BOONE, Iowa — When it comes to the late model division at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, Darrel DeFrance has seen and done it all.

The 60-year-old DeFrance, who hails from nearby Marshalltown, Iowa, has competed in 29 of the 30 late model features run during the Super Nationals at Iowa’s Boone Speedway, winning the event in 1992 and ’05.

His lone miss came in 2010, when he failed to qualify for the main event. Two other features were canceled because of rain.

“It’s pretty much IMCA’s Daytona 500 or Super Bowl or Indy 500,” DeFrance said of the Super Nationals. “It’s always been their biggest race. It has a lot of prestige and there are a lot of manufacturer people there. It’s always been in front of a lot of people and it’s a lot of fun to race at.”

In all his years attending the Super Nationals, DeFrance says the biggest change he’s seen is the size and scale of the event. It’s only gotten bigger.

“Bigger, bigger and bigger,” DeFrance said. “I think it’s good for our sport. It’s just phenomenal to remember back what the first one was like for us. I even went and watched a couple of the modified ones before that. From where it came from to where it’s at now is just really tremendous. It’s hard to fathom.

“It’s hard for you to really tell anyone what it used to be like compared to now.”

Outside of the Super Nationals, DeFrance is among the most successful late model racers in IMCA history.

He’s captured the IMCA late model national championship three times, claiming the honor in 1993, ’06 and ’07. He also has 162 IMCA late model victories on his résumé, placing him third on the all-time list for the division.

“Some of it is good luck, a lot of hard work, a lot of good people helping me,” DeFrance said. “A lot of dedication. A lot of hard work in the shop. I’m a believer that races are won first at the shop. Everything has got to fall your way at the shop.”

It’s no wonder that when the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s roll around, DeFrance is among the top contenders to take home the crown.

“It would be pretty special,” DeFrance said about the possibility of winning his third Super Nationals crown this year. “I don’t know who the oldest guy is in the late model deal whose won it so far. To have our name in there would be good.

“There is a lot of competition. I still feel like we’re not running too bad,” DeFrance continued. “Hopefully, we have a shot at it this year.”

Despite having made the late model feature in 29 of his 30 attempts, there is no guarantee DeFrance will make the feature given the quality of the field expected to compete for the late model crown.

“It’s quite an accomplishment anymore if you can just get in that A-Feature,” DeFrance said. “It’s tough to do with the qualifying format the way it is. You’ve got to get a good draw and have a lot of good luck on your side.

“It’s kind of tough to keep up with the race track through the night anymore the way it is, now you’ve got to figure out when they’re farming it (reworking),” DeFrance noted. “You’ve really got to keep an eye on that race track to keep your car tuned to it.”

Even if he doesn’t have the chance to win the Super Nationals late model feature again, DeFrance will always be known as a two-time Super Nationals champion. He’s one of only 18 drivers who have won the late model feature at the Super Nationals, so he’s in good company.

“It was pretty exciting, we were a lot younger then,” DeFrance said as he recalled his first Super Nationals victory in 1992. “I don’t know if you took it for granted more then, because you always thought you could win more. You realize later they’re a lot harder to come by than you think.

“It seems like everybody wants to come run the Super Nationals, so you get the best of the best there. That’s for sure.”

All six nights of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s on Sept. 7-12 will be broadcast live via SPEED SPORT TV affiliate IMCA.TV.