39th annual IMCA Super Nationals is now history

 It was a record setting car count for the 39th IMCA Super Nationals held at the Boone Speedway.  A whopping 909 race cars checked in to race.  The pits were a sea of haulers and it was a good thing that the pit area was expanded this year.  It was also a sea of campers, and when fans arrived, it added even more numbers to the scene.  "South Boone" had a larger population than Boone itself!

Our "Racin' Vacation" started on Saturday and Sunday for Nights 1 and 2 of the Prelude, and then Monday, Labor Day dawned the first of 6 straight days/nights of Super Nationals racing.  

Monday, Day 1

There were 56 races and 564 laps scheduled for the kick off to the Super Nationals.  This was the day a champion was crowned in the IMCA Late Models.  It was also the night the lights went out at the track....twice! It was not only a track issue, as part of the town of Boone also went dark.  Alliant Energy was quick to get things back up and running. Thankfully, power was restored each time within a half hour, and racing proceeded.  

There were 36 entries in the IMCA Late Models, and those were narrowed down to a 24 starting field for their "Big Dance" 50 lap feature.  

Justin Kay, and Bobby Hansen started on the front row.  Kay immediately jumped to the lead, and would dominate the entire race on his way to victory....one that has eluded him several times. He's been so close on several occasions previously, so this was quite sweet for the Wheatland, Iowa racer.  Richie Gustin closed in on Kay at about the halfway mark of the race, as well as current National point leader in the division, Cory Dumpert from York, Nebraska.  Kay threw off those challengers, and as the laps wound down, pulled away to score the win by a comfortable margin.  Dumpert took the runner up spot, Gilman's Richie Gustin went third, fourth place was defending and three-time champion Jeff Aikey, and Blue Grass, Iowa's Andy Nezworski was fifth.  

The IMCA Northern SportMod also qualified 8 drivers for the inside row of their A feature on Saturday, and the IMCA Hobby Stocks took 8 from each of two qualifying mains, the first to the inside row, and the second 8 to the middle row for Saturday.  Those wins went to Springfield, Missouri's Ryan Gillmore, in the SportMod  and Adel's Dylan Nelson, and Nathan Ballard, Marengo, Iowa in the Hobby Stocks. 

Racing was completed at 12:01 a.m.

Tuesday, Day 2

There were 65 races today and 588 scheduled laps.  Another Super Nationals champion was crowned, this time in the IMCA Sport Compact division.  A full show for the compacts brought 70 competitors, those were cut down to 30 drivers qualifying for their Big Dance 25 lap event.

Mitch Bielenberg, Charlotte, Iowa began in the middle of the front row of the 3-wide start.  He grabbed the lead as the race went green, and from then on, never looked back on his way to the win. He had also won at the Prelude.  He finished well ahead of second place Chuck Fullencamp, West Point, Iowa driver, a close third was Keokuk's Josh Barnes, fourth went to Drake Bohlmeyer, Beatrice, Nebraska, and Blaine Ellis, Sebree, Kentucky, and the first ever from the state to qualify for a Super Nationals event, started eighteenth and finished fifth.

Qualifying continued in the Northern SportMod and Hobby Stock divisions on Tuesday as well.  Josh Most and Brayton Carter won the SportMod two qualifying A features to start at the front of the middle and outside rows respectively come Saturday night.  

The IMCA Hobby Stock winner of his A feature and qualifying for Saturday's big race was Jeff Ware.  He made a late race charge through the field, coming from fourteenth to win.

There was also Race of Champion qualifiers for both the SportMods and the Hobby Stocks.  

The final flag fell at 12:58 a.m. 

Wednesday, Day 3

Wednesday is the day the IMCA Stock Cars and Modifieds make their first appearance. There were 222 Modified entries and 221 in the Stock Cars, and a total of 78 races for 726 laps.

Two 25 lap Stock Car A qualifiers saw Devin Smith coming from eighth starting spot in the first feature to take that win.  The second saw a show put on by 16 year old Dallon Murty.  Murty started twelfth and took the checkers.

There were also two qualifying A's for the Modifieds.  Cody Laney, Torrance, California led all 25 laps to win the first one, and in the second 25 lap event, it was Boone's own Jake McBirnie with the win.  

The Hobby Stocks and SportMods completed their championship qualifying with wins by Austin Schrage, SportMods, and John Watson taking the win in Hobby Stock.

Seventy-eight races later, things were completed at 2:13 a.m.

