BOONE, Iowa — Finish one project, check it off the list. Start another project, add it to the list.
That list, as IMCA President Brett Root notes, is everything that has been done, is getting done or will be done before the start of the 42nd annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
“There are non-stop improvements and updates at Boone Speedway which bring their own set of challenges ahead of the Sept. 2-7 Super Nationals,” said Root. “Getting ready for Super Nationals is like farming for a living in that there’s always something to be done.”
A new-look infield victory lane incorporating popular jumbotrons is currently in the works, as is an updated scale pad and additional VIP pit stalls to accommodate large trailers.
“Those are the most visible projects if you’re driving through Boone on Highway 30,” notes Root. “We’re also well underway with numerous other behind the scenes projects, like designing and ordering Super Nationals apparel and souvenirs, the Boone Bound social media promotion and everything the IMCA.TV crew needs to have in place during the week.”
Souvenir trailers will be open on the grandstand side of the track and in the pit area both days of the Aug. 31-Sept. 1 Prelude – the popular Sunday Sale is planned – and throughout Super Nationals.
Various packages will be available to watch the Prelude and Super Nationals, both to be broadcast by SPEED SPORT.TV affiliate IMCA.TV. Pricing will be announced shortly.
“We are running numbers for purses to be paid at the Prelude. The Super Nationals purse will be very similar to last year’s,” Root said, “and Carson (Becker-Gramm, IMCA marketing integration director) already has most of the contingency programs for Super Nationals finalized. Awards that aren’t presented to drivers that week in Boone will be mailed beginning the next week.”
Mod Lites crown the first champion of the 42nd annual Super Nationals on Sunday in a $2,000 to win event.
The Late Model championship event on Labor Day pays $3,000 to win, Tuesday’s Sport Compact main event $1,250.
Saturday, Sept. 7 Big Dances see Hobby Stocks run for $3,000 to win, Northern SportMods for $5,000 to win, Stock Cars for $8,000 to win and Modifieds for $10,000 to win.
“We had 500-plus entries in a matter of days so when we’ll do last-chance qualifying for the Modifieds and Stock Cars remains to be determined. Car counts in the two divisions were very close last year,” Root said. “We do know that all Modified last-chance qualifying will be on Saturday. We’ll have a better idea about non-qualifying races for Stock Cars by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest that week.”
The Stephenville Starter Race of Champions for Hobby Stocks and Pulse Racing Innovations Race of Champions for Northern SportMods will return to the Tuesday show and both the Sunoco Race Fuels Race of Champions for Stock Cars and Rage Chassis Race of Champions for Modifieds are on the busy Saturday card.
The B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational for Stock Cars is Sep. 5, the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational for Modifieds is Sept. 6.
“Last year’s state champions in these four divisions should note that they are now eligible to qualify for their respective race of champions,” emphasized Root. “All-Star eligible drivers have won sanctioned events paying $750 or more for the Stock Cars and $1,000 or more for the Modifieds and their qualifying format has not changed.”
“More than 200 Modified drivers and nearly 170 Stock Car drivers are already All-Star qualifying eligible. Seven Stock Car drivers have won events that paid $5,000 or more and are guaranteed starting spots in their All-Star race,” he continued. “That tells us a lot about the momentum of this division. A couple years ago, there were people talking about a lack of high-paying specials for Stock Cars.”
“Now we have a lot of those events in all our divisions.”
The list of All-Star eligible drivers is updated on the IMCA website and Facebook page; any omissions should be reported to Bill Martin at the IMCA home office.