Durbin Baker, Snyder top Super National Mod Qualifiers

[NickHolt]

Durbin, Baker, Snyder top Super Nationals Modified qualifiers

 

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 9) – The qualifying format is different, but three drivers enjoyed the same story of success on the first night of Modified qualifying at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals.

 

Jake Durbin topped the first of three features Wednesday at Boone Speedway and was followed to victory lane in short order by Scott Baker and Jonathan Snyder.

 

Durbin will make his sixth consecutive main event start on Saturday. Baker is in the big show for the fourth time in his career, Snyder for the second.

 

First and second-place drivers from each of 30 heats advance to one of three qualifying features on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night; the top two from each of those races, plus 15 drivers who advance from last-chance races will make up Saturday’s 33-car main event field.

 

Previously, the top four from two qualifying features each night and nine drivers from last-chance races on Saturday made the starting grid.

 

Durbin chased down Long with two laps to go, then eased away to win. Long became the first Illinois driver to qualify for the main event at Super Nationals since 1992.

 

Baker led all 20 laps after an early restart in the second qualifier. Ronnie Wallace held off Dave Hardesty, but couldn’t catch Baker following a caution with two laps left.

 

Snyder and Craig Reetz checked out on the rest of the field in the third qualifier. Johnny Saathoff ran third most of the way but couldn’t reel in either of the front pair.

 

Wallace is in his career fourth Saturday night show. Long and Reetz are both first-time qualifiers.

 

Two hundred and seventy-one Modifieds saw action on Wednesday. The six qualifiers square off Thursday to decide their starting order on Saturday’s inside row.

 

1st qualifying feature –

1. Jake Durbin, Perry;

2. Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.;

3. Rich Smith, Davenport;

4. Jay Steffens, North Platte, Neb.;

5. Jay Matthias, DePere, Wis.;

6. Jerry Luloff, Independence;

7. Bill Roberts, Burlington;

8. Dennis Pittman, Jamaica;

9. Michael Smith, Arkport, N.Y.;

10. Ryan McDaniel, Olivehurst, Calif.;

11. Chris Abelson, Sioux City;

12. Ricky Stephan, South Sioux City, Neb.;

13. Kevin Stoa, Salisbury, N.C.;

14. Chris Dawson, Post, Texas;

15. Todd Shute, Des Moines;

16. Lance Borgman, Beatrice, Neb.;

17. Chad Estes, Troy, Texas;

18. Al Hejna, Clear Lake;

19. Clay Daly, Winton, Calif.;

20. Brian Knoell, Falun, Kan.

 

2nd qualifying feature –

1. Scott Baker, Boone;

2. Ronnie Wallace, North Platte, Neb.;

3. Dave Hardesty, Minneapolis, Kan.;

4. Jeff Emerson, Hobbs, Texas;

5. Brian Mullen, Seymour, Wis.;

6. Reese Coffee, Hinton;

7. Mark Elliott, Webster City;

8. Brian Krall, Readlyn;

9. Brandon Rothzen, Raritan, Ill.;

10. David Mayhew, Bakersfield, Calif.;

11. Paul Stone, Winton, Calif.;

12. Mike McCarthy, Round Rock, Texas;

13. Jesse Cowles, Council Bluffs;

14. Adam Larson, Ames;

15. Benji LaCrosse, Green Bay, Wis.;

16. Jay Noteboom, Hinton;

17. Gary Pesicka, Burt;

18. Ed Thomas, Waterloo;

19. Jay Schmidt, Tama;

20. Bob Moore, Sioux City.

 

3rd qualifying feature –

1. Jonathan Snyder, Ames;

2. Craig Reetz, Dunlap;

3. Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice, Neb.;

4. Bill Davis Jr., Des Moines;

5. David Murray Jr., Oberlin, Kan.;

6. Jeremy Mills, Garner;

7. Russ Dickerson, Boone;

8. Cale Sponsler, Grimes;

9. Nate Caruth, Ames;

10. Kelly Lyons, Boone;

11. Todd Stinehart, Waseca, Minn.;

12. Denny Johnson, Council Bluffs;

13. Ryan Watnem, Humbolt;

14. Gabe Tucker, Carbon, Texas;

15. Jeff Feaster, Dakota City;

16. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.;

17. Brett Ladehoff, Marshalltown;

18. Brad Williams, Lytton;

19. T.J. Herndon, Atwood, Tenn.;

20. Eric Dailey, Armstrong

[NickHolt]

Got this in a PM from dirthammer earlier today:

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Worthy of noting

 

Mike McCarthy from Round Rock Tx won his Modified heat yesterday at the Super Nationals. Advanced to the 2nd A main. He races out of Killeen.

 

Thanks

 

Michael Rothhammer