Tune Up for Super Nationals/P1P Challenge/Watermelon Classic, and no rain at Boone Speedway

The forecasters had been calling for a high probability of rain for the Boone area for days, but Saturday night, the Boone Speedway had but a few sprinkles. There was ominous looking clouds all around, but the Boone "Dome" was up last night.

The Tune Up for the Super Nationals, the P1 Promotions Modified Challenge, and the D & E Outside Services Watermelon Classic were all completed before 9 p.m.  All heat and feature winners also raced for the well-known watermelon that has a famous tie to Boone Speedway from years back.  "Drivers will race for watermelons". 

The 8th Annual P1P Challenge race for the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds saw the drivers qualify through time trials, and heat race points.  The top twelve drivers then raced a 15 lap race for $1,000 and unique trophy.

Johnathon Logue grabbed the lead from the outside front row as the race went green.  Logue was content to let some heavy hitters duke it out behind him as Tom Berry, Jr., Bricen James, and Richie Gustin sliced and diced for position.  Logue, in his rookie season in an IMCA Modified, was never seriously challenged as he led all laps on his march to Victory Lane.  Tom Berry, Jr. started sixth, and finished second.  Third went to three time previous winner Richie Gustin, fourth was Bricen James, Albany, Oregon racer, and Paul Nagle was fifth.  The race went caution free.

The IMCA Modifieds also ran another full field feature race.  Jake McBirnie was looking strong as he led through lap sixteen.  That's when an incident between McBirnie and two other top runners, Cody Laney and Richie Gustin left McBirnie and Gustin limping off the racing surface with flat tires.  This put Laney in command now, but Tom Berry, Jr. had been methodically working his way through the pack from eleventh starting and was now sniffing at the tailpipe of Laney.  A few sliders and lane changes were thrown between the two until finally at lap 23 of the 25 lap event, Berry took the lead for good....and sailed to the checkers and the win.  Laney finished as the runner up, it was Tim Ward in third, Jeremy Mills took fourth place, and Todd Shute completed the top five.  This time, Berry didn't let the win and this $1,000 payday slip through his fingers.

The IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods ran a 23 lap feature event for a $600 prize.  Jake Sachau has been having a fabulous year at the Boone Speedway, with five previous feature wins and a track title, he showed no signs of letting up on his great run.  He started on the pole of the feature and it was a runaway as he pulled away from the field and won going away.

Cory Pestotnik ran up front all race long and finished as the runner up, holding off a hard challenge by Izac Mallicoat in third.  Eric Elliott, (who recently lost his father Craig, a former stock car racer) made his return to racing after being absent since the early race season when his car was damaged, and took fourth, and Nate Albrant hard charged his way from seventeenth, to finish fifth.

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars were running for $1K in their 25 lap "A" Main.  Jay Schmidt, in his sharp looking ready for SNs ride, started on the pole and took the lead as the race went green.  Dallon Murty started on the outside front row and was in hot pursuit immediately, taking to the top of the track and on the hunt.  It took him until lap four, but he got the job done, flying into the lead.  It was all Murty from there on out as he "walked the dog" and won easily going away.  Scott Davis ran at the front all race long and finished second; Jay Schmidt taking third.  Jason Vansickel, "The Flying Electrician" got some redemption after his car got battered and bruised last week, and went home with a fourth place finish.  Mathew West, piloting Cody Doolittle's car, was fifth. Murty returned to the podium at Boone after starting the season off with the Frostbuster win.

The IMCA STARS Mod Lites ran later in the night than normal for their 20 lap feature.  Randy Bryan would "drive away" in this one on his way to the checkers.  He ran down early leader Bryan Zehm right before the halfway point, and stretched his lead at the finish.  Cory Sonner finished as the runner up and Josh May was third.  Bryan Zehm held off Dallon Murty, who was testing out the car usually driven by Darrick Knutsen, as they went fourth and fifth respectively.

The finale of the night was 20 laps of IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature racing.  Mark Hidlebaugh had Josh VanCannon knock, knock, knocking on his rear bumper for most of the race, but it didn't phase him as he motored home to the flying checkers.  VanCannon had to settle for second place.  Joe Wollenhaupt ran up front the entire race and finished in third place.  Fourth went to Tanner Jones who had started fourteenth, and thirteenth place starter Stephen Doss was fifth.

The clouds were heavy in all directions around the track last night, but the program moved right along...as it usually does...and though the car count was lighter than normal, as well as the crowd due to the forecast, the last checkered flag fell at 8:58 p.m.  

When we left the track for home, the highway was wet just east of the track, but then dry before Ames, and dry the rest of the way home.  However, we had heard we had some heavy rain here in Grinnell around 4 p.m. and our rain gauge showed 2.71 inches.  We now have over 3 inches of the scarce stuff.  We just hope this isn't a nonstop pattern setting up with the upcoming IMCA Super Nationals!

Next up for racing at the Boone Speedway will be Saturday and Sunday, September 3rd and 4th for the Wild Rose Casino Prelude to the Super Nationals.  Gates open at 2, and hot laps are slated for 3, with racing at 4.  Then on Labor Day Monday, September 5, will be the start of the six day run of the 40th Annual IMCA Super Nationals.  Hot laps are scheduled for 1, with racing at 2. We plan to be there for our 35th straight year of the fun and great racing.

