The High Banks of the Marshalltown Speedway saw some great racing on Friday night for the running of the Safelite Auto Glass Showdown at MoTown. Joel Rust continued his hot streak, taking the feature win in the IMCA Modifieds. Todd Reitzler won a close one at the line in the IMCA Stock Cars. Jenae Gustin took a popular win in the IMCA Northern SportMod class, and Eric Stanton went home with a win in the IMCA Hobby Stocks. Also on tap for the night were the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks with Myles Michehl capturing the win, and Brooklyn Raceway Cruisers saw the duo of Chad Rigby and Carson Carpenter go to victory lane.
Myles Michehl started on the pole and led all fifteen laps of the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Truck feature. Jeff Frevert was the runner up, and third went to Jeff Johnson, who made a good recovery after bringing out a yellow and having to tag the field at lap eight. Bryan Spangler and Del Enos completed the top five. Lou Sipolt took an unexpected trip to victory lane during the feature race. He had to regain control coming out of turn four when he and another truck touched. He avoided the infield signs and then made it look as though he intended to drive right through victory lane before returning to the track.
The Brooklyn Raceway two-person Cruisers ran for the first time at the speedway. The duo of Chad Rigby and Carson Carpenter took the victory, holding off Jacob and Laverne Lehman in the runner up spot. Ryan Wells and Travis Fenton were scored in third place, and Leroy and Curt Kline were fourth. The twosome of Ray Hill and Austin Shuring led the race early, but suffered mechanical issues after a huge lead.
Eric Stanton got the win in the IMCA Hobby Stock division but only after leader of the entire race, Jeff Ware made a bobble in turn four as the checkered flag unfurled. Ware, from Columbus, Nebraska and the national point leader in the Hobby Stock class saw his vision of a win on the high banks disappear with the checkers in sight. Stanton, who had been running second, seized the opportunity and took the win. Aaron Rudolph and Bill Bonnett also got around Ware as they finished second and third respectively, and Ware fell to finish fourth. Blake Henry completed the top five. Stanton also won the 2018 Showdown at MoTown.
Jenae Gustin took a popular win in the IMCA Northern SportMod twenty lap feature. Gustin took the lead from Brayton Carter on lap two, and from there on, never looked back. Carter held the runner up spot. Tyler Soppe started ninth, and finished third, pole sitter Jason Hall was fourth, and Columbus, Nebraska's Brian Osantowski was fifth.
Once again, the IMCA Stock Cars did not disappoint. Their twenty lap feature was a fight to the finish between Todd Reitzler and Elijah Zevenbergen. Reitzler started fourth but had the lead by the time lap one was scored. Zevenbergen raced from tenth starting spot to second place by lap five and tried everything in the book to get around Reitzler. A last gasp attempt slide in corner four got Zevenbergen ahead of Reitzler but only momentarily as Reitzler ducked back under him and took the lead, and the eventual checkers. Zevenbergen had to be content with the runner up place, Steve Meyer started eighth and took third, fourth went to Jeff Wollam, and Curt Hook came from starting twelfth, to finish fifth. Reitzler matched his win from last year's Showdown at MoTown.
The $1,000 to win IMCA Modified twenty-five lap feature saw Cayden Carter start from the pole and have a good lead until lap nine when a yellow flew. This positioned Joel Rust to restart in the second spot and wanting more. Two laps later, Rust made it happen with a slide job in corner four to take over the lead. From there on, it was all Rust at the helm as he took the checkers and the win. Carter held the runner up spot, Jeff Aikey came from sixteenth to finish third, just getting by Cody Laney in fourth at the finish line. Kelly Shryock rounded out the top five.
The racetrack is silent next Friday night, but then on Friday September 13, and Saturday September 14, the speedway will hold the World Nationals with $10,000 to win for the IMCA Modifieds. The IMCA Stock Cars, SportMods, and Hobby Stocks will also be competing both nights. Thursday September 12 is practice for all classes. The green flag drops at 7 p.m. on race nights.
Drivers from eleven other states were on hand last night, many in the area for the upcoming IMCA Super Nationals. We begin our run at the Boone Speedway tonight, with the running of the Prelude to the Super Nationals. Early start times are 4 for hot laps, and racing at 5. Any driver pre-registered for the Super Nationals is eligible to race. Last year, over 285 cars competed. Look for at least that many tonight.
Find a race to attend, and keep supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing!
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Gustin's wager pays off with his Modified track title
The regular racing season came to a close on Saturday night at the Boone Speedway, with season championship night. Five track champions were also crowned in the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, and the Mod Lite classes. One hundred twenty-two cars were in attendance.
The drivers that had perfect attendance at the track were locked into their feature events, with last chance qualifiers run to complete their starting lineups. Driver introductions were made on the frontstretch, allowing the fans to show their appreciation to the drivers for their efforts all year long.
Only three points separated Randy Bryan and Mike Kennedy as they went into the final night of points racing in the My Race Pass Mod Lite division, making it the closest contested track championship of the night.
Bryan started on the pole for the 20 lap feature, and Kennedy along side. Kennedy took the immediate lead, and Bryan fell in behind him. This would be the story for the entire race as Mike Kennedy took the checkers first, Bryan taking second place. Sixth place starter Joe Glick was third, fourth went to Joel Huggins, and Bryan Zehm was fifth. This was Kennedy's second feature win of the season. Randy Bryan held the points lead and is the 2019 track champion.
Jake McBirnie held a thirty-two point lead over Cory Pestotnik going into the final go around of the season in the Elmquist IMCA Northern SportMod twenty-three lap feature.
McBirnie shot to the lead as the race went green and continued to hold it through three early cautions. When the yellow flew on lap ten, Johnathon Logue had now moved from his sixth starting spot to run third and on the restart made the move into second and began to hound leader McBirnie. His persistence paid off a handful of laps later when he made the pass at the flag stand to take over the top spot. He would then keep it the rest of the way to the checkers and the win. Cory Pestotnik came home in second place, McBirnie finished third, Dusty Masolini took fourth, and Dustin Lynch was fifth. Logue snagged his fourth win of the year. Jake McBirnie is the 2019 track champion.
The Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stocks had an eight point separation between Aaron Rudolph and John Watson for their 20 lap A main.
Rudolph held the upper hand on lap one, but by lap two, John Watson had the lead. From there on, he would hold it to the flying checkers and the win in the caution free race. Shaun Wirtz took second, and Rudolph was third. Seth Butler and Curt Reed completed the top five. Watson won for the third time at the track this season. Aaron Rudolph is the 2019 track champion.
Sixteen points separated Scott Davis and Donavon Smith before the Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Car twenty-three lap feature.
Smith would lead this one from start to finish to take the checkers. Drivers behind him were battling it out for position through much of the race, with Josh Daniels taking the runner up spot. Devin Smith finished third after starting in ninth spot, Jay Schmidt took fourth place, and David Smith started tenth and finished in fifth place. This was Smith's fourth victory of the year. Scott Davis, with a seventh place finish took the track title.
It was no contest for the track championship in the Snap-on Tools IMCA Modified class. Jimmy Gustin held a whopping 109 point lead, and had the track title wrapped up.
Gustin did lead the twenty-five lap race through lap six when a caution flew, but then exited the track content to have no further wear and tear on his hot rod. This handed the lead over to Al Wolfgram until Joel Rust came calling and took over the top spot just a lap later. After Rust got the lead, he pulled away and scored the comfortable win. Al Wolfgram held the runner up spot, Tim Ward was third, Mike VanGenderen raced from twelfth starting spot to finish in fourth, and Randy Havlik started eleventh and finished fifth.
There were no repeat track champion winners this year. At the beginning of the season, Jimmy Gustin offered up a challenge for the track title in the IMCA Modified division, putting up $2,000 to the winner...but if HE won it, he would receive $2,000 from the track. That little wager paid off. He was dominate in the Modified class and ended the season with a big lead. He also received a sweet Snap-on tool box. A track awards ceremony was held in the pits after the races.
Next Saturday, August 31, is the Prelude to the Super Nationals when drivers arriving early for the 37th running of the IMCA Super Nationals come to test the waters of the Boone Speedway. Look for a big field of cars for the Prelude if prior years are any indication. There were 285 that raced last year. Then starting on Labor Day Monday, September 2, it will be six straight days/nights of racing for the annual Super Nationals extravaganza. It will mark our 32nd straight year of attendance...every year since it's been held at the Boone Speedway. It's something that every race fans should experience at least once, but if not there, do continue to support a race track somewhere to keep the sport alive and well.
The drivers that had perfect attendance at the track were locked into their feature events, with last chance qualifiers run to complete their starting lineups. Driver introductions were made on the frontstretch, allowing the fans to show their appreciation to the drivers for their efforts all year long.
Only three points separated Randy Bryan and Mike Kennedy as they went into the final night of points racing in the My Race Pass Mod Lite division, making it the closest contested track championship of the night.
Bryan started on the pole for the 20 lap feature, and Kennedy along side. Kennedy took the immediate lead, and Bryan fell in behind him. This would be the story for the entire race as Mike Kennedy took the checkers first, Bryan taking second place. Sixth place starter Joe Glick was third, fourth went to Joel Huggins, and Bryan Zehm was fifth. This was Kennedy's second feature win of the season. Randy Bryan held the points lead and is the 2019 track champion.
Jake McBirnie held a thirty-two point lead over Cory Pestotnik going into the final go around of the season in the Elmquist IMCA Northern SportMod twenty-three lap feature.
McBirnie shot to the lead as the race went green and continued to hold it through three early cautions. When the yellow flew on lap ten, Johnathon Logue had now moved from his sixth starting spot to run third and on the restart made the move into second and began to hound leader McBirnie. His persistence paid off a handful of laps later when he made the pass at the flag stand to take over the top spot. He would then keep it the rest of the way to the checkers and the win. Cory Pestotnik came home in second place, McBirnie finished third, Dusty Masolini took fourth, and Dustin Lynch was fifth. Logue snagged his fourth win of the year. Jake McBirnie is the 2019 track champion.
The Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stocks had an eight point separation between Aaron Rudolph and John Watson for their 20 lap A main.
Rudolph held the upper hand on lap one, but by lap two, John Watson had the lead. From there on, he would hold it to the flying checkers and the win in the caution free race. Shaun Wirtz took second, and Rudolph was third. Seth Butler and Curt Reed completed the top five. Watson won for the third time at the track this season. Aaron Rudolph is the 2019 track champion.
Sixteen points separated Scott Davis and Donavon Smith before the Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Car twenty-three lap feature.
Smith would lead this one from start to finish to take the checkers. Drivers behind him were battling it out for position through much of the race, with Josh Daniels taking the runner up spot. Devin Smith finished third after starting in ninth spot, Jay Schmidt took fourth place, and David Smith started tenth and finished in fifth place. This was Smith's fourth victory of the year. Scott Davis, with a seventh place finish took the track title.
It was no contest for the track championship in the Snap-on Tools IMCA Modified class. Jimmy Gustin held a whopping 109 point lead, and had the track title wrapped up.
Gustin did lead the twenty-five lap race through lap six when a caution flew, but then exited the track content to have no further wear and tear on his hot rod. This handed the lead over to Al Wolfgram until Joel Rust came calling and took over the top spot just a lap later. After Rust got the lead, he pulled away and scored the comfortable win. Al Wolfgram held the runner up spot, Tim Ward was third, Mike VanGenderen raced from twelfth starting spot to finish in fourth, and Randy Havlik started eleventh and finished fifth.
