Five feature winners and five track champions close out regular season at Boone

It was season championship night at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night.  The top ten in points from each class were locked into their feature race, and the rest of the field was determined by last chance qualifiers. There was out of car introductions in front of the grandstand, allowing fans a chance to show their appreciation for the drivers they've watched all year long.  All classes had 5 extra laps added to their feature events.   Five feature winners, and five track champions were crowned at the end of the night's racing action.

The My Race Pass IMCA STARS Mod Lites ran 20 laps for their A main, which did not start off well.  Two cars flipped wildly on the backstretch just after the green flag dropped.  Cliff Barber and Travis Messamer took quite a ride, but both were okay.  On lap three, it was Chad Culp rolling his ride in turn four, bringing out the second red of the race. He was also not injured. Culp made this his second "on his top incident" of the night, as he also rolled in his heat race.  

When the race restarted, it was Mike Kennedy leading, but it was short lived as Randy Bryan claimed the top spot at lap four.  It was Bryan's race from there on out as he pulled away to take the easy win...his second in as many weeks.  Mike Kennedy was second, it was a close one for third and fourth with Josh May winning out, just beating Bryan Zehm at the line.  Jon Braathun rounded out the top five.  Josh May is the Mod Lite track champion.

Johnathon Logue put together back to back wins in the Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMod 23 lap feature. Izac Mallicoat and Logue wrestled for the top spot for much of the first portion until Logue was able to establish the lead at lap eleven, holding it the rest of the way to the checkers.  Mallicoat finished as the runner up, Kaylin Lopez ran up front all race long, and finished third, and it was Chad Ryerson in fourth, and Dusty Masolini in fifth.  This was Logue's tenth regular feature win of the season, and he is your 2021 track champion for the second year in a row.

The D & E Outside Service IMCA Modifieds ran 25 laps for their feature race.  This one had a good contest going between Cory Sauerman and Mike VanGenderen as they went at it.  VanGenderen, the 2016 and 2017 track champion, caught then leader Sauerman and began throwing slide after slide that didn't quite stick until lap sixteen when he snatched the lead.  His good fortune would end just a couple of laps later when he was out of the race with mechanical issues.  Sauerman would then go on to lead the remaining laps and capture the win.  Pole sitter Nick Roberts was second, Todd Shute came from eleventh starting position, to finish a close third, fourth went to Paul Nagle, and Brandon Leeman was fifth.  This was Sauerman's third feature win of the year.  The track champion for 2021 is Nick Roberts.

The Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Cars went 25 laps for their feature event, and it was the Smith Brother's show as the brothers finished one-two-three.  Donavon Smith, as point leader, started on the pole and kept his ride on the low side as he usually does.  Michael Jaennette chased Smith in the opening laps, but shortly all eyes were on two other Smith's flying along on the topside...David and Devin Smith were coming!  At lap ten, David had moved into second spot, and Devin followed him to run third.  It was a great side by side battle for second place with Devin finally winning the runner up spot, and then began to reel in leader Donavon.  He got the job done, taking the lead on lap eighteen and holding off his brothers for the win.  Donavon Smith was second, with David Smith in third place.  Fourth went to Justin Nehring and Michael Jaennette was fifth. The Stock Cars went caution free.  This was Devin Smith's fifth regular season win at the speedway this season.  Donavon Smith repeated his track championship for the second year in a row....and his seventh since 2010. 

Braden Richards looked to be easily on his way to victory in the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock 20 lap feature after grabbing the lead from Eric Stanton on lap five, and then sailed away, and appeared to be gone.  A flat tire with just one lap remaining was the nemesis for Richards on this night, as he was out of the race.  Solomon Bennett was the lucky one as he took over first place and raced home to the checkers and the win.  Eric Stanton finished as the runner up, Mike Smith took third place, fourth went to Eric Knutson, and Curt Reed completed the top five.  This was Bennett's first win of the year.  Eric Stanton is the 2021 track champion in the Hobby Stocks, taking his fourth crown. 

This concluded the regular weekly racing at the Boone Speedway, but there is much more racing ahead.  Next Saturday, September 4, is night #1 of the Prelude to the 39th IMCA Super Nationals, with full shows for the Modifieds and Stock Cars, and qualifying for the STARS Mod Lites.  Then on Sunday, September 5, is night #2 of the Prelude with a full show for the Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts, and the first ever IMCA STARS Mod Lite Super Nationals winner will be crowned.  Then on Monday, September 6, begins the week long run of America's Racin' Vacation.  

We will be starting our Racin' Vacation next Saturday for the first night of the Prelude, an eight day run of racing.  As of last night, 824 cars were pre-entered.  It's a spectacle for sure!  We pray for no rain this year, after last year's deluge, missing a complete day of racing, and then racing nearly around the clock to get caught up, but still having to use Sunday as the final Big Dance day.  We hope we survive the upcoming marathon!  

Keep supporting the sport we all love, dirt track racing! 

 

Marshalltown Speedway track champions named as final race falls to Mother Nature

 The Marshalltown Speedway has not had a good track record this year of good weather nights.  Their final weekly race of the season fell to wet grounds after more than 3" of rain fell on Thursday.  This marked the ninth time this year that the track has suffered a weather out.  The cancellations included the early April two night special for the King of the HighBanks and the long anticipated Castrol FloRacing Super Late Model Series in mid-May. 

