First Friday Night Race of the 100th Racing Season
For the first Friday night of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series, the weather was perfect, and the racing was exciting with six classes hot on the track!
Legends.Direct Legends
In Heat 1, Dallas Kibbe powered to the inside of John Ferden with five laps to go before a car spinning on the back stretch slowed the field down. On the restart, Kibbe ran away for the win.
Photo: Ed Siems
Heat two saw Nick and Austin Slabaugh on the front row. The two stayed side-by-side briefly until Austin fell in line behind his younger brother. With two to go, Kevin Korsmo snuck by on the inside to capture the heat victory.
The first three laps of the feature were led by Nick Slabaugh, and Austin Slabaugh led the next three laps before an ultra-fast Kevin Korsmo took over the top spot on the back straightaway. Korsmo climbed to just over a 3-second lead before the checkered flag to claim his first win of the season.
“It was a joy behind the wheel,” Korsmo said. “This is my 35th year of racing at Hawkeye Downs, and I am here to show people you can do it even if you are an old guy.”
Sunline Hornets
Josh Cassill led the field to green in the first heat race over Jamie Wood. Cassill continued to show the way as Chad Vozenilek worked the outside. As they came to the line, Vozenilek stayed in place, getting the victory.
Heat two saw John Carnahan take the top spot on lap one. It wasn’t long before Kurt Bohnsack was all over the bumper of Carnahan. The two battled, and with 4 to go, Carnahan wiggled, allowing Bohnsack to get ahead and take the checkered flag.
Almost immediately into the feature, Vozenilek had a flat tire that sent him to the pits for a replacement. Cassill held his own as Carnahan tried to peek to the inside several times. Four laps in, Carnahan went to the outside and was able to take the lead, and it looked like it was his to win.
A late caution from a single car spinning brought out the caution and allowed Bohnsack to use the outside to his advantage and grab his second win of the season.
Photo: Ed Siems
“Carnahan did a good job; he held his line,” Bohnsack said. “Thank God for that yellow. I don’t think I was going to get him otherwise.”
Anderson Automotive Hobby Stocks
Scott Siems took control early in the heat race with Hayden Sherman covering second until Adam Petrzelka took the position. With three laps left, Petrzelka grabbed the lead. Siems ultimately fell back to 5th in the final laps with Petrzelka going on to win.
Siems led the opening lap of the feature as Hayden Sherman, Brayden Beauregard, and Petrzelka went three-wide behind. Petrzelka came out ahead of that battle and went on to take the top spot.
Photo: Ed Siems
Jason Sherman passed Beauregard with 4 to go, and shortly after, Beauregard spun alone in turn two. Hayden Sherman was the only car to take the outside on the choice, which proved to be beneficial as he would finish second behind Petrzelka.
Performance Foods Sportsman
For the Sportsman heat race, it was Greg Hentrich who showed the way early on until sliding up the track. Todd Ness took the inside and got past to collect the heat win.
Photo: Ed Siems
Hentrich and Brandon Herb led the field to green for the feature event. Herb got loose, giving up the battle for the time being, but then fell into the clutches of Ness. Over the course of the race, both Herb and Ness battled each other and made moves for the lead, but couldn’t get enough momentum to pass leader Hentrich, who scored the victory.
“These guys get tougher and tougher to run against,” Hentrich said. “We pulled one off, we just had to hang in there.”
Cassill Motors Sport Mods
Nathan Ballard took them three-wide in the first heat race and led Chad Siems to the line to start the evening.
Stacy Olson took control of heat two until she was chased down and passed on the outside by Tallan Chandler.
Ballard continued his ultra-fast speed in the feature, making his way through the field and taking over the top spot with 7 to go. Olson led the first couple laps before Bryan Baxter showed the way briefly while Ballard worked around them. It was the second win in as many races for Ballard.
Photo: Ed Siems
“We did a lot of work to make sure this car is good,” said Ballard. “It has room for improvement, though.”
Performance Concepts Late Models
Photo: Ed Siems
Griffin McGrath was fastest during the qualifying session, but fell off the pace during the fast dash heat that saw Kody King and Kacey Korsmo at the top.
The remaining heat race was won by Noah Eisenhower from Freeport, IL, with Jim Hanson finishing 2nd.
Ten cars started the feature event, with McGrath starting on the pole after the invert. While he would go on to lead every lap and take the win, racing was solid through the field. Danny Lehmkuhl brought it home second, and Kody King would hold onto 3rd at the finish.
“I got lucky and drew the pole,” McGrath said. “I wish I could have raced some of those guys a bit, but you know how it goes.”
Next Race: Friday, May 16th
Join us for NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing on Friday, May 16th, featuring your favorite racing classes, plus HD Dawgs, Mid-Am Racing Series, and Midwest Truck Series! This jam-packed night of racing will be full of entertainment for the whole family with our friends from El Kahir Shrine on the party deck.
Get tickets online or at the gate. Gates open at 6:00pm with racing to begin at 7:05pm.