There were no repeat track champion winners this year. At the beginning of the season, Jimmy Gustin offered up a challenge for the track title in the IMCA Modified division, putting up $2,000 to the winner...but if HE won it, he would receive $2,000 from the track. That little wager paid off. He was dominate in the Modified class and ended the season with a big lead. He also received a sweet Snap-on tool box. A track awards ceremony was held in the pits after the races.
Next Saturday, August 31, is the Prelude to the Super Nationals when drivers arriving early for the 37th running of the IMCA Super Nationals come to test the waters of the Boone Speedway. Look for a big field of cars for the Prelude if prior years are any indication. There were 285 that raced last year. Then starting on Labor Day Monday, September 2, it will be six straight days/nights of racing for the annual Super Nationals extravaganza. It will mark our 32nd straight year of attendance...every year since it's been held at the Boone Speedway. It's something that every race fans should experience at least once, but if not there, do continue to support a race track somewhere to keep the sport alive and well.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Track titles to five on season championship night at the Marshalltown Speedway
It was Larry Wollam Season Championship night on Friday at the Marshalltown Speedway where family, friends, and fans celebrated the man who was such an inspiration to the track and racing in general. It was the 20th anniversary of the passing of Wollam who had been a racer, promoter, and big supporter of racing at the Marshalltown Speedway.
The top ten in points from each class was locked in to the feature events and qualifying heats were run to fill in the starting field of each. The drivers were introduced on the frontstretch before their features, allowing fans to show their appreciation.
An added attraction to the night's action were the North Iowa Vintage Club racers. They brought back a taste of the cars of days gone by, and a bit of nostalgia to many. Ray Guss, Jr., the veteran racer known as the "River City Hustler" from Milan, Illinois drove a 1968 Nova under the checkers to take the win. Allen Guthrie from Raymore, Missouri was second in a 1965 Fairlane, and third went to Steve Tanner, Richmond, Missouri, in his 1960 Dodge Dart. A 1967 Chevelle driven by Curt Moore, Belmond, Iowa was fourth, fifth went to Scott Jorpland from Marshalltown, and Chris Holt, Mason City, Iowa in a 1950 Oldsmobile "Rocket 88" was sixth. Mark Holt, Mason City in his 1957 Chevy did not finish. Also on hand was Billy VanHauen, Nora Springs in a 1965 Chevelle, and Ben Holt, Charles City, Iowa with his 1966 Chevy Impala.
The Mod Lites ran first and only three points separated Mike Morrill and Joel Huggins in the race for the track championship. Huggins easily grabbed the lead when the race went green, and Morrill fell into his tire tracks. Huggins kept hold of that top spot until lap fourteen of the fifteen lap A main. That's when Morrill got the upper hand when he swung to the outside on corner four coming to the white flag, and momentum carried him into the lead as they crossed the flag stand. He kept a tight hold on that lead the final lap and scored the win, Huggins having to settle for second. Randy Bryan just beat Joe Glick as they finished third and fourth respectively. Charlie Brown followed to finish fifth. Mike Morrill is the 2019 track champion.
Leah Wroten had the IMCA Hobby Stock track title wrapped up before the race began, leading by 40 points. It also appeared that she won the 15-lap feature race, but that was not the case. Wroten led all laps but when she got into Kaden Reynolds as they approached the checkers, spinning him out, she was penalized for the contact, and the victory was awarded to Jacob Floyd. Gary Pfantz was awarded second place, third went to Ben Newhouse, Jeremy Andrews was scored fourth, and Scott Ellis rounded out the top five. This was Floyd's first time ever to win at the Marshalltown Speedway. Wroten was interviewed earlier during on track introductions prior to the running of the feature, and told the crowd that she will be jumping up a class next year, into the IMCA Stock Cars.
Jake McBirnie kept his point lead in the IMCA Northern SportMod feature, winning the track crown and also added to his quest in the hunt for the National title in the division with his feature win. McBirnie spanked the field, leading all eighteen laps, winning by more than half a lap. The real race on the track was for second place as three drivers went at it tooth and nail, lap after lap. Winning that battle was Austin Kaplan, just beating out third place finisher Austin Schrage at the checkers, and Jenae Gustin was a close fourth. Travis Petersen completed the top five. The feature went flag to flag.
Steve Meyer was crowned the 2019 track champion in the IMCA Stock Car class. Meyer had a twenty-two point lead over Todd Reitzler going into the night. Meyer led the field to green in the eighteen lap main event. Reitzler snatched the top spot from Meyer on lap two, and then set sail on a quest for the checkers. Reitzler's vision of a victory evaporated on lap twelve, when he found himself in spin mode, bringing out a yellow, and sending him to tag the field. This returned Meyer as captain of the ship which he held to the checkers. A slight bobble in turn four coming to the checkers nearly cost Meyer the win, but he regained control and flew under the checkers first. Damon Murty, who uncharacteristically lost control on lap ten and went over the top of turn four, rejoined the field at the tail, and recovered to finish in second place. Jeff Wollam, who's late father was honored earlier, finished third, Dave Atcher was fourth, and Dallon Murty was fifth.
The twenty lap IMCA Modifieds were the night cap of the evening's racing. Only four points separated Tim Ward and Joel Rust for the track title. Rust led all of those twenty caution free laps on his way to the win. Tim Ward trailed a distant runner up. Third went to Ronn Lauritzen, Sam Wieben took fourth, and Jared VanDeest was fifth. Tim Ward is the 2019 track champion.
There were all new 2019 track champions with no repeat winners from last season. The regular season is over, but racing does continue at the High Banks next Friday night for the Showdown at Motown, with $1,000 to win for Modifieds, $500 for Stock Cars and SportMods, and $300 for Hobby Stocks. Then on September 13 and 14, it will be the World Nationals for $10,000 to win for the Modifieds.
Check the racing calendar on Positively Racing, and find a race to attend and help support the sport we all love....dirt track racing!
The top ten in points from each class was locked in to the feature events and qualifying heats were run to fill in the starting field of each. The drivers were introduced on the frontstretch before their features, allowing fans to show their appreciation.
An added attraction to the night's action were the North Iowa Vintage Club racers. They brought back a taste of the cars of days gone by, and a bit of nostalgia to many. Ray Guss, Jr., the veteran racer known as the "River City Hustler" from Milan, Illinois drove a 1968 Nova under the checkers to take the win. Allen Guthrie from Raymore, Missouri was second in a 1965 Fairlane, and third went to Steve Tanner, Richmond, Missouri, in his 1960 Dodge Dart. A 1967 Chevelle driven by Curt Moore, Belmond, Iowa was fourth, fifth went to Scott Jorpland from Marshalltown, and Chris Holt, Mason City, Iowa in a 1950 Oldsmobile "Rocket 88" was sixth. Mark Holt, Mason City in his 1957 Chevy did not finish. Also on hand was Billy VanHauen, Nora Springs in a 1965 Chevelle, and Ben Holt, Charles City, Iowa with his 1966 Chevy Impala.
The Mod Lites ran first and only three points separated Mike Morrill and Joel Huggins in the race for the track championship. Huggins easily grabbed the lead when the race went green, and Morrill fell into his tire tracks. Huggins kept hold of that top spot until lap fourteen of the fifteen lap A main. That's when Morrill got the upper hand when he swung to the outside on corner four coming to the white flag, and momentum carried him into the lead as they crossed the flag stand. He kept a tight hold on that lead the final lap and scored the win, Huggins having to settle for second. Randy Bryan just beat Joe Glick as they finished third and fourth respectively. Charlie Brown followed to finish fifth. Mike Morrill is the 2019 track champion.
Leah Wroten had the IMCA Hobby Stock track title wrapped up before the race began, leading by 40 points. It also appeared that she won the 15-lap feature race, but that was not the case. Wroten led all laps but when she got into Kaden Reynolds as they approached the checkers, spinning him out, she was penalized for the contact, and the victory was awarded to Jacob Floyd. Gary Pfantz was awarded second place, third went to Ben Newhouse, Jeremy Andrews was scored fourth, and Scott Ellis rounded out the top five. This was Floyd's first time ever to win at the Marshalltown Speedway. Wroten was interviewed earlier during on track introductions prior to the running of the feature, and told the crowd that she will be jumping up a class next year, into the IMCA Stock Cars.
Jake McBirnie kept his point lead in the IMCA Northern SportMod feature, winning the track crown and also added to his quest in the hunt for the National title in the division with his feature win. McBirnie spanked the field, leading all eighteen laps, winning by more than half a lap. The real race on the track was for second place as three drivers went at it tooth and nail, lap after lap. Winning that battle was Austin Kaplan, just beating out third place finisher Austin Schrage at the checkers, and Jenae Gustin was a close fourth. Travis Petersen completed the top five. The feature went flag to flag.
Steve Meyer was crowned the 2019 track champion in the IMCA Stock Car class. Meyer had a twenty-two point lead over Todd Reitzler going into the night. Meyer led the field to green in the eighteen lap main event. Reitzler snatched the top spot from Meyer on lap two, and then set sail on a quest for the checkers. Reitzler's vision of a victory evaporated on lap twelve, when he found himself in spin mode, bringing out a yellow, and sending him to tag the field. This returned Meyer as captain of the ship which he held to the checkers. A slight bobble in turn four coming to the checkers nearly cost Meyer the win, but he regained control and flew under the checkers first. Damon Murty, who uncharacteristically lost control on lap ten and went over the top of turn four, rejoined the field at the tail, and recovered to finish in second place. Jeff Wollam, who's late father was honored earlier, finished third, Dave Atcher was fourth, and Dallon Murty was fifth.
The twenty lap IMCA Modifieds were the night cap of the evening's racing. Only four points separated Tim Ward and Joel Rust for the track title. Rust led all of those twenty caution free laps on his way to the win. Tim Ward trailed a distant runner up. Third went to Ronn Lauritzen, Sam Wieben took fourth, and Jared VanDeest was fifth. Tim Ward is the 2019 track champion.
There were all new 2019 track champions with no repeat winners from last season. The regular season is over, but racing does continue at the High Banks next Friday night for the Showdown at Motown, with $1,000 to win for Modifieds, $500 for Stock Cars and SportMods, and $300 for Hobby Stocks. Then on September 13 and 14, it will be the World Nationals for $10,000 to win for the Modifieds.
Check the racing calendar on Positively Racing, and find a race to attend and help support the sport we all love....dirt track racing!
Friday, August 23, 2019
O'Neil snags USMTS win at historic Hamilton County Speedway
We made the trip up to Webster City on Thursday night to watch some USMTS and USRA racing on the historic 1/2 mile track. Jake O'Neil went home with his sixth career USMTS Modfied win, veteran racer Bill Crimmins took the USRA Stock Car checkers....at the line. It was Ben Moudry capturing the USRA B-Mod victory, track champion Eric Stanton won the USRA Hobby Stock feature, and Steve Jackson took the win in the Super Trucks. Ninety-six cars came for the weeknight racing fun.
Veteran racer Steve Jackson piloted the #23 Dirt Truck and led all laps of the main event on his way to victory. Myles Michehl, the track champion in the division, started fifth, and could do no more than chase the leader and had to settle for the runner up spot. Jeff Frevert, Lucas Richardson, and Del Enos rounded out the top five.
The 2019 track champion Eric Stanon showed his prowess in taking the Hobby Stock feature win. However, he had to work for it. Stanton started seventh on the starting grid and had to run down a strong running Scott Dobel who led from the drop of the green. Stanton had a bit of luck on his side when a yellow flew late in the race, closing the gap between himself and leader Dobel. Stanton took command with a low side pass in turn two just after the race returned to green. He sailed home the final circuits to capture a comfortable win. Dobel had to be content with second place, Sioux Falls, South Dakota racer Dustin Gulbrandson challenged Dobel early on for the lead, but finished third. Fourth went to Zac Smith and another Sioux Falls racer, Andy Wieczorek came from eleventh to finish fifth.
There was a full field of twenty-four USRA B-Mods in the house last night. Ben Moudry, the Hastings, Minnesota racer went home with that feature win. Another Minnesota racer, Jared Boumeester sent his hot rod from thirteenth starting spot to finish second. Dan Hovden took third place, another Minnesotan, Kadden Kath was fourth, and Jim Chisholm raced from eleventh starting spot to round out the top five.
The Stock Car class seems to draw the cars no matter where we go, and last night was no exception with twenty-eight of the fendered cars in action. This called for a B main to complete the starting A feature. That consy was won by Travis Shipman.
The feature had a star-studded cast of drivers...many strong contenders from the northern portion of the state. Decorah, Iowa's Dillon Anderson looked poised to capture the checkers in the feature race as he led from lap two, holding back the competition and looking strong. The last lap however, is the important lap. Veteran racer Bill Crimmins dipped to the inside on the white flag lap, and beat Anderson to the checkers and the win. Anderson had to settle for second. Promoter Todd Staley sent his #14 hot rod from eleventh spot to finish third. It was a near photo finish for fourth and fifth with Jesse Sobbing, the fifteenth place starter, just beating out Kevin Donlan at the wire. Following in sixth and seventh were a couple of Plymouth, Iowa racers...Josh Zieman, from sixteenth, and Andrew Borchardt, from nineteenth. Travis Shipman, the B feature winner came from twenty-first to finish eight. There was a lot of hard chargers in this feature.
The headliner of the evening was thirty-five laps of USMTS Modified racing with another star-studded cast of drivers from across the country. Missouri's Hunter Marriott was the pole sitter and led the field in the opening laps with Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Oklahoma taking over the top spot on lap four. Ramirez looked strong out front with Jake O'Neil, Tucson, Arizona giving chase and Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, and Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas closing in.
Lap twenty-one brought out a yellow when leader Ramirez, O'Neil and VanderBeek were going three-wide down the back chute, and contact was made....leaving Ramirez spun out and setting on the track. Ramirez was sent to the tail for the restart....a racing deal gone bad. This put O'Neil in the drivers seat and he wouldn't give it up the remaining laps to the checkers and the win. He finished comfortably ahead of second place Rodney Sanders. Terry Phillips, Springfield, Missouri got by VanderBeek in the closing moments, as they finished third and fourth respectively, and Dustin Sorensen started eleventh to complete the top five. Pole sitter Hunter Marriott finished sixth, and Kyle Brown came from fourteenth, to finish seventh. Mark Elliott was eighth, Al Hejna started eighteenth and finished ninth, and El Centro, California's Lance Mari rounded out the top ten. Area favorite USMTS racer, Ryan Gustin from Marshalltown, was an early contender in the race, moving quickly from seventh spot and into second on lap five, when he went up in a cloud of smoke, ending his night.
We enjoyed our night at the historic speed plant on what was a pleasant night to be setting in the nostalgic wooden grandstand again. We were also pleased with how the program moved along with no intermission and no victory lane interviews.
Get out and find a race to attend to help support what we all love....dirt track racing!
Veteran racer Steve Jackson piloted the #23 Dirt Truck and led all laps of the main event on his way to victory. Myles Michehl, the track champion in the division, started fifth, and could do no more than chase the leader and had to settle for the runner up spot. Jeff Frevert, Lucas Richardson, and Del Enos rounded out the top five.
The 2019 track champion Eric Stanon showed his prowess in taking the Hobby Stock feature win. However, he had to work for it. Stanton started seventh on the starting grid and had to run down a strong running Scott Dobel who led from the drop of the green. Stanton had a bit of luck on his side when a yellow flew late in the race, closing the gap between himself and leader Dobel. Stanton took command with a low side pass in turn two just after the race returned to green. He sailed home the final circuits to capture a comfortable win. Dobel had to be content with second place, Sioux Falls, South Dakota racer Dustin Gulbrandson challenged Dobel early on for the lead, but finished third. Fourth went to Zac Smith and another Sioux Falls racer, Andy Wieczorek came from eleventh to finish fifth.
There was a full field of twenty-four USRA B-Mods in the house last night. Ben Moudry, the Hastings, Minnesota racer went home with that feature win. Another Minnesota racer, Jared Boumeester sent his hot rod from thirteenth starting spot to finish second. Dan Hovden took third place, another Minnesotan, Kadden Kath was fourth, and Jim Chisholm raced from eleventh starting spot to round out the top five.
The Stock Car class seems to draw the cars no matter where we go, and last night was no exception with twenty-eight of the fendered cars in action. This called for a B main to complete the starting A feature. That consy was won by Travis Shipman.
The feature had a star-studded cast of drivers...many strong contenders from the northern portion of the state. Decorah, Iowa's Dillon Anderson looked poised to capture the checkers in the feature race as he led from lap two, holding back the competition and looking strong. The last lap however, is the important lap. Veteran racer Bill Crimmins dipped to the inside on the white flag lap, and beat Anderson to the checkers and the win. Anderson had to settle for second. Promoter Todd Staley sent his #14 hot rod from eleventh spot to finish third. It was a near photo finish for fourth and fifth with Jesse Sobbing, the fifteenth place starter, just beating out Kevin Donlan at the wire. Following in sixth and seventh were a couple of Plymouth, Iowa racers...Josh Zieman, from sixteenth, and Andrew Borchardt, from nineteenth. Travis Shipman, the B feature winner came from twenty-first to finish eight. There was a lot of hard chargers in this feature.
The headliner of the evening was thirty-five laps of USMTS Modified racing with another star-studded cast of drivers from across the country. Missouri's Hunter Marriott was the pole sitter and led the field in the opening laps with Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Oklahoma taking over the top spot on lap four. Ramirez looked strong out front with Jake O'Neil, Tucson, Arizona giving chase and Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, and Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas closing in.
Lap twenty-one brought out a yellow when leader Ramirez, O'Neil and VanderBeek were going three-wide down the back chute, and contact was made....leaving Ramirez spun out and setting on the track. Ramirez was sent to the tail for the restart....a racing deal gone bad. This put O'Neil in the drivers seat and he wouldn't give it up the remaining laps to the checkers and the win. He finished comfortably ahead of second place Rodney Sanders. Terry Phillips, Springfield, Missouri got by VanderBeek in the closing moments, as they finished third and fourth respectively, and Dustin Sorensen started eleventh to complete the top five. Pole sitter Hunter Marriott finished sixth, and Kyle Brown came from fourteenth, to finish seventh. Mark Elliott was eighth, Al Hejna started eighteenth and finished ninth, and El Centro, California's Lance Mari rounded out the top ten. Area favorite USMTS racer, Ryan Gustin from Marshalltown, was an early contender in the race, moving quickly from seventh spot and into second on lap five, when he went up in a cloud of smoke, ending his night.
We enjoyed our night at the historic speed plant on what was a pleasant night to be setting in the nostalgic wooden grandstand again. We were also pleased with how the program moved along with no intermission and no victory lane interviews.
Get out and find a race to attend to help support what we all love....dirt track racing!
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Gustin and McBirnie win at the line
It was another Harris Auto Racing regular Saturday Series of racing at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night. One hundred seventy race cars were on hand, providing the fans with a full night of exciting racing action. The IMCA Modified feature came right down to the wire, with Jimmy Gustin taking home the victory. Jay Schmidt captured the IMCA Stock Car feature, and it was Jake McBirnie going from last to first in the IMCA Northern SportMod main event. Josh VanCannon scored his first career IMCA Hobby Stock checkers, and Terry Brown put his Mod Lite in the winner's circle for the first time this season. The two-person Cruisers closed out their run for the year, with the duo of Laura Boal and Camilla Hamilton going to victory lane.
Terry Brown got the monkey off of his back when he finally crossed under the checkers first in the Mod Lite division, getting his first win of the year. Brown started fourth, and had the lead with a handful of laps in the books. He then kept that top spot the rest of the way to the checkers and the win. Mike Kennedy finished in the runner up position after starting eight on the grid. Joe Glick was third, fourth went to Joel Huggins, and Randy Bryan was fifth. Brown's last win at Boone came back in 2015.
The Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMod feature had the crowd on its feet when at the checkers, Jake McBirnie took the win. McBirnie was involved in an incident on the backstretch just after the initial green flag flew, finding himself partially on top of another car, and the race under the red flag. He was able to continue, but had to tag the field for the restart of the race.
Colton Nelson, the driver from Osceola, Iowa, held down the top spot as the race went green. He held back some hard chargers in Johnathon Logue, Cody Thompson, and Colby Fett, and as the race wore down to its final laps, it was Jake McBirnie entering into the picture. The final circuit of the race was three wide racing with Nelson, McBirnie, and Thompson coming to the checkers. McBirnie's momentum on the topside was just what he needed to send him across the finish line first and score the win with the fans on their feet. Colton Nelson had to settle for the runner up spot, Cody Thompson started twelfth and was third, Colby Fett came from tenth to finish fourth, and Muscatine, Iowa's Shane Paris started sixteenth, and completed the top five. McBirnie scored the "worst to first" victory, repeated his win from last week, and captured his seventh trip to the winner's circle this year.
Earlier, the IMCA SportMods ran a Cash Dash for $500. The top two finishers of the heats started three wide in the 12-lap shoot out. Johnathon Logue took home the cash.
Not to be out done, the IMCA Snap-on Tools Modifieds had it come right down to the wire in their 20-lap feature finish. Kyle Brown started on the outside front row, and grabbed the immediate lead. Brown continued his run at the front of the field with a healthy lead until a yellow flew at lap eighteen. This tightened up the field for the restart, just what second place runner Jimmy Gustin was wanting. Brown held the lead at lap nineteen, but saw it vanish coming out of corner four looking at the checkers. Gustin surged ahead, and took the win, Brown having to settle for second place. Joel Rust started thirteenth, and finished third, fourth went to Chris Mills, and pole sitter Ryan Jenkins from Omaha, Nebraska was fifth. Gustin, who has the track points wrapped up with a huge 109 point lead, started eleventh and scored his fourth feature win of the year.
Jay Schmidt took the IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Stock Car win, setting his ride on the top of the track and moving from eighth starting spot and into the lead on lap eight. He held it the rest of the way to the flying checkers and the win. Donavon Smith finished a close runner up, Jeff Mueller started tenth and finished third, fourth went to Carroll, Iowa's Joel Tigges, and Rod Richards rounded out the top five. This was Schmidt's second regular season win of the year, and he also won the Frostbuster special.
Some of you may have heard Jay Schmidt's emotional interview in victory lane last night. His win had special meaning. The recent loss of a close friend, pit crew member, and "little brother" to many in the racing family through suicide, has brought extra awareness to this terrible tragedy that happens in so many people's lives. On this night, he won the race on "little brother's" birthday....and no doubt had a co-pilot riding along side.
Josh VanCannon scored his first career win in the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stocks. VanCannon started on the pole and led all fifteen laps on his way to victory. Eric Knutson finished a distant second, Seth Butler was third, James Johnson from Cherokee, Iowa was fourth, and Matt McDonald was fifth. The VanCannon name is no stranger to the Boone Speedway as Freddie VanCannon raced at the speedway in days gone by, and though I am not certain of the connection with rookie Josh VanCannon, he is no doubt connected somehow.
