There was evidence of the madness already beginning at Boone on Saturday night. The pits were already looking pretty full with a steady stream of Super Nationals entrance arriving all during the night. There were tents in the pits and grandstand area and campers were springing up in abundance. But before the craziness of the 31st Super Nationals begins on Monday, it was back to regular weekly racing and the season championships. No new drivers were allowed to race on season championship night, with the top 20 in points locked into the features. Only one B main was needed, that being in the SportMod division, to fill in the final four cars in their A main. Each class was brought to the frontstetch with the drivers being introduced to the fans. Always a nice opportunity for the fans to see the drivers as well as the drivers receiving a well earned round of applause.
All classes ran extra laps in their season championship mains. The Mod Lites started things off with their 18-lap feature. Bryan Zehm led from the drop of the green with Josh May in tow. The race was red flagged at lap nine when Joe Glick rolled his ride as he came out of turn two. He was okay. When things resumed, it was still Zehm at the helm, but May was beginning to put on the pressure. At lap fifteen, May decided it was time to take over that top spot and flew into the lead. He would then motor home to another feature win, his fifth on the year, as well as being crowned the 2013 track champion. Zehm finished as the runner up, third was Dusty Masolini and Randy Bryan and Terry Brown completed the top five.
It was fifteen laps in the IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Eric Stanton jumped to the lead immediately, while he was happy to see the cars duking it out behind for second. Shannon Anderson, Aaron Rudolph, Tyler Pickett and Matt Hudspeth seemed content on mounting the challenge for position and the possible victory. Those cars would swap positions several times, with Anderson finally establishing second place. As the laps were winding down, Anderson put his foot in it and was able to make the pass on the leader with a lap to go. He would take it home to the checkers first and put another win in the books at Boone. Stanton took the runner up spot, but was still a winner on the night as he took the track championship. Third place was Tyler Pickett, Aaron Rudolph was fourth and Matt Hudspeth rounded out the top five.
The only class that ran a last chance race to complete their starting grid in the main was the IMCA Northern SportMod class. Curt Moeding was the winner in that consy race. Going into the race, Eric Elliott held a commanding lead in the points battle, and showed the reason why in the main event. Elliott took command from the drop of the green, never to look back. Tim Love, sporting his new snazzy looking PINK wrapped car....just one of many cars that will be sporting a themed charity/cause for a contest at the Super Nationals....held down second spot for much of the race. Tara Longnecker, who has had a great season, was able to make the pass on Love with a lap remaining, and took the runner up spot, Love falling to third. Rounding out the top five was Randy Roberts and Johnathon Logue, Jr.
The IMCA Stock Cars went 20-laps and it was Jay Schmidt sending his "Black Betty" ride to the immediate lead. Schmidt put her up top and circled the track contentedly while the pack behind him dug for position. Michael Murphy held second place much of the race but wasn't having an easy time fighting with Donavon Smith and the brothers Gifford...Wayne and Jerry. Veteran racer Robert Stofer joined the fray as well, giving the crowd their money's worth. Smith took over second with less than a handful of laps remaining, relentlessly challenging Schmidt and finally making the pass with one lap to go. Smith took the checkers, his third at Boone this year, Schmidt finishing as the runner up. Third place was Trent Murphy followed by Robert Stofer and Jerry Gifford. Murphy is the track champion.
The grand finale was the 25-lap Modified feature and it was a "Jim Dandy"! Front row starters Jimmy Gustin and "Downtown" Kyle Brown were the show for much of the race. Brown chose the topside and sent his Ford powered ride consistently like a rocket off of turn two....pulling Gustin each time. Scott Davis, Randy Havlik and Russ Dickerson were battling it out behind the two leaders and now it was also noted that Mike VanGenderen, and Mark Elliott, both who had started near the tail of the field, were flying through the pack. Elliott's night would end with a miscue and nearly going over the edge, but VanGenderen put the hammer down and continued his quest. Davis was also shortly out of the running when his motor appeared to let loose. Brown and Gustin were still going at it, Brown holding the advantage when it was at lap twenty-one when Gustin also jumped the cushion in turn four, bringing out the yellow and putting him out of the running for a top finish. On the restart, it was Russ Dickerson behind leader Brown with the high hopes of getting more. It wasn't to be on this night however, as Brown took the win, his first at Boone this year, and Dickerson was the bridesmaid. Mike VanGenderen came from starting fifteenth to take a third place finish, fourth was Tony Cox and Chris Webb was fifth. Jimmy Gustin is the track champion for 2013.
A few notes on the night. There is a new "winner's ramped platform" in the infield, awaiting all of the Super Nationals winners. It was not a good night for more than one driver going into Super Nationals week. I know there were others but among them that we can recall were Scott Davis puffing a motor, but one of the worst was Stock Car driver Damon Murty taking a nasty barrel roll AFTER the feature, tumbling about four times and landing on his wheels in turn two. Incidents like this right before running for the Big Dance is never a good thing. We know how much work goes into just preparing for weekly races, let alone a marathon week of racing.
We will be attending the entire week of Super Nationals again.....our 26th straight and every one at Boone.
We are hoping we won't be seeing the sun rise this year as we did last year when the first night of racing was finally completed at 5:50 a.m. That was due to a 4 1/2 hour delay in start time thanks to Mother Nature and if I recall correctly...a blown up jet dryer. Several other rain storms during the week made for more headaches. Please Mother Nature, though much of the state is needing rain desperately, hold off until the Super Nationals are completed. We look forward to our Racin' Vacation again, meeting up with friends and racers we see each year and joining everyone in the organized chaos that is the spectacle of Super Nationals! Happy racing!
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