5/25/2024
Boone Speedway
Berry, Bouzek, Anderson, Smith and Zehm Take Saturday Night Wins At Boone Speedway
It was a great night of racing at the Boone Speedway Saturday. There were 172 cars checked in for the Memorial Day Holiday weekend event that included extra money on the line for the IMCA Modifieds, celebrating their 45th Anniversary and the IMCA SportMods, celebrating 19 years of racing. It was also a Corn Belt Clash series race for the IMCA STARS Mod Lites. The Modifieds, SportMods, and Mod Lites all were in a draw/redraw format.
It was Tom Berry, Jr. taking the honors in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds in an exciting race for the fans that witnessed a "slide fest". Austin Bouzek got his first win at the track when he took the checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Stock car A main. Logan Anderson went home with the trophy in the IMCA Friesen Performance SportMods, and once again, it was Mike Smith back in Victory Lane for the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Corn Belt Clash winner for the IMCA Stealth Racing STARS Mod Lites was Bryan Zehm. Also making an appearance for the first time this season were the Cruiser cars. The duo of Blake McAllister and Logan Wurr took that win.
The IMCA Mod Lites were running a Corn Belt Clash Series race last night and a $1,000 payday to the winner would come at the end of their 25 lap feature.
Bryan Zehm got the luck of the draw, starting on the pole of the feature, and then never looked back. He was able to maneuver his way through lap traffic in the race that went flag to flag. He finished comfortably ahead of second place Jon Padilla, Silvas, Illinois. Joe Glick finished in third place after running at the front all race long, and Cory Sonner and Austin Gray rounded out the top five. Zehm was happy to finally get back to the winner's circle after more than a year's absence.
This is the 19th Anniversary year for the IMCA SportMods, presented by Elmquist Towing, and they ran a 23 lap feature for the $1,000 awaiting them for the victory.
This race was led from start to finish by Eddyville, Iowa's Logan Anderson. He didn't let the heavy lap traffic in the last portion of the race hinder him, as he pulled away in the closing laps to take the twin checkers. Oskaloosa's Dylan VanWyk started 15th on the field, and made his way through the pack to take the runner up spot. Third went to Hunter Longnecker, eleventh place starter Cam Reimers went fourth, and it was Coby Fett coming from twelfth to complete the top five.
The IMCA Modifieds, presented by D & E Outside Services, celebrate their 45th Anniversary this year, and the winner pocketed $3,500. They went 25 laps for their A Main.
Trevor Fitz, the Camarillo, California racer who is calling Iowa home this race season, started on the outside front row, and quickly established the top spot. Meanwhile, it was Tim Ward and Zachary Madrid challenging for second. By lap ten, lap traffic was awaiting the leaders as Fitz maintained the lead. Fitz was still leading when a yellow flew at lap 18. Another yellow came out on lap 19 when Nick Roberts and Jerry Flippo had issues on the backstretch. When the race went green, Tim Ward was able to take command, but now he had to contend with Tom Berry, Jr. who was quickly on his tail. A lap later, Berry had the lead. Then...the sliders began! Berry and Ward made it quite entertaining as they threw sliders in the corners. Berry, who had started tenth, was the one who would come out on top as the checkers flew, capturing the night's anniversary trophy and the big pay day. Ward took second, Dallon Murty raced his way from eleventh to finish third, Izac Malliocoat started fifteenth, and took fourth, and Jake McBirnie completed the top five.
Up next were the IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge, and their 20 lap main event.
Austin Bouzek, Trenton, Missouri, started fourth and had the lead with a handful of laps in the books. He would weather four cautions in the remainder of the race, but held on to the top spot to claim his first ever trip to Victory Lane at Boone. Eleventh place starter Jimmy Gustin raced his way through the pack, challenged the leader in the closing moments, but had to settle for second place. Trailing a good distance behind in third was thirteenth place starter Tyler Pickett, fourth went to Johnathon Logue who started sixteenth, and rounding out the top five, it was Doug Smith. Bouzek has been a regular at the track this year, making the 2 1/2 hour trip from Trenton, Missouri.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks, presented by Pickett Salvage ran a 15 lap feature. Andrew Burg was the early leader in the contest and when the second yellow of the race flew at lap six, he now had young Mike Smith anxiously awaiting the restart right behind him. As the race went green, Smith was able to get by Burg on the backstretch, and scored the leader on lap seven. The final portion of the race, it was eleventh place starter Eric Knutson trying to mount a challenge to the leader, but he fell short, and had to be satisfied with second place. Andrew Burg, Dustin Filloon, and John Watson completed the top five. Smith, who started ninth, claimed his third regular season feature of the year, after having also won the Frostbuster special.
Racing continues next Saturday night, June 1, with racing in all five IMCA divisions with currently scheduled times for pits at 3:30, grandstands opening at 4:30, hot laps at 5, and racing at 6.
Photo Credit: Motorsports Photography
Article Credit: Joyce Eisele
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