Thursday, Day 4

There were 62 races and 614 laps scheduled on Thursday.  Qualifying continued in the Modifieds and the Stock Cars.  It was also the Inaugural Stock Car All-Star Invitational. The drivers qualified earlier in the week through quick times in time trials. Veteran Modified racer, Kelly Shryock, who has been having fun the last few years by doing double duty in the Stock Cars, added this trophy to his many accomplishments.  

Dylan Thornton, Santa Maria, California took the win in the first A to put himself upfront in the middle row come Saturday night.  Tom Berry, Jr., driving the Jeff Wollam car, will start P1 or P2 in the middle row for Saturday's Big Dance.  Both drivers are doing double duty as they are better known for piloting a Modified.

The Modifieds also had two A qualifying features.  The first one was won by Jeff Aikey, and the second went to Tim Ward.  Aikey had qualified the previous night, being a top 4 in that night's qualifier, but turned it down, not wanting to start so far back.  The decision turned out to be the right one for Aikey, as this night with his win, he would be starting  P1 or P2 of the middle row on Saturday.  Sometimes, things work out!  

The final green flag fell at 1:33 a.m.

Friday, Day 5

How could it already be Friday?  Time had flown by, but yet here we were, with only two days left of the Super Nationals. Fifty-three races and 514 laps were scheduled.  

The Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational Championship race was held today.  Thirty cars qualified through fast times earlier in the week.  They started their 30 lap race 3-wide.  Early leader Dakota Sproul had a steering belt issue eliminate his run, handing the top spot over to Nick Roberts, with Kyle Brown hot on his heels.  Those two went at it lap after lap, and with one to go, Brown made the pass for the lead, and took it home to the checkers and the win.  

Two more Stock Car A qualifying features were run, taking four each to the outside row of Saturday's Big Dance.  The two winners were Zach Madrid, Phoenix, Arizona, and Derek Green, Granada, Minnesota who came from fifteenth starting position, to win his A.  

There were also two A qualifiers for the Modifieds.  Susanville, California's Riley Simmons took the first A, and Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, California won the other. 

This was our earliest night with the racing winding up at 10:58 p.m. 

Saturday, Day 6 and the Big Dance time!

There was final qualifying for the Stock Cars and the Modifieds.  Those qualifying drivers were able to tag the back of the championship features.  Twenty-eight races and 414 laps were on tap for the grand finale.

There were also Race of Champions run in the Modified, Stock Car, Northern SportMod, and Hobby Stocks. Zach Olmstead, Overton, Nebraska took the win in the Hobby Stocks.  Tony Olson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa won the SportMod title.  Veteran racer Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa won the Stock Car title for the second year straight.  Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa was pretty emotional in victory lane after he won the Modified ROC.  He now has a trifecta at Super Nationals through the years, a Super Nationals Modified Big Dance winner, an All-Star Invitational winner, and now a Race of Champions winner.  This must have been particularly sweet after Shute flipped off the track earlier in the week, and had to repair the car. He joins Ricky Thornton, Jr, Kyle Strickler, and Jimmy Gustin as the only other trifecta winners.

The Big Dance for the Hobby Stocks was first to run.  It was seventeen year old Mike Smith....of the famous Smith clan from the Lake City, Iowa area...taking the win. Finishing second through fifth respectively were Jeff Ware, last year's winner Nathan Ballard, former winner Dylan Nelson, and Malik Sampson. Smith is the son of Stock Car racer David Smith, who was quite emotional after his son won. Mike Smith, at 17 years old, became the youngest driver ever to win the Super National title in the Hobby Stock division. It was quite the sight to see the huge Smith clan running out to join the winner in victory lane! 

The Northern SportMod Dance came next.  There was sadness to this starting field, as the polesitter, Ryan Gillmore had received word that his father had passed away unexpectedly the night before, and he left to return home.  All of the drivers agreed that in his honor, they would leave the missing man pole position empty.

Austen Becerra, Carthage, Illinois racer led the 30 lap race from lap eleven on to take the title of Super Nationals Northern SportMod champion. Brayton Carter was second, third went to Dylan VanWyk, Alec Fett was fourth, and fifteen year old Izac Mallicoat was fifth.  In Becerra's post race interview, he said this was his last ever race in the SportMod, as next year he was moving to Modified.

