It's Victory Lane for Wray, McBirnie, Reimers, Knutson, Stensland, and Inman

A beautiful night for racing finally greeted the 175 race cars checked in at the Boone Speedway and the fans in the stands on Saturday. Nice race nights have been far and few between it seems.

First time winner Cory Wray enjoyed his visit to Victory Lane in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds.  Jake McBirnie took the win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, and it was Cam Reimers with a thrilling finish at the line in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class.  Eric Knutson also took the checkers in the final moments in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock division, and Travis Stensland repeated his win from last week in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites.  Also on hand were the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks, and it was Tyler Inman seeing the checkers.

The Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck, & Farm ran 15 laps kicking off the night's feature racing. 

It didn't take long for sixth place starter Travis Stensland to get to the front, taking command on lap two.  From there on he would lead every lap, pulling away at the end, and repeating his win from last week.  He finished well ahead of second place Cory Sonner.  Austin Gray came from eleventh to finish in third place, it was thirteenth place starter Joe Glick taking fourth, and Bryan Zehm started tenth, and took fifth.  After a caution at lap one, the race went green to checkers.

Up next was 18 laps for the SportMods, presented by Elmquist Towing.

Mike Munson led the early portion of the race but after a caution flew at lap six, Taylor Kuehl took advantage as the race returned to green, taking over the top spot.  Soon, she had her hands full with last week's winner Matt Avila and Cam Reimers right on her tail. As the race wore on however, she pulled away and it was looking like checkers for her on this night.  Hold the phone!  A caution flew late which set up a green, white, checkers run to the finish.  As the race restarted, Cam Reimers was now in second and anxious for the green to fly.  He was immediately pressuring Kuehl, and on that final lap was able to get the pass and beat Kuehl to the checkers. Reimers captured his second win of the season, and Kuehl, who had started twelfth, crossed in second place.  However, a post race inspection deemed an infraction for deck height, docking her two position and relegating her to fourth.  Second place was awarded to eighteenth place starter Tyler Inman, in a borrowed ride. Third place went to Dustin Lynch, and fifth was Dusty Masolini.

The IMCA Modifieds, presented by D & E Outside Services ran their 20 lap main event next.  

Cory Wray, Trenton, Missouri has been making a weekly appearance at the Boone Speedway this year. He has been racing for years at the Super Nationals, but looks like he may become a regular at the track this season. He started on the outside front row, and immediately took command.  Jeremy Mills was soon tightening the screws, but it didn't faze the leader, even through lap traffic.  Wray would hang on to that top spot the rest of the way to capture his first ever weekly win at the track, making him a very happy camper in Victory Lane.  Mills kept the runner up spot, and third went to Nick Roberts.  Todd Shute started tenth, and took fourth place, and rounding out the top five was Riley Simmons. 

The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks joined the regular classes for the evening, running an 18 lap feature next.

Todd Inman started sixth, took over the lead from Shawn Cooney on lap three, and from then on, never looked back.  He pulled away from the field, taking the checkers easily. Following a distant second was Austin Meiners.  Third place went to ninth place starter Mason Mitchell, fourth was Jeff Johnson, and Brandon Cox rounded out the top five. Inman, who was driving Carl Moyer's Truck as a "hired gun", pulled double duty as he also raced in the SportMod class.

The 20 lap feature for the IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge, had a few problems as the caution flew several times in this contest...not usual for the Stock Cars. When the checkers finally flew, it was Jake McBirnie seeing the checkers first.  McBirnie started eighth, used the topside of the track to rip the lip most of the race, to get his place in Victory Lane.  Michael Jaennette came from fourteenth starting spot to take the runner up spot, Troy Jerovetz led in the early portion of the race, and finished third.  Fourth went to eleventh place starter Josh Daniels, and Buck Schafroth hard charged it through the pack, started dead last in 24th spot, and finished fifth.  

The IMCA Hobby Stocks 15 lap feature, presented by Pickett Salvage, put a nightcap on the evening's racing.

Daniel Smith led the race through lap five when he lost the handle at the top of turn four, bringing out the yellow and piling up several cars.  When the race restarted and the cars were realigned, it was young Mike Smith holding down the lead.  He looked to be on his way to victory, but a flat tire would change the complexion of this race.  He had to exit at lap nine, handing the lead over to Solomon Bennett.  A lap later, it was Tom Killen, Jr. taking command.  Killen still held down the lead with two to go, but now it was twelfth place starter Eric Knutson charging hard in third and looking for more.  The final circuit saw Knutson grab the lead and make it to the checkers first to seal the win.  Killen had to be content with the runner up spot on this night.  Third went to Solomon Bennett, and veteran Wayne Gifford came from twenty-second to finish in fourth, and son Braden Gifford finished fifth after starting fifteenth.  

There were several deck height infractions in the Northern SportMod division last evening.  There is now a level cement pad for the tech area, so the cars are not on uneven ground when measured.  Looks like the SportMod drivers will have to take note of this and make sure their cars are up to snuff.   

