Raindrops at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night, didn't stop the weekly racing action. Eric Elliott went home with his first ever Modified win at the track, Donavon Smith in the Stock Car class won for the first time in the regular season, and Jared VanDeest got win number three in the IMCA Northern SportMod division. There has been no stopping Eric Stanton in the Hobby Stock class, as he continued his perfect season's run, winning for the fifth time. Mike Morrill also won for the first time this year in the Mod Lite class.
The Mod Lite feature did not start well as new driver Joe Luethje rolled hard off of turn one. He was transported as a precaution, but was alert and talking.
When racing got underway, it was Joel Huggins showing the way, but as lap two was scored, it was the 6 of Mike Morrill taking command. From there on, Morrill never relinquished the lead on his way to the checkers. Travis Stensland took the runner up position, third went to Randy Bryan, fourth was Joel Huggins, and Joe Glick rounded out the top five.
Jared VanDeest returned to victory lane, winning the 15-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature. VanDeest started seventh and had to run down early leaders Travis Peterson and then Cory Rose by running his preferred top side of the track. The three drivers battled it out, with VanDeest finally taking the lead at lap thirteen and holding it to the finish for the win. Travis Peterson finished second, and Johnathan Logue came from tenth starting spot, to finish third. Fourth went to visiting Carter VandenBerg, who started twelfth and Jake McBirnie came from sixteenth starting spot, to finish fifth.
This was VanDeest's third win of the season.
Eric Stanton kept his perfect streak alive in the IMCA Hobby Stock class. Stanton started ninth and had the lead at lap five, keeping it to the finish for the win. He was tailed most of the distance by Jamie Songer, who finished as the runner up. Ironically, Stanton has been piloting a borrowed car from runner up Songer, since destroying his early in the season. Gary Pfantz was third, fourth went to Webster City's Doug McCollough, who had started tenth, and lady racer, Leah Wroten completed the top five. Stanton has won all five regular season races at the Speedway.
The 18-lap IMCA Stock Car feature found Donavon Smith taking the checkers for the first time since winning the Frostbuster back on April 8. He worked his way methodically from tenth starting spot, to take over as captain of the ship by lap seven, and kept it the remaining way for the win. Damon Murty started eleventh and tried his best to catch Smith as he was seeking his 200th Stock Car win, but had to settle for second, Sixth place starter Michael Jaennette finished third, twelfth place starter Donovan Nunnikhoven took fourth and Trent Murphy was fifth.
Sprinkles began falling during the 20-lap Modified feature, but racing won out over Mother Nature in this one. Several yellows flew, and the one at lap nine eliminated several cars due to a mishap in turn four. This didn't deter Eric Elliott however, as he would lead all laps on his way to his first ever Modified win at the track. Jimmy Gustin challenged Elliott in the final laps, but could do no better than second place. Finishing a close third, was Jacob Murray who had won the last two features. Fourth place was seventh place starter, Racer Hulin and Ronn Lauritzen came from thirteenth, to finish fifth. Two Arizona drivers, living in Iowa for the summer, finished sixth and seventh. Tim Ward took sixth, and Ricky Thornton, who started twenty-third, was seventh.
The Open Quads were also on the program last evening as they will be the last Friday of each month. Danny Needles won their feature.
Luckily the rain held off long enough to complete the show. However, we ran into rain soon after leaving the track, that would have been enough to stop the program.
Racing continues next Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway with the green flag dropping at 7:30. There are several specials going on during this upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully you can find a race to enjoy. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend, and remember what the holiday is really all about.
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