OSKALOOSA — The final race of the 2012 season was capped off with the 26th annual MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge. It’s always a tradition to make it the finals of the 2012 racing season at the Southern Iowa Speedway this past weekend.

The Monster Half-Mile had racing on both Friday and Saturday nights. Promoter Mike VanGenderen and Southern Iowa Fairboard elected to hold the show even with brisk cool night temperatures both nights. The show went on and even moved the starting time up for Saturday’s show one hour earlier than advertised and the final checkers flew about 9 p.m. on the final night.

The hardy race fans in attendance saw seven classes in all in competition over the weekend. The IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and IMCA Sport Compacts that are regularly on the program throughout the year at the track, were joined by the Iowa Sportsman Series both nights, and the Mod Lite division on Saturday night.

Friday night’s racing qualified cars for Saturday night’s championship feature in the Modified, Stock Car, SportMod and Hobby Stock classes and each heat winner got a trophy from WCM Metalworks of Winterset. The winners from each of the heats went directly to the A the following night, plus the top four from each of the classes qualifying features.

Saturday night, the heat winners plus the four qualifying through the feature from the previous night, ran a dash, to determine their starting positions for the championship features. They redrew for the dash starting spots and the winner got the pole-position for the run to the big-money Saturday night extravaganza.

After a crisp Friday night of racing action, Saturday dawned overcast and it was a really cool night again. The hot laps action was moved from 6 p.m. up to 5 p.m. due to the cold forecast and the action for the first qualifying heats had the green flag drop right at 5:38 p.m. and the final checkers around 9 p.m.

The IMCA Sport Compacts ran a 10-lap feature event; their second full program of the weekend with each winner getting a nice $200 payday. The previous night, it was Merv Chandler trumping Kevin Kirkpatrick for the win. On Saturday night, son Kassidy Kirkpatrick of Ottumwa getting a bit of revenge by beating out veteran Merv Chandler of Vinton. Kassidy Kirkpatrick aced his win by passing Chandler on the final lap and final turn, and reaching the checkers first. Third place went to Brandon Lambert of Golden, Ill., and fourth was Kevin Kirkpatrick of Ottumwa and Tim Bevins of Eldon rounded out the top five.

The MADCRA Mod Lite class tried their hand at taming the Monster Half-Mile as they ran a 12-lap A main. This one was over at the drop of the green as pole sitter Josh May of Desotm the division’s 2012 Champion for the second year in a row as well as track champion at both the Boone and Marshalltown Speedways and national champion. He shot to the lead and pulled away and took a easy victory. Second place went to Daniel Keltner from Wapello, third was Mike Kennedy of Des Moines, fourth went to Joel Keenan of Des Moines, and late arrival Danny Foster of Boone was sixth.

The IMCA Hobby Stocks feature went 20 laps in their championship feature. The dash had decided the starting positions for those that had locked themselves in to the night’s main and Craig Brown of Eldon sat on the pole with track champion, IMCA Super National’s Champion, and IMCA National Champion, Shannon Anderson of Urbandale sitting to his outside. The start of the race saw Mike Hughes of Oskaloosa spinning as he approached the starter’s stand, calling for a “no go” on the start.

As the field regrouped and they took the green for good, Anderson beat Brown to the first corner, but Brown was able to gain back the advantage, leading lap one. The two drivers were in a good battle up front, but quickly making headway from the third row was another former IMCA National Hobby Stock champion and multi-time Super National’s winner, Andy Boeckman of Wall Lake, running in third.

By lap nine, Boeckman had made the move around Anderson to take over the runner-up spot, but Anderson fought back and regained second. Anderson’s night ended with just a couple of laps remaining, when fate reared its ugly head, sending him to the pits with a cut right front flat tire. Dustin Griffiths of Ottumwa then motored on home to take the checkers, Boeckman taking the runner up spot. Third went to weekly racer at the track, Danny Thrasher of Agency, fourth was Adam Bonnett of Melcher and Andrew Hustead of Colony, Mo., brought his pink ride home in fifth.

It was a $1,100 pay day for Griffiths after Edel Lawn Care gave an extra $100 on top of the $1,000 prize making it a nice $1,100.

