Racing a lot of fun for Seims

Fridays are hectic for Scott Siems, and he likes it that way.

Siems is one of few drivers racing in two divisions at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, competing in the hobby stock and late model divisions.

His dance card was full last night with four features because features rained out last week were held along with regularly scheduled feature races.

Siems earned two runner-up finishes, placing behind Jeff Franks in both hobby stock features. Franks was impressive in moving his season win total from one to three.

Siems is in his fifth season in the hobby stock division and his first in a late model.

When his uncle, Stan, built two late model cars and offered him one to drive this summer, he jumped at the chance. Siems said free rides don't come along often.

“I like playing as much as I can,” Siems said. “He didn't have to ask twice.”

Siems began the night among the points leaders in both divisions. He trailed Nathan Ballard by two points in the hobby stocks class but left with the lead. He was seventh in late models before last night.

“We had a good start to the year. Things are working all right,” Siems said. “So far, all the parts are staying on.”

Stan Siems handles the maintenance for the late model, hauling it back to his home in Ackley. Siems and his brother, Chad, who races in the stock car division. help each other.

There have been mistakes, and the challenge has been a learning experience. In the first of two late model features, Siems had to pull off the track with an early flat tire but returned to finish at the back of the pack.

“My biggest goal is not to cause anybody else to have a bad night,” Scott Siems said. “The better the car handles the happier I am and it's finally handling pretty good.”

Siems said the hobby stock car allows for more relaxed racing, handling more like a street car. Late models, however, are faster and call for more skill and awareness.

“They're totally different creatures,” Siems said. “That's why it's so much fun.”

The spirited Tony Olson had fun as well last night, capturing a decisive victory in the “Prelude to the Dirt” race featuring A and B Modifieds.

Olson called the race a blast. He took the lead early from Larry Clausen and distanced himself from the veteran driver.

“Getting past Larry Clausen, that's the biggest victory out of all of it,” said Olson, treating the crowd to doughnuts near victory lane. “He's one of the best drivers I know. That meant a lot getting by him and holding him off.”

The sportsmen battle continued between Andy Duggan and Dave McCalla with the duo separated by a mere point in the season standings.

Duggan won the Sportsmen's makeup feature, taking the lead with eight laps remaining. He briefly matched McCalla with three wins until the next feature.

They raced side-by-side almost the entire race. The pair were even coming out of the final turn even, but McCalla edged Duggan by a bumper at the finish line.

“If Andy would have bumped us any little bit we would have lost our momentum and he would have had the race,” McCalla said. “That just shows how real competitive and fair driver Andy is.”

Kurt Bohnsack won his second straight stock car feature and third overall. Bohnsack started seventh and made a strong move on the final lap with a swift move to the outside to edge Chad Siems.

In an enormous and action-packed hornet field, Nathan Chandler and Shane Hanson each earned their second victories this season in caution-filled features. Chandler was one of three race leaders in the opener, starting in row 6.

Hanson led the entire race, and Chandler made a strong run to place second after starting dead last in a 25-car field.

In the late model makeup, Johnny Spaw claimed his third title this season. Spaw took the lead with 25 laps left by passing Brad Osborn. He wasn't challenged by runner-up Curt Van Der Wal or season points leader Joey Gase, who placed third.

“Once I got my rhythm and got going there I could pull away a bit,” Spaw said. “Back off and save the tires a little bit.”