Saturday, August 31, 2019

Showdown at MoTown lived up to its name

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! 

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