Carter and Taft Sweep the Bottom Heavy Nationals

Carter and Taft Sweep the Bottom Heavy Nationals

 

by Brian Neal

Memphis, MO (Saturday, October 1, 2016) – Saturday night wrapped up the second and final night of the “Bottom Heavy Nationals” at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. Back in action was the Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts, with the Lee County Late Models joining the card for the night.

 

The 14 lap Sport Compacts was the first feature to take to the track. When Josh Barnes scratched from the event, this would move Barry Taft to the pole next to Darin Smith for the start. Taft would take advantage of being moved to the pole by grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Smith and Brandon Reu, who started 5th. One lap later, lap 2, Reu over took Smith for the runner up spot and then went to work on Taft for the top spot. Reu tried to work under Taft over the next 10 laps, but Taft was able to hold him off each lap. Then coming off turn 4 to get the white flag, Reu was able to get a fender under Taft. But the first and only caution of the race slowed Reu’s momentum on that lap. Jaden DeLonjay would spin in turn 1 to bring out the yellow and set up a 2 lap over time shoot out. On the restart Taft moved back out front, with Reu and Ron Kibbe, who started 7th over taking Smith for third, close behind. Taft would hold on over the final laps to pick up his second win of the weekend at the track. Reu was 2nd, Kibbe was 3rd, Smith was 4th, with Jake Benischek rounding out the top 5.

 

Up next was the 20 lap Stock Car feature, with John Oliver Jr. and Jason Cook leading the field to the green flag. But just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as Jake Wenig spun in turn 2 and collected Dallon Murty, Jeremy Pundt, Abe Huls, and Kevin Koontz to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. jumped out front on lap 1 over Mike Hughes and Cook. Cook over took Hughes for second on lap 2 and then tried to work under Oliver Jr. for the lead over the next 4 laps. When David Brandies, who was running 7th, spun in turn 1 to bring out the caution. Oliver Jr. once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Hughes and Cook continuing their battle for second. While Oliver Jr., Hughes and Cook worked the bottom of the track, Cayden Carter, who started 7th, was working the top to make it a four car battle for the lead. Disaster would strike two of the top runners on lap 17. Hughes was able to get under Oliver Jr. coming off turn 2 to take the lead away, with Oliver Jr. trying to get back under him going into turn 3. Coming off turn 4 contact between the two would send Hughes spinning and bringing out the yellow.

 

Cook inherited the lead on the restart, with Carter and Jeff Mueller, who started 6th, following close behind. Coming off turn 4 to the white flag Carter, who was up top, pulled even with Cook for the lead. The two would race side-by-side, with Mueller looking for a way around. Then coming off turn 4 to get the checkered, Cook slid high and made contact with Carter. Which allowed Mueller to get up beside Cook, as the two drag raced down the front stretch for the win. Cook was able to inch out the win at the line. Mueller settled for 2nd, Carter was 3rd, Todd Reitzler started 11th and finished 4th, with Nathan Wood coming from 12th to round out the top 5.

 

Jeff Guengerich and Tommy Elston starting the Lee County Late Model 25 lap feature from the front row, with Elston jumping out front on lap 1 over Guengerich and Sam Halstead. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 2, when Brandon Ruffcorn spun in turn 2 and collected Tegan Evans to bring out the yellow. On the restart Elston moved back out front, with Halstead over taking Guengerich for the runner up spot. Elston quickly moved in to start lapping cars, which also cost him the race. When Ruffcorn slowed in turn 4 on lap 10, Elston would run into the back of him. But with no damage done, Elston would pull away to cruise to an easy win. Halstead was 2nd, Guengerich was 3rd, Derek Liles was 4th, with John VanDenBerg coming from 7th to finish 5th.

 

The 25 lap Modified feature was next, with Andrew Schroeder moving to the pole next to Cayden Carter when Steve Stewart was a scratch. Carter took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Schroeder and Bill Roberts Jr. The Modifieds had troubles getting going, as three cautions in the first 5 laps slowed the action. Kelly Buckallew spun in turn 1 on lap 3 to bring out the first caution. Then Larry McConnell went for a spin in turn 2 on lap 4 to bring out the second yellow. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 5, when Scott Simotavich spun in turn 3. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Schroeder and Roberts Jr. following. While Schroeder tried to keep pace with Carter, the battle was for third. As Roberts Jr., Kyle Brown, Bruce Hanford, who started 8th, Jeff Waterman, and Kurt Kile, who started 13th, raced two wide at times for the spot. Without a late race caution there was no catching Carter, who claimed his second win of the weekend. Schroeder was 2nd, Kile won the battle for 3rd, Brown was 4th, with Hanford coming home in 5th.

