Britt “Christmas in July” Wins go to Mills, Shryock, Fett, Sidles
By Chad Meyer
It felt like Christmas morning in more ways than one at the Hancock County Speedway in Britt, IA Friday night. After nearly a month off due to the July 4th holiday and persistent weather challenges, clear skies and warm temperatures greeted race fans for “Santa’s Christmas Spectacular.”
Jeremy Mills navigated lap traffic and a mid-race restart to capture the lead from Greg Elliott and win in the IMCA Modifieds. Clint Hatlestad was up front all night and finished second. Owen Barnhill charged from his 10th starting spot to third in the late going, finishing ahead of Stinehart and Elliott.
In the IMCA Stock Cars, Justin Ades led the first six circuits before Kelly Shryock, who started 10th, made the winning pass using the middle groove of the speedway. Over the last six laps, Shryock was a half-second a lap faster than the field to seal the win. Colby Fett surged from 9th to secure the second spot late over Ades and Kevin Opheim.
Nate Chodur was strong in the first portion of the IMCA Northern SportMod feature. Doug McCollough was the next to lead before Alec Fett ultimately assumed command of the race. Fett was fast on the bottom groove and that was the difference maker. McCollough completed the event second, ahead of Josh Appel and Colby Fett, who started 17th.
It has been a quiet 2024 IMCA Hobby Stock campaign so far for Josh Sidles. That changed Friday at Britt when he raced from seventh to score the win. It wasn’t easy as he and Brandon Nielsen raced in a literal dead head side by side for the last several laps. Nielsen, who started 15th, was a close second at the line over Lucas Smith and Dan Hanselman.
Josh Sidles’ first win of the evening came in the HCS Outlaw Hobby division. Sidles had to work past Joshua Monson, but once he did, the race was his. Monson finished second, ahead of Tanner Green and Kolby Goepel.
Racing action returns to the Hancock County Speedway Friday, July 19th for the Hobby Stock “Clash of the Titans.” All regular classes of cars will be in competition with hot laps at 7:00 pm.