BOONE, Iowa — Iowa’s Curtis Glover mastered traffic, restarts and a stout field of challengers Monday night to capture his first Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s championship in the 50-lap Sunoco IMCA Late Model Big Dance at Boone Speedway.
The defending Iowa State and 34 Raceway track champion drew the Eibach Springs Pole Award during the Casey’s Redraw at the NAPA Fan Zone, putting the Cooney Motorsports No. 30 at the front of the field.
Glover shot to the early lead, but a caution before the opening lap could be completed brought the field back together.
Defending National champion Zach Zeitner of Nebraska went on the offensive on the restart and briefly got ahead of Glover, but Glover reclaimed the advantage before Zeitner could secure the position.
While the two battled, Illinois racer Darin Weisinger Jr. capitalized and slipped into the lead on lap three. His stay out front was brief, however, as Glover charged back ahead the next time past the flag stand.
Once back in command, Glover began to distance himself from the field. He encountered the back of the pack on lap 14 but efficiently worked through traffic while Zeitner tried to keep the leader within reach.
Each time Zeitner appeared poised to close the gap with a clear race track ahead, Glover would work his way around another lapped car to maintain his advantage.
Behind them, Beau Johnson began stalking Zeitner for second. The defending Nebraska State champion finally worked his way into the runner-up position on lap 27.
Johnson then began reeling in Glover through traffic, with Zeitner remaining close behind as the battle at the front tightened.
A caution on lap 38 cleared the traffic and gave Glover an open race track. He took advantage on the restart and quickly reestablished himself out front.
Behind him, Zeitner and Johnson waged a hard battle for second, with Zeitner eventually securing the position a few laps into the green flag run.
One final caution with three laps remaining gave Zeitner, Johnson, and the rest of the field one last opportunity, but Glover was flawless on the restart.
Glover pulled away over the final three circuits and raced to the checkered flag for his first career Super Nationals championship, becoming the seventh consecutive different winner of the IMCA Late Model Big Dance.
Zeitner finished second, with Johnson third. Weisinger was fourth, while two-time reigning Highway 39 Speedway Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified track champion Shane DeMey completed the top five.
Dalton Simonsen, the 2019 Iowa State champion, earned hard charger honors after advancing from 21st to 11th.
A total of 37 IMCA Late Models were on hand for the night.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Advantage Racing TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. And don’t miss Season 3 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
