Pickett prevails for first Stock Car win
June 25, 2016
Saturday night’s racing at the Boone Speedway found three drivers stepping into victory lane for the first time, while two others returned for the third and fourth times. Mike VanGenderen scored win number three in the Modifieds, Tyler Pickett finally got the elusive win in the Stock Car division, Daniel Tasler also won for the first time this season in the Northern SportMods, as did Chad LeGere in the Hobby Stocks. Bryan Zehm was victorious for the fourth time in 2016 in the Mod Lite class.
Bryan Zehm sailed to another win in the Mod Lite 15-lap feature. He took command at lap three and went virtually unchallenged in the flag to flag race. Finishing a distance behind in second was Randy Bryan, third went to Joe Glick, and fourth to Cory Sauerman. Jeff Stensland made his first appearance of the year, driving the #89 usually piloted by Travis Stensland, driving it from tenth starting spot, to a top five finish. Zehm claimed his fourth feature win of the 2016 season.
One of the new faces gracing victory lane was Daniel Tasler, the winner of the IMCA Northern SportMod feature. Tasler started on the pole of the 18-lap event, and led all laps on the way to the win. Chad Ryerson chased Tasler for most of the race to take the runner up spot. Third went to tenth place starter, Randy Roberts, Adam Shelman was fourth and Robert Moore completed the top five.
Another new winner came from the IMCA Hobby Stocks when Chad LeGere put his ride in the winner’s circle. LeGere took the lead from Shane Butler at lap four, and held it the remaining laps to the finish. Shane Butler held second, third went to Solomon Bennett, Aaron Rudolph started ninth and finished fourth and tenth place starter Eric Stanton, was fifth.
Point leader Mike VanGenderen went back to victory lane for the third time in the IMCA Modifieds. VanGenderen caught leader Russ Dickerson at lap eight and kept pressuring him lap after lap. Finally, at lap sixteen of the 20-lap affair, he was able to make the successful pass into the lead. From there on, he held off Dickerson to take the win. Dickerson took the runner up spot, Jimmy Gustin finished a distant third, fourth went to Denny Pittman and Scott Davis started twelfth and was fifth.
The evening’s racing ended with the running of the non-stop 18-lap IMCA Stock Car A main. It took but four laps before eighth place starter Tyler
IMCA Stock Car driver Tyler Pickett took the lead at lap four and continued for the win on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at Boone Speedway.
Pickett gained the lead. Pickett never relinquished that top spot, keeping it to the flying checkers and the win. Jay Schmidt out fought Donavon Smith as they went second and third respectively. Matt West finished fourth and Trent Murphy, who started twelfth, put his hot rod to the top of the track, and finished in fifth. Pickett, who has won previously in the Hobby Stock class in year’s past, finally snagged that elusive first win in the Stock Cars.
Next Saturday, July 2, will be Budweiser Night at the races. Grandstands open at 6, hot laps are 6:45 and racing at 7:30.