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

 

Six Drivers Crowned Track Champions at Marshalltown Speedway's Season Finale

It was North 3rd Avenue Dairy Queen Larry Wollam Memorial and Season Championship night at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday.  Seven classes were in competition that provided a full night of racing action at the High Banks. At the end of the night, the six regular classes would crown their champions for the year.

The first eight in points in each class were locked in, and they would start inverted for their A Feature.  The rest of the field was filled in by their finishing order from heats. The closest points battle would be in the Stock Car division, with veteran Larry Wollam leading by two points on Michael Jaennette.  

There were out of car introductions of the drivers on the frontstretch.  This allowed the fans to show their appreciation to the drivers who entertained them all year long and to get a look at the driver behind the helmet.  

The first feature to hit the track was the IMCA STARS Mod Lites.  Their feature went 15 laps and was led from start to finish by Cory Sonner.  He started from the pole position and rocketed off immediately as he pulled away from the field.  He finished well ahead of second place Ben George.  Trailing a distant third was tenth place starter Jason Masengarb.  Fourth place was Randy Bryan, and fifth went to Jon Padilla.  The race went flag to flag.  Randy Bryan is the 2022 Track Champion, and finished 15 points up on Joel Huggins.

The IMCA MACH-1 Sport Compacts rolled to the track next for their 20 lap feature event.  Early leader was Blake Driscol who started on the point.  He was quickly run down by seventh place starter Kolby Sabin who snatched the top spot away by lap three.

After getting the lead, Sabin pulled away and enjoyed the easy run at the front of the field the rest of the distance to the checkers and the win.  Cristian Grady started eleventh, and finished as the runner up.  He had just passed early leader Driscol, who was suddenly off power just after the white flag. This put John Gill in third, fourth was Matt Miller, and Tyler Fiebelkorn finished fifth.  This was Sabin's sixth feature win of the season, and he is the 2022 Track Champion in the Sport Compact division. Sabin won by 12 points over John Gill.

Sam West was a happy first ever winner who stepped into Victory Lane at the end of the 20 lap feature for the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.  West started third, and found himself in the lead by lap four after a skirmish occurred taking out early leader Briar Kriegel, and two other top runners, Corey VanDerWilt, and Eric Knutson.  From there on, West held off all challengers that were in hot pursuit, and took the win...his career first. John Watson made a late race charge but had to be content with second.  Third went to Bradly Graham, Solomon Bennett was fourth, and veteran racer Bob Daniels started sixteenth and rounded out the top five.  Bradly Graham is the 2022 Track Champion in the Hobby Stock class. He finished 27 points up on second place William Klosterman. 

Travis Peterson passed Sam Wieben at the halfway mark of the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod 20 lap contest, and though Jenae Gustin threw everything but the kitchen sink at him in the closing laps, he held on and took the win.   Twelfth place starter Gustin had to be satisfied with the runner up spot, Tony Olson started ninth and finished third, fourth was early leader Sam Wieben, and Tyler Soppe drove his hot rod from eighteenth to finish fifth.  This was Peterson's third feature win of the season.  Kyle Olson is the 2022 Track Champion, and managed to hold on to a 4 point advantage over Peterson to take the crown.

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars came next for their 20 lap feature event.  Dave Atcher started on the outside front row and jumped to the immediate lead.  His run at the front ended when Kaden Reynolds came calling on lap six, taking over the number one spot.

Reynolds would have to weather three more cautions and subsequent restarts, but was able to do so as he took the flying checkers and the win. Austin Kaplan chased Reynolds for most of the race, but could do no better than post a runner up finish.  Michael Jaennette started seventh and finished third, early leader Dave Atcher was fourth, and Jeff Wollam finished fifth.  This was the second trip to Victory Lane for Reynolds this year.

It was a tight battle for the track title in the Stock Car division with Jeff Wollam two points up on Michael Jaennette going into the race.  Jaennette finished two spots ahead of Wollam which gave them a tie in points.  With Jaennette having three feature wins for the year, that was the tie breaker, and he is the Track Champion for 2022.  

Johnathon  Logue started on the pole of the 20 lap IMCA Friesen Performance Modified feature, and jumped to the lead as the race went green.  Logue sailed along at the front of the pack until lap 10 when Cody Laney, who started ninth, took over.  Laney pulled off from the field then until the closing laps when twelfth place starter Joel Rust began to close the gap.  Rust made it interesting in the closing moments, but fell short, and followed winner Laney across the line in second place.  Jimmy Gustin out fought Dallon Murty at the checkers as they finished third and fourth respectively, and Johnathon Logue rounded out the top five. This was Laney's second win at Marshalltown this year.  Dallon Murty took the crown for the 2022 track title, beating second place Ronn Lauritzen by 14 points.

The night ended with the Outlaw Mini Mods who were paying a third guest appearance at the track this season.  They ran a 15 lap feature to put a night cap on the racing.

