September 3, 2024 | By IMCA PR

Dylan Thornton wins Late Model crown at IMCA Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa — One down, two to go,

Dylan Thornton had the fastest car when it mattered most Monday at Boone Speedway, driving away from Cory Dumpert on the final lap in winning the Late Model main event on opening night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

While taking the $3,00 checkers, the 2023 Stock Car champion became just the sixth driver in the 42-year history of Super Nationals to win titles in multiple divisions.

“It’s awesome. We had one goal for this week and that was to go 3-for-3 and be the first person to do that,” said Thornton, winner of his first Late Model start at Boone and looking to add two more big trophies to his collection on Saturday night.

“This was cool. I love Super Nationals and it means so much to win any race here,” he continued. “So far, we’re starting off strong. Now we want to go for that Modified and that Stock Car win.”

Austen Becerra, another of the 13 first-time starters – the most since 1990, the third year Late Models were part of the Super Nationals program – started on the pole and was scary fast, leading Evan Miller the first 21 of 50 laps before Travis Denning slipped past, briefly, following back-to-back restarts on lap 22.

Becerra was quickly back in front however, leading Denning, Thornton and Dumpert in a four-car breakaway.

The 2021 Northern SportMod champ at Boone, Becerra couldn’t keep Dumpert at bay following the first of four restarts, then drove off with mechanical issues, Sean Johnson and Denning went to the back after another yellow and Thornton passed Matt Ryan for second with four to go.

California native and Iowa resident since 2021 Thornton pulled alongside Dumpert at the white flag and pulled away the last time around the oval. The 2022 champion now has three runner-up finishes to show for his last four Boone outings.

Thirteenth starting Anthony Roth made a late charge of his own to finish third in his Late Model debut at Boone and Ryan was fourth.

“That was a hard race to run. We were good at the beginning but it seemed like every restart I would lose the lane I was in and get passed by more and more cars,” said Thornton, pilot of a Ricky and Brenda Kay-owned 2024 Warrior ride. “Luckily, I finally got to restart on the top and kind of got to go where I wanted. Our car was better and better toward the end of the of the race.”

Thirty-nine Late Models ran in the Labor Day show. Jenna Johnson became the first female driver to qualify for that event since 2010.

Darrel DeFrance qualified for his record extending 34th Big Dance while defending champion Jeff Aikey’s string of 14 consecutive main event appearances ended with mechanical problems in his “B” race. Aikey had won five times and ran in the top five on another six occasions over that span.

The entire week of Super Nationals is broadcast by IMCA.TV.

Feature results – 1. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine; 2. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb.; 3. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb.; 4. Matt Ryan, Davenport; 5. Alex Banks, Newman Grove, Neb.; 6. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb.; 7. Joe Beal, Milan, Ill.; 8. Evan Miller, Silvis, Ill.; 9. J.D. Auringer, Waterloo; 10. J.J. Rodeman, Cairo, Neb.; 11. Matt Haase, Norfolk, Neb.; 12. Mitch Morris, McCausland; 13. Sean Johnson, Independence; 14. Beau Johnson, Plainview, Neb.; 15. T.J. Fortmann, East Dubuque, Ill.; 16. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill.; 17. Austen Becerra, Carthage, Ill.; 18. Ray Raker, Danville; 19. Kale Kosiski, Ralston, Neb.; 20. Josh Most, Red Oak; 21. Ron Klein, Dubuque; 22. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown; 23. Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill.; 24. Jenna Johnson, Mitchellville.


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LONG RUNS AT FRONT LEAD OLSON, FRANZEN TO VICTORY  LANE IN SPORTMOD QUALIFIEERS

BOONE, Iowa -- After long runs at the front, Tony Olson and Jarett Franzen made their plans to go dancing.

Olson led all but the first two laps in winning his Monday night qualifier and will start on the pole of Saturday’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s main event for Northern SportMods at Boone Speedway.

Franzen was scored first across the stripe all 25 circuits of the second qualifier, outrunning hard-charging and defending champion Jake Sachau the final time around the track, and will start at the front of the middle row.

One hundred and seventy-six Northern SportMods vied Monday at Iowa’s Action Track.

Olson qualified for a career record 12th Big Dance, beating Joe Docekal to the checkers by three tenths of a second.

“We threw it up top and the car was amazing. This is awesome,” he said.

Docekal would fail compression in post-race tech and be disqualified while Taylor Kuehl gave up her eighth place finish to run for a better starting spot on Tuesday.

With that shuffling, the next seven drivers lining up behind Olson Saturday night will be Dusty Masolini, Shane Paris, 20th starting and 2016 champion Doug Smith, 28th starting Corey Madden, Nathan Speten, Tyler Bannister and Mitchell Morris.

Franzen wired the field in a night cap slowed by cautions early on, while two yellows added to late-race drama.

He ran ahead of Robbie Thome and Hunter Longnecker past midway as Sachau advanced from 14th.

