Scelzi Sweeps Sprint Invaders Action at 34 Raceway
by Brian Neal
West Burlington, IA (Saturday, August 19, 2017) – Great weather not only greeted the fans, but also the drivers on Saturday, August 26th at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. As the Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders returned to the track for their third stop of the 2017 season. At the end of the nights action one driver swept the action for his first win of the season, while four others earned multiple wins on the season.
The first feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Victory Lane Suspensions IMCA Modifieds, with Johnathan Huston and Mitch Boles on the front row. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as Dustin Smith slowed to a stop in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Huston jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Boles and Creston Williams. While Huston paced the field out front, Brandon Rothzen, who started 10th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 3 Rothzen took over second and then went to work on Huston for the top spot. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 5 when Todd Malmstrom spun in turn 2 from contact from Rich Smith to bring out the yellow. On the restart Darrow Lillie spun off the track in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The next restart saw James Raleigh and Lillie get together in turn 2 to bring the yellow out. Another restart produced another caution, as Williams, Dugan Thye, Bill Roberts Jr., and Brock Bauman got crossed up in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Huston moved back out front on the next restart, with Rothzen and Dean McGee close behind. Two more laps complete and another caution came on, as Raleigh spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Huston jumped back out front, with Rothzen and McGee still following. Rothzen tried to work under Huston over the next 5 laps, but Huston was able to hold him off. That was until coming out of turn 2 to complete lap 14, as Huston got high and allowed Rothzen to slip under him for the lead. Then just after the lap was scored complete Boles would spin in turn 2 to bring out the final caution of the race. Rothzen grabbed the lead on the restart, with Huston close behind and Cody Bauman, who started 8th, over taking McGee for third. Huston would follow in Rothzen’s tire tracks over the final laps, but wasn’t able to over take him for the lead. As Rothzen held on to pick up his third win of the season at the track. Huston was 2nd, Cody Bauman was 3rd, McGee was 4th, with Rich Smith recovering from his involvement in the lap 5 caution to come back up to finish in 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap Casebine Credit Union IMCA SportMod feature, with Ryan Miller and Randy LaMar leading the field to green. But it was third place starter Tom Lathrop who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Ron Kibbe, who started 5th, and LaMar. Lathrop then held the top spot until lap 3, when Kibbe went by to take over the top spot. Kibbe then started to pull away from the field, as Kyle Hill, who started 7th, and Austen Becerra, who started 9th, were trying to work their way towards the front. Just as it looked like Kibbe was heading for his first career SportMod win, the first and only caution of the race slowed the action on lap 8. Lathrop would spin in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Kibbe jumped back out front, but now had Becerra and Hill glued to his back bumper. The lead for Kibbe went away on lap 11, as he drifted high of the track in turn 2 which allowed Becerra to slip under him for the lead. Becerra then held off Hill over the final laps to claim his sixth win of the season at 34 Raceway. Hill was 2nd, Dan Keltner started 6th and finished 3rd, Vance Wilson came from 10th to finish in 4th, with LaMar holding on for 5th.
John Helenthal and Drake Fenton drew the front row for the 12 lap Crazy Coyote Mini Hauler Trucks, with Fenton jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Helenthal and Ted Carlson. Just as Fenton started to pull away from the battle for second behind him, the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 3. Carlson would spin in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fenton moved back out front, with Helenthal working to hold off Billy Stanford for second. Stanford was able to get the runner up spot from Helenthal on lap 9, but would run out of laps to challenge Fenton for the win. As Fenton went on to score his third win of the season at the track. Stanford settled for 2nd, Helenthal was 3rd, Dylan Reverend was 4th after starting in 7th, with Lance Applegarth finishing 5th after starting in 8th.
Up next was the 20 lap Pepsi IMCA Stock Car feature, with Ethan Allen and Mark Bowman making up the front row. Allen would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jake Wenig, who started 7th, and Bowman. The lead for Allen only last 1 lap as Wenig slip by for the top spot, with John Oliver Jr., who started 9th, and Tom Bowling Jr., who started 8th, following him into second and third. Wenig, who was working the top of the track, Oliver Jr., the middle, and Bowling Jr., the bottom, raced three wide for the top spot on laps 5, 6 and 7, with Wenig holding them off each time by the finish line to keep the lead. The three car battle up front was slowed for the first time on lap 7, when Chad Krogmeier spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wenig moved back out front, with Oliver Jr. and Bolwing Jr. close behind. But another lapped scored complete produced another caution, as Derek Schwandt spun in turn 4 from contact from Cody Washburne to bring out the yellow. Wenig once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Bowling Jr. and Shane Watts, who started 10th, getting by Oliver Jr. A third caution slowed the action on lap 10, as Allen spun in turn 4 from contact from Oliver Jr. to bring out the yellow. On the restart disaster would strike three of the top four running cars, as a parts failure wouldn’t allow Wenig to get up to speed coming off turn four. Ray Raker, who was running 3rd, and Watts, who was running 4th, got collected up with Wenig to bring the yellow light back on.