There were 43 cars each in the Modified, Stock Car, and SportMod classes last night....what a field of cars with stellar drivers in all. The competition was top notch, with many of the best of the best in all of those classes. The fans got their money's worth.
This time of the year, the out of town, and out of state drivers are showing up in full force. Much of this is due to their home tracks having their season already in the books. Others make the trip to test the waters at other tracks and especially at Boone, for a little test and tune for the upcoming Super Nationals. Next week is season championship at Boone Speedway, and the top ten in points will be locked into each division's feature events with B qualifiers filling in the field. It's hard to believe the season is winding down what with the slow start to the season with all of the cold and rain....but here it is! Get out and find a race to attend before it all ends.
Terry Brown got the monkey off of his back when he finally crossed under the checkers first in the Mod Lite division, getting his first win of the year. Brown started fourth, and had the lead with a handful of laps in the books. He then kept that top spot the rest of the way to the checkers and the win. Mike Kennedy finished in the runner up position after starting eight on the grid. Joe Glick was third, fourth went to Joel Huggins, and Randy Bryan was fifth. Brown's last win at Boone came back in 2015.
The Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMod feature had the crowd on its feet when at the checkers, Jake McBirnie took the win. McBirnie was involved in an incident on the backstretch just after the initial green flag flew, finding himself partially on top of another car, and the race under the red flag. He was able to continue, but had to tag the field for the restart of the race.
Colton Nelson, the driver from Osceola, Iowa, held down the top spot as the race went green. He held back some hard chargers in Johnathon Logue, Cody Thompson, and Colby Fett, and as the race wore down to its final laps, it was Jake McBirnie entering into the picture. The final circuit of the race was three wide racing with Nelson, McBirnie, and Thompson coming to the checkers. McBirnie's momentum on the topside was just what he needed to send him across the finish line first and score the win with the fans on their feet. Colton Nelson had to settle for the runner up spot, Cody Thompson started twelfth and was third, Colby Fett came from tenth to finish fourth, and Muscatine, Iowa's Shane Paris started sixteenth, and completed the top five. McBirnie scored the "worst to first" victory, repeated his win from last week, and captured his seventh trip to the winner's circle this year.
Earlier, the IMCA SportMods ran a Cash Dash for $500. The top two finishers of the heats started three wide in the 12-lap shoot out. Johnathon Logue took home the cash.
Not to be out done, the IMCA Snap-on Tools Modifieds had it come right down to the wire in their 20-lap feature finish. Kyle Brown started on the outside front row, and grabbed the immediate lead. Brown continued his run at the front of the field with a healthy lead until a yellow flew at lap eighteen. This tightened up the field for the restart, just what second place runner Jimmy Gustin was wanting. Brown held the lead at lap nineteen, but saw it vanish coming out of corner four looking at the checkers. Gustin surged ahead, and took the win, Brown having to settle for second place. Joel Rust started thirteenth, and finished third, fourth went to Chris Mills, and pole sitter Ryan Jenkins from Omaha, Nebraska was fifth. Gustin, who has the track points wrapped up with a huge 109 point lead, started eleventh and scored his fourth feature win of the year.
Jay Schmidt took the IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Stock Car win, setting his ride on the top of the track and moving from eighth starting spot and into the lead on lap eight. He held it the rest of the way to the flying checkers and the win. Donavon Smith finished a close runner up, Jeff Mueller started tenth and finished third, fourth went to Carroll, Iowa's Joel Tigges, and Rod Richards rounded out the top five. This was Schmidt's second regular season win of the year, and he also won the Frostbuster special.
Some of you may have heard Jay Schmidt's emotional interview in victory lane last night. His win had special meaning. The recent loss of a close friend, pit crew member, and "little brother" to many in the racing family through suicide, has brought extra awareness to this terrible tragedy that happens in so many people's lives. On this night, he won the race on "little brother's" birthday....and no doubt had a co-pilot riding along side.
Josh VanCannon scored his first career win in the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stocks. VanCannon started on the pole and led all fifteen laps on his way to victory. Eric Knutson finished a distant second, Seth Butler was third, James Johnson from Cherokee, Iowa was fourth, and Matt McDonald was fifth. The VanCannon name is no stranger to the Boone Speedway as Freddie VanCannon raced at the speedway in days gone by, and though I am not certain of the connection with rookie Josh VanCannon, he is no doubt connected somehow.
There were 43 cars each in the Modified, Stock Car, and SportMod classes last night....what a field of cars with stellar drivers in all. The competition was top notch, with many of the best of the best in all of those classes. The fans got their money's worth.
This time of the year, the out of town, and out of state drivers are showing up in full force. Much of this is due to their home tracks having their season already in the books. Others make the trip to test the waters at other tracks and especially at Boone, for a little test and tune for the upcoming Super Nationals. Next week is season championship at Boone Speedway, and the top ten in points will be locked into each division's feature events with B qualifiers filling in the field. It's hard to believe the season is winding down what with the slow start to the season with all of the cold and rain....but here it is! Get out and find a race to attend before it all ends.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Logue logs SportMod win, Rust and Reynolds go back to back
The full moon was shining over the high banks of the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night and its effect was in full force with several incidents occurring. The IMCA Northern SportMods were shooting for the Speed Shift $1,000 pay day, and Johnathon Logue went home a grand richer when he took the checkers. Joel Rust in the IMCA Modifieds and Kaden Reynolds in the IMCA Hobby Stock division, matched their wins from last week. Damon Murty returned to victory lane in the IMCA Stock Car class, Randy Bryan took his first checkers of the year in the Mod Lites, and the XL600 Mod Lite visitors saw Russ Olson in the winner's circle.
Randy Bryan took his first win of the season in the Mod Lites. Bryan came from seventh starting spot and had the lead at lap two, never to relinquish it on his run to the checkers. Eighth place starter Joel Huggins chased the winner most of the race, but could only muster a runner up finish. It was a close finish for third and fourth with twelfth place starter Terry Brown holding off Tanner Gannon at the finish line. Charlie Brown completed the top five.
The race was red flagged on lap one, when Mike Morrill rolled his ride, landed on his wheels, fired it up, and tagged the field to finish ninth. That incident was just the first of several that happened on full moon night at the speedway.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks came to the track next for their 15-lap main event. The full moon effect continued when on lap two William Klosterman launched his #11K up and over turn four in a spectacular incident. Thankfully he was okay, and miraculously, no one was hurt in the pits or catwalks. After a lengthy delay for clean up, the race resumed with Scott Ellis leading the field back to green.
Kaden Reynolds was quickly making his way through the field from his tenth starting position and was pressuring Ellis at lap six. By the time lap seven was in the books, Reynolds had taken command. As the race wore down, Leah Wroten had caught the leader and was looking for a way around, but on this night, it wasn't to be as Reynolds kept a tight hold on that top spot and scored the win. Wroten had to be content with the runner up. Visiting racer Tyler Ollendieck from Tipoli made his trip worth while, and finished third from his twelfth place starting spot. Pole sitter Travis Merical finished fourth and Ben Newhouse was fifth. Reynolds won for the second week in a row and scored his third win of the season.
The headliners of the night, the IMCA Northern SportMods, were vying for a $1,000 to win. The race found Tony Olson and Johnathon Logue going at it at the front of the pack much of the twenty lap race, with Olson holding back Logue. Then at lap fifteen, the red flag flew again. This time, Dylan VanWyk ended up on his lid down between turns one and two, and he too, thankfully was not hurt.
With a handful of laps remaining, Olson kept the upper hand when the race returned to green, but had Logue and Jenae Gustin fighting tooth and nail for that coveted top spot. On lap seventeen, Olson drifted a bit high in turn four, which was all that Logue needed to slip under him and into that top spot. Logue held on to take the checkers and the win, Olson was second, and Jenae Gustin a close third. Cory VanZante finished in fourth place and Travis Peterson started fifteenth and rounded out the top five.
The visiting XL600 Micro Mods ran a 12-lap feature next, and at the end, it was Russ Olson visiting with announcer Jerry Vansickel in Victory Lane. Olson took the comfortable win over second place Chad Dugan, Donny Erger was third, Jeremy Schaufenbuel took fourth, and Will Bird was fifth.
Damon Murty scored his fourth IMCA Stock Car win. Murty started fifth, put it on the top shelf, and had the lead with just a handful of laps down. He held it the rest of the distance to take the checkers. Ninth place starter Todd Reitzler was a distant second, followed by Curt Hook in third, Steve Meyer started fourteenth and charged through the field to finish fourth, and Kyle Everts was fifth.
The night cap was 20-laps of IMCA Modified feature racing. Joel Rust wrestled the lead away from Garrett Wilson on lap four, and would go on to maintain that lead all the way to the flying checkers. Tim Ward challenged the leader in the early portion of the race, but at the finish line, trailed the leader and took a distant runner up spot. Ron Lauritzen threw his hat in the ring and duked it out with Ward in a good contest, but in the end had to be content with third. Thor Anderson and Ethan Braaksma were fourth and fifth. Rust, who started eight, repeated his win from last week, and his sixth over all at Marshalltown this season.
New drivers continue to travel to our local tracks. Last night, in the Modified class, Cody Schroeder, Wisconsin, Dustin Kroening, Illinois, and two Alberta, Canada racers, Trent Guest and Danny Meier came to play. Josh Most, the driver from Red Oak, Iowa, who will hop into any class of car, was piloting what was assumed to be Tommy Hensley's Modified as it was a look alike to his SportMod. In the Stock Car class, Derrick Agee made the haul up from Hunstville, Missouri to tackle the high banks and Eric Hamilton is racing around the area in the Stock Car class and is from Hanford, California.
It was noted that there were many top twelve IMCA National point drivers in the house last night as well. In the SportMod class, the current point leader Cody Thompson from Sioux City was on hand. Also in the top points are Chase Rudolf, Jake McBirnie, Hunter Longnecker, and Tony Olson. In the Modified class, Joel Rust is fourth in point standings, and Tim Ward is ninth. Jay Schmidt is shown as ninth in points in the Stock Car class, and Damon Murty is eleventh. The Hobby Stocks also have national point contenders in Leah Wroten in fifth, and Kaden Reynolds in eighth. These standing were all as of August 16. All those top notch drivers at a little track in the middle of Iowa on a Friday night.
Next Friday, August 23 is Larry Wollam Season Championship night already. The racing season is beginning to wind down! Get out and find a race to attend to support what we love....dirt track racing!
Randy Bryan took his first win of the season in the Mod Lites. Bryan came from seventh starting spot and had the lead at lap two, never to relinquish it on his run to the checkers. Eighth place starter Joel Huggins chased the winner most of the race, but could only muster a runner up finish. It was a close finish for third and fourth with twelfth place starter Terry Brown holding off Tanner Gannon at the finish line. Charlie Brown completed the top five.
The race was red flagged on lap one, when Mike Morrill rolled his ride, landed on his wheels, fired it up, and tagged the field to finish ninth. That incident was just the first of several that happened on full moon night at the speedway.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks came to the track next for their 15-lap main event. The full moon effect continued when on lap two William Klosterman launched his #11K up and over turn four in a spectacular incident. Thankfully he was okay, and miraculously, no one was hurt in the pits or catwalks. After a lengthy delay for clean up, the race resumed with Scott Ellis leading the field back to green.
Kaden Reynolds was quickly making his way through the field from his tenth starting position and was pressuring Ellis at lap six. By the time lap seven was in the books, Reynolds had taken command. As the race wore down, Leah Wroten had caught the leader and was looking for a way around, but on this night, it wasn't to be as Reynolds kept a tight hold on that top spot and scored the win. Wroten had to be content with the runner up. Visiting racer Tyler Ollendieck from Tipoli made his trip worth while, and finished third from his twelfth place starting spot. Pole sitter Travis Merical finished fourth and Ben Newhouse was fifth. Reynolds won for the second week in a row and scored his third win of the season.
The headliners of the night, the IMCA Northern SportMods, were vying for a $1,000 to win. The race found Tony Olson and Johnathon Logue going at it at the front of the pack much of the twenty lap race, with Olson holding back Logue. Then at lap fifteen, the red flag flew again. This time, Dylan VanWyk ended up on his lid down between turns one and two, and he too, thankfully was not hurt.
With a handful of laps remaining, Olson kept the upper hand when the race returned to green, but had Logue and Jenae Gustin fighting tooth and nail for that coveted top spot. On lap seventeen, Olson drifted a bit high in turn four, which was all that Logue needed to slip under him and into that top spot. Logue held on to take the checkers and the win, Olson was second, and Jenae Gustin a close third. Cory VanZante finished in fourth place and Travis Peterson started fifteenth and rounded out the top five.
The visiting XL600 Micro Mods ran a 12-lap feature next, and at the end, it was Russ Olson visiting with announcer Jerry Vansickel in Victory Lane. Olson took the comfortable win over second place Chad Dugan, Donny Erger was third, Jeremy Schaufenbuel took fourth, and Will Bird was fifth.
Damon Murty scored his fourth IMCA Stock Car win. Murty started fifth, put it on the top shelf, and had the lead with just a handful of laps down. He held it the rest of the distance to take the checkers. Ninth place starter Todd Reitzler was a distant second, followed by Curt Hook in third, Steve Meyer started fourteenth and charged through the field to finish fourth, and Kyle Everts was fifth.
The night cap was 20-laps of IMCA Modified feature racing. Joel Rust wrestled the lead away from Garrett Wilson on lap four, and would go on to maintain that lead all the way to the flying checkers. Tim Ward challenged the leader in the early portion of the race, but at the finish line, trailed the leader and took a distant runner up spot. Ron Lauritzen threw his hat in the ring and duked it out with Ward in a good contest, but in the end had to be content with third. Thor Anderson and Ethan Braaksma were fourth and fifth. Rust, who started eight, repeated his win from last week, and his sixth over all at Marshalltown this season.
New drivers continue to travel to our local tracks. Last night, in the Modified class, Cody Schroeder, Wisconsin, Dustin Kroening, Illinois, and two Alberta, Canada racers, Trent Guest and Danny Meier came to play. Josh Most, the driver from Red Oak, Iowa, who will hop into any class of car, was piloting what was assumed to be Tommy Hensley's Modified as it was a look alike to his SportMod. In the Stock Car class, Derrick Agee made the haul up from Hunstville, Missouri to tackle the high banks and Eric Hamilton is racing around the area in the Stock Car class and is from Hanford, California.
It was noted that there were many top twelve IMCA National point drivers in the house last night as well. In the SportMod class, the current point leader Cody Thompson from Sioux City was on hand. Also in the top points are Chase Rudolf, Jake McBirnie, Hunter Longnecker, and Tony Olson. In the Modified class, Joel Rust is fourth in point standings, and Tim Ward is ninth. Jay Schmidt is shown as ninth in points in the Stock Car class, and Damon Murty is eleventh. The Hobby Stocks also have national point contenders in Leah Wroten in fifth, and Kaden Reynolds in eighth. These standing were all as of August 16. All those top notch drivers at a little track in the middle of Iowa on a Friday night.
Next Friday, August 23 is Larry Wollam Season Championship night already. The racing season is beginning to wind down! Get out and find a race to attend to support what we love....dirt track racing!
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Ward is repeat Modified winner at Boone, Sport Compacts tune up for Super Nationals
The pits were packed with 172 cars Saturday on Elmquist Towing night at the Boone Speedway. Add to that the 14 Cruiser cars, which do not run for track points, and the count swelled to 186! They were however, competing for the coveted Tag Team trophy belts. The team of Donny Mason and Carl Agan continued their win streak, taking home the win and the belts.
The IMCA Sport Compacts ran on Saturday night for the first time this year, getting tuned up for their upcoming run at the 37th Annual Super Nationals. They ran a 15-lap feature that saw Kaytee DeVries lead the field to green. She kept her ride at the point until lap eight when Mitchell Bunch made the pass into the lead. He would then keep it there the remaining distance to the checkers and secured the win. DeVries held the runner up spot, Devin Jones, a former Super Nationals champion in the Sport Compact division, was third, Riley Paysen was fourth and Jay DeVries, husband of runner up Kaytee DeVries, completed the top five.
The My Race Pass Mod Lites came to the track next for their 15-laps of feature racing. An initial incident caused the start to be called back, but then the race went green to checkers with Jeff Stensand leading from start to finish to take the win. His son Travis Stensland chased his dad the full fifteen laps and finished in second place. Terry Brown took third, Mike Kennedy was fourth, and Bryan Zehm finished fifth. This was Jeff Stensland's third trip to victory lane at Boone this year. The Stensland's had a good weekend of racing, as son Travis had just won the previous night at the Marshalltown Speedway, and dad Jeff took second.
Jake McBirnie took advantage of a restart situation after a caution at lap seven in the Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods, and passed both leader Dusty Masolini and Johnathon Logue by the time lap eight was scored. He pulled away in the closing laps and scored the comfortable win. Johnathon Logue trailed the leader to score second place, third went to Cory Pestotnik, Doug Smith came from eleventh starting spot to finish fourth, and early leader Dusty Masolini was fifth. This was McBirnie's sixth feature win at the speedway in 2019.
The Elmquist Towing Dash for Cash for the IMCA Northern SportMods went to Bedford, Iowa racer Tommy Hensley. The eight drivers who finished fourth and fifth in the heats got the chance to run for the $100 pay off.
The Snap-on Tools IMCA Modifieds ran a 20-lap feature next. Austin Kuehl, the Cave Creek, Arizona racer who has been spending time this summer on the Iowa dirt tracks, grabbed the immediate lead from his outside front row starting spot. Kuehl had big time company chasing him with Jimmy Gustin, Jeremy Mills, and Tim Ward hot on his heels. Tim Ward decided that the topside looked good to him, and he set sail on the rim of the track. He made it pay off flying into the lead on lap thirteen....never to look back. He motored off to a comfortable win ahead of second place finisher Jimmy Gustin. Jeremy Mills was third, fourth went to Austin Kuehl, and Joel Rust rounded out the top five. Ward scored his second feature win of the year.
The Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Cars, the "Class too Tough to Tame", saw Tyler Pickett pick up his first feature win of the year. Pickett started fourth, grabbed the lead away from Jesse Smith at lap five, and held it to the flying checkers. Bryan Snell challenged the leader several times, but had to be content with the runner up position. Devin Smith took third place, Todd Reitzler started twelfth and finished fourth, and early leader Jesse Smith was fifth.
Another driver found his way to the winner's circle for the first time, when Ackley, Iowa's William Klosterman snagged his first win in the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lap A main. Klosterman led all the but the opening lap on his way to victory. Curt Reed took runner up honors, Shaun Wirtz, last week's winner was third, Eric Knutson was fourth and Aaron Rudolph came from tenth starting spot, to finish fifth.
Seven states were represented last night, with racers from Arizona, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, as well as Iowa. The Flying Hall Brothers were among those in attendance, tuning up for the Super Nationals.
Jeremy Mills, in his bright orange hot rod was running in the Modified class. Mills is stuck on 99 IMCA wins, and though he has been close several times, that record breaking number 100 keeps eluding him.
We had a short delay for a rain shower during the final Stock Car heat, maybe a 15 minute break while the John Deere's re-packed the track. From then on, it was non-stop racing....no more farming, no intermission, and no on track winner's interviews. Much appreciated by the fans.
The IMCA Sport Compacts ran on Saturday night for the first time this year, getting tuned up for their upcoming run at the 37th Annual Super Nationals. They ran a 15-lap feature that saw Kaytee DeVries lead the field to green. She kept her ride at the point until lap eight when Mitchell Bunch made the pass into the lead. He would then keep it there the remaining distance to the checkers and secured the win. DeVries held the runner up spot, Devin Jones, a former Super Nationals champion in the Sport Compact division, was third, Riley Paysen was fourth and Jay DeVries, husband of runner up Kaytee DeVries, completed the top five.
The My Race Pass Mod Lites came to the track next for their 15-laps of feature racing. An initial incident caused the start to be called back, but then the race went green to checkers with Jeff Stensand leading from start to finish to take the win. His son Travis Stensland chased his dad the full fifteen laps and finished in second place. Terry Brown took third, Mike Kennedy was fourth, and Bryan Zehm finished fifth. This was Jeff Stensland's third trip to victory lane at Boone this year. The Stensland's had a good weekend of racing, as son Travis had just won the previous night at the Marshalltown Speedway, and dad Jeff took second.
Jake McBirnie took advantage of a restart situation after a caution at lap seven in the Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods, and passed both leader Dusty Masolini and Johnathon Logue by the time lap eight was scored. He pulled away in the closing laps and scored the comfortable win. Johnathon Logue trailed the leader to score second place, third went to Cory Pestotnik, Doug Smith came from eleventh starting spot to finish fourth, and early leader Dusty Masolini was fifth. This was McBirnie's sixth feature win at the speedway in 2019.
The Elmquist Towing Dash for Cash for the IMCA Northern SportMods went to Bedford, Iowa racer Tommy Hensley. The eight drivers who finished fourth and fifth in the heats got the chance to run for the $100 pay off.
The Snap-on Tools IMCA Modifieds ran a 20-lap feature next. Austin Kuehl, the Cave Creek, Arizona racer who has been spending time this summer on the Iowa dirt tracks, grabbed the immediate lead from his outside front row starting spot. Kuehl had big time company chasing him with Jimmy Gustin, Jeremy Mills, and Tim Ward hot on his heels. Tim Ward decided that the topside looked good to him, and he set sail on the rim of the track. He made it pay off flying into the lead on lap thirteen....never to look back. He motored off to a comfortable win ahead of second place finisher Jimmy Gustin. Jeremy Mills was third, fourth went to Austin Kuehl, and Joel Rust rounded out the top five. Ward scored his second feature win of the year.
The Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Stock Cars, the "Class too Tough to Tame", saw Tyler Pickett pick up his first feature win of the year. Pickett started fourth, grabbed the lead away from Jesse Smith at lap five, and held it to the flying checkers. Bryan Snell challenged the leader several times, but had to be content with the runner up position. Devin Smith took third place, Todd Reitzler started twelfth and finished fourth, and early leader Jesse Smith was fifth.
Another driver found his way to the winner's circle for the first time, when Ackley, Iowa's William Klosterman snagged his first win in the Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stock 15-lap A main. Klosterman led all the but the opening lap on his way to victory. Curt Reed took runner up honors, Shaun Wirtz, last week's winner was third, Eric Knutson was fourth and Aaron Rudolph came from tenth starting spot, to finish fifth.
Seven states were represented last night, with racers from Arizona, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, as well as Iowa. The Flying Hall Brothers were among those in attendance, tuning up for the Super Nationals.
Jeremy Mills, in his bright orange hot rod was running in the Modified class. Mills is stuck on 99 IMCA wins, and though he has been close several times, that record breaking number 100 keeps eluding him.
