Rust and Reitzler rule the topside at the Marshalltown High Banks

It was another summer night of race track lights for us at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday. All six classes of cars were in competition, and a $1,000 pay day for the winner of the IMCA Late Models, and $500 going to the IMCA Northern SportMod feature winner.

In the Mod Lite feature it was point leader Travis Stensland returning to the winner's circle for the third consecutive week.  Stensland started tenth, had the lead at lap three, and never looked back.  Charlie Brown finished as the runner up, and eighth place starter Joe Glick was a close third.  Mike Morrill came from ninth, to finish fourth and Joel Huggins was fifth.  Stensland scored his fourth victory of the year at the speedway.

Next Friday is season championship night and the track title will be decided with Stensland leading Mike Morrill by six points.

The third time was the charm in finally getting the IMCA Hobby Stock feature under way.  When the race did get started, by lap two, the familiar #78 of Shannon Anderson was already in command.  Anderson started tenth, withstood three more cautions and captured the win.  It was a close one for second and third with David Rieks taking second, just beating out Gene Nicklas in third. Matt Smith came from deep in the starting field to finish in fourth, and Justin Wacha completed the top five.  Anderson made this regular season win #8, and four in as row, plus he also won the High Banks Hustle special.

Anderson has the track championship wrapped up ahead of second place Rieks by 56 points.  He also leads the nationals points in the IMCA Hobby Stock division as he seeks yet another championship there.

The IMCA Northern SportMod 18-lap feature went to Jake McBirnie.  McBirnie, who has been close, but no cigar this year at Marshalltown, finally put his hot rod in Victory Lane.  McBirnie started seventh, and took command after a restart at lap nine. He never relinquished that lead the remaining distance to the finish and the flying checkers.  Last week's winner Travis Storjohann ran second most of the race, and finished as the runner up.  Third went to visiting Sherrill, Iowa's Tyler Soppe, who started fifteenth, fourth was Jared VanDeest from starting eleventh, and Travis Peterson was fifth.

Ethan Braaksma has a five point lead on second place Travis Peterson for the track championship decisive race next Friday night.

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars found two drivers rim riding the High Banks most of the race.  Todd Reitzler worked his way masterfully through the field from starting eighth, to the top spot at lap six, and then took to the top side for his run to the checkers.  Damon Murty moved to his preferred rim riding spot also to chase Reitzler, but could do no better than second. Early leader Scott Rice finished in third place, followed by Curt Hook in fourth and veteran racer Jeff Wollam was fifth.  Reitzler claimed win #5 at the track this year.

 Reitzler has the track crown about to be placed on his head as he leads Murty by a whopping 56 points.

Todd Cooney went home with yet another win in the IMCA Late Model class, plus the $1,000 prize money for the night.  Cooney got the lead with just six laps of the 20-lap main event remaining and took the flying checkers.  Jeremiah Hurst was the runner up after catching hometown racer Darrel DeFrance late in the race, DeFrance ending up in third.  Fourth went to tenth place starter Ben Seeman, and Joe Zrostlik came from twelfth, to finish fifth.  Cooney claimed his sixth feature win at Marshalltown this year.

Cooney has the track title all but wrapped up, leading DeFrance by 33 points as we head into next week's final race of the season.

Joel Rust rode the rim of the High Banks in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature, hitting his mark perfectly each time, and took the easy win.  Rust started eighth, took the lead at lap five, and pulled away for the comfortable win.  He finished well ahead of runner up Scott Simatovich, Ronn Lauritzen started seventh and finished third, fourth went to Tim Ward, and Taylor Musselman started thirteenth, and rounded out the top five.  Rust has five regular season wins, plus also winning the High Banks Hustle back on April 26.

Laurel, Iowa's Race Hulin sits 22 points up on Tim Ward as he seeks his first track title in the IMCA Modified division.

There was a good crowd on hand last evening, watching the 108 race cars participating on a warm August night. The racing action was good as well, with a definite high groove and low groove.  Those that flirted with disaster at the rim of the track did a masterful job, and Joel Rust and Todd Reitzler tamed the High Banks last night.

Next Friday night is season championship, ending the regular season of racing at Marshalltown.  The track doesn't fall silent quite yet however.  Friday August 31 is the Showdown at Motown.  Expect extra cars that night as the state will begin to be inundated with those making their way for the 2018 Super Nationals at Boone Speedway beginning on Labor Day.  Then the track's last 2018 hoorah will be the 12th Annual World Nationals on September 14 and 15, postponed due to weather from it's original scheduled dates back in March. The IMCA Modifieds will pay $10,000 to the winner.  The Stock Cars and the SportMods will be running for $1,000 pay days each night, and the Hobby Stocks for $500 both nights.  There will be a practice night on September 13.

The season is winding down fast!  Seems we just got it started.  There are still plenty of races to  attend though.  Check the racing calendar at Positively Racing and find a race to attend.