VanGenderen repeats in thrilling finish, Murphy, Armstrong, Watson and May also to victory lane

One hundred and thirty race cars checked into the pits at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night, and the big crowd on hand did not go home disappointed with the racing action.  It was a spectacular finish to

The Saturday, August 13, 2016, IMCA Modified feature at Boone Speedway was a three-car battle coming out of turn four when Mike VanGenderen shot from third place, split the two cars, and emerged the winner.

the Modified feature, as Mike VanGenderen repeated his win from last week.  Josh May also matched his win from last Saturday night, winning the Mod Lite feature.  John Watson hadn’t seen the checkers since the end of May, but returned to the winner’s circle in the IMCA Hobby Stock class. Trent Murphy won for the first time this season in the IMCA Stock Cars, and taking his first ever win at the Boone Speedway was IMCA Northern SportMod feature winner, Adam Armstrong.

Josh May started eighth in the 15-lap Mod Lite feature and had to chase down leader Joel Huggins.  He took command at lap ten and never looked back on his way to victory.  Point leader Bryan Zehm finished second after starting ninth, third went to tenth place starter, Mike Morrill, Joel Huggins finished fourth, and Angelo Montgomery was fifth.  May, who also won last week, now has four feature wins this season.

Adam Armstrong, who is from Beatrice, Nebraska, but now calls Carlisle, Iowa home, was dominate in winning the 18-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature.  Armstrong started eighth and had the lead at lap five, and then pulled away to a healthy lead, taking the win by a near straightaway.  Curtis Veber finished as the runner up, and Jonathon Logue came from eleventh starting spot to finish third.  Chad Ryerson started sixteenth and had a great run through the pack, to finish fourth, and rounding out the top five was first time visiting racer, Chad Shaw.  This was Adam Armstrong’s first win at the Boone Speedway.

Josh Truman led the early portion of the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature but with just six laps in the books, he was having to hold back Al Wolfgram.  A few laps later, point leader Mike VanGenderen was throwing his hat into the ring and up to third.  The remainder of the race was a three-car battle among the three drivers…and it was a shoot out to the finish!  As the three cars came out of turn four with the checkers unfurling, VanGenderen shot from third place, split the two cars, and emerged the winner. Truman had to settle for second, and Wolfgram for third. Fourth and fifth went to two veteran drivers, Randy Havlik and Denny Pittman respectively.  VanGenderen repeated his win from last week, and has now been in victory lane six times during the season.

Trent Murphy came from eleventh starting spot to take the win in the 18-lap IMCA Stock Car class.  He passed Josh Daniels at lap eleven and then pulled away to take the comfortable win, his first this year.  Daniels finished as the runner up, new driver Todd Fisher started thirteenth, and finished third, fourth went to early leader Brad Whitney, and Wayne Gifford started twenty-fourth, and rounded out the top five.

The 12-lap IMCA Hobby Stock A Main completed the evening’s races and when all was said and done, it was John Watson taking the win.  Watson had to fight his way past last week’s winner Dustin Lynch, taking command at lap nine, and then holding it the rest of the way to the flying checkers.  Seth Janssen finished second over Solomon Bennett in third.  Dustin Graham was fourth and Chad Legere was fifth.  Watson won for the second time this year.

Racing continues next week at the Boone Speedway.  Hot laps are 6:45 and racing at 7:30.