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Park Jefferson opens IMCA Race season with Big Frig Night

Clear skies and 98 IMCA racecars entered the first night of IMCA weekly racing at the Park Jefferson Speedway for 2016.

In his first ever start at Park Jefferson, Jake Newsom out of Sioux City took an early race lead in the 423 machine and was able to hold off team mate Tyler Thompson in the 15 car to pick up his first Pedersen Machine sport compact win at the Jefferson, SD speedway. Luke Jackson pressured Thompson for the runner up spot, but had to settle for third. Mike Denney and Andrew Harris rounded out the top 5.

An exciting Fox 620 am hobby stock feature saw Rusty Montagne take victory behind the wheel of Todd Caster’s 2t machine. The North Sioux City driver was able to lock horns with the Sioux Falls native Dustin Gulbrandson and hold him off for the win. Behind the battle for the top spot followed Dave Riley in the 56 and Chad Lonneman in the 17l. Those two drivers traded the 3rd and 4th spots many times throughout the feature event. Jeff Fink in the 01f rounded out the top 5.

Todd Boulware has become something of a Yankton Machine sport modified savant on the Park Jefferson high banks, and the opening night proved more of the same. The driver from Jefferson once again put his car in the victory circle at the end of the 16 lap feature, but at no point during the race was he comfortable. Mitch Van Engen kept on the attack lap after lap, pulling side by side multiple times with Boulware, but was not able to make the pass. The “Doon Dominator” had to settle for second, with Karl Brewer racing from deep in the field for 3rd. Mike Jensen and Dan VanBruggen finished 4th and 5th.

The feature of the night was in the J&J Fitting stock car division. Three fast race cars took the white flag Nose to tail, with young Little Rock, IA driver Colby Klaassen in front of Sioux City’s own Chris Mills, and the always dangerous Elijah Zevenbergen. Mills looked to the inside of Klaassen off of the exit of turn two and down the back straightaway, opening the door on the outside for Zevenbergen. The three talents went door to door, 3 wide through the final set of corners for the win, with Zevenbergen going from 3rd to first for the Victory. Klassen would hold on for second, with Mills coming in 3rd. Father-son duo Terry and Adam Klocke went 4th and 5th.

The final event of the evening saw South Sioux City, NE driver Ricky Stephan hold of a hard charging Jay Noteboom and defending raceway champion Bob Moore to pick up the feature win in the Sign Masters IMCA Modifieds. After crossing the finish line, Stephan got up over the edge of the racing surface, and roll the car, damaging sheet metal, and putting a gash in the tin of the roof. While the incident may have hurt the car, it did nothing to hurt the spirits of the 25 crew, as they pushed the car back on all 4s, and Ricky drove is bent up racecar into victory lane. Jim Thies and Jim Cole rounded out the top 5.

Park Jefferson will be back in action Saturday Night as another $9 night promotion presented by Cookies BBQ featuring the five IMCA classes. In addition, the Heartland Racing Association Sprint Cars will battle the HOTWRS Sprint Cars in a non wing sprint extravaganza. TIckets are just $9 for adults, $1 for kids 6-16 & seniors 70+ and free for kids under $5. The clubhouse will be open and tickets can be purchased from the souvenir stand after entry to the track for $12. Pit passes are $25.

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