It was a very special night of races this past week as The Dominick Bruns Memorial race made its appearance at the Murray County Speedway. The Dominick Bruns Memorial race was set up in honor of young Dominick Bruns, who was taken from us very early in his life due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the death of a seemingly healthy baby in its sleep, due to an apparent spontaneous cessation of breathing. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants 1 month to 1 year old, and remains unpredictable despite years of research. After that, mother Becky Bruns and other family members set up the Dominick Bruns Memorial fund. The mission of the fund is to prevent SIDS and rebreathing through the education of new parents and families in our area; to better the lives of infants, children and families through community involvement and to preserve the memory and legacy of Dominick Joseph Bruns. Through their hard work and help from people donating to the fund, they have already raised a lot of money to help prevent SIDS as well as educated many new families in the community. Please help them in their mission to put SIDS to sleep. Racing action was sponsored by State Farm Kim Holm of Slayton.
S&S Electric MCRA Pickups
First to take the track were the MCRA pickups. Jim Gertsema and Jason Wynia led to the green. On the start, Neil Forsberg jumped out to the early race lead with Craig Gertsema and Matt Odom following. Craig took second and looked to challenge for the lead. Meanwhile, Odom and Wynia fought for third. Wynia secured third and looked to join battle for the lead. Gertsema was able to get around Forsberg and take over the race lead. Wynia followed and began to challenge Forsberg for second. Craig Gertsema held on to take the feature win. Neil Forsberg took second, Jason Wynia took third, and Matt Odom took fourth.
Plaid Moose IMCA Sport Compact
Next up were the Sport compacts in what ended up being a race that would be decided in the last turn. 13 cars made the call for the 10 lap feature with Robert Pottratz and Dan Jensen leading to green. On the start, Pottratz took the early race lead. Josh Stanley quickly took second and began to challenge for the lead. Stanley was able to clear Pottratz and took over the race lead. Oliver Monson had quickly made his way from starting tenth and began to challenge for second. After an early caution, Stanley kept the lead. Monson quickly began to challenge and took over the race lead. Meanwhile Dustin Virkus and Josh Uhl, who started in twelfth, fought for third. Problems for Stanley brought out a late caution. On the restart, Monson took the lead. It turned into a four car battle for the lead between Monson, Uhl Virkus, and Bubba Brown. Uhl and Monson took the top two spots and battled right to the line. In the last corner, Josh Uhl was able to make the pass on Monson and take home the feature win. Bubba Brown took home second, Oliver Monson finished third, and Dustin Virkus finished fourth. All the top four were within a car length of each other at the line.
Wyffels Hybrids and Independent Ag IMCA Hobby Stock
Next up were the IMCA Hobby Stocks. 15 cars started the feature with Ernie Dailey and Brad Snyder leading to green. As the green dropped, it was Brad Snyder who jumped out to the early race lead. Matt Hanson made his way to second and began to challenge for the lead. Eric Gillette began to challenge for second. Hanson was able to secure the race lead. Cory Probst, Justin Luinenberg, and Gillette all battled for second. Probst secured the second spot, but the other two stayed right there. Contact between Gillette and Luinenberg allowed the front two to pull away a bit. A late caution tightened things up. On the restart, Hanson kept the lead. Contact between Probst and Luinenberg caused them to fall back a bit. Matt Hanson went on to take the win. Eric Gillette finished second, Trevor Holm finished third, and Cory Probst finished fourth.
Cars Limited IMCA Sport Modified
Following the hobby stocks was the sport modifieds. 18 cars made the call for the feature with Travis Vanden Top and Dan Paplow led to green. On the start, Vanden Top took the early lead. Tony Rialson and Paplow battled for second. Rialson secured second and looked to reel in Vanden Top who had pulled away. After an early caution, Vanden Top kept the lead. Rialson stayed close and began to challenge. Paplow began to challenge for second, but Rialson secured and was able to pass Vanden Top for the race lead. Josh Meyer began to challenge Vanden Top for second. Meyer made the pass for second. Jeremy Van Ede followed and took third and began to challenge for second. Tony Rialson went on to take the win. Josh Meyer finished second, Jeremy Van Ede finished third, and Travis Vanden Top finished fourth.
O’Reillys Auto Parts IMCA Modifieds
Next up, the modifieds put on a show of their own. 16 cars made the call for the feature with Bruce Egeland and Josh Bonstetter leading to the green. On the start, Bonstetter took the early lead. Dalton Magers quickly began to challenge for second. Jeremy Smith and Jesse Rogotzke battled for third. Rogotzke secured, but Tyler Limoges quickly challenged and took the spot. Meanwhile, Bonstetter pulled away from the field. However, problems for Bonstetter caused him to surrender the lead to Magers. Limoges quickly began to challenge for the lead. Limoges made the pass and took the race lead. The leaders ran into lap traffic, but both Limoges and Magers made it through with no issues. As Limoges came around turn 4 to take the white flag, he blew his engine which surrendered the lead back to Magers. Dalton Magers went on to take the win. Josh Rogotzke finished second, Jesse Rogotzke finished third, and Don Gerritsen Jr finished fourth.
Cartoyz IMCA Stock Car
Last up on the night was the Dominick Bruns Memorial Stock car race. 19 cars made the call for the 25 lap feature with Luke Sathoff and Chad Lonneman leading to green. On the start, Sathoff took the race lead. Dan Mackenthun and Dustin Larson battled for third. Larson secured the spot and began to challenge for second. After an early caution, Sathoff kept the race lead. Larson took second and looked to challenge for the lead. Mackenthun secured third and looked to challenge Larson. Jake Masters made his way to fourth and began to challenge Mackenthun for third. After another early caution, Sathoff kept the race lead. Problems for Larson cuased him to bring out the caution. On the restart, Sathoff kept the lead and began to pull away. Masters and Mackenthun battled for second. Larson made it back up to fourth and began to challenge Mackenthun for third. A late caution tightened things up. On the restart, Sathoff kept the lead. Masters, Larson, and Mackenthun battled for second. Luke Sathoff led every single lap and went wire to wire to take the win in the Dominick Bruns Memorial race. Jake Masters finished second, Dan Mackenthun finished third, and Derek Green finished fourth.
Racing Action returns next Friday to the Murray County Speedway will all the same classes above. In addition, the Late Model Street Stocks will be making their first appearance on the year. The races will be sponsored by Miller Sellner of Slayton