With the cancellation of the final points night at the track, the track champions were determined by their  point standings.  Not just winning, but being consistent paid off for the drivers.  

The IMCA Modified track champion is Ronn Laurtizen. Lauritzen won the title with only one feature win this season, that coming back on July 23.  But as mentioned, being consistent was a key to his winning the crown.  

The IMCA Stock Car title went to Tyler Pickett.  He won his championship without a single feature win, but by finishing in the top five week in and week out.  

The IMCA Northern SportMod track championship goes to Austin Schrage.  Schrage, who put his ride into Victory Lane the final two race nights, but had regular top finishes throughout the season, takes his first ever track championship title, doing so at the Marshalltown Speedway. 

The IMCA Hobby Stock track championship was won easily by Kaden Reynolds. Reynolds put an exclamation point on his season...winning 11 weekly races.  

Josh May took the first ever track title for the newly sanctioned IMCA Mod Lites at Marshalltown.  Consistency was the name of the game for May also, winning by 79 points, and with just one win. 

The Marshalltown Speedway still has racing scheduled until it falls silent in 2021.  Next Friday, September 3, is the Showdown at MoTown.  The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, STARS Mod Lites, plus the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks are on tap.  Then to close out the season, the World Nationals will be held on September 16-18.  Check the track's Facebook page or www.marshalltownspeedway for more details.  

We were a bit surprised when we got the notification this morning about the cancellation tonight.  We did have a bit over 2 inches of rain here in Grinnell between 8 and 9 p.m. last evening, but understand Marshalltown received several rain falls yesterday.  We are just hoping this is not the beginning of rainy season starting what with the IMCA Super Nationals just around the corner.  No one wants to cope with the monsoon we had during that time last year.  

Find a race to attend, and keep the sport we all love alive and well....dirt track racing!

Running for watermelons as well as $ at the Boone Speedway

There was extra money on the line Saturday at the Boone Speedway where it was the Watermelon Classic along with the P1Performance Challenge for the IMCA Modified.  There were 185 cars checked into the pits that provided close racing action all night long. The draw/redraw show also held an extra incentive for the IMCA Stock Cars, with $1,000 to win and a qualifier for the upcoming IMCA Super Nationals IMCA Stock Car All-Star race.  Another bonus was a watermelon presented to all feature winners! There's an old story behind the watermelons.  It's been said that drivers would race for watermelons, and last night they did!

The P1Performance IMCA Modified Challenge race was set through time trials, and then heat races, with thirteen drivers qualifying for the 15 lap feature event that paid $1,250.  The top two in the six heat races were locked in and with one tie, a thirteenth driver was added.  Those drivers were brought in front of the grandstand for their draw for starting positions.

Joel Bushore and Richie Gustin drew the front row.  Gustin immediately grabbed the lead, and would lead all fifteen laps of the race, winning going away.  Cody Laney finished second, sixth place starter Todd Shute was third, Jake McBirnie was fourth, and Pacifica, California racer Shane DeVolder was fifth. Gustin, who has earned the nickname of "G Money" as he so often takes the high dollar shows, lived up to that name once again.   

Regular feature racing began with the My Race Pass IMCA STARS Mod Lites and their 15 lap main event.  Mike Kennedy started on the outside front row, and grabbed the lead as the race went green.  Randy Bryan however, was quickly up to challenge.  Kennedy held back Bryan's attempts until lap eleven when he made his persistence pay off, and made the pass for the lead.  From there on out, it was Bryan's race as he took the checkers.  Kennedy held the runner up spot, third went to Bryan Zehm, Joe Glick was fourth, and Josh May was fifth.  This was Bryan's first feature win of the year.

Earlier in the night, the Mod Lite's first heat race was red flagged before the field was out of turn two.  Cody Yaw, who had just brought out his new car after suffering early season carnage, took a wild ride, flipping high in the air when he made contact with another car.  Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it appeared it was back to the drawing board for Yaw and more repairs ahead.

Thirty-nine Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods were in the house and after two B mains, the starting field was whittled down to twenty-four cars for their 18 lap feature.

Izac Mallicoat started from the pole and grabbed the lead as the race went green.  Johnathon Logue started beside him and tucked in to run second.  Mallicoat held off Logue's advances until lap seven, when he took command.  Logue didn't have it easy however, as Jake Sachau was soon to be chasing the leader and was hounding him left and right.  The final six circuits found the two running side by side at times, but Logue continued to be scored the leader as they passed the flagstand.  Sachau gave it one final shot as they came out of corner four looking at the checkers, but it was Logue by inches over Sachau in a near photo finish.  Mallicoat finished third, Kaylin Lopez was fourth, and Eric Elliott, in his return to racing in quite sometime, started eleventh, and finished fifth. Logue made this win number nine on the season.

The IMCA D & E Outside Services Modifieds ran their regular 20 lap feature race next, and it also paid $1,250 to win. The healthy field of 46 race cars checked in to the pits, also required two B Mains to get the starting field down to 24 cars.

Jake McBirnie was quick to grab the lead from his outside front row starting spot.  The closing laps found Tim Ward throwing a few challenges at the leader, but come up short as McBirnie would lead all laps on his way to feature win number five.   Brother-in-law Ward finished a close second, Shane DeVolder started twelfth and took third place, fourth went to Paul Nagle, and eleventh place starter Joel Rust completed the top five. 

