The Marshalltown Speedway was back in action on Friday night, giving the nice crowd on hand an evening full of exciting racing. The car count was one shy of 100. The Micro Sprints joined the five regular classes. It was also Marshalltown Police and Fast Shafts night at the Highbanks.
Jacob Murray took the checkers in the IMCA Modified class, adding to his point lead, Damon Murty in IMCA Stock Cars, and Jared VanDeest in the IMCA Northern SportMods, duplicated their wins from last week, and Gene Nicklas returned to victory lane in the Hobby Stock division. Jeff Stensland made it to the winner's circle for the first time this season in the Mod Lites, and the Micro Sprint win went to Travis Rewerts.
The Micro Sprints ran a 15-lap feature. There were twelve cars checked in, with ten starting their A main. The caution free race was led start to finish by the 23T of Travis Rewerts. The 1K of Kelby Watt finished as the runner up, chasing the leader the entire distance. Third went to Jayce Jenkins in the 33, Ryan Leavitt in the 22 was fourth and Doug Sylvester in the number 12, was fifth.
Jeff Stensland, who just made his racing debut for 2016 recently, came home the victor for the first time in the 12-lap Mod Lite feature. Stensland led the entire race on his way to the checkers. Josh May came from sixth starting spot, to take second, third went to ninth place starter, Mike Morrill, Cory Sauerman took fourth from starting eighth, and Bryan Zehm started tenth, and completed the top five. A look back at my records indicates that Stensland had never won at Marshalltown. He is the father of Travis Stensland who also races in the Mod Lites.
Shawn Cooney was looking to take the feature win in the 18-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature, jumping to the immediate lead, and pulling away. A caution at lap thirteen, proved to be his nemesis however. The restart closed the gap, bunching the field, with Jared VanDeest running second. When the race restarted, VanDeest made several attempts for the pass, and finally made it pay off. VanDeest got the job done with just two laps remaining, sneaking under Cooney to take the lead. He would then keep it to the checkers, holding off Cooney with a bit of rubbin' is racin' as they crossed the finish line. Cooney had to be content with second place on this night. Sam Wieben took third, fourth went to Travis Peterson, and Cory Rose was fifth. VanDeest, who also won last week, scored his fifth win at Marshalltown this season. He extended his point lead in the SportMod division.
Gene Nicklas returned to victory lane in the IMCA Hobby Stock class. He took the lead from Brandon Pitts at lap seven and from there on, pulled away, taking the comfortable win. Eric Stanton, who started ninth, came through the field to score the runner up position. Third went to Leah Wroten, Tyson Overton was fourth and Matt Pohlman was fifth. Nicklas won for the second time this year. There continues to be just three different drivers scoring wins in the Hobby Stock class this year. Point leader Eric Stanton has nine wins, Nicklas has two, and last week's winner, Adam Armstrong, who did not return this week, has the only other win.
There was scrambling and position changes throughout the entire 20-lap IMCA Stock Car feature. At lap five, it was veteran Jeff Wollam holding down the lead when a yellow flag flew. By this time, the familiar #35 of Donavon Smith was up to second from his steady advancement through the field. When the racing action picked back up, Wollam held on to the lead for a couple of laps before Smith took command. Meanwhile, Damon Murty had been flying on the topside and by lap eleven, was up to second and gaining on Smith. Lap thirteen with unlucky for Smith, but lucky for Murty, as he swept to the lead. From there on Murty held the top spot all the way to the checkers and the win. Smith finished second, Dave Atcher finished third, fourth went to Jeff Wollam, and Tyler Pickett rounded out the top five. Murty has won the last three consecutive weeks at Marshalltown, and tonight's win marked his fifth of the year. Smith holds down the point lead in the division.
The frantic position changes continued in the 20-lap main event for the IMCA Modifieds. Andrew Kinser held down the lead at lap one, but by lap two, it was Eric Elliott in command with Jake Strayer and last week's winner Trent Jackson in the mix. Jake Murray and Ronn Laurtizen soon joined in the fray as well, making for a breathtaking battle. With four laps remaining, Murray swooped to the lead, and was then gone, leaving the rest to battle it out for position behind him. He took the easy win, his fifth of the year at the track. Ronn Lauritzen started tenth, and captured second place, holding off Andrew Kinser in third. Joel Rust finished in fourth and Jake Strayer took fifth. The point leader Jacob Murray gained a little breathing room last night in extending his lead over Tim Ward and Ronn Lauritzen.
Guest announcer Coty Mallicoat did a great job of keeping the audience informed of the racing action last evening. He was joined in the announcer's stand by Pat Fagan from Fast Shafts who was a sponsor for the evening...tossing out shirts, and other goodies to the fans. It was also Marshalltown Police night. They had some of their vehicles on display behind the grandstand, one that was a nostalgic "black and white", with the single red dome atop.
Next week, there is a full calendar of racing in our area. Check the calendar at Positively Racing. Some of those specials will leave us having to flip a coin as to where to attend. Perhaps we will see you at some of those specials. Enjoy the racing!
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