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.
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