Murty, McBirnie, Van Wyk, Butler, May, and Mills take Prelude Preview wins

Boone Speedway was back in action on Saturday night with their Prelude Preview show in an all draw/redraw format for all classes. There were many new faces among the familiar ones in the 180 cars that came to race as things get geared up for the 41st IMCA Super Nationals.

Dallon Murty held his ground and took the win in a spectacular finish in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds. Jake McBirnie won in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, and it was Dylan Van Wyk taking the honors in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod division.  Seth Butler saw victory in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock class, his first ever at Boone, and Josh May continued his winning ways in the IMCA Stealth Racing STARS Mod Lites.  A First Time Winner Race in the Stock Cars was also held and that went to Jeremy Mills.

Prior to the races, a new flagstand was dedicated in honor of the first track's flagman, Floyd Michel.  It was nice to see the more sturdy flagstand to help keep the flagman safe.  We were told it was bullet proof glass now protecting the man who waves the flags.

The Mod Lites, presented by Carquest ran their 15 lap A main first, and the race went flag to flag.

Joe Glick was the leader for the first seven laps but he had his hands full fending off the advances of Josh May.  May, the track champion who started sixth was quickly up to challenge the leader and after several laps of side by side racing,  May made the pass on the inside and was scored the leader at lap eight.  It was all May's race there on out, as he pulled away and took the checkers going away.  Glick finished as the runner up, Joel Huggins, who has run a limited schedule this year, finished in third place, fourth went to Austin Gray, and tenth place starter, Randy Bryan, was fifth.

The SportMods, presented by Elmquist Towing came to the track next for their 18 lap main event and it also went caution free.

Dylan Van Wyk, Oskaloosa, Iowa racer,  started on the outside front row, grabbed the lead immediately and never looked back.  He had a sizable lead with just a handful of laps in the books, and from there on out, stretched it our even further, and won going away.  Curtis Veber, the pole sitter finished as the runner up, third went to ninth place starter Jake Sachau, Ben Chapman, Clarence, Iowa visiting driver finished in fourth place, and Josh Appel, Garner, Iowa was fifth.

The IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge, ran 20 laps for their A Main.

Early leader was Jeff Mueller but he soon had sixth place starter Jake McBirnie breathing down his neck. After a couple of peeks under Mueller, he was able to pull off the pass into the lead, and was scored the leader on lap six.  McBirnie then weathered three cautions and subsequent restarts easily, and went home comfortably to the flying checkers and the win.  Jake Sachau took second, a distant third was Jeff Mueller, fourth went to tenth place starter Bob Daniels, and Austin Meiners came from twelfth, to finish fifth.

The IMCA Modifieds, presented by D & E Outside Services, ran a 20 lap feature, and what a show they put on for the fans.

Dallon Murty started on the pole and jumped to the immediate lead, but sixth place starter, Tom Berry, Jr. was on his tail when lap one was scored.  Those two would be the show up front for the rest of the race.  Murty and Berry toured the top of the track closely and when a caution flew at lap 17, it could have been a game changer.  It wasn't to be however, as THE "Game Changer", Dallon Murty fended off some spectacular sliders from Berry, but they were no avail, and Murty skillfully earned his victory at the checkers. Berry had to be content with second place on this night. Tim Ward took third place after starting in twelfth position, Riley Simmons was fourth, and Cory Sauerman rounded out the top five.

The IMCA Hobby Stocks, presented by Pickett Salvage had a 15 lap feature.  The winner of this one was a happy camper as he saw checkers for the first time at Boone after being a regular at the track for several years. He had won at another track, but his comment in Victory Lane was, "but it wasn't Boone"!

Seth Butler grabbed the lead from the outside front row position, weathered a yellow caution and restart, and led all 15 laps on his way to his first win at the track.  Butler, who has been close before, finally captured that elusive first win. It was an emotional interview in Victory Lane as he thanked his supporters, sponsors, and fans.  John Watson, the 2023 track champion, finished as the runner up. Audubon, Iowa racer, Riley Christensen took third place, fourth was Zach Hemmingsen, and Wayne Gifford was fifth.

The night ended with the running of the 2nd Annual John Logue First Time Winner Race for the IMCA Stock Cars.  This race was for drivers who had never won a feature in a Stock Car previously.

