Familiar faces back in Victory Lane for opening night at SIS

 After last week's weather out, the Southern Iowa Speedway finally got their season opener in the books on Wednesday night.  It wasn't without a bit of Mother Nature showing her hand though, as a passing shower stopped the racing action between heat races.  

Familiar faces at the speedway graced the winner's circle in the Stock Car, SportMod, Hobby Stock, Sport Compact, and Non Wing Sprint classes.  

The Non Wing Sprint Cars were on the docket first for their ten lap event. It only took Jonathan Hughes a brief moment after the green flag dropped to get the lead after starting second.  From there on it was all Hughes as he sailed off, eventually winning by a half a lap over second place Kelly Graham.  Ben Woods, Doug Sylvester, and Lance Silvers completed the top five.  Hughes was clocked going down the backstretch at 118 mph on the big old Monster half-mile.  He has dominated in the Non Wing class every since the division started running at the track in 2019.  

The Sport Compacts, the largest field of cars at the track last evening...sixteen strong, saw the familiar #52 dominate in this class too.  Billy Cain, the defending track champion, started on the pole and led all laps on his way to the checkers.  A late race caution drew the second place runner, Clayton Webster, to Cain's tail for the restart.  Cain would hold the challenger off at the flagstand, and cop his first feature win of the season at Oskaloosa.  Following second place finisher Webster, was James Haring in third place, Nathan Moody in fourth, and Koby Sabin took fifth. 

Longtime racer Rick VanDusseldorp would be yet another driver lead all laps in winning the 14-lap Hobby Stock main event. He didn't have it easy though as he had lots on his plate with the likes of Dustin Griffiths, Keaton Gordon, son of Doug Gordon, Jr. who use to be seen turning laps at the speedway in days gone by, and Brad Stephens.  Stephens run at the front would end when a lap car got in his way, and Stephens went for a spin, bringing out a yellow.  Meanwhile, under the yellow, Keaton Gordon pulled into the work area for some assistance, and then tagged the tail for the restart.  This put defending track champion Dustin Griffiths into second and eager for the restart.  

VanDusseldorp would have no trouble in keeping his lead through the final circuits, and took his first victory at the track for 2021.  Dustin Griffiths finished second and a close third went to Aaron Martin.  Fourth was Travis Bunnell and the T4 of Tyler Graves was fifth.  Graves switched classes this year, going from the Non Wing Sprints, into the Hobby Stocks. 

Logan Anderson looked to be out in front and gone in the SportMod feature, but never count out the 1V of Curtis VanDerWal at the track.  The two fought side by side for several laps before VanDerWal finally claimed the lead for good at lap thirteen of the sixteen lap feature.  He motored off from the field in the final moments and took another easy win.  Anderson had to be content with the runner up position on this night.  Blaine Webster would finish in third place, Maguire DeJong was fourth, and Tyler Heckart was fifth.

The sixteen lap Stock Car feature was mostly a shoot out between two cars, Dustin Griffiths and Derrick Agee. Griffiths started on the outside of the front row, and immediately took the lead as the race went green.  Fourth place starter Agee, was soon on his tail.  Agee, the Moberly, Missouri racer who makes the haul up each week to play at SIS, hounded leader Griffiths, taking peeks in the corners, which finally paid off at lap eight.  Griffiths didn't go away however, and kept fighting, sometimes running side by side down the straightaways.  On this night it wasn't to be though, as Agee took the hotly contested contest and the checkers.  It was a close one at the line with Griffiths going second.  Third went to Donnie Pearson, Howard Gordon, Jr. was fourth, and Nathan Wood taking fifth place.

The track had rain earlier in the day, but the track was groomed and ready to go when we arrived and radar was looking good.  Never count out Mother Nature though, as during the final Hobby Stock heat, the raindrops began to fall and the track began getting a shine.  The heat was completed with the cars tip toeing around the track.  

We had about a 27 minute delay waiting for the rain to stop, and the track repacked.  Then it was right back to racing.  

