Jeremiah Davis

Storm Lake Times

Torrential rains a day before made for a super tacky racing surface at Buena Vista Raceway in Alta on Wednesday night.

The “heavy” track, as the drivers describe it, allowed drivers to steer their cars wherever they needed to in order to be fastest. What it also did was provide great racing and a great forum for the best rivalry at BVR to flourish.

The Hobby Stock duo of Shannon Anderson and Devin Smith—who collectively have dominated the Hobby Stock division in recent years—put on a show for fans Wednesday night.

From the start of the race, the two battled side by side, exchanging blows while racing for the lead.

“I bumped him to get him and he tried to bump me to get me,” Smith said. “I’d say we’re even.”

The race for the win never included anyone but Anderson and Smith, with Craig Brotherton in a distant but strong third.

Both drivers held the lead at one point during the race, with Smith finally taking the lead for good on a restart after a caution with five to go.

Coming to the checkers, the two banged doors, as Anderson gave it one last shot to pick up the win.

Smith was able to hold him off, and picked up his first win at BVR this season—one in which Smith hasn’t had good luck at all.

“I haven’t had the best season here,” Smith said. “I keep tearing stuff up. I really needed a good finish tonight and I got it.”

As he received his award for the victory, Smith was given a chorus of boos, a sign he agreed proved he’d accomplished something.

Stefan Sybesma is a well known name throughout the pits at BVR, as well as most of the northwest corner of Iowa.

His name can be seen on the sides of many of the cars, as his graphics company is one of the more popular out there.

But on Wednesday night, he was known as the Stock Car feature winner.

After a start in which the front eight cars were bunched together, Sybesma and last week’s winner Donavon Smith broke away from the pack.

The two raced side by side over the course of the race, breaking away from the rest of the pack.

While the two never relinquished the top spots, David Smith and Brian Blessington joined the fight for the lead towards the end.

But Sybesma was not to be denied. Despite repeated efforts from Smith, Sybesma was able to pick up his first win of the season.

Donavon came home a strong second, with point leader and brother David third.

The Modified feature saw a runaway win in the form of Brad Williams.

Last week’s feature winner, Williams never left any doubt as to who the dominant car was on this night.

Starting seventh, Williams took the lead two laps in, and proceeded to leave the rest of the field behind.

Brian Schmidt climbed to second early, but was never within striking distance of Williams.

At halfway William’s lead was about a half-straightaway, and by races end, he’d stretched it out to a full length.

Williams notched his second straight win, with Schmidt a distant second.

The theme of first time winners for the 2010 season at BVR continued in the Sport Mod class.

Tony Pogeler took the lead early, and put a bit of distance on the field, but that was erased on a caution for Ryan Roder.

Pogeler took off again on the restart, and this race also was never really in doubt.

Tim Wilcox moved to second after the first restart, and challenged briefly, but never got any better than second.

With around five laps remaining, Pogeler had built his lead to about 8-10 car lengths, while Wilcox had his hands full with Greg Sidles for second.

Pogeler was able to hold on for his first win in several years at BVR, with Wilcox hanging on to second, and Sidles third.

The Sport Compact feature looked much like the Modified feature, with one driver leaving no doubt as to who was the best car on the track.

Storm Lake native Cory Flanigan, who is the current co-point leader in the Sport Compact class, took the lead right from the start.

The number 75 car was cheered on by a big group of fans throughout the race, as he walked away with the win.

Behind him, Randy Cass and other co-point leader Kyle Hill battled for second, with Cass eventually hold off Hill and taking second.

The BVR Bomber feature saw point leader Jess Bieret notch another victory.

The driver from Wall Lake has been the car to beat all year in the Bomber class, and proved it once again on this night. Nicholas Smith finished a strong second, while last week’s winner Colby Davis finished third.