The Mod Lites came to the track first for their 15-lap A main. Travis Stensland was in a new car last night, and led the first handful of laps. Josh May ran down leader Stensland, and took over the top spot by lap six. On lap seven, the #94 car of Dustin Marshall took a hard roll in turns one and two, bringing a red flag. He was okay. When the race restarted, May was still in command, Stensland was running second, and Tim Hennigar was third. It was but a couple of laps later when the track went red again. This time, Stensland lost the handle in turn one, Jimmy May clipped him, and that in turn sent May tumbling. May was also okay, but his night was done. In the waning laps, Josh May continued his run at the front, Tim Hennigar taking peeks for anyway around him, but to no avail. May took the checkers, Tim Hennigar finished second, brother Andy Hennigar was third, DJ Schmalzried took fourth, and Dusty Masolini completed the top five. Andy Hennigar keeps his track point lead.
The 12-lap Hobby feature had the familiar #3A of Austin Luellen at the front by lap three. The rest of the race found Eric Stanton trying to catch Luellen. Stanton, could do no better than the runner up spot on this night however, finishing behind winner Luellen. Third went to visiting driver, Jamie Schirm who had started in tenth spot, fourth was Calvin Dhondt, who has been absent from the racing scene the last couple of years--- was piloting the car formerly owned and driven by Eric Larson, and point leader John Watson took fifth, driving the borrowed car of Riley Songer. Luellen won for the third week in a row, and took his eighth win of the season at Marshalltown.
We had another marathon race in the SportMod 18-lapper. For the first six laps, it was one lap at a time before the yellow was waving again. It was a no go on the start, and then there were six more yellows by lap six. At that lap six, it was decided that there would be only single file restarts, and laps under caution were counted. Again, the caution came out on a restart, this time for debris....one of the corner tires rolling onto the track. Up to this time, Ryan Ashton and Shawn Ritter had been the front runners, but lurking in third was Clint Luellen. When racing got back underway at lap thirteen, it was Ritter now leading, but Luellen quickly made his move into second around Ashton and was pressuring Ritter. The final couple of circuits, Luellen tightened the screws, was able to make the pass for the lead, and sealed the victory. Ritter had to settle for the runner up spot. Third went to Jenae Gustin, fourth was Adam Shelman and Jared VanDeest was fifth. Clint Luellen chalked up his seventh win at the track this season.
Up next came the 18-lap A main for the IMCA Stock Cars. Though this one did not go caution free, just two yellows was refreshing after the previous race. Dave Atcher took his #2 hot rod to the front immediately but who should be in second place by lap two except the Chelsea Charger, Damon Murty. Murty, who had spent much of his season on Friday's running the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway, returned to the high banks, and showed he was still darn familiar with the track. Murty, who started tenth, swung to the top of turns three and four, and dove low in corners one and two, reeling in leader Atcher. By lap seven, Murty was in the lead, and from there on he slid through heavy lap traffic without a hitch, and sailed home to his first win at Marshalltown this year. Atcher held on to second over Michael Jaennette in third. Fourth went to the previous three weeks winner, Donavon Smith and Scooter Dulin was fifth. This was Murty's 21st win over all for the 2014 season.
The night's racing ended with the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature. Dubbed the "ground pounders" by announcer Jerry VanSickle, it was Jake Stayer, last week's winner, making the move into first when lap one was scored. Strayer, who slipped under pole sitter Joel Bushore when he slid high in corner four, as lap one was about to be scored, was then looking to be the man to beat. Strayer was pulling away from the pack when a yellow flew at lap five for debris, and by this time, Bushore had recovered from his earlier slip up, and was back to second. Strayer and Bushore fought it out for the next several laps, both circling the top of the track. Another yellow at lap ten for debris, set up a restart situation, Strayer still leading, Bushore in second, and Racer Hulin had moved up to run third. Only one more lap was scored when again a yellow flew. By this time, point leader Ronn Lauritzen, who had been involved in an incident in his heat race that resulted in his retiring to the pits, started fourteenth, and had just taken over the runner up spot, when yet another yellow flew at lap eleven. On the restart, Racer Hulin dove low and took over second place from Lauritzen. Again a yellow flew at lap twelve when one of the infield barrier tires was hit and came out onto the racing surface. Hulin was ready and eager for this restart, diving under Strayer in turn two and taking the lead. He immediately took to the top of the track and set sail seeking the checkers. Hulin was successful in his quest, taking the win a comfortable distance ahead of Strayer in second place. Ronn Lauritzen maintains his healthy point lead, finishing third, Adam Larson came from starting near the end of the starting field, to finish fourth, and Tyler Droste completed the top five. This was Hulin's second win at Marshalltown this year.
Two weeks of regular season racing remains at the Marshalltown Speedway---August 22 and August 29. Also mark your calendar for Wednesday, August 27 when the make up for the USMTS will be in town. Also running with them will be the USRA Stock Cars and USRA B Mods. Then on September 18-20, it will be the World Nationals. This one you won't want to miss, with $10,000 to win on the line. For more information, check www.marshalltownspeedway.com.
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