The fans sure got their money's worth this past Saturday night at Boone. The night started a bit early at 6:45 p.m. when the four make-up features from last week's rain out were run. They farmed the track after those were completed, and then the regular night's show began with the running of heats and b-mains. A final farming session groomed the track, and it was time for the final six features.
The first of two make-ups for the hobby stocks started off the early-start action. Eric Stanton started back in row six and pushed his 7B ride to the point early on...never to look back. He took his first win of the year at Boone in relatively easy fashion, finishing comfortably ahead of second place finisher, Nyle Godwin. Matt McDonald came to the checkers in third place, fourth went to Curt Reed and fifth to Andrew Arends.
The second make-up feature for the hobbies followed. Michael Murphy made it back to victory lane for the fifth time this year by snatching the win away from John Watson with a final lap pass. Watson had to settle for that runner-up spot, third went to Tyler Pickett, fourth was Shaun Wirtz and Matt Hudspeth finished in fifth.
The modified make-up feature from May 21st found a new face in the winner's circle as "The Flying Dutchman", Mike VanGenderen put his 57V ride past the checkers first.
VanGenderen fought off the challenges of Randy Havlik who finished in second place. Third went to Perry, Iowa's Jake Durbin, Mike Molle finished fourth and Cale Sponsler captured fifth place. VanGenderen took his first win of 2011 after jumping back into a modified this year.
The stock car make-up feature completed last week's rain-shortened program. Eric Brown seemed to be on a mission to seek that so far, elusive win this year. Brown was successful and took the win as a pack of cars behind him jockeyed for positions. Trent Murphy got to the runner-up spot ahead of third place finisher Wayne Gifford. Fourth went to Josh Daniels and Donavon Smith was fifth.
A lot of racing action was still ahead with the running of heat races and a couple of b-mains. The kids even got to enjoy a ride on the school bus while the track was farmed before the regular night's A mains were run.
The MADCRA Mod-Lites ran their 15-lap feature with Colby Oberembt taking the win for the second time this year. He held off a hard-charging Josh May who was just not able to over take Oberembt, try as he "May", and had to be content with a second place finish. Third went to Tim Hennigar, Randy Bryan came home in fourth and fifth was James May.
The IMCA Northern SportMods didn't run their usual required b-main tonight and 25 of the 27 cars on hand, started the A main. The #2 of Bill Wears led the pack at the point through lap twelve of the 18-lap affair. That's when point leader, Scott Davis came calling and took over the lead. The race was not over by any means though as tenth-place starter Geoff Olson put his car into the second spot and the chase was on! Olson made an impressive pass on Davis on the white-flag lap and took his first win at Boone this year. Davis finished second with Bill Wears holding on for third, fourth went to Rick Ringgenberg and fifth to Ty Luellen. Winner, Geoff Olson, just recently graduated from Iowa State University in Ames.
Now it was time for the IMCA modified feature with 24 of the 25 cars on hand making the starting call. Mike VanGenderen was leading and looking strong, and looked to be making it a two-for-one night after taking the make-up feature earlier. Someone else had other ideas. A caution flag flew with five laps to go in the 20-lap race, and at the drop of the green on the restart, Josh "Happy" Gilman saw his chance and went for it. He was able to make the pass on VanGenderen on the restart of the race, and would take his second win of the 2011 season at the track. VanGenderen, though having a good night of racing with his earlier win, and then finishing second to Gilman, was still no doubt disappointed to finish a runner-up. Third went to Craig Carlson, fourth to Russ Dickerson and Cale Sponsler rounded out the top five.
The "class too tough to tame", the IMCA stock cars were up next. The race was pretty much a done deal from the start as veteran driver, Larry Crocheck led the entire 18-lap contest. The start of the race saw a scary incident on the frontstretch with cars going every which way. Thankfully, what could have been a really bad incident, only ended a couple of driver's night with car damage only. Crocheck would then lead the pack for the rest of the laps with Cory Bushnell chasing him to take second. Trent Murphy and Jay Schmidt were dueling behind the top two finishers, running the highside of the track, hoping to reel in the leader. It was futile, as Murphy and Schmidt had to settle for third and fourth in that order. Ryan Rose came home in fifth.
The first hobby stock feature saw another veteran driver, Dean Hartwig, take his first win of the season. Hartwig was leading by lap five of the 12-lap feature and Randy Embrey "rubber-banded" through the field to pick up second place. Third went to John Watson from starting eleventh, fourth place finisher was Eric Stanton and fifth was Dustin Tepp.
The final hobby stock feature concluded the action-packed night of racing at the Boone Speedway. This 12-lap race went to Danny Watson who led nearly the entire contest. Late in the race, he was challenged hard by Michael Murphy, but Murphy couldn't over take Watson. Murphy had to settle for second, third went to Richard Yaw II, Scott Lograsso finished fourth and Nyle Godwin was fifth.
Monday, May 30th will find us back at the Boone Speedway for the annual running of the Deery Brothers Summer Series for the IMCA late models. The SportMods, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Dwarfs are also on the docket. Make note of the early start time as hot laps begin at 4 p.m. and races at 5. Next Saturday night, June 4, will be another regular night of racing at the track. Until next time, happy racing!
Full results for Saturday's races may be found below this blog.
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