The five inches of rain that fell in the Boone area on Friday, was not an issue with the Boone Speedway track Saturday night. We arrived early and the track appeared ready, but before the night's action began, the water truck made a couple of tours around the track and another session of grooming took place. It was a heavy, fast track and thankfully, it was kind, without any blown motors.
It was season championship night and KCWI and WalMart night---wrapping up the regular season of racing for 2015. There were no heat races run and only one B was needed to fill in the final four cars in the SportMod class. The top 20 in points were already locked in to their features. Only drivers that had points previously this year, were allowed to run. Before the individual features were run, there were driver introductions on the front stretch, allowing fans a chance to show their appreciation.
Josh May had the track title wrapped up last night before he even ran the Mod Lite feature. Going into the night, he led Bryan Zehm by 42 points. He would put an exclamation point on that by leading all 18-laps and stamping another win in the books. Zehm finished in second place, third went to Travis Stensland, fourth to thirteenth place starter, Cory Dennis, and Cory Sauerman was fifth. The race went caution free. This was May's fifth win at the track in 2015.
Extra laps were added to all features last night, and the IMCA Hobby Stocks ran 15 laps instead of their usual 12. Eric Stanton had no trouble in securing the win, leading all laps in another caution free race. Second was Aaron Rudolph, third was Dustin Graham, fourth went to Andrew Burg and John Watson completed the top five. Eric Stanton took his fifth win of the year, and is the 2015 Hobby Stock track champion.
The IMCA Northern SportMod's 20 lap feature went to Jonathon Logue. Logue slipped under Jake McBirnie with two laps to go, marking his fifth win at the track. McBirnie finished second, third went to Doug Smith, and Randy Roberts and Sam Wieben rounded out the top five. Jake McBirnie, sporting a new car...or at least a new wrap, but keeping his cool blue chrome look, is the 2015 SportMod track champion. This race also went flag-to-flag.
Jay Schmidt has had his eye on an IMCA Stock Car track championship at Boone for quite sometime now. Going into the night, he held a 13 point lead, the closest of any of the classes. His closest rival, Donavon Smith, started alongside him in second place. When the 20-lap race went green, Smith quickly took over the point position, Schmidt settling into second. The first yellow of the night came at lap fourteen when Reid Keller came to a stop, unable to successfully exit the track. Another yellow flew at lap 18 when veteran Kevin Opheim sat in turn four. This would set up a green-white-checkered finish. Smith had no issue with the restart situation, keeping his lead to the checkers and the win. However, third and fourth place runners, Rod Richards and Wayne Gifford were able to get the upper hand on second place running Schmidt, both passing him with a lap remaining. Richards took the runner up spot, Gifford was third and Schmidt held fourth. Rookie to the class, Tyler Pickett finished fifth. This was Smith's second win of the season, but it was Jay Schmidt finally getting his track championship crown in the Stock Car class.
The final feature of the evening was the IMCA Modifieds. They ran a 25-lap feature. Jammin' Jimmy Gustin enjoyed his pole starting spot as the point leader, and led all laps to take his fifth win of the regular season. Mike VanGenderen, running his red chrome Hawkeye Dirt Tour crate car, started sixth and held it wide open on the heavy track, to take second place. Third went to Scott Davis, and Eric Elliott and Jon Snyder rounded out the top five. Gustin won the track title for the fourth consecutive year.
Earlier in the evening, we were able to sign a "farewell banner" for long time racer Rick Ringgenberg. Ringgenberg is retiring after Super Nationals....ending a 25-year career behind the wheel of a race car. We first recall him piloting a Hobby Stock, but he has been in the IMCA Northern SportMod class in more recent years. His name has been a staple on the list of drivers at Boone and he will be missed. Enjoy your retirement Rick.
A new, large section of bleachers is going up for the pit area, promised to be ready for Super Nationals. It sits in corner one and will be available to the pits only. It is our understanding, that a reserved seat can be purchased, affording those in the pits a guaranteed spot to watch the races.
Mark your calendars for a big event next Saturday night, September 5, at the track. It will be "The Prelude to the Super Nationals" and with the weekly racing wrapped up, it will be a draw/redraw format, open to all drivers. There will be many drivers already here for the Super Nationals that start on Monday, September 7 so look for a large field of cars in all classes. Hot laps are 6:45 and racing at 7:30. This will begin the hustle and bustle of the next week with the running of six nights of the 33rd IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals. Sunday, September 6, pre-tech will be from 10-4 for the IMCA Hobby Stocks and the IMCA Northern SportMods....the two classes qualifying on Labor Day. Labor Day will also have a full show for the IMCA Deery Brothers Late Models. For more information on the "Prelude" race as well as the Super Nationals, go to www.imca.com or www.raceboone.com. Thanks for reading!
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