BOONE, Iowa — Troy Morris III and Dylan Thornton had IMCA Modified fans all the way to 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.
The entire week of the 42nd annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s is broadcast by SPEED SPORT affiliate IMCA.TV.
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.