The Arnold Motor Supply $1,000 to win IMCA Stock Car 20 lap feature had to have 49 cars whittled down to 24 through two B Mains.

Last week's winner Scott Davis drew the lucky pole starting spot and kept the top spot as the green flag fell.  He continued to keep his ride on the bottom of the track, leading the field as the race wore on.  The final handful of laps had Donavon Smith barking at his heels, with seventeenth place starter, Tom Berry, Jr. now in third spot.  Berry made his high side run and diamond run out of corner two work to perfection in the closing laps, grabbing the lead at lap nineteen, and keeping it to the flying checkers.  Davis had to be content with second place this week, Donavon Smith finished third, Troy Jerovetz in fourth, and Johnathon Logue was fifth.  Berry, who was doing double duty also running the Modified class, chalked up his first ever Stock Car feature win at the track, and qualified for the IMCA Super Nationals All-Star Stock Car race.  He was already qualified for the Modified All-Star race, and did not race in the Modified division tonight. He is racing the Jeff Wollam owned "Dilly Bar Special hot rod. 

Thirty-two IMCA Pickett Salvage Hobby Stocks required one B Main to set their 24 car 15 lap feature race that put a night cap on the racing action.

 Mike Smith would lead this one from flag to flag to secure his fourth win of the year.  Wayne Gifford pestered Smith for much of the race, peeking for a way around, but could do no better than finish second.  Eric Stanton took third place, Curt Reed was fourth, and Seth Janssen rounded out the top five.

A few notes of interest of the evening:  Jimmy Gustin's last corner nemesis arose again last night. He was digging hard to make the A feature through a B, running second and looking to qualify.  The final corner was once again his fate, as he spun as the checkered flag lay ahead.  I believe this was the third such scenario this year.  Hobby Stock racer, Braden Richards was in a brand new car, that got christened by nights end.  Racers pulling double duty last night were Mike VanGenderen in the Modifieds and Stock Cars.  Johnathon Logue ran his regular SportMod class along with debuting a brand new Stock Car.  And finally, Jake McBirnie, Modified regular, joined the Stock Car ranks as well last evening, and looked good as he piloted a #1M car that I believe to be Jeff McCollum's out of Mankato, Minnesota.  

Next Saturday is Season Championships.  Johnathon Logue in the SportMod division, and Eric Stanton in the Hobby Stocks appear to have their titles wrapped up leading by 73 points, and 50 points respectively.  Donavon Smith is also pretty secure with his Stock Car lead, up 23 points.  Both the Modified and Mod Lite classes are the only ones that could in question as both Nick Roberts in the Mods, and Josh May in the Mod Lite, hold eight point leads.

Get out and find a race to attend, and keep supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing!

Murtys and Schrages go 1-2, Braaksma scores his first, and Reynolds keeps rolling

It was Toby K's Hideaway Night at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday, with the IMCA Sport Compacts joining the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and STARS Mod Lites. 

New faces to Victory Lane came out of the IMCA Modified class along with the Sport Compacts, while all other classes saw returning visitors to the winner's circle.  It was also a historic night with two classes having father-son finishes....or in this case, son-father finishes.  

The IMCA Sport Compacts kicked off the feature racing with their 12 lap feature event that went flag to flag.  Jake Benischek started tenth on the starting grid, and had the lead by the time lap two was scored.  He then lengthened his lead....and was gone from the rest of the pack, taking the easy win.  Kolby Sabin started sixth, and finished as the runner up.  John Gill came from eighth to finish in third place, Timothy Hanson started ninth, and finished fourth, and it was Mark Smith completing the top five.  This was Benischek's first win of the season at the speedway.   

Dillon Raffurty put another notch in his belt by winning the 15 lap IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature. Raffurty started fifth, and took command of the lead on lap three, never to look back.  He finished well ahead of second place Josh May.  Third went to Dustin Ford, Michael Raffurty took fourth, and Doug Byers was fifth.  After a caution on the original restart, the race went caution free.  This marked the sixth win for Raffurty this season.  He made the tow up from Kansas City, Missouri regularly to run at the High Banks.  Josh May has the track title wrapped up sporting a huge 79 point lead.  

The IMCA Northern SportMod feature was next on the schedule. It did not start off well!  On the initial start, the race went red when Joe Luethje went up and over turn one.  Thankfully, he was not hurt. There was yet another yellow for the start of the race, but after that, the race would continue caution free.

Brian Schrage started fifth, and held down the top spot early in the race, but by lap nine, it was Schrage's son Austin chasing his dad's rear bumper.  Dad Brian held off his son as long as he could, but with two laps remaining in the 18 lap feature, it was son Austin taking command. The race would end with Austin Schrage taking the checkers first, with father Brian chasing him across the finish line to score the runner up position.  Jenae Gustin came from twelfth to finish third, fourth went to Travis Peterson, and early leader Brady Hilmer was fifth.  Austin Schrage started tenth, and repeated his win from last week.  He also regained the point lead last evening, as Johnathon Logue was a DNF after suffering damage in a racing incident. 

Kaden Reynolds just keeps chalking up the wins this year in the IMCA Hobby Stock class, as he added to those numbers once again.  Reynolds started eleventh, and ran down early leader Kyle Parizek, taking over the top spot at lap eight.  From there on, he skimmed the top of the track as he pulled away to another win.  Jeremiah Andrews ran at the front of the field all race long, and scored a second place finish.  Early leader Kyle Parizek finished third, fourth was twelfth place starter John Watson, and Luke Schluetter rounded out the top five.  This was the eleventh feature win for Reynolds this season, plus he also won the Frostbuster special. Reynold's has the track title well in hand as we go into season championship night next week.

