Sunday, April 9, 2017

Dickerson takes Frostbuster win Night #2


Boone Speedway held night #2 of the annual Frostbuster series races, on a beautiful Saturday night with temperatures starting out in the 70's.  Drivers from nine different states, and a total of 146 competitors put on quite a show for the crowd on hand.  The track was in excellent condition and brought 3-wide racing throughout the night.  

Kicking off the feature racing was the 20-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature.  Austin Luellen drew the lucky pole position for the start of the race.  He jumped to the lead,  but soon had Johnathan Logue and Jake McBirnie close on his heels.  McBirnie seized his opportunity at lap thirteen, making the pass for the lead.  From there on out, he kept that top spot, taking the checkers and the win.  Austin Luellen had to settle for the runner up spot, Johnathan Logue held on to third, fourth went to eleventh place starter Sam Wieben, and Wyatt Block, visiting Tigerton, Wisconsin racer, started fifteenth and finished fifth.

A stout field of 42 IMCA Modifieds had to be whittled down to the 24-car starting field for their 25-lap feature. Two B-mains were required to do so.  Those consys went to Randy Havlik, piloting the #58 that usually has veteran Denny Pittman behind the wheel, and hometown driver, Al "Pep" Wolfgram, who has flagging duties on Friday night's at the Marshalltown Speedway.

Clint Luellen, Jason Wolla and Russ Dickerson thrilled the crowd with their tight battle for position.  Three-wide racing was common in this contest.   Wolla grabbed the lead briefly, only to have Russ Dickerson take over at lap eighteen.  Dickerson maintained the coveted spot to the double checkers flying, securing the win.  Wolla, who hails from Ray, North Dakota, was second, and Luellen held on to third place.  Fourth went to defending track champion, Mike VanGenderen, and Missouri racer, Hunter Marriott completed the top five.

Eric Stanton picked up where he left off last year as defending track champion in the IMCA Hobby Stock division, sailing home to yet another victory.  Stanton, who started eighth, ran down early leaders Jack Phillips and Solomon Bennett at lap thirteen of the fifteen lap race, and went on to take a comfortable win.  Bennett followed in second place, and Phillips in third.  Bryce Sommerfield finished fourth and tenth place starter, Justin Wacha, was fifth.

The racing action concluded with the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car feature.  It also gave the fans their money's worth in some close, exciting racing.   Jay Schmidt held down the top spot as he fended off challenges by Michael Murphy, Angel Munoz, and Marcus Fagan through much of the race.  Munoz got to second and kept working to the inside of Schmidt.  He was finally able to slip past for the lead at lap sixteen, keeping it for good and scoring the win.  Michael Murphy claimed second place, and Jay Schmidt was third.  Fourth went to Fagen, and twelfth place starter Larry Karcz, Jr. from Pulaski, Wisconsin, rounded out the top five.  Winner Munoz, is from Lamar, Colorado.

We have noted several drivers changing classes this year.  John Watson who has had great success in the IMCA Hobby Stock class, is piloting a sharp looking Northern SportMod this year. Brian Williams jumped up to the Modified class from racing SportMod, as did Andy Tiernan.  Clint Luellen moved from SportMod to Modified as well, and from what we've seen the past two nights, will have no trouble in making the leap from SportMod to Modified.  Michael Murphy, who recently raced a SportMod, is back in the Stock Car class in competition with brother Trent Murphy.  Brandon Pitts jumped up from the Hobby Stock class to the Stock Cars.  Mod Lite racer Cory Sauerman made a big leap forward and has a Modified this year.  Joe McBirnie, veteran racer who came out of retirement to race again in the Modified class, is back behind the wheel.

Another item of note is veteran Stock Car driver, Kevin Opheim from Mason City, can still wheel his 20+ year old ride around the track.  He looked good in winning his B main last evening.   

Next Saturday, April 15, is opening points night at Boone.  They will once again have early start times for the entire month of April.  Hot laps are 5:45, and racing begins at 6:30.  All four IMCA classes, along with the MADCRA Mod Lites will be competing.  Then on April 22, weekly racing for the RaceSaver Sprints will begin. 

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