Was rain predicted for Saturday? It took me completely aback when a chance glance at radar showed rain moving into the northwest part of the state.....heading for Boone! We hit rain three miles to the east of the Boone Speedway and though it was just light sprinkles, appeared to have been happening for a while. The track was shiny slick, but the tractors and packers were continuously kept on the track. The rain drops ended and the first heat took to the track just a few minutes past its scheduled 7:30 start time. Good thing, as the pits were full again--176 cars by my count--and a good crowd on hand.
Bryan Zehm took the win in the Mod Lite feature; going back to back for victories. The very start of the race found Mike Kennedy on his lid in turn two, leading to a complete restart; Kennedy tagging the tail after being flipped back onto his wheels. Tim Hennigar and Joel Keenan battled for the lead early on, having started side by side on the front row. It didn't take long until Bryan Zehm joined in the chase, taking over the helm by lap twelve of the 15-lap race and going on to take the win. Joel Keenan followed Zehm to finish in second, Hennigar held on to third and Jeff Stensland and Randy Bryan completed the top five positions.
Forty IMCA Northern SportMods competed on the night. Two B mains were required to complete their 24-car starting field. Those consolations winners were Rick Ringgenberg and South Dakota racer Todd Boulware. The early portion of the race was led by Levi Chipp from Latimer as he fended off the challenges of Rocky Caudle and Eric Elliott. Lap five found Racer Hulin taking an easy roll over in turn four...which turned into a nemesis for several drivers. Lap six drew another caution when point leader Scott Davis spit out his drive shaft. This was looking good for Eric Elliott who sits in second in points, hoping to tighten up the points battle. Elliott took the lead but his night soon ended too when his right front appeared to dig into the track in turn four, nearly sending him for a roll. With Elliott's night also ending, Chipp was back as the leader when racing got back underway. Fierce fighting at the front of the field would also soon end Chipp's run when a bit of contact was made--again in turn four. Now it was Jason Mallicoat, Joe McBirnie and Randy Roberts in a shoot out for the lead. It came down to just that, as the three cars frantically vied for position.....Mallicoat leading but Roberts giving it a last ditch effort on the final lap, and grabbing the win. Roberts claimed his second win of the season after winning back the early part of May---I believe when he was then piloting the car that McBirnie has been in recently. Mallicoat finished as the runner up, McBirnie held third and Ty Luellen who started eleventh took fourth over Rocky Caudle in fifth.
The IMCA Modifieds had 31 cars on hand; their class requiring one B main. That consy race went to Shay Woods. Rookie to the division, Kyle Brown was looking impressive and appeared well on his way to grabbing his first ever win in a Modified at the Boone Speedway. He was holding off the challenges of Cale Sponsler and Jake Durbin, and putting distance between his pursuers. A caution waved at lap twelve when Mike VanGenderen got high sided at the top of turns three and four, which would then tighten up the field. Brown maintained his lead but with close company in Jake Durbin who was applying plenty of pressure now.
Durbin was able to make the pass with just two laps remaining, going on to the win, his fourth of the year. Brown took the runner up spot followed by Jay Noteboom in third, Jimmy Gustin in his new 2013 Harris in fourth, and Cale Sponsler in fifth.
The IMCA Stock Cars followed up with their own exciting race....a near photo finish at the flagstand. Earlier, with 38 cars in attendance, two B mains were needed. Mike Munson and Alan VanGorp took those wins. Jay Schmidt was looking as if he was going to be claiming a win; quickly getting to the lead from starting in row five. Yellows flew, bunching up the field and now Trent Murphy was nipping at Schmidt's heels. Donavon Smith had started back in eighteenth place and had worked his way to run third. Schmidt's night would end at lap fourteen, when in that infamous turn four, his car seemed to shut down; his night ending. With just four laps remaining, you knew the finish was going to be a good one between now leading Smith and Murphy on his bumper. The two ran the closing laps in tight contention, Smith keeping the point when with just a slight slip high by Smith as they approached the checkers out of turn four, Murphy was able to go under him and get the advantage as they crossed at the flagstand. Murphy claimed win number two on the year, Smith scored in second. Third place went to a driver making his first trip to Boone this year, Travis Shipman from Mason City, fourth was early leader Cody Clark from Yorktown, and Alan VanGorp was fifth. After the race, a rare claim occurred when Bob Daniels claimed Travis Shipman.
Two A mains were run for the third week straight in the IMCA Hobby Stock class. John Watson who had just been dominating until recent weeks, got back to his winning ways, and took home another feature win. Watson, who started tenth, was leading by lap three. He had little trouble in keeping the lead, pulling away at the finish to claim win number ten in the regular season; eleventh including the Frostbuster. Randy Embrey charged to the front from starting fourteenth to take second. Third place went to Aaron Rudolph, a winner last week, Craig Graham, also a winner last week, was fourth, and Ray Stock, Jr. was fifth.
The evening closer was the second A main for the Hobby Stocks. This one produced a brand new winner for the season in the class. Bill Atcheson took over the helm by the halfway mark of the the twelve lapper, holding it to the finish and the win. Curt Reed closed in the final lap but could only garner a second place finish. Third was veteran driver Chris Jensen making his 2012 debut, fourth went to Matt Hudspeth and Dustin Filloon finished fifth.
Just two weeks remain for regular season racing at the track---August 25 and September 1. September 1 is season championship night and then we are right into the IMCA Speedway Motors 30th annual Super Nationals starting on Labor Day. It will be six straight nights of incredible racing action that we look forward too. It will be fun and "Happy Racing!".
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