9/9/2023
Tom Berry Jr.
Defending champ Berry Jr. competes in Modified and Stock Car at Super Nationals
Tom Berry Jr. entered the 41st annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals looking to repeat as champion in the Modified portion of the program, while also taking on a talented field in the Stock Car class.
Berry Jr.’s No. 11x Modified was one of 228 entries in the division when its program got underway on Wednesday at Boone Speedway (Boone, Iowa). He opened the Modified action with a runner-up finish in his heat race and charged from 26th to sixth in one of two 25-lap A-Mains on the 1/3-mile oval. Each feature race throughout the week also helps set the front of the field for Saturday’s 40-lap, $10,000-to-win finale.
Thursday evening saw Berry drive from ninth to fourth in his Modified heat race, but he did not start the night’s B-Feature. He also finished third in the All-Star North Central 1 race before the following night’s All-Star Invitational. In addition, he brought home an eighth-place result in his Race of Champions heat.
On Friday, Berry won his heat race but was docked two positions for an improper deck rake and elected not to continue the week in his Modified.
Meanwhile, Berry turned in a strong showing in the No. 11x Stock Car from
Jeff Wollam's Team 3W Racing throughout the event. A massive 257-car field made up the class as festivities began on Wednesday evening. Berry finished as runner-up in his heat and turned in a 21st-to-third performance in one of the night’s two feature events, locking him into the Saturday feature. He finished behind Damon Murty and Angel Munox, with Jesse Sobbing taking fourth and Matthew Looft fifth. Berry also claimed victory in the All-Star Northern Region 1 race on Wednesday.
On Thursday evening, Berry competed in the 30-lap All-Star Invitational for the Stock Car class, starting in the 15th position. He ran as high as fifth, but was forced to pull off with overheating issues. He did not finish and was credited with a 19th-place result in the $1,000-to-win affair.
Finally, on Saturday, Berry took on the 30-lap, $7,500-to-win Stock Car “Big Dance” from the 16th starting spot on the grid. After suffering a flat left-rear tire he was unable to finish and scored as coming home 20th.
Full results can be found at www.raceboone.com.
Article Credit: Tyler Hagen Photography image