It was good to back at the Southern Iowa Speedway, setting with racing family, including Positively Racing colleagues Jeff Broeg, and Barry Johnson, and setting a ways down, race chaser Ed Reichert from Wisconsin.  Be sure and check for a couple more takes of the racing action last night at Positively Racing.  Also be sure and check the racing calendar posted on the website, and find a race to attend.  We need to keep the tracks open so we can all continue to enjoy the sport we all love....dirt track racing!  

McBirnie by a nose over Ward in thrilling challenge Modified win

It was weekly racing series #3 at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night with IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and STARS Mod Lites in competition.  With more tracks opening up in the area, the car count was down a bit, but 136 was a nice field of cars nonetheless.  

Joel Huggins started on the pole and led all 15-lap of the IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature to take the win. Two yellows would fly during the event, which proved to be no issue for Huggins on his way to the winner's circle. Jon Braathun was second, just beating third place finisher Joe Glick at the line.  Fourth went to Mike Kennedy, and Josh May took fifth.

The 18 lap Northern SportMod feature was marred by yellow flags.  So much so, that the race would end under the time limit with only 14 laps being completed.  Initial leader David Hoover was overtaken by Dusty Lynch at lap three.  Lynch would continue to weather more cautions and was still leading when the drivers were told on a yellow flag at lap ten, they were under the time limit and would race to the checkered flag or the next caution, whichever came first. This was the first time in a long time, we remember this rule being implemented.  By this time, Johnathon Logue had made his way from thirteenth starting spot and into the runner up position.  When the race restarted, Logue applied the pressure to Lynch, and finally made his persistence pay off, getting the lead at lap fourteen. That fourteenth lap would be the final as another yellow flew, and the race was called complete.  Lynch had to settle for the runner up spot, Colby Fett finished third, fourth went to Tyler Titus, and Rocky Caudle hard charged his way to fifth from twenty-second starting position.

The 25 lap IMCA Modified feature was a spectacular event.  D & E Outside Services had put up $3,000 to a driver opting to start at the tail of the feature and win.  Jet Racing threw in an additional $500 making for a possible $3,500 pay off.  Five drivers went to the rear, Jimmy Gustin, Tim Ward, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Joel Bushore, and Paul Nagel.  Another incentive was for those drivers passing the most cars that didn't win, would get $750.  At the end of the feature, only Tim Ward would still be in the race.

Clint Wendel held down the top spot for the first two circuits, but Jake McBirnie came calling on lap three, flying into the lead.  By lap ten, the talent of Ricky Thornton, Jr. was shining through, as he had made his way into third place and just three laps later, had the lead! Thornton then rocketed off....only to drive it off of the top of turn one with a mechanical failure, putting himself out of the game.

When the race returned to action, McBirnie had inherited the top spot, with Nick Roberts, and challenge taker Tim Ward in tow. Ward just nosed out McBirnie for a brief moment, only to have McBirnie come right back into the top spot. The closing laps were tight, but McBirnie held out on this night and took the double checkers with Ward a close, close second. Roberts finished third, last week's winner Cory Sauerman came from tenth spot to finish fourth, and Mike VanGenderen from thirteenth to finish fifth. McBirnie and second place Tim Ward are brothers-in-law ironically.  McBirnie's comments in Victory Lane were, "I stayed on the cushion, and up on the wheel, and let her rip"!

The IMCA Stock Cars followed up with a green to checkered run in their 20 lap feature of the evening. Which was refreshing after the previous yellow flag marathon!  Shane Stoneburner looked to be on his way to a victory as he circled the lip of the track.  But Devin Smith had other ideas as he moved from twelfth starting spot to overtake Stoneburner with five laps to go.  From there on it was all Smith's race, scoring the easy win.  Kyle Everts, who led the opening laps was second, Stoneburner was third, Jeff Mueller started eleventh and finished fourth, and Tony Hofbauer rounded out the top five.  Devin Smith took his second feature win of the regular season, plus also scoring the Frostbuster victory. For the first time ever, Smith has forsaken his Mopar chassis, and is this year driving a Chevy....and he has been fast each and every time we've seen him compete.  Between him and his brother Donavon, they are the only drivers to win at Boone Speedway so far this year.  As an added note, the caution free race was run in 6 minutes, and 29 seconds. 