The IMCA Modifieds came to the track next for their 20 lap main event.  Ethan Braaksma started on the outside front row, and immediately claimed the lead.  Two cautions, one at lap eight for a stray track tire running loose, and another late in the race at lap seventeen, proved to be no issue for Braaksma as he shot back off into the lead. He would lead all laps on his way to his first win of the year.  Point leader Ronn Lauritzen started ninth and finished second. It was a shoot out for the next positions in a tight battle, with pole sitter Jake Pike taking third, Joel Rust in fourth, and Tim Ward came from eleventh starting spot, to finish fifth.  Lauritzen holds a 24 point lead over second place, as he is looking to claim the track title in the Modified division.  

The night cap was 20 laps of IMCA Stock Car feature racing.  Kenzie Ritter held down the lead at lap one, then Dave Atcher was the leader at lap two, and lap three found Steve Meyer in command.  Meyer was enjoying his run at the front until lap nine, when he now had a pair of #99's on his tail....Dallon and Damon Murty.  Meyer fended off a lap twelve slide job by Murty out of turn two, but another out of turn four, put Dallon Murty into the lead.  Just a couple of laps later, the other #99 of father Damon Murty had taken over second place, and was giving chase to his son.  Son won out on this night, with Dallon Murty scoring the win, and dad Damon Murty having to settle for the runner up spot...in the second son/father finish of the night. Tyler Pickett was in the hunt all race long, and finished third.  Fourth went to twelfth place starter, Dylan Thornton, and Steve Meyer was fifth.  This was Dallon Murty's fifth regular season win. Pickett holds a slim 2 point lead over Dallon Murty in what will no doubt be a race to see come next Friday night as they duke it out for the track title.

The Stock Cars had more than their share of troubles last evening.  Numerous cautions would fly...one a red flag when it appeared last week's winner Jeff Wollam suffered a mechanical failure causing a fracas in turn one that sent Jay Schmidt tumbling off the corner.  He was okay, but the car was battered.  

Next Friday night, August 27, is Larry Wollam Memorial Season Championship night at the track.  This racing season has flown by, but with special programs yet to come, and of course, with the IMCA Super Nationals just around the corner, there is still a lot of racing to be found.  Find a race to attend, and help keep dirt track racing alive and well. 

Sauerman takes unexpected win

There were 184 cars checked into the Boone Speedway on Saturday where it was Elmquist Towing Night at the races. Numerous giveaways and prizes were awarded to lucky fans, and the youngsters enjoyed a candy toss in front of the grandstand. Three drivers would capture their first victories of the season, while three others would return to victory lane. With the healthy car count, six B mains were required to set the feature races.

Feature racing kicked off with the My Race Pass IMCA STARS Mod Lites 15 lap main event, that had 23 drivers checked into the pits.  Dustin Ford led the troops through the first eight laps of the race.  That's when sixth place starter, Travis Stensland came calling, and took over the top spot.  It was a tight race at the front of the pack for much of the race as Stensland fended off the challenges of Bryan Zehm, early leader Ford, and Mike Kennedy getting into the fray in the closing circuits. As the checkers flew, it was Stensland repeating his win from last week, Zehm took second, Mike Kennedy started eleventh and finished third, with Dustin Ford and Randy Bryan rounding out the top five. Stensland, who just recently brought his ride out for the year, hasn't missed a beat.  

Colt Nelson, the driver from Osceola, Iowa started fifth on the grid for the Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMod 18 lap feature, and was immediately on the tail of leader Austin Price.  Nelson hounded Price continually until lap eight, when he was able to take over the lead.  Nelson would then throw off the late challenges of Johnathon Logue, and take the win.  Logue was a very close second, third went to Jace Whitt, Hamilton, Missouri, hard charging Jake Sachau came from twenty-first starting spot to take fourth place, and Izac Mallicoat came from eleventh, to finish fifth.  This was Nelson's first win at the speedway this season, and he topped 38 of the cars checked in.

The IMCA Sport Compacts joined the regular classes for a run on Iowa's Action Track. They ran 15 laps for their feature event.  Oliver Monson jumped to the lead as the race went green, and Kaytee DeVries, who is leading IMCA National points, tagged into second place.  Pole sitter Jaedon Erickson from Welcome, Minnesota was not about to go away though as he eyed the two front runners duke it out.  DeVries nabbed the top spot away from Monson at lap eight, and behind them it grew into a tight battle for position with Erickson, Devin Jones, and Curtis Masterson.  At lap twelve, Erickson was able to get the advantage and take over the helm.  Erickson would then hold that lead the remaining three laps to take the win.  DeVries finished as the runner up, Masterson took third place, fourth went to Devin Jones, and Oliver Monson rounded out the top five.  This was the first win for Erickson at the track. The Sport Compacts will next appear during Sunday, September 5th's portion of the Prelude to Super Nationals.  They will then run their full Super Nationals show on Tuesday, September 7. 