Thirty laps of Stock Car dancing was a clinic of racing by sixteen year old Dallon Murty.  Murty took the lead at lap twelve, and then never looked back, taking the win comfortably ahead of second place Dylan Thornton, followed by Devin Smith, Derek Green, and Troy Jerovetz. Dallon's father Damon Murty was also in the race, but an incident sent him sliding into the infield at one point, and out of the race.  This allowed dad to be able to watch his son in his championship run.  This too was an emotional victory lane with family and fans flooding the infield.  Dallon is the youngest Stock Car winner in the Super Nationals.  Watch out Modified drivers, he's moving up next year!  

The long anticipated Modified Big Dance was the night cap to complete the 2021 Super Nationals.  Cody Laney got the lucky pole starting spot for the 33 car, 3-wide starting field.  It was all his race from the drop of the green, as he led all 40 laps.  He finished a good distance ahead of second place Tim Ward.  Completing the top five was third place Justin O'Brien, West Union, Iowa, Farmington, New Mexico's Zane DeVilbiss in fourth, and twenty year old Jerry Flippo, Bakersfield, California in fifth. The race was completed right on the bewitching hour of midnight.

Notes and observations from the 2021 Super Nationals:

How thankful everyone was for the wonderful weather this year.....no rain at all....after last year's nightmare. The young teenage drivers were in abundance in all classes.  They get younger and younger every year. Vehicles were being towed again with fans parking where it was a no no.  The "wave" by the grandstands and catwalks was a little weak this year, but got done.  There were lots of "bad dog, no biscuit" black flags. Wade Aunger, the Aussie announcer added a lot of fun to the show this year, and was well received by everyone. He used the "Boone Spoon" mention for the draw in victory lane, and those with the wins down there, shouted out "Boone Shakalaka" phrase coined by Wade. Jerry Vansickel, and Ryan Clark, our regular announcers, were on their game as always, entertaining everyone with their wit, facts, and wisdom.  There was a huge contingency of Western Region drivers, and they did very well, pleasing Western Region Director Paul Vetter to no end. Several are Midwest transplants or at least come back during the summer to race in our area.  We heard we had cars from 27 states and BC Canada.  Even had a Kentucky and Louisiana entries.  I also stuck around for the engine auction afterwards, and both the SportMod and Hobby Stock went for $7000 each, and the Modified and Stock Cars sold for $7500.  

We had a great time at the Super Nationals again.  Not only seeing the great racing, but meeting up with so many of the racing family.  We are catching our breath a bit, and will be back at it this coming weekend for the World Nationals at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday and Saturday nights.  For complete results of the Super Nationals, check out www.raceboone.com, www.imca.com, or www.myracepass.com.  Take a look at all the drivers who participated from far and wide.  

Our area racing season is drawing to a close, but a few races remain.  Check the calendar at www.positivelyracing.com for a race that you can still attend.  Keep supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing!

 

Raffurty takes Inaugural Mod Lite Super Nationals title

Boone Speedway held Night 2 of the Wild Rose Casino and Resort Prelude to Super Nationals, with 145 IMCA Northern SportMods, 91 IMCA Hobby Stocks, 50 IMCA Sport Compacts, and 44 IMCA STARS Mod Lites on hand. There were full shows for the SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Sport Compacts.  After qualifying 20 cars the previous night, the Mod Lites qualified their final 10 cars to set their three-wide, 30 car Big Dance for the first ever Super Nationals title in the division.

The IMCA Sport Compacts ran a 20 lap feature.  It was a tight contest to start the race with Brandon Hartmann, Fairmont, Minnesota out pacing Mankato, Minnesota's Jerry Coopman.   Twelfth place starter Mitch Bielenberg, Charlotte, Iowa was quick to move into third place at lap five, and then two laps later, he had the lead.  From there on out, Bielenberg would lead the rest of the way, taking the comfortable win. Jerry Coopman finished as the runner up, Bobby Douglas, Bowen, Illinois  was third, fourth went to early leader Brandon Hartmann, and Mason City, Iowa's Ryan Bryant completed the top five.  The race went flag to flag.

The IMCA Northern SportMods ran 25 laps for their Prelude championship event.  Austin Becerra, the Carthage, Illinois racer, started third, and had the lead at lap four, never to look back.  Becerra weathered four cautions, to take the victory.  He held off the late race challenges of Tyler Soppe, who finished as the runner up. Two hard chargers were next across the line.  Beloit, Kansas racer Tyler Watts started fourteenth and finished third, and seventeenth place starter, Bo Partain, Casa Grande, Arizona was fourth.  Local young racer Izac Mallicoat rounded out the top five.

