It was a night of firsts as well as a night of repeats at the Boone Speedway Saturday night. Three drivers took back to back wins, and four drivers took their first wins at the track this year, one in a class running for the very first time.
The Mod Lites kicked off the night's feature racing, and this one went green to checkered for the full 15-laps. Justin Rankin, from Madrid, Iowa, would lead the race from start to finish on his way to victory. Rankin held off Josh May who was scored as the runner up. Last week's winner, Mike Kennedy was third, Kevin Grisham was fourth and Jason Masengarb, from Calona, Illinois started tenth, and finished fifth. Rankin won for the first time at the track, and I believe this may have been his first career win.
The IMCA Northern SportMods ran 18-laps for their feature event. Cory Pestotnik led the field for the first four laps, only to loose a spring, then be involved in a yellow, ending his night. Dusty Masolini took over the lead when the race resumed, then kept it through two more yellow flag situations. The last caution came at lap twelve and by that time, Johnathon Logue had closed to Masolini's rear bumper and was applying pressure. Two laps later, Logue's pestering paid off as he took over the top spot. He would then keep it to the checkers and the win. Masolini was a close second. Jake McBirnie finished third from his tenth starting spot, fourth went to Hunter Longnecker, and Daniel Tasler rounded out the top five. Logue matched his win from last week, and logged his fourth visit to Victory Lane this season.
The IMCA RaceSaver Sprints ran next in the 20-lap event. Tyler Thompson and Bob Hildreth battled each other from the very start of the race. Thompson held the top spot as Hildreth looked for a way around. Finally at lap nine, Hildreth was able to get by him for the lead. Hildreth kept command from then on, and took the checkers and the win, Thompson holding down the runner up spot. Ninth place starter, Michael Moore was third, CJ Houseman started twelfth and finished fourth and Michael Houseman was fifth. Hildreth, Iowa Falls, Iowa, is a second generation racer as his dad Bill Hildreth is still competing in the IMCA Northern SportMod class, and his son Koddy also races in the sprint division making it three generations of active racers.
The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Truck series made their first appearance at the track as an added class for the evening. Ten trucks ran a 16-lap A main which was led the entire distance by Billy Davis, Jr. as he picked up the night's win. Josh Reynolds was second, Lou Sipolt finished third, fourth was Shonn Mapes, and Andrew Clark completed the top five positions. Davis was piloting the #23 truck that we have seen Steve Jackson racing at other tracks. The trucks did have a weekly home at the Iowa State Fair Speedway, but with its unfortunate demise, they now travel around to different tracks. For more information and their upcoming schedule of events, check www.racedtra.com.
The IMCA Stock Cars, put on their usual close and competitive feature event. The 18-lap main saw veteran racer Kevin Opheim get the lead early, but he had a lot of drivers breathing down his neck. Robert Stofer, another veteran racer, was one of those drivers, and when he was able to get to second, it was a real battle for the lead. At lap thirteen, Stofer surged ahead of Opheim and he was able to hold that lead the rest of the way to the checkers to score the win. Opheim, was a close second, third went to Wayne Gifford, Craig Carlson started twenty-fourth, and made a late race charge to finish fourth, and Jay Schmidt ran in the front pack all race long, and ended up fifth. Stofer took back to back wins, and has three wins for the year. It was fun to see the two "old timers" going at it last evening, both wanting another win to add to their list.
Randy Havlik was a first time winner in the IMCA Modified class. Havlik got by early leader Kyle Brown and from there on, laid claim to the top spot and secured the win. Eric Elliott started tenth, and finished as the runner up, Al Wolfgram was third, Kyle Brown was fourth and Chris Webb was fifth. This was Havlik's first win at the track since June of 2014, and also his first win in his own built Assault chassis he is building in Story City, Iowa.
Another driver taking back to back wins was Eric Stanton in the IMCA Hobby Stock class. Stanton, held off early leader Jack Phillips who finished second. Third went to visiting Nebraska racer, Jesse VanLaningham who had started tenth, fourth was Tim Barber and Aaron Rudolph was fifth. Stanton has three regular season wins at the track, and also won the Frostbuster special. He is the defending track champion for two years running.
There were 120 racing machines checked in for a full night of racing at "Iowa's Action Track". A few new faces keep showing up weekly. Of note last evening was the appearance of the "Flying Hall Brothers" with their vintage-looking #55 and #75 Modifieds. Rumor is, they may be running weekly at the track. Also running for the first time this season at the speedway were Jesse VanLaningham in the Hobby Stock class, and Kyle Vanover in the Stock Car division...both drivers from Beatrice, Nebraska. Frank Parker, the racer from Queensland, Australia is back for his annual summer time race fix, racing his IMCA Northern SportMod.
There's a lot of racing coming up. Find a race to attend and enjoy.
There's a lot of racing coming up. Find a race to attend and enjoy.
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