DECORAH, Iowa - Well, well. The regular weekly competition at Decorah’s Upper Iowa Speedway is history, with only next week’s Season Championships remaining before the track goes silent for the remainder of fall and winter. Other than some problems with weather early on, it has been a fantastic year of racing, with each of the five classes providing some of the best racing available anywhere, and doing so seemingly week after week. So, I thought going into next week’s championship event, we would not only look at this week’s action, but how things are looking for next week’s season finale.

USRA Hobby Stocks – Chris Busch led the early running of the Hobby Stock feature until a caution flew when second place point man Danny Sacquinte and Luke Howard got together, sending both to the pits. Sacquinte would return to finish tenth. Another caution flew for another two car incident that included Kent Dornink. However, the win would go to Kyle Anderson, who claimed his third feature of the year, finishing ahead of Adam Cline and Dan Hovden. Sacquinte had held the point lead through much of the year, but some late year struggles have allowed Brandon Hare, who leads this division with five feature wins, and Adam Cline to take over the two top spots on the point sheet, with only 17 points separating the two going in to next week. If Hare has any problems at all next week, either Sacquinte or Cline could find themselves taking the championship. Stay tuned!
Top Ten Finishers: Anderson, Cline, Hovden, Larson, Hare, Nunnikhoven, Oakes, Schwebach, Krauskopf, Sacquinte.

Outlaw Hobby Stocks – Chris Hovden was leading the Hobby Stock feature when a mishap that included Kyle Falck brought out a yellow. However, two drivers that have had ultra strong second halves of the season, Dillon Anderson and Keith Schwartzhoff, were hot on his tail. Schwartzhoff would finish second and Anderson third but Hovden would take home the trophy, his second of the season. Anderson, who lost the point championship in Cresco by a mere two points, leads Austin Curtin by 21 points. Neither has been a UIS point champion, and both are very deserving. Anderson has eight feature wins and a top five run next week should wrap up the championship and take away some of the lingering bitterness from his Cresco heartbreak.
Top Ten Finishers: Hovden, Schwartzhoff, Anderson, Curtin, Ludeking, Cook, Falck, Solum, Buddenberg, Colsch.

USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods – there were a number of mishaps in the B-Mod feature, including debris that fell from Rob Anderson’s #63, a blown motor for Jeremy Schaufenbrel and most importantly a lost tire by point leader Matt Jones who then made contact with Chris Fretheim. Once all the mayhem shook out, it was once again Bryan Webb taking the checkered flag, finishing ahead of Junior Boyer and Eric Verthein to claim his fifth feature win of the year. Jones has led points throughout the season, and goes in to next week leading second place point man Boyer by 52 points. If Jones starts the feature and runs well, he should claim his second consecutive B-Mod point championship.
Top Ten Finishers: Webb, Boyer, Verthein, Kelly, Panos, Broszeit, Lundry, Fretheim, Anderson.

USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars – Chad Halverson led early in the Stock Car feature until a spin by Don Rude brought out the caution. Rude would be involved in a second caution, this time involving an incident between him and Brian Mahlstedt, with Mahlstedt receiving the brunt of the damage. A four car mishap, involving Halverson, Scott Anderson, Jason Borsheim and Jake Lampert then brought out yet another caution, with all but Lampert continuing. However, up front it was Kurt Krauskopf holding off Tom Schmitt and Dan Jones to claim his third feature win of the year. Jones has held the point lead throughout the entire 2008 season, and goes into next week leading Krauskopf by 36 points, even though he missed a week earlier in the season. If Jones can start next week’s feature and finish in the top ten, it should not matter what Krauskopf does and he will claim his second consecutive UIS Stock Car point championship.
Top Ten Finishers: Krauskopf, Schmitt, Jones, Hovden, Greiner, Anderson, Rude, Kelly, Cole, Halverson.