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!
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