Murphy brothers duel it out in stock car class

It was even hotter on Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway than it was on the 4th of July for racing in Osky!  Didn't think it was possible, but it was!  With temps right at 100 degrees---and the "real feel" about 107-110 degrees, it was a HOT one!  Everyone in the stands was chugging water and we know how hard the heat must have been on everyone....especially the drivers!  At least three tracks had canceled their racing due to the extreme heat--Donnellson, Davenport and Tipton, and Columbus Junction pushed their start time back an hour hoping for a bit of relief for everyone.  Car count was a bit shorter than normal, but we certainly appreciate all of those drivers who did opt to race on the hot July night.  The Stock Car, SportMod and Hobby Stocks provided exciting, close finishes, bringing the crowd to it's feet once again.

The IMCA Sport Compacts was won by Merv Chandler.  Merv keeps his perfect record for weekly Friday night racing at the speedway this year, 8 wins in all.  Only son Nathan Chandler has beaten him on the track, and that was during the Shootout race on Tuesday of this week.  Craig Stepanek was second and Neil Nabhelz was third...both first timers at the track.  John Gill was a DNF.

The Mod Lites ran a 12-lap event tonight.  Mike Morrill took another win in easy fashion as Josh May ran out of laps to make it into more than a second place finish at the checkers.  Mike Kennedy was third over Dusty Masolini and Eric Hendrickson in fourth and fifth.

The IMCA Northern SportMods had an exciting finish to their A main event.  Nick Roberts and Scott Davis brought it down to the wire; Roberts leading on the white flag lap, but Davis made it stick for the pass on the final circuit, and snatched the win away.  Joel Rust finished in third behind Roberts, fourth went to Eric Flander, and Jayme Duinink took fifth. Davis may have been one of the more comfortable drivers racing last night as he said in the post race interview by announcer Jerry VanSickle, he was wearing a "cool suit".  

About the time the IMCA Hobby Stocks appeared for their 12-lap feature, it was noticeable that it was a bit dark on the front stretch.  The infield lights on the front were not on, though all others appeared to be working.  Since the grandstand lights allowed for enough lighting, there was no stoppage in the program.  

This race too, came right down to the wire.  Eric Larson was leading, fighting off the challenges of Kevin Fee  and Scott Pippert in the closing laps.  Fee slid up a bit allowing Pippert to slip by him on the last lap. Then Pippert gave it a last ditch effort as they were looking for the checkers, made it work and nabbed the win.

Larson had to settle for what must have been a disappointing runner up spot, third went to Fee, Brice Udelhoven took fourth and Donovan Nunnikhoven finished in fifth.

It was 18-laps next for the IMCA Stock Cars.  This was a fun one to watch as two brothers went at it hard---Trent Murphy and younger brother, Michael Murphy.  The two rose to the top early on, Trent taking the point chased by Michael.  Trent chose the inside route, Michael going outside.  Michael, who is in his first year in the Stock Car class, after jumping up from his successful rein in the Hobby Stocks, got the lead away from his brother before the halfway mark, but the contest wasn't over yet.  The two ran closely for the remaining laps, Michael retaining the lead with just a slight advantage over Trent.  Michael took the win, his first this year at Marshalltown, brother Trent finishing a close second.  Third went to Brian Irvine who came from 10th starting spot, fourth was Damon Murty and Tracy Gienger rounded out the top five.

The night ended with the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature.  Cayden Carter led the field for the first few laps until Luke Wanninger flew into the lead.  Jimmy Gustin came from well back in the starting field to make it into second and challenged Wanninger for a few laps.  Wanninger then stretched it out big time and would take the checkers first.  Jimmy Gustin crossed in second, third went to Ronn Lauritzen in a fine run from starting back in ninth spot, fourth was Cayden Carter and Josh Truman was fifth.  As we were leaving the stands, we heard it announced that Wanninger was driving an experimental set up--motor, quick change rear end, etc. that IMCA has been testing lately.  They would be awarding both Wanninger and second place finisher Jimmy Gustin 40 winner's points for the night, and all drivers finishing behind them, an extra point. 

It was a pretty miserable night with the heat and humidity and very little breeze, which at times was non existent. Still, we enjoyed the racing.  What better thing to do on a summer night in Iowa, than to be attending a dirt track race?!  Thanks drivers, for entertaining us once again.  Happy racing!