Veteran racer Calvin "Buck" Swanson led the field for the first two laps until Scott Olson took over on lap three.  Just a few laps later, it was Jeremy Mills, challenging the leader.  Olson was able to fend off the advances until just five laps remained, when Mills grabbed the lead.  Mills, who has won in the Hobby Stock and Modified classes, then held on to the top spot the rest of the way home and claimed his first ever IMCA Stock Car feature win.  Second place went to Drew Janssen who started sixteenth, third was nineteenth place starter Braden Richards, Dillon Solum started thirteenth and finished fourth, and young Rowdee Van Genderen started twenty-first, and finished in fifth. Mills also is now qualified for the IMCA Stock Car All Star Invitational at the upcoming Super Nationals.

Next Saturday night, September 2 will be Night #1 of the Wild Rose Casino Double Down Prelude to the Super Nationals, presented by NAPA. IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Compacts, and Mod Lites will be on the docket.  Pits open at 11, grandstands at 1, hot laps at 2, and racing at 3.  Night #2 of the Prelude will be Sunday, September 3, when the Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks will be racing, and the Mod Lites will have their 2023 Super Nationals feature which will crown the first of this year's winners of the 41st running of the IMCA Super Nationals. The ninth annual Prelude is now billed as the Double Down Prelude, with double features in any class with more than 100 cars.  

Then, on Labor Day Monday, September 4, it will be the first of five straight days/nights of racing at the Boone Speedway for the 41st IMCA Super Nationals, and America's Racin' Vacation.  God willing, we plan to see it once again for our 35th year straight.

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

 

Murty and Murty take Show Down Shake Down wins

It was KIX 101.1 and KFJB Night at the Marshalltown Speedway Friday for a Showdown Shakedown for next week's Showdown at MoTown.  Winners on the night were Dallon Murty in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, and dad Damon Murty saw the checkers first in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.  The IMCA Friesen Performance SportMod feature went to Jenae Gustin, and Corey Van Der Wilt won the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks.  The Stealth Racing IMCA STARS main event went to Jon Padilla, and the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compact winner was Devin Jones.  Also on exhibition were the Outlaw Cruisers with the duo of Corey Van Der Wilt, and Brett Maasdam, known as "Thunder and Lightning",  taking those honors.  

The Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation ran their feature first, and it was also their season championship night after all of the other IMCA weekly classes wrapped up their season last week. They were shorted a night during the season when a rained out makeup show did not allow for them on the docket. The cars were pulled to the frontstretch and there were out of car driver introductions before their 15 lap feature.

Darrick Knutsen led the opening laps but Jon Padilla, who started ninth on the grid, was up to challenge by lap six.  By lap seven, Padilla had the lead, never to look back. He finished well ahead of second place Cory Sonner, Josh May...who is the track champion for 2023, was third.  Fourth went to Joe Glick and visiting driver from Metamora, Illinois, Brandon Freeburg completed the top five. The race went caution free.

The SportMods, presented by Rugged Radios ran 18 laps for their main event.  Brady Hilmer led the troops through the first two laps, but Logan Anderson took command on lap three.  A yellow flew at lap five, and by this time, Jenae Gustin was running in second place and anxious for the restart.  When the race returned to green, Anderson held his ground but a smooth slider out of four as they approached the flagstand on lap ten, saw Gustin take over as leader.  She then stretched out her lead in the last portion of the race, and went home to the easy win.  Logan Anderson held on to second place, Brady Hilmer was third, fourth went to tenth place starter, Brayton Carter, and Dysart, Iowa's Joe Docekal was fifth. 

The Stock Car 20 lap feature, presented by Drury Automotive  went flag to flag.  

Damon Murty got the early lead and pulled away from the field.  Meanwhile, Jake Sachau, began to run the leader down.  He drew close in the final two laps, but Murty was never really challenged and took another familiar trip to Victory Lane. Sachau finished as the runner up, a distant third place went to Dave Atcher, Todd Reitzler was fourth, and Austin Kaplan was fifth.    

Dallon Murty drew the pole for the start of the Modified feature, presented by Tire Demon. 

Murty shot to the lead as the green flag flew, and pulled away.  Bettendorf, Iowa's Charlie Mohr fell in behind the leader.  A yellow flew at lap nine and by this time Joel Rust had moved into the third spot and on the restart, was able to make the pass into second place.  Rust was able to get under Murty briefly, but another yellow flew, and the race restart was reverted to the last completed lap, giving Murty the lead back on the restart.  Murty never let Rust get the run under him again, and kept his lead to the flying checkers and the win.  Rust took the runner up spot, third went Charlie Mohr, Dylan Thornton was fourth, and  Paul Nagle rounded out the top five.

Track champion, Corey Van Der Wilt drew the pole for the 15 lap Hobby Stock feature, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center, and took it home to the win.  He lost the lead briefly to Eric Knutson but late lap traffic would become his nemesis, and Van Der Wilt regained the top spot and took the victory.  Knutson finished second, trailing a distant third was Bradly Graham, Brett Maasdam was fourth, and Logan Andrews was fifth.  This race also went flag to flag.  

