The World of Outlaw Late Models paid a return visit to the Boone Speedway on Monday night, for the running of the Hawkeye 50. Thirty-three drivers....some of the best in the country.... came to seek the $20,000 pay day. This was their second trip to Iowa's Action Track, having made their first appearance in 2021 early in the race season.
After time trials, heat races, two last chance showdown races and then the top two from each of the four heats drew for their starting spots, the field was set for the 50 lap feature event deemed the Hawkeye 50.
Tyler Bruening, the Decorah, Iowa driver who had turned laps around the Boone Speedway before, then in an IMCA Late Model, drew the pole starting spot, and Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tennessee, would start along side him.
Bruening kept the lead for two laps until a slight bobble let a quick on the trigger Johnathan Davenport seize the moment, and fly into the lead. Just after lap three was scored, a yellow flew when Brian Shirley, Chatham, Illinois driver, went for a spin in turn four.
Davenport, who hails from Blairsville, Georgia, had no problem on the restart, shooting off from the field, as cars behind vied for position.
At the halfway mark of the race, Davenport still had it well in hand, but a ways behind Mike Marlar, Bruening, and Ryan Gustin, our area hot shoe from Marshalltown, Iowa, were duking it out.
As the race was winding down and with ten laps to go, Dennis Erb, Jr., who had started eighth, had gotten into second spot after wrestling his way around Bruening and Marlar, and had begun to reel in race leader Davenport. That's when there was another caution, bunching up the field for the restart, and now everyone was anticipating an exciting final ten laps to the checkers.
Davenport was just too strong on this night, as he finished the final laps and took the checkers by a comfortable margin. Erb, who held on to his WoO points lead, finished in second spot, and it was Mike Marlar in third. Tyler Bruening ran up front all night and took fourth place, and Bobby Pierce, the Illinois driver nicknamed the "Smooth Operator" and son of legendary Bob Pierce, the "Cool One", came from tenth starting spot to round out the top five.
Davenport has had a very successful run this season, racking up wins and great pay offs, including a million dollar win in June at Eldora Speedway. He was also just coming off of a great showing at the Silver Dollar Nationals where he had picked up $73,000 just in the last few days. "Superman" Johnathan Davenport has not had a kryptonite jinx hit him yet.
The IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods were also on the program, and they were running for $1,000 prize. They ran a 20 lap feature that saw polesitter Logan Anderson grab the lead immediately.
Braden Richards started fourth, reeled in the leader and began persistently pestering him. Anderson wasn't deterred however, not even in lap traffic as he looked to be on his way to the win. Then, with just three laps to go, the yellow flag flew....not what Anderson was wanting to see. Anderson held the lead on the restart, but one lap later, the yellow flew again.
When the race returned to green, Jake Sachau, who had been running third, saw his chance and was able to move around the leader on the final circuit, and steal the win. Anderson had to settle for the runner up spot, Braden Richards was third, Cam Reimers took fourth, and Cory Pestotnik was fifth. Sachau started tenth on the starting grid and made this his fourth trip to Victory Lane this year.
There were several drivers taking their first laps around Boone Speedway last night. There were also some that had turned many laps at the speedway in the past. Four former Super Nationals Champions were running the World of Outlaws last evening. Kyle Strickler has two Modified Super Nationals wins, four time winner, (two in the Modified, two in the Late Models) Ricky Thornton, Jr., defending Modified Super Nationals champion Cody Laney, and two time Late Model champion Todd Cooney.
Next up at the Boone Speedway will be Saturday July 30 when the rained out portion of last weeks race will pick up where it left off. The four features for the Salute to Veterans race will be run first, followed by the full nights regular show. Hot laps are 5, with racing at 6.
Keep supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing!
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