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!
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