The IMCA STARS Mod Lites had their first ever Super Nationals run, going 25 laps in a three-wide, 30 car feature event.  Things did not go well as the race took the green.  The race was quickly red flagged when Justin Kinderknecht Salina, Kansas snap rolled violently into the infield on the backstretch just after the race went green.  Thankfully, he was okay.  Then at lap one, the race was red flagged again, when Texarkana, Texas racer Robert McCollett also rolled.  He too was okay.  When the race did get going, polesitter, and current national point leader Dillon Raffurty, Kansas City, Missouri was off like a shot, and pulled away from the pack.  He was never touched from there on out, and claimed the title of the Inaugural IMCA STARS Mod Lite Super Nationals champion.  Hometown racer Mike Kennedy would claim second place, after starting in tenth position.  Garrett Stonum, Lawson, Missouri finished a close third place after starting seventeenth.  Bryce Vowan made the trip from Memphis, Tennessee and took fourth place, and Bryan Zehm, Ames, Iowa finished in fifth.

The STARS Mod Lite's earlier ran their Race of Champions.  It was Dillon Raffurty going home with that first ever title as well.  Dustin Rude, Danbury, Texas finished as the runner up, Bakersfield, Californian Zac Forster was third, track champion Josh May came from tenth spot to finish in fourth, and Bryce Vowan, the Tennessee driver was fifth.

The IMCA Hobby Stocks completed the night's show with the running of their 25 lap feature.  Polesitter Andrew Burk from Milan, Illinois jumped to the lead, with Overton, Nebraska's Andrew Burk, and regular weekly racer Braden Richards in tow.  The three would run nose to tail lap after lap until Olmstead was able to make the pass for the lead on lap seven....never to relinquish it.  He finished a good distance ahead of second place Braden Richards, Burk claimed third place, fourth went to tenth place starter and track champion Eric Stanton, and Jason Ruby, Minot, North Dakota was fifth.

Racing began about 5:34 yesterday and the last checkers fell at 1:32 a.m.  We hope the last liquid sunshine we see falling from the sky was just the very few sprinkles that fell as the Hobby Stock feature pulled onto track....a surprise to everyone!  A check of radar, and the tiny, tiny speck was barely even visible....then disappeared.  

The 39th IMCA Super Nationals starts on Labor Day for their six day run.  There will be a complete show for the IMCA Late Models, and qualifying for the IMCA Northern SportMods, and the IMCA Hobby Stocks.  We are excited to get this show under way!  Let's go racing!  

Prelude to Super Nationals Night 1 in the books

There were persistent sprinkles and such low cloud cover, you felt as if you could almost touch them as we headed for the Boone Speedway on Saturday.  The grounds were bustling with activity in preparation of the first night of the Prelude as track workers hurried to be ready for the show that was about to start an eight day marathon of racing. By the time the cars hit the track for hot laps around 4 o'clock, the blue sky was cloudless and the sun was finally shining!

Night #1 of the Wild Rose Casino and Resort Prelude to the Super Nationals was held Saturday night at the Boone Speedway with 307 cars participating in the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, and for the first time, the IMCA STARS Mod Lites.   Forty-eight races, and 462 laps were run on Iowa's Action Track as the count down to the 39th annual Super Nationals begins.

The IMCA STARS Mod Lites ran six qualifying heats, and two A features that locked in ten cars from each of their 25 lap main events.

The first Mod Lite feature did not start off well, The race was red flagged on lap five when Clayton Hogie and Andrue Halpain,  rolled just out of turn four.  Thankfully, the drivers were okay.  When the race restarted, Dustin Rude continued his lead from the time the green flag dropped but was quickly overtaken by Blake Wilson.  Wilson then was enjoying his run at the front of the field as the laps wore down, but had big time company up to battle in the closing laps.  National point leader, Dillon Raffurty, Kansas City, Missouri began applying the pressure, and after a good battle between the two, it was Raffurty taking command on lap twenty-three, and then sailing to the win.  Wilson had to be content with the runner up position, track champion Josh May came from fourteenth starting spot to capture third, fourth went to twelfth place starter, Mike Kennedy,  and early leader Dustin Rude, was fifth.  Michael Raffurty, Kansas City, Missouri,  Jason Massengarb, Colona, Illinois, Zac Forster, Bakersfield, California, Brandon Freeburg, Metamora, Illinois, and Cory Sonner, Huxley, Iowa completed the top ten to start on the inside row of tomorrow's first ever Mod Lite Super Nationals Big Dance.