Ben Kraus started third, and had the lead on lap two, never to look back.  He sailed along well ahead of the field for the rest of the race, never challenged.  Nathan Kilwine was a distant runner up, Lucas Daniels took third place, lap one leader Micheal Bryant was fourth, and sixteenth place starter Kaden Rice completed the top five positions.

This drew to a close the regular season at the Marshalltown Speedway.  However, next Friday night September 2, will be the Karl Kustom Showdown at Motown.  IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts and Mod Lites are on the program, along with the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks.  Then on Friday September 16, and Saturday September 17  it will be the 16th Annual World Nationals.  The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Sport Compacts are scheduled to race.  

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

Mother Nature doesn't stop Season Championship Night at Boone Speedway

 It was season championships presented by Casey's at the Boone Speedway Saturday night. Mother Nature tried her best to spoil the evening's festivities, but she didn't succeed.

There had been a couple of showers earlier in the day at the track, but when we arrived the John Deere tractors were on the track and just finishing their prep.  Then, Mother Nature decided to throw another little fit.  It rained hard for several minutes and then stopped, but left puddles and a very wet track and infield.  The crew got back on the track about 4:15 p.m. 

The great track prep workers rolled it back in and racing went on as planned, although the green flag dropped one and a half hours late at 7:46 p.m.  I doubt any other track could have raced after the rain that fell shortly before race time.

With the time factor taken into consideration, the heats were dropped, and Bs were run to determine the final qualifiers for the features that had the top twenty in points locked in.

The IMCA STARS Mod Lites ran their 20 lap feature first.  Joel Huggins grabbed the immediate lead from his outside front row starting spot, and from there on, never looked back.  He rocketed off from the field and won going away at the checkers.  Bryan Zehm finished a distant second, Randy Bryan was third, fourth went to tenth place starter Charlie Brown, and Joe Glick was fifth.  This was Huggins fourth feature win of the year, and he is the 2022 track champion.

The IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods ran a 23 lap season championship feature.  Dustin Lynch started on the outside front row, and took command as the race went green.  He would weather that lead through four yellow flags, keeping the pack at bay, and take the win.  Jake Sachau came on strong late in the race and finished a close second.  Dusty Masolini bothered Sachau through much of the race, but had to settle for third.  Fourth went to rookie Braden Richards, and Tyler Heckert, Ottumwa, Iowa was the last qualifier, started twenty-fourth, and finished in fifth. This was Lynch's first feature win of the year.  The 2022 track champion is Jake Sachau.

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars ran a 25 lap feature.  Jay Schmidt was looking strong, leading the way from the get go, holding off Devin Smith who was hot on his tail.  Schmidt's great run would end on lap sixteen when lap traffic caused an incident that sent him to the pits....his night done.

When the race restarted, David Smith was now at the helm, chased by brother Devin, (who recovered well after the yellow flag incident) the rest of the way to the checkers.  Josh Daniels finished a distant third to the Smith brothers, Michael Jaennette was fourth, and Austin Meiners rounded out the top five.  This was David Smith's second win of the year. The track champion in the Stock Car division is Josh Daniels.

Veteran racer Russ Dickerson led the 25 lap IMCA Friesen Performance Modified feature from the start.  He wrestled his ride through a couple of pesky rough spots due to the earlier rain as he held back several challengers, first Jake McBirnie, and then twelfth place starter Jeremy Mills.  Mills took over the number two spot and really began applying the pressure with ten laps remaining.

Mills got the job done at lap 20, taking the lead, and then went home to the flying checkers and the win...his second this season.  Jake McBirnie got around Dickerson in the closing laps as they went second and third respectively. Randy Havlik and Paul Nagle rounded out the top five. Jake McBirnie took the track title for 2022.

Chad Rigby had seen wins slip through his fingers this season in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock class.  However when their feature was completed it would find him taking his very first trip to Victory Lane at Boone. 

Rigby led from the start of the 20 lap feature, and though he had young Mike Smith chasing him, taking peeks for a way around, he kept his cool and snagged that elusive first win.  Smith ran right behind the winner the entire race, but had to be content with the runner up spot this week.  Curt Reed finished in third place, it was John Watson taking fourth, and Solomon Bennett was fifth.  Mike Smith is the Hobby Stock 2022 track champion.

An added special race that was just culminated during the week was the Inaugural John Logue First Time Stock Car Winner Race.  To qualify, the driver must not have won a feature race in the Stock Car class.  The starting field would be lined up oldest to youngest, oldest starting on the pole and the youngest starting last.

Thirty-four drivers signed in to run this special event.  A B main was run to qualify the final four starters in the 24 car starting field. First place paid $750, second $500, third $400, fourth $300, fifth $200, and $100 to start.

Some drivers were racing borrowed race cars for this special race.  Jimmy Gustin was in Michael Jaennette's car.  Jeremy Mills was racing Johnathon Logue's hot rod.  Randy Roberts was in Craig Carlson's car.  Tracy VanEaston loaned his car to Nick Meyer.  Jake Sachau was piloting Tyler Pickett's car, and Drew Janssen hopped in Buck Schafroth's ride.  

