Sunday, June 26, 2016

Pickett picks up first Stock Car win

Saturday night's racing at the Boone Speedway found three drivers stepping into victory lane for the first time, while two others returned for the third and fourth times.  Mike VanGenderen scored win number three in the Modifieds, Tyler Pickett finally got the elusive win in the Stock Car division, Daniel Tasler also won for the first time this season in the Northern SportMods, as did Chad LeGere in the Hobby Stocks.  Bryan Zehm was victorious for the fourth time in 2016 in the Mod Lite class.

Bryan Zehm sailed to another win in the Mod Lite 15-lap feature.  He took command at lap three and went virtually unchallenged in the flag to flag race.  Finishing a distance behind in second was Randy Bryan, third went to Joe Glick, and fourth to Cory Sauerman.  Jeff Stensland made his first appearance of the year, driving the  #89 usually piloted by Travis Stensland, but scored as his normal #20. He raced it from tenth starting spot, to a top five finish.  Zehm claimed his fourth feature win of the 2016 season.

One of the new faces gracing victory lane was Daniel Tasler, the winner of the IMCA Northern SportMod feature.  Tasler started on the pole of the 18-lap event, and led all laps on the way to the win, not letting two caution bother him in the least. Chad Ryerson chased Tasler for most of the race to take the runner up spot.  Third went to tenth place starter, Randy Roberts, Adam Shelman was fourth and Robert Moore completed the top five. This was Tasler's first win at Boone since 2013.  

Another new winner came from the IMCA Hobby Stocks when Chad LeGere put his ride in the winner's circle. Shane Butler led the opening laps, but LeGere took over at lap four, and held it the remaining eight laps to the finish.  Shane Butler held second, third went to Solomon Bennett, Aaron Rudolph started ninth and finished fourth and tenth place starter Eric Stanton, was fifth.

 Mike VanGenderen went back to victory lane for the third time in the IMCA Modifieds.  VanGenderen, who started tenth, caught leader Russ Dickerson at lap eight and kept pressuring him lap after lap.  Finally, at lap sixteen of the 20-lap affair, he was able to make the successful pass into the lead.  From there on, he held off Dickerson to take the win.  Dickerson took the runner up spot, Jimmy Gustin finished a distant third, fourth went to Denny Pittman and Scott Davis started twelfth and was fifth.  VanGenderen's win added another couple of points to his track point lead, over second place Gustin.

The evening's racing ended with the running of the non-stop 18-lap IMCA Stock Car A main.  It took but four laps before eighth place starter Tyler Pickett gained the lead.  Pickett never relinquished that top spot, keeping it to the flying checkers and the win.   Jay Schmidt out fought Donavon Smith as they went second and third respectively.  Matt West finished fourth and Trent Murphy, who started twelfth, put his hot rod to the top of the track, and finished in fifth.  Pickett, who has won previously in the Hobby Stock class in year's past, finally snagged that elusive first win in the Stock Cars at Boone. 

A nice crowd was on hand despite the sticky weather.  It was Casey's night at the Speedway and their donuts were passed out as you came through the front gate.  Later, a donut eating contest--donut hanging on a string, no hands allowed--entertained the crowd.  There was also a "beautiful" pink outhouse on display...one of which will be used for the upcoming 4th of July "Eve of Destruction" spectacular.  Trailer races, outhouse races, (similar to the Iowa State Fair outhouse races) roll over contests, and much more, will celebrate the 4th, along with fireworks!  Check www.raceboone.com for more details.

Lots of racing action going on around the state as well as across the border.  Find a race to enjoy in support of the sport we all love.  

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