The annual Deery Brothers Late Model special was held again on Memorial Day Monday at Boone. The forecasted threat of rain showers held off and the show was completed by 8:12 p.m. A veteran driver nabbed the win in the last minute in the Late Model show, a visiting driver made his trip worth while in the Stock Car division, as did another in the Hobby Stock class. Familiar faces at the Speedway went back to victory lane in the SportMod and Mod Lites.
It was my understanding that the Stock Car, SportMod, Hobby Stock and Mod Lite classes were running for track points. There were no Modifieds on the ticket as they were participating in the Hawkeye Dirt Tour series in Mason City. Additional laps were added to all of those classes and a draw/redraw format was used.
James May had just won the Saturday night feature in the Mod Lite division, and he kept that momentum going with another win on Monday. Charlie Brown led the race early on, May getting to the runner up spot from his seventh starting spot by lap five. A caution flew at lap eight, and on the restart, there was contact between Brown and May. However, the two continued on, keeping their positions, though the 82 of Brown suffered some damage. Another yellow flew at lap fourteen, when leader Brown got tangled up with a lap car, putting the nail in the coffin for Brown as he had to exit the race. May inherited the lead and would lead the rest of the laps to the checkers. Joel Keenan had run toward the front of the pack most of the 18-laps and finished as the runner up. Mike Kennedy appeared to have an issue as smoke came from his car's rear wheel area, and at one time was told to exit the track under a yellow. He was then sent back on to the track, given his spot back and finished the race with little trouble, taking third. Cory Dennis raced from starting twelfth, to finish fourth and Randy Bryan finished fifth from starting fourteenth.
The Boys of Summer, the IMCA Deery Brothers Late Models were then brought to the track for their 40-lap featured event. The top twelve qualifiers from the heats had earlier had their starting spot determined when they played a little game of "pass the pizza box" in front of the grandstand. Ray Guss, Jr. ended up with the lucky #1 spot, and "Ironman" Darrel DeFrance, who started his 425th consecutive series race, ended up on the outside pole.
Guss led from lap one, maintaining it pretty much untouched near the halfway mark. By then, ninth place starter, Jason Rauen had maneuvered his way around Jeff Aikey and took over the runner up spot. Rauen kept looking low for an opportunity, with nothing there until lap thirty. That's when he got under Guss on the back chute, and took the lead. Rauen was looking smooth, continuing his lead over Guss until a yellow flew at lap thirty-eight, setting up a green-white-checkered shoot out to the finish. Veteran Guss got the opportunity he was seeking on the restart. Rauen pushed up the track in turn two, and Guss nabbed the lead, keeping it to the checkers and the win. Rauen had to be disappointed with the end results, having to settle for the runner up spot. Joel Callahan had a great run, starting eighteenth, and finished in third. Andy Eckrich also advanced well, starting thirteenth and took fourth. Terry Neal rounded out the top five.
The Hobby Stock feature found veteran driver, and visitor at the track, Randy Embrey, lead the entire 15-laps to the checkers. The caution free race found regular John Watson try to reel in Embrey, but could do no better than second. Two more regulars, Eric Stanton and Shannon Anderson followed much of the race in the same order, as they finished third and fourth. Finishing a distant fifth, was Aaron Rudolph.
Ben Kates scored another win in the 20-lap SportMod A main. Kates, no stranger this year to the winner's circle at Boone, took the lead at lap two, never to lose it. Kates, outlasted visiting Audubon racer, Jared Hansen in the runner up spot. Sam Wieben finished in third over Jerry Hinton in fourth and fifth place Johnathon Logue. Kates has won three times in the regular season, plus winning the preseason Frostbuster.
By the time the last feature rolled onto the track, the IMCA Stock Cars, there were looming black clouds just to the west. The 20-lap race had three cars running at the front for most of the event. Visiting David Smith took the point position at lap three with Jay Schmidt hot on his heels. Smith's brother, regular Donavon Smith made it to third place by the time a yellow flew at lap six. From there on out, it was those three cars thrilling the crowd lap after lap, and leaving the rest of the field behind. David Smith held tight to the lead and scored the victory, but brother Donavon Smith was able to sneak under Schmidt in the final lap, scoring the runner up spot. Schmidt was third, Trent Murphy, finished fourth and Eric Brown completed the top five.
The show began right on the nose at 5 p.m. and was completed shortly after 8. The rain held off, but as we made our way home, we noticed lightning appear behind us coming from those black clouds in the west.
Racing returns to the track next Saturday, May 31, for another regular show with racing in all five divisions. Hot laps are 6:45 and racing at 7:30. The season is in full force and now begins many special events at tracks in our area as well. Check the calendar at Positively Racing for a race you may want to attend. Support the sport we all love. Thanks for reading and happy racing!
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