BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 9) – The opportunity Joel Bushore hoped for came on lap 17 of Friday’s qualifying feature for Modifieds at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Cenex.
A caution with nine laps left erased Darin Duffy’s lead. Bushore had the edge the next time the two came around, stretched his advantage to a car length when lap 19 was scored and went on to win the event – and clinch the outside front row start in Saturday’s main event at Boone Speedway.
Mike VanGenderen completed one of the longest drives toward the front in second after starting 28th in the field of 30. He caught Duffy with five circuits to go but just didn’t have enough laps left to reel in Bushore.
Also advancing to the outside row in the main event are fellow top eight runners Josh Gilman, 17th starting Josh McGaha, Bill Davis Jr., Corey Lagroon and rookie Dustin Smith.
Duffy and Smith already own Super Nationals championship trophies: Duffy won the Late Model crown in 2003, Smith the Hobby Stock title in 2006. Smith was also the Stock Car runner-up at Boone last year.
Bushore, VanGenderen, McGaha and Lagroon join Smith as first-time qualifiers for the Modified main. Gilman makes his second start, Duffy his third and Davis his fourth.
Approximately $28,000 in cash and contingencies will be given to drivers who make the Modified starting field.
Last-chance heats and features on Saturday afternoon complete the main event field of 33.
Qualifying feature results – 1. Joel Bushore, Boone; 2. Mike VanGenderen, Newton; 3. Darin Duffy, Hazleton; 4. Josh Gilman, Earlham; 5. Josh McGaha, Abilene, Texas; 6. Bill Davis Jr., Des Moines; 7. Corey Lagroon, Salina, Kan.; 8. Dustin Smith, Lake City; 9. Adam Larson, Ames; 10. Nick Deal, Walnut; 11. Jay Goosmann, Hinton; 12. Brian Schmitt, Wall Lake; 13. Kevin Stoa, Albert Lea, Minn.; 14. Jay Matthias, DePere, Wis.; 15. Kellen Chadwick, Oakley, Calif.; 16. Chad Porter, Madison Lake, Minn.; 17. Ronnie Wallace, North Platte, Neb.; 18. Andy Krieger, Burlington; 19. Cale Sponsler, Grimes; 20. Jeremy Jacobs, Luxemburg, Wis.; 21. John Allen, Chanute, Kan.; 22. Eddie Sites, Monroeton, Pa.; 23. Mike Weikert Jr., Muscatine; 24. Matt Brack, Mead, Colo.; 25. Paul Stone, Winton, Calif.; 26. Steve Reynolds, Springfield, S.D.; 27. Troy Gemmill, Ponca City, Okla.; 28. Tyler Vandekamp, Ankeny; 29. Jay Steffens, North Platte, Neb.; 30. Brendon Gemmill, Ponca City, Okla.