It was a pleasant evening for racing at Boone on Saturday. A good crowd was on hand...some in costume for their "Halloween in May" night, as they enjoyed the night's excitement on the track. A driver who has raced at Boone for many years and travels a goodly distance to do so, got his first ever career win. All classes saw new season winners added to the books.
The MADCRA Mod Lite division was looking as if Dusty Masolini was headed to victory lane but a late race caution bunched the field giving some opportunities for some change up at the restart. That opportunity was seized by Randy Bryan, who had been running second to Masolini much of the race, when he made the pass for the lead with just two laps remaining. Masolini fought back, but would have to settle for the runner up spot this night. Third place went to Joel Huggins, fourth to Cory Dennis and Bryan Zehm came from starting tenth, to capture fifth place.
The IMCA Northern SportMods came next. This one started with Bruce Egeland and Tom Burke on the front row. Egeland and Burke led the pack in that order for the first five laps, until Anthony Onstot grabbed second and began his chase to catch the leader. Meanwhile, the 9E of Eric Elliott had taken flight on the topside and was making up ground fast from his twelfth spot starting position, taking over third. As the white flag flew, Egeland was still at the point, but a bobble nearly cost him dearly. A pounding heart and the adrenaline flowing was almost too much for him, but he was able to gather back his machine and race home to the checkers.....his first EVER! Elliott got around Onstot on the final lap as they finished second and third. Tim Love and Rick Ringgenberg rounded out the top five. Egeland, who has raced for many years at the Boone Speedway, first in the MADCRA Dwarf/Mod Lite division and switching to the SportMod class a couple of years back, makes the haul each week from Marshall, Minnesota, nearly 300 miles each way. It's always great to see a first ever win....congrats to you Bruce!
The IMCA Modifieds ran next and this one too was won by the polesitter. Joel Bushore leaped to the lead at the drop of the green, never to be challenged, taking his first win of 2013 at the track. Trailing a good distance behind him was Jake Durbin in second. Third was Jammin' Jimmy Gustin, who made it real interesting at the finish line, but falling just short and having to settle for third. Randy Havlik started fifteenth on the grid and made the topside work, as he took fourth and Cale Sponsler hung around the front much of the race, finishing in fifth.
The Stock Cars put on their usual "get after it" show. Eric Brown began the race from the pole, but it was the guy right behind him in row two, John Watson that claimed the lead the first several laps. Watson would drop a few spots, with Brown taking over the lead, now being chased by veteran Robert Stofer. Behind the leaders, cars were going three, four and sometimes five wide as they fought for position. A couple of pesky yellow flags bunched the field on a couple of occasions, and at lap eight, who should be breathing down the back of the leader but Donavon Smith. Smith, who had started in row six, was determined for more and was able to nab the lead from Brown and pulled away in the closing laps, sealing the deal on his first win at the speedway in 2013. Following in second and third were brothers Trent and Michael Murphy, fourth going to Robert Stofer and Eric Brown rounded out the top five.
For some reason, a lot of yellow flags flew the entire evening, the IMCA Hobby Stock finale being no different. Early leader Cory Adams continued to fend off the challenge of Curt Reed through much of the race, keeping the point through the restarts. Meanwhile, it was Shannon Anderson making his usual charge to the front from starting in row six, to pester the leaders. Things got tight as the front running cars entered turn three with just two laps left. Contact was made between leader Adams and Anderson, and they both went spinning, handing over the lead to Reed at the restart. Reed then motored home to the checkers first, capturing his first victory at the track this year. More change ups were made behind the leader as Paul Nagle, who had been running in the top three suffered a flat tire on the last lap, sending him back many spots, and shuffling more cars up as a result. Eric Stanton avoided the confusion and came through the mess to score the runner up spot, Garrett Eilander wove his way through to score a third place and Tyler Pickett and Tim Barber followed up in fourth and fifth.
Earlier in the evening, after running their heat races, the IMCA SportMod class ran a King of the Hill contest, sponsored by Harris Auto Racing. The two top finishers in the heats drew for their starting spots, each going up in a two lap shoot out, the winner advancing to the next round. The two final men standing were Brandon Williams and Cole Ferguson. Williams took the win in the final go around. Williams, a new driver to us this year, has been impressive. We learned through announcer Jerry VanSickle, that his job had required his move to Iowa, having raced in the St. Joseph, Missouri area last year.
Next week, May 25 at Boone, it will be racing as usual in the five divisions, hot laps 6:45 and racing at 7:30. Also mark your calendars for the annual Memorial Day race at the Boone Speedway on Monday, May 27th. It will be the annual Deery Brothers Late Model Summer Series special. Also on the program that day will be the Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, SportMods and Mod Lites. Grandstands open at 2 p.m, hot laps at 4 and racing at 5 p.m. Happy racing!
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