As stated above, the oldest drivers started up front, and Mike Smith drew the pole as the 65 year old was just a bit older than the other 65 year old, Calvin "Buck" Swanson.  Drivers that signed up for the race ranged all the way down to 15 year old Rowdee VanGenderen.  The youngest qualifying for the event was 20 year old Braden Richards in his father, Rod Richards car. 

The feature event went 20 laps.  Mike Smith, formerly from Jewell, Iowa, and now living in Kellogg, being the oldest qualified at 65 years old, started on the pole.  He leaped to the lead, and would lead every lap on his way to his very first IMCA Stock Car win.  He didn't have it easy however, as Jeremy Mills, yes the Modified driver who had just won earlier, was piloting Johnathon Logue's hot rod and threw everything but the kitchen sink at Smith.  It was all in vain however, as he could do no better than second.  Third place went to Scott Rice, fourth was Scott Olson, and Shay Woods was fifth.  Smith, who had a very successful career in the Late Model and Modified classes, drove the Stock Car usually raced by daughter Kylie Rawlins.

The regular season has drawn to a close at the Boone Speedway.  However there is much more racing ahead before the curtain falls.  Next Saturday night, August 27 is the IMCA Super Nationals Tune-Up, P1P Challenge, and Watermelon Classic.  Hot laps are 5 p.m. and racing at 6.  Then on September 3 and 4, is the Wild Rose Casino Prelude to the Super Nationals.  Then on the 5th of September the 40th Annual IMCA Super Nationals begins its six day run. 

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

 

Ward and Lopez find victory lane for the first time as Marshalltown Speedway avoids the rain

There was a threat of rain and ominous clouds all around, but the Marshalltown Speedway avoided those shenanigans...somehow, and racing went on as usual on Friday night.  

Karl Kustoms Night at the Races saw Tim Ward win for the first time this year in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds.  Steve Meyer made it win number two on the year when he saw the checkers first in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.  Kaylin Lopez finally put it in Victory Lane when he won the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod feature.  Bradly Graham chalked up his second win of the season in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and Randy Bryan won his fifth feature in the IMCA STARS Mod Lites. The Outlaw Cruisers joined in the fun Friday and it was the team of Corey VanDerWilt, and Brett Maasdam seeing checkers.  

The feature racing kicked off with 15 laps of Mod Lite racing and when all was said and done, it was Randy Bryan getting his fifth win.  Bryan started fifth, and snatched the lead away from Cory Sonner on lap two....never to look back.  Sonner finished as the runner up, It was a shoot out between the two #50 cars for third and fourth with Joel Huggins finishing just ahead of Charlie Brown.  Following a distant fifth was Alex Eischeid, who recovered well after his first lap spin 

Bradly Graham was dominate in getting his second feature win of the year as he led all 20 laps on the way to the flying checkers.  It was a dogfight behind him for position however, with cars going 4-wide at times, door handle, to door handle. Eric Knutson, who started ninth, won that battle as he took the runner up spot.  A close third place went to Solomon Bennett, eleventh place starter Austin Mehmen was fourth, and Mark Hidlebaugh rounded out the top five.

Kaylin Lopez took the lead as the race went green in the 20 lapper for the IMCA Northern SportMods. By lap seven, he was holding off Jenae Gustin until she then took command at the halfway mark of the race.

Gustin was enjoying her run at the front of the field when a yellow flew at lap sixteen.  Just before the restart, Gustin was suddenly off power on the backstretch, and had to be pushed into the pits.  This then handed the lead back to Lopez for the final four lap dash to the finish.  He was able to hold that top spot the rest of the way, and score his long awaited first win at the speedway.

Kyle Olson finished in second place after starting tenth.  Third went to eighth place starter Sam Wieben, just beating out Travis Peterson in fourth.  Chris Burke completed the top five.

The IMCA Stock Cars put on another exciting race in their 20 lap "Class too Tough to Tame" A feature.  Kaden Reynolds was looking strong in the early portion of the race as he led the field.  He soon had Damon Murty and Steve Meyer following him "up top" as they circled the High Banks.

Meyer got around Murty on lap eleven, and then took command on lap thirteen.  He weathered three yellow flag restarts, the final that set up a green-white-checkered dash to the checkers, and then took his ride to victory lane...the second time this season.

Austin Kaplan started seventh and took second place.   Damon Murty ran up front all race long and finished in third.  Jeff Wollam came on strong in the closing laps and finished fourth, and early leader Kaden Reynolds was fifth.  

Regan Tafoya, visiting from Farmington, New Mexico, led the opening laps of the 20 lap feature for the IMCA Modifieds.  On lap three, it was Ronn Lauritzen in charge.  He had big time company behind him however as Joel Rust and Tim Ward were hot on his tail.

Lauritzen hung on until lap fourteen, when it was Ward taking over as captain of ship.  From then on, it was all Ward as he hung on to take the checkers.  Lauritzen held second place, and Rust was third. Another visiting driver, Grey Ferrando from Stayton, Oregon took fourth, and ninth place starter, Dallon Murty was fifth.

Next Friday night, August 26, is North 3rd Avenue Dairy Queen, Larry Wollam Annual Season Championship. It was announced that the top eight in points in each division are locked in to the feature, and will start inverted. 

