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August 9, 2003

by David Wilkinson

(Des Moines, Iowa) (August 9, 2003) The races Saturday morning and early afternoon at the Iowa State Fair Speedway were called the Iowa State Fair Championships, but they could have been called the John Logue Special or the Dust Bowl. For the fourth straight year, John Logue won the modified race at the fair and as it is each year, the tacky morning track dried out and by the time of the features the track was dry and dust was everywhere. Steve Jackson won the stock car main and the winners of the three hobby stock features were Tory Reicks, John Watson, and Rick Gladson.

John Logue starting from the front row and led all 20 laps of the feature, but it wasn’t easy. Kendall Sather started one row behind him and was on his tail at the start. As Logue "tip toed" on the bottom of the dry-slick track, Sather gained ground in the middle of the track. On lap four, they crossed the finishing line in a virtual tie, but Logue was able to nudge ahead on the next lap. On lap seven, as the two approached the back markers, a caution flag was thrown for the spun-out car of Rex Parkison. Logue was able to distance Sather after the restart and Sather had to deal with charging Joe McBirnie, who started seventh. McBirnie finally passed Sather and set his sights on Logue. The caution was thrown on the 17th lap, tightening the field again. McBirnie chased Logue and they were bumper to bumper on the last lap, but Logue held on for the win. Rick Gustin set his sights on Sather and on the last lap, Sather bobbled in turn three allowing Gustin and David Brown to pass. The top five were Logue, McBirnie, Gustin, Brown and Sather.

At the end of the first lap of the stock car feature, a dust cloud hovered about 12 feet above the entire half-mile track. Greg Shepherd was in the lead with Damon Murty right behind. Murty was tied to Shepherd’s tail. Steve Jackson joined them by the fourth lap and they fought for the lead. On lap five, Murty passed Shepherd in turns three and four and then Shepherd regained the lead on the next lap. On lap six, Jackson passed Shepherd and pulled away. Murty started chasing Jackson two laps later and was within three car lengths at the checkered. The top five were Jackson, Murty, Shepherd, Paul Anderson, and Clayton Hamm.

Former Iowan and national racer Shawna Robinson returned to the fair for the second year in a row. She just missed qualifying for the stock car feature from her heat and started the feature with a provisional. She was unable to make up much ground and finished 20^th in the 25-car field. After the race, she visited with fans in the grandstand.

In the first hobby stock feature, Todd Bass took the early lead. By lap three, Tory Reicks had closed within a car length and then passed Bass on the next lap. Reicks maintained the lead to the end and took the win ahead of Ben Hoesing, Mark Haglund, and Gene Behle.

Ray Stock Jr. seized the lead from his front row starting spot in the second hobby main. On the second lap, he bobbled in turn four, providing John Watson with the opportunity to pass. Watson took the lead and then held off the hard-charging Bill Richards in the closing laps. Following them in third was Randy Embrey and Mike Harwood in fourth.

In the final hobby race, Rick Gladson led from the drop of the green to the checkered to win his third Iowa State Fair Championship in four years. Don Wear finished a close second with Nick Murty in third and Mike Smith fourth.

Season championships at the Iowa State Fair Speedway for IMCA modifieds, stock cars, and hobby stocks as well as Karl Chevrolet dirt trucks will be held Friday, August 29^th. Hot laps are at 6:00 PM with racing following around 7:00 PM.

Heat Winners

1. Tony Hofbauer, Ames

2. Doug Davis, Des Moines

3. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown

4. Joe McBirnie, Boone

B-Feature Winner

1. Russ Byriel, Ankeny

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Don Killen, Des Moines

2. Steve Jackson, Des Moines

3. David Murty, Chelsea

4. Paul Anderson, Des Moines

B-feature Winner

1. Matt Donald, Pleasant Hill

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Ben Hoesing, Perry

2. Tory Reicks, Waucoma

3. John Watson, Des Moines

4. Randy Casner, Milo

5. Steve Landgrebe, Oskaloosa

6. Rick Gladson, Des Moines

Feature # 1

Feature # 2

Feature # 3