The Corn Belt Clash

 

By Lee Ackerman

Omaha, Neb. - In 2009, Cam Granger started a new Super Late Model Series based in the Upper Midwest called the Corn Belt Clash (CBC). The purpose of the new series was to keep the tradition of open late model racing alive in the area. The West Union, Iowa based series sanctioned races through the 2017 racing season. This is a recap of the inaugural year in 2009 when the series held just five events.

The inaugural event was held on June 26, 2009, at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa, and what a race it was as Keith Foss of Winona, Minn., won by a nose over Cedar Falls, Iowa’s Jeff Aikey to pick up the win and a $2,000 paycheck.

At the start of the 40-lap feature Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, got by Lancaster, Missouri’s Chris Smyser to take the lead but it wasn’t long, and Keith Foss took control of the race. A yellow on lap 31 restacked the field and Jeff Aikey was all over Foss taking the lead on lap 32 and the two drivers battled it out for several laps and were neck and neck at the white flag. Foss went low under Aikey in a turn three slide job with Aikey driving back under Foss as they raced for the line with Foss winning by just inches. Lance Matthees of Winona, Minnesota was third, Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa fourth and Jason Rauen of Farley, Iowa fifth.

Chad Simpson won the 35-lap Corn Belt Clash feature at Highway 3 Raceway. CBC promoter Cam Granger is on the far left. - Mike Ruefer Photo

On July 2, the series was back in action at Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, and this time there was no doubt who was going to win as Chad Simpson dominated the event to pick up the win in the 35-lap feature. Jeff Aikey made a late lap pass of Kevin Kile of Nichols, Iowa, to take second with Kile third, Curtis Martin of Independence, Iowa, fourth and Kurt Kile of West Liberty, Iowa, fifth.

On July 16, the series visited the Independence Motor Speedway, racing before the beautiful new grandstand and this time it was Chris Simpson taking home the win in the 40-lap feature. Rick Wendling of Hazelton, Iowa, and Keith Foss shared the front row as the green fell on the field with Foss taking the early lead and led until a flat tire sent him pit side. Foss would rejoin the race and finish sixth in the event.

On the restart, Jason Rauen took the lead and started pulling away from the field. Justin Mitchell held second with Chad Simpson the man on the move. Simpson started moving in on Mitchell and with ten laps to go took the low groove and moved into second. By this point Rauen had opened up nearly a full straightway led, but then the caution flag waved putting Chad Simpson on Rauen’s rear bumper.

On the restart, Rauen and Simpson battled for the lead and on lap 31, the two made contact with Rauen spinning out. Both drivers were sent to the back of the pack.

This gave the lead to Chris Simpson with Jason Utter of Columbus Junction, Iowa, second. Weekly Independence driver Travis Smock of Independence was on the charge and as Chris Simpson pulled away from the field Smock took second from Utter. At the checkers it was Chris Simpson, Travis Smock, Jason Utter, Curt Martin and Terry Neal of Ely, Iowa, in finishing in the top five.

Keith Foss became the first two-time winner of the Corn Belt Clash Series with a victory at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in West Union. Foss also captured the inaugural race at the 3/8-mile track. - KC Rooney Photo

On July 28, the series returned to the Fayette County Speedway and Keith Foss used his pole starting position to good advantage as he became the first two-time winner in the Corn Belt Clash Series. Eighth starting Gary Webb of Blue Grass, Iowa, charged through the field to finish second, Lance Matthees was third, Jason Utter fourth and Chris Smyser fifth. Curt Martin finished sixth and took the points lead after Chad Simpson who had a two-point lead going into the event skipped the race to race in another event.

The final race of the Corn Belt Clash’s inaugural season was held on August 12, once again at the Fayette County Speedway and a newcomer to the series stole the show. Tenth starting Adam Hensel of Barron, Wis., charged to the front and passed race-long leader Terry Neal on the low side in the closing laps of the race to pick up the win and a check for $3,500. Neal held on for second, Keith Foss finished third and claimed the first CBC Championship, Lance Matthees was fourth and Chad Simpson fifth.

At the outset of the race, Neal used the high side and built and early lead over Chris Smyser and Lance Matthees. Matthees grabbed second from Smyser and started to reel in Neal with Justin Mitchell, Jeremiah Hurst, Chad Simpson and Keith Foss battling it out to stay in the top five.

By the hallway point of the race, Hensel was up to fourth and then the caution waved and tightened things up. On the restart, Neal led Foss and Hensel with Hensel using the low side to get by Foss for second. Then the caution waved again, and, on that restart, Hensel once again used the low side to challenge Neal and then take the lead and the win.

Adam Hensel was a surprise winner at the Corn Belt Clash Series finale at West Union. 

The final tally for the Corn Belt Clashes inaugural season was Keith Foss taking the championship and a $2,000 check with 226 points followed by Chad Simpson at 206, Curt Martin at 202, Jason Rauen at 186 and Kurt Kile 182. It was the start of a decade long run for the Corn Belt Clash Series which provided fans in the Upper Midwest with some great open competition late model racing.