Next Saturday night, May 18, will be another weekly series of racing. The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites will again be in action.  Pits open at 3:30, grandstand at 4:30, hot laps at 5, and racing at 6.

Find a track to support and help keep dirt track racing alive and well!

 

    

Gustin, Logue, Avila, Watson, and Stensland take Car Wars Trophies

May 4, 2024

Boone Speedway jumped back into action Saturday night after Mother Nature had other ideas last week. It was May the 4th and "Car Wars" night with the drivers all wanting to take home those unique trophies by Logue Fabrication for each class.  One hundred seventy-six cars checked in which included 36 IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds. The top car count went to the 47 IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods brought 31, the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks drew 40, and the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites were 22 strong.

The low, heavy cloud cover and brisk breeze at the start of the racing action, saw the clouds disappear, and an entirely cloudless, sunny sky later on.

Travis Stensland swept the 15 lap Mod Lite feature, presented by Carquest, Auto, Truck, and Farm. Stensland led all laps on his way to victory.  The racing action was halted on lap eight when David Meinecke took a high flip in corner four but he was thankfully okay. Tangling at the same time in corner one were Jamie Bailey, and Wendy Huss, which ended their night as well. When the race returned to green, Stensland shot off from the rest of the pack, and stretched out his lead, and took the checkers by a lengthy margin.  Cory Sonner ran second for most of the race to go home as the runner up.  Third place went to eleventh place starter Austin Gray with a great run, Joe Glick was scored fourth, and Josh May completed the top five.

It was 18 laps of IMCA Northern SportMod feature racing next, presented by Elmquist Towing. After an initial "no go" was called on the start, the race went caution free. Bryan Morris, Charles City, Iowa led the opening lap, with Dusty Lynch taking over the following lap.  By lap three, it was Matt Avila taking command, a position he never gave up despite having to weave through heavy lap traffic to the flying checkers.  Following a distant second was Hunter Longnecker who had started in eighth spot, Ryan Leeman went from ninth to finish third, fourth was twelfth place starter Taylor Kuehl, and early leader Dusty Lynch was fifth. Avila had made the Car Wars trophies for the night at Logue Fabrication, had no knowledge of what Star Wars and May the 4th (be with you) was all about, but made fantastic trophies for the night....and he took one of his own home.  Avila had a good weekend of racing as well, as he had won the previous night at Marshalltown Speedway.

Another unique Car Wars trophy was on the line for the 20 lap IMCA feature, presented by D & E Outside Services. This one had the fans on their feet nearly from the drop of the green as Kaden Cochrun, who calls Bakersfield, California home, and popular area racer Jimmy Gustin went at it.  Cochrun held the upper hand through lap fifteen when high riding Gustin made the pass for the lead.  Gustin then kept that top spot the remainder of the race and took the win.  Jake McBirnie started eighth and took a distant second.  Third went to Johnathon Logue, fourth was Riley Simmons who started eleventh, and early leader Kaden Cochrun rounded out the top five. Gustin was a happy camper in Victory Lane to snag one of the Car Wars trophies.   

Up next...the Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars for their 20 lap main event, presented by Moose Lodge of Boone.  They put on their usual exciting race as well.  John Logue started on the outside front row and immediately jumped to the lead.  There was a tight pack that soon joined in behind him however, which was turning into a real battle. Coming out of the pack to take second place was Jeff Mueller who had worked his way into the runner up spot after starting tenth, and Jimmy Gustin and Austin Bouzek, were still much in the hunt. When a caution flew at lap fourteen, Logue still held the lead, with Gustin, Mueller, Bouzek, and now....20th place starter Michael Jaennette had made his presence know as he was in fifth spot.  When the race restarted, Logue maintained his lead but Mueller was now having to hold back Jaennette to hold second.  Jaennette was able to get around Mueller with two laps to go and had set his sights now on the leader.  It wasn't to be on this night however, as Logue kept hold of the lead and grabbed the victory.  Jaennette, who qualified through one of two B's and started 20th, had a great run to finish as the runner up.  Jeff Mueller, Jimmy Gustin, and Austin Bouzek rounded out the top five. Jaennette, Mueller, and Gustin all gave winner Logue congratulations in Victory Lane after the race for a great and fun race.  Always great to see that!  We do also assume Logue was able to get back his Car Wars trophy after Jimmy Gustin nabbed it away from him in the post race interview!  

The finale of the evening was the 15 lapper for the IMCA Hobby Stocks, presented by Pickett Salvage.

John Watson would find his way to Victory Lane in this contest.  He started sixth and took the lead on lap three, and never gave it up on his way to the win.  There was a tight battle brewing behind him however, for much of the race.  At the checkers, it was Eric Knutson holding off tenth place starter Mike Smith, as they went second and third respectively. Seth Butler took fourth place, and Zach Hemmingson, Marne, Iowa was fifth.