The IMCA Hobby Stocks also put together a caution free 15 lap main event.  Braden Richards started fourth and had the lead at lap one, never to relinquish it on his way to the checkers.  Solomon Bennett and Jack Phillips ran at the front all race long and finished second and third respectively.  Luke Ramsey and Eric Stanton completed the top five.

Next up at the Boone Speedway will be the World of Outlaws Late Model two-day show on Friday April 30, and Saturday May 1.  As we understand it, the WoO has rented the track and will be running the entire show.  The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, and Northern SportMods will also be in competition as support classes both days.  For more information check Boone Speedway Facebook page, raceboone.com or the World of Outlaws Facebook or website.  

Rust, Hollatz, Olson, Reynolds, and Huggins prevail on track points opening night at Marshalltown

Marshalltown Speedway held its first 2021 track points racing on Friday.  It was also Driver Appreciation Night where last year's track champions were recognized on the front stretch before racing action began.  Those track champions were Tom Berry, Jr. in the IMCA Modified, who went on to also be the IMCA National Champion of the division.  Stock Car track champion was "The Game Changer", Dallon Murty, Northern SportMod track title went to Johnathon Logue, the Hobby Stock champion was Solomon Bennett, and Mod Lite title went to Bryan Zehm.  Those drivers and their cars were presented to the crowd before the first green flag dropped. No banquet was held last year due to Covid 19.  It was the first night for track points as those drivers begin their quest to defend their title at the Highbanks.  

Joel Huggins picked up where he left off last week, taking home the win in the IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature.  Huggins led the entire 15 laps on his way to victory.  Randy Bryan chased Huggins across the finish line to take the runner up spot.  A close third went to Josh May, Bryan Zehm was fourth and Mike Kennedy took fifth.  This class will be going for their first track title under the IMCA sanction.  

In the 20 lap IMCA Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature, Austin Schrage came from fourth into the lead by the time lap one was counted and appeared to be well on his way to a feature win as the race wore on.  Schrage led much of the race until a late yellow proved to be his undoing.  Kyle Olson was waiting in the wings on the restart and with two laps to go, made his move into the lead.  He would lead those final circuits, and take the checkers ahead of Schrage, who had to settle for second place on this night.  Kaylin Lopez, the Chowchilla, California racer who plans to be racing in our area this season, came from twelfth starting spot to take third place.  Jason Bass, Fort Dodge racer finished fourth, and 14 year old Izac Mallicoat, who got his first career win last Saturday at Boone, took fifth. His father, Jason Mallicoat, was the 2006 Super Nationals champion back in 2006.  

A scary incident occurred during the SportMod main event when veteran racer Vern Jackson got together with another car going down the frontstretch and flipped violently, landing upside down just past the flag stand.  After a few tense moments, Jackson exited the car under his own power, and took the lone walk back to the pits as the fans gave him a round of applause.  

Kaden Reynolds took the checkers in the 20 lap IMCA Hobby Stock main event.  He nabbed the lead away from early leader Tom Killen, Jr. on lap eight, and from there on never looked back....pulling away from the competition to score the comfortable win.  It was a dog fight behind him however as Nathan Ballard, Solomon Bennett, Luke Ramsey, and Braden Richards all jousted for second through fifth position, lap after lap.  Reynolds had a four second lead vanish when a yellow flew with five laps to go.  However, it was no issue for him as he took the win easily.  Solomon Bennett, last year's track champion was second, Braden Richards finished third, Luke Ramsey was fourth, Tom Killen, Jr. was fifth, and Nathan Ballard was sixth.

