The common thread for area racing programs during the past week was "Rain Out". Boone Speedway was among those hit with heavy rains---over four inches is what we heard. But, Mother Nature did not win this one! Thanks to the great drainage at the track, and a dedicated and hard working crew that hit the oval at 9 a.m. Saturday, the show went on. They finished up track prep at 6:45 last evening....just in time for hot laps.
A SportMod and Mod Lite driver visited victory lane for the first time this year, Modified and Hobby Stocks saw repeat winners, and it was a "three-peat" for the Stock Car class.
Mod Lites were up first for their 15-lap feature. Josh May snatched the lead from early leader Randy Bryan at lap eight and would never relinquish it on his way to the win. Bryan Zehm, who had won the two previous weeks finished in second place. Third went to Randy Bryan, David Schmalzried was fourth, and Jimmy May, was fifth. A check back at my records shows that this was May's first win at the speedway since 2013.
Brandon Williams emerged the winner of the IMCA Northern SportMod feature. He led every lap of the 18-lapper and found his way to victory lane for the first time this season. He was pestered the entire distance by Chad Ryerson who took the runner up spot, just ahead of Jonathan Logue in third. Not far behind in fourth was Doug Smith and Cory Rose was fifth. This was also Williams' first win since 2013. The race went flag to flag.
Things were changed up a bit in running order, so it was the IMCA Modifieds taking the track next. Veteran Robert Avery led the charge in the opening laps, only to have Joel Bushore snatch it away on lap four. Bushore looked to be on his way to his first win of the year, holding off first Jimmy Gustin, and then Richie Gustin in the latter portion of the 20-lap contest. Richie Gustin got to the runner up spot at lap twelve and was reeling in Bushore. With four laps to go, Gustin made his move around Bushore, taking the lead and keeping it to the checkers and the win. Bushore would finish in second place, Jimmy Gustin had to make a couple of recoveries from a "bucking ride" in rough corner two, to finish third. Fourth went to Russ Dickerson who had flown around the top of the track, his preferred line recently, and early leader Robert Avery was fifth. This was Richie Gustin's second win at Boone this season.
It was now time for the 18-lap IMCA Stock Car event. Brad Whitney from Trenton, Missouri, returned from his first visit last week, started on the pole and immediately flew to the lead. Whitney held his lead through three yellows before lap five, but by that time, Josh Pruitt was riding in the second spot. Pruitt, who was in a "rent a ride" car of Terry Pruitt, soon had his persistence pay off, and took over the point position when lap six went in the books. Meanwhile, Trent Murphy had also been a man on the move. Murphy had moved from starting tenth and was badgering Whitney for second by lap eight and then taking that runner up spot on the following lap. From there on out, it was a battle between Pruitt and Murphy. Murphy threw everything at Pruitt.....looking inside, then outside and everything in between. With three laps remaining, Murphy got the job done, taking over the helm. He held it the rest of the way to the finish and scored the win. Pruitt had to settle for second on this night, third went to Donavon Smith, who recovered nicely from an early race spin, fourth was point leader and twelfth place starter, Jay Schmidt and Whitney made his trip from Missouri pay off with a top five finish. This was Murphy's third win of the year and also three-in-a-row.
Eric Stanton would lead the entire 12-lap Hobby Stock A main. Stanton, who started ninth, somehow made it to the top spot by lap one, and never gave it up. Stanton scored his second win at Boone this season. He was chased by last week's winner, Solomon Bennett for most of the race, but that was all he had, having to be content with second this week. Third was thirteenth place starter, Chad Legere, fourth went to Dusty Lynch and veteran hometown racer Dean Hartwig took fifth place.
The track did suffer a bit from all of the rain, and developed a nasty rut in turn two, where several drivers nearly lost control of their rides, or had to ride a "bucking bronco" through it. This is something you never see at Boone, a rare occurrence for sure, but it was a miracle that racing even happened from what we were told the track looked like early Saturday morning.
It's a busy, busy race time now. Be sure and check the calendar of events at Positively Racing's main page. Find a race to attend and keep supporting the sport we all love......dirt track racing!
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