Timms, Bosma win
Jackson Motorplex hosts Merle Johnson Memorial
Ryan Timms and Brandon Bosma were the winners on Friday night at Jackson Motorplex during the Hefty Seed Merle Johnson Memorial presented by DKW Transport.
Three drivers had the lead during the 25-lap, $10,000-to-win Cressman Sanitation Midwest Sprint Touring Series 410 Sprint Cars main event.
Ian Madsen paced the field for the first five laps before Christopher Thram used a slide job in turns three and four to take the top spot on Lap 6. Madsen returned the favor in turns one and two on the ensuing lap with Thram reclaiming the lead on Lap 8.
Timms capitalized on the lead swapping by reeling the top two drivers in and maneuvering into first place on Lap 9. The final 23 laps of the 25-lap A Main was caution-free and Timms pulled away to win by 3.622 seconds.
“At the start I had to go where they weren’t,” Timms said. “I knew the bottom wasn’t going to be that good for very long. They went out and tilled it. It was actually a phenomenal track. I just was able to get the bottom going. I went where they weren’t. This thing was a rocketship.
“It’s pretty awesome. This racetrack was really awesome. This was the best I’ve ever seen this place. It’s really cool to see it and win here. It’s really cool to win the Merle Johnson Memorial. Shoutout to the whole Johnson Family.”
Madsen held off a hard-charging Kaleb Johnson, Merle’s grandson, for the runner-up position.
Johnson advanced from 13th to third.
“Obviously I dug myself a hole starting 13th there,” he said. “We made up for it in the feature. The guys gave me a great race car, and I could go wherever. I just tried to put on a decent show. Congrats to Ryan and the whole (Shane) Liebig team. Congrats to the No. 2ks team for getting second. Hopefully one of these days we can win it, but we’re happy with third.”
Thram finished fourth and Kerry Madsen rounded out the top five.
Jy Corbet was quickest overall during time trials with Timms, Cameron Martin and Riley Goodno also being quickest in their groups.
Heat races were captured by Thram, Mark Dobmeier, Ian Madsen and Matt Juhl. Corbet won the Sioux Falls Toy Show dash, which paid $1,000 to win, with Jack Dover claiming the B Main.
Friday’s show was the first night of the three-race Border Battle, which also includes races on Saturday at Knoxville Raceway and Sunday at Huset’s Speedway.
Bosma held off Dominic White to win the 20-lap Heser Auto & Detailing RaceSaver Sprint Cars main event.
“It means a lot,” he said. “We won (Jackson) Nationals last year. We just keep rolling with the same setup here. It’s a great event that the Johnson’s put on for everyone here.”
Sam Henderson rocketed to the early lead, but quickly slowed in turn two on Lap 3. Second-running Lee Goos Jr. had nowhere to go and collided with Henderson for the lone caution of the race.
Bosma was strong throughout the remainder of the event, but White made big moves before nearly stealing a win in the waning laps. White narrowly edged in front of Bosma in turn two on Lap 19, but Bosma’s momentum running the top groove regained him the lead down the backstretch. He dove to the bottom lane entering turn three to protect the lead for the final lap and a half.
Hunter Hanson was third Michalob Voeltz fourth and Bayley Ballenger fifth.
Dusty Ballenger, Bosma, Matt Johnson and Jake Greenwood were the heat race winners. Sawyer Grogan won the B Main.
Next at the track is a doubleheader on Thursday, July 24 with the Tweeter Memorial presented by Joel Pingeon Trucking on July 24 and the C & B Border Battle presented by New Fashion Pork and SW Broadband on Friday, July 25.
Both nights will feature the Cressman Sanitation Midwest Sprint Touring Series 410 Sprint Cars and the Heser Auto & Detailing RaceSaver Sprint Cars.
Rounding out the month will be the Jeff Heser and Denny Froderman Memorial Jackson County Fair Race on Tuesday, July 29. Running that night will be the Heser Auto & Detailing RaceSaver Sprint Cars, A Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, and B Modifieds.