Chanse Hollatz made the trip down from Clear Lake and went home $1,000 richer by seizing the win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event.  He ran down early race leader Scott Rice at lap eight and held off the competition the rest of the twelve laps to take home the trophy and the money.  Last year's track champion, Dallon Murty started fifteenth, and hard charged his way to finish second.  Jeff Mueller was third, fourth went to Steve Meyer, and twelfth place starter Dusty Vis completed the top five.

Last year's IMCA Modified track champion, Tom Berry, Jr. started second and immediately took the lead. However, pole sitter Joel Rust was having none of that, pulled a perfect slide job and was scored the leader on lap two. Last season, the only weekly winners of the division were Berry and Rust. 

Only one yellow at lap nineteen of the twenty-five lap event would halt the action, but it proved to be no hinderance to Rust as he sailed home the remaining distance and took the flying checkers. Veteran racer Kelly Shryock took second place, tenth place starter Cayden Carter was third, Tom Berry, Jr. finished fourth, and Tim Ward was fifth.  

We are still waiting for warmer and calmer weather for racing.  Let's hope it gets here soon so more fans can get out and support an area track and help keep dirt track racing alive and well.   

  

Mallicoat and Rigby nab first career wins, Yaw also takes checkers for first time

It was week #2 of the weekly racing series at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night.  There were 164 drivers checked in for the racing action, and two drivers would step into victory lane for the very first time.  Traveling drivers were again on hand, as they await their area tracks opening up.  

Cody Yaw dominated the entire 15 laps of the IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature, leading all laps on his way to victory.  Yaw finished well ahead of second place Bryan Zehm.  Pole sitter Joel Huggins finished in third place, Jon Braathun was fourth, and Mike Kennedy was fifth.  Yaw got career win number two under his belt at the speedway after taking that first ever career victory just last August at the track.....but on a technicality.  He crossed in third place but the top two were penalized, handing the win to Yaw.  This win had to be much sweeter for Yaw.  

It took several tries before the IMCA Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods were able to get their feature started, plus two more early yellows would mar the event.  Lonnie Hodges, who switched from Stock Car to SportMod this season, led the early portion of the 18 lap race, but 15 year old Izac Mallicoat slipped by for the lead on lap three.  Tenth place starter Johnathon Logue was on his tail by lap four and would throw challenge after challenge at the youngster. Then Chowchilla, California driver Kaylin Lopez who is in the area for some Midwest racing, threw his hat into the ring to make it a tight three-way battle.  Mallicoat wasn't fazed however, and took the checkers for his first career win.  Logue finished as the runner up, Lopez was a close third, followed by Cory Pestotnik in fourth and Curtis Veber rounded out the top five.  Mallicoat is a third generation racer following in grandfather Dave Baugh and dad Jason Mallicoat's footsteps.  

Denny Pittman looked strong in the early portion of the IMCA Modified feature, leading easily in the first handful of laps.  Meanwhile, sixth place starter Cory Sauerman had gone up top and was reeling the leader in.  Sauerman took command on lap nine, and from there on it was all his race as he motored home to victory.  Jeremy Mills, who started tenth, took advantage on a green-white-checkered finish, gaining two positions in the closing moments to take the runner up position.  Kelly Shryock was third, Mike VanGenderen was fourth, and twelfth place starter Tim Ward finished fifth. If my records are correct, this was just Sauerman's second ever win at Boone, his first coming last year back in May when there were no fans in the stands due to Covid.  Fans in the stands had to make this one feel extra special. 

Multi-time track champion Donavon Smith got things back on track, winning the flag-to-flag IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature.  Smith took over the top spot after then leader Robert Stofer bobbled and fell back in the pack with eight laps to go in the 20 lap contest.  Brock Badger and Michael Jaennette did battle behind Smith, with Badger taking second just ahead of third place Jaennette at the finish line.  Scott Davis was fourth, and Devin Smith, who had previously won the Frostbuster and last week's season opener, completed the top five.

