By Jerry Mackey
OSKALOOSA — It was Kraig Ford Hall of Fame voting night at the Southern Iowa Speedway on Wednesday night and the Southern Iowa Fairboard spiced things up by adding an additional $7,500 to the prize money money to the drivers with all funds coming from the outstanding community support the Southern Iowa Speedway receives through track signage and sponsorships.
The Mid States Machine Stock Cars saw a strong field of drivers sign in for the night and following the qualifying heats it was past track champion Derrick Agee drawing the pole position. Agee led the first two circuits before another past champion, Nathan Wood took over the top spot. Wood’s lead was short lived as Cayden Carter drove into the race lead. Carter went on to score the bonus money and the win on Wednesday night. Wood crossed under the checkers in second with Zach Vanderbeek finishing a strong third in a brand new car.
Brayton “Speedy Bray” Carter took advantage of a front row start in the Oskaloosa Quality Rentals Sportmods main event and went on to record an impressive win on Wednesday night. Carter built a comfortable lead before Logan Anderson was able to cut into the lead, Anderson closed but was unable to mount a serious challenge in the late going. Maguire DeJong rounded out the top three.
The Parker Tree Service Hobby Stock feature saw 21 drivers take the initial green but the main event was red flagged before one lap could be completed. A chain reaction incident ended up with the cars of Rick Goldsberry and Jim Alexander Jr. rolling in violent fashion. Both cars were extensively damaged but fortunately both drivers escaped unharmed. The main event belonged to Dustin Griffiths, who continued his unbeaten streak in the Hobby Stock division. Griffiths led the main event flag to flag from his front row start taking the win ahead of Eric Stanton and Peyton Stephens.
It is always very special to see a driver score his first win in any class and that was the case Wednesday night as Brandon Pickney picked up his first win in his four year racing career. Pickney scored the win following a spirited battle with Nathan Moody in the Dirt N Asphalt Sport Compact main event. The lead was swapped several times with four different drivers holding the top spot. Pickney led the last two laps in scoring the hard fought win over Moody, Seth Meinders and Matt Moore.
AJ Johnson continued his mastery of his home town race track on Wednesday night scoring his third consecutive NAPA Auto Parts Store of Albia Non Wing Sprint Car feature win. Johnson shot into the front from his second row start and went on to take the win ahead of Doug Sylvester and Lance Schlicher.
Racing will continue on Wednesday, May 15th with Lathrop Hardware First Responders Night. All First Responders will be admitted Free by showing an identification badge. Hot laps will get underway at 7:15 pm with racing to follow.
Kraig Ford Hall of Fame Voting Night
Feature Results (top 5)
Mid States Machine Stock Cars
- 1X Cayden Carter-Oskaloosa
- 52 Nathan Wood-Sigourney
- 33Z Zach Vanderbeek-New Sharon
- 10G Dustin Griffiths-Hedrick
- 14 Derrick Agee-Moberly, MO
Oskaloosa Quality Rentals Sportmods
- 1X Brayton Carter-Oskaloosa
- 53 Logan Anderson-Eddyville
- 30M Maguire Dejong-Montezuma
- 7V Carter VanDenberg-New Sharon
- 29 Colton Livezey-New Sharon
Parker Tree Service Hobby Stocks
- 10G Dustin Griffiths-Hedrick
- 7B Eric Stanton-Carlisle
- 623 Peyton Stephens-Bussey
- 1R Rick VanDusseldorp-Oskaloosa
- 01 Austin Barnes-Des Moines
Dirt N Asphalt Sport Compacts
- 7 Brandon Pickney-Ottumwa
- 41 Nathan Moody-Oskaloosa
- 65 Seth Meinders-Ottumwa
- 2m Matt Moore-Ottumwa
- 18A Kyle Rysdam-Palaski
NAPA Auto Parts Of Albia Non Win Sprints
- 93 AJ Johnson-Oskaloosa
- 12 Doug Sylvester-Ottumwa
- 17 Lance Schlicher-Fairfield
- T4 Tyler Graves-Chariton
- 71 Robert Bell-Colfax
