PINKERTON, WELLER, EDEL, WOOD WINNERS AT SOUTHERN IOWA FAIR

OSKALOOSA, Iowa — In front of a packed grandstand, drivers in the American Racer Weekly Racing Series put on a barnburner of a show Wednesday night at the Southern Iowa Speedway as KBOE Radio presented the Southern Iowa Fair races.

In USRA Hobby Stock action, former track champion Nathan Wood of Keswick grabbed the checkers with Kris Walker of Oskaloosa taking the runner-up finish. Third went to Eddyville's Bobby Green, followed by defending track champion Jason McDaniel and Donavan Nunnikhoven of Kellogg.

The only thing standing between Wood and a second trip to victory lane Wednesday night was Shane Weller. The driver from Agency out-dueled Wood to win the USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Car main event with Oskaloosa's Brian Mitrisin coming home third. Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, who also pulls double-duty by racing in the MUSCO Lighting USRA Modified class, finished fourth ahead of Mike VanGenderen of Newton.

Brian Edel's first start of the season last Wednesday night ended with mechanical failure, but this week the defending Carter's Manufacturing USRA B-Mod track champion returned to his winning ways by topping a 24-car field. Mike Shelton of Bloomfield was no match for Edel, but hung on to garner a second-place finish while current points leader Tyler Groenendyk of Oskaloosa grabbed third. Fourth went to last week's winner, Andrew Schroeder of Keswick and 2007 track champ Brett Moffitt of Grimes rounded out the top-5 finishers.

It was a one-two finish for New Sharon pilots in the MUSCO Lighting USRA Modified feature race as Brad Pinkerton held off VanderBeek to take the checkered flag first. 2008 track champion Colt Mather of Webster pocketed third-place money, Indianola's Josh Truman nailed down the fourth spot and Ron Ver Beek of Oskaloosa returned after one-month-plus hiatus to take the fifth position.

The excitement continues next Wednesday, July 29, at the Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster with another "Licensed to Thrill" event. Simply show your driver's license or i.d. card from the town of Ottumwa and get in the grandstands for free.

Plus, it's "Kids Night" too with free candy and a nickel toss for the young race fans!

On tap will be the a full program of the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring MUSCO Lighting USRA Modifieds, USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars, Carter's Manufacturing USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks.

The pits will open at 5:00 and grandstand gates will open at 5:30, with hot laps at 7:15 and racing at 7:30.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The following Wednesday, Aug. 5, MUSCO Lighting presents the return of the mud-slinging Modifieds of the USMTS Casey's General Stores National Tour with former NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte, fan favorite Kenny Wallace and Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip. All three drivers will be in attendance at the Southern Iowa Speedway to sign autographs and race with the USMTS Modifieds.

The Southern Iowa Speedway is a half-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.5 mile west of US 63 on SR 92, then 0.3 mile north on N. I St. (at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds). For more information, contact the RL Promotions offices at (515) 832-6000 or visit www.rlpromotions.com online. Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (641) 673-7004.

SOUTHERN IOWA SPEEDWAY SPONSORS: Arnold Motor Supply, Bank Iowa, Big Ed’s BBQ, Carter’s Manufacturing, Casey’s General Stores Dairy Queen, Doug’s Four Wheelers, First Federal, G & S Construction, Gatton Realty, Hot Shotz, Iowa Telecom Communications, KBOE Hot Country 104.9, Malcolm Lumber, Mike’s Tire & Alignment, Mitrisin Motors, MUSCO Lighting, NAPA Auto Parts, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Oskaloosa Herald, Palmer for Representative, Pepsi, Pizza Ranch, Pro-Line Buildings, Racemart, S & K Home Repair, Shady Lodge Mercantile & Trading Company, State Farm Insurance, Van Gorp Used Cars, Vermeer Manufacturing Co., Wanders Automotive & Machine, Wright Welding Supply.