6/1/2024
Boone Speedway
Last Corner Pass Scores McBirnie the Win, Gustin, Avila, Watson, and George also Find Victory Lane
Saturday night at the Boone Speedway, the IMCA Stock Cars raced in memory of Eloise Davis, wife of Greg Davis, and mother of Scott Davis. The class had 43 cars checked in on the night honoring the Davis family.
Jimmy Gustin got his second feature win of the year in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified division, and Jake McBirnie took the thrilling last corner pass win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Matt Avila also found Victory Lane for the second time this year in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class, and John Watson was the winner in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Ben George won the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites. In the Cruiser class, the duo of Blake McAllister and Logan Wurr won for the second time this year.
Ben George would lead from start to finish in the Mod Lite 15 lap feature, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck, and Farm. George was chased the entire caution free race by last week's winner Bryan Zehm. Zehm reeled in the leader, but was unable to garner more than a second place finish at the checkers. Josh May started ninth, and took third place, fourth went to Austin Gray, and Joe Glick rounded out the top five.
It was 18 laps of Northern SportMod racing next, presented by Elmquist Towing. Chris Frisbie, the Oregon transplant who now calls Boone, Iowa home, was looking to finally get to Victory Lane as he immediately jumped to the lead from the outside front row starting spot, and sped off. He was still leading when the yellow flew at lap ten. Matt Avila had reeled in the leader and was happy to see the yellow fly, and anxious for the restart. It took him until lap thirteen to get by Frisbie, but then it was all Avila's race the rest of the way to the finish, scoring the win comfortably over Frisbie in second place. Taylor Kuehl came from ninth starting position to finish in third, fourth went to Cory Pestotnik, and Cam Reimers started tenth and took fifth place. Avila nabbed his second feature win of the season.
The IMCA Modifieds, presented by D & E Outside Services ran a 20 lap feature, which went flag to flag.
Joel Bushore started on the pole, and jumped to the lead when the race went green. Sixth place starter Jimmy Gustin was quickly on his tail. After a close battle, Gustin took over on the backstretch, and was scored the leader as lap five went into the books. A few laps later, it was Jeremy Mills that Gustin was having to contend with, and tenth place starter Jake McBirnie rising to third. The final run to the finish it was all Gustin's as he raced home to the checkers flying. McBirnie got around Mills in the closing moments, and they went second and third at the line. Trevor Fitz crossed in fourth, and Corey Sauerman in fifth. However, a post race tech inspection deemed Mills and McBirnie with an infraction for deck height, docking them two positions. The final finish found Fitz scoring second, Cory Sauerman third, Jake McBirnie fourth, and Mills in fifth. This was Gustin's second feature win of the year.
The IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge, ran a 25 lap feature in the special honoring Eloise Davis, and the Davis Family.
Veteran racer David Smith got the jump on fellow veteran Kevin Opheim as the green came out. The race was quickly halted after the first lap was scored, for a skirmish in turn one that eliminated several cars. When the racing picked back up, Smith was still leading but now it was Tyler Pickett in second place after passing Opheim. When the second, and final yellow flew at lap six, Smith was still holding back Pickett, Opheim running third, Chris Pruitt in fourth, and eleventh place starter Jake McBirnie had risen to run fifth. The final caution free run to the checkers saw lots of action up front, with Pickett taking over the lead with a nice slide at lap eight. It was looking like Pickett was going to see his first checkers of the season, but Jake McBirnie had other ideas as he had now gotten to Pickett's bumper with a hand full of laps remaining. McBirnie tried the slide on the white flag lap, but to no avail, however, the final corner coming to the checkers worked for him, and he beat Pickett to the checkers first to score the win. Pickett had to settle for second place on this night. David Smith was third, fourth went to Kevin Opheim, and Dylan Thornton, piloting Jimmy Gustin's Stock Car, was fifth. McBirnie got his second feature win of the season. Hard Charger of the race was Taylor Kuehl, out for the first time in the Stock Car. She raced her way from 24th starting spot, to score ninth place.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks, presented by Pickett Salvage, ran a 15 lap feature.
Keith Burg was the early leader of the event, holding back Shaun Wirtz, then it was John Watson that came calling. Watson was able to make the pass for the lead on lap seven, but he had his hands full with now Andrew Burg on his tail and Keith Burg running third. Watson continued to hold down the lead, despite a big push in the corner at one point, and looked to be holding on just as the white flag was being unfurled. However, a blown engine would change all that as the yellow came out before the leaders were scored, setting up a green-white-checkered "overtime" run to the finish. Before the race restarted, third place runner Keith Burg pulled to the infield, ending his good run for the night. The final charge to the checkers saw Watson hold on for the win, with Andrew Burg taking the runner up spot. Third went to Seth Janssen, Wayne Gifford came home fourth, and first timer at the track, Dayton Ullrich, Kiron, Iowa, started twelfth, and took fifth place.
Next Saturday night, June 8, will be another weekly series of racing at the Boone Speedway and a unique night for the Modifieds and SportMods as they "go topless". The IMCA Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites will also be in action. Summer start times are now in place, with pits opening at 4:30, Grandstands at 5:30, hot laps at 6, and racing at 7.
Photo Credit: Motorsports Photography
Article Credit: Joyce Eisele
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