One of the most unique races in the country took place on Saturday night at the Boone Speedway with the running of the Hawkeye Challenge. Six divisions of cars, staggered by laps per class, and one over all winner. This was in addition to the five regular classes of cars running their regular weekly events.
The Hawkeye Challenge pitted six divisions of cars, the Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Mod Lites, and Sprints. Point leader from each class was locked in and passing points from the heats determined who else would be eligible for the Hawkeye Challenge. Whoever completed their specified number of laps first, would be the over all winner...Sprint Cars 25 laps, Modifieds 23 laps, SportMods 22 laps, Mod Lites 22 laps, Stock Cars 21 laps, and Hobby Stocks 20 laps.
Winners of each divisions were as follows: Sprint Car, DJ Palmer, Modified, Tim Ward, Stock Car, Donavon Smith, SportMod, Johnathon Logue, Hobby Stock, Mike Smith, and Mod Lite, Mike Kennedy. When the final calculations were completed, the over all winner of the Hawkeye Challenge was Northern SportMod racer, Johnathon Logue, with a pocketed $1,000. Each division winner also won $500.
The regular feature racing of the evening began with the Mod Lites and their 15 lap main event. Cory Sonner started tenth on the field of cars and made his way quickly forward to take command on lap four. He had no trouble in keeping that lead as he stretched it out and took the checkers well ahead of second place Joe Glick. Jeff Stensland took third, Mike Kennedy was fourth, and Jon Braathun was fifth. This was only Sonner's second win of his career after capturing his first earlier this season at another track.
Johnathon Logue made it a perfect night as he took the feature win in the IMCA Northern SportMod 18 lap event after capturing the earlier Hawkeye Challenge victory. Logue came from eleventh starting spot, methodically worked his way through the field to catch leader Hunter Longnecker. The two ran side by side for several laps until Logue was able to make the pass for the lead on lap eleven. He then kept that top spot the remainder of the way to the checkers and the win. Longnecker kept the runner up spot, Dustin Lynch was third, Doug Smith was a close fourth, and Cam Reimers rounded out the top five. This was Logue's third feature win of the 2020 season.
The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature was plagued with yellow flags, but when all was said and done, it was Tim Ward standing in victory lane. Ward started ninth, managed to avoid some of the chaos on the track, and grabbed the lead away from Andy Tiernan with just four laps remaining. Ward then kept a tight hold on that number one position to take the double checkers and secure his first win at the track this year. Paul Nagle took second, Russ Dickerson came home in third place after starting in fifteenth, early leader Andy Tiernan was fourth, and Jimmy Gustin was the real hard charger, coming from twenty-fourth to finish fifth.
The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars put on another of their typical action packed races. Tony Hofbauer got out of the gate quickly from starting fourth and had the lead by lap three. By lap seven, he had Jay Schmidt to contend with. Schmidt started twelfth, and was up to challenge the leader. Schmidt's persistent look underneath Hofbauer finally paid off, when just past the half way mark of the 20 lap event, he was able to grab the lead. The final handful of laps saw Schmidt stretch his lead, and take the easy win. Hofbauer finished second, Tyler Pickett started tenth and finished third, fourth went to fourteenth place starter, Troy Jerovetz, and veteran racer Robert Stofer started thirteenth and finished fifth. This was Schmidt's second win at the track this year.
The 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stocks put a night cap on the racing. Pole sitter Braden Richards led the opening laps with Mike Smith tucking in right behind to run second. A tight battle ensued between the two until Smith was able to wrestle away the lead on lap seven....never to relinquish the rest of the way to the checkers. Miciah Hidlebaugh made a late race surge to get around Richards as they finished second and third respectively. Solomon Bennett took fourth and Dylan Nelson rounded out the top five. This was Smith's second win of the year.
Mark your calendars for next Saturday night, August 1, when it will be another Watermelon Classic. A $1,000 to the winner of the Modified and Stock Car features and another $1,000 to the Modified Challenge winner. All other regular classes will also be in competition. The green flag drops at 7 p.m.
- administrator on Jul 27, 2020
- Article Date: 7/25/2020 by Joyce Eisele