stephens and Anderson side-by-side once again. Both ferociously raced to the finish line, but Stephens pulled slightly ahead before the checkered flags were thrown.

The ProAm feature was first led by heat winner Tim Podraza, with John Allensworth in second. Down the backstretch of the first lap, Kerry Kierscht, Denny Berghahn Jr., and Ryan Branz were running three-wide in competition for third. The track was not quite wide enough across the front, and Branz skidded along the wall. The second lap of the race found Kierscht with second and Matt McAtee up to third after coming from a tenth starting position. By the next lap, Kierscht was in first, and at ten to go, McAtee snuck by Podraza on the low side for second. With six laps left, Denny Berghahn Sr. stole fourth from his son as Kierscht pulled away. Holding off McAtee, Kierscht entered victory lane for his first win of the season at the speedway.

Weaving above and below his contenders, Tim Bengard exploded up to the lead on the first lap of the IMCA Stock Car feature. Josh Filmer held second and Trent Partridge third as Keith Knop fought around Andy Miller for fourth. Partridge maneuvered up a position and Knop followed as David Smith joined the top four. Smith quickly picked off two more positions to claim second and Knop followed, moving his car back up to third. The caution was thrown at four to go, taking away Bengard’s powerful lead and bringing the field back together. Brian Blessington jumped up to fourth at the next start as Smith searched for a route into the lead. Smith chose the low route and inched ahead of Bengard down the backstretch of the final lap. Bengard held strong, pushing ahead of Smith off turn four and darting to the checkered flags to take the win by half of a car.

Jason Nielsen escorted the IMCA Hobby Stocks into their feature and held onto the lead ahead of Blain Petersen as the green flag was thrown. Kenny Hansen had the third spot until turn one of the second lap when Trent Murphy got around him on the outside. Rapidly moving forward, Dustin Smith was next to take third on the following lap of the race after starting ninth. Down the backstretch with nine to go, Smith ascended to second, and he had the lead by the flag stand. Murphy then worked his way up to second while fighting off Hansen. With four laps remaining, Tanner Powers pulled into third, but at two to go smoke began pouring out from underneath his car. Powers left the race on the final lap as Dustin Smith coasted across the finish line with the win.

After starting the race in fourth, Joseph Mefferd shot into first at the drop of the green flag of the Hornet feature. The front spot was taken by Willy Muhr down the backstretch, and by the end of lap one, Daniel Smith had jumped from last to third. Corey Madden took on Smith for third, and the two battled until a caution came out for Mefferd with two laps to go. The dueling duo was sent to the back for rough driving, and Jacob Clarkan, Matt Steffens, and Andrew Hicks filled out the top four behind Muhr who was still in the lead. Muhr led the pack to the finish line to check off another win.

Next Saturday will be Pizza Ranch night with gates opening at 5:00 pm, hot laps at 6:30 pm, and racing immediately following.

Results for 07/22/06

I.M.C.A. Modifieds

A-Feature: 1. 92 Jeff Stephens, Arion; 2. 78 Jeff Anderson, Atlantic; 3. 25 Ricky Stephan, S. Sioux City, NE; 4. 54 Brad Madsen, Kimballton; 5. 1R Craig Reetz, Dunlap; 6. Z62 Dan McKeighan, Carter Lake; 7. 2R Dale Ransom, Denison; 8. 19J Jeff Jones, C.B.; 9. 91B B.J. Bruck, Westphalia; 10. 11 Chad Dills, Shelby; 11. 6C Eric Meents, Denison; 12. 34 James Showers, Mo. Valley; 13. 12 Bill Osbahr, Avoca; 14. 28 Chase Mewhirter, Atlantic; 15. 17P Tim Plowman, Woodbine; 16. 2K Chad Preul, Westside; 17. 62 Greg Cox, Altoona; 18. 73 Travis Mewhirter, Atlantic

