The Mod Lites kicked things off with their 15-lapper. Travis Stensland grabbed the lead from Tim Gannon in the opening laps, and coming along to grab the runner up spot was ninth place starter Josh May. May worked the outside line to pass Stensland and was the leader when a yellow flew at lap seven. From there on, May kept his ride at the point position the remaining way to the checkers. Stensland held on to the runner up spot, Joe Glick finished third, fourth went to Mike Morrill and Joel Huggins was fifth. This was May's third win in a row at Marshalltown, his eighth of the season. He holds a healthy points lead. After winning last week at the track, which marked his 100th win, he is now sitting on win #102, and no doubt, will be adding to that before the racing season ends in our area.
The IMCA Northern SportMods had a hard time finding their racing rhythm last evening, as the yellow flag flew frequently during their 18-lap feature. Those cautions were no issue for winner Curt Hilmer however. Hilmer started fifth, and was already leading at lap two when the first yellow flew. Jake McBirnie moved through the field quickly to get to Hilmer's rear bumper. As the race wore on, McBirnie was trying everything to get by Hilmer. A desperate attempt with just two laps remaining, resulted in McBirnie's dive low in turn one sending him into a spin and Travis Peterson left with no where to go, hitting McBirnie. McBirnie got the worst end of the deal, and was towed to the pits. When the race restarted, it was now visitor Austin Kaplan sitting in the #2 spot, with Brandon Williams, Sam Wieben and Jared VanDeest close at hand. Hilmer was able to hold on to his top spot the rest of the way, taking the win. The final lap saw a lot of shuffling as Wieben was off the pace. Brandon Williams was able to move past Kaplan as they finished second and third respectively. Fourth went to VanDeest and eleventh place starter Dan Drury, was fifth. Hilmer won for the third time this year at Marshalltown. In his victory lane interview, Hilmer said his weekly racing was coming to an end a bit early, as high school football practice will be taking front and center from now on with his coaching duties. However, he did say, "until Super Nationals". Not quite sure how he will work that out!
After the abundance of yellows in the SportMod feature, it was refreshing to have the IMCA Hobby Stock's have a clean run to the checkers....except for the initial start being called back. Eric Stanton quickly took command of the race, getting by Tim Barber. Stanton pulled away to a comfortable lead and would finish that way at the checkers. Austin Luellen had to fend off veteran Bill Bonnett who kept looking for a chance to slip under Luellen time after time, but to no avail as they finished second and third in that order. Fourth went to Gary Pfantz and Gene Nicklas completed the top five. Stanton is your point leader at Marshalltown, leading by a huge margin. Stanton now has six wins at the track this year.
The Chelsea Charger, Damon Murty made his return to the high banks a success, winning the IMCA 18-lap Stock Car feature. Murty started tenth and took the lead at lap four, keeping it to the checkers. He had big time company behind him however, Robert Stofer, Steve Meyer and Michael Jaennette were going at it. They swapped back and forth running so closely across the finish line, it was impossible to determine second place. In the end, there was no denying Murty the win, making it #21 of the year...and closing in on career win #200. It was so close at the line for second and third, we weren't able to determine it, but Steve Meyer was scored in second, and Jaennette in third. Donavon Smith mounted a late race surge, finishing fourth, just ahead of Stofer in fifth. This was Murty's first win of the season at Marshalltown as he had been campaigning all year long at the Iowa State Fair Speedway. Smith continues his healthy point lead in the Stock Car division.
It was an exciting 20-lap IMCA Modified feature! Jake Strayer looked strong in the early laps, leading the pack. Joel Rust challenged Strayer early on, getting by him as they raced down the back stretch, but Strayer regaining the advantage as they passed the flagstand. Then enter another car that was flying on the topside, that of visiting driver from Sioux City, Chris Abelson. He had been flying through the pack from his ninth starting spot and when a yellow flew at lap ten, was no doubt, happy to see it. Abelson took advantage on the restart, and was scored the leader at lap eleven. The closing laps saw Abelson hold his lead and take the win. Jimmy Gustin mounted a challenge in those closing laps, falling short, and having to settle for the runner up spot. Third went to Jake Strayer, fourth to Walnut, Iowa's Jake Deal who had started tenth, and Ronn Lauritzen took fifth. Gustin remains the point leader in the Modified division.
The IMCA Late Models made a return to the Marshalltown last night. They ran a 20-lap feature and the show was all at the front with Todd Cooney and Richie Gustin going at it. Cooney, who started on the pole, led from the drop of the green. By lap three, Gustin had moved from sixth starting spot, to the #2 spot. It was quite the show then as Gustin threw slide job after slide job out of turns three and four in an attempt to get past Cooney. It was "more sliders than at a White Castle" according to announcer Jerry Vansickel. Gustin made it stick just past the halfway mark, and from there on, never relinquished the lead, sealing the win.....his first in a Late Model. Cooney held on to the runner up spot, third went to Darren Ackerman who had started ninth, fourth went to local favorite "Double D", Darrel DeFrance, and Chad Holliday from Muscatine, rounded out the top five. The Late Models will be back in town next week, so mark your calendars.
Some notes on the evening:
There was a big crowd on hand last night, and a hungry and thirsty one as well. The line was often long at the concession stand. Many new drivers were on hand last night. The State Fair Speedway in Des Moines is done for the season, and drivers took advantage to get in another night of racing.
In a heat race for the Mod Lites, the D5 took a roll off of the top of turn one and two. Ironically, it was the same car and in the same spot that the car had rolled earlier in the season. That time it was piloted by Jimmy Gustin. Last night, it was Council Bluff's driver, Alonso Grosse, seen most often piloting a Late Model.
There were four IMCA national point leaders in attendance last night. Winner of the Modified feature, Chris Abelson made his journey from Sioux City pay off, adding to his IMCA National point lead in that division. Going for National IMCA Rookie titles, were Paul Nagel in the Late Models, Carter VandenBerg in the Modifieds, and Tyler Pickett in the Stock Car class.
A shout out to Mr. and Mrs. Randy Drummer who were celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary at the track last night. They added $10 per year of their wedded bliss ($160) to the pay off for the Late Model winner last night.....making it $760 for Richie Gustin.
The season is quickly winding down. There are three more weekly races remaining. Next Friday, August 21, the IMCA Late Models return and with state and national points on the line, look for more travelers joining the field of cars. Hot laps are 6:50 and racing at 7:30. Thanks for reading!
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