Saturday, June 8, 2019

Snittjer Grain Night wins to Aikey, Rust, Ritter, Storjohann, Anderson, and Morrill

It was Snittjer Grain Night under the Friday night lights at the Marshalltown Speedway.  Jeff Aikey walked away with another win in the IMCA Late Model division, Joel Rust ran the rim for a win in the IMCA Modifieds, Shawn Ritter put his IMCA Stock Car back in Victory Lane, it was Travis Storjohann for the win in the IMCA Northern SportMods, Shannon Anderson returned to the winner's circle in the IMCA Hobby Stock class, and Mike Morrill got the win in the MADCRA Mod Lites.

Mike Morrill took the win in the Mod Lites, taking the lead at six laps in, and keeping it to the flying checkers.  Joel Huggins chased the winner most of the race, and scored the runner up position.  Third went to Erin Turner, Tanner Gannon was fourth and Doug Byers came from eleventh starting spot, and finished in fifth.  This was Morrill's third win of the year. Morrill continued his tradition of giving away his winning trophy to a lucky youngster in the grandstand. 

The 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stocks saw a familiar face back in Victory Lane as Shannon Anderson visited it once again.  Anderson ran down early leader Leah Wroten who had started ninth, and took over the lead just before the halfway mark of the race.  He never relinquished the top spot, and scored the win.  Leah Wroten held off twelfth place starter Kaden Reynolds at the checkers as they went second and third in that order. Reynolds had suffered severe damage to his race car last week after being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and ended up stuffed into the frontstretch wall. It was good to see the young rookie driver back at it and in good form.  Jacob Floyd was fourth and Jamie Coady completed the top five. Anderson has three regular season wins, plus won this past Tuesday night's Dirt Knights special.

Travis Storjohann put his #12R across the finish line first in scoring the victory in the IMCA Northern SportMod 18-lap event.  He finished just ahead of eighth place starter Jake McBirnie who was second.  Austin Schrage was third, and Jenae Gustin, despite starting fifteenth, AND being sent back on a caution for jumping, finished in fourth place, and Travis Petersen was fifth. Tony Olson seized the lead at lap ten, only to suffer mechanical woes and had to exit the track. This handed the momentary lead over to Jenae Gustin, who eventually fell back to fourth at the finish line. This was Storjohann's first win of the year at the speedway.

Shawn Ritter led the 18-lap IMCA Stock Car main event from flag to flag in a race that went caution free.  Ritter grabbed the lead immediately from his outside front row starting spot and was never seriously threatened on his way the checkered flag.  Kyle Everts finished second after chasing the leader most of the race.  Third went to pole sitter Scott Rice, veteran racer Jeff Wollam took fourth, and Todd Reitzler came from eighth, to finish fifth.  This was Ritter's second win at Marshalltown this season to visit his own business sponsored Shawn's Hay Grinding Victory Lane. 

The 20-lap IMCA Late Model contest went to Jeff Aikey.  Aikey took the lead from Todd Cooney on lap three, and never gave it up.  Andy Eckrich, Todd Cooney, and Jeremiah Hurst were locked in a fierce battle for the number two spot, with Eckrich winning that battle and claiming the runner up spot.  Third went to Todd Cooney, Jeremiah Hurst was fourth, and Paul Nagle rounded out the top five. This was Aikey's second victory of the year. Aikey, in his post race interview with announcer Jerry Vansickel, explained that he was asked by owner of the car, Rick Dralle, if he'd be interested in running the hot rod this season since former driver Ryan Dolan had to have shoulder surgery.  Aikey said he jumped at the chance for the ride.

Joel Rust set his hot rod on the top of the track and sailed to the win in the IMCA Modified 20-lapper.  Tim Ward made a fantastic comeback, finishing in the runner up spot after having to tag the tail due to spinning on the first lap.  Cody Laney was a hard charger, coming from seventeenth starting spot, to finish in third. Ethan Braaksma made his debut in the Modified class in his new Hughes chassis, moving up from the SportMod division, and took fourth after starting in twelfth. Randy Havlik also made good headway, charging through the field from starting eighteenth, and was fifth.  Rust came from ninth to score his third victory of the year. The driver from Grundy Center is looking strong from what we've seen and heard, no matter where he races

Next week, June 14, is RBF Electric/Salute to Marshalltown Firemen night and the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks will join the regular classes.  The IMCA Hobby Stocks will also be running for $400 to win.  Grandstands open at 5:30, and the green flag drops at 7:30.  It was announced that the June 28th race will be FREE admission thanks to sponsor of the night, KMJ Performance.  It's also $1,000 to win for the Modifieds that race night. 

It was a great night to be sitting at a dirt track race, with Mother Nature cooperating for a change.  Let's hope she continues to control her temper. Find a race to attend and support dirt track racing.

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