The Marshalltown Speedway was back in action on Friday. The 112 cars checked into the pits gave the nice sized crowd on hand their money's worth. There was high, low and middle of the track racing in all five classes. The five divisions all had repeat winners...three of those drivers matching last week's trip to victory lane.
Jason Masengarb, Colona, Illinois, took the win in the Mod Lite feature. He grabbed the lead from Joel Huggins at lap nine and never relinquished it on his way to victory. He had stiff competition behind him but held off Bryan Zehm and Travis Stensland as they finished a close second and third. Fourth went to Charlie Brown and Joel Huggins was fifth. Masengarb, who started ninth, also won back on June 2nd. In his post race interview, he said he hopes to be able to make the trip to Marshalltown as often as his work allows the two and a half hour trip.
Johnathon Logue returned to the winner's circle in the IMCA Northern SportMod class. He started twelfth in the line up, and was running a distant second to Adam Shelman, when a yellow with three laps remaining became the game changer. When the race restarted, Logue saw his chance, and was able to move under Shelman and take the lead. Logue then held the top spot to the flying checkers and the win. Jake McBirnie also slipped by Shelman in the final laps as they finished second and third in that order. DJ Robinson was fourth and Ethan Braaksma rounded out the top five. Logue spun in turn four earlier in the race, but had lady luck on his side as the yellow had flown for two cars sitting in turns one and two, allowing him to retain his running spot. This was Logue's second win at Marshalltown this year.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks came to the track next for their feature event, and it was a familiar face back in victory lane as Shannon Anderson took the win. Anderson started tenth and had to battle by stiff competitors to get to the front. A yellow at lap thirteen of the fifteen lap race proved to be just what Anderson needed as he ran in second behind leader Chanse Hollatz. He gained the advantage over Hollatz when the race went green, taking over the top spot, and keeping it to the finish and the win. Hollatz, finished as the runner up, Eric Knutson was third, fourth went to Gene Nicklas and Scott Pippert was fifth. Anderson won for the third week in a row and scored his tenth win of the year. Anderson is having another phenomenal year. He has a perfect season going at the Southern Iowa Speedway....twelve feature wins, to go along with the ten at Marshalltown, as he seeks another IMCA National Championship.
Damon Murty three-peated in the IMCA Stock Car class, sailing home to a comfortable win as he circled the rim of the track....his favored line on the Marshalltown track. Donavon Smith rebounded from a trip to the pits and having to tag the field, to finish in second place, as he dug on the low side. Steve Meyer was third, fourth went to Todd Reitzler and Jason Minnehan was fifth. This was win number six for the regular season for Murty. He also won the Frostbuster special.
Tim Ward went back to back in the IMCA Modified feature as he held off a hard charging Joel Rust to seal the win. Todd Shute started twelfth and finished third, Jenae Gustin fourth and Jesse Hoeft started fourteenth, and finished fifth. The race was plagued with cautions. The red waved when Andy Edwards took a roll off the top of turns one and two. He was okay. Earlier in the race, veteran racer Ron VerBeek also took an easy roll off of turn two, landing on his wheels. He was also uninjured.
The finale of the evening was the IMCA Late Model feature. Todd Cooney got back to his winning ways after a couple of weeks hiatus from standing in victory lane. Cooney finished well ahead of second place finisher, Joe Zrostlik. Curtis Glover was third, Darrel DeFrance took fourth, and Richie Gustin was fifth.
The victory lane interviews had the drivers all singing the praises of a great track, and saying how they loved racing on the high banks. We noticed several out of state drivers in the Mod Lite division last evening. Three Salina, Kansas racers were in the house...Trace and Ryan Ayers and Zane Hansen. Ed Griggs from Pleasant Hill, Missouri also joined the Mod Lite field.
Still plenty of racing ahead before the season comes to a halt. Get out and find a race to attend and support the sport we all love.
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