We were back at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night for another night of the dirt track racing we so love. We were ever so thankful that this week, the strong winds were coming at our backs, instead of in our faces. The warmer weather also made it great to be able to sit in more comfort to enjoy the races more thoroughly! The Gustin family enjoyed a quite successful night at the track, taking two firsts and a second, showing just what a dominant racing family this is. Also got to meet a young up and comer in the Nascar K & N Series--more on that later.
It was veteran racer Merv Chandler taking another of his many victories in the IMCA Sport Compact class.
Dave Moorman led early, but Chandler soon claimed the lead, never to relinquish it. Moorman finished in second, with John Gill in third, fourth was Duane Herb and John Walker was fifth.
The Mod Lite 15-lap feature found the 99 car of Josh May in victory lane for the second time this year. May, who started back in the fifth row, took the lead with five laps remaining in the contest. Last week's winner, Mike Morrill, followed May through the field to capture second. Third was Andy Hennigar, fourth went to Randy Bryan and Mike Kennedy rounded out the top five. The race ended after two green-white-checkered attempts, making for one of those "bonus lap" races.
Jenae Gustin found her way back to the winner's circle for the second time this year, in the IMCA Northern SportMod division. Gustin showed the boys how it's done, cruising to a dominate win. Racer Hulin had to fight his way through the pack from starting back in eleventh place, to take a distant second. Jared VanDeest took the third spot, followed by Joel Rust and Scott Davis in fourth and fifth.
The 12-lap IMCA Hobby Stock was a hard fought battle between Eric Stanton, Scott Pippert and Gary Pfantz. It appeared that Pippert had nosed into the lead with three laps to go, but Stanton battled back in the final circuits and took the checkers first. Pippert had to settle for the runner up position on this night, and Pfantz third. Kevin Fee took fourth place, followed by last week's winner, Donovan Nunnikhoven in fifth.
The IMCA Stock Car class always seems to be exciting where ever we go. It was just that at Marshalltown last night. The two cars putting on the show up front last night were Trent Murphy and Jay Schmidt. Murphy held down the lead from lap two, but Schmidt then put his car to the topside---the only car attempting it---and slowly and methodically, caught up to the leader. Once again, two green-white-checkered situations occurred, and again, bonus laps. Schmidt had just nosed ahead of Murphy at the first attempt at the green-white-checkered and would fend off Murphy's challenges to the eventual finish. Following Schmidt in first, and Murphy in second, were Steve Meyer, Damon Murty, and Tracy Gienger; third through fifth.
In the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature, it was Richie Gustin wasting no time in putting his 19G to the lead. Gustin went from his second row starting spot, to the lead before lap one, passing rookie Kyle Brown, the pole sitter. Luke Wanninger then made the pass on Brown to take over the runner up position. Meanwhile, Gustin was on cruise control, pulling away from the field. There was however, another Gustin flying through the pack of cars--Jimmy Gustin was now on Wanninger's tail. At the finish, Richie Gustin took the easy win and Jimmy Gustin nipped Wanninger for second. Wanninger held third over Kyle Brown in fourth, and Cayden Carter, finished fifth.
Tonight was a good night for a car with the #19 on it it. Jenea Gustin won the SportMod feature in her 19J, Jay Schmidt taking his Stock Car to a win in his 19J, and Richie Gustin winning in his 19G in the Modified feature, followed by Jimmy Gustin for second in his car 19.
I mentioned earlier about meeting a young man who will be competing on Saturday at the Iowa Speedway in the K & N Nascar Series. Blake Anderson, former announcer at the Marshalltown Speedway, then who dove into a couple of other stints, one announcing for USAC, and now finds himself back at the Knoxville Raceway announcing for their Saturday night racing, brought along a racer friend. Nineteen year old Kyle Larson from California has had great success in several Sprint classes, and is now racing full time in the Nascar K & N Series. He is a developmental driver for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. He was third in this year's Chili Bowl and in 2011, swept the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway--winning the Silver Crowns, Sprint Cars, and Midgets, all in one night! Pretty impressive resume and you can check it out further at http://hometracks.nascar.com/driver/nknps_east/kyle_larson. Thanks Blake for bringing this young man into the grandstand so we could meet him. We were also happy to have Blake's dad Steve, join us for a night of enjoyment at the Marshalltown Speedway.
Next up for action at Marshalltown, will be the IMCA Deery Brothers show on Tuesday, May 22nd. Joining Late Models will be the IMCA Northern SportMods, the Mod Lites and the Dirt Trucks. Then it will be back on Friday night, May 25, for another regular night of racing. For more information you can check www.marshalltownspeedway.com. Happy racing!
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