Jammin' Jimmy Scores Boone Frostbuster Win

We headed to the Boone Speedway for their annual Frostbuster special on Saturday. Just a couple of miles before the track, raindrops began to fall.  It was but a brief shower however, just Mother Nature providing a bit of natural watering for the track surface, and soon the sun was shining.  Anxious fans were lined up at the ticket window, awaiting some racing action, that for many, would be their first in 2013.  Right at 192 cars filled the pits, so racers and fans alike were ready for racing.

The IMCA SportMods ran their 20 lap feature first. With 41 cars checked in, it required a B main to whittle the starting lineup to 24 cars. That B main was won by Brandon Brinton.  Brinton is only one of several drivers we have noticed changing classes, as he drove a hobby stock in the past. 

Audubon driver Jared Hansen sat on the pole of the SportMod feature, but right behind was Madrid's Andy Tiernan.  Hansen took the lead at the drop of the green, but he had Tiernan dogging him relentlessly from there.  It wasn't until lap thirteen, that Tiernan was able to make the pass to the lead and then continue on to the checkers and the win.  Hansen had to settle for a runner up spot, third went to Ty Luellen who had just won the previous night at the Marshalltown Speedway Frostbuster, fourth was Rockie Caudle, Ellsworth, Iowa and rounding out the top five was Boone's own Cory Rose.  

They called the IMCA Modifieds next for their 25 lap feature.  This was a qualifier for the 2013 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot and $1,000 to win.  Jay Noteboom and Missouri driver Hunter Marriott sat on the front row, but it was second row's Cale Sponsler taking the point, bringing Jimmy Gustin from row three along to tag behind him.  Those two went at it for the next fourteen laps as Gustin peeked inside, then outside for a chance to get to the lead. The yellow would wave on that lap fourteen, when surprisingly, the third place runner, Jay Noteboom was found spinning out at the bottom of turn two.  Sponsler still held the lead on the restart but it was a determined Jimmy Gustin that finally managed to get that number one spot at lap fifteen.  Gustin then put distance between himself and second place, and motored home to the win..... Sponsler holding second.  Third went to Horicon, Wisconsin driver, Jeremy Christians, who many will remember being in a bright  neon orange stock cars from years past.  Fourth place went to the "Flying Dutchman", Mike VanGenderen who initially got shuffled back in the pack from starting in tenth spot, only to make a good recovery and advancement.  Fifth place was Minburn's Luke Wanninger.  

The always entertaining IMCA Stock Cars came next with their 20 lapper.  This class always seems to be a crowd pleaser with their "get after it" actions.  It was the case this time as well as there were cars battling three and four wide for positions all over the track.  Craig Carlson, a veteran to the class and sporting what appeared to be a new red ride, took the early lead and was looking good at the point, when on lap ten, his car shut down.  Dusty Vis was the guy inheriting the lead on the restart.  Vis is back racing this year after taking some time off and has been looking strong.  Cars were now scrambling three-wide at various points on the track, including Vis, Mike Goldsberry and Jerry Gifford passing the flagstand nearly in a dead heat. 

Things would still get changed up as brother Wayne Gifford, though showing some smoke, had now gotten up to challenge as well.  Wayne made it work at lap sixteen, taking the lead, with the smoke not appearing to  be a hinderance to him, taking the win.  Mike Goldsberry finished in second, third went to the winner's brother Jerry Gifford, fourth was Michael Murphy and fifth was Dusty Vis.  

The night cap was the 15 lap Hobby Stocks.  This one didn't even get started before it went red when the 27 car of Jason Kohl took a tumble off of turn three. It was announced he was okay. When things then did get underway, it was Edgerton, Minnesota's Trevor Holm scooting to the lead, followed by Lincoln, Nebraska driver Shane Slezak.  With the race continuing on caution free, those two would finish 1-2, making it an out of state sweep up front.  Third place went to Tyler Pickett from Boxholm, fourth was Shawn Slezak from Milligan, Nebraska...I'm guessing he is a brother to the winner, and fifth went to Pleasant Hill racer, Richard Yaw II.

Boone did their regular farming sessions, once after all the heats, then they ran the B mains and farmed again before the feature races.  For the most part, the track stayed good for early season, and it showed with all the multi-wide racing we were treated to.  Drivers from our north were anxious to get some racing in, as over two dozen Wisconsinites came to play.  Other racers hauled from Texas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina (Kyle Strickler, the "Highside Tickler") as well as Canada.

The regular season will open for weekly points at the Boone Speedway next Saturday, April 13.  Grandstands open at 6, hot laps at 6:45 and racing at 7:30.  Check www.raceboone.com for more information about the track. Also check out the racing calendar at www.positivelyracing.com and seek out a race you might like to attend.  Happy racing!