It was another beautiful Friday night for racing at the Marshalltown Speedway. All six regular divisions were in competition with 110 cars checked into the pits. The only new victor for the season came out of the Mod Lite class, while all other divisions saw repeat winners.
Charlie Brown got his first win of the year in the Mod Lite class. Brown grabbed the immediate lead only to have the race red flagged at lap one when Doug Byers went for a tumble out of corner two. Byers was okay. When the race resumed, Brown shot off to the lead again. He was untouched from there to the flying checkers and the win. Finishing a distant second was Mike Morrill, Colona, Illinois racer Jason Masengarb was third, followed by ninth place starter Josh May in fourth and Randy Bryan in fifth. Brown, who has a different look for his car this season, does not have the familiar creepy looking (well to me anyway) clown on the side of his ride. However, he said in his victory lane interview, it will be back next year.
The IMCA Northern SportMod feature went to Doug Smith. Smith secured his third win of the 2017 season by flying through the field from his ninth starting position, and taking command at lap ten when he passed then leader Curt Hilmer. In the closing laps, Smith put distance between himself and his competitors and took the win easily. Taking the runner up spot was Jake McBirnie who made a good charge through the field from his fourteenth starting spot. It was a close battle for positions three through five, but when it all shook out, tenth place starter Sam Wieben took third, Randy Roberts was fourth, and eleventh place starter Travis Peterson rounded out the top five.
The fifteen lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature saw Grinnell's Gene Nicklas out in front and gone until a caution waved at lap twelve, when Travis Merical flew off of turn one. This tightened up the field for the restart, and by this time, Shannon Anderson had made his way from his eleventh starting spot, to be running in second. It proved to be a game changer for Nicklas, as just after the white flew, the two cars made contact. Nicklas went spinning in turn one, and all thoughts of his taking the win went out the window. Anderson however, kept control and raced to the checkers and took the win. Veteran Bill Bonnett took second place, just ahead of Leah Wroten in third, Eric Knutson in fourth and Ryan Wells in fifth. Anderson now has five wins at Marshalltown this season. Anderson may soon be looking at a second track placing a bounty on his head. He already has one at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa awaiting anyone who can beat him there. The multi-time IMCA National Hobby Stock Champion is sitting on win #299 of his career, and no doubt, will soon be seeing #300 as he seeks yet another National championship.
Damon Murty made it three regular season wins in a row in the IMCA Stock Car division. Murty would lead all but the first lap of the 18-lapper, winning it comfortably at the finish. Murty took to his preferred line at the top of the track, and sailed to the win. It was a battle throughout for position behind him however. Winning the hard fought battle for second was veteran driver Jeff Wollam, who ran well all night long. Eleventh place starter Donavon Smith was a close third, and Jeff Mueller came from tenth to finish a close fourth. Dave Atcher completed the top five.
Darin Duffy made it two in a row at the high banks, by winning the IMCA Modified 20-lap A main. Todd Inman led the opening laps, looking strong, until dropping off the back chute allowed Jon Snyder to make the pass for the lead. Meanwhile, Duffy had been working his way through the pack from his twelfth starting spot, was running second, and then grabbed the lead on lap thirteen. He was able to hold off a hard charging tenth place starter, Joel Rust who took the runner up spot. Kyle Brown started ninth, and finished third, Jesse Hoeft came from eleventh, and was a close fourth, and early leader Todd Inman was fifth. We note the top four finishers started ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth.
Todd Cooney had a $400 bounty on his head in the IMCA Late Model race, awaiting anyone who could beat him. At the end of the night, that bounty still stood. Cooney started in row four, flew to the top of the track, and quickly reeled in cars. By lap five, he was leading, and from there on, never looked back. Joe Zrostlik led the first four laps, and chased Cooney the rest of the way to take second. Third went to Paul Nagle, hometown boy Darrel DeFrance was fourth and Greg Kastli took fifth. Ten Late Models were in the house last night. We have yet to see the return of a couple of drivers who were involved in early season mishaps....Jason Hahne and Gabe Umbarger who may still be getting their rides back together.
The specials are starting around the state. Check out the racing calendar at Positively Racing for a race you may like to attend and support the sport we all love.
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