What an incredible Friday night of racing at the Marshalltown Speedway. You couldn't have asked for more exciting finishes in the Modified, Stock Car, SportMod and Hobby Stock features. The only repeat winners were in the Mod Lites and the Sport Compact classes. The show was run through quickly as a threat of rain was appearing on radar, but nothing fell at the track.
The Sport Compact feature was dominated by winner David Moorman. Moorman easily took the win for the second week in a row. John Gill finished second, Aaron Miller was third, and Doug Byers was fourth. This was Moorman's third win of the year.
Things were hurrying along by the time the Mod Lite's came to the track for their 15-lap feature. There was a pesky little cell heading toward the track, and the usual victory lane photos were eliminated, and done after the racing was completed for the night.
Travis Brandt was leading the Mod Lite feature when a yellow flew at lap four. On the restart, a skirmish occurred in corner two. That incident sent James May and Mike Kennedy to the pits with damage. Brandt continued his run at the front when things got back underway. Charlie Brown took charge by the halfway mark and set sail, looking for the checkers. Brown took the win, his third of the season, well ahead of second place finisher, Andy Hennigar. Mike Morrill trailed a distance in third, Brandt took fourth and Randy Bryan was fifth.
The Hobby Stocks started the thrilling finishes I mentioned earlier. They ran their usual 12-laps. Things did not start off well, however. A yellow flew just after the first lap was scored, when three cars got hooked together as they came out of turn two....and a fourth car hit the clump as well. This ended the night for Austin Luellen, Brice Udelhoven, Steve Fricke, and Andy Peck. When things picked back up, Andy Hick from Adel was continuing to hold off the pack, but soon had some heavy competition. Eric Stanton and John Watson had moved to second and third from starting well back in the field. The three cars ran nose-to-tail for several laps, then went three-wide down the back chute. With a lap to go, Stanton had taken the lead, but it wasn't over yet! The three cars came across the finish line in close order, but Stanton did prevail, and took the victory. John Watson and Andy Hick finished an ever so close second and third. Gary Pfantz and last week's winner Dustin Elliott completed the top five. Stanton won for the first time at Marshalltown in 2014.
If you thought the finish for the Hobby Stocks was thrilling, well....the SportMods topped them! Chad Ryerson held down the point through lap three, when a caution flew. Jenae Gustin had immediately nabbed second when the race started, and was now sniffing at the leader's heels for the restart, Ryan King riding in third. On the restart, King flew into the lead, Gustin in tow. As the cars crossed the start/finish line as lap six was scored, Gustin nosed to the lead, and by this time, Clint Luellen had flown through the pack from starting eleventh and was fighting King for second. Another pesky yellow flag flew at lap ten, slowing the field. As lap eleven was scored, Gustin held down the point, but Luellen had taken the runner up spot, and now Carter VanDenBerg was in the ballgame, riding in third. From there on to the checkers, it was an incredible race! Luellen and VanDenBerg passed Gustin but it was such an intense, close battle with the three, it was anyone's guess as to the outcome. Luellen held the lead as the white flew, but Gustin was not done! She got the momentum and took the lead after the white flag, and as the three cars came out of turn four, it was Gustin to the checkers first. Carter VanDenBerg just nipped Luellen as they crossed the line, as they were scored second and third. Sam Wieben had been trying to get in the mix with the top runners for much of the race, but had to settle for a fourth place finish. Jared VanDeest rounded out the top five. This was Gustin's second win at Marshalltown this season.
If that race wasn't enough to get your blood pumping, enter the IMCA Stock Cars for their 18-lapper.This one had everyone saying, "Wow!" when it was all said and done too! Eighth starting Jay Schmidt and tenth place starter Donavon Smith were battling it out already by lap three---Schmidt holding the lead. Schmidt planted "Black Betty" on the top shelf, while Smith hugged the bottom. When a car spun in turn two, it was almost disaster for Schmidt. As the yellow came out on that lap eight, Schmidt was just barely able to miss contact with the stopped car, avoiding it without stopping. When things restarted, Schmidt held down the point, Smith in second, but now Steve Meyer and Michael Jaennette were third and fourth, so things were about to get even more interesting! Meyer opted for the topside of the track along with Schmidt, while Smith and Jaennette dug on the bottom. Meyer propelled himself into second, when the action was again halted on lap thirteen for Russell Damme, sitting low in turn two. The restart had Jay Schmidt, still the sitting duck at the front, Meyer in second, Smith third and Jaennette in fourth. The final laps were, yes....awesome!! Smith nosed underneath Schmidt just after lap fifteen was scored, and led at lap sixteen.
A slight twitch by Smith at one point, gave the advantage to Schmidt, and the final lap found Schmidt having a similar "blip" as the cars made the final run to the checkers. Schmidt nipped out Smith for the win, Smith, who had won the previous three races, had to be content for second. Meyer and Jaennette were third and fourth, and veteran Jeff Wollam, (still with a rather plain wrapper car) took fifth. Dave Atcher made his return to racing at the track this year....sporting a spiffy looking new car, and finished sixth after starting thirteenth. This was Schmidt's first win at the High Banks this year.
Still with a bit of black looming not far from the track.....and coming from the southeast, the Modified 20-lap feature quickly took the track. Jake Strayer, rookie to the Modified ranks this year and who had just gotten his first win in the class at East Moline on Sunday, was looking strong up front. Strayer led through lap five when Adam Larson took over after coming from the eight starting spot. The two circled the top of the track for several laps, running first and second. Luke Wanninger attached himself to the front runners, and made a move into second at lap nine, Strayer shortly out of the game when he exited the track with motor issues. In the closing laps, Larson hung tough in the lead, Wanninger waiting for any opening. That opening nearly came on the final lap when Larson slipped the cushion a bit in turn four, loosing a bit of advantage, but able to hold on for the win as the two flew to the checkered flag. Wanninger, last week's winner, took the runner up spot, Joel Rust had a great run after starting ninth, and finished third. Brandon Leeman held tough toward the front all night and took fourth place and Jon Snyder was fifth. This was Larson's first win at Marshalltown in 2014.
The races were completed by 9:45, a bit hurried due to the rain threat.....which never happened. Promoter Toby Kruse had an interesting time on Thursday. He took to the mic during a delay, explaining that he had a surprising encounter with a raccoon. Long story short, after he got into the water truck, he was attacked by a momma raccoon who took none too kindly to having him near her newborn babies inside the truck! That resulted in a 5 hour trip to the ER, stitches and a series of shots to still look forward too. Oh the perils of a racetrack promoter!
Regular racing continues next Friday night at Marshalltown, but before then, you might want to mark another racing event on your calendar. The United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) will be at the Marshalltown Speedway on Tuesday night, June 3, racing for $2,000 to win. The powerful cars and talented stars of the series should put on a great show on the High Banks. Also running will be the USRA sanctioned Stock Cars with $750 to win and USRA B-mods and $600 to win. Grandstand admission is $17, kids 6-12, $5. Pit passes are $35 and if you have an pit armband from the last race at Marshalltown, you will get $5 off at the pit gate. Hot laps are 7 p.m. with racing to follow. Check www.marshalltownspeedway for the flyer information on this race.
Thanks for reading and happy racing!
No comments:
Post a Comment