Our fickle Iowa weather had us really wondering in the late afternoon if the Stock Car Shoot Out in Marshalltown would even happen. We experienced rain AND hail and crossed our fingers that it was not happening at the High Banks. It didn't! A regular at the track would take home the money in the IMCA Northern SportMod feature while brothers would take the top two spots in the Stock Car Shoot Out and a third brother joined the celebration by winning the Hobby Stocks
Seven Sport Compacts came to compete. Brad Chandler held off Adam Gates in the first couple of circuits, but then Gates took over and left the pack. Gates, who has won the last two regular season races, can now claim a total of five at the track this year. Brad Chandler cruised behind the winner to take second while David Moorman took third place. Fourth and fifth were close but Bill Whalen beat out Merv Chandler.
The Hobby Stock feature ran 15-laps and it went flag-to-flag. The outside front row starter, Devin Smith immediately jumped to the lead, pulling away for a comfortable lead. The race behind him was among five cars as they jostled for position. Garrett Eilander continued to barely hold off last year's winner of the Shoot Out, Brandon Pruitt while Nick Murty kept pestering Pruitt. Meanwhile, Eric Stanton and Austin Leuellen were having their own battle as they dug in directly behind. Pruitt took over second at lap eight and Murty soon followed to get to third. Smith took the easy win, Pruitt was the runner up over Murty in third, Eric Stanton was fourth and Garrett Eilander held off Austin Luellen as they took fifth and sixth.
The IMCA Northern SportMods were racing for a $1,000 payday in their 25-lap A Main event. Jared VanDeest led the charge from his pole starting position and was looking comfortable at the helm as Ty Luellen pursued him. By lap twelve, things got more interesting as Luellen was now challenging the leader and Travis Peterson was doing the same to Luellen. Not to be outdone, Roland, Iowa's Matt Lettow had moved up to fourth and was looking for more. VanDeest continued his lead in the closing laps but with a lap to go Peterson was putting on the pressure. As often happens, it was that fateful final corner that would do the leader in as Peterson got the traction and swung around VanDeest, snatching the win. VanDeest had to settle for the no doubt, disappointing runner up spot. Matt Lettow also made the pass late to take third over Ty Luellen in fourth, and brother Clint Luellen came from twelfth starting spot to capture fifth. The race went caution free.
Thirty laps laid ahead for the IMCA Stock Car drivers as they too were gunning for the $1,000 pay off on the first of three night's in the Shoot Out series. Drawing the lucky pill for the front row starting positions were Donavon Smith and Jay Schmidt. Schmidt immediately jumped to the point, Smith in tow. Three cautions by lap eight would slow the field but Schmidt would hold his lead on each of the restarts. Schmidt preferred the top of the track, but Smith was hugging the bottom and slowly reeling the leader in. Smith took over at lap ten and brother David, who had started eighth was taking pointers from his brother and hugging the bottom as well. He made it pay off and took over second by lap thirteen. Donavon Smith pulled away to a comfortable lead as those behind him juggled for positions. The last seventeen laps went caution free, Smith taking the comfortable win. Brother David Smith took second and Trent Murphy, who started eleventh, had slowly worked his way methodically up through the field to score third. Jay Schmidt opted to keep his ride at the top of the track and took fourth over "The Chelsea Charger", Damon Murty in fifth. Sixth through tenth were Jeff Wollam, Jeff Anderson, Scott Pippert, Josh Daniels and first-timer at the track Aaron Matthias from Fairbank, Iowa.
As a few notes, racer Nic Hanes from Trenton, Missouri made his way north to compete in the SportMod division, and Hamburg, Minnesota driver Dan Mackenthun came south to compete in the Stock Car class. It was also a bit nostalgic to see the old Thunderbird of former racer Rick Brown circling the track again as son-in-law Racer Hulin piloted it last evening.
There is a whole bunch of racing to be found this holiday week, so check out the race schedule at www.positivelyracing.com, and find a race to enjoy. We plan to head to the Southern Iowa Speedway tonight for their 18th running of the ORIGINAL All American Stock Car Shoot Out. It's a bit confusing as it is not included in the three-race series of the Stock Car Shoot Out which goes to Alta, Iowa tonight for night #2 and concludes tomorrow night in Des Moines. Happy 4th of July and Happy Racing!
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