1st Heat: Anderson, McKeighan, Dills, Mewhirter

2nd Heat: Stephens, Stephan, Plowman, Ransom

3rd Heat: Osbahr, Madsen, Reetz, Showers

ProAms

A-Feature: 1. 11K Kerry Kierscht, Denison; 2. 6M Matt McAtee, Crescent; 3. 3T Tim Podraza; 4. 6X Denny Berghahn, Omaha; 5. 6 Denny Berghahn, Jr., Omaha; 6. 4 Galen Grabill, Harlan; 7. 40 Charles Grabill, Harlan; 8. 81 Dwain Pelzer, Malvern; 9. 96 Matt Smith; 10. 2 Mike Brown, Glenwood; 11. 71 Bill Hargens, Omaha; 12. 9X John Allensworth Sr.; 13. 7ET Sheldon Thompson, Glidden; 14. 10 Ryan Brans; 15. 20 Randy Archer, Glenwood; 16. 1K Heath Kasperbaur, Dedham

1st Heat: Brown, Berghahn, Jr., Hargens, Allensworth Sr.

2nd Heat: Podraza, Berghahn, Brans, McAtee

I.M.C.A. Stock Cars

A-Feature: 1. 19B Tim Bengard, Exira; 2. 8 David Smith, Lake City; 3. 10X Keith Knop, Avoca; 4. 92B Brian Blessington, Breda; 5. 76 Trent Partridge, Elk Horn; 6. 96 Jason Rold, Hancock; 7. 01U Chirs Ullrich, Kiron; 8. 7 Clay Christian, Avoca; 9. 4K Mick King, C.B.; 10. 90 Andy Miller, Carson; 11. P42 Dave Plowman, Gretna; 12. 37X Rick Christensen, Audubon; 13. 38 Josh Filmer, Lake City; 14. 69X Shane Nielsen, Panora; 15. 29 Tanner Partridge, Walnut; 16. 56G Kevin Godwin, Earlham; 17. 63 Mike Nichols, Harlan; 18. ZR1 Ryan Webb, Denison

1st Heat: Bengard, Partridge, Smith, Webb

2nd Heat: Knop, Blessington, Miller, Filmer

I.M.C.A. Hobby Stocks

A-Feature: 1. 85 Dustin Smith, Lake City; 2. 25X Trent Murphy, Jefferson; 3. 74N Jason Nielsen, Underwood; 4. 2X Chuck Madden Jr., Avoca; 5. 68+1 Blaine Petersen, Essex; 6. 3S Brian Snell, Coon Rapids; 7. 5G Tyler Griffen; 8. 14K Kenny Hansen; 9. 55 Jason Fusselman, Shelby; 10. 83 Mike Harris, Avoca; 11. 11G Nyle Godwin, Redfield; 12. 25M Michael Murphy, Jefferson; 13. 121 Robert Tippery, C.B.; 14. 14 Jay Hansen, Audubon; 15. 7W Willie Ransom, Irwin; 16. 60 Tanner Powers, Exira; 17. 77JX Shawn Chapman, Harlan; 18. 16X Charlie Bird; 19. 4W Joe Wollenhaupt; 20. 77 Rick Hansen, Manilla; 21. 35 Donovan Smith, Lake City; 22. 15 Dale Towne, Avoca; 23. 98 Derrick Rohe; 24. 25 Bob Lee, Griswold

1st Heat: Griffen, Fusselman, Ransom, Hansen

2nd Heat: Powers, Snell, Murphy, Towne

3rd Heat: Smith, Nielsen, Madden Jr., Petersen

Hornets

A-Feature: 1. 84 Willy Muhr, Exira; 2. 01X Jacob Clarkan, Atlantic; 3. 63x Matt Steffens, Atlantic; 4. 26 Andrew Hicks, Dunlap; 5. 35 Daniel Smith, Lake City; 6. 3 Joseph Mefferd, Dunlap; 7. 27 Allan Schmidt, Holstein; 8. 38SS Scott Watts, C.B.; 9. 2 Corey Madden, Avoca; 10. 00 Bayley Nicholl, Audubon; 11. 68 Daniel Mefferd, Dunlap

1st Heat: Clarkan, Steffens, Smith, Hicks

2nd Heat: Muhr, Madden, Mefferd, Nicholl