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NICK SCHWIEN • Hays Daily News Corey Lagroon goes into turn three Thursday during a modified heat race at the IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa.

NICK SCHWIEN •ÊHays Daily News Bruce Plumisto of Colby competes in a stock car heat race Thursday at the IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa.

Party continues on the dirt oval

1I'm assuming it is in reference to the lively night life that allegedly goes on during the week.

But it also could refer to the driving on the dirt oval. There's no escaping a dent or a blemish on a car at this place.

On Thursday, the second day stock cars and modifieds competed, it marked one less day the two classes had for drivers to qualify for Saturday's feature.

Nudges a day earlier turned into bumps Thursday, and using another car to help yourself around a corner became the norm.

That led the flagman to have a busy day, dropping the black flag on several drivers he deemed had crossed the line for aggressive driving.

Apparently, that's a fine line.

Nick Tubbs found out the hard way. The stock car driver needed to finish in the top three of his heat to reach one of two A-mains Thursday night. The 10-car heat featured multiple bumps and more during the eight laps.

The Colby driver battled his way as clean as he could to move into a qualifying position. And with two laps to go, the front-runners tangled enough to slow the pace for Tubbs. He made his move in corners one and two, taking a higher line around the track entering the backstretch.

But the other two cars bumping shot up the track after contact and into Tubbs' line. His front bumper hit the leader as he shot across the track, knocking the leader more off course and allowing Tubbs to take the lead.

He led the rest of the way en route to winning the heat but was black-flagged for aggressive driving.

That meant he was on to one of the B-mains, instead of a chance to qualify for Saturday's feature in one of two A-mains.

For Bruce Plumisto of Colby -- he finished in fourth place in his stock car heat -- it came at a cost. Not only did he finish one position from a transfer spot, he also had to repair damage to the entire right side of this car -- from two different instances of drivers using him as a ping-pong ball.

Apparently when they party in Boone, it involves more of a mosh-pit mentality than a slow dance.