Next came 20 laps of D & E Outside Services IMCA Modified fury, that saw 35 cars check into the pits for competition. Joel Bushore jumped to the lead from his outside front row starting spot and held it through the halfway mark of the race.  Then a "White Castle" slider by Jake McBirnie put him into the top spot at lap eleven and it was appearing that McBirnie would be heading back to the winner's circle.  That is....until lap eighteen when a lap car went spinning right in front of McBirnie, and with no place to go, McBirnie too went for a spin, and was out of the race. The incident brought out the yellow, with now second place running Cory Sauerman inheriting the lead.  With a green, white, checkered finish, Sauerman was able to hold on and capture the unexpected win.  Nick Roberts started eleventh and finished as the runner up.  Tim Ward had to qualify through a B main, started twenty-first and made it all the way to third place.  Early leader Joel Bushore took fourth, and Jay Noteboom, in the Tim Love machine, was fifth.  This was win number two for Sauerman this season.

Scott Davis has had some good runs this year in the Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Car class, but has just not been able to grab that win.  Tonight, Davis put it all together and took the checkered flag.  Davis started ninth, caught then leader Donavon Smith, and swept to the lead on lap seven.  From there on out, Davis stretched out his lead, and took the comfortable win.  Donavon Smith took second, fourteenth place starter Jeff Mueller made it to third, fourth went to pole sitter Kevin Opheim, and Mike Goldsberry was fifth. There were 41 of the IMCA Stock Cars in the house last evening.

The racing for the night wrapped up with the 15 lap Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock feature. A B main was required to whittle the 33 entries down to a starting line up of 24 cars. Pole sitter John Watson, who has been piloting Jack Phillip's car the last couple of weeks, led the field to green and kept it at the point through lap eight.  By this time, Eric Stanton had moved his ride from eleventh starting spot, and was ready to pounce.  He made it happen before lap nine was in the books.  Meanwhile, tenth place starter Luke Ramsey had thrown his hat into the ring, and was pressuring the two front runners.  Stanton was able to hold off both Watson and Ramsey until one to go, when Ramsey got the upper hand, and snatched the lead.  He held it the rest of the way to the checkers and sealed his second win of the year.  Stanton finished as the runner up, Carter Koop sneaked by Watson in the closing moments as they finished third and fourth respectively, and it was fourteenth place starter Josh VanCannon taking fifth.

Next Saturday night, August 21, will be Weekly Saturday Night Series #19 with the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and STARS Mod Lites all in competition. Then the following Saturday will the season championship night.  The racing season is dwindling down quickly.  Find a race to attend and help support dirt track racing.

 

Schrage cashes in on $1,000 to win night, and Wollam takes it back to Victory Lane

 August 13, 2021

It was Bob Harris Enterprises Night at the Marshalltown Speedway Friday night, with $1,000 on the line for winning the IMCA Northern SportMod feature.  It was also a welcome change in the weather without the heat and awful humidity.  At the end of the night, three new drivers would find their way into the winner's circle,...one of those drivers after many year's absence, and two others would make return visits.

The IMCA STARS Mod Lites, with ten drivers checked in,  kicked off the feature racing with their 15 lap A main.  Point leader Josh May started fourth, and had the lead with just a handful of laps in the books.  It was all May's race from there on out, as he pulled away from the field to take the easy win.  Cory Sonner finished as the runner up.  Third went to Metamora, Illinois racer Brandon Freeburg who started ninth, fourth was Bryan Zehm, and early leader Mike Kennedy took fifth.  The race went caution free.  This was May's second feature win of the season at the track. He holds a healthy lead on the points race with just a couple of weekly events left.  

Up next was the $1,000 to win, thanks to BHE, for the IMCA Northern SportMod 20 lap event, in a draw/redraw show for the class.  Cory VanZante and Travis Petersen led the field to green, with Petersen taking command.  Petersen held that lead for the first five laps but it only took Jenae Gustin to lap six to snatch it away.  Gustin looked strong....and looking to repeat her previous three race wins.  Meanwhile, ninth place starter Austin Schrage had made his way through the pack, fighting his way past Petersen and Shane Paris and was now in the second spot with his eyes set on the 19J of Jenae Gustin. Schrage kept digging low for a way around leader Gustin, but just couldn't get it to work.  A caution flew at lap sixteen, and on the restart it was Gustin out front and now Schrage was fending off Brayton Carter as well as Paris.  After digging on the low side, Schrage changed his line, went up top, and at lap eighteen made that unaccustomed line work for him, taking over the top spot.  He would then hold it the final circuits to take the $1,000 checkers.  Twelfth place starter Brayton Carter finished as the runner up, Gustin fell back to finish third, Shane Paris was fourth, and Travis Petersen rounded out the top five. This was Schrage's first win at the High Banks this season.

Kaden Reynolds has been on a roll in the IMCA Hobby Stock division, chalking up win after win, and this night was no different for the driver out of Cedar Rapids.  He started tenth, and took over the lead just after lap five was scored, and was able to hold off a hard charging Braden Richards, who finished second. Solomon Bennett, Luke Bird, and Luke Schluetter completed the top five. This was the tenth feature win of the season for Reynolds, plus he also won the Frostbuster special. Reynolds holds down a hefty lead for the track title in the Hobby Stocks. He's also leading IMCA National points in the Hobby Stock class.