Up next came the IMCA SportMod division. The dash had set the front row and it found Eric Flander of Barnes City and Carter VandenBerg of Oskaloosa sitting beside each other. In recognition of the 26th running of the MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge, the race was set for 26 laps of feature racing. The race was running at a great clip and was going caution free, as VandenBerg was sailing easily out front. It wasn’t until lap 18, when a pesky yellow finally flew when Tony Johnson of Oskaloosa smacked the wall in turn two, interrupting the racing. As the clean up of debris began, the 7 machine of VandenBerg had a flat left rear tire. With VandenBerg going to the pits for a tire change, the restart gave the lead to Bryon Weyer, out of Des Moines. Weyer went the rest of the distance to the checkers, grabbing the $1,300 win. Local driver Curtis VanDerWal drove past Eric Flander in the final laps as he finished second and third went to Flander. Fourth went to Bill Gibson of Knoxville and Jared Timmerman, Norwalk was fifth.

The IMCA Stock Car class also went 26 laps in their championship event. The first lap was led by Elijah Zegenbergen, a driver who runs regularly at the Buena Vista Raceway up in Alta and who had made the long haul down from the far northwestern part of Iowa for both nights. His lead lasted until lap three, when Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, who has turned many laps at the track over the years, took over the race lead. From there on, it was a case of “try and catch Zack” race as he pulled away to a sizable lead and captured the $1,300 payday driving the Roger Kelderman car to the win. The real race ended up being for second and third with Zegenbergen and Brad Pinkerton of New Sharon going at it in a good battle. Pinkerton ended up winning the war on that one, as he took second place over Zegenbergen in third. Fourth went to Columbus, Neb., driver Doug Adamy, and Derek Agee of Moberly, Mo., taking the top five.

There was $1,600 payday on the line in the IMCA Modified A main championship feature. The earlier dash for starting spots had positioned young Andrew Schroeder of Keswick and Josh Foster of Fort Madison on the front row. Schroeder took off to the lead easily, but Foster had issues when sparks flew from beneath his ride on lap one with a flywheel problem ending his night. He soon exited to the infield. Billy Davis Jr. of Des Moines sent the familiar looking yellow 1-plus to the second place, Greg Cox of Altoona riding along in third. Cayden Carter of Oskaloosa who had started at the tail after getting caught up in an incident earlier in a qualifying event involving himself, Jacob Murray of Hartford and Ron Lauritzen of Jesup leaving the two with too much damage to race, now was making a bid for second after passing Cox.

With two laps remaining, that infamous turn two wall came into play again, when Bill Crimmins tore off a few parts after kissing it, bringing out the yellow and setting up a green-white-checkered finish. As the race restarted, Carter saw his chance and grabbed second place around Davis, but the leader Schroeder was not to be denied the win Saturday, as he raced to the checkers first. Carter finished in second, Davis was third, Cox took fourth and Brandon Banks was fifth.

The Iowa Sportsman Series 30-lap feature was about to pull onto the track for the final wheel pounding for 2012, Kris Walker would pass Dave Rodda for the victory with Rodda in second followed by Matt Deaton in third and Gene Tish in fourth.



26th Annual Musco Lighting Fall Challenge

Southern Iowa Speedway

Friday’s Results

IMCA Sport Compacts

Heat 1: 1. Kevin Kirkpatrick (Ottumwa); 2. Merv Chandler (Vinton); 3. John Whalen (Ainsworth); 4. Richie Arnold (Bloomfield); 5. Craig Bangert (Golden, Ill.); 6. Larry Hopkins (Ottumwa).

Heat 2: 1. Kassidy Kirkpatrick (Ottumwa); 2. Trent Orwig (Blakesburg); 3. Kimberly Abbott (Camp Point, Ill.); 4. Kevin Garrett (Bloomfield); 5. Tony Baughman (Keota).

Feature: 1. Merv Chandler; 2. Kevin Kirkpatrick; 3. Kassidy Kirkpatrick; 4. John Whalen; 5. Craig Bangert; 6. Trent Orwig; 7. Kimberly Abbott; 8. Kevin Garrett; 9. Richie Arnold; 10. Tony Baughman. DNS: Larry Hopkins.



IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat 1: 1. Andy Boeckman (Wall Lake); 2. Shannon Anderson (Urbandale); 3. Jason Kohl (Missouri Valley); 4. Mike Hughes (Oskaloosa); 5. Danny Thrasher (Agency); 6. Craig Brown (Eldon); 7. Jesse Garrett (Batavia); 8. Adam Bonnett (Martensdale); 9. Roger Vandenbrink (Sanbourne); 10. Gina Greubel (Lacona).

Heat 2: 1. Dustin Griffiths (Ottumwa); 2. Clayton Crump (Centralia, Mo.); 3. Donavon Nunnikhoven (Sully); 4. Casey Greubel (Lacona); 5. Bobby Greene (Eddyville); 6. Andy Peck (Newton); 7. Jason Riegel (Burmingham); 8. Scott Shull (Eldon); 9. Kris Walker (Oskaloosa).

Feature: 1. Mike Hughes; 2. Shannon Anderson; 3. Bobby Greene; 4. Craig Brown; 5. Danny Thrasher; 6. Donavon Nunnikhoven; 7. Adam Bonnett; 8. Casey Greubel; 9. Scott Shull; 10. Jesse Garrett 11. Roger Vandenbrink; 12. Gina Greubel; 13. Andy Peck; 14. Jason Kohl; 15. Clayton Crump; 16. Jason Riegel. DNS: Kris Walker.



IMCA SportMods

Heat 1: 1. Bryan Weyer (Des Moines); 2. Eric Flander (Barnes City); 3. Ty Luellen (Minburn); 4. Brad Iverson (Grinnell); 5. Brayton Carter (Oskaloosa); 6. Tony Johnson (Oskaloosa); 7. George Gilliland (Lehigh); 8. Greg Strohman (Webster); 9. Glen Gladson (Des Moines); 10. Jeremy Grantham (Clarksville).

Heat 2: 1. Jason Mallicoat (Jefferson); 2. Carter VanDenBerg (Oskaloosa); 3. Rick Gladson (Des Moines); 4. Curtis VanDerWal (Oskaloosa); 5. Jared Timmerman (Norwalk); 6. Nick Roberts (Des Moines); 7. Michael Grantham (Fort Calhoun, Neb.); 8. Matt Lettow (Roland); 9. Brandon Dale (Gorin, Mo.); 10. Tyler Gross (Bondurant).

Heat 3: 1. Sam Wieben (Dysart); 2. Brett Lowry (Montezuma); 3. 9 Mitch Van Engen (Doon); 4. Bill Gibson (Knoxville); 5. Jeremiah Jones (Eldon); 6. Rick Fasse (Urbandale); 7. DJ Robinson (Des Moines); 8. Derek St. Clair (Donnellson); 9. Alec Vandenbrink (Orange City).

Feature: 1. Carter VanDenBerg; 2. Curtis VanDerWal; 3. Bill Gibson; 4. Eric Flander; 5. Rick Gladson; 6. Ty Luellen; 7. Mitch Van Engen; 8. Brad Iverson; 9. Jared Timmerman; 10. Brett Lowry; 11. Tony Johnson; 12. Jeremiah Jones; 13. Matt Lettow; 14. Michael Grantham; 15. Nick Roberts; 16. DJ Robinson; 17. Brandon Dale; 18. Brayton Carter; 19. Rick Fasse; 20. Alec Vandenbrink; 21. Greg Strohman; 22. George Gilliland; 23. Derek St. Clair; 24. Glen Gladson; 25. Jeremy Grantham; 26. Tyler Gross.



IMCA Stock Cars

Heat 1: 1. Elijah Zevenbergen (Ocheydan); 2. Todd Reitzler (Grinnell); 3. Paul Shepherd (Marengo); 4. Shane Paris (Muscatine); 5. Shay Curtin (Cresco); 6. 2Doug Seidl (Grimes); 7. Chad Scandrett (Pleasantville); 8. Cody Agee (Huntsville, Mo.).

