The weather forecast for Iowa was horrible yesterday, and race tracks were cancelling their shows left and right...except Boone Speedway. It was a race against Mother Nature to get the show in, and it was a success....a complete show.
Ricky Thornton, Jr. wowed the crowd by going from last to first in the IMCA Modified feature. It was Josh Daniels taking the honors in the IMCA Stock Cars. Jake McBirnie returned to Victory Lane in the IMCA Northern SportMod class. Mike Houseman also made a return visit to the winner's circle by taking the checkers in the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint division. Daniel Smith repeated earlier wins in the IMCA Hobby Stocks, Joe Glick won the MADCRA Mod Lites, and once again the duo of Donny Mason and Junior Worley won the two-person Cruiser class.
Mike Houseman took his second visit to Victory Lane in winning the 20-lap feature for the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars. Houseman claimed the top spot on lap two and from there on, never looked back on his way to the checkers. Sixth place starter Tyler Thompson finished as the runner up, third went to C.J. Houseman, fourth went to DJ Palmer, and Joel Thorpe completed the top five. Houseman started seventh on the starting grid, on his way to the checkers. C.J. Houseman looked good as he piloted the ride of Brian Efkamp. Efkamp won the last outing at Boone, and said he was looking to put different drivers behind the wheel.
Next up were the Mod Lites for their 15-lap main event. Joe Glick took command at lap five of this contest, but had to fend off the advances of Brian Zehm. Zehm briefly snagged the lead at lap ten, only to have Glick come right back and take charge. He then held on to the flying checkers to capture his third victory of the year. Zehm finished second, trailing a distant third was Joel Huggins, fourth went to fifteenth place starter Mike Kennedy, and Randy Bryan finished fifth.
Tenth place starter Jake McBirnie showed just why he is the point leader in the IMCA Northern SportMod class, by hustling through the pack to take the top spot on lap five on his way to the win. Ronnie Hults ran at the front of the field the entire race, and finished as the runner up. Dusty Masolini took third, fourth went to Johnathon Logue, and Brett Vanderheiden from Earlham finished fifth after starting twelfth. This was McBirnie's third win of the year at Boone.
The program was in quick mode all evening with the approaching weather, and the Modifieds were on the track as soon as the SportMod feature was finished. It did not start off well, as before a lap was scored, a scary incident involving former track champion, Mike VanGenderen found him pressed up against the frontstretch wall. It appeared a car pushed coming out of turn four, over corrected, and turned VanGenderen around, sending him into the wall, and with no where to go, Jimmy Gustin slammed into him. It was several anxious moments before VanGenderen was out of the car, but good to see him walk to the ambulance to be checked out.
When things got back to action, the 20-lap feature was one that most of the fans won't forget anytime soon! Ricky Thornton, Jr. put on another of his amazing runs, starting twenty-sixth, and taking the checkers in the final few feet. He caught then leader Randy Havlik at lap thirteen, tried outside and inside for any way around, but only succeeded coming out of turn four as the checkers unfolded, to sneak past at the stripe for the win. Havlik had to be content with the runner up position. Cory Sauerman finished third, Jon Snyder started eleventh, and finished fourth, and early race leader, Eric Elliott was fifth. This is the second time this year that Thornton has come from the tail of a feature, to win it. He has three regular season wins under his belt, and also won the Frostbuster special. Thornton had to start dead last in the feature due to being disqualified in his heat....called for spinning out a car.
The IMCA Stock Car 18-lap event saw Josh Daniels lead from flag to flag on his way to victory. Rod Richards reeled the leader in at the finish, but had to settle for second. Third went to Jay Schmidt, Scott Davis was fourth, and Devin Smith was fifth. Daniels, fresh off of a win at Stuart Speedway on Wednesday night, started third, and immediately took the lead, never to look back on his way to the double checkers. This was his first win at the track this year.
The IMCA Hobby Stock feature ended as the thunder and lightning was close by. The 15-lap A Main found Mike Smith leading the pack in the first few circuits, until cousin Daniel Smith came calling to take over as captain of the ship at lap four. From there on it was all Daniel at the helm as he went on to lead all remaining laps to take the comfortable win. Aaron Rudolph came from twelfth starting spot, to take the runner up position. Mike Smith was third, Eric Knutson was fourth, and Shaun Wirtz rounded out the top five. After the initial start was called back, the race went caution free.
Only the two-person cruiser feature remained to be run and the 8-lap race of five cars was dominated once again by the #00 of Donny Mason and Junior Worley.... sporting their color changing "light sticks" on the back. The duo has dominated this year, winning I believe, all but one of the cruiser car features.
The racing was wrapped up at 9:16 p.m. and just in time before the rain began. We had a few sprinkles on the windshield as we left the track, but soon ran into heavy rain at Ames. The program was in hurry up mode all night with cars on the track for their heats and features immediately after the finish of the previous contests. There were no on track winner's interviews, and the Hobby Stock King of the Hill was eliminated.
As mentioned above, Ricky Thornton, Jr. put on a clinic as he raced through the pack of Modifieds and evidently, his many wins as of late has people wondering how he can do it time after time. We note that both he and second place Randy Havlik were going through a post race inspection in a covered facility immediately after their race. As of now, no word that anything was amiss.
Next Saturday, June 29, is another Super Saturday at the Boone Speedway. The IMCA Modifieds will be racing for $1,000, and the IMCA Stock Cars for $750, both with a draw/redraw format. Regular show for all other classes.
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