April 6, 2024
The Boone Speedway opened its doors for the 2024 season with the running of its Frostbuster special. The Frostbuster Series this year was to be a five night run, but the first scheduled night at the Independence Speedway last Wednesday was canceled due to weather, and the final night which was to be run at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton on Sunday, was also canceled. Stuart Speedway got their Frostbuster in on Thursday, as did Marshalltown on Friday night, making Boone's the final night. The IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods, and the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks were in competition.
There were 187 cars checked in for what would be the final night of the annual IMCA Frostbuster Series in the area. The hardy fans on hand had to endure the strong and gusty wind out of the east.
The IMCA SportMods came to the track first for their 20 lap main event. Forty-six cars competed on the night with the field being whittled down through two B Main to fill in the 24 car starting A Main.
Brayton Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa started on the outside front row, and took the immediate lead and never looked back. Carter pulled away from the field, even after weathering two cautions and restarts. He would finish comfortably ahead of Taylor Kuehl who finished second. Kuehl chased Carter the entire race, but had to be content with the runner up spot on this night. Cole Suckow, Cresco, Iowa started sixth, and took third place. Fourth went to Sioux City, Iowa's Geoff Olson, and rounding out the top five was Alec Fett, Burt, Iowa.
Carter matched his 2023 Frostbuster win at the Speedway, and won the Frostbuster the previous night at the Marshalltown Speedway.
The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars ran a 25 lap feature, that saw 51 cars check in to compete. They also ran two B main to set their 24 car starting field.
Veteran racer, Rod Richards, Madrid, Iowa started on the pole and would lead the entire 25 laps on his way to victory. Richards was challenged in the closing laps by Devin Smith, who started thirteenth. Smith had worked his way skillfully through the pack to reach the leaders tail, but fell short and finished in second. Third went to tenth place starter Buck Schafroth, Orient, Iowa, and Josh Daniels, Carlisle, Iowa started eleventh to take fourth. Winterset's Ty Hill completed the top five.
It had been a while since Richards had visited Victory Lane at Boone. He said a couple off years in his post race interview, but a look back at my unofficial records, shows July 13, 2019.
The IMCA Modifieds ran a 25 lap feature, calling for a B main to get their 37 cars down to the 24 car starting field.
Jerry Flippo, the Bakersfield, California native, who now calls Osage, Iowa homebase, drew the lucky #1 starting spot, with Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa setting along side.
Flippo took the immediate lead, Shute in tow. A red came out on lap six when cars got together on the front chute, and Dubuque, Iowa's Jed Freiburger found himself in a slow rollover. He was not injured and when the cleanup was completed, Flippo and Shute continued to lead the pack to green.
Meanwhile, Ethan Braaksma had worked his way to third place, and by lap seven had taken over the #2 spot. Braaksma began giving Flippo fits, and was able to take over the lead on lap ten.
Braaksma never gave up that lead the rest of the way to the flying checkers, and captured the win. Dylan Thornton came from twelfth starting spot to work his way to a distant second place finish at the flag, followed by Todd Shute in third. Camarillo, California native, Trevor Fitz took fourth, and Boone, Iowa's own Izac Mallicoat was fifth.
Braaksma is off to great start for 2024. We have heard he already had five wins in a row as of Friday night, with a total of seven with some out of state racing. He missed a win at Marshalltown on Friday, taking second, but add Saturday nights win to his list, making eight already in the early 2024 season.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks would complete the night's racing with the running of their 20 lap feature. They needed three B mains to get their starting field whittled down from 53, to 24 cars.
Logan Andrews led the field to green and led the opening lap. By lap two, Eric Knutson had taken over with John Watson dogging him. By lap ten, Lake City's Mike Smith had thrown his hat into the ring and was riding in third. A yellow came out on lap thirteen, just what Smith wanted. When the race restarted, it didn't take long until he was riding the bumper of leader Knutson. Smith searched low, and high for a way around, and plan paid off in the final circuit, as he nosed under Knutson on the backstretch and reached the checkers first to see victory. Knutson had to be content with second place. Third went to John Watson, Seth Janssen ran up front most of the race and finished fourth, and it was Seth Butler coming all the way from nineteenth starting spot, to finish fifth.
It was an incredibly windy night of racing at Boone. Fans were bundled up and trying to avoid the strong easterly winds. Even walking was not easy! Trash, etc. was blowing in the air all night long, but the drivers seemed to ignore it, with a great night of racing to be had. By my account, racing was concluded at 9:13 p.m.
Next Saturday night April 13 begins the regular weekly racing series at the Boone Speedway. The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites will be in competition. Pits open at 3:30, Grandstand at 4:30, Hot laps at 5, and racing at 6.
Keep supporting the sport we all love...dirt track racing!
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