Heat 2: 1. Jeff Anderson (Atlantic); 2. Zack Vanderbeek (New Sharon); 3. Brad Pinkerton (New Sharon); 4. Doug Adamy (Columbus, Neb.); 5. Dave Rodda (Pleasantville); 6. Howard Gordon Jr. (Oskaloosa); 7. Jerry Pilcher (Bloomfield); 8. David Saffell (Chariton).

Heat 3: 1.14 Derrick Agee (Moberly, Mo.); 2. Carl Yaw Jr. (Pleasant Hill); 3. Mike Johnston (Des Moines); 4. Alan Van Gorp (Des Moines); 5. Jeremy Kane (Pleasantville); 6. Nathan Wood (Sigourney); 7. Derek Reimer (Marshalltown); 8. Corey Stout (Oskaloosa).

Feature: 1. 1Shay Curtin; 2. Doug Adamy; 3. Alan Van Gorp; 4. Doug Seidl; 5. Todd Reitzler; 6. Shane Paris; 7. Zack Vanderbeek; 8. Nathan Wood; 9. Brad Pinkerton; 10. Paul Shepherd; 11. Corey Stout; 12. Howard Gordon Jr.; 13. Mike Johnston; 14. Carl Yaw Jr.; 15. 4Cody Agee; 16. Dave Rodda; 17. Derek Reimer; 18. Jeremy Kane; 19. Chad Scandrett; 20. Jerry Pilcher; 21. David Saffell.



IMCA Modifieds

Heat 1: 1. Josh Foster (Fort Madison); 2. Ronn Lauritzen (Jesup); 3. Jeff Waterman (Quincy, Ill.); 4. Greg Cox (Altoona); 5. Bill Crimmins (Fort Dodge); 6. Mark Widmar (Oskaloosa); 7. Tyler Vandekamp (Ankeny); 8. Todd Shute (Des Moines).

Heat 2: 1. Jake Durbin (Perry); 2. Bill Davis Jr. (Des Moines); 3. Jeff Conner (Panora); 4. Matthew Meinecke (Madrid); 5. Jacob Murray (Hartford); 6. Andrew Schroeder( Keswick); 7. Cayden Carter (Oskaloosa); 8. Brandon Banks (Washington).

Feature: 1. Bill Davis Jr.; 2. Bill Crimmins; 3. Jeff Waterman; 4. Andrew Schroeder; 5. 7Mark Widmar; 6. Jeff Conner; 7. Ronn Lauritzen; 8. Greg Cox; 9. Tyler Vandekamp; 10. Matthew Meinecke; 11. Cayden Carter; 12. Jacob Murray; 13. Todd Shute; 14. Brandon Banks.



Iowa Sportsman Series

Heat: 1. Matt Deaton; 2. Gene Tish; 3. Dave Rodda; 4. Aaron Martin; 5. Gerry Phillips; 6. Adrian DeHeer; 7. Travis Dawson; 8. Dave Seson; 9. Andy Peck; 10. Joe Icenbice; 11. Chad Reynolds; 12. Phil Rowley; 13. Jack Van Dyke; 14. Chad Scandrett; 15. Roger Dickerson. DNS: Kris Walker.

Feature: 1. Gene Tish; 2. Dave Rodda; 3. Gerry Phillips; 4. Adrian DeHeer; 5. Travis Dawson; 6. Dave Seson; 7. Andy Peck; 8. Chad Reynolds; 9. Phil Rowley; 10. Joe Icenbice; 11. Jack Van Dyke; 12. Matt Deaton; 13. Aaron Martin. DNS: Chad Scandrett; Roger Dickerson; Kris Walker.



Saturday’s Results

IMCA Sport Compacts

Heat 1: 1. Brandon Lambert (Carthage, Ill.); 2. Trent Orwig (Blakesburg); 3. Tim Bevins (Eldon); 4. Jim Garrett (Bloomfield); 5. Kevin Garrett (Bloomfield); 6. John Whalen (Ainsworth).

Heat 2: 1. Kassidy Kirkpatrick (Ottumwa); 2. Merv Chandler (Vinton); 3. Kevin Kirkpatrick (Ottumwa); 4. Richie Arnold (Bloomfield); 5. Tony Baughman.

