Thornton dominates final Frostbuster of 2019

The Boone Speedway hosted the final edition of the 2019 IMCA Frostbuster specials on Saturday night with a packed pit of 187 race cars. Only Marshalltown Speedway the previous night, and Boone were able to get their scheduled annual special in the books with both Stuart and Vinton being weather outs.  Joining the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, and IMCA Hobby Stocks were the RaceSaver Sprints. The weather, except for a strong southerly breeze, was what Iowan's have been waiting for, as the thermometers hit the low 70's.

Ricky Thornton, the Arizona transplant who now lists Adel, Iowa as home, won the Modified portion in dominating fashion.  Jay Schmidt looked strong in his IMCA Stock Car hot rod, winning his feature, and redeeming himself after a disappointing previous night...more on that later...and Tyler Thompson picked up where he left off in his RaceSaver Sprint, showing just why he was last year's track champion.  Wisconsin's Brandon Schmitt in the IMCA Northern SportMod class, was the only out of state driver taking home the prize of the night, and Eric Stanton got back to his winning ways in his hatchback IMCA Hobby Stock.

Feature racing began with the IMCA Northern SportMods running their 25-lap main event.  Brandon Schmitt, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, made his trip worth while, and took home the $1,000 prize and the Frostbuster win.  Schmitt started on the outside pole and immediately grabbed the lead.  From then on, he would lead the entire race on his way to victory lane.  Hometown driver Jake McBirnie ran second much of the race, but could only follow Schmitt across the finish line a distant runner up.  Third went to eighth place starter Hunter Longnecker, fourth was Keokuk, Iowa racer, Daniel Fellows, and Matt Looft came from ninth, to complete the top five. The top three finishers, Schmitt, McBirnie and Longnecker were all piloting GRT's by BHE.

The RaceSaver Sprints found Tyler Thompson, last year's track champion, back in the winner's circle. Thompson lead the 20-lap feature flag to flag on his way to victory.  Second went to Mike Houseman, third was Bennet, Nebraska racer Trevor Grossenbacher, fourth went to Mark Vanderheiden, Papillion, Nebraska and yet another Nebraskan, Nathan Weiler out of Lavista, Nebraska rounded out the top five. Thompson is the son of Knoxville Speedway's Hall of Fame inductee, Bob Thompson.

Making his first appearance racing a sprint car, Brian Efkamp, defending Super National's Champion in the Northern SportMod division, was piloting the #10E machine.  Efkamp is a veteran racer, having tried his hand in many classes, mostly known for his IMCA Stock Car days in the GT1 ride.

There was a stout field of 53 IMCA Modifieds vying for a Frostbuster crown. Their feature event had to be whittled down to a 24-car starting field for their A main.  Jimmy Gustin leaped to the lead from his pole starting position, only to have it snatched away by hot shoe Ricky Thornton at lap three.  From there on, Thornton motored off to take the easy win, and the $1,000 prize.  Gustin held on to finish second, the defending IMCA Super National's Champion Jeff Aikey, took third, Kyle Brown finished in fourth, and Josh Gilman was fifth.

The field of Modifieds on hand last evening read like a Who's Who of the division.  The likes of Kelly Shryock, former Nascar racer Ken Schraeder, former IMCA National Champion, Benji LaCrosse from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Richie Gustin, Tim Ward, and former track champions, Mike VanGeneren and Russ Dickerson.  Some of those drivers did not even make the show with the hot competition. 

Forty-seven IMCA Stock Cars came to play for a chance at a Frostbuster win.  They also ran a 25-lap feature that was action packed as always in the popular class.  Buck Schafroth, Orient, Iowa lead the opening laps, but fifth place starter, Jay Schmidt, defending track champion, had other ideas.  Schmidt took command on lap three, and held off the stout field chasing him, taking the feature win.  Donavon Smith took the runner up spot, while brother Devin Smith came from twelfth starting spot to capture third place, fourth went to Elijah Zevenbergen, and early leader Buck Schafroth finished fifth.

Schmidt redeemed himself from the previous night's Frostbuster at the Marshalltown Speedway when he drove his new Harris Chassis from 24th starting spot, to cross a close second place to winner Kyle Brown.  Schmidt was later disqualified due to an oversight and not getting his new MSD box set.

Capping off the night's racing was 25-laps of IMCA Hobby Stock action.  Eric Stanton started on the pole, and led this final feature from start to finish, pulling away for the easy win.  Adam Ayers won the battle with Worthington, Minnesota racer Keeran Sampson, as they went second and third respectively.  Daniel Smith took fourth place, and Tim Gonska, Brainerd, Minnesota went home with a fifth place finish. Stanton has many wins at the Speedway over the past years, and hasn't lost a beat.

Next Saturday night, April 13, will be the track points season opener at the Boone Speedway. The IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and the Mod Lites will be in action. Hot laps are scheduled for 5:45 and the green flag drops at 6:30. This week has the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, holding it's season opener at the Monster Half-Mile on Wednesday, April 10, and then Marshalltown Speedway has two races on their schedule as Thursday, April 11 is the Inaugural Bill Davis Memorial, and then Friday, April 12 is the track's scheduled home opener.  The week's forecast is not sounding the best, so time will tell how many of those scheduled races