Next Saturday, May 11 will be another weekly series race with the five IMCA classes being joined by the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks.  Pits open at 3:30, grandstand 4:30, with hot laps at 5, and racing at 6. 

Find a track to support and help keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing, alive and well!   

Third Time is the Charm for Marshalltown Speedway Opener

 May 3, 2024

After two prior weeks of rainouts at the Karl Auto Group Marshalltown Speedway, the third time was the charm, and the regular points season got underway for the UAW Local 893 Cliff Chambers Memorial. This is the 60th straight racing season for the track. The weather was better for a change as well, with the wind to our backs in the grandstand, and temperatures around 70....to start. It did get chilly by evenings end.  One hundred fifty-eight cars were on hand for the evening's program.

Tripp Gaylord took the honors in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified division, and it was Jeff Mueller taking the win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Calvin Dhondt took the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature in a thrilling event.  Matt Avila led flag to flag in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods, and Jon Padilla dominated in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites.  Also on tap last evening were the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts, and Mitchell Bunch won out in a tight back and forth contest.

Feature racing kicked off with the Mod Lite 15 lap feature, presented by Knight Sanitation. Polesitter  Bryan Zehm held the top spot for the first lap.  A caution flew with just one lap in, and it was Padilla taking over at lap two in a race that would then continue caution free.  It was all Padilla as he motored off and won easily as the checkers flew.  Alex Eischeid started sixth and took the runner up position. Third place went to Bryan Zehm, fourth was seventh place starter Cory Sonner, and Joe Glick rounded out the top five.

Matt Avila led the entire 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature, presented by Rugged Radios, but it was a close finish for second with Cam Reimers dogging him constantly in the closing laps.  It wasn't to be however, as Avila took the win and Reimers had to settle for second place.  There was a good battle behind the leaders most of the race as cars swapped places.  At the finish line it was Logan Anderson taking third place ahead of Brayton Carter in fourth, and Taylor Kuehl completing the top five.  

The IMCA 20 lap Hobby Stock feature, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center had the fans on their feet as Calvin Dhondt and Eric Stanton went lap after lap nearly side by side.  Early leader of the race was Solomon Bennett who jumped to the immediate lead from his pole starting spot.  Most eyes were then on Calvin Dhont, who started back in twelfth and was flying on the topside of the High Banks.  Dhondt took command on lap seven and a couple of laps later, Eric Stanton took over second spot and was throwing challenge after challenge at the leader.  From lap eleven to the checkers flying, the two would run nearly side by side in an exciting run to the finish.  Calvin Dhondt was able to withstand all that Stanton threw at him however, and he took home the trophy on this night.  Following Stanton's second place finish was Bradly Graham taking third, fourth went to Curt Reed, and early leader Solomon Bennett was fifth.

Jimmy Gustin and Jeff Mueller put on quite a show in the early laps of the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, presented by Drury Automotive.  Gustin held down the top spot until lap seven when Mueller was able to get under him.  Mueller never gave up that lead then the rest of the way to the checkers and sealed the win.  A tight battle ensued behind the leader in the closing laps with Buck Schafroth taking second, and Gustin going third.  Fourth place was Casey Woken, and fifth went to ninth place starter, David Brandies.  

The IMCA Modifieds, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap saw a visitor from Mooresville, North Carolina stop by for a little racing at the Marshalltown Speedway.  Matt Crafton, who races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and was in the region for his race at the Kansas Speedway this weekend, started on the pole of the 20 lap feature.  He was leading the race at lap six when a big pile up stopped the racing action on the frontstretch.  This eliminated numerous cars when the race went back to green, and just a few laps later, Crafton also exited the race.  By this time, it was Tripp Gaylord as the leader of the pack, and from there on to the flying checkers, it was all Gaylord.  He took the win by a lengthy margin over second place finisher Jake McBirnie.  Johnathon Logue started tenth and took third, fourth went to Drew Janssen, and twelfth place starter Ronn Lauritzen was fifth.

The night ended with 15 laps of IMCA Sport Compacts racing, presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown. This too was a close one at the checkers.  Tenth place starter Cristian Grady and eleventh place starter Mitchell Bunch made it interesting the final handful of laps as they raced nearly side by side.  Bunch was able to take the lead at lap ten, but Grady never went away and the closing moments was anyone's guess as to who would be the winner.  Bunch won out as he took the lead for good on the final circuit and took home the win.  Grady had to settle for second place.  Third went to hometown driver John Gill, ninth place starter, Nolan Tuttle was fourth, and Mitchell Gardner started twelfth and took fifth.

Next Thursday night, May 9, will be Thursday Night Thunder at the Marshalltown Speedway and no racing on Friday night due to the Junior High School Rodeo being on grounds. All six IMCA classes will be in action.  Hot laps are 6:45 and racing at 7:30.  

The track was fast last night, and a lot of side by side and close racing was the norm all night long.  By evenings end, dust was rolling, even with the recent rains and a good watering of the track after hot laps. 

Find a race track to support, and help keep the sport we all love...dirt track racing, alive and well.