Zehm, Braaksma post first Boone wins of the season

Bryan Zehm’s Saturday night IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature win was his first this season at Boone Speedway. (Photo by Bruce Badgley, Motorsports Photography)

By Joyce Eisele

BOONE, Iowa (June 19) – A pair of new faces visited victory lane Saturday as Boone Speedway continued its weekly racing series. 

Bryan Zehm went home the victor in the 15-lap IMCA STARS Mod Lites.  Zehm led all but the opening lap on his way to victory. Mike Kennedy gave it a good try, but it was too little, too late in his attempt to catch the leader, and he had to be content with the runner up position. Joel Huggins was third. 

This was Zehm’s first win at the track in 2021.

Johnathon Logue made it three wins in a row in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main. Kaylin Lopez came from 14th to finish as the runner up and Dusty Masolini was third.

Up next was 20 laps of IMCA Modified feature racing. After the initial start was called back, the race would go caution free to the checkers with Ethan Braaksma in command the entire time. Heavy lapped traffic was no issue for Braaksma as he sailed home to the comfortable win. Tim Ward started 12th and took the runner-up spot. Jake McBirnie started 10th and finished in third place, fourth went to earlier contender Tony Hofbauer and Jamie Anderson was fifth.  This was Braaksma’s first regular season win, after taking the honors in the Frostbuster.

The Class Too Tough To Tame, the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars ran 20 laps in their usual exciting fashion. Rod Richards took the lead immediately from his pole starting spot and soon had Robert Stofer and Donavon Smith hot on his tail. Donavon Smith got the lead at lap seven but had plenty of company with the likes of Troy Jerovetz and Devin Smith joining in the fun along with Richards.

The final handful of laps brought another Smith brother into the mix, as David threw his hat into the ring. With just two laps remaining, Jerovetz was off power and out of the game. Donavon Smith went on to take the checkers, while a distance behind it was a shootout for position. Brother David Smith would take the runner-up spot and Rod Richards was third.

Braden Richards kept his ride on the top of the track and led all 15 laps of the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature. Wayne Gifford finished second and Eric Stanton was third after his two previous week’s wins.

Make plans to be at the Boone Speedway Saturday night, June 26, when it is Hawkeye Challenge night. Along with the regular racing, there will be six classes of cars racing at the same time in what is one of the most unique races in motorsports.  Hot laps are 6 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.