August 6, 2024 | By Bill Wright

Larson holds off Day at Osky

OSKALOOSA, Ia. — Kyle Larson outdueled fellow California hot-shoe Corey Day to win his fourth career Sage Fruit Front Row Challenge Presented by Your Life Iowa and Country Builders Construction on Monday at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa. Though the actual front row challenge seeing drivers elect to start at the tail seem to be a thing of the past, Larson had to work hard after starting in row seven and made an exciting charge of his own to earn $21,000 for his win. In the companion IMCA Racesaver sprint car feature, Lincoln Nebraska’s Adam Gullion won for the second time in his career at the Front Row Challenge and earned $1,000.

Day led early in the 30-lapper, ahead of Parker Price-Miller, Brad Sweet, Carson Macedo and James McFadden. There was plenty of passing throughout, and McFadden took fourth from Macedo on lap three. Sweet rode around Price-Miller for third on lap four, and Scott Bogucki entered the top five on lap six.

Day was into lapped traffic on lap eight, but things were halted when the fourth running McFadden tagged the turn two wall and flipped on the backstretch. He got out of his car on his own.

That erased over a two second lead for Day, who restarted ahead of Sweet, Price-Miller, Bogucki ,Macedo and a charging Larson. Macedo and Larson both used the restart to their advantage, as they each passed two cars to move into third and fourth, respectively. Larson used a slider in turn two to pass Macedo for the third spot on lap ten.

Day was setting a fast pace, and began lapping cars at the halfway point. Larson reeled in Sweet and passed him on lap 16 before Danny Sams III went up in smoke and brought caution with 13 to go. Larson pounced on the chance at a restart and quickly moved in front of Day to the point with a slider in turn one.

Day stayed close to the leader, never getting more than a few car lengths back. With five to go, they were in lapped traffic again. Danny Dietrich spun in turn two as the leaders were entering turn one. Day had been all over Larson for the lead, and both barely squeaked between Dietrich and the turn two wall, avoiding disaster.

Larson shot out to the lead again. Day made one bid that fell short, and settled for second. Carson Macedo grabbed third from Sweet with three to go, and Price-Miller finished fifth. Buddy Kofoid, Anthony Macri, Kerry Madsen, Bogucki and Daison Pursley rounded out the top ten. Sweet set quick time, and Bogucki, Price-Miller and McFadden won heats. Price-Miller also won the special foot race to determine the feature lineup.

“(Day) was really good,” said Larson in Victory Lane. “I saw him before that last caution get to our outside in traffic, so I knew he was blasting the top behind me. On the restart, I thought I did a good job on the restart, but I assume he got a good run on the wall out of two. He almost cleared me in four. I changed my entry in one, and didn’t see him again. It feels great to come from 13th and pass a lot of good drivers and cars and get another win. We know we have a good car come feature time.”

Adam Gullion left little doubt in winning the Seafoam IMCA Racesaver 15-lap feature. He led from flag to flag after starting on the pole. Cole Vanderheiden snatched second on lap two and held on, while Brett Moffitt made a rare sprint car start and rounded out the podium.

“A buddy of mine that I grew up with died of pancreatic cancer,” said Gullion. “#40 was his baseball number, so to get the win with that was awesome (Adam’s regular number was 91). It was great to win it the first time, but to be the only 305 guy that’s done it twice here is awesome! It’s pretty special.”


29th Annual Sage Fruit Front Row Challenge Presented by Your Life Iowa and Country Builders Construction Results and Contingencies

Sage Fruit Front Row Challenge Main Event (started), 30 laps: 1. 57, Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA (13) 2. 14, Corey Day, Clovis, CA (2) 3. 41, Carson Macedo, Lemoore, CA (3) 4. 49, Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA (4) 5. 9P, Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN (1) 6. 83JR, Buddy Kofoid, Penngrove, CA (6) 7. Anthony Macri, Dillsburg, PA (20) 8. 55, Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust. (8) 9. 10, Scott Bogucki, McLaren Vale, SA, Aust. (11) 10. 25. Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, OK (17) 11. 21, Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (7) 12. 88, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (9) 13. 21T, Cole Macedo, Lemoore, CA (10) 14. 23, Garet Williamson, Columbia, MO (16) 15. 17GP, Cale Thomas, Fairland, IN (18) 16. 27B, Jake Bubak, Arvada, CO (19) 17. 122, Joe B. Miller, Millersville, MO (22) 18. 48, Danny Dietrich, Gettysburg, PA (15) 19. 36, Jason Martin, Liberal, KS (23) 20. 24D, Danny Sams III, North Port, FL (14) 21. 9, Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA (12) 22. 83SR, James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, Aust. (5) 23. 4, Cam Martin, Ankeny, IA (21) 24. 2K, Kevin Ingle, Hurton, SD (24). Lap Leaders: Day 1-17, Larson 18-30. KSE Steering Pump/ $1000 Jack Housby Hard-charger: Anthony Macri. Paul McGrath Snap-On Mechanic of the Race (3/8 Lithium Impact Set): Paul Silva. Knoxville Raceway Hoosier Right Rears: Kerry Madsen, Scott Bogucki, Deuce5 Motorsports. Set of Four Sander Racing Wheels: Austin McCarl. $1000 from Hoseheads/J&S Classics for Highest Finishing PA Posse Driver: Anthony Macri. $500 Oskaloosa True Value Highest Finishing Knoxville Regulars: Kerry Madsen, Scott Bogucki. $500 DeBerg Concrete Highest Finishing High Limit Driver, WoO Driver, Huset’s Driver, IRA Driver, ASCS Driver