It was a popular win in the IMCA Stock Car class as veteran racer Jeff Wollam put the Dilly Bar Special 3W in victory lane!  Wollam started eighth, caught early leader Will Sheen, Lamesa, Texas visitor, and was able to make the pass into the lead on lap seven.  The latter laps saw Wollam stretch it out from the field, and score the easy victory.  Second went to Dallon Murty who advanced all the way from starting fourteenth, Jared Daggett ran up front all race long and finished third, fourth went to twelfth place starter Damon Murty, and Steve Meyer started tenth, and finished fifth.  The last time Wollam stepped into victory lane at the speedway was June 3, 2016...but found it again last evening to the cheers of many in the grandstand.   

The night cap was the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature.  Kellogg, Iowa's David Brown flew around then leader Jesse Belize on lap two, and was looking strong, riding the rim in turns three and four, and dipping to the lower line in one and two.  He had strong hitters running him down however, as Dylan Thornton, Jake McBirnie, and Tim Ward were big time company.  Brown was still leading at lap thirteen, when he was suddenly off power down the front straightaway, and was able to pull into the infield without any incident.  This now put Tim Ward in command, and he would keep it through the final laps, to take the checkers.  Jake McBirnie came from eleventh to take the runner up position, Dylan Thornton took third place, fourth went to Ronn Lauritzen, and Paul Nagle hard charged from twenty-second to finish fifth.  Ward, the 2019 track champion who has not been a weekly competitor this season, started tenth and took his first win at the track this season.  

The season is quickly winding down, some tracks already done, and others with just a couple of points nights left in their regular season.  Check out the calendar at Positively Racing and find a race to attend.  We need to keep dirt track racing alive and well.  

Roberts takes last lap win in thrilling finish at Boone

It was another Saturday night Series of weekly points racing at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night.  Mother Nature threatened early, as raindrops fell just as we were arriving at the track.  Radar looked to have "stuff" coming in, but this time the track won out without any more rain falling. 

Things kicked off with the 15 lap IMCA My Race Pass STARS Mod Lite A main.  After his first appearance of the year last week, Travis Stensland found his way easily around the track, and led all but the opening laps on his way to victory.  He finished well ahead of second place Mike Kennedy, who started tenth on the grid. Third went to Joe Glick, Bryan Zehm was fourth, and Josh May completed the top five. Stensland just raced for the first time this year last week, and with a third place finish at Boone last week, a second at Marshalltown on Friday, and now taking the win, his comeback has been quite successful.  

Johnathon Logue moved his ride from starting sixth, and into the lead at lap three in the IMCA Elmquist Towing Northern SportMod 18 lap main event.  From there on to the finish, Logue was untouched on his drive to the checkers and the win.  Izac Mallicoat chased Logue much of the race, but had to be content with second place.  Third went to Dustin Lynch, Dusty Masolini was fourth, and Chowchilla, California racer, Kaylin Lopez who is spending his summer racing in the area, started fourteenth, and finished in fifth.  This marked weekly win number eight for Logue, plus he also won the Frostbuster special. Logue has a big point lead with just three nights left before the season concludes, and looks to be matching his track championship from last year.  

The 20 lap D & E Outside Services IMCA Modified feature looked to be a runaway as Jimmy Gustin led the troops to the green, and appeared to have the race well in hand.  That is until a yellow flew at lap eighteen, setting up a green-white-checkered finish.  Nick Roberts had reeled in Gustin and was eager for the restart of the race.  Gustin was looking strong as he took the white flag, but a slight slip up the track in the final corners was all that Roberts needed, as he took the lead and went home to the flying checkers.  Two more cars were able to slip by Gustin as well in the closing moments, with thirteenth place starter Jake McBirnie taking the runner up spot, and Denison, Iowa's Dan DeMey scoring third place.  Gustin finished a no doubt disappointing fourth, and Mike VanGenderen took fifth.  This was Roberts' second feature win at the speedway this season. Edit:  It seems Gustin had a fly-wheel explode during the race, and a badly vibrating car was his nemesis. He was bad fast the past two nights, and ironically, lost two in a row, Marshalltown on Friday, and Boone on the last lap after leading the entire races until the checkered flag.

A young driver who has been on fire this season, the Bristol Dirt Nationals among his many wins around various tracks, made it look easy when he took the win in the IMCA Arnold Motor Supply's 20 lap Stock Car feature.  That driver would be Dallon Murty, the Chelsea, Iowa hot shoe.  Murty, who is still in High School, started fourth and had the lead by the time lap one was in the books.  From there on out, he was on cruise control, and took the easy win.  Jeff Mueller chased Murty for most of the race, but could do no better than second.  Third went to Tony Hofbauer, Matt West was fourth, and pole sitter Tom Cannon was fifth.  This was Murty's first ever weekly win at the track. A check of IMCA National points, finds the young Chelsea star in first place with several weeks yet remaining, but a good shot at taking the title.  

The IMCA Pickett Salvage Hobby Stocks put the night cap on the racing as they ran their 15 lap feature.  Aron Fye led the field through lap nine, but it was Aaron Rudolph taking command at lap ten, bringing along Eric Stanton to tuck into second.  Rudolph and Stanton went at it in a good side by side battle for a couple of laps before Stanton established the number one spot for good and went home to the win, Rudolph going second.  It was a great shoot out for the next positions, but in the end it was twelfth place starter Josh VanCannon taking third place.  Early leader Aron Fye was fourth, and Seth Butler finished fifth.  Stanton started tenth and took his sixth regular feature win of the year.

