Boone Speedway held the first of it's Super Saturday shows with the IMCA Modifieds vying for the $1,000 prize, and the IMCA Hobby Stocks the chosen class with $500 on the line. The IMCA Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, RaceSaver Sprint Cars, and the Mod Lites were also in competition. Ricky Thornton, Jr. took the top prize in the Modified main event, while it was Jeff Mueller taking the checkers in the Stock Car class. Tyler Inman got his first ever win in the SportMod division, Dylan Nelson was the winner in the Hobby Stock feature, while Mike Houseman won the Sprint Car contest, and Joe Glick won the Mod Lite A main.
Joe Glick nabbed the lead from Tanner Gannon at lap six and never relinquished it on his way to the checkers. He held back Joel Huggins who finished as the runner up, eleventh place starter Travis Stensland finished in third, Justin Rankin came from twelfth starting spot to finish fourth, and Randy Bryan rounded out the top five.
Tyler Inman started on the pole of the IMCA Northern SportMod A feature, and led all laps on his way to victory. He had to fend off the advances of Doug Smith and Chad Ryerson during much of the race, but never faltered on his way to win number one. Chad Ryerson got around Doug Smith in the closing laps as they went second and third in that order. Cory Rose came from twelfth starting spot to capture fourth place, and Johnathon Logue took fifth. This was Inman's first ever win at the Boone Speedway.
Mike Houseman finished well ahead of second place finisher Devin Wignall to capture his first win of the year in the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car class. C. J. Houseman took third place, Mike Johnston was fourth, and last week's winner, Mike Moore, was fifth. Mike Houseman led the entire 20-lap race.
The IMCA Stock Cars were going three and four wide around the track in their thrilling 18-lap A feature. But leading those packs of cars was Jeff Mueller. The action was behind Mueller most of the race as the cars jostled for position constantly. Mueller relinquished his lead only briefly to Trent Murphy with just a lap remaining. Then Murphy nearly found himself in a tip over situation in corner two, and gave the lead back to Mueller. Mueller then motored home to the victory. Veteran racer Robert Stofer finished in the runner up spot, Murphy recovered to finish in third place, Kevin Opheim was fourth and Michael Murphy came from seventeenth starting spot, to complete the top five.
The IMCA Modifieds had the first of their Super Saturday shows which was draw/redraw with two qualifying mains, each paying $500 to the winner. Then the top twelve cars from each qualifier, went to the A Main of the night. The payoff for the win was $1,000 and a provisional start in the A Main at the Prelude to the 2018 Super Nationals. A twist thrown in was the driver pulling the #5 starting spot out of the draw...on Cinco De Mayo night, had a chance at an extra $500 if they won the race.
When the 25-lap A main for the Modifieds went green, pole sitter Tim Ward shot to the lead, but fast company was right behind in Jimmy Gustin, Kelly Shryock, and Richie Gustin. Ward held the top spot until Richie Gustin made his way around and into the lead at lap five. Gustin, who drew the lucky #5 starting spot, was now positioning himself for the win and the added bonus money. However, others had different ideas as to the outcome of the race. The man on a mission was eleventh place starter Ricky Thornton, Jr. Thornton began reeling in leader Gustin and when a yellow flew at lap seventeen, it was just what he was looking for. Gustin was able to maintain his lead as the race resumed, but Thornton kept tight on his tail and at lap twenty-one, made his move around and into the lead. Thornton kept the top spot from there to the double checkers. Richie Gustin had to be satisfied with second. Kelly Shryock was third, Tim Ward fourth, and defending track champion Mike VanGenderen was fifth.
The night's racing ended with the IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lap feature with the $500 pay off. Justin Wacha claimed the lead when the green flag flew and held it until lap eight when Aaron Rudolph took command. Rudolph had his hands full holding off Adam Ayers, Wacha and Solomon Bennett, and then Dylan Nelson entered into the picture. Dylan Nelson was flying on the outside lane, and was soon able to maneuver around Rudolph and into the lead with just two laps remaining. Nelson held on to that top spot and took the win. Rudolph held on to second, third was Wacha, Keith Burg came from twentieth to finish fourth, and Adam Ayers was fifth. Dylan Nelson made it his first victory at the track after starting twenty-second.
Racing continues next Saturday night, May 12, with racing in all six divisions. The month of May continues it's early starting times with hot laps at 5:45 and racing at 6:30.
- administrator on May 07, 2018
- Article Date: 5/5/2018 by Joyce Eisele