We headed back to the Boone Speedway on Saturday night--our home away from home, as it's been for many a year. One driver seems to just keep chalking up the wins week after week at the track, other classes saw drivers getting another win, and the Mod Lite division put a new face in victory lane.
The Mod Lites kicked off feature racing. This one was dominated by the winner Jeff Stensland. Stensland, who took his first win at the track this season, led the entire race, which went caution free. David Schmalzried, Mike Kennedy, Josh May and Joel Keenan were in pursuit behind him most of the race. They would finish second through fifth in that order.
Matt Pinegar and Anthony Onstot led the charge in the IMCA SportMod division's A main event for the first handful of laps. By the halfway mark of the 18-lap race, Nick Roberts came knocking and took over the lead. Roberts would keep the lead to the checkers, taking his second win of the season at the track, in addition to having won the Frostbuster special. Veteran racer Rick Ringgenberg came home in second, over Tim Love in third, Scott Davis in fourth and Andy Tiernan in fifth.
It was a nail bitter in the IMCA 20-lap Modified feature. Kelly Lyons led the early portion of the race, but it wasn't long until Jake Durbin and Mike VanGenderen were flying through the field, to challenge the leader. Durbin nab the lead, and VanGenderen made a nifty move in corner four, to also slip by Lyons, and take over second. Those two would chase each other closely for the next several laps until it appeared Durbin faltered a bit in turn one, and VanGenderen had to check up--but both continued on. A guy who knows his way around the Boone Speedway, former Super Nationals champion Todd Shute, seized the opportunity and flew into the lead around those faltering cars and was in the lead on the ensuing restart. With a lap to go, it was Durbin and VanGenderen chasing Shute when Durbin again found himself in a "loop" putting him out of contention for a top finishing position. Shute took the win, his third this year at Boone, VanGenderen finished second, third went to Kelly Lyons, fourth to Joel Bushore and Russ Dickerson was fifth.
The IMCA Stock Cars never seem to disappoint in their performance. After a "no-go" on the first attempt of a start, the race went 18-laps caution free. Ty Hill battled with Lonnie Hodges through lap twelve of the 18-lapper. That's when last week's winner, Cory Bushnell put on the pressure. Bushnell would soon take over the lead, Jerry Gifford following him up into second. Bushnell took his second win in as many weeks, Gifford scored in second. Eric Brown scored a third place finish, Ty Hill dropped back to take fourth, and Robert Stofer was fifth.
The finale for the evening, as always, was the IMCA Hobby Stock 12-lap feature. We've been watching closely the point leader, John Watson. Watson has been on a tear at the track this year, having notched five straight wins. He also won the Frostbuster special. Having to start back in twelfth spot each week, it is remarkable that he has accomplished that feat week after week. Would it happen again? Sure enough!
Watson took the lead by lap eight, and pulled away to his SIXTH straight win, his seventh in the regular season (he was second in the only race he did not win this year) plus that Frostbuster win. Wow! Eight wins out of nine at the track. Pretty darn good record, I'd say. Curt Reed took the runner up place, Matt McDonald who had led early on, was third, fourth went to Austin Luellen...the ONLY driver to beat Watson this year in a feature, and Aaron Rudolph was fifth.
Next week is being billed as a "Father's Day Special and Little League Night, so would think there would be a lot of youngsters in uniform and some balls flying during the farming session. Check www.raceboone.com for more details and other information. Happy racing!
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