Right before the three B mains were run, it was announced that there would be no farming, but then a check of radar evidently changed that up, as the John Deere's did come out for a quick session.  There were no victory lane interviews, which helped the show move along as well, and the program was completed at 9:43 p.m.  

Keep supporting the sport we all love,....dirt track racing!  

Shute's perfect slider sends him to Victory Lane

 August 6, 2021

It was Shawn's Custom Hay Grinding Night at the Marshalltown Speedway Friday night with 105 cars and a full night of racing in the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, STARS Mod Lites, and Sport Compacts.  After last week's rainout, the Sport Compacts came back for their missed program.  

The IMCA Sport Compacts kicked off the feature racing with their 12 lap main event.  The race went caution free with the top three running nose to tail the entire time.  It was Adam Gates crossing the line first as Briar Kriegel chased him under the checkers in second.  Kolby Sabin was third, Marshalltown's own John Gill was fourth, and Mark Smith was fifth.  However.....in the post race inspection, the top two finishers, Gates, and Kriegel were disqualified.  This handed the win over to Kolby Sabin, John Gill taking second, and Mark Smith was third.  Rounding out the top five then was Blake Driscol credited with fourth, and Alec Gill fifth. No word on what the discrepancies were for the top two as of yet.  This was Sabin's second win at the track this race season.

The IMCA STARS Mod Lites ran their 15 lap feature next.  Mike Kennedy led the opening lap, but it didn't take long until Randy Bryan came calling, racing on the rim of the track, and flying into the lead.  The first yellow flag of the night came out on lap five with Bryan still in command.  On the restart, Byran was able to keep hold of the top spot, but it was Travis Stensland making great headway, coming from restarting in fourth, and into the runner up spot.  Stensland tried several peaks for a way around the leader as the race wore on, but on this night it was all Bryan's race as he took the checkers. Stensland had to settle for the runner up position, Josh May was third, fourth went to Ben George, and early leader Mike Kennedy rounded out the top five.  This was Bryan's first trip to victory lane this year.

The IMCA Northern SportMods ran 18 laps for their A feature.  With just one yellow flying prior to this contest, this one would be marred with cautions! Seven cautions in all fell, all before lap ten was in the books.  It was no issue for winner Jenae Gustin however, as she led all but the opening laps on her way to her third feature win in a row. She drove off on the restarts, never to be seriously challenged. Johnathon Logue came from tenth starting position into second, chasing Gustin from lap seven on, but could muster no more than a second place finish.  Third went to Tyler Inman who started eleventh, seventh place starter Izac Mallicoat was fourth, and Travis Petersen was fifth.  

The top three finishers in the IMCA Hobby Stock 15 lap feature started 12th, 10th, and 11th.  Early leader Luke Bird had disaster strike when he was suddenly off power at lap five, bringing out the yellow and out of the hunt.  When the race restarted, it was twelfth place starter Kaden Reynolds now holding down the top spot when the race went green.  Meanwhile, Braden Richards had made his way into second from his tenth place starting spot, and Solomon Bennett was in third. Richards reeled in leader Reynolds, but a last ditch slider fell short at the finish line, with Reynolds taking another win, and Richards taking second place.  Third was eleventh place starter Solomon Bennett, fourth went to Trevor Tanner, and William Klosterman was fifth.  This made it win number nine on the season for Reynolds, plus he also won the Frostbuster special.  

Josh Foster would lead all 20 laps of the caution free IMCA Stock Car feature to flash under the flying checkers first.  Damon Murty started sixth, took to the rim of the track, and was in second by lap two.  Murty could get no closer however, as Foster maintained his run at the front easily, and finished in second. Kyle Everts crossed in third, and twelfth place starter Dallon Murty was fourth, with Steve Meyer in fifth.  The finishing order was shook up however, after the post race tech deemed Foster and Meyer with infractions, and disqualified.  This sent Damon Murty back for another visit to Victory Lane.  Everts was credited with second, third then went to Dallon Murty, Jeff Wollam and Tyler Pickett were awarded fourth and fifth respectively. Hearsay is that Foster did not have a weld on a front right mud plug ring, and there was a shock issue with Meyer's car.  This was the third win of the season for Damon Murty.

The IMCA 20 lap Modified feature ended the night's racing in spectacular fashion!  Jimmy Gustin leaped to the lead from his pole starting spot, and looked to be on a mission as he sought his first trip to the winner's circle this year.  Just before the halfway mark of the race, Todd Shute got to second and began his quest to catch the leader as he took to the top side of the High Banks.  Shute drew closer and closer, but Gustin was holding him at bay as he took the white flag.  A perfectly timed slider out of turn four dashed Gustin's dream however, as Shute was able to beat him to the checkers first, and take the victory.  Gustin had to settle for the runner up spot, third went to Tony Hofbauer, Californian, Paul Stone was fourth, and Zach Rawlings rounded out the top five.  Shute, who is not a regular at the track has often chased the checkers there in the past though.  The last time he saw Victory Lane at Marshalltown, was when he won the Frostbuster back in 2015.  It was a well earned win last night.  

It was a pretty pleasant night to be setting at a race track last night.  Let's hope the rest of the race season continues to be so. Even a flock of Canada geese decided to stop by and land in the infield prior to the green flag dropping.  They hung around for a bit for some racing action, but then thought better of it, and took off for a calmer night's resting spot!

Find a race to attend and help support the sport we all love....dirt track racing!    

