The Boone Speedway held its weekly racing series on Saturday night, even after the area had nearly 7 inches of rain earlier in the week, and the track was covered with water. We understood things were floating around the track, and hoping Mother Nature got all of that out of her system for the 2023 Super Nationals. The drainage system and the great track prep crew somehow had the track in perfect racing condition that saw multi-lane racing from the 158 race cars checked into the pits.
There was only one repeat winner, that being Matt Avila in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class. First time wins this regular season went to Johnathon Logue, in a near photo finish in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, David Smith in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Eric Knutson in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and Cory Sonner in the IMCA Stealth Racing STARS Mod Lites.
The 15 lap IMCA STARS Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck, and Farm kicked off feature racing.
David Bailey had a big lead in the early going of the race, but Josh May reeled him in and with just three laps remaining was on his tail. That's when disaster struck for the two drivers, when a close racing incident occurred in turn four, leaving them both stopped on the track, and bringing out a caution. The two then drove off into the pits, their night ended.
Cory Sonner inherited the lead for the restart of the run to the checkers when the race returned to green. He was then able to hold on to the lead the remainder of the race, and got to take a trip to Victory Lane for the first time this year. Bryan Zehm started ninth and took the runner up spot, with eighth place starter Austin Gray a close third. Fourth was Randy Bryan, and Joe Glick completed the top five. Josh May continues his points lead, with Gray setting 8 points out.
The IMCA Northern SportMods, presented by Elmquist Towing ran 18 laps for their feature event, and it was Matt Avila leading all but the first three laps to take his ride to the winner's circle for the second time this year. He got the lead on lap four, and pulled away to take the win by a near straightaway. Danny Fye started eleventh on the field, and raced his way through the pack to finish in second place. Third went to Jessiah Taylor, fourth was Hunter Longnecker, and Curtis Veber started thirteenth, and finished in fifth. Fye is holding a slim one point lead over Dusty Masolini for the track points, Ryan Leeman just out two points, which is looking to be a fight for the track title.
Up next was 20 laps of IMCA Modified feature racing, presented by D & E Outside Services. This one turned into a barnburner, and a near photo finish at the line.
Tim Love, who was wheeling his #27 for the last time, and hanging up his racing career, started on the outside of the front row, and immediately grabbed the lead.
Love continued his ride at the front of the pack through lap ten, when a caution flew. By this time, Johnathon Logue had gotten to second, and was chomping at the bit for the restart. It was just what Logue wanted as he had the lead when lap eleven was in the books.
Logue put some distance between himself and the field but that was all erased when the race was red flagged, with just two laps remaining. That's when "TM3", Troy Morris, III, Bakersfield, California visiting racer took a tumble off the top of turn two, halting the race. Morris was unhurt, and when the race was restarted, Logue had some heavy company behind him....Russ Dickerson running in second, twelfth place starter Tim Ward restarting third, and last week's winner, Jimmy Gustin in fourth.
The green-white-checkered finish proved to be a thriller. Tim Ward swung around the topside and grabbed the lead as the white flag flew, but Logue was able to push ahead just enough coming out of corner four and make it to the finish line 25/1000 of a second ahead of Ward and snag the win. Ward had to settle for second, third went to Jacob Murray, fourth was Jimmy Gustin, and veteran racer Russ Dickerson was fifth.
Jimmy Gustin took over the points lead for the Modifieds, and leads Jeremy Mills by 4 points. Mills had issues earlier, spinning out at one point and having to race his way back through the field.
The IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge ran their 20 lap feature caution free, with cars finding a groove high, low, and in the middle of the track.
Mathew West, Kellerton, Iowa racer looked strong as he held down the top spot easily through the first portion of the race. By the halfway mark, David Smith had caught the leader and then the excitement began. The two ran closely lap after lap until Smith was finally able to get under West on the backstretch on lap nineteen, and then was able to hang on to take the win...his first this season. West had to be content with the runner up position, Donavon Smith raced his way from tenth starting spot to take third, fourth went to Chris Pruitt, and point leader Scott Davis finished fifth. Davis is setting five points up on Donovan Smith in the points chase.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks, presented by Pickett Salvage, ran 15 laps to put a nightcap on the evening's racing.
Jimmy Johnson, Cherokee, Iowa jumped to the immediate lead from his pole starter position when the race went green. Seth Butler was quickly into second and chasing the leader, and Eric Knutson throwing his hat into the ring to run third when the only caution of the race flew on lap three. When the race restarted, Knutson made his way into second and began pestering the leader. It took until lap eight before his persistence paid off, and Knutson took over the top spot. Knutson held on then the rest of the way to take the win, also his first of the year, with Johnson finishing a close second. Seth Butler took third place, fourth went to fourteenth place starter John Watson, and Solomon Bennett took fifth after starting tenth. John Watson is leading points, 11 points up on Solomon Bennett.
Next Saturday night, July 22 is another weekly racing series for the IMCA classes and a King of the Katwalks paying $2500 to the Stock Cars. Pits open at 4:30, Grandstands at 5:30, Hot laps at 6, and racing at 7.
Keep on supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing!
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