SMITHS ON TOP AT SHELBY COUNTY SPEEDWAY; McKEIGHAN GETS FIRST WIN
by Bonnie Errett

HARLAN, Iowa (June 3) – With the racing season in full throttle, Shelby County Speedway welcomed two new drivers to the winners circle Saturday night along with some familiar ones. The Smith brothers took the Hobby and Stock Car features once again while Dan McKeighan, in the Modifieds, and Willy Muhr, in the Hornets, were first time winners.

The I.M.C.A. Late Model feature quickly went into a three-way contention for the lead between Robert See, Vance Tonack, and Jeff Segebart. Tonack forced himself into first but spun on the third lap to give See the front position. Dave Jorgensen swiftly moved his car to the front, taking second five laps in. Segebart and Phil Miller traded the third position through the next few laps behind Jorgensen. With thirteen to go, Miller took hold of third, and coming off of turn four, Jorgensen picked up the lead. Miller collected second with two laps to go as Jorgensen aggressively held onto first. Earning his second win of the year, Jorgensen finished ahead of Miller, See, and Todd Cooney.

After three cautions on the first lap, the I.M.C.A. Modified feature got rolling with Brad Madsen leading the pack. Jeff Stephens and Dan McKeighan were moving forward fast, filling in second and third. After starting ninth, McKeighan grabbed hold of the lead seven laps into the feature. Two laps later, the race reached its sixth caution and the remaining laps were dropped down to six. McKeighan strongly held onto first, and in the inside of turn four heading to receive the white flag, Stephens clutched second with Greg Cox soon trailing him in third. Flying to the checkered flags, McKeighan claimed his first win for the 2006 season.

The ProAm feature was set into motion by Matt Smith with Dwain Pelzer and Charles Grabill close behind. By the end of lap one, Pelzer had stolen the lead, but Grabill wasted no time in taking his turn out front when coming off turn four of the second lap, he grabbed first. It was no surprise to see Matt McAtee, who started tenth, join the top four just four laps after the drop of the green as Grabill stretched out his lead. McAtee proficiently maneuvered up to second and began slowly reeling in Grabill. On the final lap of the race, Grabill slid high and McAtee dashed by on the low side to take the lead. Picking up his seventh win of the season, McAtee drove to victory lane.

In turn two of the first lap of the I.M.C.A. Stock Car feature, Dave Plowman shot into the lead. Tim Bengard, Keith Knop, and Trent Partridge filled in the top four, running end to end. Three laps into the race, Bengard stole first as David Smith snuck up to third after starting eleventh. Smith had second by the next lap and Jason Rold moved into the third spot. With nine to go the leader spun, bringing out the caution and leaving Smith in first with Rold in second. Ryan Webb took over second when the race resumed and one lap later Mike Nichols was right behind him in third. In the inside of turn two with four laps remaining, Chris Ullrich snatched third from Nichols. Untouchable, Smith powerfully led to the finish for his third win of the year.

Robert Tippery and Andrew Kinser went straight into a battle for the lead at the start of the I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock feature. Pulling through with first was Tippery, as the third lap of the race found Brian Snell in second and Donovan Smith following into third in front of Kinser. After a caution on the next lap, Snell came along the low side of Tippery as Smith took the high side and both got around the leader. Smith kept pushing forward into first as Snell and Tippery contended for second. For his sixth win this season, Smith crossed the finish line in front of Snell in second and Tippery in third.

The six lap JnJ Fabrication Hornet feature was quickly taken control by Joseph Mefferd as Daniel Mefferd and Bayley Nicholl competed for second. Unexpectedly coming from behind, it was Matt Steffens stealing the second spot by the end of lap one. Nicholl fought back, but newcomer Willy Muhr got around her for third with four laps to go, and one lap later he had second. Down the backstretch of the final lap, Muhr pushed into the lead and drove to the victory ahead of Joseph, Steffens, and Ryan Ray, the driver of the track car.

Next Saturday will be Harlan Fire Department night with gates opening at 5:00 pm, hot laps at 6:30 pm, and racing immediately following.

Results for 06/03/06


I.M.C.A. Late Models

A-Feature: 1. 1 Dave Jorgensen, Omaha; 2. 17M Phil Miller, Mo. Valley; 3. 30C Robert See, Altoona; 4. 30 Todd Cooney, Des Moines; 5. 11 Todd Mason, Omaha; 6. 45 Barry Sorensen, Avoca; 7. 10 Jay Stewart, Blair, NE; 8. 33 Don Beckstrom, Carroll; 9. 1C John Bagby, Johnston; 10. 11F Randy Faux, Earlham; 11. 5S Jeff Segebart, Westside; 12. 1T Vance Tonack, Omaha; 13. 9 Mark Plowman, Elkhorn

1st Heat: Tonack, Sorensen, See, Miller
2nd Heat: Mason, Jorgensen, Stewart, Segebart

