by Chuck Wergin
Wergin Racing
June 1 was the first night of the IMCA Summer National at Independence Motor Speedway, It was an invitational for the drivers.
Devyn Peterson’s 5D Sports Mod had qualified for the feature on Sunday’s time trials by having the fourth fastest time of the group. This put Peterson in the inside the second row, which was good since the feature was starting three wide with eight rows. Start is key, you need to stay out of trouble and avoid contact.
The race was 20 laps to the checkered flags with some the best cars and drivers entered from six states. There were two other local Nebraska drivers, Mary Hahn of Lincoln (17) and Trevor Noonan from Dorchester (66).
Peterson was able to settle into the top five and finished fourth. Not much passing for the top 10 with mainly only one position change with those in the group. It was a great night for the 5D. The #66 finished in the top 10 in eighth and the #17 held on for the 16th spot.
Tuesday was the first official IMCA Summer Nationals. Over 180 cars were entered.
The Peterson Sports Mod drew 42 for the heats. It put him in the fifth spot and he was able to get up to second and made the redraw for the feature. Number 10 was his number which put him inside the fourth row for the three wide green flag. There was not much movement with the top 10, but Peterson was able to get up to eighth.
On the last night, the 5D was in the last row for the heat race and was able to move up to fifth. That was not a good position because it put the car in the middle of the fifth row in 14th. With the track not very friendly for passing Peterson had his work cut out for him. In the 20 laps he drove a great race and passed 11 cars took the checkered flags in third.
It was a great experience for the team with a second, third, fourth and an eighth in the four features.
June 4 found the Stutzman and Wergin race teams in action at US 30 Speedway. Weather has been an issue in disrupting the season so far, but the rains missed the Columbus area on Thursday.
Hunter Wergin’s Hobby Stock has not been racing since the caution at Eagle Raceway on May 24. The 2X didn’t have any season track points yet, so Wergin had to start at the back of the heat. From the outside third row, he was able to settle into the third position and made the invert for the feature.
With no season point average, he was in the last invert position. Outside the sixth row, the goal was to move up when the opportunity presented itself. He was able to avoid a couple of cautions and was running in 11th with three to go. The rearend got loose and he spun around and luckily no hit him and the car was scored 15th. There was no damage, and the car is in good shape for the next time out. With a point average now he will not be in the back.
The Stutzmans’ Stock cars 22s (Shane) and 22B (Barrett) were both in the second heat. Barrett was outside front row and dad was back a row. They finished one and two with Barrett second.
For the feature lineup, the 22B was inside the second row followed by the 22s. At the green flag, Barrett was able to get to the lead. He had the track dialed in and was in the grove. For the first eight laps he led, followed by Shane. The caution flag came out due to a car spinning out at the back of the pack.
On the restart, Barrett lost his line and Clay Anding of Albion was able to get by on the inside. Shane also got by him. The top two in points, Anding and Jeff Ware, were battling Shane for the lead. The Anding held on followed by Ware, then Shane in third. Barrett ended up sixth. It was a good night for the Stutzman team.
