Friday was Caseys and Rumors Bar and Grill Salute to Marshalltown Law Enforcement night at the Marshalltown Speedway, and a full night of racing action on a hot and sticky July evening.
Hometown boy, Darrel DeFrance got his second win this year when he captured the IMCA Late Model feature. Tom Berry, Jr. continues his domination at the track this year, taking win number five in the IMCA Modified division. Damon Murty took his third victory in the IMCA Stock Car class, and Brayton Carter made it three in a row in the IMCA Northern SportMods. Eric Knutson took the trophy home in the IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mike Morrill bounced back from his wild roll over last week, and came home to the checkers in the Mod Lites. The ladies took a turn on the track at the end of the night with the running of a Mod Lite Powder Puff. Jane Zehm got those bragging rights.
Things kicked off with the Mod Lite 15 lap main event. Joel Huggins led the first handful of laps, but Mike Morrill had his ride wound up on the topside and took command at lap six. From there on out, Morrill would circle the top of the speedway, stretch out his lead, and win going away. Joel Huggins finished as the runner up, last week's winner Tanner Gannon was third, fourth went to ninth place starter Randy Bryan, and Travis Stensland took fifth place. This was Morrill's first win at the High Banks this season. Morrill took a hard roll off the top of the track last week, and made the big turn around this week to step into the winner's circle.
IMCA Northern SportMods made their appearance next in an 18 lap feature race. Austin Kaplan snatched the lead away from pole sitter Brian Lepa at lap two and sailed away to a nice lead. Then the first yellow of the evening reared its ugly head at lap five. On the restart, Kaplan kept hold of the top spot, but by this time ninth place starter Brayton Carter was soon to be nipping at his heels. Kaplan led with Carter sizing him up lap after lap. The drivers ran side by side as the race neared completion, and with a lap to go, Carter would complete the pass coming out of turn four as the white flag waved. Carter kept the lead the remaining distance to the checkers. Kaplan had to be content with the runner up spot. Johnathon Logue came from tenth starting spot to finish in third. Fourth went to Austin Schrage, and Kyle Olson completed the top five. This marked "Speedy Bray's" third consecutive win at the track.
Eric Knutson stepped into Victory Lane for the first time this year in the IMCA Hobby Stock ranks. He had a bit of good luck after Nathan Ballard passed him for the lead on lap six, and had to be content to trail a good distance to the leader as the race progressed. His good fortune came about with just one lap remaining when Ballard suddenly slowed when he rolled a tire and was out of the race. Knutson took the checkers and the win, trailed by Eric Stanton, who came from twelfth starting spot to take second. Jacob Floyd ran at the front of the pack all race long and took third. William Klosterman finished fourth, and eleventh place starter Austin Mehmen rounded out the top five.
It was a popular win with the crowd when hometown boy Darrel DeFrance came home to the checkers when he won the 15 lap IMCA Late Model feature. DeFrance was running second to then leader Curtis Glover when on lap nine, Glover suddenly drove off the track as he exited turn two. DeFrance then held the lead the rest of the way to the finish line to seal his second win at the speedway this year. Dalton Simonsen finished in the runner up position, pole sitter Shawn Cooney took third, Ben Seeman came from fifteenth starting spot to finish fourth, and fifth went to Logan Duffy. There were fifteen Late Models racing last evening. Ryan Gustin's name was mentioned in both the heat and feature race, but he was no where to be seen last evening on the track.
Two drivers that love to run the topside put a show on for the fans in the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car main event. Todd Reitzler who started eighth, and Damon Murty who started tenth, wasted no time in getting to the front by lap four. Then it was a shoot out to see who would maneuver the High Banks the best on this particular night. Reitzler held the upper hand until the thirteenth lap when Murty made his move into the lead. The "Chelsea Charger" would then keep that lead the rest of the way to the checkers....marking back to back wins, and his third time in victory lane this year. Reitzler had to be satisfied with second place. Dustin Vis had a good run, coming from fifteenth to finish third. Steve Meyer and Dallon Murty completed the top five.
The final feature race of the evening was 20 laps of IMCA Modified fury. Tom Barry, Jr. would walk away with yet another victory....his fifth of the year in this race that went flag to flag. Barry started tenth, had the lead at lap eight, and then pulled away, leaving the field far behind. Ethan Braaksma, who got two wins this past week in the touring Dirt Knight's series, came from ninth starting spot to trail a distant second. Tim Ward went third, fourth was Gatlin Leythem, and Scott Simatovich was fifth.
I spoke too soon about there NOT being a yellow flag in all of the heats or the one B main in the Hobby Stocks. The yellows then flew frequently during some of the features. I'll bite my tongue from now on!
Another note of the evening. Eric Stanton made his first appearance at the track this season. He has 99 IMCA Hobby Stock wins.....seeking that elusive #100. He fell just a bit short last night, finishing second.
It was great to see Blake Anderson at the track last night. The Newton, Iowa native cut his announcing teeth back in the day helping out announcers as a Racing Rascal. He now calls Indianapolis home, and travels all over the country announcing races for the All Star Circuit of Champions. Oh, and his boss just happens to be Tony Stewart.
It was also great to visit with Logan and Ashley Kelly who stopped by after attending a wedding in the Des Moines area. The Kelly's home is Fairmont, Minnesota and they had a bit of a drive home last evening. Being in the Marshalltown area on a race night however, was too much of a temptation not to catch some racing action. Logan flags at numerous tracks and is also known to race his Hobby Stock now and then.
Next Friday, July 31 is Triple E Insulator Night at the Races, with racing in all divisions. The green flag drops at 7:30.
Find a race to attend as the season quickly winds down. We all need to do our part to support the racetracks and keep the sport we all love alive and well....dirt track racing.
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