The Northern SportMods ran their 20-lap feature first. This was after three B mains were required to complete the 24 car field line up. One of the out of state drivers who has been having a very successful Frostbuster Series run is 16 year old Lucas Lamberies from Clintonville, Wisconsin. His luck was looking to continue as he drew the outside pole for the start of the race, and scooted to the immediate lead. He held that lead until lap ten when the previous night's winner at the Marshalltown Speedway's Frostbuster, Doug Smith, came calling and snatched it away. Meanwhile, it was Clint Luellen making big moves getting to the front from starting twelfth, as he grabbed the runner up spot by lap twelve and in pursuit of Smith who had a sizable lead....but now, lap traffic was entering the picture. Brandon Williams was riding along in third after getting by Lamberies. It looked to be another Smith victory.....but hold on.....it's never over until it's over! As they raced to the white flag, Smith appeared to get crossed up coming out of four, and enough for Luellen to take advantage of being in the right place at the right time, flying around to take the lead. Luellen then raced it back to the checkers for the win. Smith's bobble also allowed a couple of other drivers to seize the moment, as Lamberies moved into the runner up finishing position, and the 69jr car of Jonathan Logue, who had started twentieth, finished third. Smith held on for fourth place, and Ryan Besaw from Wisconsin, rounded out the top five.
In the IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lapper, it was Aaron Rudolph leading all laps to score the victory. Cody Gustoff challenged Rudolph during heavy lap traffic toward the end of the race, but when a tire went down, he was out of the game. Adel racer Andrew Burg claimed the runner up spot, with "The Mayor" John Watson a close third. Fourth went to Austin Luellen and Mike McDonald, who started fifteenth, was fifth.
There was a stellar field of 58 IMCA Modifieds on hand....requiring three B Mains to complete their starting line up. Jammin' Jimmy Gustin jumped to the lead from starting third, and lead lap one as well as all the remaining laps. He had the field covered the entire distance, but the battle for who would finish second was what everyone was watching! It was a toss up as to who it would be, as a five car wild and furious battle was ensuing! Those going at it were Jason Wolla, the North Dakota hot shoe, Ronn Lauritzen in his "Frozen" ride (it's going to be a real hit with the youngsters this year), Mike VanGenderen, who is kept busy with promoting duties at several tracks, Missourian, Hunter Marriott, who always seems to end up at the front of the pack no matter where he starts, and Josh Most, the driver from Red Oak that you can see piloting everything from a go kart to a late model and beyond. Those drivers shuffled back and forth, back and forth, but at the flag, it was VanGenderen taking the runner up spot, just ahead of Marriott in third. "Uncle Ronnie", Ronn Lauritzen (he has a plethora of nieces and nephews) took fourth ahead of Most in fifth.
The finale for the evening was 20-laps of the Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars. When the race started, Jefferson, Iowa racer Trent Murphy claimed the top spot, and Jay Schmidt "threaded the needle", in a move that put him in second place. Schmidt would then have to be content to chase Murphy the rest of the race, as his peeks for a way around were to no avail. Murphy claimed the win, Schmidt having to settle for the runner up spot. Finishing third, was the lone Canadian, Brendon LaBatte from Saskatchewan. We've been impressed with his showing on the short tracks in the Frostbuster Series, especially since his true calling is playing in the Canadian Football League. The 14R of Jim Redmann, a veteran racer from southern, Iowa who is making a return to racing, finished fifth.
The regular season racing at the Boone Speedway will get underway next Saturday night, April 11.
Please note that for the month of April, racing will start earlier than normal. The pit gate will open at 4:30, hot laps at 5:45 and racing at 6:30. Racing weekly will be the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks, along with the MADCRA Mod Lites. Check their website for additional information at www.raceboone.com.
This week will also bring about some other area track's season openers. Wednesday night, the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa will again start another year of mid-week racing.....hot laps 7 and races at 7:30 (Check www.oskyspeedway.com for more information) and on Friday nights, Marshalltown will be starting their 51st consecutive year of racing, with racing at 7:30. You can check their schedule, etc. at www.marshalltownspeedway.com. Try and get out to a track and support the sport we all love, dirt track racing!
No comments:
Post a Comment