Keith Carlberg Pockets his First Career Feature Win at the Hamilton County Speedway

By:  Ryan Bergeson

            (Webster City, IA)  Saturday night at the Hamilton County Speedway marked the tenth night of racing of the season.  The Webster City Snowmobile Club was the title sponsor of the evening’s action which offered the Midwest 305 Sprint Cars. 

            Justin Wacha would take the lead early on from his second row starting position in the IMCA Sport Compact feature.  Wacha would lead the entire six lap feature event and would pick up his first feature win of the season.  Mike Nehring, Daniel Ayers, and Angie Webb would finish in the top four.

            The IMCA Hobby Stocks would take center stage on the raceway next and this race would go down to the wire.  Many hard chargers would come from deep in the field as the fans climbed to the edge of their seats.  In the end, the top five finishers all started in the fourth row or deeper.  Justin Ades put on the most impressive move of this race as he climbed from his fifth row starting position all the way to the lead.  Andy Jones was able to work his machine from the fourth row to the second spot but could not run down Justin Ades.  Ades would take the feature win followed by Andy Jones, Robert See, and T.J. Mortenson. 

            The Tony’s Tire Service Stock Cars would be up next with Ryan Leeman taking the lead early.  Jeremy Ades would follow Leeman’s tire tracks all over the speedway until the charging Curt Hook found the groove on the bottom of the racetrack.  Hook would have his 75 machine dialed in on this night as he took the lead from the sixth row starting position.  Mark Elliott would charge to second but would have to settle for the position.  Hook became the seventh different feature winner of the season in the stock car division followed by Elliott, Jeremy Ades, and Mike Wiemann. 

            The Conley’s Trucking IMCA Sport Mods would be up next with Greg Simmons taking the lead at the drop of the green flag.  Simmons would pace the field the entire night during a caution littered 12 lap event and pick up the feature win.  Matt Lettow, Rocky Caudle, and Austin Kaplan would finish in the top four.

            Shane Demay would grab the lead at the start of the IMCA Modified feature.  Demay would try to hold his machine to the bottom of the speedway but would be challenged early by Scott Olson.  Olson was able to make the move on the bottom of the speedway but it would be short lived as Mark Elliott powered to the high side of the speedway.  Elliott would take the lead on lap three and not look back on the way to the feature win.  Scott Olson, Mike Bennett, and Shane Demay would finish in the top four.

            Kyle Wahlert would flex his muscle early in the 25 lap feature for the IMCA Late Models presented by the Motor Inn.  Wahlert looked quick early on as he showed the way around the bottom side of the racetrack.  As Wahlert continued to lead, DeFrance, Cooney, and Griffith would be on the hammer.  As the field worked past the starter stand on lap six, it would be a three car battle for the lead.  DeFrance would find himself in the captains chair heading into turn one followed by Cooney.  Ryan Griffith was able to dust himself off after an early race altercation and glide around the bottom of the speedway.  Griffith would eventually overtake Cooney for second but would not find time to reel in DeFrance.  DeFrance would pick up the feature win followed by Griffith, Cooney, and Kyle Wahlert. 

            The final race of the night would be the Midwest 305 Sprint Car Feature.  Keith Carlberg would take full advantage of his front row starting position and hug the bottom lane of the raceway.  Bob Hildreth would race right in Carlberg’s tire tracks but Carlberg was too smooth around the Historic Half Mile.  Carlberg would dominate all twelve laps on his way to his first career feature win.  Carlberg would be followed to the line by Hildreth, Marty Stevenson, and Austin Johnson. 

            Next Saturday night at the Hamilton County Speedway will be the 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular.  Fans will be offered a full racing program with hot laps starting at 6:00 p.m. with racing to follow.   When the racing action comes to a close, the fans will also be entertained with a huge fireworks display in honor of the Fourth of July.