8/19/2024
Benton County Speedway
Champions crowned at Benton County Speedway
VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 18, 2024) – Season championship feature racing was held Sunday night at Benton County Speedway and track champions were crowned in six divisions at The Bullring.
The best finish of the night came in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Christie Door Company.
John Oliver Jr. wrapped up the track title by taking the green flag in that 20-lapper, but he ran second for much of the event to Braden Richards. Richards protected the top side of the speedway while Oliver pressured throughout the entirety of the event.
With Oliver inching closer in the low groove, Richards took the low side to deny his efforts in the final set of turns on the final lap. Richards drifted to the middle of the track exiting turn four, allowing Oliver to draw alongside the leader coming to the checkers.
At the line, Richards held on by .018 of a second to earn his first win at The Bullring. Oliver ran second ahead of Kaden Reynolds and Kyle Olson.
In the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wright Way Trailers, Ben Chapman locked up his first track title in the division and was hoping to add a feature win to his milestone night.
Troy Cordes had other ideas as he battled Chapman throughout the early stages of that 20-lapper. Cordes eventually raced the low side past Chapman to drive to his third win in weekly racing this season in Vinton, and fourth win of the season overall at the speedway.
It was a division-leading ninth win for Cordes on championship night. Josh Fisher raced to the runner-up finish ahead of Chapman and Jacob Snyder.
In the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio, Matt Brown led throughout that 15-lap event, while Joren Fisher gave chase. Fisher closed late and drew to the outside of Brown at the line, but Brown held on for his second win of the year.
Fisher locked up his third track title in four years with the second place finish. Justin Stander and Kale Hemsley chased the lead pair to the checkers.
Tony Olson earned his fifth win of the year in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. Olson fought off late pressure from Brady Hilmer to score the win. Hilmer earned his first track title in the division with his runner-up finish. Cole Suckow and Brett Thomas completed the top four Sunday night.
Lukas Rick made it a clean sweep Sunday night, winning the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature en route to his third straight track title in the division.
Rick held a big lead throughout that 15-lapper while Stephen Randall consistently cut into his lead. Randall reeled in the leader late, but settled for second at the line. Jeremy Williams and Robert Rundle rounded out the top four.
Michael Weber raced to his fourth win of the year in the INEX Legends presented by Legends.Direct. Weber took charge early and pulled away to victory ahead of Colton Utley, Kacey Korsmo and Dylan Manning. Cohen Henze raced to a seventh place finish to earn the first track title of his career in the division.
The PRO Late Model Tour joined season championship night festivities and it was Tom Berry Jr. taking top honors in that 25-lapper. Berry was repeatedly pressured by J.D. Auringer and Matt Ryan throughout the last half of that event, but held on for his first Late Model win.
Auringer, Ryan and Nick Marolf completed the top four.
Submitted By: Ryan Clark