The following restart saw Brandon Rothzen, who started 13th, slid up in front of Bowling Jr. in turns 1 & 2 to take the lead. But Bowling Jr. would slip back under him coming off turn 4 to keep the lead. As Bowling Jr. and Rothzen battled for the top spot, Oliver Jr., who had to pit with a flat on the lap 10 caution, was working his way back towards the front. By lap 12 Oliver Jr. was back up to 3rd and then was able to get around Rothzen for 2nd on lap 17, when Rothzen got sideways in turn 3. Oliver Jr. then tried to chase down Bowling Jr. for the lead over the final 3 laps. But Bowling Jr. was able to hold him off coming off turn 4 on the final lap to pick up his fourth win of the season at 34 Raceway. Oliver Jr. was 2nd, Rothzen was 3rd, Krogmeier recovered from his spin on lap 7 to come back up to finish in 4th, with Raker recovering from the crash on lap 10 to come back up to finish in 5th.
The 25 lap Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders feature was the final race to take to the track, with Dustin Clark and Tanner Gebhardt making up the front row for the event. Gebhardt would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Clark and Giovanni Scelzi. Scelzi went to the top of the track and used the momentum off turn 4 to edge out Gebhardt at the line by inches to take over the top spot on lap 4. Then just as Scelzi started to pull away from the field and entering lapped traffic the red light would come on to halt the action on lap 8. Jon Agan, who was running 7th, took a hard roll in turn three to bring out the red. He would climb from his car okay. On the restart Scelzi moved back out front, with Josh Scneiderman, who started 6th, over taking Gebhardt for the runner up spot. Despite Scelzi entering lapped traffic on lap 17, and no caution to bunch the field back up, Scelzi would pull away to score his first Sprint Invaders win of the season. Scelzi also won his heat race and the shake-up dash to sweep the nights action. Schneiderman was 2nd, Paul Nienhiser passed 12 cars from his 15th place starting spot to finish in 3rd, Gebhardt was 4th, with Chris Martin came from 10th to finish in 5th.
Coming up next Saturday, August 26th at 34 Raceway will be the Prelude to Season Championship Night. In action on the night will be the WT Gabeline & Sons Trucking 305 Sprints, Victory Lane Suspensions IMCA Modifieds, Pepsi IMCA Stock Cars, Casebine Credit Union IMCA SportMods, Sunoco Fuels Mod Lites, Deery Brothers IMRA Midgets, and Sonny’s Market 4-Cylinders. Additional money will be added to the purse thanks to Pitside Parts out of Donnellson, Iowa. There is NO registration required.
Pit gates will open at 4:30 PM, the grandstands at 5 PM, hot laps at 6:30 PM, and racing at 7 PM. Grandstand admission will be $10 for adults, seniors (60+) and students $8, with kids 10 & under FREE! Pit passes will be $25.
For more information about 34 Raceway you can visit the tracks website at www.34raceway.com, like them of Facebook, or download their new AP on your cell phone.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
34 Raceway, West Burlington, Iowa
Saturday, August 19, 2017 – Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders Night
Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders
A-Feature: 1. Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, CA; 2. Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA; 3. Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL; 4. Tanner Gebhardt, Burlington, IA; 5. Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA; 6. Harold Pohren, Lowell, IA; 7. Ben Wagoner, Emden, IL; 8. John Schulz, West Burlington, IA; 9. Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA; 10. Dustin Clark, Agency, IA; 11. Daniel Bergquist, Burlington, IA; 12. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA; 13. Brayden Gaylord, Wever, IA; 14. Cody Wehrle, Burlington, IA; 15. Justin Buchholz, Davenport, IA; 16. Andy Krieger, Burlington, IA; 17. Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA; 18. Bailey Goldesberry, Springfield, IL; 19. Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA; 20. Donnie Steward, West Burlington, IA
