7/23/2019
Park Jefferson International Speedway
Dirt Knights walk away with gold from Park Jefferson
Picture perfect weather greeted the return of the IMCA Dirt Knights tour to Park Jefferson Speedway for a Monday night special. With 37 Artworks Graphics IMCA Modifieds on hand, the invading drivers were ready to do battle with the best of Sioux City as a $1,500 check awaited the winner.
With a strong contingent of locals, it was the invading Dirt Knights that were able to triumph in the 2nd battle between the best of Sioux City and the Dirt Knights. Richie Gustin brought his black 19G to play as he was able to take advantage of his second row starting spot to take the checkered flags and the big $1,500 check. Gustin was able to get by Josh Most, who was the first ever Iron Cup Champion in the modifieds at Park Jefferson, to fly to a lead that he would not relinquish. Coming in 2nd was Jesse Sobbing, who later in the night would redeem himself, and finishing third was Josh Most. Sioux City racer Chris Abelson was fifth. The hard charger on the evening passing 12 cars was Shane Demey who came from 19th to finish 7th. Joel Rust and Chris Mills won the twin B features. Heat race wins went to Bob Moore, Todd Boulware, Ricky Stephan and Brock Bauman as Siouxland regulars took 3 of the 4 heat races.
In the J&J Fitting Stock Cars it was Travis Barker who picked up the win from his sixth starting spot. Barker held off IMCA hot shoe Mike Nichols and Greg Taylor to pick up the feature victory in a photo finish. Barker’s colorful #30 was able to eek across the line by tenths of a second to win over Nichols. Heat race win went to Brenton Palmer and Taylor.
Cody Thompson swept a pair of features on the evening as he picked up the win in the Pizza Ranch of Akron Sport Modifieds. Thompson saw lady luck shine on him in the draw as an outside row starting spot was all he needed to get the jump on the field. Doug Smith and Rusty Montagne battled throughout for the runner up spot and in the end it was invader Smith who got the silver with Montagne rounding out the podium. Brian Osantowski was the man on the move coming from 11th to finish 4th. Heats went to Thompson and Michael Guthrie.
It was luck 7’s in the IMCA Hobby Stock feature as Craig Clift took his blue 77 hobby stock from the 7th starting position to pick up the win Monday night. Clift and John Cain have had a number of battles over the years but this time it was Clift who held on for a win over Cain and Brewster, Minnesota invader Cory Probst. Heat wins went to Probst and Aaron Shearn.
Three makeup features from the July 1 J&J Fitting Iron Cup were also run on Monday which allowed teams the chance to
Jesse Sobbing and Chris Abelson both have won big races all across the upper Midwest, but in the Iron Cup championship the former USMTS driver took on the former IMCA champion to battle for the cup. In the end it was Sobbing who was able to come out on top to hold off Mr. Excitement as he took the black and orange 99 to victory lane to claim the cup. Abelson was second and Honeycreek’s own Travis Hatcher battled for third.
In the J&J Fitting Stock Cars it was Aaron Cain who fought off the challenges and battles all around him, including a late race caution flag, to pick up the biggest win of his career. Cain got the jump on the field but it was Jason Ward then Travis Barker who were breathing down the throat of Cain. In the end, Cain was able to hold off the challengers and pick up a huge win in the 43 machine. Ward was second, Barker was third and Casey Jones was fourth.
The IMCA Sport Modified division saw National IMCA Champion Cody Thompson put even more money in his pocket as Thompson picked up the Iron Cup victory. With only 10 cars returning, Thompson was able to once again take the win over Lake City invader Doug Smith. Similar to the previous feature, Brian Osantowski was on the move and came in third.
For complete results go to www.parkjeff.com/schedule.
Park Jefferson Speedway has a short week this week as racing returns this coming Saturday night for the second to last race of the season. Gates will open at 5pm with hot laps at 6:15 and racing at 7pm. All six IMCA divisions, the modifieds, sprint cars, stock cars, sport modifieds, hobby stocks and sport compacts will be on hand. The sport compacts will also crown the Iron Cup champion on the make up the event that was rained out on July 1. Adults tickets are $13, seniors $10 and children 6-16 are $3. For more information go to www.parkjeff.com.
Submitted By: Adam Adamson
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