We had a short delay for a rain shower during the final Stock Car heat, maybe a 15 minute break while the John Deere's re-packed the track. From then on, it was non-stop racing....no more farming, no intermission, and no on track winner's interviews. Much appreciated by the fans.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Bruening claims "Dirty 30" Late Model victory, checkers also to Rust, Schmidt, Olson, Reynolds and Stensland
The IMCA Late Models returned to the high banks of the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday evening for the running of the Kevin Sharp Shooter Miller Lite "Dirty 30". When the dust had settled and the final checkers flew, it was Tyler Bruening taking home the $1,500. Other winners on the night were Joel Rust, in the IMCA Modifieds, Jay Schmidt was the winner in the IMCA Stock Cars, Tony Olson won a hard fought battle to snag the IMCA Northern SportMod feature win, Kayden Reynolds went home the victor in the IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Travis Stensland out ran his father to capture the Mod Lite feature. It was also a bit of a throw back night too, as the former "voice of the Marshalltown Speedway", Denny Grabenbauer was the man behind the mic.
Feature racing kicked off with the 15-lap Mod Lite main event. Jeff Stensland quickly moved from his seventh starting position to snag the lead away from Charlie Brown, taking command on lap three. Travis Stensland then tagged on to his dad's bumper and the chase was on. The father/son duo ran in that order lap after lap, often side by side down the backstretch, until lap twelve when Travis Stensland made his persistence pay off, and took over the top spot. He held off his dad the final three laps to take the checkers, Jeff Stensland having to settle for the runner up spot. Mike Morrill came from tenth starting spot to finish in third, fourth went to Randy Bryan, and Joel Huggins rounded out the top five. This marked Travis Stensland first trip to victory lane at Marshalltown this season.
Kayden Reynolds put it in the winner's circle for the second time by winning the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Reynolds has had a string of bad luck this year, having his car damaged in incidents at the track, but it appears he is back at top form again. Reynolds came from eighth starting position and had the lead by lap two. Ninth place starter, Leah Wroten, the last two week's winner, followed the leader through the field to give Reynolds a run for his money, but had to be content with second place. Jamie Coady and Ray Fees went third and fourth respectively, and hard charger of the race was Jacob Floyd who had a top five finish after starting in fifteenth place.
It was an epic battle between cousins for much of the 18-lap IMCA Northern SportMod A main. Kyle Olson held the top spot with Tony Olson giving chase. The #T23 of Tony Olson made the pass to take over at lap six, with Austin Schrage joining in the battle for a top spot. As the laps wore down, Tony Olson continued to lead with Schrage settling into the number two spot, content to let Kyle Olson and Cory VanZante duke it out for third and fourth. When the checkers flew, it was Tony Olson claiming the win and Austin Schrage was the runner up. Travis Peterson made a last lap surge after a green-white-checkered to finish third in the dash to the finish line, with Cory VanZante taking fourth over Kyle Olson in fifth. Tony Olson scored his first win at the speedway for 2019.
It was another first time winner in the 2019 season with Jay Schmidt capturing the win in the "Class too Tough to Tame", the IMCA Stock Cars in a race that went green to checkered. Schmidt started sixth, and quickly caught then leader Jared Daggett. The two drivers then went to battle as Schmidt took peeks under the leader lap after lap, looking for a way around. Then just after lap fifteen had been scored, Schmidt made it work, making the pass in turn two to take over the top spot. He kept hold of that lead the rest of the way to the checkers and the win. Dave Atcher finished as the runner up, Steve Meyer came from tenth to finish third, Scott Rice and Todd Reitzler completed the top five. Daggett suffered mechanical issues in the final lap and dropped out. Schmidt said in his post race interview that he was ready to "load it up" after his heat race, but with the help of his crew and fellow racers, they got it race ready. Ya gotta love racing camaraderie!
Joel Rust took his ride from the eight starting spot and into the lead in just four laps. He never relinquished it the remaining distance to the checkers, taking the win in the IMCA Modified 20-lap main event. Hot shoe Todd Shute made a guest appearance at the track and finished as the runner up. Point leader Tim Ward came from tenth starting position, and finished third, Sam Wieben was fourth and D.J. Shannon from Merced, California rounded out the top five.
The featured event of the evening put a night cap on the racing with the running of the IMCA Late Model 30 lap Miller "Dirty 30". Darin Duffy, piloting the usual ride of Jeff Aikey, led the cars to the green flag. Tyler Bruening was soon on the hustle, moving his hot rod from eighth place to fall in behind leader Duffy.
At the halfway mark of the race, Bruening was leading, holding John Emerson at bay, then the two began swapping the top spot back and forth. Then the nemesis...in this case, a tire in turn one, got the best of John Emerson, and sent him for a tumble. The race was red flagged but thankfully Emerson was okay. When the race returned to green, Bruening was holding down the top spot which he held the final circuits to the checkers and the win. Hometown favorite, Darrel DeFrance finished in second place, Curtis Glover was third, fourth went to tenth place starter Jeremiah Hurst, the 2019 track champion, and Darin Duffy was fifth.
There were racers in attendance from across the country last night, with the states of Arizona, California, Missouri, and Wisconsin as well as Iowa, trying their hand at the High Banks. Out of state racers seem to flock to our state to test and tune, and with so many race tracks to choose from, we often get to see a diversified gathering of racers from parts beyond our borders.
Next Friday, August 16 will be a $1,000 to win for the IMCA Northern SportMods on Speed Shift TV Night. The XL600s have also been added to the show.
Get to a track and help support dirt track racing!
Feature racing kicked off with the 15-lap Mod Lite main event. Jeff Stensland quickly moved from his seventh starting position to snag the lead away from Charlie Brown, taking command on lap three. Travis Stensland then tagged on to his dad's bumper and the chase was on. The father/son duo ran in that order lap after lap, often side by side down the backstretch, until lap twelve when Travis Stensland made his persistence pay off, and took over the top spot. He held off his dad the final three laps to take the checkers, Jeff Stensland having to settle for the runner up spot. Mike Morrill came from tenth starting spot to finish in third, fourth went to Randy Bryan, and Joel Huggins rounded out the top five. This marked Travis Stensland first trip to victory lane at Marshalltown this season.
Kayden Reynolds put it in the winner's circle for the second time by winning the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Reynolds has had a string of bad luck this year, having his car damaged in incidents at the track, but it appears he is back at top form again. Reynolds came from eighth starting position and had the lead by lap two. Ninth place starter, Leah Wroten, the last two week's winner, followed the leader through the field to give Reynolds a run for his money, but had to be content with second place. Jamie Coady and Ray Fees went third and fourth respectively, and hard charger of the race was Jacob Floyd who had a top five finish after starting in fifteenth place.
It was an epic battle between cousins for much of the 18-lap IMCA Northern SportMod A main. Kyle Olson held the top spot with Tony Olson giving chase. The #T23 of Tony Olson made the pass to take over at lap six, with Austin Schrage joining in the battle for a top spot. As the laps wore down, Tony Olson continued to lead with Schrage settling into the number two spot, content to let Kyle Olson and Cory VanZante duke it out for third and fourth. When the checkers flew, it was Tony Olson claiming the win and Austin Schrage was the runner up. Travis Peterson made a last lap surge after a green-white-checkered to finish third in the dash to the finish line, with Cory VanZante taking fourth over Kyle Olson in fifth. Tony Olson scored his first win at the speedway for 2019.
It was another first time winner in the 2019 season with Jay Schmidt capturing the win in the "Class too Tough to Tame", the IMCA Stock Cars in a race that went green to checkered. Schmidt started sixth, and quickly caught then leader Jared Daggett. The two drivers then went to battle as Schmidt took peeks under the leader lap after lap, looking for a way around. Then just after lap fifteen had been scored, Schmidt made it work, making the pass in turn two to take over the top spot. He kept hold of that lead the rest of the way to the checkers and the win. Dave Atcher finished as the runner up, Steve Meyer came from tenth to finish third, Scott Rice and Todd Reitzler completed the top five. Daggett suffered mechanical issues in the final lap and dropped out. Schmidt said in his post race interview that he was ready to "load it up" after his heat race, but with the help of his crew and fellow racers, they got it race ready. Ya gotta love racing camaraderie!
Joel Rust took his ride from the eight starting spot and into the lead in just four laps. He never relinquished it the remaining distance to the checkers, taking the win in the IMCA Modified 20-lap main event. Hot shoe Todd Shute made a guest appearance at the track and finished as the runner up. Point leader Tim Ward came from tenth starting position, and finished third, Sam Wieben was fourth and D.J. Shannon from Merced, California rounded out the top five.
The featured event of the evening put a night cap on the racing with the running of the IMCA Late Model 30 lap Miller "Dirty 30". Darin Duffy, piloting the usual ride of Jeff Aikey, led the cars to the green flag. Tyler Bruening was soon on the hustle, moving his hot rod from eighth place to fall in behind leader Duffy.
At the halfway mark of the race, Bruening was leading, holding John Emerson at bay, then the two began swapping the top spot back and forth. Then the nemesis...in this case, a tire in turn one, got the best of John Emerson, and sent him for a tumble. The race was red flagged but thankfully Emerson was okay. When the race returned to green, Bruening was holding down the top spot which he held the final circuits to the checkers and the win. Hometown favorite, Darrel DeFrance finished in second place, Curtis Glover was third, fourth went to tenth place starter Jeremiah Hurst, the 2019 track champion, and Darin Duffy was fifth.
There were racers in attendance from across the country last night, with the states of Arizona, California, Missouri, and Wisconsin as well as Iowa, trying their hand at the High Banks. Out of state racers seem to flock to our state to test and tune, and with so many race tracks to choose from, we often get to see a diversified gathering of racers from parts beyond our borders.
Next Friday, August 16 will be a $1,000 to win for the IMCA Northern SportMods on Speed Shift TV Night. The XL600s have also been added to the show.
Get to a track and help support dirt track racing!
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Busy night at Boone Speedway on Super Saturday, TiLUBE Challenge and Watermelon Classic Night
It was a Super Saturday at the Boone Speedway for sure as there was a lot going on. Super Saturday found the IMCA Modifieds as the highlighted class of the evening, going for $1,000 to win their feature. They were also vying for a chance at the TiLUBE Challenge paying another $1,000 to the winner, plus a second chance race paying $500. The IMCA Northern SportMods had a chance at $750 for a lucky draw finishing position, and the IMCA Stock Cars were sponsored for a $400 pay day. As an added attraction, the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks were also in town. To top it off, all heat winners were awarded the infamous watermelon, on Watermelon Classic night that saw 160 cars pack the pits!
Feature racing started with the My Race Pass Mod Lite 15-lap A main. This one saw Bryan Zehm lead the entire distance to capture the win. Joel Huggins claimed the runner up position, third went to Randy Bryan, Mike Kennedy came from the tenth starting spot to finish fourth, and Terry Brown was fifth. This was Zehm's third win at the track this season.
The Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods came next for their 18-lap feature. Cory Pestotnik claimed the early lead but had it wrestled away by Johnathon Logue on lap thirteen. Logue held off the competition the rest of the way to the checkers and claimed the win. Cory Pestotnik finished second, followed by Jake McBirnie in third, Dusty Masolini in fourth, and Dustin Lynch rounded out the top five. Logue claimed his second feature win of the season at Boone, and was fresh off of a win the night before at Marshalltown. Dusty Masolini was the lucky recipient of the $750 mystery position.
The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks made their second appearance of the year with nine in competition. They ran a 20-lap A main that saw Myles Michehl lead from the drop of the green to the checkered flag. Bill Davis, Jr. closed in on the leader, took some peeks low, but could do no better than finish second. Jeff Frevert, Shawn Mapes, and Lou Sipolt completed the top five.
The IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Stock Cars saw Brandon Pruitt take advantage of his outside front row starting position, grabbing the lead immediately, and soon cars were going three and four wide in the corners. Pruitt was able to hold off some heavy competition, maintaining that top spot all the way to the flying checkers. David Smith started sixth, and chased the leader the entire race, but had to be content with the runner up spot. Third went to seventh place starter Jeff Mueller, longtime racer Robert Stofer, "the living legend", was fourth, and Bryan Snell drove his hot rod from twelfth starting spot, to finish fifth.
The Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stocks ran 15-laps and it was Shaun Wirtz standing in victory lane at the conclusion. Wirtz caught early leader, Bryant Johnson from Graettinger, Iowa, by setting sail on the top of the track, taking over the number one spot with five laps down. A yellow flew at lap twelve that halted action for some time when Daniel Smith and Miciah Hidlebaugh collided at the bottom of turns three and four, causing a fuel spill that had to be burned off, producing a big old bonfire! Then just one lap later, the race was red flagged when rookie driver Braden Richards, son of veteran racer Rod Richards, took a scary ride, ending up in the catch fence just past the flagstand. He was okay, as was flagman Wes White, who had to make a hasty retreat off of his flagging perch. When the race resumed, Wirtz was able to maintain his lead the final circuits to take the flying checkers and the win. Bryant Johnson held second place, third was Cherokee, Iowa's James Johnson, and Eric Knutson held off Matt McDonald as they went fourth and fifth respectively. Wirtz bounced back after rolling his car last Saturday night, and claimed his second trip to the winner's circle this year.
The Snap-on Tools IMCA Modifieds took center stage with three main events on tap. They ran their usual 20-lap feature which paid $1,000 on Super Saturday. Cody Laney, Torrance, California driver who likes to spend time back in our neck of the woods during the summer, would collect the money in this feature, leading all laps and winning going away. Another Californian, Ethan Dotson takes a liking to Iowa in the summer as well, and drove his ride from sixth starting spot to finish second. Thor Anderson ran at the front of the field all race, and finished third, fourth went to Randy Havlik, and Jeff Aikey finished fifth. This marked Laney's first win at the track for 2019.
Earlier, all Modified drivers ran time trials, with the top twelve qualifying for the TiLUBE $1,000 to win feature. Cody Laney had quick time over all. The next twelve in times went to a 2nd Chance Showdown. The 2nd Chance race was 15-laps and went to Richie Gustin. Gustin overtook early leader Cory Wray and never relinquished the lead on his way to the $500 check. Wray held the runner up spot, Kelly Shryock, Cody Bauman, and Tony Cox completed the top five.
It was a 3-wide start for the 15-lap TiLUBE Challenge. Ricky Thornton, Jr. took command on lap three, and never gave it up. Tim Ward came from fifth, to finish as the runner up, Cody Laney started on the pole and finished third, Thor Anderson started tenth, and finished fourth, and Jon Snyder took fifth, from starting eleventh. Thornton took the $1,000 and an impressive trophy for the showcase.
It was a full house in the pits and a big crowd in the grandstands last evening. The extra pay, the fact that some tracks were not running last night, and the opportunity to get some laps in before the upcoming Super Nationals brought out the drivers! Nine states were represented in the Modified class alone with drivers from Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, California, Nevada, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota as well as Iowa. Forty-three Modifieds were in the house, thirty-seven Stock Cars, twenty-nine Northern SportMods, and thirty Hobby Stocks. It was also a beautiful night to be at the races weather wise, and despite it being a late night, races ending just a tick before midnight, few people headed out early.
Racing season is winding down. Get out and find a race to attend, and support the sport we all love....dirt track racing.
Feature racing started with the My Race Pass Mod Lite 15-lap A main. This one saw Bryan Zehm lead the entire distance to capture the win. Joel Huggins claimed the runner up position, third went to Randy Bryan, Mike Kennedy came from the tenth starting spot to finish fourth, and Terry Brown was fifth. This was Zehm's third win at the track this season.
The Elmquist Towing IMCA Northern SportMods came next for their 18-lap feature. Cory Pestotnik claimed the early lead but had it wrestled away by Johnathon Logue on lap thirteen. Logue held off the competition the rest of the way to the checkers and claimed the win. Cory Pestotnik finished second, followed by Jake McBirnie in third, Dusty Masolini in fourth, and Dustin Lynch rounded out the top five. Logue claimed his second feature win of the season at Boone, and was fresh off of a win the night before at Marshalltown. Dusty Masolini was the lucky recipient of the $750 mystery position.
The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks made their second appearance of the year with nine in competition. They ran a 20-lap A main that saw Myles Michehl lead from the drop of the green to the checkered flag. Bill Davis, Jr. closed in on the leader, took some peeks low, but could do no better than finish second. Jeff Frevert, Shawn Mapes, and Lou Sipolt completed the top five.
The IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Stock Cars saw Brandon Pruitt take advantage of his outside front row starting position, grabbing the lead immediately, and soon cars were going three and four wide in the corners. Pruitt was able to hold off some heavy competition, maintaining that top spot all the way to the flying checkers. David Smith started sixth, and chased the leader the entire race, but had to be content with the runner up spot. Third went to seventh place starter Jeff Mueller, longtime racer Robert Stofer, "the living legend", was fourth, and Bryan Snell drove his hot rod from twelfth starting spot, to finish fifth.
The Pickett Salvage IMCA Hobby Stocks ran 15-laps and it was Shaun Wirtz standing in victory lane at the conclusion. Wirtz caught early leader, Bryant Johnson from Graettinger, Iowa, by setting sail on the top of the track, taking over the number one spot with five laps down. A yellow flew at lap twelve that halted action for some time when Daniel Smith and Miciah Hidlebaugh collided at the bottom of turns three and four, causing a fuel spill that had to be burned off, producing a big old bonfire! Then just one lap later, the race was red flagged when rookie driver Braden Richards, son of veteran racer Rod Richards, took a scary ride, ending up in the catch fence just past the flagstand. He was okay, as was flagman Wes White, who had to make a hasty retreat off of his flagging perch. When the race resumed, Wirtz was able to maintain his lead the final circuits to take the flying checkers and the win. Bryant Johnson held second place, third was Cherokee, Iowa's James Johnson, and Eric Knutson held off Matt McDonald as they went fourth and fifth respectively. Wirtz bounced back after rolling his car last Saturday night, and claimed his second trip to the winner's circle this year.
The Snap-on Tools IMCA Modifieds took center stage with three main events on tap. They ran their usual 20-lap feature which paid $1,000 on Super Saturday. Cody Laney, Torrance, California driver who likes to spend time back in our neck of the woods during the summer, would collect the money in this feature, leading all laps and winning going away. Another Californian, Ethan Dotson takes a liking to Iowa in the summer as well, and drove his ride from sixth starting spot to finish second. Thor Anderson ran at the front of the field all race, and finished third, fourth went to Randy Havlik, and Jeff Aikey finished fifth. This marked Laney's first win at the track for 2019.
Earlier, all Modified drivers ran time trials, with the top twelve qualifying for the TiLUBE $1,000 to win feature. Cody Laney had quick time over all. The next twelve in times went to a 2nd Chance Showdown. The 2nd Chance race was 15-laps and went to Richie Gustin. Gustin overtook early leader Cory Wray and never relinquished the lead on his way to the $500 check. Wray held the runner up spot, Kelly Shryock, Cody Bauman, and Tony Cox completed the top five.
It was a 3-wide start for the 15-lap TiLUBE Challenge. Ricky Thornton, Jr. took command on lap three, and never gave it up. Tim Ward came from fifth, to finish as the runner up, Cody Laney started on the pole and finished third, Thor Anderson started tenth, and finished fourth, and Jon Snyder took fifth, from starting eleventh. Thornton took the $1,000 and an impressive trophy for the showcase.
It was a full house in the pits and a big crowd in the grandstands last evening. The extra pay, the fact that some tracks were not running last night, and the opportunity to get some laps in before the upcoming Super Nationals brought out the drivers! Nine states were represented in the Modified class alone with drivers from Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, California, Nevada, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota as well as Iowa. Forty-three Modifieds were in the house, thirty-seven Stock Cars, twenty-nine Northern SportMods, and thirty Hobby Stocks. It was also a beautiful night to be at the races weather wise, and despite it being a late night, races ending just a tick before midnight, few people headed out early.
Racing season is winding down. Get out and find a race to attend, and support the sport we all love....dirt track racing.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Lauritzen wins Modified night cap in a thriller!
The Marshalltown Speedway produced its usual great night of racing Friday, and if anyone left before the final race of the evening, they missed a jim-dandy! That Modified night cap of the evening came right down to the wire.
Feature racing kicked off with the Mod Lites and their 15-lap main event. Joel Huggins quickly worked his way to the front to lead early, but Joe Glick and Mike Morrill were hot on his heels. Morrill took to the topside and passed both Huggins and Glick with just a lap remaining and then sailed home to the checkers and the win. Glick took the runner up spot after starting eighth, Huggins came from ninth to finish third, and Jeff Stensland and Randy Bryan rounded out the top five. This was Morrill's fifth win at the speedway in 2019.
Leah Wroten repeated her win from last week in the IMCA Hobby Stocks. She nabbed the lead from Gary Pfantz after the two battled it out lap after lap. Wroten finally took command at lap 12 of the the 15-lap event and snagged herself the win. Pfantz was second, Bill Klosterman finished third, Jeremiah Andrews was fourth, and Jacob Floyd took fifth. Wroten, who started tenth on the starting grid, won for the fourth time this season.
The IMCA Northern SportMods saw several lead changes. It started with Jason Hall who took the point position as the race went green. Austin Schrage got in the hunt early on and tucked in to run in the second position until a dozen laps were in the books. That's when Schrage took over the top spot, with visions of his first win in his head. Meanwhile, Johnathon Logue had moved his new Rage hot rod from twelfth up to third....and wasn't done yet. A yellow at lap thirteen bunched the field. On the restart Logue made the pass into the runner up spot, and then with two laps remaining, snatched the lead on the backstretch. He would hold that top spot the final two laps to the flying checkers and his first win at the speedway this year. Tyler Soppe made the closing laps work for him, taking the runner up spot after starting eleventh. Schrage held the third spot, Travis Peterson was fourth, and last week's winner, Jenae Gustin was hard charger, coming from fifteenth, to finish fifth.
Damon Murty loves the topside of the high banks at Marshalltown, and after just a handful of laps, he was in command and gone, winning the 18-lap IMCA Stock Car feature for the second week in a row. He finished comfortably over Justin Temeyer who was piloting Shawn Ritter's ride for the night, and came from ninth starting spot, to take the runner up position. Steve Meyer sent his hot rod from thirteenth position to third, fourth went to Scott Rice, and pole sitter Mike Petersen from Montezuma, Iowa, rounded out the top five. This was Murty's third appearance in victory lane for the year.
The night cap was a thriller, as the final laps of the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature was up for grabs between three drivers. Point leader Tim Ward hustled his powerhouse from tenth starting spot and into the lead by lap seven, only to have Joel Rust and Ronn Laurtizen tag in behind. The rest of the race was a tight one! Rust got the upper hand with six laps left but it was still anyone's race between Rust, Lauritzen, and Ward as the final laps wound down. The enthusiastic crowd was on its feet those final circuits. Lauritzen gained the lead on lap eighteen, only to have Rust regain it on the white flag lap....but the race to the checkers found Lauritzen surging ahead to cross the finish line first. Rust was the runner up followed closely by Tim Ward in third. Cody Laney was fourth, and Ethan Dotson came from twelfth to finish fifth. This was Lauritzen's first feature win of the year.
