The Southern Iowa Speedway opens its doors on 2011 as Mather, Weller, Sacquitne, Gibson win

The Southern Iowa Speedway kicked off its 2011 season Wednesday night with great weather, a large crowd and some competitive racing. A solid start. The track would prove a little interesting, as the straights were dry, with the corners soft in the bottom. They would prove tricky, but not treacherous, as the spring moisture was still working its way out of the half mile. Twenty-two USRA B-mods, 14 USRA hobbies, 14 USRA stocks and 14 USRA modifieds signed in for the night, and nine heats and four A mains made up the program, which was finished before 10 p.m. The B modifieds ran the first feature of the night. Carter VanDenBerg led 14 and ¾ of the 15 laps, but it was Bill Gibson sweeping by in turn four to take the win. Gibson had shadowed VanDenBerg for most of the feature before making his closing move. The4 drive of the night was from Andrew Schroeder, who started 19^th and finished third. Schroeder had a DNF in his heat race, so he had affair drive ahead of him. He put on a show, and showed some power as he headed for his third place finish. Mike Shelton and Mike Wanders rounded out the top five. Next up were the stock cars, they put on a heated battle, with a lot of door-to-door racing for the early part of the feature. Nathan Wood led the early rounds, to be passed by Shane Weller. Weller would stay near the front the rest of the way, but Wood didn’t stray far. Matt Greiner and Kyle Harwood were near the front early before dropping out, and Randy Killen, Jason Minnehan and Tom Killen all had a look or two at the lead. Attrition thinned the field as Wood took a look at Weller with a couple of laps to go, but Weller would hang on for the win. Minnehan lost a spot in the closing lap as he tangled with the tractor tire in turn four. Randy Killen would take third, Tom Killen fifth. The opening laps of this one were classic Osky stock car racing. If these cars continue to make the tow all season, it will be worth a ticket to watch them. Decorah’s Danny Sacquitne made his drive worthwhile picking up wins in his hobby stock heat race and in the main event. Jim Hughes led the early laps as Sacquitne worked his way up from the seventh starting position. Hughes would hang on for second, with Steve Allen third, Donavon Nunnikhoven fourth and Calvin Dhondt fifth. The modifieds closed out the show and Nate Caruth led early on from outside the front row. Caruth held some distance early on, but behind him. The field was closing in. Colt Mather has had a successful spring so far, and he added Wednesday night to his tally as he would pass Caruth and take the win. Caruth held on for second, followed by Scott Dickey, Steven Blattler, Zack VanderBeek and Kelly Shryock. You can get a good look at these modifieds, and several more as the USMTS rolls into Oskaloosa for its only appearance of 2011. The Iron Man Challenge stock cars are also on the card along with hobby stocks and B mods. The Southern Iowa Speedway got off to good start last night. I’m looking forward to what else the season will have to offer there.