SHELBY COUNTY SPEEDWAY SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS
by Bonnie Errett

HARLAN, IA (Sept. 23, 2006) – After two rain-outs, Shelby County Speedway got in its season championships to bring the 2006 racing season to a close. The points battle wrapped up with Greg Cox reigning in the IMCA Modifieds, Matt McAtee excelling in the ProAms, David Smith winning in a close battle in the Stock Cars, Donovan Smith dominating in the IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Joseph Mefferd triumphing in the Hornets. All feature races began with the point leaders on the pole and the remaining lining up according to points.

Following a restart in the IMCA Modified feature, Greg Cox jumped into an early lead ahead of Jeff Stephens and Craig Reetz. Five laps into the race, Stephens slid by Cox down the backstretch to grab hold of the front position. Tim Plowman and Ricky Stephan fought for fifth, trading the position multiple times, behind Chad Preul in fourth. At fourteen to go, Cox was black-flagged for smoke, leaving the lead to Stephens. Reetz, Preul, and Plowman filled in the top four positions. Plowman progressed to third with seven laps remaining, and Bill Osbahr was right behind to take the fourth spot. Holding off the pack to the checkered flags, Stephens received the win.

The ProAm feature took off with Matt McAtee leading the pack in front of Galen Grabill and Mike Brown. In the outside of turn two, Denny Berghahn grabbed third from Brown and Charles Grabill shifted up to the fourth spot on the second lap of the race. Berghahn maneuvered up to second, but quickly gave the position up to Charles, just before Galen spun in turn four to bring out the caution. At the continuation of the feature, Charles pulled alongside McAtee and seized the lead with nine laps remaining. Tony Hardisty battled Berghahn for third throughout the next few laps, while McAtee reclaimed first. At four to go Charles took back the front spot and clutched the lead to the finish line ahead of McAtee, Berghahn, and Hardisty.

Manning the front row, Brian Blessington and David Smith lead the IMCA Stock Cars through the drop of the green flag. Smith pulled slightly ahead of Blessington at the start and had control of the lead by the second lap of the race. Down the front stretch of the next lap, Blessington was taken three-wide by Tim Bengard and Keith Knop, with the two moving up to second and third. Smith powered forward to increase his lead as Blessington worked on Knop for third, taking the position with six to go. Blessington pushed for second through the rest of the race, but he was held off by Bengard. With a straightaway lead, Smith cruised to victory lane for the track championship and to secure the national points championship in the IMCA Stock Cars.

Donovan Smith came from the pole of the IMCA Hobby Stock feature to take the lead in turn one ahead of Tyler Griffen. Following a three-wide contention for third, Dale Towne pulled through with the position to beat out Blain Petersen and Brian Snell, but Petersen charged forward and swiped third from Towne at eight to go. Towne held strong, and with five laps remaining, he shot by both Petersen and Griffen to move up to second. With four left, Dustin Smith joined the top four just before the caution was thrown. When the race continued, Towne snatched the lead, but rain began to fall and the race instantly ended in a yellow-checkered finish with the final positions taken from the previous lap. Donovan claimed the victory with Towne, Griffen, and Dustin rounding out the top four.

The rain quickly let off allowing the Hornets to hit the track for their feature event, but in turn one of the opening lap, Willy Muhr and Daniel Smith rolled to immediately bring the race to a stop. Once the track was cleared off, the race resumed, and Bayley Nicholl was the first leader. Scott Watts and Cody Klein traveled by Daniel Mefferd on the low side to take second and third down the backstretch of the first lap. Klein continued forward to steal the second spot and Joseph Mefferd jumped up to third. At three to go, Klein was on Nicholl’s tail, and through the inside of turn three he captured the lead. With two laps remaining Nicholl fought back, but Joseph snuck by to take second. Klein coasted to the win ahead of Joseph and Nicholl.

Results for 9/23/06

I.M.C.A. Modifieds

A-Feature: 1. 92 Jeff Stephens, Arion; 2. 1R Craig Reetz, Dunlap; 3. 17P Tim Plowman, Woodbine; 4. 12 Bill Osbahr, Avoca; 5. 2K Chad Preul, Westside; 6. 11 Chad Dills, Shelby; 7. 5M Jason Murray, Hartford; 8. 25 Ricky Stephan, S. Sioux City, NE; 9. 6C Eric Meents, Denison; 10. 73 Travis Mewhirter, Atlantic; 11. 28 Chase Mewhirter, Atlantic; 12. 62 Greg Cox, Altoona; 13. 34 James Showers, Mo. Valley; 14. 127 Randy Brands, Boyden; 15. 7N Jay Noteboom, Hinton

ProAms

A-Feature: 1. 40 Charles Grabill, Harlan; 2. 6M Matt McAtee, Crescent; 3. 6X Denny Berghahn, Omaha; 4. 2X Tony Hardisty, Corning; 5. 6 Denny Berghahn, Jr., Omaha; 6. 3T Tim Podraza; 7. 4 Galen Grabill, Harlan; 8. 13 Louie Ring, Shelby; 9. 71 Bill Hargens, Omaha; 10. 2 Mike Brown, Glenwood; 11. 10x Timothy Berghahn, Omaha; 12. 96 Matt Smith

I.M.C.A. Stock Cars

A-Feature: 1. 8 David Smith, Lake City; 2. 19B Tim Bengard, Exira; 3. 92B Brian Blessington, Breda; 4. 10X Keith Knop, Avoca; 5. 4K Mick King, C.B.; 6. P42 Dave Plowman, Gretna; 7. 01U Chirs Ullrich, Kiron; 8. 90 Andy Miller, Carson; 9. 26 Bill Reetz, Carroll; 10. 96 Jason Rold, Hancock; 11. 63 Mike Nichols, Harlan; 12. 38 Josh Filmer, Lake City; 13. 37X Rick Christensen, Audubon; 14. 23HR Rod Richards, Madrid; 15. 29 Tanner Partridge, Walnut; 16. 90X Leland Mitchell, Bondurant; 17. 76 Trent Partridge, Elk Horn

I.M.C.A. Hobby Stocks

A-Feature: 1. 35 Donovan Smith, Lake City; 2. 15 Dale Towne, Avoca; 3. 5G Tyler Griffen; 4. 85 Dustin Smith, Lake City; 5. 3S Brian Snell, Coon Rapids; 6. 60 Tanner Powers, Exira; 7. 55 Jason Fusselman, Shelby; 8. 14 Jay Hansen, Audubon; 9. 25M Michael Murphy, Jefferson; 10. 7W Willie Ransom, Irwin; 11. 30C Les Cassady, Dexter; 12. 98 Derrick Rohe; 13. 77JX Shawn Chapman, Harlan; 14. 68+1 Blaine Petersen, Essex; 15. 75 Kurt Hansen; 16. 74N Jason Nielsen, Underwood; 17. 37F Gallen Freese, Galva; 18. 14K Kenny Hansen; 19. 29R Denny Ranson, Irwin

Hornets

A-Feature: 1. 3C Cody Klein, Harlan; 2. 3 Joseph Mefferd, Dunlap; 3. 00 Bayley Nicholl, Audubon; 4. 38SS Scott Watts, C.B.; 5. 68 Daniel Mefferd, Dunlap; 6. 35 Daniel Smith, Lake City; 7. 84 Willy Muhr, Exira