BOONE, Iowa — Admittedly, Zach Olmstead’s IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock is not going to win any beauty contests.
But it’s fast, and that ol’ ride took the Overton, Neb., driver to Stephenville Starter Race of Champions victory lane for the record third straight time during the Tuesday night IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s show at Boone Speedway.
“You make yours shiny. I’ll make mine fast,” Olmsted said, after pocketing $300 for the win along with another $150 in lap money.
Andrew Burk had drawn the pole start for the 12-car, 12-lap race and ran ahead of Jeff Fink while Olmstead slowly worked his way up from fifth.
That slowly became quickly as Olmstead, the defending Super Nationals champion, was up to second when lap nine was scored and then rocketed to the front the next time around.
“You’ve got to have a lot of luck when you come here,” said Olmstead. “I haven’t had any here this week but we told ourselves today that was going to change.”
Corey Madden had gone back-to-back in winning 2018 and 2019 RoCs.
Former national, regional and Super Nationals champions, race winners and 2023 track and state champions or point leaders were eligible to qualify for the Stephenville Starter Race of Champions.
SPEED SPORT.tv affiliate IMCA.TV broadcasts the entire week of the 41st annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
Feature Finish (12 Laps)
1. Zach Olmstead, Overton, Neb.; 2. Andrew Burk, Milan, Ill.; 3. Cory Probst, Brewster, Minn.; 4. Dylan Nelson, Adel; 5. Jeff Fink, Denison; 6. Jaeden Strandberg, Worthington, Minn.; 7. Mike Smith, Lake City; 8. Skylar Pruitt, Stuart; 9. Brandon Nielsen, Spencer; 10. Cody Williams, Minneapolis, Kan.; 11. Kyler Satran, Minot, N.D.; 12. Andrew Burg, Maricopa, Ariz.