Grabo grabs World Nationals title at Marshalltown Speedway.

Night #2 of the 13th Annual World Nationals is in the books at the Marshalltown Speedway. The Saturday night show drew to a close the racing action for 2019 at the speedway. It was another chilly night but the racing was worth bucking the cold to end the racing season.

Jordan Grabouski, the Beatrice, Nebraska racer who was just awarded the 2019 IMCA Modified National title, AND the Stock Car National title as well, took home another elite honor, capturing the $10,000 to win World Nationals in the Modified division.  Damon Murty did what he is known for at the High Banks, and captured the IMCA Stock Car feature.  Sioux City, Iowa's Cody Thompson went home the title winner in the IMCA Northern SportMod main event, and Kaden Reynolds repeated his win from the previous night in the IMCA Hobby Stocks. 

Kyle Olson and Cody Thompson waged a spirited battle for the lead in the opening laps of the 20-lap feature for the IMCA Northern SportMods. Thompson wrestled away the top spot at five laps down and from there on would never relinquish it the remaining distance to the checkers and the win.  Kyle Olson finished as the runner up, Brandon Schmitt took third place, fourth went to Tony Olson, and Austin Kaplan was fifth.  A couple of hard chargers came next as Johnathon Logue started nineteenth and took sixth, just getting around Austin Schrage who came from thirteenth starting spot, to finish seventh.  Thompson set his ride on the high side and mastered the top shelf.  Thompson went home with $1,000 in his pocket for the victory. Thompson, the hot shoe out of Sioux City, Iowa fell just four points shy to Tyler Soppe...who was also in the house....for the IMCA National title in the Northern SportMod division this year.  

The IMCA Hobby Stocks came next with their 20-lap feature.  It was appearing as if Eric Stanton was going to have the feature well in hand as he pulled away from the field.  However, a slip of the right rear off of turns three and four with just four laps remaining allowed Kaden Reynolds to shoot to the lead.  Stanton's woes were not over yet, as he slipped off of turn three a lap later, ending his run. Reynolds would then motor home to the win untouched.  Jason Fusselman started eighth and came home as the runner up, Miciah Hidlebaugh finished third, Kansas driver Cody Williams was fourth, and Cedar Falls, Iowa's Austin Mehman came from twentieth starting spot, to finish fifth.  Reynolds, a rookie in the Hobby Stock division, claimed victory for the second time in as many nights and another $500 in his pocket.  

No stranger to victory lane at Marshalltown, Damon Murty did what Damon Murty does at the High Banks....took the win in the IMCA Stock Cars. Murty claimed the rim of the track once again as his own and motored home to victory.  Murty started fifth and snatched the lead out of turn four with nine laps to go in the 20-lap main event.  He passed visiting Wisconsin racer Josh Mroczkowski to take command, and then pulled away to take the comfortable win and a $1,000 pay day. Ocheyedan, Iowa's Elijah Zevenbergen finished in third place, fourth went to Wisconsin's Jeremy Christians, and Todd Reitzler in his rent a ride from Shawn Ritter, took fifth.  Hard charger of the race was sixth place finisher Jeff Mueller who started twenty-third.

The IMCA Modifieds completed their qualifying through last chance heats...the top two advancing to the A main.  A final four feature...those finishing third through fifth in their last chance heats... ran for the last four spots to fill in the starting line up for the big dance. 

Fifty laps lay ahead for the $10,000 to win Modified feature with Jordan Grabouski and last year's winner, Richie Gustin sitting on the front row.  Grabouski grabbed the immediate lead and was still leading when the race was red flagged at 20 laps down for a scary incident in turn three.  Jeff "Bone" Larson, the racer out of Freeport, Illinois launched over turn three and hit a concrete barrier.  He was alert and talking and exited the car on his own.  He was however transported as a precautionary move, and later released.  

After the lengthy delay, the race resumed with Grabouski leading the field to green.  Joel Rust got by Jeff Aikey and was running second when the next lap was scored, now setting his sights on over taking the leader.  It wasn't to be on this night however, as Grabo would hold tight to his lead and flash under the checkers first for the win.  Rust followed him across to take the runner up position.  Richie Gustin was hoping for a repeat of his victory last year, but had to settle for a third place finish.  Cayden Carter started thirteenth, and took fourth after having his car come out from under him in turn four while running second, and skillfully regaining the handle.  Jeff Aikey was fourth, and Benji LaCrosse out of Green Bay, Wisconsin came from eighteenth starting spot, to finish sixth.

