Tragedy At Mayetta, IMCA Mod Standings, Chasing Late Model Specials

 

Thunderhill Press Release On Saturday Night’s Tragedy

Mayetta Kansas – Thunderhill Speedway – Steven Bowers Sr was killed last night, July 4th, during the main feature of the B modifieds in a crash that occurred directly in front of the grandstand as hundreds of spectators looked on. The suddenly silent race track held it breath as mechanics, track officials and emergency medical technicians swarmed over the wreckage of the #77 car. It seemed the car was reluctant to release its driver as it took for what seemed an eternity to remove him to the comfort and safety of the waiting ambulance. As the ambulance left the arena, the silent crowd slowly disappeared into the darkness and the drivers and crew members on the pit side stood in near silence, dreading to learn of the almost certain fate of this beloved driver. Moments later, it was known that Steven had indeed died from the injuries suffered when his car was hit broadside. May Steven rest in peace as his memory will live on among these fans and drivers who loved and admired this man of racing.

George Welch

 

Watching auto races for over 50 years, I have seen more than my share of bad crashes.  I always feel a little better when a driver walks away from a wreck and a little empty when the driver is transported in an ambulance.  I have seen three people Life Flighted to a hospital, and those times all I could do was silently pray.

I don’t like race track accidents.  I have never found them exciting.  Anyone who does needs to consider that there is a human being attached to that race car who could be seriously hurt or worse.  A tragedy like at Mayetta can devastate a family.  Even when a driver is unhurt, a torn up race car can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars to repair.  If you enjoy the sport, you shouldn’t want that to happen to any driver. 

IMCA Modified Standings

As of July 2^nd, Jeremy Mills is on top of the IMCA Modified leader board.  In 2^nd, 3^rd, and 6^th in the national standings are Nebraskans Dylan Smith, Johnny Saathoff, and Jordan Grabouski.  All three drivers race Saturdays at American’s Home Track, Eagle Raceway. Six other drivers in the top 20 of IMCA Central Region standings also sling Eagle mud.  Chris Alcorn is 5^th, Randy Brown is 6^th, Bob Zoubek is 11^th, Clint Holman is 18^th, Lance Borgman is 19^th, and Lacey Tuttle is 20^th.  I keep telling mod fans to visit Eagle for great mod racing.  It is a battle just to make it to the feature, and then the fun really begins.

Weather permitting, Matt and I will once again be chasing late model specials this weekend.  Sunday we plan on visiting Boone County Raceway in Albion, NE.  BCR is one of my favorite tracks, and I enjoy the atmosphere surrounding the Boone County Fair. The WDRL super late models will share the speedway with IMCA mods.

On Monday we will be taking a much longer road trip to Mineral City Speedway in Ft. Dodge, IA to see another night of WDRL super late models, with topless 360 mods as the support class.  Matt says that Iowan Brian Birkhofer has the event on his schedule.  Birkhofer collected $100,000 in winnings in May, and is one of the hottest late model drivers around.

No make up dates have been announced for the MLRA/NCRA rain-outs at Park Jefferson and Adams County Speedway.

~ by Ron Meyer on July 7, 2009.