By Joyce Eisele
BOONE, Iowa (April 13, 2024) – Boone Speedway began its regular weekly series of racing on Saturday, marking the 57th consecutive year at Iowa’s Action Track.
Out-of-state drivers claimed two of the opening points night victories, Colorado’s Ricky Alvarado in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Riley Clem, who hails from California, in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites.
A veteran racer in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Kevin Opheim found victory lane as did Cam Reimers in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods while Mike Smith continues to amaze in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.
One hundred and fifty-two racers checked in for the fun filled night of racing.
Things kicked off with the Mod Lites and their 15-lap main event. As the race went green, it was Josh May holding down the top spot but that didn’t last long as Clem took over at lap three. From there on, it was Clem’s race as he raced home to the checkers with hardly a challenge.
There was a lot of action going on behind him however, as May, Bryan Zehm, Jaedon McDowell and Austin Gray were locked in a tight battle for position. With just two laps remaining, May was suddenly off power and out of the challenge, leaving the others to battle it out. As the checkers flew, it was Clem taking the easy win, Gray came home in second and third went to Zehm.
The IMCA Friesen Performance SportMods went 18 laps for their “A” main. Reimers started 11th on the field, avoided some on track incidents reeled in then leader Hunter Longnecker and took command with six laps to go.
Reimers hung out on the top of the track in the final circuits and pulled away to take the comfortable win. Following a distant second place was Robby Rosselli. Longnecker was third.
It was looking as if Texas racer Tommy Fain was going to get the win in the Stock Car feature. He led through halfway of the 20-lap event as he continued to hold off the hard-charging Jeff Mueller.
Mueller was able to nab the lead at lap 12 just before a caution flew. On the restart, cars got shuffled around as the race returned to green, Mueller holding the lead and Opheim suddenly on the scene and running second.
Lap 15 saw Opheim take command and hold on the last handful of laps to see the checkers first. David Smith got by Mueller in the closing laps as they went second and third, respectively.
It was 20 laps of Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature racing next.
Jake McBirnie grabbed the lead on the start, holding off Alvarado in his WW1 Weekend Warrior ride. By the time lap two was in the books, Alvarado had the lead.
From there to the finish, he rode the precariously thin line at the rim of the track and come home to the win. Tim Ward started 12thand chased the leader in the closing laps but had to settle for second. Third went to Izac Mallicoat.
The nightcap was 15 laps of Hobby Stock racing.
Eric Stanton looked strong as he led from the get-go, jumping to the immediate lead from starting on the outside front row. Solomon Bennett chased the leader but by lap five it was twelfth place starter Smith making his presence known and on Bennett’s tail.
At lap eight, Smith got around Bennett and set his sights on the leader. One more lap, and the lead was his. The final laps were all Smith as he sailed home to yet another of his numerous wins at the track. Stanton took the runner up spot. A distant third went to 11th place starter Seth Butler.
Next Saturday night will be another regular weekly racing series with the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks and Mod Lites on tap. Pits open at 3:30 p.m., the grandstand at 4:30 p.m., hot laps are at 5 and racing is at 6 p.m.
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