BOONE, Iowa — Austen Becerra forgot about a mid-pack finish on Monday after an exciting one on Wednesday, while Tripp Gaylord almost ran out of adjectives following his own Modified qualifying feature win at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
Becerra reeled in and regained the lead from Collen Winebarger late in the first 25-lap qualifier. Gaylord handled four restarts in winning the second feature at Boone Speedway.
Top four finishers in each advance to the inside row for Saturday’s Big Dance. Becerra and Winebarger were followed across the line by 2022 champion Tom Berry Jr. and 17-time qualifier Kelly Shryock; Austin Kuehl, Trevor Fitz and 16th starting Drew Janssen completed the top four behind Gaylord.
Becerra, the 2021 Super Nationals Northern SportMod champ, had impressed with his Labor Day start from the pole in the Late Model main event before ending that race in 17th.
He started sixth, ahead of a multi-car melee on the initial start and led the first nine laps before Winebarger drove by.
Racing with a wrap remembering his father Tony, who passed away last week, Becerra chased Winebarger into traffic and made his way to the front on the 22nd circuit.
“I moved down for one of the lappers, they were all on the top there, and I found a little something in the middle,” he explained. “I told myself to just do what I needed to, Collen came down right in front of me and I was able to roll the outside. He went back to the top and I got underneath him.”
“What a deal.”
“We tried hard in the Late Model and came up a little short,” he’d add, “but to be able to win this, potentially start on the front row and win it in a Modified is just awesome.”
Gaylord followed Regan Tafoya and Jake Nightingale to the front of the second feature. Kuehl ran second from lap seven to the finish.
“I finally won at Boone, this is awesome. This is what we’re all here for right, starting in the front two rows of the Saturday main,” said Gaylord. “I honestly can’t believe it right now.”
“The car was phenomenal”
He’d built a lead of almost three seconds and caught up with the back of the field before the first of four yellows over the last half dozen laps. A late mishap took Nightingale out of contention and Janssen completed his run to a transfer spot.
Two hundred and 22 Modifieds competed Wednesday at Boone. The complete week of Super Nationals is broadcast by SPEED SPORT.TV affiliate IMCA.TV.
The finish:
First feature: Austen Becerra, Collen Winebarger, Tom Berry Jr., Kelly Shryock, Cole Czarneski, Jaxson Saathoff, William Gould, Kaden Cochrun, Brint Hartwick, Tanner Black, Jake McBirnie, Clay Money, Dallon Murty, Lucas Lamberies, Grey Ferrando, Cody Knecht, Ashton Wilkey, Cory Sauerman, Izac Mallicoat, Brandon Schmitt, Mike Goodson, Cody Thompson, Tim Ward, Jimmy Gustin, Ben Chapman, Ronnie Wallace, Eddie Belec, Brandon Beckendorf, Jerry Flippo, Adam Hommerding.
Second feature: Tripp Gaylord, Austin Kuehl, Trevor Fitz, Drew Janssen, Jacob Hobscheidt, Jeff Reay, Chris Abelson, Wyatt Block, Matthew Meinecke, Zane DeVilbiss, Ronn Lauritzen, Ricky Stephan, Regan Tafoya, Kaylin Lopez, Braxton Yeager, Mike Van Genderen, Trent Loverude, Austin Wonch, Jordan Rogotzke, Richard Michael Jr., Rob Sanders, Jake Nightingale, Wesley Wise, Tyler DeBouche, Josh Long, Troy Morris III, R.J. Merchant, Dustin Wilwert, Jace Whitt, Josh Most.