Roberts in a thriller at Boone, change ups in Mod Lite STARS National Series finish

The racers came out in full force for Saturday night racing at the Boone Speedway with 169 cars packing the pits. Must not forget the additional nine two-man cruisers to add to that count. Many tracks had to cancel their racing for the week.  Who knew we would be having a record low for a high  temperature ever at the end of May!  To say nothing about being wet! It was good to get some Saturday night racing in as the sun was out, and we all know Boone's track had little trouble getting into racing shape. The car count and fans in the stands showed they were eager for racing too.

All IMCA regular classes would find first time winners on the season.  The duo of Don Mason and Jason Miller copped the exhibition win in the two-person Cruiser class. The IMCA STARS Mod Lites were in town for a National event series race, as part of their Corn Belt Clash. Their Friday night show got washed/weathered out at the Marshalltown Speedway.  Their third night is scheduled for the Stuart Speedway on Sunday.  Their winner last night ended up being determined after the race through a disqualification, along with another DQ, giving the finishing order a much different look after all was said and done.  

The IMCA STARS Mod Lites had a great field of 30 cars for their National event. Drivers traveled for this one, with several drivers coming from Kansas, a couple from Illinois, and National points leader Kaden Cochrun from Bakersfield, California.

Austin Gray, who last year was racing an IMCA Stock Car, would lead the entire 25-lap feature, pulling away to a sizeable lead to take the checkers.  Joe Glick chased the leader for most of the race, but finished a distant second.  Third place finisher was Josh May, Mike Kennedy started tenth, and crossed the finish line in fourth place, and Bryan Zehm was fifth at the checkers.  However, there was a couple of post race disqualifications that would change up the official finishing order I was given. Gray was disqualified as was fourth place finisher Mike Kennedy.  This handed the win over to Joe Glick, moved May into second place, Zehm to third, Jon Braathun took fourth, and Cory Sonner came all the way from twenty-first starting spot, to be awarded fifth place. They were teching the Mod Lites after their heats and the feature, so assuming infractions were found. This is the first year the Mod Lites are sanctioned IMCA....new rules maybe?  This was Glick's first win at the track in 2021.

Forty-two IMCA Northern SportMods were in competition, calling for two B Mains to whittle the starting field for their 18-lap A main down to 24 cars.

Cory Pestotnik started third, and had the lead by lap three. Cam Reimers tucked in behind him and became a constant threat as the race wore on.  Several yellows flew during the event, and a caution at lap fifteen became leader Pestotnik's undoing.  As the race restarted with Pestotnik in command, he had Reimers and now Tony Olson lurking close behind.  By lap sixteen, Olson had made the pass and was scored the leader.  He would hold that top spot the remaining distance to the flying checkers and the win.  The closing moments also saw Johnathon Logue slip by Pestotnik to capture the runner up spot.  Following third place Pestotnik was Cam Reimers in fourth, and Izac Mallicoat in fifth.  Tony Olson started twelfth on the field to take home his first ever feature win at the speedway.

It was a thrilling finish to the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature that saw some amazing crisscross moves during the race.  Nick Roberts started sixth and had the top spot by lap four, content to let the pack behind sort itself out.  Tim Ward came from twelfth starting spot, into second and began applying pressure quickly, and Kyle Brown was now also in the picture.  Then the show really began when Roberts and Ward made some spectacular crisscross moves out of turn two, and Brown sticking his nose into the mix as well.  Several more cross over moves had the crowd excited as the laps wore down, with Roberts always managing to come out on top.  He would hold on to take the checkers in the closing moments, with Ward taking a close second, and Brown right there in third.  Fourth went to Jake McBirnie who started eleventh, and Cory Sauerman rounded out the top five.  Roberts took his first win at the track for the 2021 season.

It was definitely the Smith brothers show in the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature event.  David Smith started seventh and chased down early leader Anthony Goldsberry to take over the top spot just after the halfway portion.  Then brothers Devin and Donavon both fell in line behind.  David would pull away in the final laps to take the easy win.  It was two more Smiths completing the top three with Devin in second and Donavon in third to make it a 1-2-3 finish for the talented Lake City, Iowa racers.  Justin Nehring finished in fourth, and Jeff Mueller completed the top five.  The race went flag to flag.

