It was a rainout at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday, getting in just five heats before Mother Nature decided that was enough racing for the night. Then on Saturday, she tried to stop racing at the Boone Speedway, but the shower in the early evening wasn't enough to end that. The farming crew had the track back in shape quickly with just an eighteen minute delay in start time.
The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks and Mod Lites, were on tap for their regular Saturday night series, and an added King of the Hill for the Modifieds added to the night's race program. Also making their first appearance in 2021 were the 2 Man Cruisers. The duo of Don Mason and Jason Miller took the checkers in the five car challenge.
Two drivers returned to victory lane after several year's absence, one driver I believe, made his first ever appearance on the winner's stage at the track and two drivers took repeat wins.
A King of the Hill race for the IMCA Modifieds preceded the feature events. Sixteen drivers participated with the final four surviving pitted against each other for the $500 winning prize. Mike VanGenderen, The Flying Dutchman came out on top, besting Todd Shute, Jake McBirnie, and Joel Bushore. Eight drivers were locked into the race for the night through points, and the other eight drivers qualified through their heat races to join the King of the Hill contest.
Cody Yaw would lead all 15 laps of the IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature event. Austin Gray, who last year piloted a Stock Car, hung close through the first few laps, but Yaw then pulled away to secure an easy victory....his second of the year. Gray took the runner up spot, Colby Reid, rookie to the class, and in just his first handful of races, took third. Fourth went to Josh May and Mike Kennedy was fifth.
Nic Runyan led the first five laps of the IMCA Northern SportMod feature, only to be off power and out of the race and Danny Fye taking over the top spot. In the meantime, Johnathon Logue had moved from eleventh starting spot, up to run second and began challenging. By lap eight, Logue had the lead, and then pulled away and secured another win. Cam Reimers recovered nicely from an early race bobble, and finished as the runner up. Third was visiting Chowchilla, California racer Kaylin Lopez, Jenae Gustin took fourth, and Izac Mallicoat completed the top five. This was Logue's second weekly feature win, plus also taking the Frostbuster checkers.
The IMCA Modifieds came to the track next for 20 laps of feature racing. Chase Rudolf and Josh "Happy" Gilman led the field to green, with Gilman gaining the upper hand and taking command. Gilman was challenged several times by Andy Tiernan, but it was to no avail as Gilman went on to take the checkers. Tiernan had to be content with second place, Chase Rudolf finished third, Clint Wendel was fourth, and Jimmy Gustin raced from tenth starting spot to take fifth. The race went green to checkers. This was Gilman's first weekly win since 2011 at the Boone Speedway, and a "Happy" one he was getting back to the winner's circle after such a long absence.
The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars ran their usual entertaining 20 lap race. There was lots of close racing action up front with David Smith taking the early race lead. Mike VanGenderen was knocking on the door and Rod Richards, Donavon Smith, and Tyler Pickett were in hot pursuit as well. A flat tire knocked Richards out of the game before the halfway mark of the race, and now Michael Jaennette had thrown his hat into the ring running in third spot behind Donavon Smith, as they both had their eye on David Smith. Jaennette reeled them both in and took over the top spot on lap thirteen. He then went on to hold that lead the remainder of the way to the checkers and the win. David Smith finished second, brother Donavon Smith took third, Scott Davis started fifteenth, and finished fourth, and Mike VanGenderen snagged a top five finish. This was Jaennette's first trip back to victory lane for a weekly show at Boone since May of 2014.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks found a first time winner taking a trip to the podium. Matt McDonald wrestled away the lead from Jack Phillips with just three laps remaining in the 15-lap feature to take home the win. Wayne Gifford took second place, just getting by third place finisher Eric Stanton in the closing moments. Fourth went to Mike Smith, and Jack Phillips rounded out the top five. By my records (not always correct of course) it appears this was McDonald's first time winning a feature at Boone though a longtime competitor at the track.
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