It also marked the return of fans to the grandstand at the historic half-mile oval. The coronavirus pandemic resulted in the speedway’s first and second events of the season to be held in front of empty seats. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds lifted the restriction on fans attending race tracks on June 1.

Drivers walked the grandstands with helmets in hand and many in attendance generously donated cash to the Jones family, who lost their son this past week. More than $2,750 was raised to help the freshman promoters of the Sports Park Raceway in Fort Dodge.

The Super Late Models presented by Jerry Goebel State Farm were back along with the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring five divisions in action on the smooth half-mile clay oval.

Jason Hahne of Webster City took the Super Late Model win with Charlie McKenna of Ames, Ryan Griffith of Webster City, Rusty Patterson of Mason City and Gabe Umbarger of Garner completing the top five.

Fort Dodge driver Myles Michehl stands in victory lane after collecting the win in the Seneca Foundry USRA Stock Car feature on Saturday at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City. Jodie Casey Photography

Olsen Family USRA Modifieds saw defending track champion J.D. Auringer of Waterloo pick up the win. The eighth-starting Mark Elliott of Webster City was second, ninth-starting Scott Olson of Blairsburg third, Dennis Elliott of Mt. Ayr in fourth, and 12th-starting Nate Hughes of Humboldt rounded out the top five.

Myles Michehl of Fort Dodge topped the Seneca Foundry USRA Stock Car main event by holding off polesitter Jesse Brown of Nashua. Last year’s track champion Reid Keller of Webster City finished third, while Bill Crimmins of Fort Dodge and Webster City’s Justin Ades were fourth and fifth, respectively, at the finish line.

Stein Heating & Cooling USRA B-Mods saw Latimer’s Levi Chipp score a victory. The rest of the top five positions were filled by Brandon Toftee of Otho, Rocky Caudle of Ellsworth, Doug McCollough of Webster City and Ty Griffith of Webster City.

Defending Diamond in the Rough USRA Hobby Stock track and national champion Eric Stanton of Carlisle led wire to wire and held off the challenges of Scott Dobel of Manly for the win. Third was Cory Roe of Webster City, fourth went to Carlisle’s Tyson Overton and Riley Crimmins of Fort Dodge finished fifth.

Jade Lange of Humboldt scored his first checkered flag in the MyRacePass USRA Tuners, beating Fort Dodge’s Matt Oberhelman to the stripe. John Gill of Marshalltown, Ryan Bryant of Mason City and Justin Nielson of Lu Verne rounded out the top five.

Eric Stanton tours the track in his 7B Hobby Stock at the Hamilton County Speedway on Saturday. The defending track and national champion won the feature. Jodie Casey Photography

A doubleheader week of racing is set to resume Thursday, June 11, with the Malvern Bank SLMR Super Late Model Series taking center stage. The Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring Stein Heating & Cooling USRA B-Mods, Diamond in the Rough USRA Hobby Stocks and MyRacePass USRA Tuners will also be in action.

Two days later on Saturday, June 13, it’s “Racing for the Right Reasons” featuring the Super Late Models powered by Jerry Goebel State Farm plus the summit USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring Olsen Family USRA Modifieds, Seneca Foundry USRA Stock Cars, Stein Heating & Cooling USRA B-Mods, Diamond in the Rough USRA Hobby Stocks and MyRacePass USRA Tuners.