5/26/2024
Tom Berry Jr.
Berry Jr. notches wins at Clay County and Boone
Tom Berry Jr. had an extensive slate of racing planned for the nights leading up to the Memorial Day holiday. When the weather cooperated, he picked up his seventh and eighth feature victories of the year, along with a runner-up finish.
On Monday, Berry was part of a 25-car IMCA Modified field at Spencer, Iowa’s 3/8-mile Clay County Fair Speedway for the opener of the three-day $250,000 Challenge. Berry began the night with a second-place finish in his heat race and started the 20-lap, $1,000-to-win A-Main from the third position. He climbed one spot to score a runner-up result, taking the checkered flag 1.622 seconds behind winner Jordan Grabouski. Ethan Braaksma, Brandon Schmitt and Ricky Thornton Jr. completed the top five.
After a rainout on Tuesday, Berry Jr. returned to Clay County on Wednesday. This time, 24 IMCA Modified drivers were seeking a $1,500 first-place payout. Berry finished second in his heat race and rolled off fifth in the 20-lap feature. He engaged in a battle with Grabouski throughout the race’s closing laps for the lead, ultimately pulling off a thrilling move on the inside line in the final turn to take the win. Berry’s margin of victory was just 0.027 seconds. Thornton Jr. completed the podium, with Brandon Beckendorf coming home fourth and Tim Ward fifth.
Berry’s scheduled start at Iowa’s Marshalltown Speedway on Friday was canceled, but he stayed in the Hawkeye State and visited Boone Speedway on Saturday night.
The Boone program brought 41 IMCA Modifieds to the famed 3/8-mile oval for a $3,500-to-win show. Berry raced from seventh to first in his heat and began the 25-lap A-Main from the 10th spot. He took over the lead on Lap 21 and claimed the victory after trading sliders with Ward, who finished 0.214 seconds behind Berry in the runner-up position. Dallon Murty took third, with Zachary Madrid fourth and Izac Mallicoat coming home fifth.
Berry had also planned to compete at Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa, on Sunday, but the event was rained out.
Full results are available here (Clay County Fair Speedway) and at www.raceboone.com.
Article Credit: Jim Steffens image