As Memorial Day weekend comes to a close, I'd like to extend my gratitude to the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. They are the ones that allow myself and others the privilege of going to races and other activities.
"Tapfan's Tours" concluded a seven-race swing at the Boone Speedway on Memorial Day with the IMCA Deery Brothers late model series on hand along with the IMCA modifieds, IMCA stock cars, IMCA hobby stocks, and IMCA sportmods. A great field of cars were present for the holiday tradition that dates back to 2001.
The first feature to run would be the IMCA sportmods. 37 cars were on hand, but only the top twenty-four were able to start the feature as Cody Warrick quickly grabbed the lead from outside the front row. Warrick would lead the next four laps until his car drifted high on the racetrack in turn two, allowing Brett Meyer to claim the top spot. One lap later a caution flag waved to bunch up the field and Warrick's car again would not turn in the corner, allowing both Mike Pruitt and Jared Timmerman to sneak past on the low side. Matthew Meinecke would be the next car to get around Warrick's ill-handling car as he moved to the fourth spot. Meinecke wasn't satisfied with that as he challenged Timmerman for third. While that battle was going on, Luke Wanninger got by Warrick and quickly chased down the battle for third. Back up front Brett Meyer had things under control as he cruised to the win. Pruitt finished in second, Timmerman nailed down the third spot, and Luke Wanninger got past Meinecke for fourth on the final set of corners to round out the top five.
Up next would be the forty-lap IMCA Deery Brothers late model race. Jason Hahne and Craig Roberts led the field to the green flag with Hahne grabbing the lead early on. A quick caution on lap three involved eight cars, three of which would retire to the pits for the remainder of the night. When the race restarted, Terry Neal began his march to the front as the 22nd starter quickly made his way to seventh by lap five. Closer to the front, Jon Passick and Josh Most battled it out for the fourth spot. Passick got control of that position, but made a great move to the inside in turn two to take the third position on lap twelve. By lap eighteen, Craig Roberts was trying to find a way to get by Hahne for lead as Passick chased them down.
A caution three laps later for debris was a lucky break for Passick as he was penalized two spots for jumping on the previous restart. If there hadn't been a caution, Passick would have been docked at the end of the race, so this worked to his advantage. Josh Most also used this restart to his advantage as he decided to go to the top of the speedway. Most raced his way to second within a lap and would steal the lead away from Hahne the following lap. After seeing Most pull away, Hahne and Roberts both decided to take their machines to the top side of the track, but neither were able to keep up the pace. Most would enjoy a comfortable lead of a straight away when he caught lapped traffic, but that didn't slow him down as he took home his first career Deery Brothers trophy. Hahne would fend off charges from Roberts at the line for second while Todd Cooney sliced his way to a fourth place finish. Cooney advanced through a bmain and was involved in the early eight-car pileup on the third lap, but remained patient and worked his way to the front. Another driver advancing out of one of the bmains was Jeff Aikey. He followed Cooney across the line for fifth and took over the series point lead as Ray Guss Jr was four spots behind in ninth.
After the final farming session of the night, the IMCA hobby stocks took to the track for their finale. Only one feature was on the card tonight even though thirty-seven cars were in the pits. Devin Smith used the pole to his advantage as he darted out front early and never looked back as he cruised to the win. Daniel Hilsabeck followed him across the line in second while Michael Murphy, Richard Yaw II, and Aaron Rudolph rounded out the top five. The twelve-lap race went green to checkered.
Outside front row starter Jimmy Gustin took the lead at the start of the IMCA modified feature ahead of Bill Davis Jr. Davis Jr. would immediately receive pressure from hotshoe John Logue as Logue made the pass for second. A caution flag would nullify Logue's pass, placing Davis Jr back ahead of Logue. Logue would make the pass stick this time as Davis Jr's car slid up the banking in turn two as Logue set his sights on race leader Jimmy Gustin. Another caution waved on lap ten, allowing me to realize that Cale Sponsler was on the move as he was already up to fourth after starting 16th. Logue powered his car to the top side in turns three and four and motored by Gustin at the scoring line to grab the lead on lap fifteen. While there were two more caution periods, Logue would not be denied as he pulled away for the win. Gustin took home second, Sponsler capped off a great run in third, Bill Davis Jr slid back to fourth, and Russ Dickerson rounded out the top five.
The final event of the night would be the IMCA stock cars. Donovan Smith set sail on the top side of the speedway as he raced out front early on. Eight laps into the race, brother David found himself in second as he got by pole sitter Tim French. A three-way battle for the lead followed a restart as Bryan Trogdon went to the inside. This would prove to be the winning pass as Trogdon took command of the race from that point. Positions looked to be well in hand until lapped traffic played a part in the final outcome. Lapped traffic got crossed up ahead of Donovan and David Smith which led to both drivers spinning out in turn two. Both drivers got their machines refired and thus the race continuing with just three laps remaining. Trogdon would take home the trophy in convincing fashion while Trent Murphy finished second. Bryan Efkamp was third, Rod Richards fourth, and Tim French completed the top five. David Smith would finish 16th and Donovan Smith 20th as a result of their spins.
Soon after the final checkered flag waved around 9:30, Mother Nature started opening up as steady light rain graced the track. Needless to say the timing couldn't have been more perfect. The show moved along at a quick pace despite three farming sessions.
The IMCA Deery Brothers late model series will next be in action on June 16 as they make a long-awaited return to the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa. The following night, June 17, they make the journey to the Fayette County Speedway for the first time in several years.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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