The IMCA Hobby Stocks also completed their 15-lap feature without a caution.  Carter Koop led the opening laps of the race, but quickly had Eric Knutson to contend with.  The two crossed the finish line on lap seven in a near dead heat, but by lap eight, Knutson had gained the upper hand.  The closing laps found Knutson distance himself from the pack, and take a comfortable win.  It was a fight to the finish behind him however of a pack of three cars.  Eric Stanton, Carter Koop, and Solomon Bennett went 2-3-4 respectively in a very close finish.  Aaron Rudolph rounded out the top five.  This was also Knutson's first regular season win, though he won the early April Frostbuster special.

Please note that next week, June 5, will begin their summer racing hours, with hot laps at 6, and racing at 7.  Pit gates open at 4:30.  All regular IMCA classes will be competition with the IMCA Hobby Stocks having an additional King of the Hill contest. 

Have a safe and fun rest of the Memorial Holiday weekend...and maybe find a race to attend and help support the sport we all love....dirt track racing.  

 

Agee stays perfect and Bell does it again

 The Southern Iowa Speedway Wednesday mid-week races were presented by Kool Seamless Gutters and Nutrien AG Solutions and a beautiful night it was to be setting at the race track after last week's weather out.   There was an extra $200 on the line for any driver that could beat Derrick Agee in the Stock Cars, and Robert Bell was back in the Non-Wing Sprints to see if he could get his second career feature win after finally getting his elusive #1 two weeks ago.

The Non-Wing's went first for their 10 lap feature.  Colton Patterson, the young man who you can find flagging from the grandstand each and every week, got the honors of doing this race along side Doug Haack up in the flagstand.  Earlier in the night, the young man was presented with a season pass for his dedication to the track.

Robert Bell, the Colfax Comet has been racing for 30 years, and two weeks ago, he finally got his first ever career win.  This week, he did it again!  Bell led all ten laps on his way to double checkers, and took the win easily over Ben Woods in second place.  Kelly Graham, Doug Sylvester, and Lance Silver rounded out the five-car field.  The race went caution free.  Bell, in his post-race interview with announcer Jerry Mackey, expressed how happy he was to get those wins in his own backyard instead of hundreds of miles from home.

The Sport Compacts were once again the biggest field of cars, bringing sixteen strong.  This 10 lap race would find Jaden DeLonjay, Quincy, Illinois back in victory lane for a second visit this season.  DeLonjay started sixth, but was leading by the time the first lap was in the books.  From there on, he never looked back, and won easily as the checkers flew.  It was much more of a contest behind the winner however, but in the end, it was Clayton Webster winning out over Billy Cain as they went second and third respectively.  The winner's brother, Jeffrey DeLonjay took fourth and Nathan Moody was fifth.  The race went flag to flag.

The Hobby Stock 14 lap feature did not start off well.  Just after taking the green flag, cars got together, and it was Aaron Martin and Rick Goldsberry ending up tangled at the top of turn one.  The fence saved Martin from landing on his top, as the two cars came to a standstill....both done for the night, but both drivers okay.  

On the restart, this time it was a hood laying on the track that brought the field to caution, but that would be the last yellow to fly.  Veteran racer Brad Stephens grabbed the top spot when the race got underway but it didn't take but a lap or two before Dustin Griffiths was breathing down his neck.  Just before the halfway mark of the race, Griffiths took command, and then drove off into the sunset to score the victory.  Prior to the final moments, Keaton Gorden had been running in the second position with Brad Stephens and Rick VanDusseldrop battling close behind.  Gorden's good run would come to an end when he found himself in spin mode at the bottom of turn four as the cars came to the checkers.  This put VanDusseldorp in the runner up spot, and Stephens finishing third.  Travis Bunnell and Austin Barnes rounded out the top five.   This win made it two in a row for Griffiths.

Maguire DeJong made it to the winner's circle for win #2 of the racing season at Osky when he took the victory in the 16 lap SportMod feature.  DeJong grabbed the immediate lead from his outside front row starting spot, and led all laps in the the caution free race.  He smoothly circled the track on his way to the checkers, taking the win by a lengthy margin.  There was a change up in the finish for second place in the closing moments as Logan Anderson got the advantage on the last corner to score second place over Blaine Webster in third.  Colton Livezey and Scott Brau rounded out the top five.  