The night ended with another driver getting his first ever win at the Boone Speedway when Madrid, Iowa racer Chad Rigby took the checkers in the 15 lap IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature.  Rigby started on the outside front row, and immediately took the lead.  He would lose his lead briefly at lap ten when Solomon Bennett got the advantage at the flagstand, only to have Rigby come right back into the lead.  The final five laps were all Rigby's as he flew under the checkers for the win.  Bennett took the runner up position, Wayne Gifford was third, fourth went to Eric Knutson, and Curt Reed was fifth.

Next Saturday, April 24 will be week #3 of weekly points racing.  Hot laps are scheduled for 5 with racing at 6.  As of right now, those starting times will stand until at least July.  

 

Aikey takes Season Opener of Malvern Bank SLMR East Series

 Marshalltown Speedway hosted the season opener of the Malvern Bank Hoker Trucking East Super Late Model Series on Friday night.  Thirty-one Late Models were on hand but it was a familiar face back in Victory Lane again.  IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and the new class of STARS Mod Lites were also on the program. Three defending track champions would pick up where they left off last season, taking the checkers. There were 166 race cars checked in for a full night of racing.  

The STARS Mod Lites, a newly sanctioned IMCA class, kicked feature racing off.  Fifteen cars checked in.  Joel Huggins would lead this 15 lap event from start to finish  and put his name in the books as the first ever track winner of the new division.  He was relentlessly chased the entire time by Bakersfield, California racer, Kaden Cochrun, who finished second. Cody Yaw took third place, Ed Griggs, Pleasant Hill, Missouri was fourth, and Josh May rounded out the top five.  Huggins had the inaugural IMCA win taken away last week at Boone when he didn't pass post race inspection for a "too wide" body.  We have heard that this was possibly caused during the race when the body got rumpled.  This win no doubt, felt good.   

Johnathon Logue started fifth and ran down early leader Tony Olson in the 18 lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature.  Logue took command with a low pass out of corner two and was scored the leader on lap seven....never to look back.  Logue pulled away in the closing laps and took the comfortable win over Tony Olson in second place.  Veteran racer Vern Jackson finished third, followed by Austin Schrage in fourth, and Dylan VanWyk in fifth.  Logue is the defending Northern SportMod track champion.  A  field of 34 Northern SportMods came for the racing action. 

The featured class of the night, the Kevin "Sharp" Shooter Miller Lite 30, Hoker Trucking East Malvern Bank Super Late Model Series had a star studded class of drivers on hand that put on a show for the fans.  Chad Holladay led the first lap, only to have Dave Eckrich snatch it away by lap two.  However, Jeff Aikey, who has many feature wins at the speedway, took over the top spot by lap five.  From there on, Aikey showed just why he has those wins under his belt at the track, and sailed away to the 30 lap feature win.  Seventh place starter Luke Peska took the runner up position, Justin Kay came from tenth starting spot to finish third, Dave Eckrich was fourth, and Richie Gustin completed the top five.

I believe that this was the second time the SLMR series has made an appearance at the track, the first coming back in 2019.  Thirty-one drivers were on hand for last night's racing action.

Defending IMCA Super Nationals champion in the Hobby Stock division, Nathan Ballard took the win in the 15 lap main event. Eighth place starter Eric Knutson gave it a good go in the closing laps, peeking low beneath Ballard, but had to settle for second place. Luke Ramsey finished third, Dustin Filloon was fourth, and Tom Killen, Jr. took fifth place. A hefty field of 33 cars came to play in the Hobby Stock division.  

It was the Murty family show in the 18 lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature.  Son Dallon Murty bested dad Damon Murty to take the checkers.  Dallon passed early leader Heath Tulp at lap five for the lead, and then had to hold back Jeff Mueller....until Mueller's mechanical issues ended his run on lap eight, bringing out a yellow.  For the restart, Damon Murty was now in second place, and ready to have a little family battle with son Dallon.  Son Dallon would win out on this night, taking the checkers ahead of dad Damon in second place.  Randy Brands hard charged from starting twelfth to take third place, and Steve Meyer made it to fourth after starting thirteenth. Jay Schmidt rounded out the top five.  Dallon Murty is starting off right again this year in an attempt to match his 2020 track championship after having also won the Frostbuster.  Thirty-one Stock Cars did battle on the Highbanks.

