Fans who braved unseasonably cool temperatures Friday night were treated to a night of spills, chills and thrills as a field of 172 drivers packed the pit area for opening night of the 23rd Annual MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway Friday.

Chris Hovden of Cresco swept past Creston’s Steve Churchill on lap eight of the USRA Hobby Stock main event, then paced the final seven laps to score an impressive victory in his first trip to the Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster. The win cemented his position at the top of the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series national points. Hovden’s twin brother, Mitch, was the USRA Hobby Stock National Champion in 2007.

Churchill held off Kellogg’s Don Nunnikhoven for second, while 2009 IMCA Hobby Stock National Champion Shannon Anderson of Atlantic came home fourth. Nathan Wood of Keswick, who captured the 2006 USRA Hobby Stock National Championship, rounded out the top-five finishers.

Todd Reitzler of Grinnell finished sixth and Craig Brown finished sixth ahead of fellow Eldon pilot and 2008 USRA Hobby Stock National Champion Jason McDaniel, who started 22nd. Adam Cline of Decorah and Danny Thrasher of Agency completed the top 10.

The USRA Hobby Stock feature race got off to a rocky start with two separate roll-overs bringing out two consecutive red flags before the first lap could be completed. Decorah’s Troy Hovey was the first to land on his lid, the Steve Holthaus of Cresco repeated he unfortunate feat on the first lap of the complete restart. Luckily, neither driver was injured in the incidents.

The USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods earned bragging rights for the night with 52 entries fighting for 24 starting spots in the 15-lap main event.

Luke Wanninger of Jefferson wrestled the lead away from Madrid’s Scott Davis on lap 9, then survived a late-race red flag to capture the checkered flag and $500 winner’s share of the purse.

Contact in turn 2 between Jeoff Olson of Ames and Davis sent Davis’ machine into a spin in front of the field, with four other drivers getting caught up in the melee. While Davis was able to continue, the crash sent Rocky Caudle, Jason McDaniel and 2009 USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mod track champion Tyler Groenendyk to the garage.

Tracy Johnson made the long tow from Lake Preston, S.D., pay off with a runner-up finish, while Olson hung on for third. Eddyville’s Bobby Greene finished fourth while two-time defending USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mod National Champion Matt Jones of Waukon finished fifth after winning his “B” Main before starting 20th in the “A” Main. Jones currently leads the national points as he looks to become the first three-time USRA titleist in any division.

Sixth through 10th, respectively, went to Matt Lettow of Roland, Brad Iverson of Grinnell, Davis, Mike Wanders of Oskaloosa and Curtis Engen of Monona.

Shane Weller of Agency muscled his way by Newton’s Mike Van Genderen on the third lap of the USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Car 20-lapper, then held off Nathan Wood over the last half of the race to take the win and pocket the $600 top prize.

Current USRA national points leader Tory Reicks of Waucoma finished third with 2009 Southern Iowa Speedway track champion Matt Greiner of Washington clawing his way to a fourth-place finish after starting 22nd on the 24-car grid. Kevin Donlan of Decorah finished fifth.

Brian Mitrisin of Oskaloosa, Van Genderen, Lynn Panos of Protivin, Chase Mitrisin of Oskaloosa and Mitch Hovden of Decorah completed the top 10 at the finish line.

Corey Dripps continued his late-season surge with the first trip to victory lane in 2009 for the 36-year-old from Waterloo.

Dripps, who finished 10th in the 2009 USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour points, inherited the lead on lap 2 of the USRA Modified 25-lap main event when leader Josh Truman of Indianola smacked the turn 1 wall and rolled his mount several times before coming to a rest on its side at the top of the racing surface. Truman, whose steering broke as he entered the corner, was disappointed but walked away unhurt from the hard crash.