Mod Lite A feature #2 saw Ames, Iowa racer Bryan Zehm take the lead on lap four, passing Mabelvale, Arkansas racer Jeromy Wilson, and then pull away.  It was all Zehm's race from there on out as he sailed to victory.  Following a good distance behind in second place was early leader Wilson, third went to Bryce Vowan, Memphis, Tennessee, Ed Griggs, Pleasant Hill, Missouri was fourth, and fifth went to Cameron Wagner, Bismark, Arkansas.  Completing the top ten to start on the outside row for tomorrow Big Dance were Garrett Stonum, Lawson, Missouri, Ryuan Ayrs, Salina, Kansas, Darrick Knutsen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Justin Raffurty, Kearney, Missouri, and Doug Byers, Grinnell, Iowa.

The IMCA Modifieds ran a complete show to determine their 2021 Prelude champion.  Their A feature went 30 laps and it was outside front row sitter, Joel Bushore jumping to the immediate lead.  Mike Mashl and Tim Ward, Torrence, California, were quick to tail leader Bushore, and began to apply pressure.  Ward made a slide out of corner four work for him on lap nine, and took over the top spot.  He then took off and was enjoying a comfortable lead, until a yellow on lap twenty-two vanished his 3.5 second lead.  By this time, Cody Laney had moved to second and was anxious for the restart.  However, Ward kept Laney at bay in the closing laps, and swept to the checkers and the win.  Following second place Laney was Mike Mashl, Depere, Wisconsin, in third, fourth went to Clear Lake, Iowa's Jeremy Mills, and Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa came from fourteenth, to finish fifth.

It was another complete show for the IMCA Stock Cars, and they too ran a 30 lap feature.  Michael Jaennette wasted no time in moving from starting fourth, and into the lead by the time lap three was in the books.  He then pulled away, enjoying a comfortable lead.  Polesitter, Dylan Thornton, Santa Maria, California chased Jaennette and closing quickly was seventh place starter Dallon Murty.  Jaennette's sizeable lead vanished on lap twenty-four when a yellow flew, making it a possible game changer for the outcome.  That was exactly what it was, when Murty, known as "The Game Changer", made his move as the race returned to green, making the pass for the lead on the backstretch, and then leading the final handful of laps to seal the win.  Devin Smith did give Murty a challenge on the final lap, but all in vain and had to settle for second.  Jaennette took third place, followed by Dylan Thornton, in fourth, and Kelly Shryock started thirteenth, and finished fifth.

There were several drivers doing double duty in the Modified and Stock Car classes, most of those regulars in the Modified class that are jumping into a fendered ride.  Some of those are in their own cars, while others are in rent a rides.  We noted Jake McBirnie in the Jeff McCollum hot rod, Nick Roberts was in I believe in a Shawn Ritter car, Joel Rust was piloting the #28 of Rhett Ehmen, while Kyle Brown and Mike Albertsen had both of their own cars.  This is just to name a few.

The first green flag racing started right at 5:15 p.m. and everything wrapped up at 11:22 p.m.  

Tomorrow, Sunday September 5 will be Day #2 of the Wild Rose Casino and Resort's Prelude to the Super Nationals.  There will be complete shows for the IMCA Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Sport Compacts, and the first of the 2021 Super Nationals Champions will be crowned in the STARS Mod Lite division.  

On to seven more days/nights of dirt track racing!

 

Rain washes out Showdown at Motown....on to Boone

 Things can change quickly in Iowa, as I checked the Marshalltown Speedway Facebook page Friday morning to find Toby Kruse tooling around the track getting it in shape for the Showdown at Motown that night.  It wasn't much later when I checked, and it was cancelled! They had just had a heavy pop-up downpour!  That's Iowa for ya!  Not the first time it's happened, and far from the last.

Since there was no racing in Marshalltown, we opted to see if we could check in to our hotel in Ames early for our "Racin' Vacation" that kicks off with tomorrow's Prelude to the Super Nationals at the Boone Speedway, followed by Sunday's day #2 of the Prelude, and then starting Monday, the 39th IMCA Super Nationals for the next six days. The forecast is sounding good for the marathon of racing, but I don't want to say that too loud! It misted on us all the way here, and when we came out from dinner, it had rained, and now it's still misting!  This just needs to get it out of it's system!!  We've got racing to see!! As of Friday evening, there is a record 924 pre-entries, from 27 states and Canada ready to compete at the Super Nationals.  Wow!  

