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!
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