"Have you been to Osky?"

“Have you been to Osky yet?” That is a question I have heard at many different places early in this season. As the track is making the transition to IMCA sanctioning under the leadership of Mike Van Genderen, it is starting to generate a lot of buzz in the local racing community. That’s good, because if they are talking about you, it means they are interested, and with the Southern Iowa Speedway, you should be.

I’ve hit three shows there so far this year and have driven away pleased each time. That’s why I am going again tonight. Van Genderen and his crew are keeping the show moving, the track has been race ready, and they are offering several new perks for race fans. It has been a busy and successful April so far.

Getting on the list as the opening night track for the 2012 version of the Frostbuster was a big event. Over 120 cars signed in to kick things off. The next two weekly shows have had solid counts in hobby stocks, stock cars and sportmods, with modifieds proving to be the tough nut to crack; however, that is not exclusive to Oskaloosa, as over the last couple of seasons, modifieds have been down in numbers at several weekly tracks. They still show up in force to specials, but weekly shows have seen a drop in regular modified faces. I know I don’t have a solution, and I hope there is somebody out there that does.

Damon Murty was the April 11 IMCA Stock Car feature winner. - Conrad Nelson photo

Larry Hopkins won the IMCA Sportmod feature on April 18. - Conrad Nelson photo

Some of those Osky perks I mentioned have included $5 admission for residents of certain communities. Tonight is Centerville, and next week is Montezuma. Be sure to check the schedule to see if your town is the next one to receive cheap admission. Last Wednesday was free popcorn night in the stands and in the pits. Fans are able to help contribute to their favorite drivers, helping them pay for their pit passes. There is new signage in the infield, and there is a new picnic/eating area by the pit concession stand. There are also some new bleacher sections in the infield so crews can get a better look at the track over the course of the night. Lots of little things are contributing to the new buzz.

Cayden Carter won the April 11 Modified feature. - Conrad Nelson photo

I think the racing has helped too. There has been close racing in all of the classes, with some late lap passes, and three and four-wide action. If a feature saw the winner run off and hide, the action has still been heated for second, third and on back in the field. Many drivers have made nice runs up through the field to finish in the top three. Sportmod driver Jesse Sobbing has started 12^th and 11^th the last two weeks and pulled off a win and a second place in the process. Shannon Anderson and Donavon Nunnikhoven have looked strong in hobby stocks so far, but there is a sizable list to compete with them each week. Modifieds, though small in number, have a strong core of Richie Gustin, Shane Weller, Andrew Schroeder, Cayden Carter and Scott Dickey showing up weekly so far. Damon Murty and Kyle Harwood have won the regular season stock features, but these have seen a lot of two and three-wide pack racing that has always been a showcase at Osky.

So, to summarize, there have been stout fields and good racing so far this season, and it sounds like there will plenty of new faces still to make appearances. I talked to Tom Killen a couple weeks back about bringing some more of the Des Moines weekly racers along with them each week, and he told me that once the Killen racing stable is up and running for 2012, they could bring as many as five cars with them alone each week.

Donavon Nunnikhoven was the Hobby Stock feature winner last Wednesday, April 18. - Conrad Nelson photo

 



Jason McDaniel saw a broken spring take him out of the lead of the April 11 Sportmod feature (top), but he bounced back to win the April 18 feature - BWJ photo (top)/Conrad Nelson photo bottom.

Shannon Anderson was the April 11 Hobby Stock feature winner. - Conrad Nelson photo

I have also heard talk of some more modifieds on their way, as some drivers are still looking to get their cars finished. I guess you have to remember that it is only April, so there are plenty of weeks left for new cars to roll in. Kyle Harwood told me last week that he is finishing up work on a modified of his own and will be running it at Osky once it is complete.

The Southern Iowa Speedway is certainly gaining a buzz here is southeast Iowa, so if you haven’t been yet this season, be sure to check it out. It is getting close to 80 degrees as I type, so tonight would be a good one to do just that.