Night #2 of the World National's at the Marshalltown Speedway on Saturday, and everyone was wondering what the weather was going to do. Predictions were for rain and radar showed that just might happen. Around 4 p.m. it did rain, but the track was in contact with the weather bureau, that said there was going to be window of opportunity. Racing began right at 6 p.m. as planned, and with the bit of natural moisture that fell from the sky earlier, it was to the track's benefit.
A full show was held for the IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, and the IMCA Hobby Stocks and the IMCA Modifieds completed their last chance qualifying with heats and a Final Four to fill in the 24 car starting field for the $10,000 grand finale.
The Hobby Stocks ran 20-laps for their main event. This one had some strange turn of events. Aaron Rudolph looked destined to earn the $500 prize money as he led from lap eight and pulled away to a substantial lead. A yellow flew at lap eighteen when second place runner Jeff Anderson went spinning in turn four, and brought out a yellow. This moved third place running Gene Nicklas into the runner up spot for the restart. However, before the race went green, leader Aaron Rudolph suddenly drove off the track and into the pits...his night was done. Now Gene Nicklas had inherited the lead for the green-white-checkered finish. Nicklas held on to that top spot and took the win. Chanse Hollatz claimed the runner up spot, after starting tenth. Third was early leader Jim Ball, fourth went to Mike Goldsberry and Andrew Burg rounded out the top five. Nicklas, a regular at the Marshalltown Speedway during the season, started fifteenth, and took it to victory lane.
Jared VanDeest doubled down and matched his win from Night #1 in the IMCA Northern SportMod feature. VanDeest started fourth and led the entire race on his way to the winner's circle. Jake McBirnie started eighth and tried his hardest to reel in the leader, but had to settle for the runner up spot. Tyler Soppe took third after starting twelfth, Colby Fett came from nineteenth starting spot, to finish fourth, and Johnathon Logue was fifth. VanDeest took the $1,000 win for the second night in a row. VanDeest, also a regular at Marshalltown during the season, and despite running well with strong finishes, only had two wins on the season.
It was another thriller in the IMCA Stock Car main event. Jeff Mueller held down the top spot for much of the race, holding back The Chelsea Charger, Damon Murty. Mueller ran the bottom and Murty was motoring on the very top of the track. Murty made it work at lap eight, but his pass was only brief as Mueller gained back the lead the next lap. All eyes were on the two front runners, as Murty began again to reel in the #77M of Mueller. Murty was able to get that extra surge of momentum from his topside run and as they came out of turn four to the checkers, beat Mueller to the finish line, snatching the $1,000 win. This has happened several times at Marshalltown this year. Don't count Murty out until they cross the finish line! Mueller had to settle for second place, Jay Schmidt had a good run to finish third after starting thirteenth, Paul Shepard came from twelfth, to finish fourth, and David Brandies was fifth. Murty also matched his win from the previous night, and also won both nights last year.
The cream does rise to the top, and the 50 lap IMCA Modified feature showed just that as the fans were treated to some spectacular racing through the entire field. Veteran racer Terry Phillips from Springfield, Missouri showed his expertise on the track, and went home $10,000 richer with the win. Richie Gustin gave him a run for the money when he took the lead at lap twenty-one with a slider....only to have Phillips come right back with one of his own the next lap, and regain the lead. From then on, Phillips put a little distance between himself and Gustin, and took the comfortable win. Gustin had to be content with the runner up spot this night. Cayden Carter started ninth and finished third, fourth was Chris Abelson, and Joel Rust rounded out the top five.
We certainly saw a variety of Iowa weather last night...from rain, to windy, to really chilly, and then back to muggy and warm again. The wind switched directions too from a stiff breeze from the south, to a wind from the north come feature time. Thankfully, it wasn't blowing as strong as it had previously from the south. The track was much different from the previous night when it blackened up to a shine. The races were run non-stop last night, what with the threat of rain and no victory lane interviews. The show was completed at 9:27 p.m. Marshalltown Speedway was lucky last night as when we got home, the streets were still wet in Grinnell, and we had .71 inches in our rain gauge.
There are still races to be found in our area. Check the Positively Racing calendar and get out and attend a race somewhere. We need to support the sport we all love...dirt track racing.
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