Sachau was forced to detour around a car stopped on the top of the track in turns three and four in the late going, somehow avoiding that car and getting back onto the racing surface with no harm done, then edging Thome for second at the line.

“This one of my biggest wins ever,” said Franzen. “It hasn’t even sunk in yet. I’m just glad to be in.”

Thome, Longnecker, Tyler Nerud, Tyler Inman, Ty Rogers and Logan Veloz line up third through eighth in the middle row on Saturday.

Qualifying for both Hobby Stocks and Northern SportMods continues Tuesday at Boone, along with races of champions for both divisions and complete Sport Compact card rounding out the program.

IMCA.TV broadcasts the entire week of the Sept. 2-7 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

1st qualifying feature – 1. Tony Olson; 2. Dusty Masolini; 3. Shane Paris; 4. Doug Smith; 5. Corey Madden; 6. Nathan Speten; 7. Tyler Bannister; 8. Mitchell Morris; 9. Jared Spaulding; 10. Casey Murdoch; 11. Doug McCollough; 12. Charlie Stevens; 13. Jonah Chinn; 14. Justin Addison; 15. Trevor Drake; 16. Bill Wegner; 17. Miles Morris; 18. Randy Havlik; 19. Josalyn Elmquist; 20. Eddie Ingram; 21. Brandon Dale; 22. Coy Vlies; 23. Ryan Moser; 24. Brendyn Nordyke; 25. Cole Suckow; 26. William Valdez; 27. Dakota Girard; 28. Brandon Tharp; 29. Taylor Kuehl.

2nd qualifying feature – 1. Jarett Franzen; 2. Jake Sachau; 3. Robbie Thome; 4. Hunter Longnecker; 5. Tyler Nerud; 6. Tyler Inman; 7. Ty Rogers; 8. Logan Veloz; 9. Cam Reimers; 10. Tim Eaton; 11. Adam Birck; 12. Danny Wagner; 13. Tyler Frye; 14. Matthew Looft; 15. Derek Fehling; 16. Jorddon Braaten; 17. Brady Hilmer; 18. Colton See; 19. Cory Pestotnik; 20. Joseph Cooper; 21. Tyler Beaman; 22. Jessiah Taylor; 23. Mike Monnig; 24. Brayton Carter; 25. Matt Smith; 26. Dylan VanWyk; 27. Joe Reetz; 28. Jacob Olmstead; 29. Derek Murphy; 30. Coleman Browning.

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CHECKERS TO NELSON ON RECORD NIGHT FOR HOBBY STOCKS AT BOONE

BOONE, Iowa  – Dylan Nelson led the way to the checkers on a record-setting night Monday for Hobby Stocks at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

One hundred and sixty-eight Hobby Stocks were in the Boone Speedway house for Labor Day action, the most ever since the division was added to the Super Nationals card in 1997.

Quality was just as visible as quantity as the 10th starting Nelson needed just seven laps to race his way to the front, earning the pole start for the Saturday night main event, when he’ll be joined by two other former champions on the inside row.

“It went green to checkered and that’s what everyone wants when you get out front early. We just made it happen,” said 2019 champ Nelson. “Sometimes you start a little further back and bank on some yellows but I kept looking at the leader board, they kept coming up and I told myself we just need to keep this baby clean and green and we got her done.”

“They” included 2020 Super Nationals champion Nathan Ballard, who started 17th and ran second the final three laps.

Also advancing to the inside row of Saturday’s main event grid will be third through eighth finishers James Johnson, Blake Luinenburg, 2022 champ and 25th starting Zach Olmstead, Eric Stanton, Curt Reed and Eric Knutson.

The previous record for Hobby Stock entries at Super Nationals was 159, set last September.

Qualifying for both Hobby Stocks and Northern SportMods continues Tuesday at Boone, along with races of champions for both divisions and a complete Sport Compact card rounding out the program.

IMCA.TV broadcasts the entire week of the Sept. 2-7 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

Feature results – 1.  Dylan Nelson; 2. Nathan Ballard; 3. James Johnson; 4. Blake Luinenburg; 5. Zach Olmstead; 6. Eric Stanton; 7. Curt Reed; 8. Eric Knutson; 9. Adam Wasserman; 10. Zach Hemmingsen; 11. Brad Graham; 12. Dan Hanselman; 13. Kyle Jared; 14. Jason Kohl; 15. Chuck Madden Jr.; 16. Jeff Fink; 17. Dustin Gulbrandson; 18. Keith Burg; 19. Solomon Bennett; 20. Brandon Bombardo; 21. Brian Ashburn; 22. B.J. Rogers; 23. Brayden Fahrni; 24. Joey Young; 25. John Thomas; 26. Cody Hubbell; 27. Austin Lundquist; 28. Colby Christensen; 29. Kale Hemsley; 30. John Watson.


COMPLETE MONDAY RESULTS