The IMCA Sport Compacts, presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown ran a 15 lap A Main.

James Haring took the lead when the race went green as Kolby Sabin began his quest coming on the top of the track and running down the leader.  Sabin had the lead on lap three but visitor Devon Jones, Mason City, Iowa and a former IMCA Super Nationals champion in the division, was also making his presence known, and by lap six, was on the leaders tail.  Lap traffic came into play as the two ran side by side, and with a lap remaining, Jones was able to take the lead, and hold it to the flying checkers.  Sabin finished second, third went to early leader James Haring, fourth was Stephen Randall, and Korey Lana was fifth.  This race also went caution free.

The call was made to start the races later in the evening due to our hot spell that had everyone sweltering with the high temperatures and humidity.  It was a good call, and by race time, it was much more comfortable and with Mother Natures "fan" blowing a bit, it turned out to be a really comfortable evening.  

It was also refreshing to see that only a total of THREE yellow flags flew during all the feature racing...one in the SportMod division, and two in the Modified. There were fewer cars on hand, 78, than during the season, but given it was not a track points race, many were opting to have a night off, or some were off to watch Friday night High School football, or some choosing to prep their cars for the upcoming Super Nationals, would be our guess.  Oh yes, and some were probably worn out from struggling during the week in our heat wave! 

A couple of notes on the evening. Jenae Gustin made her debut in an IMCA Stock Car!  She was piloting the Dilly Bar Special ride of Jeff Wollam.  We also noticed that Dallon Murty's Modified and dad Damon's Stock Car were missing some graphics last night with white side panels.  I'm sure that is in preparation for new wraps coming for the Super Nationals.

Next Friday night, September 1, is Karl of Marshalltown Show Down at Motown.  It's $1,000 to win for IMCA Modifieds, $750 for the IMCA Stock Cars, $500 for the IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Hobby Stocks, and $250 for the IMCA Sport Compacts.  The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks will also be on the docket next week.

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

Boone Speedway Crowns Five Track Champions

It was Elmquist Towing and Farley's Pre-Owned Season Championship Night at the Boone Speedway Saturday, on a hot and humid night. Feature wins went to Jeremy Mills in the IMCA Friesen Performance class, and Donavon Smith captured the win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.  Curtis Veber made it two wins in a row when he took the checkers in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod feature, Mike Smith saw his way to Victory Lane in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and it was Josh May winning the IMCA Stealth Racing STARS Mod Lite main event. Five track champions were also crowned with some tight points battles deciding who would wear that title. 

The top ten in points were locked into the A main in each division, while B mains filled in the rest of the field for their features. Extra laps were added to all divisions on Season Championship night.  All classes had out of car introductions on the frontstretch, affording fans a chance to see the driver behind the car, and show their appreciation for entertaining them all season long.

First on the track for feature racing was the Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck & Farm.

Bryan Zehm started from the pole and led the opening laps.  Josh May was quickly up to challenge and after peeking low for a way around to no avail, he switched it up, and took to the topside and had the lead by lap six.  It was all May's race from there on out as he sailed to the win in a race that went caution free.  Austin Gray finished in second place, Zehm was third, fourth went to Cory Sonner who started eleventh on the field, and Joe Glick was fifth.  This was May's seventh feature win of the year, and he took the track title by just starting the race. May was the only track champion that also won their feature of the evening. 

The Northern SportMods, presented by Elmquist Towing, were up next.  This one had a close points battle going on with three drivers in the running.  Ryan Leeman held a five point advantage over two drivers tied for second....Dusty Masolini and Cory Pestotnik.

Curtis Veber and Dusty Masolini led the field to green with Masolini getting the upper hand and taking the lead. Veber shadowed Masolini through the first ten laps, but was finally able to make the pass, and was scored as the leader when lap eleven went in the books.  Veber was then able to hold that top spot the remaining laps to the checkers, and score his second win after getting his first ever last week at the track.  Masolini finished in second place and that gave him the track title.  Cory Pestotnik took third, Hunter Longnecker finished fourth, and Jake Sachau started thirteenth, and rounded out the top five. Masolini ended up with 410 points, while Pestotnik and Leeman both had 409 points in the tightest battle for track championship of the evening.   

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge were up next for their 25 lap feature event.

