VINTON, Iowa (May 5) – Paul Nienhiser knows his way around Benton County Speedway.
The Chapin, Ill., driver topped the 25-lap special event for the Sprint Invaders Sunday night for his second win at The Bullring.
Pole-sitter Nienhiser led the 18-car field at the drop of the green and then paced the field throughout the event to seal the victory.
Ryan Bunton stayed close and occasionally applied pressure to the race leader, but settled for second at the line. Cody Wehrle and 10th-starting Tanner Gebhardt completed the top four.
In weekly action, drivers who’ve experienced their share of success at Benton County Speedway added to their impressive careers Sunday night at The Bullring.
Three drivers who stood atop their respective division’s wins list found victory lane again Sunday night.
The all-time leader in Friesen Performance IMCA Modified wins in Vinton, Troy Cordes drove the high side to a thrilling win in the Wright Way Trailers 20-lapper.
Jerry Dedrick and Jesse Belez shared time out front before Jacob Snyder raced the low side into the lead a couple laps into the event.
While Snyder pulled away, Trevor Fitz raced through traffic from the fourth row and Cordes set sail from row three.
With Fitz running low and Cordes up top, Snyder’s pursuers closed in on the race leader before Cordes eventually swept around the outside on the final lap to steal the win. It was his division-leading 64th in weekly racing history at The Bullring.
Snyder crossed the line second ahead of a hard-charging Drew Janssen and Ben Chapman.
Brandon Tharp led throughout the first half of the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod 15-lapper. A mid-race caution put Tony Olson and Kyle Olson on his rear bumper for the restart.
Running the low side, Tony Olson swept below Tharp for the lead while Kyle Olson made his way into second. The cousins ran in side-by-side formation before Tony Olson was able to pull away to the checkers.
Brady Hilmer nipped Kyle Olson at the line for second. Tyler Soppe ran fourth.
The win was the 61st of Olson’s SportMod career in Vinton, moving him into sole possession of the wins lead for the division at the speedway.
From a fifth row start, Nathan Ballard wasted little time making his way to the front in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio.
Less than three laps into the 15-lap feature, Ballard found his way to the front of the pack and breezed to the win ahead of Justin Stander, Matt Brown and Justin Wacha.
Also the opening night winner, Ballard’s win Sunday was his division-best 51st at the speedway.
Entering Sunday’s program, Blake Driscol had won everywhere else he’d raced. By night’s end, he checked Benton County Speedway off his list.
From his front row starting spot, Driscol took the early lead in the 12-lap feature for Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts and then withstood heavy pressure from a host of drivers before sealing his first victory at The Bullring.
Nolan Tuttle pressured early and often, but settled for second at the line ahead of a fast-closing Cristian Grady and Lukas Rick.
Opening night winner Kaden Reynolds made it two-for-two in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Christie Door Company.
From a fourth row start, Reynolds raced the low side to the front and then held off pressure from Norman Chesmore to secure the victory. Lead Wroten and Braxton Franks completed the top four.
There is no racing scheduled for Sunday, May 12 at The Bullring. Action will resume Sunday, May 19.