Another 2020 track champion was in fine form again, as Tom Berry, Jr. dominated the IMCA Modified 20 lap feature, leading all laps.  Berry sailed along on the topside of the track and pulled away in the caution free race to take the win.  Cayden Carter started eleventh, and ran out of time to challenge Berry, and had to be content with the runner up spot.  Joel Rust finished third, ahead of veteran Kelly Shryock in fourth, and twelfth place starter Tim Ward in fifth. Twenty-two Modifieds were on hand.

There were at least eight other states besides Iowa represented last evening with drivers from California Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, Arizona, and Illinois.  Drivers from all over say Marshalltown Speedway is on their bucket list, and I'm sure some checked it off their list last evening.  

Next Friday, April 23, will be opening night at the speedway for track points.  The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks and STARS Mod Lites will be competing.  Hot laps are 6:50 with racing to follow.  Also, as a note, there are now hand rails up on the east side of the grandstands at Marshalltown, though the metal replacement seating has not yet arrived.  Now, if spectators would just figure out that there is not seating on either side of those metal hand rails, and it is an aisle, it would make things much easier.  

 

   

Ward posts Boone season points opener victory, May wins inaugural IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature

Boone Speedway held its season points opener on Saturday night as the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and for the first time running under the IMCA banner, the IMCA STARS Mod Lites, as they all began their quest for a track championship. It was another chilly, and windy night, a much lighter crowd than last week's Frostbuster, but 171 race cars checked in for racing fun.

The IMCA Stars Mod Lites kicked off feature racing with their inaugural IMCA sanctioned 15-lap main event at the track. Five yellow flags would wave as the drivers tried to get into a good rhythm.  Jon Braathun led the opening laps, only to have Cody Yaw take over the top spot by lap four.  Yaw's lead would end just four laps later when he and a lap car collided, bringing out a yellow.  Second place runner Joel Huggins inherited the lead for the restart, and would go on to be in command the remaining laps and take the checkers ahead of Josh May.  Tenth place starter Randy Bryan crossed the line in third place, Mike Kennedy in fourth, and early leader Jon Braathun in fifth.  However, Huggins was disqualified after a post race inspection found his body not meeting the spec requirements...the body was too wide.  This handed that inaugural IMCA sanctioned win over to Josh May.

Chad Ryerson would lead all 18 laps of the IMCA Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature on his way to the checkered flag.  Ryerson started on the outside pole and had no trouble keeping his competition at bay on his way to victory lane.  Shawn Harker, Nebraska City, Nebraska made the trip over to Iowa's Action Track and took home the runner up spot.  Third went to defending track champion, and last week's Frostbuster winner, Johnathon Logue.  Dustin Lynch, and Michael Johnson, Bakersfield, California, completed the top five. Forty-four SportMods checked in to the pits.

Tim Ward took home the win in the IMCA Modifieds.  He wrestled the lead away from Jimmy Gustin at lap eleven and pulled away to take the comfortable win.  Nick Roberts finished a distant second, and Santa Maria, California's Dylan Thornton was third.  Jimmy Gustin was fourth, and Jeremy Mills just beat Joel Bushore to the line as they finished fifth and sixth respectively.  Ward is the defending track champion.

A little twist was thrown in to the Modified feature, when Ricky Thornton, Jr. (no, he was not even there!) decided to offer up $500 to any of the top twelve starters in the feature that would go to the tail and win.  Well, that got the ball rolling, and by the time the feature event pulled on to the track, more contributors had raised that amount to $2,200!  There was just one taker that I noticed, that being Shane DeVolder, visiting racer from Pacifica, California.  He was to start fifth in the starting line up, and tagged the field.  No one lost their money on this night.  

I didn't catch who started the money challenge for the IMCA Stock Cars, but their feature was also a tag the tail, and win $1,400.  No one took that challenge that I recall.

