Gifford takes checkers ahead of Stock Car qualifying drama
BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 3) – He wasn’t part of the finish line drama, but Jerry Gifford was the winner of an IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Stock Car qualifying feature that announcer Jerry Vansickel was quick to describe as epic.
Gifford led all 25 laps of Wednesday’s first Stock qualifier at Boone Speedway. Travis VanStraten took over second place for good five laps in while 2001 champion Brian Blessington started 11th and cemented third with three laps left.
The top four finishers advance to the inside row of Saturday’s main event and Brandon Taylor and Derek Green were both bound and determined to get it.
After completing the 24th and next-to-last lap virtually bumper to bumper, the pair got together and slid sideways toward the finish line. Abe Huls and Terry Pruitt both took advantage and drove by, with Huls getting fourth and the transfer spot.
Taylor was scored sixth, Green seventh.
Top four finishers from each of the two qualifiers will square off in games of roshambo on Thursday in the fan zone to determine inside row starting positions.
Blessington is now a 12-time qualifier for the main event. VanStraten is in for the fifth time, Huls the third and Gifford the first.
Feature results – 1. Jerry Gifford, Boone; 2. Travis VanStraten, Hortonville, Wis.; 3. Brian Blessington, Breda; 4. Abe Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 5. Terry Pruitt, Dexter; 6. Brandon Taylor, Granbury, Texas; 7. Derek Green, Granada, Minn.; 8. Kevin Opheim, Mason City; 9. Shaun Bruns, Danube, Minn.; 10. Marcus Fagan, Adair; 11. Jake Masters, Graettinger; 12. Justin Temeyer, Independence; 13. Chad Palmer, Renwick; 14. Bob Daniels, Des Moines; 15. Toby Smith, Oskaloosa; 16. Josh Daniels, Carlisle; 17. Jesse Olson, Mayer, Minn.; 18. Jason Rogers, Selden, Kan.; 19. Tom Brumlic, Denmark, Wis.; 20. Ryan Harris, Hubbard, Neb.; 21. Eric Brown, Boone; 22. Shawn Havel, Algoma, Wis.; 23. James Richert, Comfrey, Minn.; 24. Matthew West, Kellerton; 25. Kyle Werkmeister, McCook, Neb.; 26. Norman Belew, Granger; 27. David Easterday, Riverdale, Neb.; 28. Jesse Brown, Nashua; 29. Jason Batt, Hatcher Heights, Texas; 30. Scott Pippert, Elberon.
Category: Boone Speedway, Iowa
