By Ben Deatherage
BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 4, 2025) — Braden Richards scored redemption Thursday night at Boone Speedway, topping Sunoco IMCA Stock Car Qualifier 3 during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The 25-lap feature put the top four into the middle row of Saturday’s Big Dance.
Richards led from the opening circuit and was never seriously challenged. A pair of cautions in the first four laps and again on lap 18 slowed the pace, but each time Richards was flawless on the restart. The Madrid motorist drove away from the field for the win, with 2013 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified National champion William Gould in second, Chris Pruitt charging from 19th to third, and 2019 IMCA Hobby Stock National champion Jeff Ware sealing the final transfer in fourth.
Former IMCA Northern SportMod National and Super Nationals champion Doug Smith captured Sunoco IMCA Stock Car Qualifier 4. The 25-lapper qualified four more drivers for the middle row of Saturday’s Big Dance.
Two-time Nebraska State Stock Car champ Austin Brauner led early before a red flag stopped the race. David Brandies slipped into the top spot on lap three but broke a driveline on lap 13 while fending off Smith. That opened the door for Smith and Jake McBirnie to stage a thrilling battle. McBirnie took the lead briefly with seven laps to go, but Smith rallied back, reclaimed the point on lap 22 when McBirnie was forced to retire to the infield, and held on to the checkers.
The Lake City chauffeur, Smith, won ahead of 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion Shelby Williams of Texas, who drove from 11th to second in the Leslie Gill-fielded no. 82. Three-time Kansas State Stock Car champion Tathan Burkhart advanced from 13th to third, and Maguire DeJong wrapped up the final transfer in fourth.
McBirnie Storms to All-Star Stock Car Invitational Win On Final Lap
Jake McBirnie bounced back in a big way from his qualifier heartbreak, stealing the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational with a thrilling last-lap pass. The 30-lap feature also awarded the winner a brand-new B&B Racing Chassis.
The three-wide start saw two-time IMCA Modified National champion Zane DeVilbiss lead the first lap before 2021 IMCA Hobby Stock National champion Kaden Reynolds charged ahead on lap two. Reynolds built a three-second advantage before a lap 21 caution bunched the field. McBirnie surged into second on the restart and reeled in Reynolds. With the white flag out, Reynolds stayed high while McBirnie attacked the bottom, edging him at the line for the win — his second straight year capturing the contest.
Reynolds was second, three-time Kansas State Stock Car champion Tathan Burkhart ran third, 2025 Independence Motor Speedway Northern SportMod champion Tony Olson placed fourth, and 2024 Wisconsin Modified State champion Cole Czarneski finished fifth.
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.