BOONE, Iowa – Defending race winner Jimmy Gustin, 2014 winner Kyle Strickler and a trio of first-time All-Stars are among the 10 Modified drivers already guaranteed starting spots on the Fast Shafts Invitational grid during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
Gustin and brother Richie had the top two vote totals in first-round balloting from the BMS North Central Region – Richie led all candidates with 12,945 votes – while Strickler and Scott Sessions, the first Floridian elected to the All-Star event in its 13-year history, led the way in the Dirt Works Eastern Region.
Hunter Marriott and Jeff Taylor were elected out of the Jet Racing Central Region, first-timer Kevin Green and William Gould from the Razor Chassis South Central Region.
The Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region will be represented by Brad Pounds and first-time All-Star Ethan Dotson.
The second round of All-Star voting, also conducted through the IMCA Facebook page, sees 18 drivers elected at-large. Balloting is now underway and runs through 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5.
The All-Star candidates with the top national point total and the most 40-point feature wins competing at Super Nationals will complete the 30-car starting field for the Friday, Sept. 9 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational at Boone Speedway.
In addition to Florida, the All-Star field is already represented by drivers from Arkansas, California, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas.