What started off being a picture-perfect day on Labor Day (Monday) turned into a cool and windy evening at the Boone Speedway as the Speedway Motors IMCA Supernationals got kicked off in grand fashion. The IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series for late models ran their full program along with qualifying for IMCA hobby stocks and IMCA sportmods. A lengthy rain delay just before the late model b-mains brought racing action to a halt, but only temporarily as the show would continue on after track prep crews went to work.
Due to the wind I decided not to take my usual notes, so I'm going from memory and what little bit I put into my phone. Front row starter Terry Neal grabbed the top spot in the early going as the yellow flag seemed to be as popular as the green flag. Caution flags were thrown on lap three, four, and five keeping things slowed down. Neal would lead the first eighteen laps of the fifty-lap main event, but Boone McLaughlin would make the pass on Neal on the next circuit. However, McLaughlin's luck would take a turn for the worse as he spun his machine in turn four and collect Josh Most, who was running third at the time.
That handed the race lead over to Ray Guss Jr. Jeff Aikey, who started somewhere around 17th, had gone to the work area to change a tire at one point in the race, but had sliced his way back through the field to take the second position on lap twenty-eight. Several caution flags were displayed throughout the race, not allowing drivers to get into a rhythm and allow competitors to mount a serious threat to Guss Jr's lead. Guss Jr pulled away from Aikey and Andy Eckrich, who started twenty-third, on each restart and would go on to take the win. Aikey settled for second, Andy Eckrich was third, Tyler Bruenning was fourth, and Ryan Giles rounded out the top five. Terry Neal had a great run going early on, but he made significant contact with Boone McLaughlin as the yellow flag was displayed and suffered extensive damage.
The late model feature ended sometime around 9:30. With twenty sportmod heats, two hobby stock features, a sportmod feature, and who knows how many b-main events, I opted to hit the road after the traffic cleared out a bit as I have to work Tuesday. I will NOT be in Boone on Tuesday, but have the rest of the week off work. Unfortunately I don't own a laptop, so I won't be able to write a blog until Sunday more then likely.
I'd like to thank Brett Root and IMCA for their hospitality. It is greatly appreciated!
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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