Opheim, Bents, Larson, and Nielsen take opening night wins at Jackson Nationals
By: Tom Svoboda/Jackson Speedway

 

Jackson Minnesota (August 20, 2009) – On a rather cloudy and cool August night that saw rain showers throughout the area 118 cars checked into the ASA Sanctioned Jackson Speedway for 95.1 the Eagle race night, night one, of the 31st Annual Jackson Nationals.  Winning the nights qualifying features were Kevin Opheim, Mason City IA, Performance Center IMCA Stock Cars; Steve Bents, Rushmore MN, Bohl’s Small Engine and Marine Repair B Modifieds; Dustin Larson, Rushmore MN, Loosbrock Digging Services Hobby Stocks; and Roger Nielsen, Estherville IA, Yellowbook Hornets.

Several cautions slowed action in the 20-lap Stock Car feature race.  At the start of the event it was Brice Bodle, Wallingford IA, getting the early lead. Bodle would lead through the first four laps, holding the field off through two restarts.  On lap five He would get passed by Ken Tietz, Belle Plaine MN, and soon began to be pressure by Kevin Opheim.  Tietz held him off though through two restarts but was unable to keep him behind on lap fourteen as Opheim made the pass and overtook the lead.  Kevin Opheim would lead the remaining laps and go on to take the win.  He was followed by Ken Tietz, Jeffrey Larson, Lakefield MN, Brice Bodle, Wallingford IA, and Jake Masters, Graettinger IA.  The B Feature was won by Elijah Zevenbergen, Ocheydan IA, with the heat races going to Jeff McCallum, Mankato MN, Ken Tietz, Rick Mees, Eagle Lake MN, and Kevin Opheim. 

It was a race of survival in the 15-lap B Mod feature.  Steve Bents would get the early race lead but would be challenged early in the race by Josh Ruby, Lakota IA.  Bents would keep the field behind him through several restarts, as Ruby kept challenging him for the lead.  On lap eight Ruby would fall back in the field as Brett Mayer, Lytton IA, moved into the second spot.  As the caution flags kept flying Bents would keep the field behind him, and as the race began to wind down he would now be challenged by Luke Wanninger, Jefferson IA.  When the checkered flag finally flew Steve Bents took the win followed by Luke Wanninger, Nick Johansen, Russell MN, Dan Paplow, Dundee MN, and Brett Mayer.  The B Feature was won by Bob Weber, Burt IA, with heat races going to Steve Bents, Brett Mayer, Josh Ruby and Luke Wanninger. 

In the 15-lap Hobby Stock feature race, it was all Dustin Larson.  Larson would get the early lead from his pole starting position.  The battle for the second spot was a heated one early in the race among four drivers, but as the race continued on it ended up a being a good battle for the lead with Larson, Stac Schroeder, Clear Lake IA, and Andy Beckman, Wall Lake IA.  On lap nine, Beckman pulled alongside Larson to challenge him for the lead but Larson kept him behind.  As the race began to wind down Dustin Larson maintained his lead and went on to pick up the win.  He was followed by Stac Schroeder, Andy Beckman, Justin Luinenberg, Reading MN, and Jason Andrews, Okabena MN.  The B Features were won by Jeff Luhmann, Jackson MN, and Guy Kimpton, Wells MN.  Heat races went to Matt Harris, Graettinger IA, Stac Schroeder, Justin Luinenberg, and Dustin Larson. 

Two different drivers led in the 8-lap hornet feature.  At the start Nate Coopman, Mankato MN, got the early lead and led for the first four laps when Roger Nielsen got by him and took the lead.  Roger Nielsen took the win followed by Nate Coopman, Amanda Kaltved, Estherville IA, Brady Schroeder, Lakefield MN, and Megan Lappegard, Estherville IA.  Heat races were won by Brady Schroeder and Nate Coopman.

The Jackson Nationals continues tonight with night two of action featuring all Sprint cars sponsored by Svoboda Excavating of Jackson.  The night will feature the Jackson Speedway Touring Series US Army Sprint Cars, along with the Napa of Windom 305 Sprints, and Jackpot Junction IMCA Sprint Cars.  Saturday night Erickson Trucks N Parts sponsors championship night which will feature the JSTS Sprints along with the 305 Sprints, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, B Mods, and Hornets.  Hot laps both nights at 7:00 p.m.  For more information log onto www.jacksonspeedway.com. 

