DECORAH, Iowa - As a prelude to next week’s regular season finale, the USMTS Modifieds found their way to Decorah’s Upper Iowa Speedway this past Saturday night. Following a week of heavy rains, the track took some work to get it back to racing fashion, but once things got rolling, it was super fast and the racing as good as ever. Hobby Stocks, B-Mods and Stock Cars ran for track and national points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series, with each class giving fans a heck of a show in the process.

The start of this week’s USRA Hobby Stock feature appeared to be a re-run of the end of last week’s feature as Chris Hovden and Scott Spilde battled for the front spot. Hovden would take the spot, while Danny Sacquintne moved past Dan Hovden for third. Adam Cline was on the move as well, moving into fourth. Chris Hovden had built an eight car lead on Spilde when a caution flew for a corner two spin. Hovden would again show the way following the re-start with Spilde close in tow. A three-wide battle for third was brewing between Sacquintne, Cline and Nathan Wood. Wood would grab the spot at the flag with Spilde settling for second and Hovden claiming his fifth feature win of the season at the Upper Iowa Speedway.

Brandon Hare shot to an early lead in the USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mod feature while Eric Verthein and Brian Schrage battled it out for second. Schrage would eventually take the spot, but Verthein would fight back, this time with Junior Boyer in the mix as well, putting heat on Schrage for the runner up spot. The caution flag then flew for a spin in corner two. Hare showed the way following the re-start while Boyer moved into second. Point leader Matt Jones, who started thirteenth, was flying through the field, and would move past Verthein for third. An amazing show was then put on in the front of the field as Hare, Jones and Boyer all fought for the lead. A spin in corner four by Jeremy Geisler brought out a second caution. Boyer would lead again following the re-start with Jones right on his tail. With the white flag waving one-to-go, Jones went in to corner one high with Boyer running the bottom. Coming out of two, it appeared the Boyer moved up to try to block, but Jones pulled the old “cross over” move, and by the time they hit corner three, was alongside Boyer, this time on the bottom. Boyer tried to slam the door, but it was too late, and the two would make contact, sending Boyer over the corner four bank. The race would continue green and Jones would claim the thrilling win and put himself in a position to earn his third consecutive track championship next week.

Tory Reicks grabbed the lead on the first lap of the USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Car feature, while a three way battle between Austin Curtin, Shay Curtin and Kevin Donlan was brewing just behind him. Shay Curtin would eventually take the runner-up spot with Donlan taking third. Shay would catch Reicks and was putting a boat load of heat on the leader when a caution flew when Cody Cook planted his #29 into the corner one wall. Reicks would have to go to the pits during the yellow, handing the lead to Shay Curtin. On the re-start, it was Shay leading while Kurt Krauskopf, Austin Curtin and Matt Greiner had a heck of a battle for second. It would continue until the final lap, when it appeared that it was going to be a one-two Curtin finish, but heading to the checkered flags out of corner four Austin was spun. The race would finish under green, with Krauskopf being credited with second and Shay Curtin claiming his first UIS feature win of the season.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, Iowa
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009

USRA HOBBY STOCKS – Chris Hovden, Spilde, Wood, Sacquintne, Schwartzhoff, Cline, Hare, Holthaus, Lewis, Larson.

USRA KARL CHEVROLET B-MODS – Jones, Hare, Andy Kelly, Verthein, Fretheim, Mahlstedt, Freilinger, Mike Kelly, Schrage, Panos.

USRA KARL CHEVROLET STOCK CARS – Shay Curtin, Krauskopf, Donlan, Greiner, Hovden, Solum, Fosaaen, Ludeking, Flack, Bidne.