Troy Morris, Dylan Thornton capture Friday IMCA Modified features at Boone
BOONE, Iowa — Troy Morris III and Dylan Thornton had IMCA Modified fans all the way from California on their feet Friday night.
Morris, from Bakersfield, led a top four of Tanner Black, 23rd starting Brett Berry and Joel Rust to the outside row of Saturday’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Big Dance at Boone Speedway, in a slug fest of a first qualifying feature.
And California native-turned-Iowan Thornton, already winner of Monday’s Late Model main event, stole the front spot late from long-time leader Dylan Sherfick in heavy traffic in the nightcap. Zane DeVilbiss and Cole Czarneski complete that top four, also bound for the outside row on the Saturday grid.
Morris, who had some atoning to done after spinning out of the lead in the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational earlier in the program, chased Kyle Heckman and Black to midway, then drove by for the lead on lap 14.
The front was the place to be, ahead of multi-car tangles in turn three on laps 16 and 17, the second of which claimed, among others, defending champion Tim Ward.
Morris motored to the checkers from that point, then struggled to find the right words following his rooftop celebration.
“I was so nervous. To get my first win at Boone tonight, I’m speechless,” he said. “I can’t believe I’m standing here right now.”
The defending Super Nationals Stock Car champion, Thornton feels right at home on the infield podium at Iowa’s Action Track and knew just what to say about his late-race dramatics.
After a caution on the initial start, that qualifier ran 25 green flag laps and Thornton chased Sherfick for most of them before catching up in heavy lapped traffic and seeing the narrowest of opportunities with four laps left.
“I knew that was my chance and I threw a big ol’ slider there,” he said. “I knew I had to go for it.”
A Saturday afternoon cornhole tourney will determine starting spots for those fantastic four’s. The Modified field of 33 cars will be completed through last-chance qualifying.
The entire week of the 42nd annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s is broadcast by IMCA.TV.
1st qualifying feature – 1. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif.; 2. Tanner Black, Otis, Kan.; 3. Brett Berry, Hays, Kan.; 4. Joel Rust, Grundy Center, Iowa; 5. Cory Sample, Winnemucca, Nev.; 6. Todd Shute, Norwalk; 7. Steven Whiteaker Jr., Robstown, Texas; 8. Trent Loverude, New Ulm, Minn.; 9. Kelsie Black, ; 10. Kyle Heckman, Bakersfield, Calif.; 11. Keith Brown Jr., Greenbrier, Ark.; 12. Jeremie Hedrick, Clintonville, Wis.; 13. Paul Nagle, Nevada; 14. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev.; 15. Johnathon Logue, Logansport; 16. Colton Nelson, Osceola; 17. Lawrence O’Connor, Port Hardy, B.C.; 18. Tyler DeBouche, Green Bay, Wis.; 19. Tyrone Yazzie, Farmington, N.M.; 20. Jimmy Gustin, Marshalltown; 21. Ethan Braaksma, West Union; 22. Ayden Steffens, North Platte, Neb.; 23. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton; 24. Tim Ward, Harcourt; 25. Jacob Hobscheidt, Plattsmouth, Neb.; 26. Ryan Gillmore, Springfield, Mo.; 27. Richie Gustin, Gilman; 28. Dakota Sproul, Hays, Kan.; 29. Race Liberante, Palmdale, Calif.; 30. Jerry Flippo, Bakersfield, Calif.
2nd qualifying feature – 1. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine; 2. Dylan Sherfick, WaKeeney, Kan.; 3. Zane DeVilbiss, Farmington, N.M.; 4. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wis.; 5. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls; 6. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn.; 7. Nick Meyer, Whittemore; 8. Justin O’Brien, West Union; 9. Daniel Gottschalk, Ellis, Kan.; 10. Cory Sauerman, Johnston; 11. Cody Thompson, Sioux City; 12. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque; 13. Spencer Hartwick, Quitman, Ark.; 14. Ben Chapman, Clarence; 15. Brandon Schmitt, Beaver Dam, Wis.; 16. Lucas Lamberies, Clintonville, Wis.; 17. Scott Simatovich, State Center; 18. Brenten DeYoung, Crystal, Mich.; 19. David Brown, Kellogg; 20. James Reichart, Indianola; 21. Chris Tuchscherer, Burlington, N.D.; 22. Darrell Hughes II, Decatur, Texas; 23. Cody Knecht, Whittemore; 24. Dan Menk, Franklin, Minn.; 25. John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.; 26. Rob Sanders, Bakersfield, Calif.27. Dalton Magers, Redwood Falls, Minn.; 28. Josh Most, Red Oak; 29. Joel Bushore, Boone; 30. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz.
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CONFIDENCE BOOSTING QUALIFYING WINS GO TO HOLLATZ, MURTY
BOONE, Iowa – Chanse Hollatz and Dallon Murty will have big boosts of confidence on their side when the green flag flies for their Saturday IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Championship event.
Hollatz impressed in a flag-to-flag run at the front of the field in Friday’s first Stock Car feature, holding off a bid by Matt Looft and then winning ahead of Looft, Tyler Pickett and 18th starting Casey Woken.
Already a two-time Super Nationals champion, Murty high-tailed it all the way from 12th starting, taking the lead from Justin Addison on the 25th and final lap to top the nightcap. Travis Barker and Troy Swearingen rounded out that top four.
Just a couple cautions on each side of midway delayed Hollatz in his drive to the checkers. Former Northern SportMod champion Looft caught picked for the runner-up spot and briefly pulled alongside the leader before Hollatz shut the door.
“This feels amazing,” he said post-race. “The beginning felt a little chaotic and I was a little worried but I just stayed in it. Now my confidence is sky high.”
The second feature ran caution-free and Murty had advanced into the top four by the time lap 14 was scored.
He caught Swearingen for third and Barker for second, then set his sights on Addison. He’d go to the top line with the white flag waving to take the lead and the win.
“It’s been a tiring week,” said Murty, already qualified for the Modified show. “This was a good night and now I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Top four finishers from each feature will head to the NAPA Fan Zone for a Saturday cornhole tourney to determine their starting spots on the outside row. Last-chance races complete the Stock Car field of 30.
All six nights of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s are broadcast by IMCA.TV.
1st qualifying feature – 1. Chanse Hollatz, Clear Lake; 2. Matthew Looft, Swea City; 3. Tyler Pickett, Boone; 4. Casey Woken, Altoona; 5. Dustin Vis, Martelle; 6. Paul Stone, Winton, Calif.; 7. Chad Palmer, Renwick; 8. Angel Munoz, Lamar, Colo.; 9. Stefan Sybesma, Sanborn; 10. Tristan Grape, Bellwood, Neb.; 11. Maguire DeJong, Montezuma; 12. Donavon Smith, Lake City; 13. Tathan Burkhart, Hays, Kan.; 14. David Smith, Lake City; 15. Chris Dollarhide, Little Rock, Ark.; 16. Dusty Van Horn, Atlantic; 17. Mike Vandermark Jr., Cedar Springs, Mich.; 18. Abe Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 19. Austin Schrage, Knoxville; 20. Brent Fielder, Kansas City, Mo.; 21. Paul Wenzlaff, Yankton, S.D.; 22.Austin Meiners, Polk City; 23. Bryce Carey, Nashua; 24. Dan Drury, Eldora; 25. David Murray Jr., Oberlin, Kan; 26. Jay Schmidt, Tama; 27. Dillon Solum, Redmond, Ore.; 28. Jake Sachau, Manning; 29. Tejay Mielke, Norfolk, Neb.; 30. Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn.
