RED CLOUD, Neb. -- Despite high school sports and a northernly breeze, a good crowd was on hand for the first night of the two separate nights of racing at The Speed Bowl in Red Cloud September 26. Jason Hughes of Colcord, Okla., Jim Buss of Hastings, Barry Schoen of Downs, Kan., and the team of Justin and Andy Gregg of Hastings blew into victory lane, winning the night’s A Features.

Twenty-four cars started the USMTS A Feature, but only 23 were able to complete a lap. On the opening lap, the car of Robby Marsh of Hebron was seriously damaged after several cars tried to get through corner two side-by-side, resulting in a pileup on the backstretch. Marsh was not injured. On the complete restart, heat winner Dean Mahlstedt of Garner, Iowa took the lead. On the second lap, heat winner Jason Hughes drove to the low side of corner four to take control of the thirty lap event.

The first nine laps were slowed by four caution periods, then the field went 21 unabated laps. Kelly Shryock of Forest City, Iowa started back on the fourth row, but with the aid of the cautions and a fast car, moved into second place. He caught Hughes with a handful of laps to go, about the time they caught the back of the pack. Hughes used the slower cars to his advantage, while Shryock got caught behind two cars racing for position, and that allowed Hughes to drive away with the win and the $2,000 winner’s check. Tommy Myer of Blooming Prairie, Minn. finished in third place, ahead of Johnny Saathoff of Beatrice. Greg Metz of Washington, Kan. started in row seven after winning his B Feature and finished in fifth place. The Kansas driver's finish made it five different racers from five different states in the top five. Jason Friesen of Sutton was the other heat race winner Kevin Larkins of Greenwood won the other B Feature.

Jim Buss took advantage of the front row cars all trying to move into the top line to take the lead on the opening lap of the Stock Car A Feature. He then moved to the high side and waited for someone to try and catch him. Shane Stutzman of Milford was the first and only driver to do so, and the two pulled well out front of the field. Buss used his experience at the 3/8 mile, high-bank track to take his first win of the year at the track (in limited action.) Points champion Stutzman settled for second place, followed by Terry Jordening of Blue Hill, and Dustin Small of North Platte. Jake Bradley of Naponee and Jordening were the heat race winners.

Barry and Brady Schoen of Downs were showing the other Hobby Stock drivers how it is done in the heat races, as the brothers won the two heat races. Zach Reicks of Columbus paced the early laps of the A Feature until Barry Schoen found his way through the pack and around Reicks for the lead. Brian Fisher of Bladen moved into second place and began to work on Schoen for the lead. On the last lap, Fisher got loose in corner one, allowing Schoen to take the win. Brady Schoen finished in third place, ahead of Josten Wassom of Deshler and Brian Martens of Hastings.

Justin and Andy Gregg doubled up in the Cruiser class. The duo won their heat race, well out front of a good five car battle for second place. The end of the A Feature had them well in front of the field again. David Theer and Troy Himelburg of Lawrence finished in second place.

All four classes will be back on Saturday night September 27 at The Speed Bowl. The gates open at 5 P. M., and the races start at 7 p.m.

RESULTS

USMTS MODIFIEDS

Heat 1

12H-Jason Hughes

Heat 2

1F-Jason Friesen

Heat 3

21M-Dean Mahlstedt

B Feature 1

4X-Kevin Larkins

61-Bruce Hanford

7A-Bruce Hascall

B Feature 2

29M-Greg Metz

26-Brad McEwan

53T-Larry Sutton

A Feature

12H-Jason Hughes

3-Kelly Shryock

65-Tommy Myer

96-Johnny Saathoff

29M-Greg Metz

21M-Dean Mahlstedt

31-Corey Dripps

1F-Jason Friesen

11W-Tim Watts

2K-Darrick Klima

61-Bruce Hanford

40-Luke Cochran

4X-Kevin Larkins

4-Lonnie Schriner

4R-Mike Roach

9-Robert Wilson

26-Brad McEwan

33T-Sarah Sillman

44H-Kelly Harmelink

53T-Larry Sutton

1M-Jeremy Eatherton

7A-Bruce Hascall

75-Jon Thompson

11-Robby Marsh

STOCK CARS

Heat 1

08-Terry Jordening

Heat 2

20-Jake Bradley

A Feature

12-Jim Buss

22S-Shane Stutzman

08-Terry Jordening

24S-Dustin Small

9J-Geoff Jermark

2W-Luke Wassom

25-Brent Drohman

20-Jake Bradley

15-Herb Slough

(DNS) 73-Jay Blakemore

HOBBY STOCKS

Heat 1

21S-Barry Schoen

Heat 2

12-Brady Schoen

A Feature

21S-Barry Schoen

8-Brian Fisher

12-Brady Schoen

2W-Justen Wassom

26-Brian Martens

51-Jamie Reiman

7R-Zach Reiks

9-Andrew Bargen

41-Steven Pancoke

20-Blake McMillan

38E-Matt Streit

(DNS) 71-Rocky Zimmerman

CRUISERS

Heat

B33R-Justin & Andy Gregg

A Feature

B33R-Justin & Andy Gregg

01RK-David Theer/Troy Himelberg

11M-Shannon Carraher/Jake Bradley

AK47-Adam Sidlo/E.J. Kothe

2-Ryan Van Wey/Dan Conway

66-Brent & Ken Van Wey

01-Ron Duffy/

16 1/2-Pat & Joe Hersch

11-Andy Lovegrove