Heat 1: 1. Giovanni Scelzi; 2. Josh Schneiderman; 3. Ben Wagoner; 4. Chris Martin; 5. Donnie Steward; 6. Brayden Gaylord; 7. Cody Wehrle; 8. Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA; 9. John Greenwood, Woodward, IA
Heat 2: 1. Bailey Goldesberry; 2. Tanner Gebhardt; 3. Jon Agan; 4. Daniel Bergquist; 5. John Schulz; 6. Andy Krieger; 7. Rob Weuve, Oakland Acres, IA; 8. Ryan Jamison
Heat 3: 1. Harold Pohren; 2. Dustin Clark; 3. Jamie Ball; 4. Jarrod Schneiderman; 5. Paul Nienhiser; 6. Justin Buchholz; 7. Dave Getchell, Sperry, IA; 8. Damion Getchell, Sperry, IA
B-Feature: 1. Cody Wehrle; 2. Andy Krieger; 3. Brayden Gaylord; 4. Justin Buchholz; 5. Ryan Jamison; 6. Nate Van Haaften; 7. Dave Getchell; 8. Damion Getchell; 9. Rob Weuve; 10. John Greenwood
Shake-up Dash: 1. Giovanni Scelzi; 2. Josh Schneiderman; 3. Dustin Clark; 4. Tanner Gebhardt; 5. Harold Pohren; 6. Bailey Goldesberry
Victory Lane Suspensions IMCA Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. Brandon Rothzen, Gladstone, IL; 2. Johnathan Huston, Columbus Junction, IA; 3. Cody Bauman, Eureka, IL; 4. Dean McGee, Galesburg, IL; 5. Rich Smith, Taylor Ridge, IL; 6. Todd Malmstrom, Silvis, IL; 7. Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 8. Mitch Boles, New London, IA; 9. Chadwick Giberson, Richland, IA; 10. Dugan Thye, Burlington, IA; 11. James Raleigh, Colchester, IL; 12. Creston Williams, Newhall, IA; 13. Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 14. Brock Bauman, Eureka, IL; 15. Darrow Lillie, Burlington, IA; 16. Dave Pries, Medaryville, IN; 17. Dustin Smith, Taylor Ridge, IL
Heat 1: 1. Mitch Boles; 2. Johnathan Huston; 3. Cody Bauman; 4. Dugan Thye; 5. Dustin Smith; 6. Dave Pries
Heat 2: 1. Dean McGee; 2. Chadwick Giberson; 3. Brock Bauman; 4. Dennis LaVeine; 5. Rich Smith; 6. James Raleigh
Heat 3: 1. Bill Roberts Jr.; 2. Brandon Rothzen; 3. Creston Williams; 4. Todd Malmstrom; 5. Darrow Lillie
Pepsi IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. Tom Bowling Jr., Danville, IA; 2. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 3. Brandon Rothzen, Gladstone, IL; 4. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 5. Ray Raker, Burlington, IA; 6. Derek Schwandt, Burlington, IA; 7. Cody Washburne, New London, IA; 8. Shane Watts, Burlington, IA; 9. Joe Gerdes, Burlington, IA; 10. Ethan Allen, Ft. Madison, IA; 11. Jake Wenig, Burlington, IA; 12. Mark Bowman, Burlington, IA; 13. Scott Jordan, Wapello, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. Chad Krogmeier; 2. John Oliver Jr.; 3. Jake Wenig; 4. Mark Bowman; 5. Ethan Allen; 6. Cody Washburne; 7. Brandon Rothzen
Heat 2: 1. Tom Bowling Jr.; 2. Shane Watts; 3. Derek Schwandt; 4. Ray Raker; 5. Joe Gerdes; 6. Scott Jordan
Casebine Credit Union IMCA SportMods
A-Feature: 1. Austen Becerra, Carthage, IL; 2. Kyle Hill, New London, IA; 3. Daniel Keltner, Grandview, IA; 4. Vance Wilson, Quincy, IL; 5. Randy LaMar, Buffalo, IA; 6. Sean Wyett, Danville, IA; 7. Ron Kibbe, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 8. Cody Layman, Ainsworth, IA; 9. Tom Lathrop, Ottumwa, IA; 10. Ryan Miller, Gladstone, IL; 11. Jason Delzell, Wapello, IA; 12. Jacob Whittington, Davenport, IA; 13. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA
Heat 1: 1. Tom Lathrop; 2. Ron Kibbe; 3. Vance Wilson; 4. Sean Wyett; 5. Ryan Miller; 6. Jason Delzell; 7. John Oliver Jr.
Heat 2: 1. Daniel Keltner; 2. Kyle Hill; 3. Austen Becerra; 4. Randy LaMar; 5. Jacob Whittington; 6. Cody Layman
Crazy Coyote Mini Hauler Trucks
A-Feature: 1. Drake Fenton, Burlington, IA; 2. Billy Stanford, Wapelo, IA; 3. John Helenthal, Nauvoo, IL; 4. Dylan Reverend, Danville, IA; 5. Lance Applegarth, Burlington, IA; 6. Ted Carlson, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 7. Jacob Ruble, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 8. Tim Wagner, Wapello, IA
Heat: 1. Billy Stanford; 2. Drake Fenton; 3. John Helenthal; 4. Ted Carlson; 5. Tim Wagner; 6. Jacob Ruble; 7. Dylan Reverend; 8. Lance Applegarth
Category: Iowa