Hope to run into some of you during the upcoming eight straight days/nights of racing.  The season is quickly winding down and before we know it, we will be yearning for these days at the track.  Let's go racing! 

Five feature winners and five track champions close out regular season at Boone

It was season championship night at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night.  The top ten in points from each class were locked into their feature race, and the rest of the field was determined by last chance qualifiers. There was out of car introductions in front of the grandstand, allowing fans a chance to show their appreciation for the drivers they've watched all year long.  All classes had 5 extra laps added to their feature events.   Five feature winners, and five track champions were crowned at the end of the night's racing action.

The My Race Pass IMCA STARS Mod Lites ran 20 laps for their A main, which did not start off well.  Two cars flipped wildly on the backstretch just after the green flag dropped.  Cliff Barber and Travis Messamer took quite a ride, but both were okay.  On lap three, it was Chad Culp rolling his ride in turn four, bringing out the second red of the race. He was also not injured. Culp made this his second "on his top incident" of the night, as he also rolled in his heat race.  

When the race restarted, it was Mike Kennedy leading, but it was short lived as Randy Bryan claimed the top spot at lap four.  It was Bryan's race from there on out as he pulled away to take the easy win...his second in as many weeks.  Mike Kennedy was second, it was a close one for third and fourth with Josh May winning out, just beating Bryan Zehm at the line.  Jon Braathun rounded out the top five.  Josh May is the Mod Lite track champion.

Johnathon Logue put together back to back wins in the Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMod 23 lap feature. Izac Mallicoat and Logue wrestled for the top spot for much of the first portion until Logue was able to establish the lead at lap eleven, holding it the rest of the way to the checkers.  Mallicoat finished as the runner up, Kaylin Lopez ran up front all race long, and finished third, and it was Chad Ryerson in fourth, and Dusty Masolini in fifth.  This was Logue's tenth regular feature win of the season, and he is your 2021 track champion for the second year in a row.

The D & E Outside Service IMCA Modifieds ran 25 laps for their feature race.  This one had a good contest going between Cory Sauerman and Mike VanGenderen as they went at it.  VanGenderen, the 2016 and 2017 track champion, caught then leader Sauerman and began throwing slide after slide that didn't quite stick until lap sixteen when he snatched the lead.  His good fortune would end just a couple of laps later when he was out of the race with mechanical issues.  Sauerman would then go on to lead the remaining laps and capture the win.  Pole sitter Nick Roberts was second, Todd Shute came from eleventh starting position, to finish a close third, fourth went to Paul Nagle, and Brandon Leeman was fifth.  This was Sauerman's third feature win of the year.  The track champion for 2021 is Nick Roberts.

The Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Cars went 25 laps for their feature event, and it was the Smith Brother's show as the brothers finished one-two-three.  Donavon Smith, as point leader, started on the pole and kept his ride on the low side as he usually does.  Michael Jaennette chased Smith in the opening laps, but shortly all eyes were on two other Smith's flying along on the topside...David and Devin Smith were coming!  At lap ten, David had moved into second spot, and Devin followed him to run third.  It was a great side by side battle for second place with Devin finally winning the runner up spot, and then began to reel in leader Donavon.  He got the job done, taking the lead on lap eighteen and holding off his brothers for the win.  Donavon Smith was second, with David Smith in third place.  Fourth went to Justin Nehring and Michael Jaennette was fifth. The Stock Cars went caution free.  This was Devin Smith's fifth regular season win at the speedway this season.  Donavon Smith repeated his track championship for the second year in a row....and his seventh since 2010. 

Braden Richards looked to be easily on his way to victory in the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock 20 lap feature after grabbing the lead from Eric Stanton on lap five, and then sailed away, and appeared to be gone.  A flat tire with just one lap remaining was the nemesis for Richards on this night, as he was out of the race.  Solomon Bennett was the lucky one as he took over first place and raced home to the checkers and the win.  Eric Stanton finished as the runner up, Mike Smith took third place, fourth went to Eric Knutson, and Curt Reed completed the top five.  This was Bennett's first win of the year.  Eric Stanton is the 2021 track champion in the Hobby Stocks, taking his fourth crown. 

This concluded the regular weekly racing at the Boone Speedway, but there is much more racing ahead.  Next Saturday, September 4, is night #1 of the Prelude to the 39th IMCA Super Nationals, with full shows for the Modifieds and Stock Cars, and qualifying for the STARS Mod Lites.  Then on Sunday, September 5, is night #2 of the Prelude with a full show for the Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts, and the first ever IMCA STARS Mod Lite Super Nationals winner will be crowned.  Then on Monday, September 6, begins the week long run of America's Racin' Vacation.  

