After postponing a week due to unseasonable cold and a skiff of snow, the 2021 season opener at the Southern Iowa Speedway faced a different challenge on Wednesday. Spring-like showers that passed through Oskaloosa in the morning helped with track prep, but when a more substantial line built up just south and east of the speedway it likely left many people wondering if there was actually going to be races on this night. I was driving through the "lakes" from overtaxed storm drains as I left Mount Pleasant and I didn't drive out of the rain until I reached Ottumwa. just 25 miles south of the track and a primary area that the drivers and fans come from on Wednesday nights. Still there was a solid crowd on hand for opening night even though the car count may have been hampered by the iffy weather. And, even though the early radar showed that we should be home free come race time, a light shower midway through the heat races produced a twenty-seven minute delay in the action.
Seven Sprint Cars signed in although local favorite A.J. Johnson never made it to the speedway and they were the first of five features on the card. Pole-sitter Kelly Graham got the jump on perennial winner Jonathan Hughes at the drop of the green, but exiting turn four to complete the first lap Hughes sailed around the outside of Graham to take the lead.
The caution waved on lap three when the third-place car of Robert Bell slapped the turn one guardrail and while Graham tried to keep pace on the restart, Hughes would pull away for yet another win after completing a perfect season in 2020. Ben Woods took the third spot, Doug Sylvester was fourth and Lance Silvers completed the field.
A solid field of sixteen Sport Compacts lined up next for ten laps with pole-sitter Billy Cain getting out to the early lead. As Cain pulled away from a charging Clayton Webster, the battle for third was intense between James Haring, Lewie Winkelman and Trent Orwig and when Winkelman spun out of the pack in turn two after taking the white flag, a caution was thrown resulting in a green, white, checkers restart.
Webster tried to take advantage of this development looking for his second win of the week after topping the field at Eldon Saturday night, but Cain was able to ward him off to take the victory. Haring would finish in the third spot with Nathan Moody taking fourth. Kolby Sabin finished in the fifth spot holding off a hard charging Winkelman who passed several cars after restarting from the rear.
After taking several years off from racing to devote more time to family, Rick Van Dusseldorp returned to the Hobby Stock class a couple of years ago and he would have been the first to tell you that he was not as competitive as he used to be. That started to change midway through last year though and after winning on Saturday night in Eldon and again here tonight in Oskaloosa it is safe to say that Van Dusseldorp is back!
Yes, he started from the pole in tonight's fourteen lap finale, but he had strong competition knocking on his back door, literally, throughout the distance. Keaton Gordon twice had a run on the leader coming down the front stretch and as Van Dusseldorp came up the track there was some contact with both drivers doing a nice job of maintaining control. It was a great four car battle for the lead with Dustin Griffiths and Brad Stephens also involved, and when they closed in on slower traffic Stephens got shuffled out of the mix and spun on the wet grass at the bottom of turn three with four laps to go.
During the caution Gordon went to the work area to cool a hot motor and on the restart Griffiths made a couple of strong challenges that would come up short as Van Dusseldorp scored the win. Aaron Martin started seventh and finished third, Travis Bunnell was fourth and Tyler Graves held off Gordon for fifth.
Some of the best B-Modified drivers in the region were part of the twelve car field next to go racing with Blaine Webster leading the opening lap from the pole. Logan Anderson started fourth and was on the move driving past Webster on the second trip around "The Mahaska Monster" and he was able to open up a bit of an advantage. The man to beat here over the past few years though has been Curtis Van Der Wal and he was on the move after starting fifth.
With four laps remaining in this non-stop race Van Der Wal had caught Anderson and would show him a bumper on the outside in turns three and four. Then with Anderson aimed for the cushion into turn one Van Der Wal would dive to the bottom and pull off the perfect slider to take the lead and yet another win here at his hometown facility. Anderson would have to settle for second with Webster in third, Bristol winner Maguire DeJong finished fourth ahead of Tyler Heckart and defending All Iowa Points champion Brayton Carter.
The Stock Cars traditionally bring down the curtain each night at Osky and Dustin Griffiths would lead the way at the drop of the green. Impressive rookie Trenton Witt suffered mechanical issues in turn four requiring a caution on lap three and following the restart Derrick Agee would apply the pressure to Griffiths.
Agee would make the pass in turn four halfway through the sixteen lap affair and Griffiths would not give in staying right with the new leader. Jason McDaniel was trying to make it a three car battle for the lead until something let loose in his car and he spun in his own fluid exiting turn four. Amazingly after a brief look in the work area McDaniel would restart at the rear, but would then pull in after one lap under the green.
Griffiths continued to try to regain his lead and as the checkered flag went into the air he would come up just a half car length short as Agee scored the win. Donnie Pearson was solid in third, Howard Gordon Jr. finished fourth and Nathan Wood filled out the top five.
Even with the rain delay we were on our way home before 10:30 and next week at the Southern Iowa Speedway the popcorn will be free! What better way to spend a Wednesday night in Iowa?
For more Positively Racing coverage from this event check in with Dick and Joyce as well as the Wisconsin based Super Fan Ed Reichert.
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