It was a beautiful night for racing at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night. It was hard to believe, as the previous two races this year, the Frostbuster and last week's opener, were cold ones---for the fans as well as the drivers. No coats required this week! The drivers came out in full force too, with 110 cars filling the pits at the High Banks of Marshalltown.
The Mod Lite feature did not get off to a good start as the yellow rag flew three times with just one lap down. When action did resume, it was the familiar #99 of Josh May in command. From there on out, the race went caution free, May taking the win easily. Mike Morrill chased May the entire race, but finished a distant second. Third went to Travis Stensland, fourth was last week's winner, Jimmy May, and Joe Glick was fifth. Josh May redeemed himself from last week after he had to drop out with a flat tire while leading.
A field of 31 SportMods came to compete. A B main was required to get their feature down to 24 cars. That B main was won by Colby Heishman. The 18-lapper started with rookie to the class, Dusty Masolini (who jumped up from the Mod Lite class this year) and Pella's Jayme Duinink, on the front row. Masolini held down the point through the first three laps, but then lost the handle going into turn one, bringing out the yellow. Duinink then inherited the lead on the restart. He had pressure from behind though, as Travis Peterson and Jared VanDeest were gathering steam. VanDeest made it to the runner up spot and at lap nine, took over the lead. VanDeest would then remain the leader the rest of the way to the checkers. Duinink held on to second place, Peterson was third, fourth went to Sam Wieben and a close fifth was Jenae Gustin. This race was marred by caution flags, and looking to be completed under a time limit. However, the drivers got it together, and the race went all 18 laps.
Andrew Burg held the lead from the drop of the green in the 15-lap Hobby Stock A main. He quickly had the 7B of Eric Stanton, who started ninth, to contend with, and then the two went to battle. Stanton gained the upper hand by lap seven and now Nathan Ballard, who had started tenth, was attempting the pass on Burg for second. Ballard knocked on Burg's door for several laps, making the hounding work by lap twelve, and taking over the runner up spot. There was no catching Stanton however, as he continued to take the win in comfortable fashion. Ballard had to be content with second, Burg went third, fourth was John Watson, who started twelfth, and Benji Irvine came from fifteenth, to finish fifth.
The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars went 18-laps in the featured race. Steve Meyer threaded the needle after starting seventh, to take the lead at lap three. He had some strong runners applying pressure quickly though as Trent Murphy and Donavon Smith were in the second and third spots. Murphy pulled off the pass on the back stretch and claimed the lead as lap fifteen was scored. He never relinquished it the closing three laps, scoring the win. Meyer held on to second place, and Smith to third. A distance behind in fourth was last week's winner, Michael Jaennette and fifth went to Dave Atcher who started back in tenth spot.
The usual finale for the track was the 20-lap Modified main. Jammin' Jimmy Gustin sat on the pole with Brett Ladehoff alongside. Gustin was gone as the race went green, content to let the rest battle it out behind him. A yellow at lap six would then bunch the field for the restart, and who should be sitting in second, but defending track champion, Ronn Lauritzen in his "Frozen" car. Lauritzen had quickly fought through the pack from starting eleventh. It took but a couple of laps before Lauritzen maneuvered around Gustin on the back stretch, taking over the number one spot. Lauritzen would keep command of the helm the remaining distance, and taking the win. Rookie to the class, Brian Irvine, who is proving in this early season to be a real threat after his dominating in Stock Cars in previous years, made it past Gustin and into second place by lap nine. He then set his sights on leader Lauritzen, but all for naught, as there was no catching him. Lauritzen nabbed his first win of the season at Marshalltown, Irvine went second after starting tenth, and Gustin was third. Josh Gilman, last week's winner, came from twelfth starting position to take fourth and Eric Elliott was a close fifth.
It will be regular season racing again next Friday at the high banks of Marshalltown Speedway. Hot laps at 6:50 and racing at 7:30. For more information you can check www.marshalltownspeedway.com. Find a race somewhere to attend and keep supporting the sport we love....dirt track racing. You can check the calendar of events at www.positivelyracing.com for a race you may wish to attend.
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