It must be getting close to Super Nationals time at Boone. The camping area is already sprouting RV's and the race cars are flocking in. By my count last night, there were 188 scheduled to run heats---beating out last week's count by 15. New winners were abundant too, as new names were added to the winner's column in the Modified, SportMod, and TWO in the Hobby Stock. That's right, for the first time this year, two Hobby Stock features were run. The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks were also back in town, throw in a Stock Car King of the Hill, plus bike races for the youngsters and a big bike giveaway sponsored by the local Walmart, it made for a night packed full of entertainment. It was a late one with the final checkers falling at 12:15 a.m. Just gearing up for the Super Nationals!
The Mod Lite feature went to Bryan Zehm. Zehm, who scored for the third time this year, took over the lead after fighting it out with Cory Dennis and Travis Stensland. Zehm took the checkers, Dennis scored as the runner up. Dusty Masolini got in the hunt the second half of the race and finished third. Fourth went to Travis Stensland and pole sitter Luke Payton was fifth.
The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks ran a 15-lap A main. Bret Moyer led the opening laps until his father, Carl Moyer took the lead before a handful of laps was in the books. His comfortable lead vanished when a yellow flew at lap thirteen, setting up a two lap shootout to the checkers. Ed Nelson had moved in to second place for the restart and was looking to sneak by Moyer. It didn't happen however, as Moyer got to the checkers first, Nelson having to settle for second. Third went to Pat Fagen, early leader Bret Moyer finished fourth and Rick Clark rounded out the top five.
Racer Nate Whitehurst from Mason City, put his mark on the track, scoring a win in only his second time at the track. This wasn't before two pile up incidents in turn four would eliminate or send cars to the tail to restart. The first incident saw Eric Flander, who had jumped to the lead immediately from his second row starting position, lose the handle as they approached the flagstand to score the first lap. Carnage was everywhere and the entire track was blocked in turn four. No injuries occurred, but the cars were a different story. When the race did get started, it was but a few laps later when turn four reared it's ugly head again, and another red stopped the cars in order to clear the mess. Meanwhile, it was Nate Whitehurst at the helm with the company of Randy Roberts, and Johnathon Logue giving chase. After a final yellow flew at lap seven, the race continued caution free---Whitehurst keeping command and scoring the win by a comfortable margin. Logue slipped by Roberts in the closing laps, as they took second and third. Fourth place finisher, Tim Love, came from starting seventeenth and fifth was Curt Moeding. Moeding, also from Mason City like the winner, started nineteenth after winning a B.
In the 20-lap Modified feature, it was Cayden Carter zipping off to the lead from his pole starting position as soon as the green was shown. Carter took flight on the topside looking very comfortable, while some cars behind him chose the lower route, bouncing through a hole low in corner two. Jon Snyder, who is the usual "Top Side Terror" chose to begin working his way up through the pack by hugging the bottom. This proved to be a near disaster in one instance, as he bounced through the corner two hole, bringing both front wheels off the ground and nearly losing the handle. Meanwhile, it was Kyle Krampe and Mike VanGenderen fighting for second and third, soon to be joined by Todd Shute and Jammin' Jimmy Gustin. It was four deep coming out of turn four, and cars would soon be shuffled around. Nothing deterred Carter however, as he enjoyed his comfortable ride on the rim and scored the easy win. Late in the race, Russ Dickerson made a move around Kyle Krampe---the two finishing second and third. Gustin, who was sporting a new unlettered ride, came from twelfth and finished fourth and added to his huge point lead. Todd Shute started tenth and took the fifth position. This was Carter's first win at the track this season.
Clumps of cars were passing the start-finish line for the first couple of laps in the Stock Car 18-lap feature, nearly impossible to score as they were so close. Finally things got sorted out, the result being Jeff Deal pulling away from the glued-together cars behind him. Jerry Gifford had worked his way to the second spot but last week's winner Jay Schmidt was coming on strong and running third. Schmidt flirted with disaster on a restart, flying to the topside immediately, only to slip off the cushion of turn one. Schmidt, who kept his machine going, but loosing positions, was saved when another car sat dead in the water, bringing out the yellow. Deal still led the troops, Gifford in second and Schmidt in third. The last few laps saw Jerry Gifford getting the advantage and taking over the lead, Schmidt slipping by as well. The race would end with a yellow/checkered when a car sat dangerously in corner two after the leaders had taken the white flag. Gifford scored the win, his second this year, Schmidt took the runner up spot. Third was Jeff Deal, who hails from Ft. Dodge, fourth was Michael Jaennette who started along side Schmidt in row six, and Wayne Gifford came from starting eleventh to complete the top five.
Earlier, a King of the Hill for the Stock Cars was held. Round one was Jerry Gifford beating Mike Goldsberry, Michael Jaennette eliminated Robert Stofer, Wayne Gifford beat Lonnie Hodges and Jay Schmidt won over Jeff Deal. Round two was Jaennette besting Jerry Gifford and Schmidt beat the other Gifford brother, Wayne. The final round pitted Schmidt against Jaennette. Schmidt took the win and the crown.
For the first time this season, there were TWO Hobby Stock features---both of which went flag to flag. After the yellow had been out frequently all night long previously, it was a welcome finale for the night.
The first Hobby feature was led flag to flag by Cody Gustoff. He had a lot of pressure from Cory Roe and Tim Barber however. Gustoff and Barber made contact as they approached the checkers, Gustoff holding on to his car and scoring the victory. Barber and Roe finished second and third. Dustin Lynch took fourth and veteran Randy Embrey made his first trip to the track in the regular season, and finished fifth. Gustoff won for the first time at the track this year.
Hobby Feature #2 was Mike Smith leading over two guys jousting for second---Matt Hudspeth and Marengo, Iowa's Jacob Keiser. Hudspeth and Keiser had escaped a four-wide battle behind Smith and were on the hunt. The two reeled in Smith, Keiser getting the number one spot with just a couple of laps remaining and Hudspeth came along and tagged in second. Keiser held the #1 position and scored his first win at the track, Hudspeth taking the runner up spot. Point leader Eric Stanton finished third over Craig Graham and earlier leader Mike Smith held on for fifth.
Only one more week of regular season racing at the Boone Speedway. Next Saturday will be Season Championship night. It is our understanding that the top 20 in points in each class will be locked into the feature, with the last four spots being filled in by a last change race. Only those having points during the season will be eligible. Then on Sunday, things get started for the 31st running of the IMCA Super Nationals. No racing will be held, but a lot of hot lapping, check in and teching will be done. Labor Day Monday, September 2 is the real kick off for the Super Nationals. The Deery Brothers Summer Series, Hobby Stocks, and Northern SportMods will be competition. The Late Models will have a complete show, the Hobbies will qualify the inside and middle row of eight as will the SportMods. For much more information, check out www.raceboone.com and click on the Super Nationals tab at the top. Happy racing!
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