One of the most unique races in the country was on tap at the Boone Speedway Saturday night, with the running of the Hawkeye Challenge. But would it happen? All other races in the state of Iowa had been canceled, as well as some in surrounding states, due to recent and continuing rain. Only at Boone could the possibility of racing happen. But at Boone, the races were still on for Saturday night. When we arrived, it was dry, the track was being worked and the water truck was in action. Then after the track was prepped and ready and hot laps under way, came persistent light rain....but at this track, Mother Nature was no match for the great track prep crew. The green flag dropped only 16 minutes late.
The Hawkeye Challenge is one of the most unique races in the country...perhaps the world, and held right here at the Boone Speedway. It pits four cars from each of six different classes, running at the same time. Each class is designated as to how many laps it needs to make, and the one completing that number of laps first, is the over all winner. The Sprint cars had to run 25 laps, Modifieds 23 laps, SportMods and Mod Lites 22 laps, Stock Cars 21 laps, and Hobby Stocks 20 laps. When all was said and done, it was Mike Johnston in the Sprint Car class taking the over all win, and going home $1,000 richer. Other class winners going home with $500 were Mike VanGenderen in the Modifieds, Mike Goldsberry in the Stock Cars, SportMod winner was Johnathon Logue, Mike Smith was the winner in the Hobby Stocks, and Josh May won the Mod Lites.
Regular series feature racing kicked off with the IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Bryan Zehm would lead all 15 laps of the race and take the easy win. It was an epic battle behind him however, as Josh May, Randy Bryan, and Mike Kennedy duked it out for position. Following the leader across the line at the checkers, it was May in the runner up spot, Kennedy took third, and with Bryan suddenly off power and out of the race, it was Jon Braathun taking fourth, and Cody Yaw, in a borrowed car, rounded out the top five. Zehm repeated his win from last week.
Tommy Lathrop, Ottumwa, Iowa racer, grabbed the lead for the start of the 18 lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature and was looking strong, still leading at lap thirteen. However, by that time, Johnathon Logue had moved through the pack from starting twelve, and was applying the pressure. Just after lap thirteen was in the books, Logue made his move coming out of turn two, and flew into the lead. He would then hold that top spot the remaining distance to the checkers....his fourth in a row. Izac Mallicoat started ninth, and took the runner up position, getting around third place Tommy Lathrop in the closing laps. Chris Burke took fourth, and seventeen year old Camdan Vincent, was fifth. Logue had a successful night at the speedway after his earlier division win in the Hawkeye Challenge. This feature win also marked his seventh season win of the year, as well as winning the Frostbuster special. With all of Logue's success recently, there was mention of a possible run for the IMCA National title in his post race interview.
The IMCA Modifieds came to the track next for their 20 lapper. Ron Hults was the early race leader, as cars were duking it out behind him, going 3 and 4 wide. A yellow flew at lap seven, and by this time Paul Nagle, who was fresh off of his Friday night win at the Marshalltown Speedway, and Mike VanGenderen were right behind, and eager for the restart. By the time lap eight was in the books, it was the Flying Dutchman, Mike VanGenderen at the helm, a lead he would keep to the checkers, and his first win of the year at the track. Cory Sauerman crossed the line in second, Paul Nagle in third, Jeremy Mills was fourth, and Tony Hofbauer was fifth. VanGenderen had earlier won the Modified portion of the Hawkeye Challenge as well.
The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars rolled out next for their 20 lap feature. Polesitter Mike House was the early race leader but at the halfway mark, David Smith had taken over, coming from fourteenth starting spot. A couple of late race cautions were no bother to Smith, as he kept his lead to the checkers, sealing the win. Brother Donavon Smith started tenth, and took second place, Mathew West was third, Tyler Pickett took fourth, and Jay Schmidt started thirteenth, and finished fifth. This was Smith's second trip to Victory Lane for the season. The Smith brothers are keeping it in the family as between David, Donavon, and Devin, they have eight of the ten weekly feature wins.
The night cap was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock A Main event, which went flat to flag. This was led all but the opening lap by young Mike Smith, son of David, who had just won the Stock Car feature. Smith cruised along unhindered on the topside of the track, and took the easy win. Following a good distance behind in second place was Shaun Wirtz. Matt McDonald finished third, Solomon Bennett was fourth, and Braden Richards, last weeks winner, was fifth. Smith also had a very successful night, as he also won the Hobby Stock portion of the Hawkeye Challenge.
It was great to have Positively Racing's head guru, Jeff Broeg join us last night. He too knew if anyone could get racing in on an iffy night, it would be Boone. That made his nearly 3 hour drive worth while. And even though the weather scared some racers from attending, along with a big money race in Brainard, Minnesota last night that drew a number of regulars, there was still a healthy field of 122 cars to satisfy his racing fix.
Next Saturday night, July 3, is weekly racing series #12, with racing in all five regular IMCA classes plus 2-Man Cruiser Cars. Then on Sunday, July 4, will be the annual Eve of Destruction program along with the city's 4th of July fireworks spectacular. There will be chills and spills... there are rumors of Jerry Vansickel attempting to jump over 15 double decker buses! Trailer races and more are also on tap, along with the IMCA Northern SportMods racing for State, Regional, and National points, no track points for this race.
Get out and find a race to attend. Help support the dirt tracks, and the sport we all love...dirt track racing.
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