BOONE, Iowa — Cole Czarneski mastered a late restart, while Colby Fett survived a green-white-checkered finish to win Thursday’s Sunoco IMCA Stock Car qualifiers at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
The pair of 25-lap qualifiers set the middle lane for Saturday’s Big Dance, with the top four finishers from each locking themselves into the championship event.
Czarneski took command on the opening lap and began to stretch his advantage as the race stayed under green.
The 2024 141 Speedway track champion had clear sailing out front while Shelby Williams, Kodey Miles, and Zane DeVilbiss were among those fighting for the fourth and final transfer position.
A caution on lap 15 erased Czarneski’s advantage and set up a three-car battle for second on the restart. Another yellow two circuits later again slowed the pace, but Czarneski was strong when the green returned.
Williams began reeling in the leader with two laps remaining, only for another caution to halt his charge and set up a green-white-checkered finish.
The Denmark, Wis., driver executed a strong final restart and drove away to secure the qualifier victory.
Behind him, Williams and Elijah Zevenbergen made their moves on the final lap to secure second and third.
Williams, a Texas native and the 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion, initially crossed the line second but was disqualified following a connecting rods infraction.
The disqualification promoted 2016 Super Nationals winner and six-time Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion Elijah Zevenbergen to second.
Two-time Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified National champion Zane DeVilbiss of New Mexico moved to third, while two-time Super Nationals winner Devin Smith was promoted to the fourth and final transfer position. Smith was also the hard charger, racing from dead last in 30th to earn a starting spot in Saturday’s Big Dance.
The field went four-wide during the opening lap of the second qualifier, with Austin Brands emerging from the scramble with the early lead.
Fett wasted little time making his move, taking command on lap two.
Two-time EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region champion Blake Clark began applying pressure to the leader before a caution came out on lap three. Additional yellows on laps five, six, and seven kept the field tightly packed, but Fett continued to get strong restarts.
A lengthy green-flag run followed, while Tripp Gaylord, originally from Colorado, and Clark waged a spirited battle for second behind the leader.
Fett, from Algona, Iowa, reached lapped traffic on lap 21, but a caution two circuits later cleared the traffic and set up a green-white-checkered finish.
The 2024 National Rookie of the Year was up to the challenge and drove to the qualifier victory.
Gaylord, winner of this year’s Harris Clash and Tanner Pelster Memorial, finished second aboard the Vanderbilt house car No. VB1.
Three-time defending Worthington Speedway track champion Justin Luinenburg of Minnesota put together a tremendous late charge, rallying from dead last in 30th to finish third.
Wisconsin’s Jamison MacDonald completed a charge of his own, advancing from 17th to secure the fourth and final transfer position.
Locked-in drivers from Wednesday night’s qualifying tossed bags in the NAPA Fan Zone on Thursday to determine their starting positions in the inside lane of Saturday’s Big Dance.
Izac Mallicoat defeated Cody Laney to secure the inside of the front row and earn the Eibach Springs Pole Award, with Laney starting in the inside position of row two. Jake McBirnie defeated Todd Shute for the inside of row three, putting Shute in the inside position of row four.
Tim Ward defeated Dylon Waldvogel for the inside of row five, with Waldvogel starting in the inside position of row six. G.W. Egbert IV defeated Tyler Bannister for the inside of row seven, putting Bannister in the inside position of row eight.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV.