Donavon Smith started on the pole and from there, he never looked back.  He had the field covered the entire time, and would pull away in the latter part of the race to take the comfortable win....his first of the year.  Kyle Everts finished a distant runner up.  Third went to brother David Smith, Tyler Pickett started twelfth, and finished fourth, and Chris Pruitt came from thirteenth, to finish in fifth place.  Point leader going into the night, Scott Davis fell out of the race with mechanical issues, but had the track title wound out when he took the green to start the race.

The IMCA Modifieds, presented by D & E Outside Services ran their 25 lap feature event next.  Going into the race, Jimmy Gustin held a nine point lead over Jeremy Mills for the track title.

Young Izac Mallicoat looked to be on his way to seeing his first win at the speedway as he expertly ran the top of the track.  By lap seven a caution flew with Jeremy Mills in second place and anxious for the restart.  It wasn't to be however, as Mallicoat kept his composure and smoothly diced through traffic with only four laps left.  That's when a caution came out and this time on the restart, it was not Mallicoat's friend.  Mills got the advantage going down the backstretch and was scored the leader on lap twenty-two.  He then kept it to the flying double checkers and the win.  Jimmy Gustin had run at the front of the field all race long, and was able to slip by Mallicoat with a lap to go, as they finished second and third respectively.  Jake McBirnie started eleventh and took fourth place, and Cory Sauerman was fifth.  This was the third win of the season for Mills.  Jimmy Gustin took the track title.

The night cap was the 20 lap feature event for the IMCA Hobby Stocks, presented by Pickett Salvage.  There was a tight points battle brewing  in this one too, with John Watson leading and Solomon Bennett setting just three points behind.

Mike Smith started fourth on the field, and wasted no time in getting to the front, taking command at lap one.  A plethora of caution flags fell in the contest, but it was no issue for Smith, as he drove off from the field each time the race returned to green.  Curt Reed crossed in second place but was docked two spots for jumping, scoring him in fourth place.  This gave the runner up spot to John Watson, and Eric Stanton came from fifteenth, to be scored third.  Seth Janssen started twelfth and finished in fifth place.  This was Smith's sixth regular feature win of the season.  John Watson was crowned the track champion.

Next Saturday night, August 26, is billed as the IMCA Super Nationals Tune-Up.  The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites will be running, along with John Logue's "First Time Feature" special event.  Pits open at 4:30, grandstands at 5:30, Hot Laps at 6, and racing at 7.

 

Champions crowned on Season Championship Night at the High Banks

It was North 3rd Avenue Dairy Queen Larry Wollam Season Championship Night at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday.  Feature wins went to Todd Shute in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified division.  It was Austin Kaplan winning the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event and Logan Anderson took the honors in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class.  Bradly Graham won the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature, and Joe Glick won the IMCA Stealth Racing STARS Mod Lites, and Mitchell Bunch saw checkers in the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts.  Only one feature winner of the night was also crowned a track champion, that being Todd Shute in the Modifieds. One track champion will not be crowned until next Friday night.  More on that later. 

The Sport Compacts, presented by Marshalltown Hy-Vee were the first on the track for their 15 lap feature, with out of car introductions prior to the start. Those on track introductions, done all night long, gave the fans an opportunity to see the driver behind the cars that put on a show for us weekly.  

Mitchell Bunch would lead all 15 laps on his way to the checkered flag.  He had pulled away from the field when a yellow flew at lap ten.  This put Kolby Sabin on his tail for the restart.  Bunch maintained his lead when the race went green, but a couple of laps later, he drifted a bit up the track, allowing Sabin to draw close and ready for his chance.  It wasn't to be however, as Bunch would take it home to the checkers and seal the win, his second of the year at the track.  Sabin, who claimed the track crown had to settle for second place.  Third went to Blake Driscol, Chad Larson came home in fourth, and Marshalltown's own John Patterson was fifth.

The Mod Lites, presented by  Knight Sanitation ran next and went 15 laps for their A feature. Since they had missed a night of racing, their track championship will be decided at next week's races.

William Nobles led lap one, but on lap two, it was Joe Glick in command.  Then, the following laps saw a great battle up front as Glick, Jason Masengarb, and Jon Padilla jostled back and forth.  Masengarb got to the front on lap seven, only to have Glick regain the lead on lap nine.  From there on out, Glick would rip the lip and take his ride home the rest of the way to the flying checkers.  Masengarb finished as the runner up, third went to Padilla, Josh May was fourth, and Cory Sonner rounded out the top five. This was Glick's first trip to Victory Lane at the speedway this year.

The Hobby Stocks, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center were next on the docket for 20 laps of racing after their on track introductions.

