It was another sweltering, hot July night at the Boone Speedway Saturday. It still brought 111 race cars out on the steamy night, to entertain themselves and the crowd. A driver got his first career win in the IMCA Modified division, while all other classes would have repeat winners from earlier in the season.
It was Travis Stensland making a return trip to the winner's circle in the 15-lap Mod Lite feature. Stensland took over the lead from Mike Kennedy at lap six and led the remainder of the caution free race. He finished comfortably ahead of second place finisher, Bryan Zehm, who had started tenth. Mike Kennedy fell back to finish in third, fourth went to Joe Glick and Randy Bryan was fifth. This was Stensland's third win of the year.
Jake McBirnie also made it back to victory lane in winning the 18-lap IMCA Northern SportMod event. He caught and passed Chad Ryerson at lap five, to take command. He kept that lead to the finish and the checkers flying. Ryerson held down the runner up spot, Jonathon Logue started eleventh, and finished third, tenth place starter Randy Roberts was fourth and Adam Shelman came from thirteenth starting spot, to finish in fifth. McBirnie, who moved quickly through the field from starting ninth, scored his fourth win of the regular season.
The IMCA Modifieds ran their 20-lap A main next. Veteran racer Robert Avery held the lead on lap one, but by lap two, it was Al "Pep"Wolfgram snatching it away. He soon had Jimmy Gustin coming at him on the topside fast and furiously. After several laps of side-by-side racing, Gustin momentarily took the top spot, only to have Wolfgram retake the lead by the time the next lap was scored. The chase continued with Gustin giving it his all in the attempt to get around the leader. Hitting a rut in corner one with just a couple of laps remaining, sent Gustin backwards, though he was able to wrestle it back under control. This allowed Wolfgram breathing room on his road to the checkers. Point leader Mike VanGenderen came from twelfth starting spot and worked his way to a second place finish. Chris Webb finished in third, fourth was Tony Cox, and Russ Dickerson came from tenth place, to round out the top five. Wolfgram scored his first ever win. Wolfgram can be found in the flagstand on Friday night's at the Marshalltown Speedway.
Wayne Gifford wasted no time in getting to the lead in the 18-lap IMCA Stock Car main event. He started seventh and had the lead at lap two. From there on he stretched his lead as the race went caution free, taking the comfortable win. Jay Schmidt finished in second after starting tenth on the field, and a distance behind in third was Rod Richards. Eleventh place starter, Tyler Pickett, was fourth and point leader Donavon Smith started twelfth, and finished fifth. Gifford won for the third time this year.
Chad Legere took another checkered flag in the 12-lap IMCA Hobby Stock finale. The race was caution filled, with just six cars out of the nineteen starting, left running at the finish. Legere had the lead with just a handful of laps in the books and held it to the checkers and the win. Solomon Bennett just nosed by Aaron Rudolph at the finish line, as they went second and third in that order. Fourth place finisher Shaun Wirtz started fourteenth, and Seth Janssen was fifth. Legere won for the second time.
There were over a dozen new or only occasional drivers checked into the pits last evening....surprising due to the uncomfortably hot and humid conditions. Among those were the Kansas contingency that we first saw racing at Knoxville's Dirt Duel/Hawkeye Dirt Tour on Thursday night. They were the 33D of Brendon Damon in the IMCA Northern SportMod class, and in the IMCA Modified's, 8R Jesse Richter, 0 Jimmy Reeves, and 25P Mike Petersille. Todd Cooney was behind the wheel in the #10 Modified. The Stock Car class saw new drivers Bob Staiert from Arcadia, Josh Steele from Platt City, Missouri, and Chris Toot from Albert Lea, Minnesota. Aaron Mitchell from Palo, and Josh Appel, Mason City racer, ran in the SportMod class.
The dangerous heat was suppose to end last evening according to the weather forecasters. A step outside this morning, and it sure doesn't feel like it! For those going racing today, be sure and hydrate and stay safe.
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