Longnecker takes first career win at Boone

Racing continued on Saturday night at Iowa's Action Track, the Boone Speedway.  It was also bike give away night, and 75 lucky youngsters went home with new rides. One hundred and thirty-four drivers were checked in for a full night of racing.

The first feature of the night was the Mod Light class and it was Charlie Brown leading all 15-laps to take his first win at the track this year.  Brown pulled away from the competition and took the comfortable win in a race that went caution free.  Jeff Stensland trailed Brown the entire time and finished a distant runner up.  Bryan Zehm came from ninth starting spot to finish in third place, fourth was Joe Glick who started eleventh, and Randy Bryan was fifth. Joe Glick is the point leader as the season winds down, but it's a tight race at the top.  Glick sits one point up on Travis Stensland with Bryan Zehm just four out of first place. 

The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars completed their year at the speedway with their season championship. They only ran a feature last night and were called to the front stretch for driver introductions prior to their A main.

Mike Houseman led from the drop of the green from his outside front row starting spot.  There were two cautions and one red flag situation when the 80x of C. J. Houseman went for a tumble on the backstretch when he hopped a wheel.  He was okay.

When racing resumed after the cautions, Mike Houseman continued his run at the front and at the end of the 20-laps, took the easy win.  Tyler Thompson chased Houseman the entire race to take second place, third went to Mike Moore, fourth to Joel Thorpe, and Ben Woods completed the top five.  This was Houseman's third win in a row, and his seventh of the season.  Tyler Thompson is the 2018 track champion.

The IMCA Northern SportMod 18-lap event came next.  Hunter Longnecker took command at lap five from starting fifth, and fended off the late challenges of Johnathon Logue to secure the win.  Logue started tenth, and finished a close runner up, Cory Rose came from twelfth to finish third, fourth went to eleventh place starter Austin Luellen and Adam Shelman raced from thirteenth to finish in fifth.  This was not only Hunter Longnecker's first win this year, but his first ever career win.

The Northern SportMod points battle finds Austin Luellen up 17 points on Johnathon Logue as we head into the season's end.

Last week's winner in the IMCA Stock Car class, Scott Davis, took the lead on lap two of eighteen, but soon had big company close on his tail.  Johnny Spaw rose from eighth starting spot to run in second place, and Jay Schmidt, Devin Smith, and Josh Daniels all  ran nose to tail in a real shoot out for second position.  Spaw pressured Davis, looking  for a way around, and finally got the job done.....slipping under the leader on the backstretch with just three laps remaining.  Spaw held the top spot the rest of the way to the flying checkers and the win.  Davis held on to finish second, just ahead of Jay Schmidt in third.  Devin Smith was fourth and Josh Daniels rounded out the top five.  This marked Spaw's third victory at the track in 2018.

It's a tight race for the track championship in the IMCA Stock Car division.  Jay Schmidt is up six points to Donavon Smith with just a few weeks left until season's end. 

Joel Bushore made it to the winner's circle for the first time this year in the IMCA Modified division.  Bushore led all but the opening lap of the 20-lap feature and pulled away to take the comfortable win. You couldn't miss the distinctive hum of Bushore's 6 cylinder as he motored around the track!   Russ Dickerson finished as the runner up, Eric Elliott was third, fourth went to eleventh place starter Kelly Shryock, and Randy Havlik was fifth. Havlik is leading points by twelve over Eric Elliott.

It may have been one for the record books with Bushore's winning with a 6 cylinder powered hot rod.  It's been a long time since we've even been aware of a 6 cylinder running around here.  It brought back shades of Wayne Larson when he gave it a whirl many years ago.

Andrew Burg took a dominate win in the IMCA Hobby Stock class by also leading all but the opening lap of the 12-lap event. Burg began the race in tenth starting spot, and avoided a disastrous opening lap when the front of the pack got crossed up, bringing out a yellow.    Burg then pulled away from the field to take the easy win. It was a hard fought battle behind him with Solomon Bennett winning out for second place, and visiting racer from Beatrice, Nebraska, Jesse VanLaningham coming from eleventh to take third.  A close fourth went to John Watson, and Aaron Rudolph was fifth. Burg, who started tenth, scored his fifth win at Boone this year.

Andrew Burg enjoys a 49 point lead for the IMCA Hobby Stock title, Solomon Bennett a distant second place, and Aaron Rudolph third, 50 points out.

Also on the docket were the 2-person cruiser cars.  At the end of their 8-lap feature, it was the #00 of Donnie Mason and Carl Agan taking the checkers.

Next Saturday night August 4, will be the TiLube last man standing challenge for $1,000 to win in the IMCA Modifieds, as well as $1,000 to win the Modified A feature on another Super Saturday at the Boone Speedway.  The IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, the MADCRA Mod Lites, as well as 2-person cruisers will also all be in action.  Hot laps are 6:45 and racing at 7:30.

Get out and find a race to attend in support of dirt track racing.  Check the calendar at Positively Racing for a race you may like to attend.