Feature: 1. Kassidy Kirkpatrick; 2. Merv Chandler; 3. Brandon Lambert; 4. Kevin Kirkpatrick; 5. Tim Bevins; 6. John Whalen; 7. Trent Orwig; 8. Jim Garrett; 9. Richie Arnold; 10. Trent Baughman; 11. Kevin Garrett.



Mod Lites

Heat: 1. Josh May (DeSoto); 2. Daniel Keltner (Wapello); 3. Mike Kennedy (Boone); 4. Joel Keenan.

Feature: 1. Josh May; 2. Daniel Keltner; 3. 95 Mike Kennedy; 4. Joel Keenan; 5. Danny Foster (Slater).



IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat 1: 1. Danny Thrasher (Agency); 2. Casey Greubel (Lacona); 3. Andrew Hustead (Rutledge, Mo.); 4. Roger Vandenbrink (Sanbourne); 5. Jason Riegel (Burmingham); 6. Donavon Nunnikhoven (Sully); 7. Scott Shull (Eldon).

Heat 2: 1. Jacob Keiser (Marengo); 2. Jesse Garrett (Batavia); 3. Clayton Crump (Centralia, Mo.; 4. Gina Greubel (Lacona); 5. Adam Bonnett (Martensdale); 6. Andy Peck (Newton); 7. Kris Walker (Oskaloosa).

Dash: 1. Craig Brown (Eldon); 2. Shannon Anderson (Urbandale); 3. Mike Hughes (Oskaloosa); 4. Dustin Griffiths (Ottumwa); 5. Andy Boeckman (Wall Lake); 6. Bobby Greene (Eddyville).

Feature: 1. Dustin Griffiths; 2. Andy Boeckman; 3. Danny Thrasher; 4. Adam Bonnett; 5. Andrew Hustead; 6. Clayton Crump; 7. Donavon Nunnikhoven; 8. Kris Walker; 9. 27 Jesse Garrett; 10. Gina Greubel; 11. 07 Jacob Keiser; 12. Jason Riegel; 13. Andy Peck; 14. Roger Vandenbrink; 15. Shannon Anderson; 16. Casey Greubel; 17. Mike Hughes; 18. Craig Brown; 19. Scott Shull; 20. Bobby Greene.



IMCA SportMods

Heat 1: 1. Brayton Carter (Oskaloosa); 2. Brad Iverson (Grinnell); 3. Michael Grantham (Fort Calhoun, Neb.); 4. Matt Lettow (Roland); 5. Alec Vandenbrink (Orange City); 6. Jeremiah Jones (Eldon); 7. Jeremy Grantham (Clarksville).

Heat 2: 1. Brett Lowry (Montezuma); 2. 10R Ryan Fullenkamp (Bloomfield); 3. Mitch Van Engen (Doon); 4. Jared Timmerman (Norwalk); 5. DJ Robinson (Des Moines); 6. Greg Strohman (Webster); 7. Ty Luellen (Minburn).

Heat 3: 1. Nick Roberts (Des Moines); 2. John Oliver Jr. (Danville); 3. Tony Johnson (Oskaloosa); 4. Derek St. Clair (Donnellson); 5. Rick Fasse (Urbandale); 6. George Gililand (Lehigh).

B-Main: 1. DJ Robinson; 2. Ty Luellen; 3. Jeremiah Jones; 4. Alec Vandenbrink; 5. Rick Fasse; 6. Greg Strohman; 7. Jeremy Grantham. DNS: 40 George Gilliland.

Dash: 1. Eric Flander (Barnes City); 2. Carter VanDenBerg (Oskaloosa); 3. Curtis VanDerWal (Oskaloosa); 4. Byron Weyer (Des Moines); 5. Sam Wieben (Dsyart); 6. Bill Gibson (Knoxville); 7. Jason Mallicoat (Jefferson).

