The youngsters showed how to get it done at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night, taking wins in the Modified and SportMod divisions. A King of the Hill for the Modifieds and an Australian Pursuit for the Stock Cars were added entertainment for the fans.
Merv Chandler took the win again in the IMCA Sport Compact class. He took the lead away from David Moorman at lap four, never to look back. Moorman held the runner up spot, third was John Gill, Chad Larson was fourth and Duayne Herb finished fifth. Chandler, still in a borrowed car, scored win #10 at Marshalltown.
The MADCRA Mod Lites clicked their 15-lap feature off without a caution. Charlie Brown led the troops nearly the entire distance, but was having the pressure applied by Josh May the last few laps. May snatched the lead away on lap fourteen and motored home to the checkers first. Brown held the runner up spot, third was Randy Bryan, Mike Morrill finished fourth and the winner's dad, Jimmy May, was fifth. May won for the seventh time at the speedway this season.
The Hobby Stock feature was a wild one at the end! It appeared that Kevin Fee was going to be taking home all the marbles in this 12-lap affair. Fee was well ahead of his competitors, when lap traffic would enter the picture. The lap car got crossed up in front of Fee, resulting in both cars going in spin mode, and taking Fee out of the running. Brice Udelhoven had been running a good distance behind Fee in second place, and now took over the lead.....but with a lot of company. Udelhoven had been holding off Eric Stanton and Eric Larson, and a pack of other cars breathing down their tailpipes. The final lap was a free for all and with cars bumping, pushing and shoving, the inevitable disastrous contact among them was made. Cars went spinning everywhere as the checkers was shown in the distance, the lucky one escaping the chaos being Eric Larson. Larson made it to the checkers first. Eric Stanton took the runner up spot and third through fifth was a real shake up as many cars didn't make it to the finish line. Visitor Benji Irvine was scored in third, fourth went to Bill Bonnett and Austin Luellen took fifth. Larson went home with his third win under his belt.
Things were mixed up a bit in the running order last evening due to the special events on the docket, as the Modifieds came to the track next for their 20-lap feature. David Brown led the opening laps, but the action quickly drew to a halt when Luke Wanninger got crossed up in turn one, collecting several cars in the process. Wanninger's car was disabled which took quite some time to get hooked up and towed off. It put Adam Larson out with a mangled car and Ronn Lauritzen was also involved, but was able to continue but having to tag the tail on the restart. When things finally got back underway, young Tyler Droste, grandson of the legendary Red Droste, took command and was soon to be dogged by Cayden Carter. The two circled the track lap after lap in that order while behind them, visitor Randy Havlik was coming on strong and Ronn Lauritzen had worked his way back through the field and into the fourth spot. Droste would hold off Carter to take the checkers, his first of the year at the track, Carter having to settle for second. Ronn Lauritzen put the move on Havlik near the end as they went third and fourth. Rounding out the top five was another visiting driver from Clarence, Iowa---"The Flying Embalmer", Dan Chapman.
The IMCA Stock Cars had tight packs of cars fighting for position during much of the race. Steve Meyer got to the lead by lap five after passing Derek Reimer but soon getting into the mix was two visiting hot shoes, Donavon Smith from Lake City, and Oelwein, Iowa's Brian Irvine. The latter two had started in row six and were both showing their muscle. Smith snatched the lead from Meyer at lap nine, Irvine passing for second a short time later. Smith held the top position to the checkers and the win, Irvine coming home in second. Meyer finished in third, followed by Derek Reimer in fourth and the Chelsea Charger, Damon Murty in fifth. This was Smith's first regular season win at the track this year, having taken the Stock Car Shoot Out win back on July 2.
Young Sam Wieben stole the spotlight in the SportMod feature. Wieben, who was making only his second appearance in as many weeks at Marshalltown, put his #198 machine to the front by lap two. Paul Nagle pressured Wieben later, only to lose the handle in turn one and putting himself out of contention. Wieben took the checkers, putting win #1 in the books. Shawn Albers got by Jared VanDeest late in the contest, as they went second and third. Ben Kates finished fourth over Joel Rust in fifth. Earlier, Rust Racing was on the track recognizing a member of their crew who has been fighting cancer. They have been raising money to go toward the costly treatment. Just another instance of racing family sticking together. Wieben, who is just back after having hip surgery back in May, scored his first win, thanking many sponsors for their help and support.
The night ended with two fun contests---the IMCA Modified King of the Hill and a Stock Car Australian Pursuit. The Modifieds had qualified through their heat races----two being unable to start, Adam Larson and Luke Wanninger with too much damage. First round saw Cayden Carter eliminate Tyler Droste at the finish line, Kyle Brown beat Dan Chapman and Ronn Lauritzen beat out Randy Havlik. Carter beat Brown in round two, setting up the final round of Carter and Lauritzen. Lauritzen took the glory in this one and was crowned King of the Hill.
The Stock Car Australian Pursuit is not something we often see anywhere now. Six cars started the race, Curt Hook, Brian Irvine, Michael Jeannette, Scott Pippert, Damon Murty and Steve Meyer. After an initial bad start----nose to tail guys!---- the show was all Irvine who immediately eliminated Hook. Irvine took home the $100, Murty and Meyer the only others left standing.
They season is quickly drawing to a close. Next week will be Season Championship night. The top twelve in points in each division will be locked into the feature, filled in by any that can qualify through a last chance race. The track is silent until the big finale, the 7th Annual World Nationals (previously the Havoc on the Highbanks) on September 20 and 21. Get out and find a race to attend as the season winds down. Happy racing!
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