Johnson Family Takes Two, Griffiths Scores Twice, Rysdam Scores First Osky Win As SIS Returns To Action
By: Jerry Mackey
Oskaloosa, Iowa: Racing resumed on Wednesday night at the Southern Iowa Speedway following a week off due to a weather cancellation. It was Kool Seamless Gutters/Midwest Seed Genetics Salute the Troops Night at the races.
Tony Johnson has been racing for several years and had yet to score a feature win at his hometown race track. That changed on Wednesday night as Johnson led the Oskaloosa Quality Rentals Sportmod feature flag to flag in scoring a hard fought win. Johnson held off the challenges of Curtis VanDerwal early before holding off a late race challenge by Colton Livezey. At the checkers it was Johnson with a two car length win over Livezey and Kyle Harwood crossed under the checkers in third.
The Mid States Machine Stock Cars main event saw Dustin Griffiths continue his dream season at the Southern Iowa Speedway. Griffiths chased down race leader Steve Byers and took the lead following a spirited battle for the top spot with five laps in the 14 lap feature completed. Griffiths went on to record another impressive win with Todd Reitzler getting by Byers late in the race for second.
Griffiths completed his two fer for the third time this season with a win in the nightcap, the 14 lap Parker Tree Service Hobby Stock feature. In the Hobby Stock feature Griffiths advanced from a sixth position start and took the lead from Peyton Stephens to secure the top spot. Eric Stanton raced into second at the midway point of the race and closed on Griffiths but was unable to make the pass for the lead. At the finish line it was Griffiths recording the win over Stanton and Peyton Stephens.
Kyle Rysdam hadn’t recorded a win for quite sometime and had not ever scored a win at the Mahaska County Monster ½ mile before Wednesday night. Rysdam scored the win in the Dirt N Asphalt Sport Compact main by out dueling Matt Moore for the win. The two leaders raced wheel to wheel for several laps and came off of turn four coming to the checkers with a little contact being made. Rysdam was on the extreme low side of the track and despite a little rubbing was able to take the win by a 1/2 a car length over Moore. Seth Meinders took third on Wednesday night.
AJ Johnson continued his unbeaten streak in the NAPA Store of Albia Non Wing Sprint car feature. Johnson recovered from a bobble on lap one which saw him nearly slide off of the track exiting turn two, Johnson recovered and came back to the front taking the lead from Robert Bell. Johnson took the win and set up a Johnson family special night as AJ’s win was a precursor to his Dad’s win in the Sportmods. Mike Mayberry was able to bring his number 4 sprinter to the finish line in second.
Wednesday, May 29th will be 3M Kids Night with a nickel/candy scramble being held during intermission for the kids. All youngsters under 15 will be admitted Free as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult. Hot laps will take to the track at 7:15 with racing to follow.
Wednesday, May 22 Kool Seamless Gutters/Midwest Seed Genetics Night
Feature Results (top5)
Oskaloosa Quality Rentals Sportmods
1. 8T Tony Johnson-Oskaloosa
2. 29 Colton Livezey-New Sharon
3. 15K Kyle Harwood-New Sharon
4. 68 Will Wolf-Grinnell
5. 1V Curtis VanDerwal-Oskaloosa
Mid States Machine Stock Cars
1. 10G Dustin Griffiths-Hedrick
2. 22R Todd Reitzler-Grinnell
3. B17 Steve Byers-Indianola
4. 55X Brett Maasdam-Sully
5. 85 Jason McDaniel-Eldon
Parker Tree Service Hobby Stocks
1. 10G Dustin Griffiths-Hedrick
2. 7B Eric Stanton-Carlisle
3. 623 Peyton Stephens-Bussey
4. 7 Keaton Gordon-Ottumwa
5. 9 Koby Sabin-Des Moines
Dirt N Asphalt Sport Compacts
1. 18A Kyle Rysdam-Palaski
2. 2M Matt Moore-Ottumwa
3. 65 Seth Meinders-Ottumwa
4. 7 Brandon Pickney-Ottumwa
5. 2H James Haring-Oskaloosa
NAPA Store of Albia Non-Wing Sprints
1. 93 AJ Johnson-Oskaloosa
2. 4 Mike Mayberry-Fremont
3. 71 Robert Bell-Colfax
4. 12 Doug Sylvester-Ottumwa
5. T4 Tyler Graves-Chariton
