You couldn't have asked for better racing than the fans saw at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night, on a near perfect racing surface that stayed that way the entire night. The 167 cars that checked into the track, plus 11 2-person Cruisers, put on some of the best racing of the year with close finishes and tight racing going on all night long in all classes.
Nick Meyer in the IMCA Modified class was a first time winner, as was Nate Albrant in the IMCA Northern SportMod class, and Dillon Raffurty in the IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Eric Stanton returned to victory lane in the IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Devin Smith picked up his fourth regular season victory in the IMCA Stock Car division. Eleven 2-person Cruisers also ran, with the familiar faces of Don Mason and Jason Miller taking another win...and $300 instead of just a trophy!
It was also a night where drivers and fans paid their respects to longtime worker at the track, Tammy Stevens who recently lost her fight to cancer. She was the gal who got the command to "send them Tammy" as the cars pulled onto the track from staging. There was an increased purse in all classes thanks to donations from drivers and sponsors, with many drivers choosing to donate their winnings back to help the family with expenses. Drivers also passed their helmets in the grandstand for donations. Tammy had a great comradery with all the drivers, and their actions of the night, spoke volumes to that fact.
The first feature to hit the track was the IMCA Stars Mod Lite 15 lap A Main. Kaden Cochrun led the opening lap, but by lap two, it was Josh May in command. By lap five, twelfth place starter Dillon Raffurty was on May's tail and challenging. Raffurty pestered the leader relentlessly, until the final lap when he took over the lead, and then sailed home to the flying checkers and the win. May had to be content with the runner up spot, Mike Kennedy took third, fourth went to Randy Bryan, and Kaden Cochrun completed the top five. This was a first time win at the track for Raffurty who made the drive up from Kansas City, Missouri. Raffurty had a good weekend up in Iowa as he also won the previous night at Marshalltown. We've noticed the Mod Lite drivers are seeking races at many different venues as they all want that very first IMCA National title.
The IMCA Northern SportMods ran their 18 lap feature nonstop, but with continuous action going on throughout the field as they battled for position. Cody Brill, from Harrisonville, Missouri in his bright green ride, grabbed the immediate lead from his pole starting position, and outside front row starter Nate Albrant tucked in behind him. The two continued to run in that order until the final lap when Albrant was able to make the last lap pass out of corner four, and in a drag race down the frontstretch, beat Brill to the checkers to seal the win. It was a shoot out for much of the race behind the two leaders with jockeying between Kaylin Lopez, Chris Burke, and Jake Sachau going on constantly. At the finish line, Sachau crossed in third, Lopez in fourth, and Burke in fifth. However Sachau was docked two spots for a deck height infraction, and scored in fifth place. This was Albrant's first ever feature win at the Boone Speedway, and I believe his third of the year and scoring his first career win at a track earlier in the year, and grabbing another elsewhere. The win at Boone was icing on the cake for the Clear Lake, Iowa driver who has been racing for ten years.
The racing had been fantastic so far, and it continued in the 20 lap event for IMCA Modifieds. Pole sitter Nick Meyer led the opening lap only to have fourth place starter Doug Smith fly to the lead at lap two. Meyer grabbed the top spot back at lap six and by this time, Mike VanGenderen and Jake McBirnie had moved up to challenge the front runners as well. Meanwhile, Meyer distanced himself a bit and was content to let the three behind him go at it. On lap fourteen, Smith was suddenly out of the race with some issue, and when a yellow flew just two laps later, Meyer's big lead vanished. Sitting behind the leader for the restart were McBirnie, VanGenderen, Brandon Leeman, and Tony Hofbauer....all anxious for the restart. Meyer was able to hold the thundering pack off in those final laps and scored his first ever weekly feature win at the speedway. Tenth place starter Jake McBirnie claimed the runner up position, just beating Mike VanGenderen in third. Fourth went to thirteenth place starter Tim Ward, and Tony Hofbauer rounded out the top five. The race paid $1,000 to win and put Meyer on the Fast Shafts All Star race ballot.
The IMCA Stock Cars are known for putting on a good show, and they out did themselves in their 20 lap main event. From lap five it was Kyle Everts and Devin Smith swapping the lead nearly every lap until a yellow flew with just five laps remaining. Smith was in command when the race restarted, Everts in second, and two more Smith's, Donovan and David lurking in third and fourth. The final circuits found it to be the Smith Brothers show, as Devin kept hold of his lead to take the checkers, and brothers Donavon and David finished second and third. Everts took fourth place, and Michael Jaennette was fifth. Devin Smith started twelfth on the starting grid and made this his fourth weekly season win to go along with a trip to Victory Lane in the Frostbuster special.
Earlier, the Stock Cars ran a King of the Hill contest, and when all was said and done, it was David Smith outlasting fifteen other contenders to take the crown.
The racing surface was still producing some fantastic racing by the time the IMCA Hobby Stocks took to the track for their 15 lap feature. Shaun Wirtz was looking strong as he led the troops from the drop of the green until Eric Stanton made a nice slide stick on lap eleven to take the lead. Stanton then kept hold of that top spot the rest of the way to the checkers, making it his fourth feature win of the year. Wirtz followed in second place, third went to Rusty Bates, fourth to Eric Knutson, and Chad Rigby was fifth.
The fans got their money's worth last night with some of the best racing we've seen in a while. The track prep was on point, and stayed multi-grooved the entire night.
Get out and find a race to attend and help keep dirt track racing alive and well!
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