Sunday, July 17, 2011

Michael Murphy wins eighth hobby stock feature at Boone

We spent another evening at the Boone Speedway and what a hot night it was! This July heat and humidity is oppressing with no end for several days. But, it didn't stop the racing on Saturday night at Boone. However, I'm sure the drivers all went home a few pounds lighter from loosing water weight!

Ed Zehm repeated his win from last week in winning the 15-lap Dwarf/Mod Lite feature. He had no problem after gaining the lead in the early laps, and pulled away from the pack. Dusty Masolini was the runner up, but was not a contender for Zehm, trailing by quite a distance. Third place was Colby Oberembt, fourth was James May, the point leader, and fifth went to David Schmalzried.

The Northern SportMods had quite the time completing their scheduled 18-lap A main. Yellow flags flew often. So often in fact, that at 13 laps down, the race was put under a time limit--race to the checkers or the next yellow. Scott Davis had taken the lead from Stacey Clark by the halfway mark and was still leading when the race was put under the time limit. On the restart, it would be a RED flag that flew ending the race, when Tara Longnecker was pushed high off of turn one, and rolled her ride. Thankfully, she was okay. The race was called complete with Davis taking his second win at the track this year, bolstering his large point lead even more. Stacey Clark finished as the runner up, third went to Geoff Olson who had started back in row seven, fourth was Randy Roberts, and Cory Rose rounded out the top five.

The 20-lap IMCA modified race had several leader changes---one at the last moment. Craig Carlson led the charge in the early goings holding the lead over rookie Matthew Meinecke and then Jake Durbin. Durbin snatched the lead away from Carlson with nine laps in the books and looked to have things pretty well in control as he pulled away. Jimmy Gustin had other ideas about the outcome of the race, as he reeled in Durbin lap after lap. Gustin took the lead from Durbin on lap seventeen and appeared to be sailing on to victory. With the white flag waving as he approached the flagstand, Gustin suddenly slowed drastically, and pulled into the pits. This handed the lead back to Durbin, who would then take the checkers and the win. Carlson took the runner up spot, followed by Bill Davis, Jr., Cale Sponsler, and Russ Dickerson finishing in that order. Durbin had won the night before at the Iowa State Fair Speedway in Des Moines, making it two-in-a-row for him.

Enter the IMCA stock cars for their 18-lap contest. Week after week, they prove to put on quite the show with their close racing, as was the case again. Ty Hill led the early laps but he had lots of close company behind---in three-wide racing! Wayne Gifford, Jerry Gifford, Jay Schmidt, Trent Murphy and Donavon Smith were fighting for position when a yellow flew with just three laps remaining. Cars were shuffled back, Jay Schmidt developed mechanical problems, and on the restart, it was the #22 of Wayne Gifford to the point starting place. Donavon Smith gave it a great effort, falling just a bit short of overtaking Gifford at the checkers. Wayne Gifford took his first win at the speedway this year and Smith had to be content for second on this night. Third went to Ty Hill, fourth to Jerry Gifford, brother of winner Wayne, and fifth was Trent Murphy. Smith remains the point leader at the track.

The IMCA hobby stocks raced for twelve laps around the track, and once again, it was Michael Murphy taking the win--his eighth this year. Murphy was leading by halfway, and pulled away for the win at the end. Aaron Rudolph came from eighth starter, to take second, John Watson and Eric Stanton came from row five to finish third and fourth and Bill Atcheson took fifth.

So ended another night of "HOT" racing at the Boone Speedway. Doesn't sound like we have much relief in sight through at least Thursday. Here's hoping it doesn't kick up any more nasty storms like last week. What the heck is a "derecho" anyway? Had never heard of it before but that is what the huge straight-line windstorm is being called that came through central Iowa last Monday morning. It wreaked havoc on many, with the Marshalltown Speedway and Benton County Speedway being hit with damage as well.

Regular season racing continues next week at the Boone Speedway with hot laps at 6:45 and racing at 7:30. Be sure and check www.raceboone.com for more information.

Full results are listed in blog below. Happy racing!

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