The racing was completed at 9:50 p.m. as the Outlaw Cruisers saw the final checkered flag of the night. Everyone was watching the radar on their phones, and "stuff" was all around, but Marshalltown Speedway escaped all of that.  

We are in the homestretch for racing in our area.  Continue to support the sport we all love....dirt track racing. 

 

Ward wins as Tafoya sees one slip away

It was another regular weekly series of racing at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night. One hundred forty-five cars in five classes were all wanting to see the checkered flag first on Elmquist Towing Night at the Races.  

The weather was a big change from a week ago. There was cloud cover the entire night, and much cooler temperatures that allowed the track to stay in great racing condition.  It provided great racing all night long with the final checkers falling at 9:14 p.m. 

Tim Ward took the win after grabbing the late race lead in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified division.  It was Jake McBirnie getting his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car checkers of the year.  Jake Sachau saw win number five for the season in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod.  Sigourney, Iowa's Aaron Martin made it to Victory Lane in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and Joel Huggins returned to the winner's circle in the IMCA STARS Mod Lite class.

Feature racing kicked off with the 15 lap Mod Lite A main.  Jeff Stensland would lead this one for the first ten laps, and then a caution flew.  On the restart, Joel Huggins got the drop on Stensland, and flew into the lead.  Huggins then kept hold of the number one spot the rest of the way to the checkers. 

Jeff Stensland kept the runner up spot, Austin Gray started eighth and finished third, fourth went to Randy Bryan, and Josh May took fifth place.  Huggins, who started tenth, made this his third visit to Victory Lane this season, his last back in early May.  He stated in Victory Lane that he had been struggling as of late, and was glad to get the monkey off his back.

The IMCA Northern SportMods hit the track next for their 18 lap feature event.  Roland, Iowa's Bryan Johnson was looking strong as he led the early portion of the race.  Jake Sachau then began pestering the leader and on lap eleven, took over the top spot.  From then on, it was all Sachau as he pulled away and took the comfortable win as the checkers flew.  Following a distance behind in second was rookie Aiden Webb, Dustin Lynch finished in third place, fourth went to early leader Bryan Johnson, and Mike Munson was fifth.  Sachau snagged his fifth feature win this year at the speedway. The race went flag to flag.

New Mexico visitor, Regan Tafoya had one slip away in the 20 lap feature for the IMCA Modifieds. Tafoya started on the pole, jumped to the lead, and began his run at the top of the track.  He was keeping the field at bay, when a yellow flew at lap five.

On the restart, Tafoya was again able to hold the top spot, and then weathered three more caution flags and subsequent restarts, as he ran the top of the track. 

Meanwhile, Tim Ward had run the leader down with just five laps remaining. Tafoya flung off a couple of sliders by Ward, but with three laps left, Ward was able to take command and then go home first to the flying checkers.  

Tafoya was still running a close second place until just after the white flag flew. He got a bit too high in turn one, jumped the cushion, and fell out of the top five...finishing eighth. Russ Dickerson then came home in second place, Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, California started fifteenth, and had a great run to finish third.  Randy Havlik came from sixteenth starting spot and finished fourth, and Johnathon Logue was fifth. This was Ward's second weekly feature win of the year, after also winning the Frostbuster special.  

The IMCA Stock Cars ran their 20 lap event next.  Jake McBirnie would come away with the win in this one....his first in the Stock Car class after numerous wins in the Modified division, and prior to that, in the SportMod class. 

McBirnie had chased down leader Donavon Smith when an incident on lap ten took Smith out of the running, and now put McBirnie at the helm.  Two other Smith brothers, Devin and David then gave chase but it was to no avail as McBirnie took the checkers and earned his trip to the winner's circle.  Devin Smith, who started eleventh, gave it his all, but had to settle for the runner up spot. Mike VanGenderen ran at the front of the pack all night long, and finished in third place.  Buck Schafroth took fourth after starting in twelfth spot, and David Smith rounded out the top five. 

The night's racing ended with the 15 lap A main for the IMCA Hobby Stocks, which went non-stop.  Aaron Martin, Sigourney, Iowa took over the lead from Aron Fye on lap five, and never looked back.  He pulled away to a comfortable lead in the final handful of laps, and put his first ever win at Boone in the books. He stated in his post-race interview he intended to run Super Nationals, and this was a good moral booster. 

Mike Smith started in tenth position, and finished as the runner up, early leader Fye finished in third place, Seth Janssen was fourth, and John Watson took fifth. 

Next Saturday night, August 20, is Season Championship night that will close out the regular season at Boone.  However, there is much, much more racing ahead for Boone Speedway before the curtain comes down for 2022. 

 August 27 will be the Tune-Up for the Super Nationals, the P1P Challenge and the Watermelon Classic.  The Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites will be on the program. 

The  following week, September 3 and 4, will be the Wild Rose Casino Prelude to the Super Nationals.  On Saturday the 3rd of September, the Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Compacts and Mod Lites will run.  Then on the 4th, it will be the Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks, and the Mod Lites will have their Super Nationals title run....making them the first of the 2022 Super Nationals Champions.  Both days are hot laps at 3, and racing at 4.