We will be starting our Racin' Vacation next Saturday for the first night of the Prelude, an eight day run of racing.  As of last night, 824 cars were pre-entered.  It's a spectacle for sure!  We pray for no rain this year, after last year's deluge, missing a complete day of racing, and then racing nearly around the clock to get caught up, but still having to use Sunday as the final Big Dance day.  We hope we survive the upcoming marathon!  

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

 

Marshalltown Speedway track champions named as final race falls to Mother Nature

 The Marshalltown Speedway has not had a good track record this year of good weather nights.  Their final weekly race of the season fell to wet grounds after more than 3" of rain fell on Thursday.  This marked the ninth time this year that the track has suffered a weather out.  The cancellations included the early April two night special for the King of the HighBanks and the long anticipated Castrol FloRacing Super Late Model Series in mid-May. 

With the cancellation of the final points night at the track, the track champions were determined by their  point standings.  Not just winning, but being consistent paid off for the drivers.  

The IMCA Modified track champion is Ronn Laurtizen. Lauritzen won the title with only one feature win this season, that coming back on July 23.  But as mentioned, being consistent was a key to his winning the crown.  

The IMCA Stock Car title went to Tyler Pickett.  He won his championship without a single feature win, but by finishing in the top five week in and week out.  

The IMCA Northern SportMod track championship goes to Austin Schrage.  Schrage, who put his ride into Victory Lane the final two race nights, but had regular top finishes throughout the season, takes his first ever track championship title, doing so at the Marshalltown Speedway. 

The IMCA Hobby Stock track championship was won easily by Kaden Reynolds. Reynolds put an exclamation point on his season...winning 11 weekly races.  

Josh May took the first ever track title for the newly sanctioned IMCA Mod Lites at Marshalltown.  Consistency was the name of the game for May also, winning by 79 points, and with just one win. 

The Marshalltown Speedway still has racing scheduled until it falls silent in 2021.  Next Friday, September 3, is the Showdown at MoTown.  The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, STARS Mod Lites, plus the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks are on tap.  Then to close out the season, the World Nationals will be held on September 16-18.  Check the track's Facebook page or www.marshalltownspeedway for more details.  

We were a bit surprised when we got the notification this morning about the cancellation tonight.  We did have a bit over 2 inches of rain here in Grinnell between 8 and 9 p.m. last evening, but understand Marshalltown received several rain falls yesterday.  We are just hoping this is not the beginning of rainy season starting what with the IMCA Super Nationals just around the corner.  No one wants to cope with the monsoon we had during that time last year.  

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

Running for watermelons as well as $ at the Boone Speedway

There was extra money on the line Saturday at the Boone Speedway where it was the Watermelon Classic along with the P1Performance Challenge for the IMCA Modified.  There were 185 cars checked into the pits that provided close racing action all night long. The draw/redraw show also held an extra incentive for the IMCA Stock Cars, with $1,000 to win and a qualifier for the upcoming IMCA Super Nationals IMCA Stock Car All-Star race.  Another bonus was a watermelon presented to all feature winners! There's an old story behind the watermelons.  It's been said that drivers would race for watermelons, and last night they did!

The P1Performance IMCA Modified Challenge race was set through time trials, and then heat races, with thirteen drivers qualifying for the 15 lap feature event that paid $1,250.  The top two in the six heat races were locked in and with one tie, a thirteenth driver was added.  Those drivers were brought in front of the grandstand for their draw for starting positions.

Joel Bushore and Richie Gustin drew the front row.  Gustin immediately grabbed the lead, and would lead all fifteen laps of the race, winning going away.  Cody Laney finished second, sixth place starter Todd Shute was third, Jake McBirnie was fourth, and Pacifica, California racer Shane DeVolder was fifth. Gustin, who has earned the nickname of "G Money" as he so often takes the high dollar shows, lived up to that name once again.   

Regular feature racing began with the My Race Pass IMCA STARS Mod Lites and their 15 lap main event.  Mike Kennedy started on the outside front row, and grabbed the lead as the race went green.  Randy Bryan however, was quickly up to challenge.  Kennedy held back Bryan's attempts until lap eleven when he made his persistence pay off, and made the pass for the lead.  From there on out, it was Bryan's race as he took the checkers.  Kennedy held the runner up spot, third went to Bryan Zehm, Joe Glick was fourth, and Josh May was fifth.  This was Bryan's first feature win of the year.