2nd qualifying feature – 1. Dallon Murty, Chelsea; 2. Justin Addison, Meadow Grove, Neb.; 3. Travis Barker, Sioux City; 4. Troy Swearingen, Thompson; 5. Troy Jerovetz, Iowa Falls; 6. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington; 7. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon; 8. Trent Nolan, Shawano, Wis.; 9. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine; 10. David Brandies, Wilton; 11. Clint Wendel, Mason City; 12. Luke Lemmens, Green Bay; 13. Kevin Opheim, Mason City; 14. Mike Petersilie, Hoisington, Kan.; 15. Garrett Corn, Marshalltown; 16. Brandon Gritz, Enid, Okla.; 17. Austin Carter, Jamestown, Kan.; 18. Daniel Hagen, Grimes; 19. Dustin Larson, Rushmore, Minn.; 20. Josh Nichols, Hanford, Calif.; 21. Justin Custer, Liberty, Mo.; 22. Kyle Clough, Wallace, Neb.; 23. Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas; 24. Joe Bellm, Broomfield, Colo.; 25. Josh Daniels, Carlisle; 26. Gary Pesicka, Burt; 27. Corey Piffer, Indianola; 28. David Moriarty, Jordan, Minn.; 29. Colby Fett, Algona; 30. Jason Rogers, Selden, Kan.
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BERRY IS THE FASTEST IN FAST SHAFTS ALL-STAR INVITATIONAL
BOONE, Iowa – Tom Berry Jr. was good enough to get in the race.
Then he proved he was good enough to win it.
Berry started sixth and took over the front following an early restart, then led the last 29 of 30 laps in winning the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, during the IMCA Speedway Motors fueled by Casey’s Friday evening at Boone Speedway.
The Modified checkers were good for $1,000, plus another $725 in lap money courtesy of Elmquist Towing.
“This means a lot. At Super Nationals, the main goal is to win the ‘A’ feature but in the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, you’ve got to be good enough to win a race to be eligible, then qualify,” said Berry, who’d won 13 IMCA features paying $1,000 or more since last September, including the Modified Anniversary special in Boone in May.
“You’ve got to be good enough to qualify for the race and that means that all 30 cars in it had to have some kind of speed.”
Troy Morris III led the opening circuit, then spun the next time around the track.
“There were some guys around me who still had to run a qualifier tonight so they had to be a little more cautious. Not that I wanted to wreck anything but I could run harder because I have all night and tomorrow to fix things,” said Berry. “I got a good shot on the start, got behind Morris and when I got by him he must have spun.”
Berry took over up front and was chased to midway by Daniel Gottschalk and Brandon Beckendorf. Gottschalk was just half a car length off the pace on lap 15; Beckendorf was in second to stay following a restart on lap 16.
Gottschalk, Jeremy Mills and Todd Shite completed the top five.
“Honestly, you couldn’t have asked for a better night. My right rear tire probably delaminated 8-10 laps in. To manage for 20-22 laps in with half a tire was incredible,” said Berry. “I was thinking of pulling off, then the caution came.”
“I just hunkered down. I knew the line I had to hit and made my car as wide as possible.”
Sixty-three drivers competed in two rounds of time trials, first by region and then at-large, for starting spots on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational grid. Berry is now eligible to qualify for the 2025 invitational.
The complete week of Super Nationals is broadcast by IMCA.TV.
Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational results – 1. Tom Berry Jr., Marshalltown; 2. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn.; 3. Daniel Gottschalk, Ellis, Kan.; 4. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake; 5. Todd Shute, Norwalk; 6. Joel Rust, Grundy Center; 7. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz.; 8. Ethan Braaksma, West Union; 9. Collen Winebarger, Corbett, Ore.; 10. Tim Ward, Harcourt; 11. Troy Foulger, Oakley, Calif.; 12. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton; 13. William Gould, Calera, Okla.; 14. Austen Becerra, Carthage, Ill.; 15. Eddie Belec, Avada, Colo.; 16. Kollin Hibdon, Fargo, N.D.; 17. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif.; 18. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wy.; 19. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wis.; 20. Trevor Fitz, Marshalltown; 21. Myron DeYoung, Crystal, Mich.; 22. Brett Berry, Hays, Kan.; 23. Mitchell Hunt, Lakeview, Mich.; 24. Jake McBirnie, Boone; 25. Ryan McDaniel, Olivehurst, Calif.; 26. Zane DeVilbiss, Farmington, N.M.; 27. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine; 28. Cody Thompson, Sioux City, Iowa; 29. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy.; 30. Tripp Gaylord, Gaylord, Colo.
COMPLETE FRIDAY RESULTS
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