Boone Speedway held its season points opener on Saturday night, with 138 cars checked into the pits, and drivers hungry for racing. It was another chilly one for April racing, but the racing action was hot all night.
Wisconsin racer, Lucas Lamberies took the top prize in the IMCA Modified class, Taylor Kuehl made it back to back wins in the IMCA Northern SportMod division after her Frostbuster special win last Saturday. Buck Shafroth made it a first ever weekly win at Boone in the IMCA Stock Cars, while John Watson made it to victory lane in the IMCA Hobby Stock class, and Joel Huggins took the honors in the IMCA STARS Mod Lites.
The first feature to come to the track was the IMCA STARS Mod Lites with their 15-lap main event. Joe Glick was the early leader but was being hounded by Randy Bryan. Bryan made the pass for the lead on lap thirteen, but then before lap fourteen could be scored, the race was red flagged. Rookie David Bailey had the dubious honors of being the first rollover of the season when his ride flipped over in turn four. Thankfully, he was unhurt.
When the action once again picked up for the green-white-checkered finish, Bryan maintained the lead, taking the white flag. However, Joel Huggins kept up his persistent dogging of the leader and made it pay off, getting around Bryan on the final run to the checkers and snatched the win. Bryan had to settle for the runner up spot. Joe Glick was third, fourth went to Bryan Zehm, and Fontanelle, Iowa racer, Dustin Ford rounded out the top five. Huggins also won at the Marshalltown Speedway the night before, getting his 2022 season off on a good foot.
The Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods ran their 18 lap feature next. Taylor Kuehl picked up where she left off at last week's Frostbuster, taking the checkers again. She led all laps on her way to victory. Izac Mallicoat was on her heels the entire contest, but had to settle for second place. Tyler Nerud came over from Dorchester, Nebraska hoping for a good run, and went home with a third place finish. Kaylin Lopez came from sixteenth starting spot to finish fourth, and Jake Sachau was fifth. She is quickly becoming a crowd favorite.
The weather has not been conducive to racing in the state of Wisconsin, and one driver, Lucas Lamberies opted to seek some racing in Iowa this weekend. His decision paid off as the Clintonville, Wisconsin driver took the season opener win in the IMCA Modified class. Lamberies jumped to the immediate lead from his outside front row starting position, and never looked back. He held off challenge after challenge by Tim Ward, but was able to maintain the upper hand and take the checkers, Ward going second. Todd Shute started fourteenth, and took home a third place finish, fourth went to Jake McBirnie, and Johnathon Logue came from fifteenth to finish fifth in his rookie season in the Modified division. Lamberies knows his way around the Boone Speedway, as he was the 2015 Super Nationals Champion in the Northern SportMod division, and the 2017 Prelude to the Super Nationals Northern SportMod Champion. He is continuing his winning ways now in the Modified class.
The IMCA Stock Cars saw Buck Shafroth, Orient, Iowa finally get the elusive win at the speedway. Shafroth was running third in the closing laps of the race when the two leaders, Michael Jaennette and Dallon Murty got together, taking them both out of the running, and bringing out a yellow. Shafroth then inherited the lead and was able to hold off Devin Smith in the final laps to score the win. Smith was second, third went to Troy Jerovetz who started fourteenth, fourth was Johnathon Logue, and Trent Murphy came from twentieth, to finish fifth. Jay Schmidt was hard charger of the race, starting in twenty-fourth spot, and finishing in seventh.
The night cap of the evening was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. John Watson would take home the spoils in this one. Watson got the lead on lap eight and then held it to the flying checkers. Eric Knutson was scored in second place after a mishap between Eric Stanton, running in second spot, and Mike Smith, in third, took them out of the running after they had taken the white flag. Smith received the "bad dog, no biscuit" black flag for turning Stanton. Solomon Bennett was scored in third place, Curt Reed was fourth, and Chad Rigby was fifth.
It was another nippy and breezy night at the races. I think all race fans and drivers are wishing for warmer, and calmer nights to get in their racing fixes. Let's hope, Mother Nature is going to start being kind.
Next Saturday, April 23, will be weekly series #2 with the Outlaw Mini Mods scheduled to join the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and STARS Mod Lites.
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