Feature: 1. Byron Weyer; 2. Curis VanDerWal; 3. Eric Flander; 4. Bill Gibson; 5. Jared Timmerman; 6. Brett Lowry; 7. Jason Mallicoat; 8. Nick Roberts; 9. Matt Lettow; 10. Sam Wieben; 11. Ryan Fullenkamp; 12. Ty Luellen; 13. 9. Mitch Van Engen; 14. Brad Iverson; 15. Michael Grantham; 16. Carter VanDenBerg; 17. Derek St. Clair; 18. Alec Vandenbrink; 19. 6Rick Fasse; 20. DJ Robinson; 21. Brayton Carter; 22. Tony Johnson; 23. Jeremiah Jones; 24. John Oliver Jr.



IMCA Stock Cars

Heat 1: 1. Zack Vanderbeek (New Sharon); 2. Nathan Wood (Sigourney); 3. Jerry Pilcher (Bloomfield); 4. Todd Reitzler (Grinnell); 5. Howard Gordon Jr. (Oskaloosa); 6. Dave Rodda (Pleasantville); 7. Corey Stout (Oskaloosa); 8. Cody Agee (Huntsville, Mo.).

Heat 2: 1. Brad Pinkerton (New Sharon); 2. Shane Paris (Muscatine); 3. Paul Shepherd (Marengo); 4. Mike Johnston (Des Moines); 5. Carl Yaw Jr. (Pleasant Hill); 6. Derek Reimer (Marshalltown); 7. Jeremy Kane (Des Moines); 8. Chad Scandrett (Pleasantville).

Dash: 1. Alan Van Gorp (Des Moines); 2. Elijah Zevenbergen (Ocheyedan); 3. Shay Curtin (Cresco); 4. Doug Adamy (Columbus, Neb.); 5. Derrick Agee (Moberly, Mo.); 6. Jeff Anderson (Atlantic); 7. Doug Seidl (Grimes).

Feature: 1. Zack Vanderbeek; 2. Brad Pinkerton; 3. Elijah Zevenbergen; 4. Doug Adamy; 5. Derrick Agee; 6. Nathan Wood; 7. Jerry Pilcher; 8. Doug Seidl; 9. Alan Van Gorp; 10. Jeff Anderson; 11. Paul Shepherd; 12. Corey Stout; 13. Cody Agee; 14. Howard Gordon Jr.; 15. Mike Johnston; 16. Derek Reimer; 17. Carl Yaw Jr.; 18. Dave Rodda; 19. Jeremy Kane; 20. Shane Paris; 21. Todd Reitzler; 22. Shay Curtin; 23. Chad Scandrett.



IMCA Modifieds

Heat 1: 1. Greg Cox (Altoona); 2. Mark Widmar (Ottumwa); 3. Brandon Banks (Washington); 4. Tyler Vandekamp (Ankeny); 5. Matthew Meinecke (Madrid); 6. Jeff Conner (Panora); 7. Jacob Murray (Hartford); 8. Cayden Carter (Oskaloosa); 9. Ronn Lauritzen (Jesup).

Dash: 1. Andrew Schroeder (Keswick); 2. Josh Foster (Fort Madison); 3. Bill Davis Jr. (Des Moines); 4. Jeff Waterman (Quincy, Ill.); 5. Bill Crimmins (Fort Dodge); 6. Jake Durbin (Perry).

Feature: 1. Andrew Schroeder; 2. Cayden Carter; 3. Bill Davis Jr. ; 4. Greg Cox; 5. Brandon Banks; 6. Mark Widmar; 7. Tyler Vandekamp; 8. Matthew Meinecke; 9. Jeff Waterman; 10. Jeff Conner; 11. Bill Crimmins; 12. Jake Durbin; 13. Josh Foster. DNS: Jacob Murray; Ronn Lauritzen.



Iowa Sportsman Series

Feature: 1. Kris Walker; 2. Dave Rodda; 3. Matt Deaton; 4. Garry Phillips; 5. Gene Tish; 6. Chad Scandrett; 7. Arlen DeHeer; 8. Andy Peck; 9. Chad Reynolds; 10. Dave Seedon; 11. Phil Rowley; 12. Jack Van Dyke; 13. Travis Dawson; 14. Roger Dickerson.