The biggest challenge at the Front Row was the rain - McTwo Promotions goes the extra mile as Swindell wins main event

If you could only get hit by the wettest part of a storm, it happened Monday night in Oskaloosa, as a full grandstand and 45 410 sprints got hit with a deluge followed by a three-hour rain delay as the Front Row Challenge rolled out for its annual appearance.

Sammy wins - Sammy Swindell picked up $10,000 for his win in the Front Row Challenge at Oskaloosa. - BWJ photo At speed - Swindell on the gas at Oskaloosa. - BWJ photo

Forming up - Erin Crocker (59) and Donny Schatz (15) are lined up for heat race action Monday night. - BWJ photo

Fast Lance - Lance Dewease set quick time Monday night at Oskaloosa. - BWJ photo

The party had started and was in full swing when the rain hit, and you have to take your hat off to Terry McCarl and his McTwo Promotions crew for the job they did to complete this program in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

The rain we got would have wiped out any other show at any other track, but with the Front Row, things are different. You have a huge, understanding audience, who for the most part don't mind the party going a little longer; and, this year, you have a sanctioned All-Star Sprint race that has no way of being made up on the schedule. The "get it in" attitude was strong, and a lot of people deserve some credit for their efforts in getting the show completed.

We had completed four heat races and the drivers' foot race when the rain hit. In the regrouping process, the King of the Hill competition was dropped, which left the B main and the A main to be run. Countless laps were turned in getting the track rolled in by push trucks and sprint cars, but eventually things were race ready and the B main rolled off at around 12:45 a.m. The A would follow at around 1:20 a.m.

With all of the rain, the track was nasty fast, but also pretty much one groove as with all of the moisture and so few laps, there wouldn't be enough time to widen it out. Nobody seemed to mind, however, as the collective goal was to finish the program, especially with Knoxville getting rained out Sunday night. The assembled sprint cars fans wanted to see a show.

Sammy Swindell gave them one as he blasted his way from the pole position for the $10,000 winner's check. Joey Saldana started second and did manage to give Swindell a couple of looks, but as the laps ran down, Sammy stayed in control. There were a couple of position changes back in the pack, but for the most part, the drivers gassed it and held on.

For Terry McCarl, the week stayed interesting as Saturday night's sweep of the 410 feature and 360 Nationals feature at Knoxville flowed right into his two nights of promotion at Oskaloosa. Under adverse conditions Monday, I would say his hot streak continued as he brought the fans an A main event, just a little later than originally planned.

Congratulations - Terry McCarl wrapped a successful Saturday by winning the 360 Nationals at Knoxville. - BWJ photo

410 Top 3 - From left, Johnny Herrera (third), Terry McCarl (winner) and Brian Brown (second) made up the top three for Saturday nights 410 main at Knoxville. - Conrad Nelson photo