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars ran a 20-lap feature.  Devin Smith started on the outside front row and immediately grabbed the lead....never to relinquish it.  Smith was gone and easily outdistanced second place finisher Jeff Mueller.  Michael Jaennette, Tommy Fain, Abilene, Texas, and Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minnesota rounded out the top five.

The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks put a night cap on the evening's racing with their 15-lap main event.  Michael Smith would also lead this one from start to finish on his way to the checkered flag.  Eric Knutson applied the pressure to Smith, looking outside, then inside, but to no avail.  Knutson had to be content with the runner up position on this night.  Eric Stanton came from sixth starting spot to take third place, fourth went to Bedford, Iowa's Luke Ramsey who started seventeenth, and Jack Phillips finished fifth. Smith is a second generation racer, son of David Smith of the Smith clan from the Lake City, Iowa area. 

Unless I missed a track, I believe Boone Speedway was the ONLY track in the state of Iowa racing last night.  The weather was just not conducive to drying conditions after the rain, and then the eastern portion of the state was still getting rain into the night.  Let's hope for warmer, dryer weather in the upcoming weeks, so area racing can really get going.  Regular season racing continues next Saturday night, April, 17. Pits open at 4, grandstands at 4:30, hot laps at 5, and the green flag drops at 6.

Check the calendar at Positively Racing and find a race to attend.  Help support the sport we all love, dirt track racing!

 

Boone Frostbuster wins to Braaksma, Smith, Logue, and Knutson

Boone Speedway opened its doors for the first time in 2021 on Saturday with the running of their Frostbuster special.  One hundred seventy-eight race cars came through the pit gates and put on a show for the crowd on hand. Drivers from across the Midwest and beyond came to try their hand on the famed race track, but only four drivers would go home with the title of Frostbuster champion.  

Johnathon Logue took home the trophy in the 25-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature, capturing his first ever Frostbuster win at  Iowa's Action Track.  Logue started fifth, and quickly was battling early leader Dustin Lynch.  The two raced side-by-side for several laps before Logue was able to establish the lead for good on lap nine. He then held the top spot the remaining distance to take the checkers.  Polesitter Cam Reimers took the runner up spot, Dustin Lynch was third, Cole Fenske from Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin came from tenth starting place to finish fourth, and Austin Schrage was fifth. Logue is beginning 2021, where he left off in 2020 after capturing the IMCA Super Nationals title...standing atop the podium.  Logue may just have started a new tradition also, as in his post-race interview in Victory Lane as he added a final comment..."It's Boone Baby"!!

The IMCA Modified 25-lap contest was not only paying $1,000 to win, but was for a place on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.  Ethan Braaksma put that money in his pocket and his name on that ballot as he dominated, leading all laps on his way to victory.  Todd Shute finished in the runner up spot, Kyle Brown came from tenth to finish third, Tim Ward was fourth, and veteran racer Kelly Shryock was fifth. This would be Braaksma's first time ever stepping on the winner's ramp at Boone with a feature win. 

The popular IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars were up next for another 25-lap feature.  Kyle Brown would lead all laps in this one as he held back some big contenders, leading in his beautiful Ford Terminator bodied car.  Jeff Mueller dug along on the bottom of the track (his usual preference) as Brown preferred the top side.  A trio of Smith brothers also came calling with Devin, Donavon, and David throwing their hat into the ring in the closing laps, along with Damon Murty.  No one could make the pass, and Brown took the checkers.  He was followed across the line by Devin Smith, Jeff Mueller, Donavon Smith, Damon Murty, and David Smith. However, Brown was found to have an illegal carburetor in post race inspection, and was disqualified.  This handed the win over to Devin Smith, with Mueller, Donavon Smith, Damon Murty, and David Smith then taking the top five spots.

