Frostbuster #1 goes to New Mexico's Johnny Scott

Marshalltown Speedway held the first of the 2017 IMCA Frostbusters on Friday night after Mother Nature dictated some re-scrambling of the original 4-night, 4-track annual series. Originally scheduled to be the third night of the series, the high-bank's fast little quarter mile, ended up being night #1.

In the IMCA Modified class, it was Johnny Scott, a driver often seen competing in the USMTS, stopping by to try his hand at taming the track.  He had little trouble in doing so. Scott, who calls Las Cruces, New Mexico his home, started eighteenth on the starting field of 24-cars, and worked his way methodically to the front.  Hunter Marriott and Kyle Brown led the troops through much of the 25-lap race as Scott reeled in the front runners  He grabbed the lead on lap 24 and took the flying checkers. The win earned him $1,000 and qualified him for the Fast-Shafts All Star ballot as well.  Kyle Brown held on to second place, over Hunter Marriott in third. Chris Simpson, most often seen piloting a Late Model, finished in fourth position, and Clint Luellen rounded out the top five.

No stranger to the high banks of Marshalltown, Damon Murty took home yet another win in the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature.  Murty had an impressive run from starting 20th, taking the lead from Randy Brands at lap seventeen to earn his $500 prize money.  Jay Schmidt claimed the runner up spot, Brands held on to take third, Decorah, Iowa's Mitch Hovden was fourth and fifth went to Justin Temeyer.  

Pole sitter, Ethan Braaksma held off all threats in the 20-lap IMCA Northern SportMod A main event, to take home the $400 prize money, leading the race flag-to-flag.  Sam Wieben threw several challenges at the leader, but had to settle for second place.  Austin Luellen came home in third place, fourth went to Jake McBirnie, and Johnathan Logue was fifth. Braaksma, who was a regular at the track last year, has an extensive go-karting background.  This was his first victory at the track.  

Defending track champion, Eric Stanton drew the pole to start the 20-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, and held that top spot until lap eight. That's when fifth place starter Nathan Ballard grabbed the lead, and soon Benji Irvine was throwing his hat into the ring. Irvine's challenges paid off with a dozen laps in the books, when he took command. He would then keep it to the finish and the win.  Ballard held second place over Eric Stanton in third, fourth went to a hard charging Shannon Anderson who started eleventh, and Billy Rhoades, Maynard, Iowa completed the top five. The Hobby Stock class had it's share of woes last evening, when four different drivers rolled.  Thankfully, no one was injured in any of the incidents.  

Marshalltown Speedway's season opener will be next Friday night, April 14.  The green flag drops at 7:30.

Tonight, Boone Speedway will hold night #2 of the Frostbuster series.  Early start times are hot laps at 4 and racing at 5.  Then the Benton County Speedway in Vinton will hold the third installment of the Frostbusters on Sunday.  The Lee County Speedway had to scrap their Frostbuster race due to inclement weather.