It's always great to see all of the drivers that show up to run at the Marshalltown Speedway and especially at this late season race.  Drivers from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, and Pennsylvania came to join in some late fall racing with the Iowans.

Racing began at 5 p.m. (good choice) and was wrapped up at 9:19 p.m. even with the approximate 30 minute red flag delay. We always appreciate a show that moves along quickly and efficiently. Transponders were in use for the two-night special, and it is our understanding, they will be implemented weekly next season.  Look for the 2020 schedule to be released soon. 

We enjoyed getting to chat and share the racing with racing family, which always make it more enjoyable.  Have a safe off season, and we'll see you next year.  

  

Grabouski, VanWyk and Reynolds night #1 winners at a chilly World Nationals

The Marshalltown Speedway sprang back to race track action on Friday night, opening its doors to the first of two consecutive nights of late October racing.  It was night #1 of the 13th annual World Nationals.  One hundred forty-eight race cars, that held a who's who of racing, checked in for some chilly fall fun on the High Banks. 

The first of the World Nationals champions were crowned in three divisions, with the titles going to Jordan Grabouski in the IMCA Stock Cars, Dylan VanWyk took the honors in the IMCA Northern SportMod class, and Kaden Reynolds won the IMCA Hobby Stocks.  

Kaden Reynolds took the win in the IMCA Hobby Stocks.  Reynolds started on the pole and looked to have the race in the bag until IMCA Super Nationals champion Dylan Nelson chased him down and took command at lap eleven.  Nelson's luck ran out when he had to exit the track with mechanical issues with just three laps remaining, handing the lead back to Reynolds.  Reynolds would go on to take the checkers and the win.  Solomon Bennett raced from ninth starting spot to take the runner up position.  Third went to Miciah Hidlebaugh, Jason Fusselman started eleventh and finished fourth, and Wayne Gifford jumped from his usual Stock Car ride into the Hobby Stock division, to round out the top five. 

The IMCA Northern SportMod 20-lap feature was led from start to finish by Oskaloosa, Iowa's Dylan VanWyk. Cody Thompson, the talented racer out of Sioux City who just fell short of the national title in 2019, raced all the way from nineteenth starting spot, to finish second.   Third went to another young hot shoe who had a great season, "Speedy" Bray Carter.  Austin Kaplan finished fourth, and Tyer Inman completed the top five.  

The IMCA Stock Cars ran 20-laps for the feature event.  It was an exciting fight to the finish with Jordan Grabouski, the 2019 IMCA National Stock Car Champion, just beating out local favorite Damon Murty at the finish line. The two talented drivers put on a show for the fans in the closing laps, Murty getting the upper hand until Grabo powered to the lead as they approached the checkered flag.  Third place went to Jimmy Gustin, Todd Reitzler, piloting a Shawn Ritter ride with the #56T on the side, was fourth, and Benji LaCrosse took fifth.  

There were forty-seven IMCA Modifieds in the house as they began their qualifying for the big $10,000 to win show tonight. After two rounds of heat races, the top ten in points through winning their heat plus passing points, are locked in to the championship feature.  Those ten drivers are: Jordan Grabouski, Richie Gustin, (last year's winner) Joel Rust, Jeff Aikey, Jimmy Gustin, Brandon Beckendorf, Kyle Brown, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Ronn Lauritzen, and Michael Long. Modified qualifying continues tonight.

There were four drivers that pulled double duty last night, racing in both the IMCA Modified and IMCA Stock Car classes.  Those were Jordan Grabouski, Benji LaCrosse, Jimmy Gustin, and the driver out of Columbia Cross Roads, Pennsylvania, Brad Smith.  Ironically, Pennsylvania does not have IMCA Stock Cars sanctioned anywhere in the state.  

Complete shows will be held tonight, October 26, for the IMCA Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks.  After the Modifieds complete their qualifying it will be the grand finale $10,000 to win feature for the IMCA Modifieds. Early start time tonight is 5 p.m.