Ben Newhouse led the troops through the first six laps until Morning Sun, Iowa's Tucker Richardson took over at lap seven. Richardson stretched out his lead until a caution flew at lap twelve, which then saw Bradly Graham setting in second spot, and anxious for the restart.  

When the race restarted, Graham kept looking under for a way around, time after time. When those peeks didn't pay off, he opted for a slider out of turn four, and was scored the leader when lap sixteen went in the books.  He would then hold that lead, stretching it out, and take the comfortable win.  Eric Knutson got around Richardson in the closing laps as they went second and third respectively.  Fourth went to Sam West, and Calvin Dhondt came all the way from twenty-fourth starting position, to finish in fifth.  This was Graham's first feature win of the year.  The track champion for 2023 is Lynnville, Iowa's Corey Van Der Wilt. 

The Northern SportMods, presented by Rugged Radios ran a 20 lap main events, and after their kudos from the crowd it was time for their feature.  

There was a lot of moving and shaking in this race the entire time.  Zach Hovell led the opening two laps, but it was Jenae Gustin taking over on lap three.  Gustin, now driving her own car after several weeks prior in a borrowed hot rod, then had Logan Anderson to contend with as he hounded her lap after lap.  Meanwhile, Brayton Carter had moved into third place and was challenging for position.

Gustin held her lead as more drivers joined in the chase...Matt Avila, and Tony Olson.  Gustin was still leading when a caution flew with just two laps remaining. That dreaded caution....you love them, or hate them, was her undoing.  On the restart, there was contact as they exited turn two, causing Gustin to falter, and Anderson took advantage, flying into the lead.  Anderson kept the top spot in the closing moments, and took the win...his first of the year.  Matt Avila took the runner up spot, Brayton Carter was third, Jenae Gustin recovered nicely and took fourth, and Travis Peterson was fifth.  Kyle Olson would claim the track title crown in the division for 2023.

The 20 lap Stock Car feature, presented by Drury Automotive was no less exciting...with lots of, " moving and shaking, and chocolate cake baking", as Jerry Vansickel would say.  Cars were going three, four, and five wide in the opening laps, with Dave Atcher leading the mass.  Austin Kaplan, who started tenth, gained the upper hand at lap nine, as Atcher, Michael Jaennette, Tyler Pickett, and Steve Meyer duked it out behind him.  Kaplan would never give up his lead however, and went home to the win.  Steve Meyer finished in second, Tyler Pickett was third, Michael Jaennette was fourth, and Scott Rice rounded out the top five.  This was Kaplan's third win of the year.  Steve Meyer claimed the Stock Car track championship.

The finale of the night was 25 laps of Modified racing, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap.  Two drivers, Todd Shute, and Joel Rust were separated by only two points going into the race.  Both drivers were offered extra money to go to the tail on the start, Shute choosing to stay at his seventh starting spot as point leader, Rust turning down his eighth place starting position, for a chance at the extra cash. 

Polesetter, Dustin Kroening leaped into the lead as the race started, but by lap four, he had Shute on his tail.  Shute managed to get under Kroening going down the backstretch, and grabbed the lead on lap eight.  It was all Shute's race from there on out as he distanced himself from the pack, rim riding flawlessly on his way to the checkers.  Tripp Gaylord took second, Joel Rust fell a bit short, but put on a great show to finish in third place, fourth went to Ronn Lauritzen, and Maguire DeJong came on strong in the closing moments to finish in fifth. This was Shute's fourth win of the year, and he is the 2023 Modified track champion.  

There will be racing next Friday night, August 25 at the Marshalltown Speedway where it will be KIX 101.1 KFJB Night.  The Mod Lites will have their Season Championship and a track champion will be crowned.  It will be a draw/redraw show for all other classes. 

It was a great night for racing and the track was perhaps the best it's been all year long as several of the winning drivers even commented.  There was a breeze from the south that by the time the final checkers fell, had many fans wishing they had brought a jacket or even more!  Now comes the heat for the next few days, and all will be wishing for that cooling breeze.  

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

Berry clean sweeps Modifieds winning the Watermelon Classic and the P1P Challenge

The Boone Speedway was back in action on Saturday night with the running of the Watermelon Classic plus the P1P Performance Challenge race for the IMCA Modifieds.  It was a draw/redraw night for all classes, with extra money on the line, plus many bonuses and giveaways to the drivers. And of course, all heat winners as well as feature winners were also awarded a watermelon.

Tom Berry, Jr. made it a clean sweep in two features, winning both the regular feature and the P1P Challenge race for the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds.  David Smith came out on top of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, and Curtis Veber won in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods.  Andrew Berg saw Victory Lane in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and it was Josh May returning to the winner's circle in the IMCA Stealth Racing STARS Mod Lites.

