For those that love the sport of sprint car racing, past and present, Knoxville, Iowa, is the place to be this weekend. Amongst those National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHoF) inductees who have indicated that they will be back for the 26th induction weekend are Dave Argabright of Indiana, Ralph Capitani of Iowa, Shane Carson of Oklahoma, Lanny Edwards of Oklahoma, Rickey Hood of Arizona, Jean Lynch of Pennsylvania, John Mahoney of Indiana, Lynn Paxton of Pennsylvania, Steve Stapp of Indiana, Bob Trostle of Iowa and Dick Wallen of Arizona. These current inductees will be saluted at a Friday night reception on the museum’s second floor, starting at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Of course, they will be joined by this year’s inductees, which include Mike Arthur of California, Roger Beck of Indiana, Bruce Ellis of Pennsylvania, Don Kreitz, Jr., of Pennsylvania, Danny Smith of Ohio, and Gil Sonner of Iowa. Their induction banquet will be 12 Noon on Saturday and tickets are still available by calling museum administrative assistant Lori DeMoss at 1-800-874-4488.

And don’t forget current sprint car drivers, such as Hall of Famer Danny Lasoski of Missouri, Justin Henderson of South Dakota, Tim Kaeding of California, Dusty Zomer of South Dakota, Davey Heskin of Minnesota, Ian Madsen of New South Wales (Australia), Brooke Tatnell of New South Wales (Australia), Bill Balog of Wisconsin and Brian Brown of Missouri. They will be competing Saturday night at the world-famous Knoxville Raceway, where plenty of good seats are still available at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.

Again, those wishing to acquire twenty-five-dollar ($25) banquet tickets can contact museum administrative assistant Lori DeMoss at 1-800-874-4488 or via e-mail at ldemoss@sprintcarhof.com.

Mother Nature won last week but this week the Southern Iowa Speedway was granted with sunny and warm temperatures. 84 cars sign in to tame the monster half mile on Bill and Ray’s Night including 12 Iowa Sportsman Series Cars. Fans were treated with drivers walking up in the stands to thank the fans for coming out on a beautiful night and they were treated to some amazing finishes.

Winners on Bill and Ray’s Night included Tyler Groenendyk (IMCA Modifieds), Nathan Wood (Stock Cars), Curtis VanDerWal (IMCA SportMods), Dustin Griffiths (IMCA Hobby Stocks), Michael Grossman (IMCA Sport Compacts) and Darin Dezwarte (Iowa Sportsman Series).

After the intial start called back in the IMCA Sport Compacts 12 lap feature event, it was William Michel taking the lead on lap one. Michel’s lead was short lived as on lap two he experienced issues senting him pit side that gave the lead over to Michael Grossman. Grossman held off several challenges from John Whalen to take the win. Jon Girdley, Bill Whalen Jr and Trent Orwig rounded out the top five.

Dan Drury used his inside starting spot to lead the first lap of the KBOE Radio IMCA Northern SportMods 16 lap feature. Jason McDaniel wrestled the lead away on lap two only to see the caution come out shortly after first for Derek Liles spinning in turn two and then on the restart for Aaron Osweiler and DJ Robinson getting together in turn four. Drury headed pitside for some issues that allowed Curtis VanDerWal, who started ninth to restart second and he took advantage by grabbing the lead away from McDaniel. VanDerWal went on to take his fourth win of the season at SIS over McDaniel, Brayton Carter, Logan Anderson and Brett Lowry.

Up next was the “Class to Tough To Tame” Budweiser IMCA Stock Cars 18 lap feature. Derrick Agee led the opening lap but it was Jerry Pilcher taking the lead away on lap two. Pilcher’s time out front was short lived because Daniel Hilsabeck worked his way from sixth to the lead on lap three. Hilsabeck had several challenges from Cayden Carter and Damon Murty over the next eight laps including through a pair of cautions, when the final caution came out on lap 11 for Pilcher and Agee getting together. Hilsabeck now saw Carter, Murty and Nathan Wood in the mix. Carter took the lead away by Murty followed and wrestled the lead away on lap 14. Murty had his hands full and on the last lap saw Wood and Hilsabeck get on by him. Wood edged out Hilsabeck at the line to take his first win of the season at SIS. Murty finished third, Carter was fourth and Mike Hughes was fifth.

Bill Bonnett led the first seven laps in the Pepsi Cola IMCA Hobby Stocks 15 lap feature event but it was Dustin Griffiths getting by on lap eight. Griffiths held off Bonnett for his second win in Osky. Travis Bunnell comes home with another third place finish. Danny Thrasher and Bobby Greene finished fourth and fifth.

Scott Dickey started on the front row along side Tyler Groenendyk and it was Dickey that grabbed the early lead in the Musco Lighting IMCA Modifieds 16 lap feature. Dickey appeared to be heading on to the win but a caution came out on lap 14 when Stephen Streeter spun in turn two. On the restart, Dickey slowed and that allowed Groenendyk to take the lead away. Groenendyk went on to take his first win at his hometown track over Carter VanDenBerg, Cayden Carter, Dugan Thye and Streeter.

Final feature of the night was for the Iowa Sportsman Series and it was Travis Dawson working his way from eighth to the lead by lap one. Dawson and the field saw the caution come out for Jason Delzell coming to a stop on the front stretch. Dawson had several challenges from Darin Dezwarte and Gene Tish but held them off until the final caution came out with two laps to go. Dezwarte took the lead away and held off a challenge from Tish coming to the checkers for the win. Dawson was third, Darin Van Dee was fourth and Tom Dumbaugh was fifth.

Next Wednesday Night, it will be Community 1st Credit Union Night plus it also will marked the start of the Southern Iowa Speedway Kids Club thanks to Community 1st Credit Union. Hot Laps at 7pm and Racing at 7:30pm.

Then the following week we take Wednesday Night off because the Southern Iowa Speedway will be racing on Thursday Night June 11th as the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models ($3,000 to win) make a visit to the half mile. Also racing will be IMCA Late Models ($1,000 to win) and Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds ($1,000 to win) plus Mid-season Championships for Stock Cars, SportMods and Hobby Stocks. It will also be Hall of Fame Voting Night.

For more information, Like Southern Iowa Speedway Every Wednesday Night on facebook, check out oskyspeedway.com or call Mike Van Genderen at 641-521-0330.

Story By Jeremy Fox