WEBSTER CITY – The Fourth of July celebration came one week early on Saturday at the Hamilton County Speedway, as fans packed the grandstand area during the $5 admission Fan Appreciation Night to watch some of the most exciting finishes of the season.

Topping off the festivities was a fireworks display sponsored by the Hamilton County Speedway Racing Association and the Hamilton County Fair Board.

It appeared to be a sure victory for Matt Smith of Des Moines in his No. 75 Hobby Stock when he grabbed the lead at the start of the feature. But Fort Dodge wheel man Myles Michehl, starting back in the 11th spot, patiently worked his way through traffic and found Smith’s bumper by lap No. 15 to change the final outcome.

The two raced side-by-side coming out of turn No. 4 on the final lap. In a wild scramble to the stripe, Michehl, running on the low side, gunned ahead to claim the honors for the fourth time this year.

Webster City’s Craig Graham crossed in third after starting in the ninth position.

The Stock Cars put on another thrilling feature for the large crowd, as the lead changed hands several times during the first half of the race.

By the midpoint, the No. 7 driven by Churdan’s Jason Minnehan and the No. 7J of John Campbell out of Belmond were at the front. The two ran door-to-door throughout the later laps with Minnehan holding the lead by a slim margin. With Campbell on the low side, the two drag-raced to the checkers with Campbell taking his second win of the season. The third spot went to Lance Deal of Fort Dodge.

Patience paid off for Modified driver Nick Roberts, as the Des Moines racer claimed his third consecutive trophy at the historic half-mile dirt track. Roberts jumped into the lead off a restart midway through the main event, and second-place finisher Scott Olson of Blairsburg gave chase over the remaining laps.

Oskaloosa’s Carter VanDenBerg came all the way up from the ninth spot to finish third.

Jared VanDeest was another repeat winner, his trip to the winner’s circle coming following the Sport Mod feature. VanDeest flew by Ty Griffith of Webster City on the eighth lap and the Holland driver stayed up top to claim his third consecutive checkers.

Griffith was second with another Webster City driver, Brandon Toftee, in the third slot.

Local late model driver Ryan Griffith jumped all the way up from ninth to the lead by the fifth lap of his feature, and he added to his lead and finished off a commanding win, his second at the speedway this season.

Settling for second was Gage Umbarger of Garner. Third went to Ankeny’s Ben Nading.

Griffith ranks fifth in the 2015 National IMCA Late Model points chase and is second in the Iowa Late Model points race. Four other drivers competing at the speedway on Saturday are listed in the top 20.

Marshalltown Sport Compact driver John Gill topped his class for the third time in 2015. David Moorman of Beaman was second, followed by Manson racer Nick Hogan in third.

Gill now leads the class by one point in the race for the track championship.

Regular racing resumes on Saturday. Only five points races remain in the season.