Kosiski Scores Emotional Hampel Memorial Victory at Adams County
Andrew Kosiski took home a big feature win during Saturday’s Gail and Karen Hampel Memorial at the Adams County Speedway.
The Malvern Bank Super Late Models West Series returned to action for the third round of the 2025 season. After the previous 3 East Series races in Iowa fell to Mother Nature earlier in the week, Saturday was a warm and sunny evening for the Hampel Memorial. A field of 20 cars made the trip to the half-mile at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Corning, Iowa for the first of 3 visits to the speedway during the season.
Andrew Kosiski was the fastest overall in Keyser Manufacturing qualifying on the night. The La Vista, Nebraska native clocked in at 20.458 seconds to be the top runner in group 1. The second group was headed by 7-time Series Champion Kyle Berck as he laid down a 20.877 second lap.
Jesse Sobbing and Dylan Sillman, the two drivers who were tied for the West Series points lead, won the two heat races on the night. Berck would be the top point driver which gave him the first opportunity at the $1,800 bonus money for the Skyline Materials Lucky 6th Place Starting Spot. Berck declined the challenge and took his spot on the outside of the front row. Meanwhile, Jesse Sobbing would start sixth for a chance at the bonus.
Kosiski and Berck would start on the front row for the 25-lap main event. Berck took the immediate lead and proceeded to lead the opening three laps. Kosiski caught up and passed Berck as they led the field off turn four.
Kosiski began running away with the show while Berck ran second. A few spots back, Sobbing and Rookie of the Year Point Leader Dallon Murty went side-by-side for multiple laps for fifth. Their battle would eventually envelop Tad Pospisil making it a 3-car battle for the third position.
After 25 caution-free laps around the half-mile, Andrew Kosiski brought it home in dominating fashion to score the win in the Hampel Memorial. The win was made extra special as his daughter Letty was celebrating her second birthday. Plus, many members of the Hampel family shared handshakes and hugs with Kosiski.
The victory was Kosiski’s first at Adams County and his first West Series win since Beatrice Speedway back in 2023. It was also Kosiski’s seventh career win with the Malvern Bank Series.
Kyle Berck would have to settle for second while Dallon Murty took third in his first late model appearance at Adams County Speedway. Jesse Sobbing finished fourth with Tad Pospisil rounding out the top five.
A busy month of June is now in the books for the Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing Series. The tour is off for two weeks and will return to action on July 12th for the richest race of the year, the third annual Rallen Zeitner Memorial at Harlan, Iowa’s Shelby County Speedway. A massive $10,076 to win race will also be the series’ first East vs. West duel race of the year. Then, the West Series will gear up for a doubleheader at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota for the 15th annual Silver Dollar Nationals on July 17-18.
Credit: Anthony Ainslie
Photo Credit: Mike Rufer