What a hot and muggy night it was at Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night. Better that than the rain we had at home when we headed there! The threat was all around however, and everyone was hoping it would hold off. It did.....barely! There was a first time winner in the Hobby Stock division and the Mod Lites. It was old hat for the winners of the Modified, SportMod and Stock Cars.
Things did get hurried around for the features....no pictures and interviews again last night. What would we ever do without being able to watch the radar on our cell phones? The Mod Lites were quickly brought to the track for their 15-lap feature.
Bryan Zehm, the pole-sitter, who had only made a couple of previous appearances at the high banks this year, left no doubt as to what his goal was for the evening. He shot to the lead immediately, weathered a couple of yellow flag situations, and led all 15-lap on this way to his first victory at the track. Josh May and his father Jimmy May, chased the leader most of that distance, but had to settle for second and third respectively. Charlie Brown was fourth and Joe Glick rounded out the top five.
The Mod Lites were barely off the track when the Hobby Stocks were coming out of staging. Gary Pfantz set the pace in their 12-lap feature through the first six laps. That's when a yellow flew for a spinning Travis Merical between turns three and four. By that time, the #56 of Jamie Schirm...who had made his first trip to Marshalltown last week, was up to second. That caution was what Schirm had been wanting, as he took over as captain of the ship and leading as lap seven was scored. He led the remaining distance to the finish, chalking up his first win at Marshalltown. Garrett Eilander finished a distance behind in second place, Pfantz was a distant third, followed by John Watson in fourth and first timer, Travis Staley from Hampton, was fifth.
Up next, the IMCA Northern SportMods. You know how it goes when things are trying to be hurried along.....not so good. Their 18-lap feature was slowed five times by cautions. The early leader, Ryan Ashton was chased by Matt Lettow until lap seven. Lettow was able to take the outside lane around Ashton and took over the lead at that lap seven. A couple of yellows was not what Lettow was wanting, especially the one at lap twelve. By that time, he had Jonathon Logue, Jr. breathing down his tailpipes and Clint Luellen and Jenae Gustin were right there as well. Gustin, who was sporting a brand new ride with a beautiful wrap, was having a great run despite her left rear brake glowing brightly. As the race restarted, Luellen swung to the outside entering turn one, and by turn two, had gained the lead. Two more yellows would fly, but Luellen was not hindered and hung on to the top spot and the win. Lettow finished as the runner up, Jenae Gustin, put her "hot" ride.....left rear glowing/flaming brake into a third place finish, Logue, Jr. was fourth and Sam Wieben completed the top five. Luellen, who started eleventh, made it to the winner's circle for the second week in a row, and for the eighth time for the year.
The 18-lap Stock Car main had Don Vis leading the first two laps, but what a pack of cars there was fighting behind him! They were tightly locked into a battle that eventually found eleventh place starter, Donavon Smith spurting out into the lead by lap three. Two yellows didn't hinder Smith on the restarts, though the Chelsea Charger, Damon Murty had made it to the runner up spot, Smith maintained the top spot the rest of the way to the checkers. Murty chased him across the finish line for second. Steve Meyer beat out Robert Stofer as they finished third and fourth in that order, and Michael Jaennette fought his way through the pack, to finish fifth. This made nine wins for Smith at Marshalltown this season.
The final feature, the 20-lap Modified main, went flag to flag. And it's probably a good thing. Jake Strayer led from lap one through five when Gilman's Richie Gustin took over command at lap six. Gustin, who had started ninth, wasted no time in getting to the front, and after taking the lead, kept it to the checkers. Last week's winner, Racer Hulin, chased Gustin across the finish line to take the runner up spot. Third went to Jon Snyder, early leader Jake Strayer was fourth and point leader Ronn Lauritzen was fifth. Gustin scored for the fourth time at Marshalltown this year. The closing laps of the race, the raindrops started to fall and the race was just completed as they grew heavier and heavier.
Next Friday, August 29, is the season championship at Marshalltown Speedway, bringing the regular season to a close. This week, on Wednesday, August 27, the speedway will host the make up race for the USMTS that was weathered out earlier this year. They will also be racing USRA Stock Cars and USRA B Mods. Then on September 19-20, it will be the 9th Annual World Nationals. The Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods and Hobby Stocks will be in competition. The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks will also race on September 20. The Modifieds can only run a built motor---no crates. There will be an open practice on September 18. Don't miss these final races of 2014.
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