Earlier in the night, the Mod Lite's first heat race was red flagged before the field was out of turn two.  Cody Yaw, who had just brought out his new car after suffering early season carnage, took a wild ride, flipping high in the air when he made contact with another car.  Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it appeared it was back to the drawing board for Yaw and more repairs ahead.

Thirty-nine Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods were in the house and after two B mains, the starting field was whittled down to twenty-four cars for their 18 lap feature.

Izac Mallicoat started from the pole and grabbed the lead as the race went green.  Johnathon Logue started beside him and tucked in to run second.  Mallicoat held off Logue's advances until lap seven, when he took command.  Logue didn't have it easy however, as Jake Sachau was soon to be chasing the leader and was hounding him left and right.  The final six circuits found the two running side by side at times, but Logue continued to be scored the leader as they passed the flagstand.  Sachau gave it one final shot as they came out of corner four looking at the checkers, but it was Logue by inches over Sachau in a near photo finish.  Mallicoat finished third, Kaylin Lopez was fourth, and Eric Elliott, in his return to racing in quite sometime, started eleventh, and finished fifth. Logue made this win number nine on the season.

The IMCA D & E Outside Services Modifieds ran their regular 20 lap feature race next, and it also paid $1,250 to win. The healthy field of 46 race cars checked in to the pits, also required two B Mains to get the starting field down to 24 cars.

Jake McBirnie was quick to grab the lead from his outside front row starting spot.  The closing laps found Tim Ward throwing a few challenges at the leader, but come up short as McBirnie would lead all laps on his way to feature win number five.   Brother-in-law Ward finished a close second, Shane DeVolder started twelfth and took third place, fourth went to Paul Nagle, and eleventh place starter Joel Rust completed the top five. 

The Arnold Motor Supply $1,000 to win IMCA Stock Car 20 lap feature had to have 49 cars whittled down to 24 through two B Mains.

Last week's winner Scott Davis drew the lucky pole starting spot and kept the top spot as the green flag fell.  He continued to keep his ride on the bottom of the track, leading the field as the race wore on.  The final handful of laps had Donavon Smith barking at his heels, with seventeenth place starter, Tom Berry, Jr. now in third spot.  Berry made his high side run and diamond run out of corner two work to perfection in the closing laps, grabbing the lead at lap nineteen, and keeping it to the flying checkers.  Davis had to be content with second place this week, Donavon Smith finished third, Troy Jerovetz in fourth, and Johnathon Logue was fifth.  Berry, who was doing double duty also running the Modified class, chalked up his first ever Stock Car feature win at the track, and qualified for the IMCA Super Nationals All-Star Stock Car race.  He was already qualified for the Modified All-Star race, and did not race in the Modified division tonight. He is racing the Jeff Wollam owned "Dilly Bar Special hot rod. 

Thirty-two IMCA Pickett Salvage Hobby Stocks required one B Main to set their 24 car 15 lap feature race that put a night cap on the racing action.

 Mike Smith would lead this one from flag to flag to secure his fourth win of the year.  Wayne Gifford pestered Smith for much of the race, peeking for a way around, but could do no better than finish second.  Eric Stanton took third place, Curt Reed was fourth, and Seth Janssen rounded out the top five.

A few notes of interest of the evening:  Jimmy Gustin's last corner nemesis arose again last night. He was digging hard to make the A feature through a B, running second and looking to qualify.  The final corner was once again his fate, as he spun as the checkered flag lay ahead.  I believe this was the third such scenario this year.  Hobby Stock racer, Braden Richards was in a brand new car, that got christened by nights end.  Racers pulling double duty last night were Mike VanGenderen in the Modifieds and Stock Cars.  Johnathon Logue ran his regular SportMod class along with debuting a brand new Stock Car.  And finally, Jake McBirnie, Modified regular, joined the Stock Car ranks as well last evening, and looked good as he piloted a #1M car that I believe to be Jeff McCollum's out of Mankato, Minnesota.  

Next Saturday is Season Championships.  Johnathon Logue in the SportMod division, and Eric Stanton in the Hobby Stocks appear to have their titles wrapped up leading by 73 points, and 50 points respectively.  Donavon Smith is also pretty secure with his Stock Car lead, up 23 points.  Both the Modified and Mod Lite classes are the only ones that could in question as both Nick Roberts in the Mods, and Josh May in the Mod Lite, hold eight point leads.

Get out and find a race to attend, and keep supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing!