By Ben Deatherage
BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 1, 2025) — Tyler Heckart captured Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod Qualifier 1 on Monday night at Boone Speedway during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The 25-lap feature locked eight drivers into the inside row of Saturday’s Big Dance.
Michael Johnson, a 2019 Bakersfield Speedway champion originally from California and now living in Minnesota, and Kamdyn Haggard battled hard on the opening lap before Johnson claimed the lead on lap three. Hunter Poston slipped past Johnson the next time around, but Johnson clawed back to the front on the sixth circuit. By lap 10, North Dakota’s Nathan Speten, the 2024 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion, had reeled in the leaders and powered to the point, appearing to be the man to beat.
Speten’s charge ended with heartbreak when he stalled during a lap-13 caution, handing Poston the top spot once again. Two-time Beatrice Speedway champion Tyler Nerud took advantage on the next restart, only to suffer mechanical issues that ended his night. Johnson momentarily led again before slipping high, allowing Heckart to capitalize on lap 18.
From there, Heckart controlled the closing laps to score the win. Cole Suckow finished second, Johnson third, Poston fourth, Iowa State champion Brayton Carter fifth, with Colby Langenberg, Hunter Longnecker and Taylor Kuehl securing the remaining transfer spots.
Jason Bannister, last year’s Bakersfield and Merced Speedway track champion, scored the win in Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod Qualifier 2 at Boone Speedway. His victory secured a middle-row front row starting berth in the Big Dance.
The feature was chaotic early, with three different leaders in the opening three laps. Bannister paced the field first, Jacob Olmstead stole the top spot on lap two, and reigning National Rookie of the Year Tyler Johnson of Arizona grabbed it on lap three. A caution slowed the action, giving Bannister another shot at the front, which he took full advantage of.
From there, Bannister began to check out, surviving multiple restarts on laps 16 and 21 to keep the field in check. Sixteen-year-old 2024 Arizona State champion Tyler Johnson held second while Jacob Olmstead settled into third. Nebraska’s Caleb Woodard impressed by climbing from 12th to finish fourth, while two-time Benton County Speedway champion Tony Olson crossed fifth.
Former Benton County Speedway champion Joe Docekal advanced from 16th to sixth, Jacob Newsom from 17th to seventh, and Will Wolf took the eighth and final transfer spot.
Nelson Storms to Hobby Stock Qualifier 1 Victory
Dylan Nelson, a 2020 Boone Speedway track champion, stormed from 15th starting to claim the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock Qualifier 1 and lock into the inside row of the Big Dance.
Defending South Dakota State and Park Jefferson Speedway champion Kalyb Brunssen set the early pace, controlling the first 10 circuits before Nelson emerged as the top contender. Nelson rolled the high line to steal the lead on lap 12, only for Brunssen to recover on the next restart and reclaim the advantage. The two traded control while the rest of the pack lined up on the top shelf of the Boone oval.
On lap 21, Brunssen slipped high, allowing Nelson to capitalize and secure the point for good. Three-time Benton County Speedway champion Joren Fisher challenged furiously in the closing laps, but Nelson held strong at the stripe.
Behind them, 2022 National and 2025 IMCA.TV Winter Nationals champion Dillon Richards finished third, 2016 Super Nationals winner Andrew Berg climbed from 14th to fourth, and 2021 Iowa State champion Solomon Bennett completed the top five.
Four-time Boone champion Eric Stanton, two-time defending Super Nationals winner Nathan Ballard from 20th, and Nebraska’s Colin Hein filled out the remaining transfer positions.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch the replay with a monthly IMCA TV Replay Subscription for $24.99/month, and don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
Jason Bannister of Bakersfield, Calif., drove to the win in Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod Qualifier 2 on Sept. 1 during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway. (Photo by Byron Fichter Fotography)
Ottumwa, Iowa’s Tyler Heckart captured the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod Qualifier 1 on Sept. 1 at Boone Speedway during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. (Photo by Byron Fichter Fotography)