 

Damon Murty, who was driving Bill Bonnett’s #19, and Nathan Wood led the field to the green flag in the 14 lap Hobby Stock feature. But it was third place starter Nick Ulin who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Murty and Dustin Griffiths. Ulin then held the top spot until lap 3, when Murty used the momentum off the top of the track to take the top spot away. Murty then held off several challenges from Ulin over the final laps to pick up the win. Ulin was 2nd, Griffiths was 3rd, Wood was 4th, with Mike Kincaid finishing in 5th.

 

The final feature to take to the track was the 18 lap SportMods, with Kyle Hill and Jim Gillenwater making up the front row for the event. Gillenwater would jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Logan Anderson and Curtis Van Der Wal. Just like the Modifieds, the SportMods had troubles getting going, as four cautions in the first 4 laps slowed the action. Hill, who was running 4th, spun in turn 2 on the completion of lap 1 to bring out the first yellow. Then John Oliver Jr. went for a spin in turn 2 on lap 2 to bring out the second caution. Cory Van Zante, who was running 6th, would spin in turn 2 on lap 3 to bring out the third yellow. The fourth and final caution of the race appeared on lap 4, when third place runner Van Der Wal appeared to break something on the front and went over the track in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gillenwater jumped back out front, with Brayton Carter and Anderson close behind. Anderson would over take Carter for the runner up spot on lap 6, and then went to work on Gillenwater for the lead. But Gillenwater would hold him off to claim the win. Anderson settled for another 2nd, Sean Wyett started 9th and finished 3rd, Tim Plummer had another impressive run after starting in 14th and finishing 4th, with Carter VanDenBerg passing 10 cars from his 15th place starting spot to come home in 5th.

 

Next up for the third and fourth races of the fall specials is the “MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge” at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa on Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th. The Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, and Hobby Stocks will all be racing for $1,000 to win in a complete show and payouts each night. Also racing both nights will be the Sport Compacts, which are going for a top prize of $250 to win each night.

 

For more information please visit the Southern Iowa Speedway’s website at www.oskyspeedway.com.

 
Sport Compact – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 3 57 Barry Taft Argile , Ia 40.00
2 5 27 Brandon Reu Donnellson , Ia 39.00
3 7 89 Ron Kibbe Danville , Ia 38.00
4 2 27X Darrin Smith Wapello , Ia 37.00
5 4 3 Jake Benishek Durant , Ia 36.00
6 10 04 Trent Orwig Floris , Ia 35.00
7 8 14L Brandon Lambert Carthage , Il 34.00
8 12 24K Kenny Smith Donnellson , Ia 33.00
9 6 71 Kimberly Abbott Camp Pointe, Il 32.00
10 11 41 Nathan Moody Oskaloosa , Ia 31.00
11 14 35 Jaden Delonjay Quincy , Il 30.00
12 9 29 Kevin Garrett Bloomfield , Ia 29.00
13 13 27M William Michel Muscatine , Ia 28.00
14 1 13B Josh Barnes Keokuk , Ia 27.00

Hobby Stock – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 19 Damon Murty Chelsea , Ia 40.00
2 3 21 Nick Ulin Agency , Ia 39.00
3 4 10G Dustin Griffith Hedrick , Ia 38.00
4 2 22 Nathan Wood Sigourney , Ia 37.00
5 5 12 Mike Kincaid Cincinnatti , Ia 36.00
6 6 58B Randy Byerly Tipton , Ia 35.00
7 9 50 Kenser Ellis Spencer , Ia 34.00
8 8 03 Heather Baum Keokuk , Ia 33.00
9 7 26 Chris Archer Moulton , Ia 32.00
10 10 BIG0 Justin Ohaver Kirksville , Mo 31.00
Sport Mod – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 10G Jim Gillenwater Keokuk , Ia 40.00
2 3 9A Logan Anderson Eddyville , Ia 39.00
3 9 12S Sean Wyatt Danville , Ia 38.00
4 14 66 Tim Plummer Norway , Ia 37.00
5 15 7 Carter Vandenberg Oskaloosa , Ia 36.00
6 12 17 Brandon Lennox New London, Mo 35.00
7 13 T23 Tony Olson Cedar Rapids, Ia 34.00
8 5 01 Brayton Carter Oskaloosa , Ia 33.00
9 17 3 Tony Dunker Quincy , Il 32.00
10 10 15 John Oliver Danville , Ia 31.00
11 8 34Z Cory Van Zante Sully , Ia 30.00
12 21 11 Ethan Braaksma Newton , Ia 29.00
13 20 198 Sam Wieben Dysart , Ia 28.00
14 1 14B Kyle Hiill Mount Pleasant, Ia 27.00
15 19 63G Michael Goodwin Quincy , Il 26.00
16 22 4G Michael Guthrie Ottumwa , Ia 25.00
17 16 12D Brandon Dale Arbela , Mo 24.00
18 24 19 Jason Riegel Eldon , Ia 23.00
19 18 22 Austen Becerra Carthage , Il 22.00
20 11 21M Joey Gower Quincy , Il 21.00
21 7 49T Kevin Tomlinson New London, Mo 20.00
22 6 40 Dakota Simmons Douds , Ia 19.00
23 23 8 Tom Lathrop Ottumwa , Ia 18.00
24 4 1V Curtis Van Der Oskaloosa , Ia 17.00

