By Ben Deatherage
BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 4, 2025) — Johnny Whitman of Suamico, Wisconsin, raced to victory in Friesen Performance IMCA Modified Qualifier 3 Thursday at Boone Speedway during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The 25-lap feature advanced the top four finishers into the middle row of Saturday’s Big Dance.
Whitman, an eight-time 141 Speedway champion, including this season, led from the opening lap in the Jerovetz Motorsports no. 08. He fought off repeated challenges from Minnesota’s Jacob Dahle during multiple cautions and long stretches of side-by-side racing. After a lap 17 restart, Whitman was flawless the rest of the way to seal the win.
Dahle finished second, Cory Sauerman held off heavy traffic for third, and 19-year-old Izac Mallicoat, the 2025 Dynamic Driveline Dirt Duel winner, claimed the final transfer in fourth. 2010 and 2014 IMCA Modified National champion Zane DeVilbiss had originally crossed the stripe third after driving from 15th but was disqualified in post-race tech for a carburetor infraction.
Richie Gustin, a two-time Super Nationals champion, made it three with a thrilling win in Friesen Performance IMCA Modified Qualifier 4 Thursday at Boone Speedway. The 25-lap race also locked in four more drivers to the middle row of Saturday’s Big Dance.
Gustin, from Gilman, showed the way from the start in the Dylan Thornton Racing no. 38T while fending off repeated challenges from 2021 National Modified Rookie of the Year, Cody Thompson. Thompson briefly nosed ahead but slid over the cushion on lap 19, opening the door for Jeremy Mills to enter the fray. The three traded positions in the closing laps, with Mills — who earned his ninth Hancock County Speedway championship along with the Boone Speedway track title this season — slipping past Gustin before Gustin roared back to retake the lead at the white flag.
Gustin held on for the win, three-time Iowa State Modified titlist Mills was second, 2025 Worthington Speedway track champion Todd Stinehart finished third, and Colorado’s Tripp Gaylord, the 2024 Marshalltown Speedway track champion, grabbed the final transfer on the last lap.
Qualifying for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational also took place and two-time defending IMCA Modified National champion Chaz Baca Jr. of Arizona topped the charts, earning the P1P Canopy Fastest Lap Award with a time of 16.478 seconds.
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.
Richie Gustin steered the Dylan Thornton Racing no. 38T to the win in Friesen Performance IMCA Modified Qualifier 4 on Sept. 4 at Boone Speedway during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, also earning a spot in the middle row of Saturday’s Big Dance. (Photo by Byron Fichter Fotography)