Track title in Modifieds comes right down to the wire!

It was Larry Wollam Season Championship night Friday at the Marshalltown Speedway.  The Modified feature winner, Chris Abelson, showed once again why he is leading national IMCA points....taking his third consecutive win and doing it again in dominating fashion.  The domination didn't stop with that class as Josh May in the Mod Lite class won his fifth in a row, and after winning his first ever Late Model feature just a few weeks ago, Richie Gustin has stamped his name on the track, winning for the third time in as many weeks.

The top ten in points in the five regular classes were locked into their feature events and would start straight up.  Qualifying heats for all others, determined their starting positions.  

The Mod Lite feature and track championship went to Josh May.  May has had a great season, winning ten times at the high banks this year.  He led the 15-lap feature from start to finish without a threat.  Second went to Travis Stensland, Mike Morrill was third and Joe Glick and Jason Whitehead rounded the top five.  Interestingly, three Micro Mods (they run weekly at the Benton County Speedway) were allowed to tag the field, but were not scored.  We noticed the 6E of Don Erger actually crossed the finish line in fourth position.  Erger is a veteran racer, formerly racing in the Modified class.  

The IMCA Northern SportMod point leader, Jared VanDeest, had no problem in racing his way to another feature win, leading the 18-lapper flag-to-flag.  Second place was Jayme Duinink and just after the finish line, was spun to the infield.  Third place finisher, Brandon Williams was the official cause of that incident, and was soon penalized for the incident, sending him to finish last of the running cars.  This handed third over to Travis Peterson, fourth to Sam Wieben and DJ Robinson was fifth.  VanDeest thanked...well, just about everyone...in victory lane for supporting him on his way to the track championship. It's nice to know that a driver appreciates not only those that physically and monetarily help out, but also the fans who cheer them on each week. 

The two drivers who had often stepped into the winner's circle at Marshalltown in the IMCA Hobby Stocks, duked it out last night for the win.  Austin Luellen, who has been absent for a few weeks, ( I believe he pretty much destroyed his car at Harlan a while back) ran down point leader Eric Stanton, passed him and pulled away for an easy win.  Stanton finished in the runner up spot, but took the track championship.  He went into the night with such a huge point lead, he wouldn't have even had to show up.  Between the two drivers, Stanton had been the victor five times, and Luellen, nine times in the 2015 season.  Third place finisher in the feature was Gary Pfantz, fourth was Gene Nicklas, and Garrett Eilander was fifth.

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars, saw point leader Donavon Smith take the win untouched.  Steve Meyer trailed him in the distance to take the runner up spot.  Close on Meyer's tail in third, was Michael Jaennette.  Fourth was Larry Wollam, who had a good run last night in a race that honors his late father, and Damon Murty, the Chelsea Charger completed the top five.  Smith ended the season with eight wins at the track and his second straight track title.  

There was all sorts of scenarios in the IMCA Modified feature last night....flipping the point lead back and forth between THREE drivers.  Going into the night, Jimmy Gustin led the points by five  over Ronn Lauritzen and seven points over Josh Gilman.  With the three drivers starting the feature 1-2-3...you knew it was going to get interesting.  Then throw the driver who has been making an appearance the last three weeks, IMCA National point leader Chris Abelson from Sioux City, into the mix, and you just knew it was going to be hot and heavy up front! That it was!  

When the race went green, Ronn Lauritzen powered his "Frozen" ride into the lead and Gustin and Gilman settled into second and third.  Lauritzen was holding a good lead when at lap seven.....Gustin slipped off of turn one!  This brought out the yellow, Gustin had to tag the field and at the moment, this put Lauritzen with the point lead.  Abelson had already moved from starting tenth, to run in third behind Gilman.  When the race restarted, there was a bit of pushing and shoving (rubbin' is racin' you know) and by the time lap eight was scored, Gilman was leading, Abelson was second, Jake Strayer had moved to third, and Lauritzen had gotten shuffled back into fourth.  Now.....Gilman was the point leader! 

There was a final yellow flag at lap fourteen, and Gilman still led, Abelson was second and Lauritzen had moved back into third place.  Now....Lauritzen and Gilman were tied for the point lead.  Oh wait....hold on!  Who was that lurking in sixth place?  Oh gosh....it was Jimmy Gustin!  He only needed to get back to fifth, and he would again be the point leader. Was there any doubt?  

When things went green again, Abelson made his move around Gilman, taking the point spot.  Lauritzen powered his way past Gilman and took back second place.  The race went green the rest of the distance and Abelson won for the third time in as many visits to the track.  Lauritzen finished in second place, visiting Canadian driver Kody Scholpp started tenth and looked good in his run to finish in third, and there was that Jammin' Jimmy Gustin in fourth place....good enough to regain his points lead and take the track championship, and Jake Strayer finished in fifth. 

Abelson claimed his 30th feature win of 2015 , and now time will only tell (track titles, etc. will be determining factors) to see if he will win the National title over Arizona driver Ricky Thornton, Jr. who is only a couple of points behind.  The ending track points, gave Jimmy Gustin the track title, Ronn Lauritzen ending in second place by three points.  Gilman ended up third by nine points.

The IMCA Late Models came back to the high banks of Marshalltown Speedway for the third time.  Richie Gustin had won his first ever Late Model feature back on August 14, doing it in a dominating way and following up again on August 21 in the same fashion.  This brought about a "$500 bounty" on his head....going to anyone who could beat him.  Nope....didn't happen last night.  Gustin started sixth and by lap five, was leading.  Gustin went on to win the feature untouched.  Todd Cooney came from eighth starting spot, to finish second.  Third place was Jeremy Grady, fourth went to Robert See and veteran racer Greg Kastli was fifth.

So comes the end to another season of racing at the Marshalltown Speedway.  That's not the end of racing on the high banks this year though.  Mark your calendars for September 17-19 for the World Nationals.  The 17th will be practice only.  The Modifieds will be running for $10,000 to win.  The Stock Cars, SportMods and Hobby Stocks will have full shows on each of the days.  For more information check www.marshalltownspeedway.com.