5/9/2020
Park Jefferson International Speedway
Rough and Tumble Night Sees Roth, Stutzman, Sampson, Zeitner and Namanny with Victories
A rough and tumble night of racing greeted the IMCA faithful for the opening night of the IMCA Spring Nationals presented by Ricky Lemmen Motorsports at Park Jefferson Speedway. A whopping 151 cars filled the pit area as drivers from across the Midwest came to get their first hammer session of the year at Park Jefferson. When all was said an done there was a number of wreckers or checkers moments to delight the socially distanced crowd at Park Jefferson. Park Jefferson does run the finale tonight for RACESaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks. A limited number of tickets can be purchase at www.parkjeff.com.
In the IMCA Modifieds it was Anthony Roth who invaded from Nebraska to steal away with the $1,000 top prize. Roth has paid Park Jeff a handful of visits over the years and always walked away with some cash in his pocket. His pole starting spot was just the trick as Roth rumbled away to win after holding off some fierce challenges from Sioux City regular Chris Abelson and Colorado invader Ricky Alvarado. Through it all Roth persevered thru a handful of cautions and was able to hold the top line around the Union County oval to win. A tough night was had by Josh Blumer who got crossed up early in the affair and impacted a number of cars including Open Wheel Nationals winner Ricky Thornton Jr. Heats went to Alvarado, Roth, Jake McBirnie and Blumer while Jesse Richter took the B Feature.
Shane Stutzman showed the locals how it is done in Milford Nebraska as another Nebraska invader took the checker in the J&J Fitting Stock Car division. Stutzman came from the second row to find his way to the front. Meanwhile Justin Luinenburg was a show unto himself as he charged from the 11th starting position to take runner up honors. Taylor Williams managed to hang on for 3rd with Bo Lundquist topping the local runners. Luinenburg, Elijah Zevenbergen, Stutzman and Little Rock’s Colby Klaassen won the heats with Chanse Hollatz taking the B Main.
The Zeitner name is famous at the Park Jefferson Speedway as many a Zeitner have come thru the gates of PJ and taken home the loot. Friday night was a new chapter as Kevin Zeitner added his name to the record books picking up a win in the caution filled Sport Modifieds. Zeitner was challenged time an again during the restarts from Shawn Harker, while local legend Cody Thompson charged from 11th to also put pressure on Zeitner. In the end he held them off for the win. A “rubbin is racin” incident between local rivals Thompson and Jake Sachau saw Sachau relegated and will be an interesting battle to watch tonight. Heats went to Sachau, Harker, Matt Ruff and Norfolk’s Kyle Prauner. Skyler Woods won the B Main.
Worthington, Minnesota’s Malik Sampson dropped into PJ and got a hard fought IMCA Hobby Stock victory. Sampson saw challenges from all over the park as Jason Wilkinson, Jason Fusselman and local Zach Ankrum all took shots at Sampson. A late race caution allowed in to win a crazy night of hobby stock racing that saw 1 car jump the township road and end in a cornfield and another, Kyle Davis, launch his car in a terrific barrel roll the length of a football field in preliminary action. Heats went to Tyler Pospisil, Fusselman, Cody Williams and Andy Hoffman with Blake Luinenburg winning the B Main.
The Fox 620 Sport Compacts are a division that is crazy every time they hit the track and Friday was no different. One tore down a fence, one barrel rolled the backstretch and only 9 of 17 cars were still running when the race called time. When it was done Corey Namanny got the checkers over Kaytee Devries and Jackson Minnesota’s Bubba Brown. Heats went to Namanny, Nate Fontenot and Shannon Mahlberg.
The final night kicks off tonight with hot laps at 6:30. The entire night can be viewed live on www.speedshifttv.com.
Submitted By: Adam Adamson