The Stock Cars put a night cap on the racing for their 16 lapper.  There was and extra $200 on the line for any driver that could stop the winning streak of Derrick Agee.  That would make it $700 for the driver that could do just that.  However, it wasn't to be.  Even though Agee started sixth in the event, and Todd Reitzler was leading immediately, and off like a flash, Agee would reel in Reitzler.  The two went side by side across the finish line, with Agee gaining the advantage, and scored the leader on lap eight.  Reitzler never went away as he chased Agee, and a last second surge at the checkers was just not quite enough as Agee scored the win...Reitzler having to be content with the runner up position.  Third went to Dustin Griffiths, Brett Lowry, driving the 4M car of Mike McClure, was fourth, and Howard Gordon, Jr. took fifth place.  This race also went flag to flag. Agee continues his winning streak, taking all four wins of the year.  

Next week, June 2, will be Hall of Fame voting night at the speedway. presented by Van Utrecht Farms and Trucking and Stout Trucking.  

Find a race to attend and help keep dirt track racing in our area alive and well.  

 

 

Berry back to winning in new ride

It was another weekly racing series night on Saturday at the Boone Speedway, with the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks also in competition for the first invite of the year.  The drivers were eager for some racing action after the rainy week, with 146 cars checking into the pits.  There were also nine 2-person Cruiser cars in exhibition with the duo of Jacob Beadle and Riley McWherter taking home the winning trophy.

Twenty-one My Race Pass IMCA STARS Mod Lites were the first up for feature racing.  This one turned into a runaway when last week's winner Cody Yaw took over the lead on lap three and never looked back on his way to another feature win.  Yaw pulled away from his competition to secure back to back wins. Mike Kennedy started ninth, and finished as the runner up.  Third went to early leader Tim Glick, Doug Byers ran up front all race long and finished fourth, and Josh May was fifth. Yaw, who was credited with just his first ever feature win late last season...through a disqualification, has now made it two in a row of seeing that official checkers thrown for him.  

The IMCA Northern SportMods ran their 18-lap main event next, ending it with a last second winner out of turn four.   Nic Runyan and Dusty Masolini dueled it out in the first eight laps, with Masolini finally getting the upper hand.  A dozen laps into the contest, it was Masolini fending off Ryan King and tenth place starter Izac Mallicoat.  The final laps found Mallicoat getting into the runner up spot and closing in on the leader.  As the white flag flew, Masolini was hoping for the checkers, but a slide up the track coming out of turn four looking at the checkers, was just enough for Mallicoat to breeze under him, and take the thrilling win.  Masolini had to settle for second, Johnathon Logue, last week's winner came from twelfth to finish third, fourth went to Ryan King, and Jenae Gustin started eleventh, and finished fifth.  The fifteen year old won his first ever feature earlier in the year, that one leading more than just that all important final lap like tonight.

The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks were an added attraction for the night's racing. Nine of the Dirt Trucks were on hand and they ran a 15-lap A main that went flag to flag. Pole sitter Bryan Spangler jumped to the lead, but sixth place starter Bill Davis, Jr. was tucked in behind him immediately.  Davis showed his nose under the leader, peeking for a way around which paid off on lap five.  Davis then motored off and took the easy win.  Dennis Plain came from seventh place to finish as the runner up.  Shonn Mapes, Bryan Spangler, and Jeff Johnson completed the top five. We saw Davis win earlier this year at the Marshalltown Speedway, and he was no less excited about his win last evening, telling announcer Jerry Vansickel it was always the best feeling to be in victory lane.  

The defending IMCA National champion, Tom Berry, Jr. was in the house tonight, wheeling a brand new DeVilbiss chassis that just got wrapped yesterday. You can't miss the pink car!  He hadn't lost a step from his successful season last year either, as he sailed home to another win.  He had to fight around early race leader Russ Dickerson, taking command just before the halfway mark of the event, and then distanced himself from the pack as the checkers flew.  It was a hard fought battle behind Berry, with Nick Roberts taking second over fourteenth place starter Cory Sauerman, Joel Bushore in fourth, and Russ Dickerson in fifth. A look back at my records...totally unofficial...but I can't see that Berry had ever won a weekly race at Boone Speedway.  

