US ARMY NIGHT AT BVR
Jeremiah Davis
(06/01/09)
Week 3 at Buena Vista Raceway in Alta was the week of repeats. Week 4 was just the opposite, with new winners in each class, each winner getting their first of the season at BVR, and one notching the first of his career.
The race to watch on Wednesday was most assuredly the IMCA Modified race. With a tacky track for the first time in two weeks, the high powered machines were absolutely flying down the straightaways, reaching well beyond the 100 mph barrier.
At the start of the feature, Stacey Mills of Webb, who had started on pole, rocketed off to a huge lead. Mills car took off coming out of each corner, and it seemed no one was going to catch him.
Behind the 10E machine of Mills was Moville native Justin Sackett and Jason Briese of Cleghorn who were racing hard for second. Their side by side racing allowed several drivers to catch up and make a play at second and third.
While trying to hold off three racers for his position, Sackett lost control in turns three and four, effectively taking away any shot at a top five.
On the restart after Sacketts spin, Briese had to hold onto his second position, fighting off Nick Deal and Jeremy Mills, who was sporting a new paint scheme on Wednesday night. While trying to hold his position, Briese suffered a mechanical failure, and a promising night was over in a flash.
That, as they say, is when business started to pick up. On the restart, Jeremy Mills got a good jump on the restart, and moved to challenge his brother Stacey for the race lead. He was joined by Deal, and a new challenger in Chris Abelson.
Abelson was driving aggressively, putting what racers call the slide job on his opponents. The Slide Job is a move in which a driver runs his car hard into the corner on the bottom side, then slides up the racetrack in front of his opponent, cutting off their momentum and any chance to get back past them.
This move was quickly angering Abelsons opponents. Abelson had gotten past Deal, and was working on challenging for the race lead, but a caution halted his progress. Under the caution was when the drama really picked up.
Two drivers stopped to talk to flagman Toby Kruse under caution, complaining about Abelsons driving. One other, Nick Deal, expressed his displeasure by pulling alongside Abelson and giving him the single finger salute.
After the lengthy caution, racers attempted to get back racing. They werent successful, as coming to the green, Abelson mysteriously ended up wrecked before the cars were even up to full speed. Several drivers were caught up in the mess, including Nick Deal and Jim Thies.
Abelson then stopped to talk to flagman Kruse, and when he did so, Brad Williams rammed right into the back of Abelsons car, to the crowds cheers.
Kruse warned Abelson to stop what he was doing.
I basically told him to hold his line and quite being so [aggressive], Kruse said of the exchange. Those guys out there were ready to kill him. I was trying to do him a favor.
Once finally back to racing, the battle of the brothers resumed. Stacey and Jeremy proceeded to put on a show for the huge crowd on US Army Night. The two raced side by side over the final 5 laps, each inching ahead at various points.
Behind them Brad Williams and Reese Coffee had a battle of their own for third, but Williams ended up spinning, ending another promising night.
Over the final laps, the brothers took the race right down to the wire. On the final lap, Jeremy tried all he had, but his brother Stacey was still too powerful coming off the corner, and Stacey held on for his first win at BVR in 2009.
Jeremy was a close second, with Reese Coffee coming home a strong third.
The IMCA Stock Car race didnt have as much drama, but it did provide for some good racing.
Trent Murphy of Jefferson took the early lead, and showed signs of having a really strong car. Behind him drivers raced 2 and 3 wide, jockeying for position.
Donavon Smith emerged from the group to take second, and to try and chase down the leader Murphy. Behind the front two, Josh Suhr of Alta raced with veteran David Smith for third.
David got past Suhr at the halfway point, and was followed by brother Dustin, relegating Suhr to the fifth position.
David and Dustins battle for third quickly became the best battle on the track, and Donavon couldnt quite catch Murphy, who was running a near perfect race.
With three to go, Dustin slid past his older brother, but David wasnt about to give up. The two raced hard over the final laps.
Up front it was all Murphy, who led flag to flag, picking up his first win at BVR in 09 as well. Donavon Smith came home a strong third, while Dustin edged out his brother David for third. Josh Suhr came home a solid fifth, finishing right behind the battling Smiths.
Wednesday night was also the night for the Stock Car King of the Hill. David Smith and feature winner Murphy each made it to the finals. Smith beat Suhr and brother Donavon to reach the final round, while Murphy received a bye in the first round and beat Dustin Smith to reach the final round.
Smith and Murphy had a good battle over the three lap race, but the veteran denied Murphys chance at a sweep, picking up the $250 check.
The IMCA Sport Mod feature saw a young man who had worked his way through the divisions finally break through.
Tim Rupp, who was in the Hobby Stock class last season, took the lead early, and quickly put distance between he and the rest of the field.
Behind him, Mike Bailey of Schaller separated himself from the pack as well in second. Brett Meyer then emerged from the gaggle of cars behind them and began chasing down Bailey to challenge for second.
Meyer chipped away at Baileys advantage, and worked his way past him with 6 laps remaining. There would be not catching Rupp, however. The young driver had built a substantial lead over the drivers battling for second.
While Meyer seemed to be a bit faster, he ran out of laps and never really got close. Rupp notched his first ever win in the Sport Mod class, and received a large cheer from the crowd. Meyer finished a strong second, while Bailey held off Tony Pogeler for third.
A huge field of 24 cars made the Hobby Stock a busy race for everyone involved, especially the scorers.
A wreck on the first lap took out co-point leader Devin Smith, which left Shannon Anderson the potential to gain a large advantage in the points battle.
Once the racing was underway, a five car battle ensued for the race lead. Mark Hill, Kyle Robinson, Rusty Montagne, Justin Nehring and Shannon Anderson all took stabs at the lead, each showing signs of strength.
After a racelong battle, Kyle Robinson emerged to take sole possession of the lead with 6 laps remaining. Montagne settled into second, while Anderson powered his way to third.
Over the final laps, Robinson made a little space between he and the two behind him, while Anderson and Montagne raced side by side for second.
A late caution set up a green white checker finish. On the restart, Robinson had to fight off a determined challenge by both Montagne and Anderson. The restart also allowed Nehring to stick his nose in the battle.
Robinson was ultimately too strong on this night for Montagne and Anderson.
Robinson added to the list of new winners in 09 at BVR, while Montagne notched his first top-5, coming home second. Anderson finished alongside Montagne for third, with Nehring finishing a strong fourth.
Storm Lake driver Cory Flanigan looked to make in three in a row on Wednesday night, but the third time apparently wasnt the charm for Flanigan.
John Sedlacheck of Eagle, NE took the lead right from the green flag, and never looked back. Behind him, Josh Egesdal of Newell held of Flanigan for second.
Sedlacheck ran a strong race, and rounded out the evening of new winners. Egesdal came home a strong second, with Flanigan third.
Check out a complete rundown of the updated points in Wednesdays edition of the Times.