McBirnie wins Salute to Veterans Night at Boone Speedway

It was like a warm up for the Super Nationals at Boone Speedway Saturday night. It was Hunting with Heroes Salute to Veterans Night with 205 race cars in five classes packing the pits and running before a full grandstand. Modifieds had 60 competitors, the Northern SportMods brought 52, Stock Cars, 44, Hobby Stocks 34, and the Mod Lites, 15 cars.  

The event concluded in spectacular fashion, the three race series that started on Wednesday July 28 at the Clay County Speedway in Spencer, then went to the Kossuth County Speedway in Algona on Thursday.  Approximately 335 veterans were admitted free, received a free catered meal and drink, got free gifts and prizes, and were recognized prior to the start of the races.  The drivers were also running for extra money and the night's trophy was also special.....a hand carved wooden piece depicting combat boots and a helmet.  

Nine drivers, three from the Modified class, three from the Stock Cars, and three from the Northern SportMods had wrapped their cars to honor the Veterans and were on display prior to the races.  Todd Shute, Kelly Shryock, and Nick Meyer represented the Modifieds. It was David Smith, Jeff Larson, and Loren "Snip" Pesicka, Jr. paying honor in the Stock Cars, and representing in the Northern SportMod division, it was Cam Reimers, Jared Boumeester, and Colby Fett.  The wraps were wonderful, and in speaking with some of the drivers that had their cars on display behind the grandstand prior to the races, they were all honored and proud to do so.  

Kieron Ahrens led the opening lap of the My Race Pass IMCA STARS Mod Lite 15 lap feature, but lost the handle just after the first lap was scored, bringing out the yellow, and putting himself out of the running.  This put Mike Kennedy to the point for the restart, and he would go on to lead the rest of the way to the checkers.  Trailing a distant runner up was Josh May, Travis Stensland made his first appearance of the year with a good run, and took home a third place finish. Fourth went to fifteenth place starter Bryan Zehm, and Jon Braathun was fifth.  This was win number four on the year for Kennedy.

The Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods ran a 20 lap feature that paid $1,000 to win.  Logan Anderson led all 20 laps of the feature that saw only one caution fly at lap two, that being for debris.  Manning, Iowa's Jake Sachau took the runner up position, just 45/1000 of a second behind the leader. Dylan VanWyk was third, Kaylin Lopez ran at the front of the pack all race, challenging the leader early in the contest, and finished fourth, and Chad Ryerson rounded out the top five.  Anderson, the Eddyville, Iowa racer, scored his first win at the track, and one I am sure he was happy to put on his list of wins this year from various tracks around the state.

The D & E Outside Services IMCA Modifieds ran 25 laps for their main event.  Richie Gustin started on the outside front row and shot off into the lead, seeking the $3,000 pay off. Gustin, with the nickname "G Money" is often known to live up to that name, taking home the big money. No doubt, many were thinking it was going to happen again on this night.  Jake McBirnie started fourth, and tucked in immediately to run in second place.  Gustin took to the top of the track, while McBirnie challenged on the low side, lap after lap.  A slight, uncharacteristic bobble by Gustin allowed McBirnie to slip by and into the lead on lap twelve, and that was all he needed to take his ride home the rest of the way to the flying checkers and the win.  Gustin had to be content with the runner up spot.  Ethan Dotson started fourteenth, and finished third, fourth went to Dylan Thornton, and Brandon Schmitt, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, was fifth.   McBirnie matched his win from last week, and scored his fourth of the season.  The win also put McBirnie on this year's Super Nationals All-Star ballot.

Johnathon Logue, who races in the Northern SportMod class regularly, has been periodically racing an IMCA Stock Car this year for the first time.  Tonight, he took his first career win in the class.  Logue got the lucky pole starting spot in the Arnold Motor Supply Stock Car 25 lap feature and led all 25 laps to take the win.  It was a heated battle behind him however, with Orient, Iowa's Buck Schafroth taking second just ahead of David Smith in third.  Fourth went to twelfth place starter, Tyler Pickett, and Donavon Smith took the hard charger award, coming from seventeenth, to complete the top five. The race paid $1,000 to win, and put Logue on the list for the first ever Stock Car All-Star race at this year's Super Nationals.

The Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stocks closed out the racing for the night, running a 20 lap feature.  Dylan Nelson, the Adel, Iowa racer who is a former Super Nationals champion, led the field to green, and stayed at the front the entire race to take the checkers.  It was a battle for position behind him as three cars duked it out.  As the checkers flew, it was last week's winner, Eric Stanton winning out for the runner up spot.  Solomon Bennet was a close third, with tenth place starter Mike Smith right behind in fourth.  Luke Bird rounded out the top five. Nelson won for the first time this year at the speedway, and when pulling into victory lane, had a flat right rear tire. 

It was nice that any racer that carried the special veterans wrap, that did not make the feature, was awarded a provisional starting spot in their feature race. Those drivers that suffered bad luck in qualifying were Colby Fett in the SportMod division, Todd Shute in the Modifieds, and Loren Pesicka in the Hobby Stocks.   

It was a full night of racing for sure, and even with the 12:11 a.m. finish time, many stuck around to the end. They seemed in no hurry to leave as they milled around after the races, contemplating visiting with the drivers. It was great to see so many veterans in attendance, and they really seemed to enjoy it all. 

Find a race to attend and help support this sport we all love....dirt track racing!