5/18/2024
Boone Speedway
It's Shute in a thriller at the line, Van Horn, Lynch, Smith, and May also see checkers
A beautiful night for racing greeted the drivers and fans on Saturday at the Boone Speedway. Todd Shute took the win in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified feature in a race that will be talked about as one of the best ever witnessed. Dusty Van Horn took to the top shelf of the track in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, and never looked back. Dustin Lynch also took a "fans on their feet" win at the line in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods. It was Mike Smith back in familiar Victory Lane in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and Josh May, in the Stealth STARS Mod Lites, took his first win of the season at the track.
The Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck, and Farm, ran their 15 lap main event to kick off the feature racing of the night. Jason Toppenberg led the first six laps of the race, but defending track champion Josh May was challenging him. May made the pass and took command on lap seven, never to look back. Toppenberg took the runner up position, with Jeff Stensland, son Travis Stensland, and Cory Sonner rounding out the top five.
The 18 lap SportMod feature, presented by Elmquist Towing, was a race of survival. Three cautions flew before lap two was in the books. Fort Morgan, Colorado's Hunter Smith, who started fourteenth and found himself leading at lap six after many cars were eliminated in the early skirmishes, looked to be on his way to taking home a win at the Boone Speedway. He was still leading at lap fourteen when the sixth yellow of the race flew. The restart bunched the field behind him, and now Dusty Masolini, the leaders fellow Coloradan, Danny Concelman, Dustin Lynch, and Zach Hovell were eager for the race to return to green. Smith maintained his lead for the next two laps, but then Dusty Lynch got to the topside, made it work, and made the thrilling pass for the lead with a lap to go. He held that lead the rest of the way to the flying checkers, and took his first win at the track this year. Smith had to settle for the runner up spot, Zach Hovell scooted by Dustin Lynch in the final go around as they went third and fourth respectively, and early leader Danny Concelman took a top five back to Colorado.
The Modified 20 lap feature, presented by D & E Outside Services, saw one for the record books. Veteran racer Mike VanGenderen led from the get go as he leaped to the lead from his pole starting position, Joel Bushore tucking in to run second. Camarillo, California's Trevor Fitz ran a close third, and Nick Roberts was giving chase to them all. Bushore exited the track at lap nine for assumed mechanical issues, putting Fitz now applying the pressure to VanGenderen. VanGenderen was holding the lead at lap sixteen but now sliders were being thrown left and right. Then coming to the flag on lap seventeen, things got really tight. Fitz was low, VanGenderen the meat in the sandwich, and Nick Roberts on the bottom. Roberts drifted up, and contact was made and Fitz, the one on the outside, was the unlucky one who ate the tire at the top of turn four...ending his run. As the race restarted, VanGenderen was the leader, but now behind Roberts in second, Jimmy Gustin had joined in the fun to run third, and twelfth place starter, Todd Shute was fourth. The tricky, treacherous top side had to be treated with respect as the race returned to green. The final run to the checkers was one for the ages! Sliders were thrown, with VanGenderen still holding on until the final dash to the checkers out of turn four. Somehow, Todd Shute "threaded the needle" as they raced out of the turn, going from fourth and taking the win right at the finish line! VanGenderen got the runner up spot, with tenth place starter Jimmy Gustin a very close third. Nick Roberts took the fourth spot, and veteran Russ Dickerson rounded out the top five. It was a happy camper in Victory Lane as Shute finally got the monkey off his back after bad luck has plagued him in the early season.
The IMCA Stock Car 20 lap feature, presented by Boone Moose Lodge was led from start to finish by Dusty Van Horn, the Atlantic, Iowa driver who started on the outside front row. He had to contend with Dillon Solum, the transplanted Oregon racer, the entire race. The only yellow of the contest flew at lap six, but it was no issue on the restart for Van Horn as he took off, established himself on the top shelf, and never looked back. Solum took the runner up spot, and young Rowdee VanGenderen had a great race running against veterans, and took third. Devin Smith started seventh and finished fourth, and Scott Davis completed the top five.
The finale of the night was 15 laps of IMCA Hobby Stock feature racing, presented by Pickett Salvage.
Andrew Burg, raced his son's car, started on the outside pole, and took the lead as the race went green. It wasn't long until young Mike Smith, who started seventh, came calling, and by lap three, had the lead. It was all his race from there on out, as he took the comfortable win, his second weekly race victory of the year. Andrew Burg finished second, third went to Mike House, it was tenth place starter, and last week's winner Eric Knutson taking fourth, and Solomon Bennett completed the top five.
Next Saturday night, May 25 is another weekly series of racing that will also include a Corn Belt Clash for the Mod Lites, and celebrate the IMCA anniversary special for the Modifieds with a top prize of $2,000. Pits open at 3:30, grandstand at 4:30, with hot laps at 5, and racing at 6.
Photo Credit: Motorsports Photography
Article Credit: Joyce Eisele
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