Sports : Brian's View From the Grandstands: Vinton, Aug. 8 race review

Welcome to another round of Brian’s Views from the Grandstands.  It was a hot evening for racing and the track definitely had some problems keeping itself in shape. The first race up was the IMCA Hobby Stocks and all of the competitors did a great job of racing as the feature would go flag-to-flag with no cautions.  18 cars started the feature event.  Al Sweerin took the win from his front row start.  Doug Laughridge finished second with Wes Stanek, August Bach, and Rod Grother the unofficial top 5.  Heat races were won by Bach, Justin Stander, and Jacob Kaiser Next up was the Sportmods.  23 were on hand to race tonight.  Rick Paulson was the early leader.  After 3 cautions, while trying to get lap 3 in the books, Jim Buhlman and Austin Kaplan both passed the Paulson machine in turn 2.  Kaplan would go on to take the win as the time limit expired with Buhlman, Tim Swope, Joel Rust, and Mike Mitchell the top 5.  Heat races were won by Kurt Hogan, Dave Schulze, and Drew Fish. Next up was the Sport Compacts.  17 cars were on hand.  Brett Vanous was the early leader.  Four caution would keep the field somewhat close.  Nathan Chandler took the win after borrowing his brother, Dallas’ 3 car.  Nate took a hard hit in his familiar 22 car at Hawkeye Downs on Friday night.  Vanous would finish second, with Merv Chandler, Justin Wacha, and Gary Peiffer the top 5.  Heat races were a family affair as Nathan and Merv Chandler won both of the heat races. The IMCA Stock Cars were next on tap.  16 Stock Cars were here to do battle.  Phil Holtz was the early leader and was passed by Damon Murty on lap 11.  Murth would go on to win with Holtz in second.  Norman Chesmore finished third with Nathan Wood and Justin Temeyer rounding out the top 5.  Holtz was dq’d due to not going to the tech area after the feature.  Heat races were won by Scooter Dulin and Richard Quail. The ‘Knights of Thunder” IMCA modifieds were up next.  12 cars started the feature.  Mark Schulte was driving Max Corporon’s car in the feature after Schulte had issues with his motor during the heat race.  On the first lap, Jacob Tuttle got off the track and flipped his modified.  Tuttle climbed out unhurt.  Shawn Fisher would take the lead from the start and with 17 laps in the books, Landon Cassill hooked a rut at the bottom of turn 4 and violently flipped his modified.  Cassill climbed out also unhurt.  For all the grief that flagman, Dan Hilby, gets from the crowd, he was on his toes for both incidents and had the red flag flying before either car stopped flipping.  When racing resumed, Jerry Luloff was able to pass Fisher on the white flag lap and went on to take the checkers.  Fisher finished in second with Pat Flannigan, Jerry Dedrick, and Schulte the unofficial top 5.  Heat races were won by Flannigan and Fisher. Next week is back to school night with a kid’s candy dash.  We’ll see y’all next week for another round of Views from the Grandstands.