Benton County Speedway (June 14)

Justin Temeyer (56T) and Norman Chesmore duke it out during IMCA stock car action at Benton County Speedway on June 14. - Scott Tjabring/Action Track Photography

Vinton, Iowa - It had been a while since I've visited Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa. I invited a couple of friends of mine, Dan Williams and Jim Gase, to get out of the house and join me.

I had gotten a couple of reports from BCS not only of the great racing but how well run the programs were. Sunday nights are tough to host races because people have to work the next morning and don't want to be out all night. I had heard that most of the races there were over by 9 or 9:30 on most nights, which is good. I've been to too many Sunday night programs where you were leaving the facility at 10 or 10:30, way too late.

BCS has always had a loyal fan following and great car counts and tonight was no exception. We arrived shortly before 5:00 to find seats and there were plenty to choose from. By the time hot laps commenced, seats were few and far between. A packed house week after week is always a pleasant site to any promoter.

The car count was great in all classes with 24 Sportmods, 25 hobby stocks, 26 modifieds, 21 stock cars and 12 sport compacts on hand. Throw in a few cruisers and a total of 114 cars filled the pit area. Having the four main classes as well balanced as they were, you know you're in for a great night of racing.

A couple of familiar names were at the microphone tonight. Jim Roper was the long-time announcer at Independence Motor Speedway for years and is now a co-announcer at Vinton. Jim has a great voice for calling the action. Another familiar voice was Bucky Doren of Waterloo, Iowa. You may remember Bucky as the voice of the World Dirt Racing League for a couple of seasons. They trade off for each division and never miss a beat. They did a fine job tonight making sure you knew who was who and what was going on at all times.

I've always considered BCS as a "survival of the fittest" type track. Stick your nose where it's not wanted and it can get cut off. Don't stick your nose in and you might be taking up the rear of field during the action. It's grass roots racing at its finest and an entertaining way to spend a Sunday evening.

Austin Kaplan of Ankeny, Iowa sure knows his way around Iowa tracks. He's had a lot of success in a short time in the IMCA Sportmod division. Tonight the young man showed he knows how to take advantage of re-starts. Kaplan moved up a total of three spots on two separate occasions to secure the lead and the victory tonight.

The IMCA hobby stocks always bring the promise of slammin and bang 'em and tonight was no different. With two and three wide racing throughout the pack, you never knew what might happen next. Brad Forbes of Waterloo, Iowa managed to keep his nose clean throughout the contest and hung on for the win. Brad remarked in victory lane that the past three weeks had been tough on him and this win more than made up for it.

The IMCA modifieds are the headliner and tonight's main event was one of the best modified features I've witnessed in quite a while. Waterloo, Iowa's "Showtime" Joey Schaefer and Cedar Rapids, Iowa's "Mad" Max Corporon battled nose to tail, side by side for numerous laps, each not giving an inch.

IMCA modifieds go three-wide down the backstretch at Benton County Speedway on June 12. - Scott Tjabring/Action Track Photography

A spectacular accident on the backstretch involving Buster Pate, Dennis Betzer and Shawn Fisher brought a red flag out midway through. After the clean-up, the race between Schaefer and Corporon resumed but this time Vinton, Iowa's Scott Hogan decided to make it a three-car race. At one point, Hogan made it three-wide before fading, leaving the tussle.

In the waning laps, Schaefer hugged the inside while Corporon tried to get is nose in to make the pass. Finally, with three laps left, Corporon managed to do just that and get by Schaefer for the lead and the win, his first at Vinton.

The IMCA stock car feature was equally good with Justin Temeyer and "Stormin" Norman Chesmore battling it out for 15 laps. Temeyer got by Chesmore midway through the contest to take the lead and looked to be off to the races. Chelsea, Iowa's Damon Murty, who started mid-pack had gradually made his way towards the front and got by Chesmore with just a few laps left. Unfortunately for Murty, he ran out of laps to give Temeyer and challenge and Justin grabbed the victory.

We walked out of there at exactly 9:00, three hours after the first green dropped. It was a great night of action-packed racing done in an efficient manner. What more could you ask for?

A special thanks goes out to Dan Engledow and his staff in the concession area. BCS has some of the best track food around with plenty of variety and home made items on the menu. Everything is reasonably priced and very tasty.

Thanks for reading. See you at the races...