Stock Car – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 27J Jason Cook Mt Pleasant, Ia 40.00
2 6 77M Jeff Mueller Albion , Ia 39.00
3 7 10CC Cayden Carter Oskaloosa , Ia 38.00
4 11 22R Todd Reitzler Grinnell , Ia 37.00
5 12 52W Nathan Wood Sigourney , Ia 36.00
6 5 71 David Brandies Wilton , Ia 35.00
7 8 79S Jason See Albia , Ia 34.00
8 3 11 Mike Hughes Oskaloosa , Ia 33.00
9 18 66 Jim Lynch Kahoka , Mo 32.00
10 10 48 Michael Larsen Monroe City, Mo 31.00
11 1 05 John Oliver Danville , Ia 30.00
12 4 4K Dean Kratzer Fort Madison, Ia 29.00
13 15 52J Jeremy Pundt Donnellson , Ia 28.00
14 14 2T Beau Taylor Canton , Mo 27.00
15 17 30C Abe Huls Carthage , Il 26.00
16 16 52 Chris Wibbell Dallas City, Il 25.00
17 21 2M Bob Lynch Ottumwa , Ia 24.00
18 23 73C Carl Yaw Des Moines, Ia 23.00
19 9 4 Jake Wenig Burlington , Ia 22.00
20 20 12 Chad Krogmeier Burlington , Ia 21.00
21 13 99D Dallon Murty – 20.00
22 19 43 Kevin Koontz Memphis , Mo 19.00
23 22 77 Dalton Lynch Bloomfiled , Ia 18.00 DNS

Modified – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 10C Cayden Carter Oskaloosa , Ia 40.00
2 3 02 Andrew Schroeder Keswick , Ia 39.00
3 13 77 Kurt Kile Nichols , Ia 38.00
4 4 21K Kyle Brown State Center, Ia 37.00
5 8 61 Bruce Hanford Davenport\ , Ia 36.00
6 6 71W Jeff Waterman Quincy , Il 35.00
7 5 5R Bill Roberts Burlington , Ia 34.00
8 7 110 Jerad Fuller Memphis , Mo 33.00
9 14 33F Jardin Fuller Memphis , Mo 32.00
10 15 5G Gatlin Leytham Ames , Ia 31.00
11 12 01 Ed Thomas Waterloo , Ia 30.00
12 16 99 Martin Bennett Ankeny , Ia 29.00
13 20 11T Dugan Thye Burlington , Ia 28.00
14 10 4G Jeff Goben , Il 27.00
15 18 20F John Fellman Blue Grass, Ia 26.00
16 19 6M Larry Mcconnell Danville , Ia 25.00
17 17 2 Matt Fulton Muscatine , Ia 24.00
18 11 43S Scott Simotavich State Center, Ia 23.00
19 21 163 David Snyder Greentop , Mo 22.00
20 23 10 Kelly Buckallew Memphis , Mo 21.00
21 9 62 Greg Cox Kellogg , Ia 20.00
22 22 35G Eric Glass Memphis , Mo 19.00
23 1 17 Steve Stewart Burlington , Ia 18.00 DNS

Late Model – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 45 Tommy Elston Keokuk , Ia 40.00
2 4 84 Sam Halstead New London, Ia 39.00
3 1 15R Jeff Guengerich Washington , Ia 38.00
4 5 33 Derek Liles Eldon , Ia 37.00
5 7 7M John Vandenberg Oskaloosa , Ia 36.00
6 3 21 Todd Frank Montrose , Ia 35.00
7 9 21V Laine Vanzante Camp Pointe, Il 34.00
8 11 80V Charles Vanzante Camp Pointe, Il 33.00
9 10 W30 Blake Woodruff Galesburg , Il 32.00
10 6 21F Gunnar Frank Montrose , Ia 31.00
11 12 26R Lynn Richard – 30.00
12 8 11R Brandon Ruffcorn Donnellson , Ia 29.00
13 13 62 Greg Cox Kellogg , Ia 28.00
14 14 T22 Tegan Evans Clinton , Ia 27.00

Category: Missouri