By Ben Deatherage
BOONE, Iowa (July 26, 2025) — Dylan Thornton outdueled Kollin Hibdon in the late stages of a thrilling Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event Saturday at Boone Speedway, earning his first career win on the Hunting with Heroes Salute to Veterans Tour powered by Performance Bodies & Parts. The reigning Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion in both the Modified and Late Model divisions, originally from California and now living in Belle Plaine, Iowa, scored his fourth overall win of 2025 in the Modifieds and second in the Razor Chassis North Central Region — both at Boone.
Thornton got the jump from the drop of the green and quickly set the tone, but multiple cautions early on interrupted the flow. California transplant Trevor Fitz, the 2019 IMCA California State champion, and eight-time defending Hancock County Speedway track champion Jeremy Mills fought hard for second before Thornton began to check out. Hibdon, champion of the Ernie Mincy Early Thaw Series back in February at Central Arizona Raceway, made his move late and threw back-to-back sliders on laps 24 and 25. Thornton answered each with a textbook crossover.
They nearly got together coming to the white flag, but Thornton held his composure on the top and sealed the win. Hibdon settled for second, while 2020 IMCA National and 2022 Super Nationals champion Tom Berry Jr., originally from Oregon, completed an all-transplant podium in third.
Shryock Doubles Down in Stock Cars at Boone
Kelly Shryock continued his command of the Salute to Veterans Tour in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, collecting his second tour win of the season and eighth career with a wire-to-wire effort aboard the Lake View Motorsports No. 3 machine, owned by Mike Hauan. The Fertile, Iowa, veteran also made it back-to-back Salute to Veterans wins at Boone Speedway.
Shryock led from lap one with 11-time and reigning 34 Raceway track champion John Oliver Jr. and two-time defending Iowa State champion on his heels. Once traffic came into play around lap 17, Shryock stretched his lead. A debris caution with six laps left bunched the field and opened the door for Cayden Carter in the Michael Peterson-owned no. 1X to challenge late.
Carter and Oliver traded blows for second, but Shryock stayed smooth and secured his 15th EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of 2025, two of which have come at Boone. Carter was second, and Oliver settled for third. Kevin Opheim earned a $1,000 victory in the Gary Meyers-sponsored Race of Champions held earlier in the evening.
Kelly Shryock continued his strong campaign in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, winning the Salute to Vets Tour feature at Boone Speedway on July 26. The Fertile, Iowa, veteran drove Mike Hauan’s Lake View Motorsports no. 3 to his eighth career tour victory. (Photo by Bruce Badgley/Motorpsorts Photography)
Sachau Hustles to First Veterans Tour SportMod Victory
Jake Sachau added another jewel to his crown with a late-race rally in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, claiming his first-ever Salute to Veterans Tour win. Sachau, from Manning, was the Boone Speedway track champion and Iowa State titleholder, both in 2022.
Two-time defending Harris Clash champion Cam Reimers led early, fending off charges until a lap eight caution. Sachau used the restart to move into second and pressured Reimers in a side-by-side fight. On lap 13, Sachau edged ahead and never looked back. A debris caution with four to go couldn’t slow him down. On the final restart, Sachau checked out while Mike Smith, a two-time Super Nationals Hobby Stock champion, surged into second. Reimers came home third in a strong performance.
Jake Sachau grabbed his first Salute to Vets Tour win in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods on July 26 at Boone Speedway. The 2022 Boone Speedway and Iowa State champion drove from sixth to the lead by lap 13 and never looked back. (Photo by Bruce Badgley/Motorpsorts Photography)
Pruitt Outlasts Late Pressure for Emotional Hobby Stock Win
Skylar Pruitt held strong through a furious final lap to earn his first Salute to Veterans Tour win in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, adding to his impressive 2025 resume. Pruitt, of Stuart, is a former Iowa National Guard member and the defending track champion at both Stuart and Shelby County Speedways.
Pruitt led from lap one while 2019 Super Nationals winner and 2020 Boone Speedway track champion Dylan Nelson began working over Adam Hensel in a tight fight for second. Joe Doran ripped the cushion to grab second on lap 18, prompting Pruitt to switch to the top lane to block. Nelson dove low on the final circuit, but Pruitt held on in a dramatic three-wide finish. The victory was Pruitt’s fourth in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region this season and second at Boone. Nelson edged out Doran for the runner-up spot.
Skylar Pruitt collected his first-ever Salute to Veterans Tour win in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks on July 26 at Boone Speedway. A veteran of the Iowa National Guard, the Stuart, Iowa, racer held off a last-lap challenge to win his fourth race of the season. (Photo by Bruce Badgley/Motorpsorts Photography)
Gray Grabs Sixth Boone Mod Lite Win
Austin Gray picked up his ninth win of the season — and sixth at Boone — in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. The Story City driver capitalized after four-time national champion Dillon Raffurty’s misfortune and controlled the second half of the race.
Joel Huggins, the 2022 Boone Speedway and Iowa State champion, led the first few laps before Raffurty, a two-time Super Nationals winner, surged to the front on lap four using the top groove. But Raffurty’s night came to an early end with mechanical trouble on lap eight. Gray inherited the lead and never looked back, pulling away after a lap 12 restart. Ben George finished second, with 2024 Corn Belt Clash champion Bryan Zehm taking third.
Austin Gray earned his ninth win of the season and sixth at Boone Speedway in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites division on July 26. The Story City driver inherited the lead on lap eight after Dillon Raffurty’s exit and led the rest of the way. (Photo by Bruce Badgley/Motorpsorts Photography)
The Salute to Veterans Tour stop at Boone Speedway was broadcast live on IMCA.TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA.TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. Don’t miss Season 2 of The Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA.TV.