The IMCA Late Models are done with their regular season, but they return next Friday night for the Miller 50 with the wide bodies taking to the high banks for 50 laps.
As this racing season begins to wind down...seems like it just got started...seek out a race to attend and support the sport we all love. It will be over before we know it.
Feature racing kicked off with the Mod Lites and their 15-lap main event. Joel Huggins quickly worked his way to the front to lead early, but Joe Glick and Mike Morrill were hot on his heels. Morrill took to the topside and passed both Huggins and Glick with just a lap remaining and then sailed home to the checkers and the win. Glick took the runner up spot after starting eighth, Huggins came from ninth to finish third, and Jeff Stensland and Randy Bryan rounded out the top five. This was Morrill's fifth win at the speedway in 2019.
Leah Wroten repeated her win from last week in the IMCA Hobby Stocks. She nabbed the lead from Gary Pfantz after the two battled it out lap after lap. Wroten finally took command at lap 12 of the the 15-lap event and snagged herself the win. Pfantz was second, Bill Klosterman finished third, Jeremiah Andrews was fourth, and Jacob Floyd took fifth. Wroten, who started tenth on the starting grid, won for the fourth time this season.
The IMCA Northern SportMods saw several lead changes. It started with Jason Hall who took the point position as the race went green. Austin Schrage got in the hunt early on and tucked in to run in the second position until a dozen laps were in the books. That's when Schrage took over the top spot, with visions of his first win in his head. Meanwhile, Johnathon Logue had moved his new Rage hot rod from twelfth up to third....and wasn't done yet. A yellow at lap thirteen bunched the field. On the restart Logue made the pass into the runner up spot, and then with two laps remaining, snatched the lead on the backstretch. He would hold that top spot the final two laps to the flying checkers and his first win at the speedway this year. Tyler Soppe made the closing laps work for him, taking the runner up spot after starting eleventh. Schrage held the third spot, Travis Peterson was fourth, and last week's winner, Jenae Gustin was hard charger, coming from fifteenth, to finish fifth.
Damon Murty loves the topside of the high banks at Marshalltown, and after just a handful of laps, he was in command and gone, winning the 18-lap IMCA Stock Car feature for the second week in a row. He finished comfortably over Justin Temeyer who was piloting Shawn Ritter's ride for the night, and came from ninth starting spot, to take the runner up position. Steve Meyer sent his hot rod from thirteenth position to third, fourth went to Scott Rice, and pole sitter Mike Petersen from Montezuma, Iowa, rounded out the top five. This was Murty's third appearance in victory lane for the year.
The night cap was a thriller, as the final laps of the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature was up for grabs between three drivers. Point leader Tim Ward hustled his powerhouse from tenth starting spot and into the lead by lap seven, only to have Joel Rust and Ronn Laurtizen tag in behind. The rest of the race was a tight one! Rust got the upper hand with six laps left but it was still anyone's race between Rust, Lauritzen, and Ward as the final laps wound down. The enthusiastic crowd was on its feet those final circuits. Lauritzen gained the lead on lap eighteen, only to have Rust regain it on the white flag lap....but the race to the checkers found Lauritzen surging ahead to cross the finish line first. Rust was the runner up followed closely by Tim Ward in third. Cody Laney was fourth, and Ethan Dotson came from twelfth to finish fifth. This was Lauritzen's first feature win of the year.
The IMCA Late Models are done with their regular season, but they return next Friday night for the Miller 50 with the wide bodies taking to the high banks for 50 laps.
As this racing season begins to wind down...seems like it just got started...seek out a race to attend and support the sport we all love. It will be over before we know it.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Track Champions crowned at Southern Iowa Speedway
The Southern Iowa Speedway closed out its regular season on Wednesday night with the crowning of track champions. It was an evening that also saw the non-wing sprints dwindle due to attrition during their heat race.
There were driver introductions on the frontstretch prior to the running of the championship features, allowing both the drivers and fans to show their appreciation to each.
The Sport Compacts ran their caution free feature first with Brandon Allison leading the pack for the first seven laps, with Trent Orwig giving chase. Orwig shot under Allison and took the lead on lap eight and then raced home to the checkers and the win. Allison appeared to experience mechanical issues on the white flag lap and was out of the race, allowing Billy Cain to take the runner up spot. Nathan Moody, James Haring, and Lewie Winkleman completed the top five. Orwig had a fabulous season at the big old half-mile this year, winning six times to take the track title.
The Hobby Stocks followed up with another flag to flag contest, running all fourteen laps without a yellow flag. Five cars ran much of the race nose to tail at the front of the field, with Dustin Griffiths leading the charge. Griffiths got around early leader Christian Huffman and would then hold off the pack to capture the win. Huffman was second, holding off Mike Hughes knocking on his door in third, followed closely by Scott Shull in fourth, and Clint Nelson in fifth. Griffiths also had six wins this year on his way to another track title. He has not only gone back to back with the track championship, but a look back over my records, shows he has won six crowns out of the past eight years.
The SportMods had a nice field of sixteen cars in the house last night. Blaine Webster led the race in the first portion of the sixteen lap event, but Dylan VanWyk wrestled the lead away before the halfway mark. Brayton Carter had moved his way from seventh starting spot to catch the leader, and after a side by side battle, Carter took command, leading when lap ten was scored. From there on, he pulled away to take the comfortable win. VanWyk held the runner up spot, Blaine Webster was third, Tyler Inman and Colton Livezey completed the top five. "Speedy Bray" Carter scored his third trip to victory lane this season, and Blaine Webster, with one win, took the track crown, proving just how important consistency is week in and week out.
The Non-Wing Sprints had more than their share of trouble last evening as during their heat race, the race was halted three times, two for roll overs. There were nine drivers checked in last night, and all nine began the heat. That heat was called complete after the third incident. Doug Sylvester was up on the frontstretch wall as the heat began, then the 71C of Dillan Alexander went for a tumble, and then Garrett Alexander was in a spectacular incident when he hopped the wheel of Andy Simms as they raced to corner one....sending Alexander for a scary ride, pieces flying. Only two cars were running after the third incident, and Mike Mayberry was declared the winner of the heat. Thankfully everyone was okay. It was also announced that driver Chuck Graves, who was injured earlier in the season, was in the house last night watching.
The Non-Wing Sprints only had four cars pull onto the track for their feature....Mike Mayberry, Doug Sylvester, Jason Pardock, and Lance Silvers. Mike Mayberry would take his first feature at the Monster Half-Mile, leading the entire race. Sylvester was second, Pardock third, and Silvers was fourth, but did not finish.
The night and the season was closed out with sixteen laps of Stock Car racing. Derrick Agee, the driver who made the trek up from Missouri each and every Wednesday night, would lead this one from start to finish. Nathan Wood would chase him the entire distance to finish second. The race was for third on the track as Donovan Nunnikhoven and Cayden Carter went at it. The two swapped position several times, with Nunnikhoven claiming third at the checkers, Carter taking fourth. Scott Dickey rounded out the top five. Nathan Wood again proved just how important consistency is, and though having no wins at the track this year, took home the track championship, repeating from last year...and the year before. Woods has been the champion for the past three consecutive years.
Congratulations to all the winners last night and the track champions. The track suffered through numerous weather outs this past year, and the last two races held were added to the schedule giving the drivers and fans some extra race fixes.
Mark your calendars for the final track nights at the Southern Iowa Speedway coming up on September 20 and 21 for the Annual Musco Lighting Fall Challenge. Don't forget for you Sprint Car enthusiasts, the Front Row Challenge and the Ultimate Challenge are on August 6 and 7. Tony Stewart will be in the house as will Kyle Larson.
There were driver introductions on the frontstretch prior to the running of the championship features, allowing both the drivers and fans to show their appreciation to each.
The Sport Compacts ran their caution free feature first with Brandon Allison leading the pack for the first seven laps, with Trent Orwig giving chase. Orwig shot under Allison and took the lead on lap eight and then raced home to the checkers and the win. Allison appeared to experience mechanical issues on the white flag lap and was out of the race, allowing Billy Cain to take the runner up spot. Nathan Moody, James Haring, and Lewie Winkleman completed the top five. Orwig had a fabulous season at the big old half-mile this year, winning six times to take the track title.
The Hobby Stocks followed up with another flag to flag contest, running all fourteen laps without a yellow flag. Five cars ran much of the race nose to tail at the front of the field, with Dustin Griffiths leading the charge. Griffiths got around early leader Christian Huffman and would then hold off the pack to capture the win. Huffman was second, holding off Mike Hughes knocking on his door in third, followed closely by Scott Shull in fourth, and Clint Nelson in fifth. Griffiths also had six wins this year on his way to another track title. He has not only gone back to back with the track championship, but a look back over my records, shows he has won six crowns out of the past eight years.
The SportMods had a nice field of sixteen cars in the house last night. Blaine Webster led the race in the first portion of the sixteen lap event, but Dylan VanWyk wrestled the lead away before the halfway mark. Brayton Carter had moved his way from seventh starting spot to catch the leader, and after a side by side battle, Carter took command, leading when lap ten was scored. From there on, he pulled away to take the comfortable win. VanWyk held the runner up spot, Blaine Webster was third, Tyler Inman and Colton Livezey completed the top five. "Speedy Bray" Carter scored his third trip to victory lane this season, and Blaine Webster, with one win, took the track crown, proving just how important consistency is week in and week out.
The Non-Wing Sprints had more than their share of trouble last evening as during their heat race, the race was halted three times, two for roll overs. There were nine drivers checked in last night, and all nine began the heat. That heat was called complete after the third incident. Doug Sylvester was up on the frontstretch wall as the heat began, then the 71C of Dillan Alexander went for a tumble, and then Garrett Alexander was in a spectacular incident when he hopped the wheel of Andy Simms as they raced to corner one....sending Alexander for a scary ride, pieces flying. Only two cars were running after the third incident, and Mike Mayberry was declared the winner of the heat. Thankfully everyone was okay. It was also announced that driver Chuck Graves, who was injured earlier in the season, was in the house last night watching.
The Non-Wing Sprints only had four cars pull onto the track for their feature....Mike Mayberry, Doug Sylvester, Jason Pardock, and Lance Silvers. Mike Mayberry would take his first feature at the Monster Half-Mile, leading the entire race. Sylvester was second, Pardock third, and Silvers was fourth, but did not finish.
The night and the season was closed out with sixteen laps of Stock Car racing. Derrick Agee, the driver who made the trek up from Missouri each and every Wednesday night, would lead this one from start to finish. Nathan Wood would chase him the entire distance to finish second. The race was for third on the track as Donovan Nunnikhoven and Cayden Carter went at it. The two swapped position several times, with Nunnikhoven claiming third at the checkers, Carter taking fourth. Scott Dickey rounded out the top five. Nathan Wood again proved just how important consistency is, and though having no wins at the track this year, took home the track championship, repeating from last year...and the year before. Woods has been the champion for the past three consecutive years.
Congratulations to all the winners last night and the track champions. The track suffered through numerous weather outs this past year, and the last two races held were added to the schedule giving the drivers and fans some extra race fixes.
Mark your calendars for the final track nights at the Southern Iowa Speedway coming up on September 20 and 21 for the Annual Musco Lighting Fall Challenge. Don't forget for you Sprint Car enthusiasts, the Front Row Challenge and the Ultimate Challenge are on August 6 and 7. Tony Stewart will be in the house as will Kyle Larson.
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