The IMCA Sport Compacts had a new feature winner this week. Dave Moorman led the entire race on his way to victory lane. Veteran Merv Chandler got around John Gill in the final lap as they went second and third. Fourth went to Duayne Herb and fifth was Jer Pedersen.
In the Mod Lite division, Mike Morrill took his turn at seeing the checkers first. Morrill took the lead early on and sailed to the win. Josh May--who is the ONLY other winner in the class this year--got to the runner up spot, but could do no better. Third was Tim Hennigar followed by brother Andy Hennigar in fourth and Joel Huggins rounded out the top five. Before the feature was even completed, there was a line of youngsters lining up behind the flagstand, in hopes of being the lucky recipient of Morrill's trophy.
The IMCA Northern SportMod feature had trouble getting past lap three last night! There seemed to be real bad "mojo" down in turn two and several cars ended up getting into scrapes, some with night ending consequences. After finally getting the third lap in the books, it would be the last yellow to fly. Gatlin Leytham was keeping the lead from his front row starting spot, but Jenae Gustin was the driver on the move! Gustin, who had started in row five, had moved into second, tucked in right behind Leytham and was dogging him continually. Back in the field, there was some awesome racing happening. Point leader Racer Hulin had been having a bad night, having to qualify through one of two B mains and had started back in 22nd spot. He had somehow avoided near disaster in the skirmishes in turn two and was making headway fast, running in fifth. The final laps of the race were intense with Gustin challenging constantly. It was only on that often fateful last lap that she was able to pull off the pass, and make it to the checkers first. Leytham finished as the runner up, Ty Luellen had run in third much of the race, which would be where he would finish. Racer Hulin made the pass late on Jake Strayer as they finished fourth and fifth. This was Gustin's third win in a row; fifth on the season.
Up next were the IMCA Hobby Stocks. for their 12-lap race. This one turned into a two-man race between leader Brice Udelhoven and Scott Pippert. It was looking as if Udelhoven was going to be able to hold off Pippert's attempts for the pass, but veteran Pippert made it work with a lap to go and sailed home to the win. Pippert was greeted in victory lane by announcer Jerry VanSickle for the third week in a row and chalked up his seventh win at Marshalltown. Udelhoven had to settle for second, third went to Eric Knutson, fourth to Kevin Fee and Randy Embrey took fifth.
Wow! What a race the IMCA Stock Cars put on for the fans! Bunches...and I mean bunches, of cars were fighting all over the track for position. Kevin Rose led from the get go only to have last week's winner Tracy Gienger tuck in right behind him and Derek Reimer battling him. A yellow flew with six laps to go and when the green flew on the restart, there were about eight cars in a tight bunch up front. Reimer maintained his lead and his composure though Rose and now Donavon Smith applied the pressure. Reimer took the win--his very first career win--Rose held on to second over Smith, Geinger and John Emerson made his first trip to the speedway pay off with a fifth place finish. Reimer was a happy camper in victory lane and with the way he has been running as of late, would think that would just be the first of more victories to come.
The Modifieds had a stellar field of cars which included three former IMCA Super National Champions--Randy Havlik, Jimmy Gustin, and Richie Gustin. Jon Snyder got to first early and he would survive a couple of restart situations without much trouble. He went on to the win, his third of the year at Marshalltown. Ronn Lauritzen made the pass on Luke Wanninger in the waning laps as they finished second and third. Fourth went to Jimmy Gustin as he was nearly the only one searching the top of the track, and Scott Simatovich took the fifth place.
The night ended with three trucks giving it a go in the Tug of War contest. The winner seemed to get the upper hand when he got his opponent spinning his wheels, he then slammed on his brakes, and then back under power--pulling away to the win. It was an interesting end to the night.
Next week will be track championship night. For some classes, the quest for a track championship seems to be over. Merv Chandler holds a huge 135 point lead over John Gill in the Sport Compact class making that a done deal. Mike Morrill holds a nine point lead over Josh May in the Mod Lite division. Scott Pippert is 60 points ahead of Eric Larson in the Hobby Stocks, so call that one over too. In the SportMod division, Racer Hulin redeemed himself from near catastrophe in his heat and having to qualify through a B main just to get a chance in the feature, to score a fourth place finish to keep a slight six point lead over Joel Rust and nine points over Jake Strayer. The Stock Cars finds Steve Meyer leading by 11 points over Tracy Gienger and Jimmy Gustin has it wrapped up in the Modified class, leading by 34 points over Luke Wanninger.
Time is slipping away in this 2012 racing season. Of course, there are some big specials coming up, one of which is the IMCA Super Nationals coming up on Labor Day. Six nights of intense racing lies ahead and we will be there for it all. Enjoy a race somewhere. Happy racing!
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