It was a hot and muggy July night in Iowa for racing at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night. It sure didn't keep the crowd away, nor the 130 drivers who came to try their hand at the track. More drivers added their name to the growing list of first time winners for the year, and two classes repeated winners.
Mod Lites kicked off the night's racing. Chargin' Charlie Brown took home another win in this division. Brown fought past Dusty Masolini just after lap eleven was in the books, passing him on the highside, and keeping the lead to the checkers. Masolini held on to the runner up spot, Joel Keenan just held off Josh May at the flag as they finished third and fourth in that order. Corey Dennis, who had the upper hand for the first handful of laps, finished fifth. This was Brown's fifth win at Boone for the season.
Michael Murphy made an appearance last week for the first time in the SportMod division. This week, he went home with the win. Murphy, who started on the pole, jumped to the lead immediately, and from there on, was never really challenged. A couple of cautions didn't deter Murphy, as he pulled away at the checkers for a comfortable win. Anthony Onstot chased the winner most of the race, but had to settle for the runner up spot. Third went to last week's winner, Johnathon Logue, Jr., coming from eleventh starting spot to finish at the front of the pack. Fourth was Tara Longnecker and point leader, Ben Kates was fifth. Kates, who experienced trouble in the heat race, had to run a B main, won it, and started in 22nd place and flew through the pack to finish in the top five. Murphy is a first time winner at Boone this year.
After last week's disastrous end for David Rieks in the Hobby Stock feature, he got redemption this week by taking the checkers. Rieks had fought tooth and nail, lap after lap, with Andrew Burg last week, and it was coming right down to the wire for the win. It was then that a lap car got in his way, and he ended up in the infield with a damaged car. Rieks took command by lap eight, and withstood a caution at lap nine, maintaining his lead to the flying checkers. A "glob" of cars fought it out behind him, trying to sort themselves out for positions. In the end, it was Tyler Pickett getting the second place finish over Josh Saunders in third. Fourth went to Cody Gustoff and point leader, John Watson came from twelfth starting spot, to round out the top five. Rieks was another one who added his name to the growing list of first time winners at the track.
There was quite the action in the 20-lap Modified feature. Kent Croskey held the lead through the first five laps, then Shay Woods snatched it away. By this time, Mike VanGenderen had made his way to third, and was up to challenge Croskey. Just past the halfway mark, VanGenderen got the job done, and was in the hunt to catch the leader. As the two came down the frontstretch at lap fourteen, there was contact, breaking VanGenderen's tie rod, and sending him spinning. He tried to continue but then discovered the car would not turn, and he collected a couple of other cars in the process of trying to control his car. This brought out the yellow, but Woods was ready for the restart, maintained his lead and took the win. Scott Davis came from tenth starting spot, to earn the runner up position, Russ Dickerson started eleventh, and finished third. Fourth place was Kent Croskey and last week's winner, Josh Truman completed the top five. This was Woods' first victory at Boone this season.
For anyone leaving before the final feature, the IMCA Stock Cars, you missed a good one! This class always produces some of the best racing of the night. The only caution of the race came at lap one, and from there on, it was fast, and frantic scrambling for positions! Eric Brown held the lead through lap thirteen, just holding off veteran Robert Stofer. Stofer took command at lap fourteen and pulled away the final four laps to secure the win. Behind him, cars were jockeying for spots, three and four wide, and a lap car even got in the mix, racing with them. That made for some "hold your breath" moments and a real scramble to the finish line! At the stripe, it was Jerry Gifford taking the runner up spot, Donavon Smith once again made the bottom of the track work, taking third place. Fourth was Jay Schmidt, crossing the finish line in his white, battered looking race car, and Mike Goldsberry was fifth. Early leader Eric Brown, finished sixth. Stofer won for the second time in 2014.
It is great to see that three steel cables have been added to the frontstretch fence. This is a great added safety feature at the track and for the upcoming Super Nationals. The Super Nationals are coming quickly too---September 1-6. Make plans to catch some or all of America's Racin' Vacation.
Thanks for reading, and happy racing!
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