Sponsler wins modified thriller!

August 4, 2012

It was back to racing business at the Boone Speedway Saturday night after the forced cancellation a week ago.  Rain fell earlier in the day but this time it only improved the racing, making the track lightning fast. Some visiting drivers, perhaps testing the waters for the upcoming Super Nationals,  joined the regulars, swelling the pits to over 150 cars.

Mike Morrill took the win in the Mod Lite class. Morrill took the lead on lap five and never looked back, capturing his fourth feature win of 2012.  Joel Keenan took the runner up spot,  Josh May came from starting tenth to take third and Jason Whitehead and Andy Hennigar completed the top five.

The IMCA Northern SportMods had two B main events tonight to complete their 24-car starting A main.  Those wins went to Sam Wieben and Travis Peterson.  In the 18-lap feature, Tim Love and Corey Rose fought for the top spot through the first handful of laps.  Visiting driver Austin Lucas who calls Cherokee, Iowa home,  joined in the battle, coming from row six.  Lucas made his move past second place Love and followed up shortly by passing Rose for the lead.  Lucas took the win, his first at the track this season, Rose having to settle for second. Tim Love hung on for third, Eric Elliott finished in fourth and Randy Roberts was fifth.

The Modified feature proved to be a dandy! Cale Sponsler took the lead at the drop of the green from his pole starting spot and pulled away from the field. At the halfway mark of the 20-lap race, Shay Woods was in second and Mike VanGenderen had moved up from tenth starting spot, to run third. VanGenderen then made the pass for second and quickly closed on Sponsler. The last several laps were some fantastic racing, the two going at it hard. VanGenderen briefly gained the lead but was not able to make it stick, and Sponsler was the victor on this night. VanGenderen was a close second, followed by Joel Bushore in third.  Fourth went to Jimmy Gustin, who had earlier popped a motor in his heat race and started back in 18th spot, and Todd Shute came from the fifth row, to capture fifth. This was Sponslers first win of the season.

A B main was also needed for the Stock Cars, to whittle the starting line up for the feature to 24 cars.  The consolation race went to Ty Hill.  And, not to be out done, the IMCA Stock Cars followed up with their own spectacular main event.  Rod Richards flew to the lead immediately with Mike Goldsberry and Jerry Gifford in hot pursuit.  Jay Schmidt threw his hat into the ring as did Corey Bushnell.  There was three-wide racing behind the leader, as well as throughout the field.  As the laps wound down, Gifford made the move into second and as the white flag flew, made a last ditch effort to make the pass for the lead.  Contact was made between Richards and Gifford, sending them both spinning just past the flagstand, white flag waving.  The race was ruled complete and the lucky recipient of the win was Corey Bushnell who had been running third, battling with Jay Schmidt.  Schmidt was scored in second, Donavon Smith was third, Mike Goldsberry and Trent Murphy rounded out the top five.  Bushnell was credited with his third win at the track this year.

Earlier in the evening, just after completing their heat races, the Stock Cars ran a King of the Hill event, sponsored by Harris Auto Racing.  The top two from each of four heats competed.  The final round saw Jerry Gifford beat Corey Bushnell and take home the $500 prize.

There were two IMCA Hobby Stock features.  In the first feature, Aaron Rudolph bested early leader Tony Cox to take the win, his first for 2012.  Cox held on for second place over Curt Reed in third.  Fourth went to Nathan Ballard, Marengo, Iowa who started in row five, and Dustin Filloon rounded out the top five.

In the final race of the evening,  Hobby Stock feature #2, the three and four-wide racing continued.  Matt McDonald worked his way to the point position by lap five and held off Scott Pippert for the win.  Bill Atcheson, who started beside McDonald in row four, finished in third, visitor from Casco, Wisconsin, Derek Moede took the fourth spot, and Shaun Wirtz finished in fifth.

Next Saturday night, August 11 will again be racing in all five divisions, plus box car races for the youngsters and vintage tee shirt night.  Hot laps are 6:45 and racing at 7:30