Performance Center of Estherville IA IMCA Stock Cars (34 Cars)
A Feature (20 laps) – 1. 44K Kevin Opheim, Mason City IA, 2. 110 Ken Tietz, Belle Plaine MN, 3. 7L Jeffrey Larson, Lakefield MN, 4. 21B Brice Bodle, Wallingford IA, 5. 11 Jake Masters, Graettinger IA, 6. 55x Jesse Olson, Mayer MN, 7. 37 Mike Jergens, Mallard IA, 8. 9 Jerry Coopman, Mankato MN, 9. 1v Joe Voss, Belle Plaine MN, 10. 71D Shawn Bruns, Danube MN, 11. 66J Jeff Joldersma, McCelland IA, 12. 36 Tom Suess, New Ulm MN, 13. 58 Heath Tenkley, Hartley IA, 14. 32 Derek Green, Granada MN (DNF), 15. 6L Jim Larson, Rushmore MN (DNF), 16. 66z Elijah Zevenbergen, Ocheydan IA (DNF), 17. 54 Rick Mees, Mankato MN (DNF), 18. 5L Dustin Larson, Rushmore MN (DNF), 19. 04 Roger Verdoorn, Sibley IA (DNF), 20. 1M Jeff McCallum, Mankato MN (DNF), 21. 5 Luke Sathoff, Jackson MN (DNF), 22. 5B Stefan Sybesma, Sanborn IA (DNF), 23. 31B Jack Byers, Hartley IA (DNF), 24. 14W Dave Wickman, Emmetsburg IA (DNS)

B Feature (10 laps – top 4 advance) – 1. Elijah Zevenbergen, 2. Heath Tenkley, 3. Mike Jergens, 4. Dave Wickman, 5. 31 Trent Schroeder, Worthington MN, 6. 04x Chuck Winter, Henderson MN, 7. 96 Troy Woelber, Hull IA, 8. 69M Gary Mattison, Lamberton MN, 9. 30 Gary Bannister, Lakefield MN, 10. 16K Justin Dieter, Brewster MN, 11. 03 Tory Harzin, Morgan MN, 12. 25 Brett Reierson, Arlington MN (DNF), 13. 6 Mark DeVary, Estherville IA (DNF), 14. 0 Mark Oestreich, Henderson MN (DNF)

Heat 1 (6 laps) – 1. McCallum, 2. Olson, 3. Bodle, 4. Jim Larson, 5. Sathoff
Heat 2 – 1. Tietz, 2. Coopman, 3. Jeffrey Larson, 4. Byers, 5. Dustin Larson
Heat 3 – 1. Mees, 2. Joldersma, 3. Sybesma, 4. Voss, 5. Bruns
Heat 4 – 1. Opheim, 2. Masters, 3. Green, 4. Verdoorn, 5. Suess

Bohl’s Small Engine and Marine Repair B Modifieds (34 Cars)
A Feature (15 laps) – 1. 15B Steve Bents, Rushmore MN, 2. 20W Luke Wanninger, Jefferson IA, 3. 11 Nick Johansen, Russell MN, 4. 25 Dan Paplow, Dundee MN, 5. 1M Brett Mayer, Lyton IA, 6. 5R Tad Reutzel, Burt IA, 7. 9L Matthew Looft, Swea City IA, 8. 18 Kyle Steuber, Fairmont MN, 9. 9x Austin Lucas, Story City IA, 10. 75 Mike Albert, Montgomery IA, 11. 69 Devin Spoo, Estherville IA, 12. 8 Mark Sathoff, Dolliver IA (DNF), 13. 7M Mike Fogelman, Okabena MN (DNF), 14. 33 Tim Rupp, Cherokee IA (DNF), 15. 78 Bob Weber, Burt IA (DNF), 16. 38M Mark Garver, Wells MN (DNF), 17. 42 Dan Ahlers, Slayton MN (DNF), 18. 5N Jared Nytroe, Brandon SD (DNF), 19. 3 Oliver Kollofski, Fairmont MN (DNF), 20. 97 Troy Gochanour, Armstrong IA (DNF), 21. 9 Tony Pogeler, Cherokee IA (DNF), 22. R6 Danny Myrvold, Heron Lake MN (DNF), 23. Justin Schuder, Fairmont MN (DNF); DQ: 30 Josh Ruby, Lakota IA 

B Feature (10 laps – top 4 advance) - 1. Bob Weber, 2. Mark Garver, 3. Danny Myrvold, 4. Oliver Kollofski, 5. 78T Jake Simpson, Algona IA, 6. 72 Ray Bertrand, Wilmont MN, 7. 6D Nick Deiter, Brewster MN, 8. 97M Kurt Moeding, Vinton IA, 9. 20x Brodie McKeown, Heron Lake MN, 10. 79A Adam Onken, Lakefield MN, 11. 7x Ed Ritz, Hanska MN; Did Not Start: 80 Josh Bonnstetter, Slayton MN, 14 Jason Fisher, Lakefield MN, R1 Tom Brown, Heron Lake MN