The headliner P1P Challenge race for the Modifieds, saw the top fourteen drivers qualify through group timing plus earn points in heat races.  They ran 15 laps for a $1,000 payday.  Tom Berry, Jr. would lead the entire 15 laps to take the win.  David Stremme, former NASCAR driver from Mifflintown, Pennsylvania and owner of Lethal Chassis, came to try his hand at Iowa's Action Track, and finished in second place.  Cory Sauerman, Cory Wray, and Izac Mallicoat completed the top five.

The Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck & Farm ran a 15 lap feature to kick off regular feature racing for the night.

Joe Glick led the field to green and took command of the race.  With a handful of laps remaining, tenth place starter Josh May had caught the leader and was applying pressure.  A topside swing around the leader then gave May the top spot at lap twelve, which he kept to the flying checkers and the win.  Glick had to be content with the runner up position, third went to Austin Gray, Randy Bryan was fourth, and Cory Sonner was fifth.  This was May's sixth win of the 2023 season.

The Northern SportMods, presented by Elmquist Towing came to the track next for their 18 lap main event.

Curtis Veber wrestled the lead away from Jessiah Taylor on lap five and then took it the rest of the way home to the checkers.  He finished comfortably ahead of second place Matt Avila.  A distant third went to Cory Pestotnik, fourth was Dusty Lynch, and Dusty Masolini took fifth.  Veber claimed his first Northern SportMod win at the track and a $600 payoff.

The IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge, put on one whale of race the entire 25 laps as they ran for $1,000 paycheck.

When the race went green, Johnathon Logue powered to the cushion and claimed the lead with Jay Schmidt tagging on to run second.  Several caution would slow the pace but Logue and Schmidt continued to run one-two on the track in an excitingly close race.  Schmidt grabbed the lead on lap nine as Logue dogged him, but coming fast catching the leaders was tenth place starter David Smith. Smith got around Logue, and then  Schmidt made a slight slip, pushing up to the cushion, and Smith was on it, claiming the lead on lap eighteen.  He then took his ride home to the checkers first, Schmidt taking second place.  Johnathon Logue finished third, Michael Jaennette had a great run, coming from fourteenth starting spot to finish in fourth, and Scott Olson was fifth.  This was Smith's second feature win of the year.

The IMCA Modified, presented by D & E Outside Services also ran a 25 lap feature that paid $1000 to the winner.

Cory Sauerman led the first five laps, until David Stremme was able to get under him and take over the lead at lap six.  Meanwhile, Tom Berry, Jr., who recently switched to a Lethal Cassis, had caught second place Sauerman and was applying pressure.  Berry was able to take over second place and then the chase was on to catch Stremme.  Berry slowly reeled in the leader and at lap seventeen had the lead.  It was short lived however as Stremme was again the leader at lap twenty-one.  The final circuits was a treat for the fans as Stremme and Berry duked it out.  With a lap remaining, Berry, the defending IMCA Super Nationals Champion got the advantage and grabbed the lead away, and then went home to the win. Stremme, in his first time racing at the track, and who had Boone Speedway and Marshalltown Speedway (he raced there Friday night) on his bucket list, had to settle for the runner up spot.  Eighteenth place starter Jeremy Mills made a late race charge and finished in third place.  Fourth went to Tim Ward, who started sixteenth, and early leader Cory Sauerman rounded out the top five.

The 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, presented by Pickett Salvage closed out the night's racing.

Solomon Bennett started on the outside front row and immediately grabbed the lead.  He quickly had Andrew Burg breathing down his neck.  Burg snagged the lead at lap eight, and then never looked back on his way to victory.  Seventh place starter John Watson finished in second, Bennett took third, Rusty Bates was fourth, and Seth Janssen was fifth.

Next Saturday night, August 19 is Season Championship night.  Pits open at 4:30, grandstand at 5:30, hot laps at 6:00, and racing at 7. Then on August 26, it will be IMCA Super Nationals Tune-up night.  September 2-3 will be the Wild Rose Casino Prelude to the Super Nationals, and then on Labor Day, Monday September 4 it will be the 2023 IMCA Super Nationals through September 9.  Crazy how fast the racing season has flown by and will soon be over!

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

Carter takes home $1K on BHE Night before the Creek

It was $1,000 to win for IMCA Northern SportMods at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night, thanks to "BHE Night before the Creek" special at the speedway's sister track, 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wisconsin. Brayton Carter went home $1,000 richer taking home that honor.  Other winners on the night were Joel Rust in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, Michael Jaennette in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Eric Knutson in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and Jason Masengarb won the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites.