Then on Labor Day Monday, September 5, it will be the week-long run of the 2022 Super Nationals.  Hot laps are scheduled for 1 p.m. each day, and racing at 2.  

The Iowa race season is on the down slide, so find a race to attend and help support dirt track racing!

Tony Olson outruns cousin Kyle for the $1K BHE Night SportMod win

It was Bob Harris Enterprises Night at the Marshalltown races on Friday, and there was a $1,000 to the winner of the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods that highlighted the show.  Tony Olson took home that money. Cody Laney found victory lane in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, and it was Dallon Murty, that paced the field in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.  Austin Mehmen saw the checkers for the first time in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock class.  Jason Masengarb took the honors in the IMCA STARS Mod Lite division, and Kolby Sabin returned to the winner's circle in the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts.

Jason Masengarb, Colona, Illinois, caught and passed early leader Randy Bryan on his way to the checkers in the 15 lap feature for the STARS Mod Lites. He snatched the lead on lap seven and from then on never looked back as he pulled away, and won easily.  Bryan finished a distant second, Jacob Copley, Milan, Illinois took third place, it was Josh May in fourth, and Joel Huggins finished fifth.  The race went flag to flag....the only one to do so 

The headline event for the evening was the 20 lap feature for the IMCA SportMods, as they ran for $1,000 to the winner thanks to Bob Harris Enterprises.  

Tony Olson dominated the entire race as he jumped to the lead immediately from his outside front row starting spot, was never seriously challenged, and took the checkers comfortably ahead of the field.  Kyle Olson chased his cousin most of the race, but ended up a distant runner up.  Brayton Carter started tenth, and finished in third place, and eleventh place starter Jenae Gustin was fourth.  Kalin Lopez rounded out the top five.  This was Olson's third win of the regular season.

Taylor Kuehl, in her sharp looking new or newly wrapped car, was in the thick of the top runners when she was nudged off of turn one, and did an easily roll over the bank. Her night ended on lap ten. 

The IMCA Sport Compacts joined in the fun again at the High Banks.  They ran a 15 lap feature.  Kolby Sabin started fifth, had the lead at lap two....only to slip off the top of turns three and four...bringing out a yellow.  Sabin then had to tag the tail for the restart, which now had Tyler Fiebelkorn in command.  

Sabin wasn't done yet however. By lap seven, he was back in the lead!  He ran the top of the track...now being a bit more cautious, pulled away from the pack, and took the flying checkers and the win.  Marshalltown's own John Gill took second place, Fiebelkorn was third, another hometown driver, Travis Hatch was fourth, and it was David Kimmel, New Virginia, Iowa, completing the top five. This was Sabin's fifth trip to Victory Lane this year, but perhaps, his most impressive.

The IMCA Stock Cars came to the track next for their 20 lap main event.

Kaden Reynolds started on the pole and immediately took the lead.  By lap three, he was being harassed by sixth place starter Dallon Murty, piloting his father Damon's car. Murty's night could have very easily ended earlier in the night, when he and two other cars were damaged in their heat race.

Then the slides began....Reynolds holding back Murty for a couple of laps until it finally stuck.  Murty's nice lead would vanish on lap twelve when a caution flew for a spinning car, and Reynolds anxious for the restart.

Murty however wasn't about to give up his lead, as he ran the rim of the track in three and four, and diamond down off of the top of turn one and into two keeping Reynolds at bay.

As the laps counted down, Reynolds and Austin Kaplan were dueling it out for the number two position, as Murty continued on his merry way at the front. Kaplan was able to make the pass into second in the closing moments, taking second behind Murty, and Reynolds taking third.  Taylor Kuehl ran at the front of the pack all night long, and took fourth, and Steve Meyer finished in fifth.  This was Dallon Murty's first Stock Car win at Marshalltown this year, winning in his dad's patched up ride. 

As a note, Tim Ward was in a Stock Car last evening, piloting the hot rod of Jay Schmidt.

Carlisle, Iowa's Garrett Wilson was looking strong in the 20 lap A main of the IMCA Modifieds. He jumped from third starting spot to the lead on lap one and then kept it there with some heavy hitters chasing him.  He was able to maneuver through lap traffic, still leading at the halfway mark, as now Cody Laney and Tim Ward were hot on his tail.

A spinning car brought out the yellow on lap fifteen, and this proved to be Wilson's undoing.  Cody Laney took to the top of the High Banks, and had the lead on sixteen.  He then kept it the rest of the way to the checkers and the win.  Wilson ran an impressive race, but had to settle for second.  Tim Ward finished third, last week's winner Jake McBirnie started thirteenth and took fourth, and Dallon Murty came from tenth to finish fifth.  

The 20 lap IMCA Hobby Stocks put a night cap on the racing program.  Austin Mehmen led this one from start to finish to snag his first win of the year.  He was content to let a gaggle of cars fight it out behind him for position throughout most of the race.  As the checkers flew, it was Eric Knutson taking second place from starting in twelfth position.  Calvin Dhondt came on strong in the closing laps and finished in third.  Early contender Sam West finished fourth, and Sully, Iowa's Cory Van Der Wilt was fifth.

