BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 7) – The way Richie Gustin figured it, the scheduling of the evening’s B features had a lot to do with how the Modified qualifying feature played out Wednesday at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Cenex.
“I think the most significant thing was that they ran six B’s before the feature,” said Gustin, who charged from 13th starting to the front by midway of the 25-lapper, then led to the finish to earn the pole for Saturday’s main event at Boone Speedway. “The track was just right. We could race from top to bottom.”
Chasing Gustin across the stripe were Josh Ruby, Kevin Sustaire, Josh Truman, Hank Berry, Mark Elliott Clint Hatlestad and Brad Pounds. They’ll line up behind Gustin on the inside row Saturday.
Jeremy Mills led the first three circuits before Berry edged ahead. Mills would drive off early under caution with a flat tire while Berry, who’d go on to become the first driver from Montana to make a Super Nationals main event, led Hatlestad at the front of the pack.
Gustin was in third by lap 18 and took second away from Hatlestad following a lap 10 restart. His first pass for the lead was erased by another yellow; Gustin went around Berry after another restart two laps later and stayed in front to the finish.
“The track was wide enough and we had enough laps left that I thought I could get him (Berry) again,” Gustin said.
Gustin finished fourth in his one previous Saturday night appearance at Super Nationals, in 2005. Hard charger Truman advanced 21 positions, Pounds 15 and Elliott 14.
Pounds made a late surge to get in the big show for the second time in his career. Elliott qualified for his sixth straight main event.
Sustaire, Truman and Hatlestad are also second-time qualifiers. Berry and Ruby, who started eighth and took over second for good on lap 18, are first-timers.
Robert Avery started last in the field of 30 and finished ninth, one place shy of transferring.
Modified drivers from 24 states and Canada competed in qualifying heats Wednesday night. Eleven states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico and Texas, in addition to Iowa, were represented in the qualifying feature.
The front eight in the middle row of the main event will be determined Thursday.
Qualifying feature results – 1. Richie Gustin, Gilman; 2. Josh Ruby, Lakota; 3. Kevin Sustaire, Emory, Texas; 4. Josh Truman, Indianola; 5. Hank Berry, Sidney, Mont.; 6. Mark Elliott, Webster City; 7. Clint Hatlestad, Glencoe, Minn.; 8. Brad Pounds, Bakersfield, Calif.; 9. Robert Avery, Des Moines; 10. Dustin Kraklio, Durant; 11. Tony Olson, Cedar Rapids; 12. Todd Wilson, Spickard, Mo.; 13. Ron Pope, Mason City; 14. Danny Morrison, Minneapolis, Kan.; 15. Tyler Prochaska, Iowa Falls; 16. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.; 17. William McGuire, Belton, Texas; 18. Adam Larson, Ames; 19. Kevin Stoa, Albert Lea, Minn.; 20. Jake Durbin, Perry; 21. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo.; 22. Nick Deal, Walnut; 23. Jason Noll, El Mirage, Ariz.; 24. Jeremy Mills, Garner; 25. David Murray Jr., Oberlin, Kan.; 26. Ben Ketteman, Pflugerville, Texas; 27. Denny Rosenberg, Grimes; 28. Regan Tafoya, Farmington, N.M.; 29. Craig Reetz, Dunlap; 30. Will Brack, Mead, Colo.