The night cap was 25-laps of IMCA Hobby Stock racing.  Bedford, Iowa driver Luke Ramsey looked to be on his way to taking home a Frostbuster trophy as he leaped to the lead from starting third, and held his competitors at bay as the laps wound down.  Eric Knutson and Brett Vanous battled in the closing laps for the number two spot with Knutson finally getting the upper hand, and then he set his sights on leader Ramsey.  The two ran side-by-side in the final handful of laps, and with a final surge, Knutson made the pass at the line to snatch the victory.  Ramsey had to be satisfied with second place.  Brett Vanous was third, Solomon Bennett finished fourth, and Wayne Gifford completed the top five.

The regular season points racing begins next Saturday night, April 10, with racing in the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites.  Hot laps at 5, with racing at 6 p.m. 

Carter, Murty, Fett, and Reynolds take cold Frostbuster wins at Marshalltown

Frostbuster was certainly an appropriate name for Marshalltown Speedway's opening night on Friday. It didn't keep the crowd away but they had to hunker down as the crisp temperatures and an  unbelievably strong south wind persisted.  The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks were in action with 194 race cars packing the pits.   Many out of state drivers made the trip to try their hand at the Highbanks.

Feature racing kicked off with the IMCA Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod's 20 lap feature. There were 54 cars checked into the pits, taking three B mains to whittle the field to the starting feature grid.

 Austin Schrage led from the drop of the green with Josh Appel, Jenae Gustin, and Alec Fett in tow.  Fett worked his way into the runner up spot at lap thirteen and then began hounding Schrage.  Schrage managed to hold his lead until that all important final lap. Fett made the pass on the final circuit to take the checkers.  Schrage finished a close second, Josh Appel, Jenae Gustin, and ninth place starter Dylan VanWyk completed the top five. 

The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks put on the next feature event for the fans. Their class brought 42 cars to the pits. Kaden Reynolds wasted no time in getting to the front from his fourth place starting spot, establishing the lead by lap one and going on to lead all laps on his way to a Frostbuster win.  Eric Stanton took second after starting eighth, Eric Knutson hard charged his way to third from starting sixteenth, Aaron Martin started seventh and took fourth, and rounding out the top five was eleventh place starter Dylan Nelson.  

There was a scary moment during the Hobby Stock feature when a car got crossed up right before the flag stand, and Aaron Rudolph had no where to go.  The contact sent Rudolph into a roll, landing upside down just past the stand.  It took a moment for the driver to get out of the car....hanging upside down belted in, is not an easy situation to get out of.  Thankfully the driver was unhurt, but left with a damaged race car.

Defending track champion in the Sunoco Stock Cars found Dallon Murty picking up where he left off last year, taking the dominating win.  Veteran racer Kelly Shryock came from eleventh starting spot to take the runner up position.  Damon Murty took third place ahead of Malone, Wisconsin racer Tim Warner, and Steve Meyer was fifth. Murty and his dad, Damon just recently finished one-two at the Bristol Dirt Nationals.  This kid may be tough to beat in 2021! 

There was $1,000 on the line for the winner of the 25 lap IMCA Modified Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier.  Cayden Carter and Kyle Brown started on the front row, and this would be how they finished as the final checkers flew on the 2021 Marshalltown Speedway Frostbuster.  Cody Thompson, who moved up from the Northern SportMod class this year, took third place.  Troy Cordes was fourth, and defending track and National IMCA Modified champion, Tom Berry, Jr. came from tenth starting spot to finish fifth.  

Next week the speedway will be holding a two-night special as the IMCA Stock Cars vie for the title of King of the Highbanks and a $5,000 prize. Qualifying beings on Thursday night, April 8 with the final night on Friday April 9.  Each night will also include IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA SportMods, and IMCA Modifieds, with the IMCA Stars Mod Lites joining the Friday night show.  Wednesday, April 7 will be a practice night for all classes.  

It was almost as brutal setting at a race track as we've ever endured.  The wind was horrific, but luckily to our backs.  We were far from the only ones putting up windbreaks on the top row.....a real lifesaver.

Let's hope for warmer and calmer weather ahead as the Iowa race season gets underway.  Check the race calendar on Positively Racing for a race you may want to attend.  Let's keep dirt track racing alive and well.