I.M.C.A. Modifieds

A-Feature: 1. Z62 Dan McKeighan, Carter Lake; 2. 92 Jeff Stephens, Arion; 3. 62 Greg Cox, Altoona; 4. 54 Brad Madsen, Kimballton; 5. 78 Jeff Anderson, Atlantic; 6. 23 Jim Thies; 7. 1R Craig Reetz, Dunlap; 8. 17P Tim Plowman, Woodbine; 9. 6C Eric Meents, Denison; 10. 2R Dale Ransom, Denison; 11. 17 Justin Sackett, Schaller; 12. 1 Dave Hulsebus, Tennant; 13. 3 Mike Albertsen, Audubon; 14. 73 Travis Mewhirter, Atlantic; 15. 12 Bill Osbahr, Avoca; 16. 28 Chase Mewhirter, Atlantic; 17. 19J Jeff Jones, C.B.; 18. 77 Dustin Jarillo; 19. 2K Chad Preul, Westside

1st Heat: Anderson, Ransom, Cox, Meents
2nd Heat: Osbahr, Thies, Reetz, Albertsen
3rd Heat: McKeighan, Madsen, Jones, Stephens

ProAms

A-Feature: 1. 6M Matt McAtee, Crescent; 2. 40 Charles Grabill, Harlan; 3. 81 Dwain Pelzer, Malvern; 4. 6 Denny Berghahn, Jr., Omaha; 5. 96 Matt Smith; 6. 2 Mike Brown, Glenwood; 7. 4 Galen Grabill, Harlan; 8. 71 Bill Hargens, Omaha; 9. 10 Ryan Brans; 10. 7 Jim Kruse, Omaha; 11. 4L Luke LeRette, C.B.; 12. 6X Denny Berghahn, Omaha

1st Heat: Charles Grabill, Brown, Galen Grabill, Smith
2nd Heat: McAtee, Berghahn, LeRette, Kruse

I.M.C.A. Stock Cars

A-Feature: 1. 8 David Smith, Lake City; 2. ZR1 Ryan Webb, Denison; 3. 01U Chirs Ullrich, Kiron; 4. 63 Mike Nichols, Harlan; 5. 92B Brian Blessington, Breda; 6. 37X Rick Christensen, Audubon; 7. 38 Josh Filmer, Lake City; 8. 20 Jeff Segebart, Westside; 9. 29 Tanner Partridge, Walnut; 10. 96 Jason Rold, Hancock; 11. 23 Scott Sturm, Templeton; 12. 26 Bill Reetz, Carroll; 13. 76 Trent Partridge, Elk Horn; 14. 23A Jeremy Gettler, Adair; 15. P42 Dave Plowman, Gretna; 16. 19B Tim Bengard, Exira; 17. 25C ,; 18. 66 Jeff Joldersma, McClelland; 19. 10X Keith Knop, Avoca; 20. 14K Nick Kindred; 21. 1 Steve Curtis, Grimes

1st Heat: Bengard, Plowman, Partridge, Blessington
2nd Heat: Smith, Rold, Filmer, Ullrich
3rd Heat: Webb, Reetz, Knop, Nichols

I.M.C.A. Hobby Stocks

A-Feature: 1. 35 Donovan Smith, Lake City; 2. 3S Brian Snell, Coon Rapids; 3. 121 Robert Tippery, C.B.; 4. 55 Jason Fusselman, Shelby; 5. 25X Trent Murphy, Jefferson; 6. 5G Tyler Griffen; 7. 60 Tanner Powers, Exira; 8. 1F Marcus Fagan, Casey; 9. 2X Chuck Madden Jr., Avoca; 10. 74N Jason Nielsen, Underwood; 11. 83 Mike Harris, Avoca; 12. 4W Joe Wollenhaupt; 13. 68+1 Blaine Petersen, Essex; 14. 66 Robert Kracher, Omaha; 15. 12 Andrew Kinser; 16. 14K Kenny Hansen; 17. 14 Jay Hansen, Audubon; 18. 25M Michael Murphy, Jefferson; 19. 5D Brent Daringer, Persia; 20. 7W Willie Ransom, Irwin; 21. 16X Charlie Bird; 22. 77JX Shawn Chapman, Harlan; 23. 12X Doug Smith, Lake City; 24. 15 Dale Towne, Avoca

1st Heat: Murphy, Smith, Fagan, Nielsen
2nd Heat: Snell, Madden Jr., Tippery, Kracher
3rd Heat: Fusselman, Harris, Griffen, Kinser

Hornets

A-Feature: 1. 84 Willy Muhr, Exira; 2. 3 Joseph Mefferd, Dunlap; 3. 63x Matt Stephens, Atlantic; 4. 66 Ryan Ray; 5. 00 Bayley Nicholl, Audubon; 6. 68 Daniel Mefferd, Dunlap; 7. 22 Shannon Mahlberg, Dunlap; 8. 2 Corey Madden, Avoca; 9. 26 Andrew Hicks, Dunlap; 10. 3C Cody Klein, Harlan

Heat: Ray, Daniel Mefferd, Hicks, Joseph Mefferd