7/29/2023
Boone Speedway
Checkers for Ward at Hunting with Heroes Salute to Veterans Night
It was a night filled with patriotism and thanking our Veterans at the Boone Speedway on Saturday when Boone held its Annual Hunting with Heroes Salute to Veterans Night sponsored by EMW Trucking, and Waltert Farms. A whopping 241 race cars came to try their hand at Iowa's Action track. Prior to the racing, Veterans enjoyed a free meal, drink, gifts, and free admission to the races. Specially wrapped Salute to Veterans race cars were on display behind the grandstand, and a stirring pre-race ceremony was also held.
Winners on the night were Tim Ward in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, Kaden Reynolds took home the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win, IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod winner was Matt Avila, the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock win went to Dylan Nelson, and IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites saw Scott Bailey take a trip to Victory Lane.
The feature racing kicked off with the 15 lap Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck, and Farm.
After two initial no starts of the race, this one would go green to checkered with Scott Bailey leading the entire distance. He finished well ahead of second place Josh May. Pole starter Austin Gray finished in third place, Randy Bryan was fourth, and Jason Toppenberg rounded out the top five. Bailey, a former IMCA Stock Car driver, made his first visit to the winner's circle at Boone in the Mod Lite division.
The IMCA Northern SportMods, presented by Elmquist Towing ran a 25 lap feature next.
Garrett Nelson was the early leader of the race as he held back Adam Birck and Matt Avila. After a restart at lap eleven, Avila moved into the number two spot, and was in hot pursuit of the leader. He pulled off a nifty slide job and had the lead three laps later. Avila then held on to that top spot the remainder of the race, and scored his third victory of the year at the track. Canton, Missouri's Adam Birck finished as the runner up, Garrett Nelson was third, Colby Fett took fourth, and Dusty Lynch was fifth.
The IMCA Modifieds, presented by D & E Outside Services ran a 25 lap feature, for a $5,000 payday to the winner.
There was a no go at the start of the race, but after that, the race would go non-stop. Tripp Gaylord started on the outside front row, and led the troops in the opening laps with sixth place starter Tim Ward on his tail. By lap three, Ward had the lead...never to look back. He had the field covered even having to slice through heavy lap traffic in the latter part of the race. He finished a good straight away ahead of second place Gaylord at the checkers. Nick Meyer started eighth, and finished in third place, fourth went to Green River, Wyoming's Braxton Yeager, and Chris Snyder, Dunkerton Iowa completed the top five.
The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge were next on the night's schedule for their 25 lapper.
Kaden Reynolds, Cedar Rapids, Iowa drew the pole starting spot for the race, and kept his ride at the front the entire 25 laps. It got interesting on lap twenty however, when a caution flag flew. On the restart it was Kelly Shryock, who had flown through the field from starting twenty-first and was running second after battling by Jake McBirnie, Elijah Zevenbergen, and Damon Murty in a hard fought joust. Now the big crowd was expecting a wreckers or checkers run to the finish. Reynolds never faltered however, as he was content to let the spirited race for position going on behind him battle it out, and he went home to the flying checkers, and the win. Kelly Shryock, finished as the runner up, Jake McBirnie took third place, it was Zevenbergen in fourth, and Estherville, Iowa's Chris Palsrock ran at the front all race long, and finished in fifth.
The evening's racing concluded with 20 laps of IMCA Hobby Stock racing, presented by Pickett Salvage.
Solomon Bennett took advantage of his pole starting spot, jumping to the immediate lead when the race went green. By lap four, Adel, Iowa's Dylan Nelson was breathing down his neck. Nelson looked for a way around and taking to the top of the track, swung to the lead by lap nine. He never looked back from there on out, and sealed the deal, taking the comfortable win. Solomon Bennett chased him the rest of the rest, but had to be content with second place. Tom Killen, Jr. ran third most of the race, and finished in that position. Fourth went to tenth place starter, Mike Smith, and Michael Wade, Dorchester, Nebraska, was fifth.
Next up at the Boone Speedway is the World of Outlaw Late Models on Tuesday, August 1 with IMCA Stock Cars also on the docket. Gates open at 5, with hot laps at 6:30 and racing to follow. Then next Saturday night, August 5, is another regular weekly racing show with IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts, and Mod Lites. Gates open at 5:30, Hot laps at 6, and racing at 7.
Photo Credit: Motorsports Photography
Article Credit: Joyce Eisele
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