There were one hundred sixteen cars checked in for the Friday fun time last night, and once again we enjoyed the evening with racing friends.  It was a much cooler night at the races compared to last week's hot one.  However, by night's end the strong SE wind had us cold blooded souls opting for an extra layer. 

The race season is winding down, and we will soon be yearning for these nights spent at the race track.  Get out and find a race to attend, and keep supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing! 

 

Gustin finds Victory Lane at Boone

It was a warm one at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night and a sparse crowd due to the extreme temperatures and humidity.  The racing went on however as the IMCA Sport Compacts joined in the fun, along with the regular weekly classes.

It was Water World night at the track on the grandstand side, and the youngsters....and others....got to enjoy a slip 'n slide for some cooling off fun on the sweltering night.  

Jimmy Gustin returned to Victory Lane after a long absence in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds.  Johnathon Logue returned to the winner's circle in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, and Braden Richards took his second feature win of the season in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class.  Riley Christensen got win number one when he took checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, it was Joe Glick winning the IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature, and the IMCA MACH-1 Sport Compact win went to Kolby Sabin.  The 2-person Cruisers completed their season at Boone Speedway, and the Tag Team Belt went to Max Allen and Michael Miller.

Feature racing kicked off with the STARS Mod Lites running their 15 lap main event.  Joe Glick took the win by holding off the challenges of Joel Huggins in a close one at the finish line.  Following a ways behind in third was Austin Gray.  Bryan Zehm was fourth, and early leader Ben George came home in fifth.  This was Glick's second win of the year.

At lap ten of the Mod Lite feature, the race was red flagged when Chad Culp came to a halt in turn one. It was then determined that there was some sort of medical issue, and the ambulance came to help him out of his car.  He was alert and talking, but was transported.  No word on what may have happened. 

The IMCA Northern SportMods 18 lap feature was plagued with yellows, which seemed at times to come every one or two laps.

Jeremiah Reed led the opening laps, but on lap three it was Camden Vincent as captain of the ship.  Reed would weather through four more yellows before Braden Richards, who had been pressuring the leader lap after lap, was finally able to make the pass for the lead with just two laps remaining.  Richards would also have to withstand a caution and subsequent restart in a green-white-checkered finish.  He was able to do so and snagged his second win of the 2022 in this, his rookie year in the SportMod division. He is the son of Stock Car driver, "Hot" Rod Richards.

Following second place Vincent across the line was St. Joseph, Missouri's Tim Eaton, who started twelfth, and finished in third.  Fourth went to early leader Jeremiah Reed, and completing the top five was Dusty Masolini.

It was a crowd-pleasing win in the IMCA Modified 20 lap main event when Jimmy Gustin saw the checkers first.  Gustin, who started ninth, took the lead from Adam Hommerding, visiting Lake Havasu City, Arizona racer, just before the halfway mark of the event.

As the race wore on, Gustin had some heavy hitters breathing down his neck in the likes of Tim Ward, Jake McBirnie, Nick Roberts, and Russ Dickerson who were duking it out behind him for position. However, as the checkers flew, it was Gustin taking the win.  Ward, McBirnie, Roberts, and Dickerson filled out second through fifth respectively.

Gustin exclaimed in his Victory Lane interview, that it had been a long time in coming....his first win since June of 2020. He is a previous track champion, a Super Nationals champion, and has won many times in the past, so this one was extra sweet after not seeing that checkered flag for so long.

The IMCA Sport Compacts got their Super Nationals Shake Down run as they joined the other IMCA classes last night.  They ran a 15 lap feature event.

Kolby Sabin started ninth, took the lead on lap three and drove away.  He finished far ahead of second place Tyler Fiebelkorn, who was successful in fending off the advances of third place Jacob Walding.  Matt Miller started eleventh and took fourth, and it was Tayla Lange taking fifth place.

The IMCA Stock Cars had their own caution plagued 20 lap feature event, the time limit being called on lap fourteen when the fifth yellow flew....then going caution free the rest of the way. In the end it was Johnathon Logue standing in Victory Lane after he passed polesitter Brandon Williams on lap eight, and then held on to claim the win.  

Josh Daniels, who had just come off his Salute to Veterans win, worked the bottom of the track and finished as the runner up after starting back in eighteenth.  Early leader Brandon Williams took third, fourth was seventeenth place starter David Smith, and Mike Vondrak, Galva, Iowa was fifth.

The night cap was 15 laps of IMCA Hobby Stock racing, and they went flag to flag.  Riley Christensen saw his first win, as he led all but a brief moment to capture his first ever win at the Speedway.  Chad Rigby was the one challenging Christensen for much of the race.  He was able to take the lead for just a fleeting moment, and had to settle for second place.  Third went to Matt McDonald, John Watson was fourth, and Solomon Bennett was fifth.

It's less than a month away until the 40th IMCA Super Nationals will be running.  August 20 is Season Championship night, then on the following Saturday, August 27 it will be the Tune-Up for the Super Nationals.  The Wild Rose Casino Prelude to the Super Nationals follows the next weekend, September 3 and 4, and then Monday, Labor Day August 5, is day #1 of the Super Nationals for 2022.  This will be our 35th straight year of attending the Super Nationals, and we look forward to it once again.  

