Just like any of his 100-ish prior appearances at Estevan Motor Speedway, Joren Boyce's story at this year's $3,000-to-win special was one of sacrifice."Our livelihood right through our marriage has been based on racing," the Minot, N.D.-based IMCA modified driver said in an interview between races July 10. "Right now my wife and three daughters are at the lake camping without me, so they've learned to exist without me. I'm known as the invisible husband."But my wife Tina supports this and understands it, obviously."It's thanks to that support that Boyce has carried on as a mainstay at Estevan, Minot's Nodak Speedway, and the Williston Basin Speedway.He won the modified points titles at Estevan in 2003 and 2004 but his claim to fame at the Speedway does not stop there.It is also believed that Boyce is the only driver in EMS' 11-year history to have never missed a points race."I tell you what I like about it," said Boyce. "It's not too big. Really big tracks really draw hard on the engine. And at the same time it's not too small. The track prep guys have worked hard to always keep it a multiple-lane deal and that's what attracts me."I've won a lot of races on dry tracks, and been around it a long time I guess, but I tell you the older I get the more I don't want to race in the dust. And that's one thing that is also important to Estevan Motor Speedway here."When it's dusty the drivers can't see each other as well, and of course the fans can't see the good show so that's a major attraction for it."As Boyce's commitment to the track has grown, so have the local fans' commitment to him."I just really have felt a warm welcome here," he said. "We've gotten to be close friends with drivers from here. Fans that come out to see the races have put us up in their houses when there haven't been motels available. People have offered us their cars and it's just been awesome, it really has."Boyce returned July 12 for the Estevan stop on the Dakota Classic Modified Tour and gave no indication he would be scratching Estevan from his schedule any time soon, even with Nodak slated to re-open for business this coming weekend.And why would he? With three points races left on the EMS slate Boyce sits third in the modified standings with 168 points, one back of Jim Harris and three back of Aaron Turnbull."It's high-banked, it's black, it's beat me up many times, and sometimes the equipment just can't hold up," Boyce said with a laugh. "But there have been times it has and it's a great feeling to do well here."
