Shute scores Boone Season Opener

BOONE, IA (April 13, 2013) – Boone Speedway held it’s 2013 regular season opener on Saturday night despite this Spring’s continuing cold and wet weather.  All five classes participated with the Mod Lite’s joining the IMCA classes of Modified, Stock Car, SportMod and Hobby Stocks.  Familiar faces graced Victory Lane, all having scored wins at the track in previous years.
 
The Mod Lite’s were called to the track for the first feature of the evening. This one was led the entire way by winner Andy Hennigar.  Josh May came from row six to finish a strong second.  Third place was Travis Stensland, and Bryan Zehm and Randy Bryan rounded out the top five.
 
The IMCA SportMods had a strong field of  43 cars, requiring two B mains to whittle the class to a 24-car starting field for their A Main.  Those wins went to Clint Luellen and Brandon Brinton.  The 18-lap feature was led through lap eleven by Whittemore, Iowa driver Cody Knecht.  That’s when Boone’s Eric Elliott made the pass for the lead and never looked back in scoring the win.  Knecht held on to score second over pole sitter Joel Rust in third.  Fourth place was Geoff Olson and  Ty Luellen scored fifth place from starting in the sixth row.
 
Up next was the IMCA Modified and their 20-lap feature.  This one was a done deal from the drop of the green flag, as pole sitter Todd Shute claimed another victory, leading all laps.  Last week’s Frostbuster winner, Jimmy Gustin tried a late race rally, but could only garner second, after getting around third place Jon Snyder with three laps remaining.  Fourth was Russ Dickerson who made the biggest advancement, having started back in row eight.  Audubon driver Mike Albertsen completed the top five.
 
The IMCA Stock Cars made it another exciting 18-lap feature with Cory Bushnell, Wayne Gifford and Donavon Smith fighting for position at the front of the pack the first few circuits.  Ninth place starter Damon Murty however, came through quickly to take over second by lap four, and then took the lead at lap seven.  Murty claimed the win, Bushnell finished a distance behind in second. Trent Murphy, Donavon Smith and Wayne Gifford were third through fifth respectively.
 
The night ended with twelve laps of IMCA Hobby Stock feature racing and this one was one not to be missed.  Austin Luellen and Havlock, Iowa racer Austin Hauswirth went at it for most of the race, swapping the lead numerous times.  Coming to the flag,  Austin Luellen made the charge ahead of Hauswirth to claim victory.  Following second place Hauswirth for third, was last year’s IMCA National Hobby Stock Champion, Shannon Anderson, Mike Pruitt was fourth and Matt Sorenson was fifth.
 
A decision was made this past week to begin the racing program earlier for the remainder of April, due to the unusual weather pattern.  The pit gates will open at 2, grandstands at 3, hot laps at 4, and racing at 5.  Next, Saturday, April 20 continues the season’s weekly points racing.

Category: Boone Speedway, Iowa