It hardly seems possible that it is that time of the year again, with racing winding down at most tracks.  Keep supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing!

 

Neal Takes SLMR Dale DeFrance Memorial Title

The pits as well as the stands were full at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday evening.  One hundred forty-six race cars checked in for the 5th Annual Dale DeFrance Memorial race. Sponsors for the night were Iowa Seamless Gutter and P & D Welding Solutions.  The Hoker Trucking SMLR Super Late Models and the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks joined the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks for the racing action.

Prizes and giveaways for drivers and fans was an added bonus for the evening.

It was not a track points night for the IMCA classes, but National, Regional, and State points were awarded, and extra money was on the line in the draw/redraw show. All drivers left with extra money or product certificates, and the winners went home with beautiful huge trophies.  

The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks kicked off the night's feature racing.  This one was led all 20 laps by Garrison, Iowa's Joren Fisher.  Fisher started on the pole and kept it at the front to take the checkers.  It was a battle between Jacob Floyd and Eric Knutson behind the winner, with Knutson taking second place on the final lap, and tenth place starter Floyd going third.  Seth Janssen was fourth, and Bradly Graham started thirteenth, and finished fifth.  

The IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods saw Logan Anderson pull away in the second half of the 20 lap A Main and win going away.  He finished well ahead of second place Brayton Carter, who he caught and passed on lap nine.  Tony Olson was third, fourth went to Izac Mallicoat, and twelfth place starter Matt Avila from Prescott, Iowa rounded out the top five.  Anderson, in his "Herbie the Love Bug" deemed car, started seventh and earned himself $500 for the win.  

The headliner for the evening was up next for 44 laps of SLMR Super Late Model feature racing.  The 44 lap event honored the car number of the late Dale DeFrance. The much anticipated race had been postponed twice prior due to weather, but the third time was the charm on Friday night.

Thirty-seven Late Models were on hand, and after heat races, two B mains, and two provisionals were added, the 26 car field was set for 44 laps and a payday of $4,400 to the winner.

Tad Pospisil, Norfolk, Nebraska was the early race leader with Omaha's Jake Neal tucked in on his tail. The two went at it for lap after lap until Neal was finally able to slip into the lead on lap fourteen.

The second half of the race, with Neal still in command as he circled the rim of the race track, now had Luke Goedert to contend with.  Heavy lap traffic came into play in the closing laps. Goedert was able to briefly take the top spot away, but Neal came right back and regained the lead.  He was then able to hold it to the flying checkers and win the Dale DeFrance Memorial.  Goedert finished in second, third place was Andy Eckrich, Joel Callahan started eleventh and finished in fourth, and Jeff Tharp completed the top five.

I'm sure Goedert, who drives the #44 car was wanting the win last night...the 44 not only his car number, but that of the late Dale DeFrance who the evening honored, in the 44 lap race.  It was have been very symbolic.

Former winners of the DeFrance Memorial have been Ryan Dolan, Jeff Aikey has won twice, and Justin Kay was last year's winner.

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars were running for $750 in their 20-lap feature.  

Chelsea, Iowa's Damon Murty came away with the prize in the Stock Car class.  Murty started sixth, and shot through the front runners and into the lead by lap six.  He ran the rim of the track while he was content to let them duke it out for position behind him.

A couple of late race cautions made for some interesting restarts. However, Murty protected his lead, was able to get back to the top, and race his way to one of his many victories at the track.  

Misfortune caught two of the front runners near the end of the race when they got together in turn one.  Taylor Kuehl and Dave Atcher had been fighting for second spot when they had their night end for a chance at the podium.

Kaden Reynolds came on strong in the closing moments to race his way to second place.  Buck Schafroth, Orient, Iowa just got by Leah Wroten at the finish line as they went third and fourth respectively.  Marshalltown's own Scott Rice raced from twelfth starting spot to finish fifth.

The IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds were vying for a $1,000 pay day and a spot on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star race at the IMCA Super Nationals.  

Jake McBirnie, in his beautifully wrapped Salute to Veterans car, started on the pole, and kept it there all 20 laps of the the feature race.  Joel Rust and Tim Ward harassed the leader at times, but they never were able to shake him, as McBirnie went home to the checkers and the win.  Rust was able to hold back Ward as they finished second and third respectively.  Veteran racer Jeff Aikey came from fifteenth starting spot to take fourth place, and it was Gatlin Leytham taking fifth.

The night's racing ended with the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks.  Todd Cooney led from the drop of the green, was annoyed by son Shawn Cooney at one point, but then pulled away and took the night cap win.  Shonn Mapes made a late race charge, got by Shawn Cooney on the final lap and finished second, Cooney going third.  Fourth was Rick Clark, and Lucas Richardson finished fifth. 

Racing continues next Friday night, August 12, with the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts, and STARS Mod Lites in action.  Hot laps are 6:55, and the green flag drops at 7:30.   

Where did the race season go?  Find a race to attend and keep supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing!