Sunday, May 17, 2020

Boone Speedway kicks things off for 2020....with Covid 19 restrictions

The Boone Speedway finally got its season kicked off on Saturday night, albeit with a revised format due to Covid 19 restrictions dictated by the State of Iowa.  Though racing went on as usual, the stands were empty, void of the fans cheering on the drivers.  The fans had the option of watching a live video cast on IMCA.TV of the racing action.

Mike Kennedy took the first checkers of the 2020 racing season, winning the 15-lap Mod Lite feature.  Kennedy started sixth and had the lead by lap four, never to look back.  Bryan Zehm worked his way to the front of the field from his ninth starting position, and took home the runner up spot.  Early leader Terry Brown was third, fourth went to Randy Bryan, last years track champion, and Joel Huggins completed the top five. Eighteen of the Mod Lites were on hand for opening night.

Johnathon Logue, the 2019 IMCA Super Nationals Champion in the SportMod division, picked up where he left off and took the win in the IMCA Elmquist Towing SportMod 20-lap event.  Logue took command on lap nine, passing then leader Cory Pestotnik, and kept a tight hold on that top spot the remaining distance to capture the victory.  Pole sitter Curtis Veber came home in second place, third went to Cam Reimers, fourth to Cory Pestotnik, and Daniel Tasler came from tenth starting spot, to finish fifth.

There were thirty-six SportMods in competition last evening and they, along with the rest of the IMCA classes, all required a B main to whittle their starting feature to twenty-four cars.  Dusty Masolini won that B main.

The IMCA Snap-on Tools Modifieds went 20-laps in their feature event with Ricky Thornton snaring himself another of his many wins, leading all but the first lap of the contest.    Tim Ward chased Thornton much of the distance but had to settle for the runner up position.  Todd Shute started seventh, and took third, fourth went to Joel Rust, and Brainerd, Minnesota's Aaron Johnson rounded out the top five.  Dakota Sproul, from Hays, Kansas won the B main required to set the twenty-four car starting main event.

The IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Stock Cars were up next for another 20-lap feature event.  Tony Hofbauer and Lakefield, Minnesota's Jeff Larson started on the front row, and entered into a battle at the drop of the green.  Larson jumped to the lead and then the two swapped the top spot for several laps until Hofbauer was able to establish it for good on lap eleven.  From then on, he pulled away and took the checkers, securing his first ever IMCA Stock Car victory.  Hofbauer, who did double duty on the night, also racing in the Modified class, finished comfortably ahead of second place Todd Reitzler.  Brothers David and Devin Smith finished third and fourth, and Jeff Larson was fifth. There were thirty-three IMCA Stock Cars checked in at the speedway.  Jesse Smith from Boxhom won the B main.

The night cap was the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lap feature.  This one was lead from start to finish by pole sitter Jack Phillips.  Last year's track champion, Aaron Rudolph was gaining on the leader as the laps wound down, but ran out of laps to finish no better than second.  Solomon Bennett took third, fourth went to Curt Reed, and Brandon Cox started seventeenth, and took fifth.  Brandon Long from Norwalk, Iowa won the division's B main.

It was strange seeing the empty grandstands during the racing.  The usual grandstand side was quiet except for staff in the tower.  Everyone is anticipating Governor Reynold's announcement that spectators will soon be allowed.  But until then, racing will continue at Boone Speedway next Saturday night, May 23 with empty stands.  IMCA TV will once again be providing pay per view as they did last night, for those interested.


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