The racers came out in full force for Saturday night racing at the Boone Speedway with 169 cars packing the pits. Must not forget the additional nine two-man cruisers to add to that count. Many tracks had to cancel their racing for the week. Who knew we would be having a record low for a high temperature ever at the end of May! To say nothing about being wet! It was good to get some Saturday night racing in as the sun was out, and we all know Boone's track had little trouble getting into racing shape. The car count and fans in the stands showed they were eager for racing too.
All IMCA regular classes would find first time winners on the season. The duo of Don Mason and Jason Miller copped the exhibition win in the two-person Cruiser class. The IMCA STARS Mod Lites were in town for a National event series race, as part of their Corn Belt Clash. Their Friday night show got washed/weathered out at the Marshalltown Speedway. Their third night is scheduled for the Stuart Speedway on Sunday. Their winner last night ended up being determined after the race through a disqualification, along with another DQ, giving the finishing order a much different look after all was said and done.
The IMCA STARS Mod Lites had a great field of 30 cars for their National event. Drivers traveled for this one, with several drivers coming from Kansas, a couple from Illinois, and National points leader Kaden Cochrun from Bakersfield, California.
Austin Gray, who last year was racing an IMCA Stock Car, would lead the entire 25-lap feature, pulling away to a sizeable lead to take the checkers. Joe Glick chased the leader for most of the race, but finished a distant second. Third place finisher was Josh May, Mike Kennedy started tenth, and crossed the finish line in fourth place, and Bryan Zehm was fifth at the checkers. However, there was a couple of post race disqualifications that would change up the official finishing order I was given. Gray was disqualified as was fourth place finisher Mike Kennedy. This handed the win over to Joe Glick, moved May into second place, Zehm to third, Jon Braathun took fourth, and Cory Sonner came all the way from twenty-first starting spot, to be awarded fifth place. They were teching the Mod Lites after their heats and the feature, so assuming infractions were found. This is the first year the Mod Lites are sanctioned IMCA....new rules maybe? This was Glick's first win at the track in 2021.
Forty-two IMCA Northern SportMods were in competition, calling for two B Mains to whittle the starting field for their 18-lap A main down to 24 cars.
Cory Pestotnik started third, and had the lead by lap three. Cam Reimers tucked in behind him and became a constant threat as the race wore on. Several yellows flew during the event, and a caution at lap fifteen became leader Pestotnik's undoing. As the race restarted with Pestotnik in command, he had Reimers and now Tony Olson lurking close behind. By lap sixteen, Olson had made the pass and was scored the leader. He would hold that top spot the remaining distance to the flying checkers and the win. The closing moments also saw Johnathon Logue slip by Pestotnik to capture the runner up spot. Following third place Pestotnik was Cam Reimers in fourth, and Izac Mallicoat in fifth. Tony Olson started twelfth on the field to take home his first ever feature win at the speedway.
It was a thrilling finish to the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature that saw some amazing crisscross moves during the race. Nick Roberts started sixth and had the top spot by lap four, content to let the pack behind sort itself out. Tim Ward came from twelfth starting spot, into second and began applying pressure quickly, and Kyle Brown was now also in the picture. Then the show really began when Roberts and Ward made some spectacular crisscross moves out of turn two, and Brown sticking his nose into the mix as well. Several more cross over moves had the crowd excited as the laps wore down, with Roberts always managing to come out on top. He would hold on to take the checkers in the closing moments, with Ward taking a close second, and Brown right there in third. Fourth went to Jake McBirnie who started eleventh, and Cory Sauerman rounded out the top five. Roberts took his first win at the track for the 2021 season.
It was definitely the Smith brothers show in the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature event. David Smith started seventh and chased down early leader Anthony Goldsberry to take over the top spot just after the halfway portion. Then brothers Devin and Donavon both fell in line behind. David would pull away in the final laps to take the easy win. It was two more Smiths completing the top three with Devin in second and Donavon in third to make it a 1-2-3 finish for the talented Lake City, Iowa racers. Justin Nehring finished in fourth, and Jeff Mueller completed the top five. The race went flag to flag.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks also completed their 15-lap feature without a caution. Carter Koop led the opening laps of the race, but quickly had Eric Knutson to contend with. The two crossed the finish line on lap seven in a near dead heat, but by lap eight, Knutson had gained the upper hand. The closing laps found Knutson distance himself from the pack, and take a comfortable win. It was a fight to the finish behind him however of a pack of three cars. Eric Stanton, Carter Koop, and Solomon Bennett went 2-3-4 respectively in a very close finish. Aaron Rudolph rounded out the top five. This was also Knutson's first regular season win, though he won the early April Frostbuster special.
Please note that next week, June 5, will begin their summer racing hours, with hot laps at 6, and racing at 7. Pit gates open at 4:30. All regular IMCA classes will be competition with the IMCA Hobby Stocks having an additional King of the Hill contest.
Have a safe and fun rest of the Memorial Holiday weekend...and maybe find a race to attend and help support the sport we all love....dirt track racing.
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