EXCITING FINISHES GALORE AT PARK JEFFERSON SPEEDWAY 8-23-08
LeRoy Beck
(08/23/08)
Close finishes were a common occurrence Saturday Night at Park Jefferson Speedway. No less than five features contained either last lap passes, or photo finishes as the Sioux City Journal presented the racing action. When the dust settled, a breathless crowd would see feature wins from Jay Goosman, Tony Ritterbush, Jeff Brunssen, Paul Menard, John Felix, Jeff Goodier, and Austin Pinney.
Stock car racing is one of the most emotional sports in any venue. Fans feel a great connection with their fans, and a drivers pain is the fans pain. Jay Goosman lost his brother a few weeks ago. Goosman made his return to Park Jefferson to race with the Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Modifieds last week. On this night, Goosman seemed to have a higher calling. Ricky Stephan would dominate the first thirteen laps, however, exiting turn two on that thirteenth circuit Goosman would complete the pass for the lead. Goosman would not look back and would pick up an emotional win. Stephan would cross the line second, Chad Waples, Bob Moore, and Jay Noteboom would follow.
A last lap pass would keep the crowd going during the B&B Salvage Stock Car feature. Early on in the feature the lead was not the place to be. Eli Zevenbergren, Ryan Harris, Bob McCoy, and Glenn Wynia would all have some kind of trouble send them to the rear of the field while leading. Curt VanBeek brought the field to the green on a green-white-checkered finish. VanBeek would still be leading at the drop of the white flag, but James Brower and Tony Ritterbush challenged not only each other, but VanBeek as well for every inch of race track. Drag racing down the back stretch, Ritterbush would complete the pass for the lead and hold on for the win. VanBeek, Brower, Rich Heese, and Harris would follow Ritterbush to the line.
The Motor Parts Central Sport Mods would feature the closest finish most could remember at Park Jefferson Speedway. Keith Sanders would lead the first four laps, with Jeff Brunssen making the pass around him for the lead. From that point, it was simply madness. Six cars would battle for the top spots, with most spots behind the leader changing every lap. Brunssen had been making the most headway on the cushion. Harvey VandeWeerd worked the bottom to perfection. In the waning laps, Brunssen and VandeWeerd would be door to door at the line each time past the grandstand. A nearly dead heat at the white flag would promise an exciting finish, and these drivers would not disappoint. Both drivers held their lines, and would cross the finish line nearly even. After an officials conference, Brunssen was awarded the win. RJ Merchant, Sanders, and Ty Merrill would finish just moments after the top two.
Paul Menard made it known quite early that on this night he was the man to beat in the Yankton Automotive Machine Hobby Stocks. Menard would dominate his heat race, and then would run away from the field in the feature. Behind Menard there was still some great racing among Tom Love, Bill Woehler, Matt Sheely, and Rusty Montagne. The latter four drivers would swap positions nearly every lap. At the drop of the checkered, Sheely would cross the line second, with Love, Woehler and Montagne in tow. During post race inspection, Sheely would be disqualified. By virtue of his fourth place finish, Montagne would clinch the 2008 season championship.
John Felix has been the most snake bitten driver all season long in the Ver Hoef Automotive Bmods. Seemingly each week Felix has a strong car, but could not hold on for the win. This night had all the makings of breaking that streak. Felix would be at the front of the field with Rich Hesse in the second spot for almost the entire race. Felix lead every lap&but the last one, or so he thought. Felix would lose traction in turn four, and Hesse would get to the line first by inches. However, Felixs night would not be over yet. Hesse would fail post race inspection, giving the win to Felix. Rich Headid would finish second, Jason Felix third, Jeff Barber, and Darin Roepke inside the top five.
The Steves Roofing Hornets would come to the speedway with their hearts and minds on a friend and competitor. Terry Johnson was severely injured last week in an accident in turn three of the raceway. After the heat race action, the Hornet drivers would walk through the grandstands accepting donations for the Johnson family. Park Jefferson Speedway officials and fans would show their generosity by donating one thousand dollars to the family. The racing on the track would make any fan proud as well as Jeff Goodier would hold off a hard charging Kyle Davis and Marlis Boggs by less than ten feet at the line. In the novice hornet feature Austin Pinney continued to rack up the wins in his new car. Pinney showed grace and generosity well beyond his years by donating his nights winnings to the Johnson family as well.
Next Saturday night is Season Championships at Park Jefferson Speedway. Six more champions will be crowned as the points battles remain tight. In addition, all kids twelve and under will be admitted to the grandstand absolutely free. For more information on upcoming events, go to http://www.parkjeffersonspeedway.com
