The Southern Iowa Speedway closed the curtain on the 2008 racing season Saturday night with the finale of the 22nd Annual MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge.

More than 200 drivers in four classes competed in the event over the two days, with a capacity crowd on hand Saturday night to witness some incredible racing action on the Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster.

In the MUSCO Lighting USRA Modified main event, Brad Pinkerton of New Sharon put another feather in his cap and solidified his legacy as arguably the most successful driver ever to circle the Oskaloosa oval. After sweeping both O’Reilly USMTS National Tour events this season at Osky, “Pinky” completed the trifecta by racing from the eighth starting spot in Saturday night’s feature. Friday night’s winner, Tony Fraise of Donnellson, came from 11th to take the runner-up spot, with defending MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge champion Dean Mahlstedt of Clear Lake finishing third. Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon came from 12th to take fourth while Craig Scott of Rosemount, Minn., held on for fifth place.

Tory Reicks of Waucoma bested a stellar field of USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars to claim victory in Saturday’s main event, holding off double-duty-driving Zack VanderBeek for the win. Decorah’s Kurt Krauskopf claimed the third spot after coming home second in Friday’s feature race. Fourth went to track champion Matt “Iron Man” Greiner of Washington, while Kevin Donlan of Decorah rounded out the top-5 finishers.

In just his fifth start in the Carter’s Manufacturing USRA B-Mod division, young Cayden Carter of Oskaloosa scored a crowd-pleasing win over a swarm of veteran racers that could not reel in the former karting champion. Former Stock Car ace Scott Bauer of Riceville settled for the runner-up paycheck while Roland’s Matt Lettow finished third. Track champion Brian Edel of Oskaloosa was fourth and Luke Wanninger of Jefferson completed the top-5.

Two-time defending track champion Jason McDaniel of Eldon put an exclamation point on his season with a win in the USRA Hobby Stock main event and securing the USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series national title as well. McDaniel had to come from 10th on the stating grid to overtake former USRA Hobby Stock national champ Nathan Wood of Keswick for the win. Not to be outdone, Scott Spilde of Ridgeway stormed from 28th to finish third, with Creston’s Ryan Vicker fourth and Brandon Hare of Elma fifth.

Each of the four main event winners Saturday earned a $1,500 paycheck.

Saturday night’s final checkered flag closed the curtain on the 2008 season at the Southern Iowa Speedway. Officials from RL Promotions are already planning for the 2009 racing season, and hope to have a preliminary schedule of events published by year’s end.

For more information about the United States Racing Association (USRA), visit www.usraracing.com on the World Wide Web.

USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly

Racing Series

22nd Annual MUSCO Lighting Fall Challenge

Southern Iowa Speedway

Saturday’s Results