1988 - Noble Wins Sixth 'Super Nationals'

 

Mark Noble stands behind his trophy after becoming the first non-Iowan to win the IMCA modified feature at the Super Nationals in Boone. Noble is joined in victory lane by (l-r), IMCA Race Director Keith Knaack, race sponsor Jerry Boubin, flagman Bill Olson, Rich Hartman of Red Baron Pizza, and IMCA executive secretary Bill Haglund. – Gordon Malone Photo

Boone, Iowa (September 10, 1988) – A standing-room-only crowd watched Saturday night as Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie, Minn., won the sixth annual IMCA Modified Super Nationals 40-lap feature at Boone Speedway.

Noble started in the middle of the second row in the three-abreast start and took the lead on lap 2 from Des Moines veteran Glenn Woodard. Noble stayed in front the rest of the way to become the first non-Iowan to win the event, which began in 1983 at Vinton, Iowa.

Defending champion Wayne Larson of Ames finished second, Merv Chandler of Cedar Rapids was third, Tony Roper of Fair Grove, Mo., was fourth and Bill Davis of Des Moines rounded out the top five.

Also winning championships on Saturday were Bob Hill of Story City in the IMCA late models and Steve Jackson of Des Moines in the stock car division. It was the first time that two divisions had been part of the annual “Super Nationals”.

“This is the biggest win I’ve ever had,” the 34-year-old Noble said. “After all of the problems we’ve had here, this really makes the effort worthwhile.”

Robert Lawton, Boone Speedway promoter, was also grinning ear-to-ear when he greeted Noble in victory lane.

“I’ve been in this game a long time and too many times I’ve seen the fastest car not win the feature,” he remarked. “This is justice. You were the fastest car here all week.”

Noble’s qualifying woes began Thursday night – first night of qualifying for the IMCA modifieds. He started second row outside in the fourth of 12 heats and drove to the front quickly. However, a flat tire related him to the “C” qualifying feature. Starting eight row outside, he charged through the field and won, giving him a 13th row inside starting position in the “B” qualifying feature. Noble would finish third in that feature and earned a “A” qualifying spot on the inside of the 14th row. Almost unbelievably, Noble again worked his way through traffic and to the front when his engine expired and he was forced to come back again Friday night and to try and qualify.

On Friday, he won the fifth heat, then finished second to Larson in the qualifying “A” feature to earn his middle row Super Nationals start in the three-abreast, 11-row lineup.

Making the best advance was third-place finisher Merv Chandler. Chandler started the Super Nationals feature outside the seventh row but moved steadily through the field and finished right behind Noble and Larson. At one point, Chandler actually passed Larson for second, but he faded a spot when he lost his brakes during the end of the 40-lapper.

Bob Hill won the IMCA Red Baron Pizza Summer Series feature at the IMCA Super Nationals at Boone Speedway. Pictured from left, IMCA Race Director Keith Knaack, flagman Bill Olson, Jerry Boubin of Boubin Tire, Hill, and Rich Hartman of Red Baron Pizza. – Gordon Malone Photo

In the late model feature, Hill started on the pole and stayed there as he held off Des Moines driver Craig Jacobs. Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls was third followed by Don Beckstrom of Carroll and Darrel DeFrance of Marshalltown.

Jackson, who will be IMCA’s first stock car division national champion, started on the pole and held off Rick Gustin of Carlisle for the win. John Logue of Boone was third, fourth was Doug Smith of Marshalltown and Dave Blankenship of Brooklyn, driving a 1981 Ford LTD, was fifth.


Results –


Modified -

1. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
2. Wayne Larson, Ames
3. Merv Chandler, Cedar Rapids
4. Tony Roper, Fair Grove, Mo.
5. Bill Davis, Des Moines
6. Kent Kaplan, Ankeny
7. Mike Smith, Ellsworth
8. Curt Flack, Jefferson
9. Bob Dominacki, Bettendorf
10.Dave Farren, Des Moines
11.Alan Miles, Steeleville, Mo.
12.Kelly Shryock, Story City
13.Joe Schmitt, Mankato, Minn.
14.Ron Luitjens, Brewster, Minn.
15.Rick Cox, Davenport
16.Larry Grafton, Des Moines
17.Rex Merritt, Billings, Mo.
18.Ron Muilenburg, Sparta, Mo.
19.Jeff Martin, Kansas, Ill.
20.Jim Kellen, Madison, Minn.


Late Model –

1. Bob Hill, Story City
2. Craig Jacobs, Des Moines
3. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls
4. Don Beckstrom, Carroll
5. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown
6. Jeff French, Mt. Ayr
7. Mike Smith, Ellsworth
8. Steve Borts, Ames
9. Greg Kastli, Waterloo
10.John Vantiger, Mt. Union


IMCA Stock Car –

1. Steve Jackson, Des Moines
2. Rick Gustin, Carlisle
3. John Logue, Boone
4. Doug Smith, Marshalltown
5. Dave Blankenship, Brooklyn
6. Pat Surfus, Oskaloosa
7. Todd Stensrud, Madison, Minn.
8. Ron Ray, Boone
9. Mike Farrell, West Des Moines
10.Rex Bonnett, Pleasantville

Steve Jackson (center) won the IMCA stock car feature at the IMCA Super Nationals at Boone. He’s joined in victory lane by Jerry Boubin of Boubin Tire (left) and Rich Hartman of Red Baron Pizza (right). – Gordon Malone Photo