Wednesday is the day most people look forward to the most when it comes to Supernationals. It marks the beginning of qualifying for the IMCA modifieds. Over 270 entries were on hand for the first night to go along with a record 195 or so IMCA stock cars. Also running tonight was last chance qualifying for both the IMCA hobby stocks and IMCA sportmods.
The final chance for IMCA hobby stocks was the first race to hit the track after opening ceremonies. Jamie Songer would pace the field at the drop of the green flag. Dustin Van Horn used the low side to maneuver himself into the second spot before snagging the top spot away from Songer. Three cautions in the final ten laps kept things tight, but Van Horn maintained his focus as he picked up the win. Jamie Songer would finish second, Jim Hall was third, Derek Moede was fourth, Justin Nehring fifth, and rounding out the qualifiers for Saturday was Miles Michehl.
Later on in the evening the IMCA sportmods would hold their last chance qualifying feature. Just like the hobby stocks, the top thirty in cumulative points would be lined up straight up for twenty-five laps. Josh Blumer would use his pole position start to grab the lead early on while the battle for second shaped up between Nelson Vollbrecht and Joel Rust. Vollbrecht would assume the runner-up spot prior to the caution flag waving on lap six. On the restart The dove to the inside of Blumer to wrestle the lead away. The front six cars were side by side three rows deep for a few laps to keep the fans on the edge of their seats. Tony Pogeler found some racing real estate as he used the inside line to sneak up into the second spot ahead of Blumer. Joel Rust would fade back as Mike Carlson, Lynn Brockett, and Cole Ferguson raced on around him. Vollbrecht would pick up the win ahead of Pogeler, Carlson, Ferguson, Blumer, and Brockett in that order. However, I've seen a few posts on "social media", aka facebook, that Joel Rust has qualified for Saturday. That means one of the top six drivers was disqualified.
After twenty heat races with the winner only moving on to the a-main for the night, and a b-main that took the top ten to the a-main, a thirty-car starting field took to the track for the IMCA stock cars. Jeff Anderson and Wayn Gifford brought the field to the green flag. Contact among the front two drivers allowed Casey Werkmeister to slip under to take the early lead. Gifford would use the inside line to get around Anderson for second while Damon Murty worked his way into the fourth position. The top five cars would open up a gap while the sixth position was up for grabs among four drivers. Donovan Smith would secure that position prior to the caution flag waving on lap sixteen. Anderson would get a good restart and take command up front after getting by Werkmeister. Gifford again would use the inside line to steal back the race lead exiting turn four. Damon Murty went to work on the inside of Anderson to take the second spot away while Smith advanced into the fourth slot. Smith would get by Anderson for third, and a lap later Anderson and Murty would tangle in turn four allowing several cars to squeeze by. Donovan Smith would race to the inside on the last corner to pick up the exciting win! Dan Mackenthun picked up a second place finish, Wayne Gifford was third, Casey Werkmeister fourth, Trent Murphy fifth, Jason Ward sixth, Jason DeShaw seventh, and Abe Huls rounded out the qualifiers for Saturday's main event.
Thirty heat race winners redrew for their starting spot in the qualifying feature for the IMCA modifieds. Brandon Blochlinger and Josh Most were the lucky recipients of the front row. Before the field could make it past turn one a yellow flag came out as a few cars tangled in turn one. When racing resumed Blochlinger held down the top spot with Most tucked in behind. Another caution waved on lap two to bunch the field back up. Blochlinger would increase his lead as the laps clicked off while the action heated up behind him. JD Auringer worked the inside of Matt Patterson for the fourth position while deeper in the field Todd Shute had worked his way up to ninth by lap ten after starting 27th. Four more caution flags would slow the pace down throughout the remainder of the event, but Blochlinger was able to keep his focus and drive away for the win. Josh Most finished second, Troy Cordes was third, JD Auringer was fourth, Ronn Lauritzen fifth, Jordan Grabouski sixth, Josh Sherbon seventh, and Todd Shute rounded out Saturday's qualifiers.
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