Boyce breaks slump
Minot’s Joren Boyce wins first Nodak feature in 31?2 yearsBy T.J. ALLICK, Staff Writer tallick@minotdailynews.com
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The drought is over.
Minot's Joren Boyce has had his share of success at Nodak Speedway during his career, but in recent history the winner's circle has seemed to elude him.
That all changed Sunday night as Boyce raced to his first IMCA Modified feature win in over three years.
"I don't think I've been here in at least 3 1/2. This used to be a place I would win a lot of races at, but I haven't been in here for a while," said Boyce of victory lane at Nodak. "I kept telling people it's that I forgot how to drive, it was just that preparation and opportunity hadn't together at the same time.
"I just want to give a huge thanks to my dad, my wife and my kids - my family. People tolerate a lot, it takes a lot of time to (race), so I couldn't be happier to finally get one."
Boyce's win didn't come easy.
He blew his motor winning the second modified heat race of the night and had to hold off a couple of wily veterans in the form of Marlyn Seidler and John Flory to win the feature.
"I crossed the finish line and won the heat with a broken motor, so dad and I, Dave Rivinuis and Chad Hoffer, helped me change the motor," Boyce said. "(In the feature) I didn't need a yellow late in the race to joggle the mind, I really didn't, but I seen on the lap board that some wily veterans were on me and just driving harder and harder.
"Then after the checkered flag I went an extra lap to just make sure. It's just been a long time, so what a feeling."
After getting the pressure off his back with the win, Boyce plans on not making another three and a half years for his next one.
"I haven't won here in a long time and the skeptics were having their heyday, but one thing about winning this early in the year is that there is a chance to win another," he said. "Used to be you just had to be lucky, but you have to be prepared too. I have a car that I'm in on with Steve Pfeifer and Wayne Johnson, we have the Harris Cars here in Minot and it's a great organization.
"I look forward to racing Harris Cars the rest of my racing years."
Stenvold survives wild one
Between a one-week layoff and an extra $100 on the line to each feature winner, Sunday night's races were as wild as they have been all season at Nodak.
The wildest race of the night turned out to be the IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Usually the Hobbies are the first to run after intermission, meaning they have the misfortune of packing down the freshly farmed track, but the IMCA Modifieds ran their B-main first.
The Hobbies were treated to a faster track, which led to some door-to-door action, filled with cautions and an eventual roll-over. With just three laps remaining in the 15-lap feature, Holly Johnson found herself upside down and tumbling out of control. She came out all right, but her car wasn't as fortunate.
When the action continued, Rob Stenvold stayed ahead of the pack to pick up his second consecutive feature of the season.
More of the same
It was pretty much more of the same in the INEX Legends and IMCA Stock Car feature races.
Legends points leader Spencer Wilson once again took the checkered flag, his fifth feature win in a row, while Stocks points leader Nathan Burke earned his sixth and third consecutive feature win of the season Sunday.
Both currently lead their respective points standings by 20 points or more.
IMCA Modifieds
A-Main - 1. Joren Boyce; 2. Maryln Seidler; 3. John Flory; 4. Steve Pfeifer; 5. Allen Kent.
B-Main - 1. Steve Pfeifer; 2. Brad Lisafeld; 3. Tom Wagner.
Heat 1 - 1. John Flory; 2. Wyatt Olson; 3. Marlyn Seidler.
Heat 2 - 1. Joren Boyce; 2. Hank Berry; 3. William Matejovic.
Heat 3 - 1. Mike Hagen; 2. Jim Harris; 3. Dirk Miller.
Heat 4 - 1. Drew Christianson; 2. Allen Kent; 3. Troy Kittler.
INEX Legends
A-Main - 1. Spencer Wilson; 2. Nathan Speten; 3. Troy Speten; 4. Eric Fetzer; 5. Tom Wagner.
Heat 1 - 1. Justin Batzer; 2. Chris Evenson; 3. Troy Speten.
Heat 2 - 1. Nathan Speten; 2. Tom Wagner; 3. Spencer Wilson.
IMCA Stock Cars
A-Main - 1. Nathan Burke; 2. Robbie Rosselli; 3. Jason Storbakken; 4. Chad Strachen; 5. Randy Fyllesvold.
Heat 1 - 1. Robbie Rosselli; 2. Chad Strachen; 3. Shawn Kuhnhenn.
Heat 2 - 1. Justin Streifel; 2. Randy Conway; 3. Joe Flory.
Heat 3 - 1. Allan Fetzer; 2. Brett Woznicki; 3. Nathan Burke.
IMCA Hobby Stocks
A-Main - 1. Rob Stenvold; 2. Dustin Hoffert; 3. Dana Brandt; 4. Brandon Beeter; 5. Scott Lageson.
Heat 1 - 1. Brock Beeter; 2. Michael Vennes; 3. Doug Thompson.
Heat 2 - 1. Gary Hamilton; 2. Brandon Beeter; 3. Erik Laudenschlager.
Heat 3 - 1. Rob Stenvold; 2. Austin Daae; 3. Dustin Hoffert.