Seafoam Motor Treatment $500 Quick Time: Brad Sweet, 15.989 seconds.

Heat Race Winners: Smith Ti Complete Inboard Brake Kit ($2,833 Value), $200 Certificate to HRP, $150 Hydration IV from Skin Fusion FX During Knoxville Nationals, $100 from Dingus, Second Place in Each Heat: 1 Box of “In Sight” Tearoffs from Ultra Shield

Oskaloosa True Value Heat one (started), 8 laps: 1. Scott Bogucki (1) 2. Cole Macedo (2) 3. Corey Day (5) 4. Brad Sweet (6) 5. Danny Sams III (3) 6. Austin McCarl (4) 7. Cam Martin (8) 8. Anthony Macri (7)

Smith Titanium Heat two (started), 8 laps: 1. Parker Price-Miller (2) 2. Kerry Madsen (4) 3. Buddy Kofoid (5) 4. Cale Thomas (1) 5. Danny Dietrich (3) 6. Brian Brown (6) 7. Jason Martin (8) 8. Joe B. Miller (7)

Taso’s Steak House/Sander Wheels Heat three (started), 8 laps: 1. James McFadden (3) 2. Carson Macedo (6) 3. Daison Pursley (1) 4. Garet Williamson (2) 5. Kyle Larson (4) 6. Jake Bubak (7) 7. Kasey Kahne (5) 8. Kevin Ingle (8)

Priority Aviation Foot Race ($1500 to Win, $500 for Second, $100 to Start): Prelim One: 1. Carson Macedo 2. Corey Day / 3. James McFadden 4. Brian Brown Prelim two: 1. Parker Price-Miller 2. Brad Sweet / 3. Buddy Kofoid 4. Kerry Madsen Finals: 1. Parker Price-Miller 2. Corey Day 3. Carson Macedo 4. Brad Sweet

Seafoam Motor Treatment IMCA Racesavers

A main (started), 15 laps: 1. 40, Adam Gullion, Lincoln, NE (1) 2. 15v, Cole Vanderheiden, Papillion, NE (3) 3. 57A, Brett Moffitt, Mooresville, NC (2) 4. 20, Jeremy Huish, Jetmore, KS (5) 5. 45, Monty Ferriera, Lincoln, NE (11) 6. 43, Jake Greenwood, Woodward, IA (4) 7. 14, Randy Martin, California, MO (10) 8. 2D, Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, SD (9) 9. 17, Lee Goos Jr., Hartford, SD (7) 10. 69, Mike Moore, Des Moines, IA (6) 11. 11R, Cade Richards, Lincoln, NE (8) 12. 4ss, Brandon Halverson, Jackson, MN (15) 13. 23J, Jordan Welch, Clayton, IN (13) 14. 8R, Ryker Pace, Collinsville, OK (19) 15. 1H, Henry Chambers, Kansas City, KS (12) 16. 41, Jeff Wilke, Knoxville, IA (14) 17. 6B, Bayley Ballenger, Harrisburg, SD (18) 18. 18D, Dalton Domagala, Brandon, SD (17) 19. 9, Abigayle Lett, Odessa, MO (20) 20. 15K, Keegan McCarty, Sheldon, IA (16). Lap Leaders: Gullion 1-15. Hard-charger: Ferriera

Heat winners received “In Sight” Tear Offs

True Value of Oskaloosa Heat one (started), 6 laps: 1. Jake Greenwood (3) 2. Randy Martin (1) 3. Mike Moore (9) 4. Cole Vanderheiden (6) 5. Brett Moffitt (2) 6. Monty Ferriera (10) 7. Jordan Welch (5) 8. Brandon Halverson (8) 9. Dalton Domagala (4) 10. Ryker Pace (7)

Taso’s of Oskaloosa Heat two (started), 6 laps: 1. Lee Goos Jr. (1) 2. Cade Richards (2) 3. Jeremy Huish (8) 4. Adam Gullion (4) 5. Dusty Ballenger (6) 6. Henry Chambers (3) 7. Jeff Wilke (5) 8. Keegan McCarty (7) 9. Bayley Ballenger (10) 10. Abigayle Lett (9)

Photo: Kyle Larson cashed $21,000 in his fourth Front Row Challenge Victory in Oskaloosa Monday (Paul Arch Photo)