BOONE, Iowa – A couple of California drivers enjoyed a big night at Boone Speedway Friday.
Riley Simmons and Ethan Dotson were among eight drivers who punched their tickets to Saturday’s IMCA Modified main event during the IMCA Super Nationals Friday evening at Boone Speedway.
Simmons, from Susanville, Calif., started from the pole and led the distance of the first 25-lap. He fought off constant attacks from Kyle Brown through the middle stages of the race.
Eventually Brown came under attack by Dallon Murty for the runner-up position, which allowed Simmons to slip away. However, a caution flag on the final lap set up a green-white-checkered restart.
During the restart Murty slipped by Brown for second and took a run at Simmons on the final lap. He got to Simmons’ outside coming out of turn four on the final lap, but came up half a car length short.
Brown ended up third, with Paul Nagle securing the final automatic berth into Saturday’s Big Dance.
“Kept it out front, stayed clean and did what we needed to do,” Simmons said. “This is huge. For us, a little team back in California, it’s nice to finally get a big win like this.”
Dotson, from Bakersfield, Calif., had to come from the seventh starting position to win the second IMCA Modified feature. He went to work quickly, roaring up to fourth after the completion of one lap.
With 20 laps left Dotson was already up to second and looking for more. During a restart Dotson went from the top to the middle to make a daring three-wide pass to snatch the race lead away from Ryan McDaniel.
Dotson drove away once out in front, but a caution with two laps left erased his lengthy advantage. That ended up not mattering as Dotson easily held the lead during the final two laps to secure the victory and a guaranteed starting position in Saturday’s finale.
“We’re pretty good. Hopefully we put a good show for the fans,” Dotson said. “We struggled all week. We threw some stuff at it and here and I think she finally liked it.”
Zane DeVilbiss was second, with McDaniel and Eethan Braaksma also punching their tickets to Saturday’s main event.
Two IMCA stock car preliminary features were also held Friday, with four drivers from each also earning starting spots in their Saturday main event.
Zachary Madrid won the first IMCA stock car event ahead of Johnny Spaw, Jay Schmidt and Chanse Hollatz. The second was won by Derek Green, who marched from 14th to the victory. Jeremy Christians, Tathan Burkhart and Johnathon Logue also earned A-Main starting spots.
Fans who can’t be at Boone Speedway in person can watch every lap of both the Prelude and the complete week of Super Nationals via SPEED SPORT TV affiliate IMCA.TV.
This story is part of the LIVE From the IMCA Super Nationals Presented by MyRacePass.com.