Heat 1 (6 laps) – 1. Bents, 2. Paplow, 3. Gochanour, 4. Ahlers, 5. Reutzel
Heat 2 – 1. Mayer, 2. Johansen, 3. Schuder, 4. Pogeler, 5. Garver
Heat 3 – 1. Josh Ruby, 2. Looft, 3. Albert, 4. Spoo, 5. Nytroe
Heat 4 – 1. Wanninger, 2. Lucas, 3. Rupp, 4. Steuber, 5. Sathoff

Loosbrock Digging Service Hobby Stocks (39 Cars)
A Feature (15 laps) – 1. 5L Dustin Larson, Rushmore MN, 2. 51 Stac Schroeder, Clear Lake IA, 3. 62B Andy Beckman, Wall Lake IA, 4. 18L Justin Luinenberg, Reading MN, 5. 03z Jason Andrews, Okabena MN, 6. 58 Jerry Gronewold, Worthington MN, 7. 901 Shane Klaassen, Little Rock IA, 8. 9 Kurt Fothergill, Fenton IA, 9. 52 Guy Kimpton, Wells MN, 10. 87 John Briggs, Calumet IA, 11. 18A Brandon Murphy, Rushmore MN, 12. 1 Greg Sidles, Emmetsburg IA, 13. 3K Dan Strandberg, Worthington MN, 14. 20N Justin Nehring, Storm Lake IA, 15. 8 Merle Bass, Varina IA, 16. 1c Chad Carlson, Ormsby MN, 17. 45 Drew Barglof, Sioux Rapids IA, 18. 33M Mathius Lux, Hartley IA, 19. 24x Jeff Luhmann, Jackson MN, 20. 52s Kyle Schley, Alpha MN (DNF), 21. 99H Chris Harris, Graettinger IA (DNF), 22. 99 Matt Harris, Graettinger IA (DNF), 23. 90 Chad Krug, Mallard IA (DNF); DQ: 00x Jeremy Van Ede, Adrian MN

B Feature 1 (10 laps – top 4 advance) – 1. Jeff Luhmann, 2. Justin Nehring, 3. Merle Bass, 4. Kyle Schley, 5. T8 Brandon Nielsen, Spencer IA, 6. 1K Logan Kelly, Fairmont MN, 7. 59 Ryan Moberg, Worthington MN, 8. 24 Cody Koekenhoff, Graettinger IA, 9. 16M Corey Black, Mankato MN; Did Not Start: 10 Darrel Bortvit, Estherville IA, 3z Josh Andrews, Lakefield MN, 20 Dustin Wannarka, Truman MN
B Feature 2 (10 laps – top 4 advance) – 1. Guy Kimpton, 2. Chris Harris, 3. Greg Sidles, 4. Mathius Lux, 5. 21B Brad Falline, Spencer IA, 6. 33c Corey Schreiber, Jackson MN, 7. 14 Ernie Dailey, Worthington MN, 8. 9x Dillion Hotovec, Fulda MN (DNF), 9. 5J Josh Peters, Dickens IA (DNF); 2x Tony Salmon, Milford IA, 17J Jason Bradley, Sioux Falls SD

Heat 1 (6 laps) – 1. Matt Harris, 2. Murphy, 3. Jason Andrews, 4. Fothergill, 5. Nehring
Heat 2 – 1. Stac Schroeder, 2. Krug, 3. Strandberg, 4. Kimpton, 5. Luhmann
Heat 3 – 1. Luinenberg, 2. Beckman, 3. Briggs, 4. Carlson, 5. Klaassen
Heat 4 – 1. Larson, 2. Barglof, 3. Van Ede, 4. Gronewold, 5. Bass

Yellow Book Hornets (11 Cars)
A Feature (8 laps) – 1. 8 Roger Nielsen, Estherville IA, 2. 9 Nate Coopman, Mankato MN, 3. 4K Amanada Kaltved, Estherville IA, 4. 18 Brady Schroeder, Lakefield MN, 5. 33 Megan Lappegard, Estherville IA, 6. 24 Jake Schroeder, Lakefield MN, 7. 22 Joe Bunkofske, Armstrong IA, 8. 4 Bentley Glaser, Armstrong IA, 9. 08 Dean Nething, Morgan MN, 10. 22T Jeffrey Trosin, Armstrong IA, 11. 75 Cory Flanigan, Strom Lake IA (DNF)

Heat 1 (4 laps) – 1. Brady Schroeder, 2. Nielsen, 3. Flanigan, 4.Trosin, 5. Glaser
Heat 2 – 1. Coopman, 2. Kaltved, 3. Jake Schroeder, 4. Lappegard, 5. Bunkofske