Murty, Lynch and Glick get first wins, Gustin and Kates back in victory lane

August 23, 2014

It was another exciting night of racing at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night with 163 cars trying their hand at Iowa’s Action Track.  This week, there were first time winners in the Stock Car, Hobby Stock and Mod Lite classes, while the Modified and SportMod classes found drivers returning to victory lane.

In the Mod Lite feature event, it was Joe Glick leading all but the opening lap of the 15-lap A main on his way to the win.  Chasing Glick across the finish line in second was eleventh

Joe Glick lead all but the opening lap of the 15-lap Mod Lite A main, capturing his first win at Boone Speedway on Saturday, August 23, 2014.

place starter Bryan Zehm.  Third went to point leader James May, who had started twelfth, fourth was Travis Stensland and tenth place starter, Mike Kennedy, was fifth.  This was Glick’s first win at Boone.

The IMCA Northern SportMod ran their 18-lap feature next.  The early leader was JD Robinson but it was Montezuma, Iowa’s Brett Lowry making the pass for the lead with just a handful of laps in the books.  Lowry was looking comfortable out front until a caution at lap eleven changed all that.  Point leader Ben Kates had been reeling in Lowry and now the restart would put him even closer.  Kates peeked to the outside for a couple of laps, and then made it payoff by the time lap fourteen was scored.  Kates kept hold of that lead even when two more yellows flew, and secured the win.  Lowry gave it his all at the finish line, but fell short and had to settle for second.  Sam Wieben drove from starting sixteenth on the grid, to finish third, fourth was fourteenth place starter Jake McBirnie and Ellsworth, Iowa racer, Rocky Caudle was fifth.  Kates scored for the seventh time this season, plus having also won the pre-season Frostbuster.

Dustin Lynch and and last week’s winner, Cody Gustoff,  had a good battle in the 12-lap Hobby Stock feature.  Lynch had taken the lead at lap seven when then leader Dustin Graham suffered a tire go down.  Gustoff got to the runner up spot and was giving it a good shot at catching Lynch.  But it was to no avail, as Lynch held on for the win, and Gustoff had to be content with second.  Third place went to Seth Janssen, Andrew Burg was fourth and Tyler Pickett rounded out the top five.  This was Lynch’s first win at Boone this year.

The 20-lap Modified feature did not get off to a good start.  Just after the first lap was scored, the two front row starters, Alex Hanson and Brandon Kern got together in turn one, and collected several cars.  When the race restarted, Tony Cox had inherited the lead with Greg Elliott and Joel Bushore right behind.  By lap six, Bushore had made his way around the outside of Cox and took command of the ship, and now point leader, Jimmy Gustin was pestering Cox.  Gustin was soon to get to that runner up spot and then began his quest to reel in leader Bushore.  With just five laps remaining, Gustin saw his opportunity when Bushore drifted up in corner four, and flew under him and into the lead.  Gustin was still in charge when the race ended under yellow/checkered when Scott Davis came to a standstill on the track.  Gustin started eleventh on the starting field and scored a victory for the third time this year.  Bushore held on to finish second, and Tony Cox was third.  Fourth place finisher, Mike VanGenderen flew through the field of cars after starting twenty-fourth, and Greg Elliott completed the top five.

The Stock Car 18-lap feature closed out the night’s racing.  This one didn’t get off to a good start either.  Before lap two could get in the books, it looked like a parking lot in corner four when a car got crossed up and then collected numerous other cars.  When the track was cleared and the race restarted, it was the Chelsea Charger, Damon Murty holding down the lead position.  Riding in second was Jeff Deal.  Murty and Deal circled the top of the track while Cory Bushnell kept digging on the low side to catch them.  Murty wasn’t letting this one go, holding the lead when, for the second time of the night, the race ended under a yellow/checkered situation.  Deal held the runner up spot, Bushnell was third, fourth was Trent Murphy and Donavon Smith came from starting eleventh to finish in fifth.  This was Murty’s first win at Boone in 2014.

Next Saturday night, August 30, is season championship night.  Hot laps are 6:45 and racing at 7:30.