Barnhill Storms to Boone Modified Victory

Hobby Stock, Mod Lite, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Results, Stock Car

Owen Barnhill celebrates in victory lane after charging to a late-race victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on Aug. 1 at Boone Speedway. The Milton, Fla., driver earned his first Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season with the triumph. (Photo by Icon Images Photography)

By Jane Burd

BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 1, 2026) — Milton, Florida native Owen Barnhill completed a thrilling late-race charge to win the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature Saturday night at Boone Speedway, racing from third to the lead in the closing laps to earn his first Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season.

Matthew Meinecke paced the opening 13 laps before rear-end problems ended his bid for victory on lap 14, handing the lead to Mike Jergens. Barnhill quickly closed the gap and surged past both Jeremy Mills and Jergens on lap 18 before driving away over the final two circuits.

Mills advanced six positions to finish second, Jergens settled for third, Jake McBirnie gained five spots to fourth, and Trevor Fitz completed the top five.

Gustin and Lehman Split Stock Car Wins

A field of 41 Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars required split feature events.

Jimmy Gustin inherited the lead in the opening feature when Sheldon Oberle retired with an overheating engine following a caution on lap seven. The race was later red-flagged on lap 13 after Johnathon Logue flipped in turn three after becoming collected in another incident. Logue climbed from the car under his own power.

Gustin, of Marshalltown, led the remainder of the race to earn his seventh EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season and fifth at Boone Speedway.

Matthew Meinecke finished second, Doug Smith was third, Bryce Carey took fourth, and Jeremy Ades rounded out the top five.

The second feature saw Devin Smith lead early before engine trouble forced him to the pits. Blake Lehman, originally from Redmond, Oregon, and now residing in Winterset, battled Michael Jaennette throughout the closing laps before making the winning pass on the final circuit.

Lehman collected his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season.

Jaennette settled for second, Bob Daniels finished third, Dillon Solum advanced five positions to fourth, and Josh Daniels charged from 12th to fifth.

Overton and Gifford Score Hobby Stock Victories

A total of 55 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks filled the pit area, resulting in split feature races.

Tyson Overton, of Carlisle, led every lap of the opening feature to record his first B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season.

Alex Yoerger charged from ninth to second to earn hard charger honors. Dylan Hill finished third, Joe Wollenhaupt advanced six positions to fourth, and Seth Butler completed the top five.

In the second feature, Boone’s Braden Gifford raced from ninth to the lead on lap eight and never looked back.

The victory was Gifford’s sixth B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region win of the season and his second at Boone Speedway.

Brett Maasdam finished second, Briar Kriegel crossed the stripe third, Eric Knutson advanced seven positions to fourth, and Chad Rickett Jr. completed the top five after leading the opening laps.

Thomas Goes Flag to Flag in SportMods

Brett Thomas, of Walker, led all 18 laps of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature to earn his first victory of the season.

Ryan King kept the pressure on throughout much of the race before finishing second. Dylan VanWyk advanced nine positions to third and earned hard charger honors. Hunter Longnecker was fourth, and Mike Smith rounded out the top five.

Gray Charges to Another Mod Lite Victory

Austin Gray advanced 10 positions, took the lead on lap three, and drove away to win the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature.

The race was halted by a red flag on lap nine when Cole Paul became airborne in a series of violent flips after striking another spinning car on the frontstretch. Paul exited the car under his own power but was unable to continue.

Gray, of Story City, earned his sixth victory of the season, with five of those wins coming at Boone Speedway.

Joel Huggins finished second, Colby Oberembt was third, Bryan Zehm advanced six positions to fourth, and Mike Kennedy completed the top five.

The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.

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