by Christina Danielsen

BRITT, Iowa (April 27, 2001) - Excitement grew with the temperatures as the Hancock County Speedway in Britt drew closer and closer to the green flag for the season. The season opener, sponsored by the Britt News Tribune and Forest City Summit newspapers, brought fans and drivers from around the midwest for an night packed full of fun and excitement.

John Logue of Boone finished the evening with a clean sweep in the I.M.C.A. Modified division winning his heat, cash dash and feature in a last minute move over Al Hejna of Ventura. Logue took the lead over Hejna in corner two with just three laps to go and never looked back. Al's brother, Mike Hejna of Clear Lake, followed a close third.

Shane Monson of Clear Lake battled it out with Dan Hanselman of Algona for the checkered flag in the in the I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock feature while Earl Webner of Garner followed in a close pursuit. Webner brought fans to their feet as he took wins for his heat and cash dash, in the hunt for a clean sweep. Starting on the outside of row five, Webner manuvered his way through green flag traffic to capture the third place position on the second lap where he held on for the checkered.

Ryan Ruter, the Triple Nickel, of Kanawha dominated the Limited 360 Modified feature , leading the pack to the finish line after placing third in his heat. Ruter's first place finish blotched a clean sweep effort by Lance Gardner of Garner, finishing second.

In the I.M.C.A. Stock Car division it was Skeeter Paris of Boone taking home the checkered, leading the entire race. Travis Hoeft of Ventura hung on for a second place finish while Amy Woodward of Mason City finished third. With the new season comes change at the Hancock County Speedway. Racers and fans can now enjoy the added Econo class, a lower budgeted car for beginning drivers to test their wheels and have some fun. Nathan Wieg of Hubbard took first place honors in the Econo division while Lance Deal of Fort Dodge recorded a second place finish. Wesley Houser of Eagle Grove placed third.

Next Friday is Race Day in Britt, sponsored by the Britt Chamber of Commerce. A car show will be held downtown from 2 to 5 p.m. Kids contests are scheduled after school and fans are encouraged to stop down and talk to their favorite drivers and get their autograph. KIOW of Forest City will be on hand for a live remote throughout the afternoon. Each Friday hot laps begin at 7 p.m. with races to follow at 7:30 p.m.

RESULTS

ECONO STOCK

Heat: Nathan Wieg, Hubbard; Lance Deal, Ft. Dodge; Wesley, Hauser, Eagle Grove.

Feature: Wieg, Deal, Hauser.

HOBBY STOCK

Heat 1: Earl Webner, Garner; Jeff Lodin, Kanawha; Dan Hanselman, Algona.

Heat 2: Brent Hanson, Clear Lake; Roger Kofron, Leland; Tony Smidt, Britt.

Heat 3: Shane Monson, Clear Lake; John Simpson, Algona; Dan Stromer, Klemme.

Cash Dash: Webner, Monson, Simpson.

Feature: Monson, Hanselman, Webner.

STOCK CAR

Heat: John Campbell, Belmond; Skeeter Paris, Boone; Travis Hoeft, Ventura.

Feature: Paris, Hoeft, Amy Woodward, Mason City.

LIMITED 360 MODIFIED

Heat 1: Ed Green, Algona; Larry Cook, Moorland; Ryan Ruter, Kanawha.

Heat 2: Lance Gardner, Garner; Matt Neubauer, Waseca, Minn.; Chuck Gatewood, Eagle Grove.

Cash Dash: Gardner, Green, Cook.

Feature: Ruter, Gardner, Cook.

MODIFIEDS

Heat 1: Kevin Stoa, Polk City; Mike Hejna, Clear Lake; Keith Schmitz, Swaledale.

Heat 2: John Logue, Boone; Scott Anderson, Mason City; Paul Burger, Belle Plaine, Minn.

Heat 3: Jason Slegh, Lansing, Minn.; Al Hejna, Ventura; Rick Schuller, Burt.

Cash Dash: Logue, Stoa, M. Hejna.

Feature: Logue, A. Hejna, M. Hejna.