Sachau still fast in a SportMod, Anderson repeats at Prelude

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 3, 2023) – Jake Sachau proved he still knew how to wheel a Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod.

Logan Anderson had to give a 10 to his win in the division, too, in Sunday’s Wild Rose Casino Double Down Prelude at Boone Speedway.

Sachau became the ninth different winner in nine Northern SportMod events in Prelude history before Anderson became the first repeat winner in the nightcap. Both checkers were good for $750.

After the STARS Mod Lite championship event, $400 IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock winners were Blake Luinenburg and James Johnson.

Pole starter Sachau, currently 12^th in national IMCA Sunoco Stock Car standings and challenging for rookie of the year honors in The Class Too Tough To Tame, just edged leader Arie  Schouten to the line following the first of three restarts midway through the first SportMod feature.

The 2022 BSB Manufacturing Race of Champions winner outran Schouten the rest of the 25-lapper, with Colby Fett, Matthew Looft and 19^th starting Kaylin Lopez completing the top five.

“We’ve been in a Stock Car most of the year,” Sachau said post-race, “but I love the SportMods. We didn’t have a lot of wins coming here but we had some good luck tonight.”

Anderson led start to finish. Running in heavy lapped traffic in a car that had been on the frame machine just the day before, he saw a two second advantage over Brayton Carter erased by the first of a pair of late cautions.

“It’s cool to go back-to-back for the Prelude,” said Anderson, who put some distance on Carter, Tyler Bannister, Willy Kirk and Ben Chapman after the last restart. “I was able to get through lapped traffic and felt pretty good there.”

Luinenburg motored from 11^th to catch and pass Zach Olmstead following a restart with three laps left in the first Hobby Stock feature.

Olmstead, a former Prelude winner and the defending IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion, was five seconds ahead of Justin Frederick before that caution. Luinenburg timed the ensuing restart perfectly, Olmstead gave chase but exited after front stretch contact with another car, and Mike Smith, another driver with Prelude and Super Nationals titles on his resume, completed his drive from 26^th starting to finish as the runner-up.

“I can’t believe I passed the cars I did,” admitted Luinenburg. “It was awesome.”

Andrew Burk, Parker Anderson and Cody Williams ran 3-4-5.

Johnson made his way to the front from eighth in the Prelude finale, while Jordan Ahlers and John Ross tussled over the lead.

Ross went pitside during a lap 10 caution, Johnson was in second when the next lap was scored and passed Ahlers for the point with 10 to go.

Brandon Nielsen completed his drive from 13^th to the runner-up spot with six laps remaining. Ahlers, 19^th starting Tristan Grape and Solomon Bennett were scored next.

“I just had to keep hitting my marks,” Johnson said. “I tell you what, I love Boone. This is awesome.”

One hundred and forty Northern SportMods and 122 Hobby Stocks raced Sunday, putting the two-day Prelude total at a record 664. Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods and Hobby Stocks all had more than 100 entries, hence the two features in each of those divisions.

The complete Late Model program is on the schedule and both the SportMods and Hobbies begin qualifying on opening day of the 41^st annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Monday.

IMCA.TV broadcasts the week of Super Nationals Sept. 4-9.