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.
The Super Nationals continue nightly through Saturday. Watch all the action on SPEED SPORT affiliate IMCA.tv.
Feature Finish
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.