5/16/2020
Boone Speedway
Hofbauer nabs first ever IMCA Stock Car win on opening night at Boone Speedway
The fans were missing at the Boone Speedway on Saturday for the opening night of the 2020 racing season, but the drivers got down to business. Due to the regulations by the state of Iowa during the Covid-19 pandemic, no spectators were allowed in the grandstands, but drivers were eager to begin their racing season and get back to some sense of normalcy during this unprecedented time.
Mike Kennedy took the first checkers of the 2020 racing season, winning the 15-lap Mod Lite feature. Kennedy started sixth and had the lead by lap four, never to look back. Bryan Zehm worked his way to the front of the field from his ninth starting position, and took home the runner up spot. Early leader Terry Brown was third, fourth went to Randy Bryan, last years track champion, and Joel Huggins completed the top five.
Johnathon Logue, the 2019 IMCA Super Nationals Champion in the SportMod division, picked up where he left off and took the win in the IMCA Elmquist Towing SportMod 20-lap event. Logue took command on lap nine, passing then leader Cory Pestotnik, and kept a tight hold on that top spot the remaining distance to capture the victory. Pole sitter Curtis Veber came home in second place, third went to Cam Reimers, fourth to Cory Pestotnik, and Daniel Tasler came from tenth starting spot, to finish fifth.
The IMCA Snap-on Tools Modifieds went 20-laps in their feature event with Ricky Thornton snaring himself another of his many wins, leading all but the first lap of the contest. Tim Ward chased Thornton much of the distance but had to settle for the runner up position. Todd Shute started seventh, and took third, fourth went to Joel Rust, and Brainerd, Minnesota's Aaron Johnson rounded out the top five.
The IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Stock Cars were up next for another 20-lap feature event. Tony Hofbauer and Lakefield, Minnesota's Jeff Larson started on the front row, and entered into a battle at the drop of the green. Larson jumped to the lead and then the two swapped the top spot for several laps until Hofbauer was able to establish it for good on lap eleven. From then on, he pulled away and took the checkers, securing his first ever IMCA Stock Car victory. Hofbauer, who did double duty on the night, also racing in the Modified class, finished comfortably ahead of second place Todd Reitzler. Brothers David and Devin Smith finished third and fourth, and Jeff Larson was fifth.
The night cap was the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lap feature. This one was led from start to finish by pole sitter Jack Phillips. Last year's track champion, Aaron Rudolph was gaining on the leader as the laps wound down, but ran out of laps to finish better than second. Solomon Bennett took third, fourth went to Curt Reed, and Brandon Cox started seventeenth, and took fifth.
Racing continues next Saturday night, May 23rd, but once again with no spectators during the Covid-19 restrictions. Tune in to IMCA.tv for pay-per-view coverage of the action.
Article Credit: Joyce Eisele