The first night of the 5th Annual Havoc on the Highbanks at the Marshalltown Speedway is in the books. The pits were packed with 161 race cars by my count. It's always fun to see new faces racing at this end-of-the-year special. Drivers made the trip from Illinois, Missouri and California if I caught the announcements correctly. Two of the winner's scored their 39th and 29th feature win of the 2011 season.
The features kicked off with the Mod Lite A main with 17 of the machines competing.
Josh May grabbed the lead away from Bryan Zehm within the first few laps, but his night would suddenly end when his power plant went up in smoke. This put Zehm back to the point position which he kept to the checkered flag and the win. Tim Hennigar took the runner-up spot, third was Colby Oberembt, fourth Joel Huggins and James May was fifth. In the post-race interview, Zehm said he was happy to get the win in his dad Ed Zehm's old car and think we also heard him say it was his FIRST ever win.
The IMCA Hobby Stock A came to the track next. They ran a 15-lap feature which was dominated by winner Devin Smith. Smith took the lead by lap two after starting seventh and sailed home to his 39th win of the season according to a "stat person" sitting nearby. Scott Pippert and Kevin Fee duked it out for position behind him with Fee winning the second place finish, Pippert the third. Fourth went to Brandon Brinton, followed by Austin Luellen in fifth.
The 20-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature was another main event that was won in dominating fashion. Oskaloosa, Iowa young gun, Cayden Carter, took the lead on the first lap, never to look back. Carter scored his 29th victory of the season, another remarkable feat in this young man's early career. The real battle was behind Carter as Austin Kaplan, Jenae Gustin and Doug Smith jockeyed for positions. Winning the battle and finishing second was Austin Kaplan. Doug Smith came from starting 21st to take third, Jenae Gustin garnered a fourth place finish after starting 14th and Tyler Droste held on for a fifth place finish after starting on the pole.
The IMCA Stock Cars also ran a 20-lap feature. After a complete restart after the green flag initially flew, the race was run caution free. Polesitter Brian Irvine and Damon Murty, who sat along side him on the front row, put on quite the duel early on, with Irvine gaining the lead by sneaking underneath Murty in turn two...left front wheel hiking into the air. Lap traffic was looking to become a factor with just a couple of laps remaining, allowing Murty to reel the leader in, but Irvine was not deterred, and held on for the win; Murty finishing second. Third was Donavon Smith, fourth went to Jay Schmidt who had started back in the sixth row, and Steve Meyer rounded out the top five.
The grand finale was the 30-lap running of the Hawkeye Dirt Tour IMCA modified feature. This race, paying $1,000 to win, was also a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All Star Invitational for the 2012 IMCA Super Nationals. The 2011 Super National's winner, Richie Gustin, wasted no time in taking the lead from starting outside pole, led all laps, and took the win. Jon Snyder had applied a bit of pressure to Gustin as they ran the topside, but with three laps remaining, Snyder suddenly let loose with a cloud of steam, and pulled to the infield. We believe instead of a blown motor, it was a blown radiator hose. Upon the restart of the final three laps, it was Ronn Lauritzen that applied the pressure as he slipped by Vern Jackson to take second. He gave it his all the last ciruit, but came up a bit short, having to settle for the runner up spot. Jackson took third over Darin Duffy in fourth and Jacob Murray in fifth.
If you're looking for some good racing action in the Central Iowa area, the Marshalltown Speedway will be doing it all over again tonight with Night #2 of the Havoc on the Highbanks. A complete new show will be run with the same classes being joined by the Dirt Trucks and the IMCA Sport Compacts. For more information check www.marshalltownspeedway.com. Happy racing!
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