BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 2, 2024) – One down, two to go,
Dylan Thornton had the fastest car when it mattered most Monday at Boone Speedway, driving away from Cory Dumpert on the final lap in winning the Late Model main event on opening night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
While taking the $3,00 checkers, the 2023 Stock Car champion became just the sixth driver in the 42-year history of Super Nationals to win titles in multiple divisions.
“It’s awesome. We had one goal for this week and that was to go 3-for-3 and be the first person to do that,” said Thornton, winner of his first Late Model start at Boone and looking to add two more big trophies to his collection on Saturday night.
“This was cool. I love Super Nationals and it means so much to win any race here,” he continued. “So far, we’re starting off strong. Now we want to go for that Modified and that Stock Car win.”
Austen Becerra, another of the 13 first-time starters – the most since 1990, the third year Late Models were part of the Super Nationals program – started on the pole and was scary fast, leading Evan Miller the first 21 of 50 laps before Travis Denning slipped past, briefly, following back-to-back restarts on lap 22.
Becerra was quickly back in front however, leading Denning, Thornton and Dumpert in a four-car breakaway.
The 2021 Northern SportMod champ at Boone, Becerra couldn’t keep Dumpert at bay following the first of four restarts, then drove off with mechanical issues, Sean Johnson and Denning went to the back after another yellow and Thornton passed Matt Ryan for second with four to go.
California native and Iowa resident since 2021 Thornton pulled alongside Dumpert at the white flag and pulled away the last time around the oval. The 2022 champion now has three runner-up finishes to show for his last four Boone outings.
Thirteenth starting Anthony Roth made a late charge of his own to finish third in his Late Model debut at Boone and Ryan was fourth.
“That was a hard race to run. We were good at the beginning but it seemed like every restart I would lose the lane I was in and get passed by more and more cars,” said Thornton, pilot of a Ricky and Brenda Kay-owned 2024 Warrior ride. “Luckily, I finally got to restart on the top and kind of got to go where I wanted. Our car was better and better toward the end of the of the race.”
Thirty-nine Late Models ran in the Labor Day show. Jenna Johnson became the first female driver to qualify for that event since 2010.
Darrel DeFrance qualified for his record extending 34th Big Dance while defending champion Jeff Aikey’s string of 14 consecutive main event appearances ended with mechanical problems in his “B” race. Aikey had won five times and ran in the top five on another six occasions over that span.
The entire week of Super Nationals is broadcast by IMCA.TV.
Feature results – 1. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine; 2. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb.; 3. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb.; 4. Matt Ryan, Davenport; 5. Alex Banks, Newman Grove, Neb.; 6. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb.; 7. Joe Beal, Milan, Ill.; 8. Evan Miller, Silvis, Ill.; 9. J.D. Auringer, Waterloo; 10. J.J. Rodeman, Cairo, Neb.; 11. Matt Haase, Norfolk, Neb.; 12. Mitch Morris, McCausland; 13. Sean Johnson, Independence; 14. Beau Johnson, Plainview, Neb.; 15. T.J. Fortmann, East Dubuque, Ill.; 16. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill.; 17. Austen Becerra, Carthage, Ill.; 18. Ray Raker, Danville; 19. Kale Kosiski, Ralston, Neb.; 20. Josh Most, Red Oak; 21. Ron Klein, Dubuque; 22. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown; 23. Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill.; 24. Jenna Johnson, Mitchellville.
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