We had to wait out a couple of pesky showers on Friday at the Marshalltown Speedway, but then they moved on---probably to ruin someone else's party. The cars hit the track and racing began only about 12 minutes late. A driver scored for the fourth time in a row, one got his first win ever at Marshalltown, and a class finally got a different driver in victory lane.
Merv Chandler was piloting his son's car again last night, and once again ended up in the winner's circle. Chandler outdistanced John Gill in second. Chad Larson took third and Josh Keller was fourth. Chandler said in his post race interview, he is getting closer to having his own ride ready to go. This was his eighth win at Marshalltown this year.
In the Mod Lite division, there was finally someone besides Andy Hennigar or Josh May---the only two drivers who had won so far in 2013---being interviewed as the winner. Chargin' Charlie Brown secured the top spot early in the feature and though he was challenged by Josh May in the closing laps, he was able to fend him off and take his first win of the season. May---with a last ditch try as they approached the checkers, fell just short, but sent a shower of sparks up as he scraped the outside wall. Following runner up May was Dusty Masolini in third, fourth was Andy Hennigar and Travis Brandt, who had led the opening laps, finished in fifth.
A driver who has been a multi-time IMCA National Champion and with numerous track championships in the Hobby Stock class was a happy camper last night when he FINALLY got his first ever win at the speedway. It didn't take long for Shannon Anderson to move from his tenth starting position and snap up the lead at lap four. From there on, it was like a drive in the park for Anderson, securing his win by a good margin over second place Eric Larson. Jennifer "The Wild Woman" Hulin, and mother to Modified driver Racer Hulin, was happy with her third place finish as she held off point leader Bill Bonnett who was fourth. Rounding out the top five was the previous two week's winner, Eric Stanton. Anderson told announcer Jerry VanSickle he was happy to finally get a win at the track after his numerous runs at various times that had always ended in bad luck. Bill Bonnett continues to hold his point lead.
The IMCA Northern SportMods got after it next for their 18-lap main. The early going had veteran Bill Hildreth and Tom Rawlins going at it, Rawlins leading initially and then Hildreth at the point. Suddenly, it was eighth place starter Brad Iverson in the picture and he was soon to take over the helm. As the race progressed, he had a fight on his hands with Joel Rust and Brandon Brinton. The three put on a show for the fans, Rust getting to the lead but Iverson and Brinton not quite finished with him yet. Rust held control with a lap to go but it was Iverson snatching the win as the checkers flew. The dogfight out of corner four was a good one for second and third, and Brinton got that advantage as he took the runner up spot over Rust in third. Fourth was Eric Elliott, who came all the way from starting 20th, to take fourth, and fifth was Pella racer, Jayme Duinink. Elliott continues to hold the point lead.
It was another dandy Stock Car race. I say that quite often it seems. It was a hard one to get going for more than a lap or two at a time however! Four cautions...one a red, by seven was not good. The start of the race saw a heated contest immediately. Veteran and so called "Dean of the Stock Cars", Jeff Wollam had just taken the lead from Tracy Gienger, when the two got together in turn one, Gienger putting his car over the hood of Wollam's. The two joined the field at the rear of the pack, Wollam minus a front left fender and hood. It was but a lap later that Wollam found himself in another precarious situation, as his car laid on it's side in turn four, with the red flag coming out this time. Wollam was not hurt, his car was righted, and this time--- less even more sheet metal,---he had to call it a night. Okay, now we are ready for a restart at lap three. By this time, it was Jay Schmidt and Damon Murty up front after flying through the pack from starting eighth and ninth respectively. Oops...another yellow at lap four. This is NOT the usual path for the Stock Cars, but on this night, it was getting annoying! On the restart, it was still Schmidt and Murty going at each other, Dave Atcher was riding along in third and Steve Meyer had suddenly made himself known as he rode along in fourth. Meyer had started in 22nd spot! Dang! Another yellow at lap seven for debris. Finally, after that restart, the cars got their rhythm going and we got more than a couple of laps in a row going! It was still Schmidt and Murty up front making for the interesting scenario, Meyer had made his way into third, but a distance behind. Hoping the race would go green to the checkers was all for naught, when ANOTHER yellow flew at lap fifteen. Schmidt held the lead, Murty in second and Meyer in third. Murty opted for the bottom on the restart, knowing how good Meyer can be on the bottom of the track, but this time, may not have been the thing to do. Murty lost ground on this one, Meyer taking over second and Atcher tagging along to take third. There was no stopping Schmidt's "Black Betty" on this night however, as she has taken a liking to Victory Lane, and secured win #6 at the track this year and win #10 over all. Meyer finished as the runner up, Atcher took third, Murty fell back a bit to take fourth and Robbie Merkle hung toward the front all night long, and finished in fifth. Schmidt celebrated his victory with a few doughnuts on the frontstretch....but may be minus a clutch! Meyer continues his point lead in the Stock Car class.
The IMCA Modified feature was the finale of the evening. Kyle Krampe and Joel Bushore led this one in the opening laps as they circled the topside of the High Banks. Enter "the Angry Bird" of Ronn Lauritzen from his eighth place starting position. Lauritzen took over the runner up spot, Bushore was suddenly off power and into the infield, and it was Scott Simatovich riding in third. Cayden Carter had moved up from row four to take fourth and "The Topside Terror" Jon Snyder had started in row five, to take over fifth. Lauritzen took over the helm shortly, and it was looking as if he could be on his way to adding another victory to his successful year. Behind him, Krampe and Simatovich exited the track at the top of turn three and four after contact, and this would bring out the yellow. This would set up a green-white-checkers finish, not what Lauritzen was wanting to see. Behind him at this point was Carter and Snyder, and they were on the hunt and drooling for the restart. When the cars took the white flag, it was Snyder in command, taking advantage of that restart situation, and swept the win for the fourth time in a row. Carter also found the restart to his liking, made the pass and took second over Lauritzen in third. Fourth was Racer Hulin who made up ground from his eleventh place starting spot, and Josh Truman completed the top five.
A few notes on the night. Dang yellows were more than plentiful last night. The Mod Lites and the Sport Compacts were the only classes keeping it going without a caution. We also noticed a rather unnerving situation in corner four when a driver was out of the race, his car just off of the inside apron of the track by about three feet...and he exited the vehicle,--- helmet removed--- and went around to the passenger side of the car to check for damage we assume, and then had to scramble to get away from the cars racing out of corner three! Please, do not risk getting out of your disabled race car if you are near the racing surface and the race is still under way. That about gave me a heart attack!
It's off to Boone Speedway tonight for our weekly stop. We will be taking Sunday off and then it will be the big show at the Independence Motor Speedway on Monday, August 5. That's when the "Big Boys", the World of Outlaws Late Models will come to town. They will join the Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds in what looks to be a great show. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:45 and racing to follow. Happy racing!
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