The headliner for the night, the Northern SportMods, presented by Rugged Radios ran their 20 lap $1,000 to win feature first.

Jarett Franzen led the opening lap of the race but by lap three, it was Sam Wieben leading the troops.  Wieben was still leading when a caution flew at lap twelve, but he had big time company by now with a pair of Oskaloosa, Iowa drivers, Curtis Van Der Wal, and Brayton Carter on his tail. 

When the race returned to green, Van Der Wal was able to get the advantage by going topside, and took command of the race at lap thirteen.  Then another yellow would fly at lap fourteen, and this time it would be Brayton Carter getting the advantage on the restart, and fly into the lead.  It was all Carter's race the rest of the way to the checkers....matching his win from last week....and his fifth of the regular season.  Travis Peterson started tenth, and finished as the runner up, third went to Sam Wieben, fourth to Curtis Van Der Wal, and Logan Anderson rounded out the top five.

The Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation came to the track next for their 15 lap feature which went flag-to-flag...the only race of the night to do so.  

Jason Masengarb, the Colona, Illinois racer wasted no time in getting to the front, taking the lead on lap one, and keeping his ride there all 15 caution free laps.  RJ Gonzales made it interesting in the closing laps after catching the leader, but had to be content with a second place finish.  Third was tenth place starter Jon Padilla, fourth was Josh May, and Cory Sonner completed the top five.  

The IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Drury Automotive ran a 20 lap feature event.

Dave Atcher led the field to green and kept his #2 at the front through lap fifteen.  By then, Michael Jaennette had worked his way from starting seventh and was on the leader's tail.  A slight touch between the two was all it took in turn four, bringing out a caution. The incident found Atcher setting stopped up high in turn four, and his night ended. 

Jaennette had the lead when the race restarted and that's where he kept his ride the rest of the way to the flying checkers, his first of the 2023 season.  Jeff Wollam finished in the second position, third went to ninth place starter, Todd Reitzler, fourth was Austin Kaplan, and Scott Rice took fifth. 

Jaennette, whose car had been practically rebuilt the past week after suffering severe damage at the B & B Racing Chassis Stock Car special in Arlington, Minnesota, had to feel pleased when he saw that checkered flag flying!  

The ground pounding IMCA Modifieds, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap, ran next, for their 20 lap main event.

Chase Weimer and Paul Nagle led the field to green, with Nagle grabbing the lead as lap one was scored.  Nagle was looking strong running out front through the halfway point of the contest, but by this time, it was Todd Shute who had raced his way from ninth starting spot, to tag on to the leader.  A swift move coming out of turn four gave Shute the lead on lap twelve.  It was looking to be a runaway for Shute, but bad luck would rear its ugly head when just three laps later, he was off power on the backstretch.  This brought out a yellow, and Nagle inheriting the lead on the restart, and Joel Rust now running second.  Rust was able to pull off a slide job coming out of turn four with just two laps remaining to take over as captain of the ship, and then he would hold on to it the rest of the way for the win.  Maguire DeJong ran at the front of the pack most of the race, and finished as the runner up, getting by third place finisher Nagle in the closing laps. Fourth went to a visitor from Pennsylvania, the former Nascar racer and Lethal Chassis owner, David Stremme, and Ronn Lauritzen took fifth place. 

The IMCA Hobby Stocks, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center put a night cap on the racing.

Ben Newhouse led the opening lap of the 20 lap affair, but by lap two, it was Solomon Bennett taking over.  Bennett kept hold of that lead until unlucky lap thirteen when it was Eric Knutson taking command.  Knutson would then hold that lead the rest of the way and pull away to take the comfortable win over Bennett in second. Calvin Dhondt fought his way through traffic from starting twenty-first and taking third place.  John Watson finished in fourth, and Corey VanDerWilt was fifth.  This was Knutson's third feature win at the track this year.

It was a hot and muggy night at the racetrack but a thankful southerly breeze helped tremendously.  As the night wore on, we sat and watched the sky with two approaching cells looking to collide and then lightning flashing to the north.  Thankfully, it was far enough away to be no bother.  It does appear to have spoiled the Night of 1000 Stars at the Hancock County Speedway in Britt however, as no results are shown on My Race Pass.  

Next Friday night at Marshalltown Speedway is Larry Wollam Memorial Season Championship.  How can that be?  The summer has flown by.  Make sure to find a race to support to keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing....alive and well!

Repeat winners, along with Sachau, Masengarb, and Jones seeing first time checkers

 It was another big night of racing at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night, that saw 175 race cars checked into the pits. Several big races had been in the area that brought to town many visiting racers. However, thelarger car numbers is also common at Boone as the Super Nationals draws closer, and they are hoping to "test the track".  Sauerman Trucking boosted the payout for the Mod Lite division to a $500 payday, as well as kicking in $50 to each heat winner in all divisions.

Feature winners of the night were Jake McBirnie in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, and Jake Sachau stepped into an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and took home the trophy.  Cam Reimers paid his third visit to the winners circle this season by capturing the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod feature win, and it was Mike Smith returning to Victory Lane in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.  Jason Masengarb won the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lite main event, and the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts were on the docket and it was Devin Jones taking that win.

The Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck & Farm ran their 15 lap feature event first.

Early race leader was David Bailey with Scott Bailey giving chase and that was the running order when the race was halted on lap eight.  The race was red flagged when John Patterson rolled his brand new ride in turn four, but was thankfully okay.  When the race went back to green, a lap was not completed when the race was once again red flagged when disaster struck on the backstretch.  This time it was Joe Wood taking the tumble, with Scott Bailey and David Meinecke also involved.  Once again, thankfully no one was hurt.

David Bailey held his lead when the race did get back underway, but it was short-lived as he lost the handle and spun, bringing out a yellow.  When the race restarted, it was Colona, Illinois' Jason Masengarb inheriting the lead.  It was all Masengarb's race from there on out as he motored home to the checkers untouched.  Finishing in second place was sixteenth place starter Mike Kennedy, and Josh May got back to third place after an early incident put him to tag the tail.  Fourth was Tanner Gannon who came from fourteenth starting spot, and Jason Toppenberg, thirteenth place starter, was fifth.

The Northern SportMod 18 lap feature, presented by Elmquist Towing was up next, and it was Cam Reimers scoring the win, his third of the season.

Cam Reimers took over the lead on lap three, getting around young Gage Hilgenberg, and then he never looked back.  Several yellows slowed the action, but it was no hinderance to Reimers as he took the twin checkers.  Last week's winner Matt Avila hard charged his way to second place after starting twentieth.  Curtis Veber finished third, and Dusty Masolini and Ryan Leeman completed the top five.

The IMCA Stock Car 20 lap feature, presented by Boone Moose Lodge provided plenty of exciting action as always.

It was three and four wide racing in the opening laps with Micheal Smith leading the fray going on behind him.  Todd VanEaton soon got to his bumper, but Smith held him off.  Then both drivers were overcome by seventh place starter Jake Sachau who took over the top spot on lap ten.   He never relinquished it as he went home to the flying checkers and his first Stock Car win at Boone Speedway.  Scott Davis started twelfth, and it was brothers-in-law Jay Schmidt and Micheal Smith going third and fourth in that order.  Miciah Hidlebaugh rounded out the top five.

The IMCA Sport Compacts made their only appearance of the year, before reappearing on Tuesday of this year's Super Nationals.   They ran a 15 lap main event.

Kaytee Devries was the early race leader but by lap five Devin Jones, who started eighth, had taken over.  Jones, a former Super Nationals Champion in his hatch back ride kept that top spot the rest of the way to the win. Jake Paysen made a late race rally to take the number two spot, in a close one at the line over third place Mitchell Bunch. Matt Miller was fourth, and Kaytee Devries took fifth place.

The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, presented by D & E Outside Services went green to checkered.

Winner Jake McBirnie led much of the race running downstairs, while Grey Ferrando tried his best to make it work on the topside, but had to settle for second place. Jeremy Mills ran up front all race long, but had to be content with third place.  Farmington, New Mexico's Zane DeVilbiss took fourth, and Tim Ward came from twelfth starting spot to capture fifth place.  This was the third visit for McBirnie to Victory Lane at the speedway this season.

The night ended with the running of the IMCA Hobby Stock 15 lap feature, presented by Pickett Salvage.

Young Mike Smith started fifteenth in the field, but it should be to no ones surprise, he didn't stay there.  He methodically worked his way through the field of cars, and had the lead with four laps to go, and kept it to the checkers.  Wayne Gifford took second place after starting ninth.  Third went to Curt Reed, Tom Killen, Jr. started twelfth and finished in fourth, and John Watson came all the way from seventeenth, to take fifth.

Next Saturday night, August 12, is P1P - Watermelon Classic annual event. Doesn't every driver want to race for watermelons? Here's their chance as all heat winners will be presented with one.  

As the races ended right at 10:47 p.m. fans were cautioned to be aware of some severe weather just to the east.  Thankfully, Mother Nature allowed the racing to be completed before it hit Iowa's Action Track.  

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