Devin Smith put another notch in his winner's belt by taking the checkers in the 20-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car A main.  Early leader was Troy Jerovetz but eighth place starter Devin Smith was up to challenge with just a handful of laps in the books.   Three laps later, Smith took command, set sale like a rocket on top of the track, and was gone.  He scored a comfortable win on second place Jerovetz, while brother Donavon Smith came home in third place.  Last week's winner Michael Jaennette started eleventh and finished fourth, and Anthony Goldsberry was fifth.  This was Devin Smith's third regular season win of 2021, plus also winning the April 3rd Frostbuster special that kicked off the year at Boone. 

Eric Stanton, a driver who has often visited Victory Lane at the Boone Speedway in years gone by, finally made his way back there after taking the checkers in the IMCA Hobby Stock feature.  Stanton came from eleventh starting spot, and ran down early leaders Shuan Wirtz and Carter Koop at lap nine to take the lead.  A late caution changed things up when Koop lost a wheel, bringing out a yellow, and putting him out of the running.  On the restart, Stanton was taken by surprise when a couple of drivers lurking in the wings....Braden Richards and Wayne Gifford both flew around him.   Stanton however gathered back his composure  and grabbed back the lead with two laps remaining, keeping it to the checkers and the win.  Gifford took the runner up spot, Richards went third, Solomon Bennett was hard charger, coming from eighteenth to finish fourth, and Shaun Wirtz rounded out the top five. Stanton has forsaken his usual hatch back style car this year.  

It has sure been a rainy period in our area for a week or more.  We have had rain for nine days straight, and it's made for a long list of rained out races.  Let's hope Mother Nature will start to play nice. Check out the racing calendar and find a race to attend.  We need to support the sport we all love....dirt track racing!  

 

Gilman is "Happy" in Victory Lane

It was a rainout at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday, getting in just five heats before Mother Nature decided that was enough racing for the night.  Then on Saturday, she tried to stop racing at the Boone Speedway, but the shower in the early evening wasn't enough to end that.  The farming crew had the track back in shape quickly with just an eighteen minute delay in start time. 

The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks and Mod Lites, were on tap for their regular Saturday night series, and an added King of the Hill for the Modifieds added to the night's race program.  Also making their first appearance in 2021 were the 2 Man Cruisers.  The duo of Don Mason and Jason Miller took the checkers in the five car challenge.

Two drivers returned to victory lane after several year's absence, one driver I believe, made his first ever appearance on the winner's stage at the track and two drivers took repeat wins.

A King of the Hill race for the IMCA Modifieds preceded the feature events.  Sixteen drivers participated with the final four surviving pitted against each other for the $500 winning prize.  Mike VanGenderen, The Flying Dutchman came out on top, besting Todd Shute, Jake McBirnie, and Joel Bushore. Eight drivers were locked into the race for the night through points, and the other eight drivers qualified through their heat races to join the King of the Hill contest.  

Cody Yaw would lead all 15 laps of the IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature event.  Austin Gray, who last year piloted a Stock Car, hung close through the first few laps, but Yaw then pulled away to secure an easy victory....his second of the year.  Gray took the runner up spot, Colby Reid, rookie to the class, and in just his first handful of races, took third.  Fourth went to Josh May and Mike Kennedy was fifth.

Nic Runyan led the first five laps of the IMCA Northern SportMod feature, only to be off power and out of the race and Danny Fye taking over the top spot.  In the meantime, Johnathon Logue had moved from eleventh starting spot, up to run second and began challenging.  By lap eight, Logue had the lead, and then pulled away and secured another win.  Cam Reimers recovered nicely from an early race bobble, and finished as the runner up.  Third was visiting Chowchilla, California racer Kaylin Lopez, Jenae Gustin took fourth, and Izac Mallicoat completed the top five. This was Logue's second weekly feature win, plus also taking the Frostbuster checkers.

The IMCA Modifieds came to the track next for 20 laps of feature racing.  Chase Rudolf and Josh "Happy" Gilman led the field to green, with Gilman gaining the upper hand and taking command.  Gilman was challenged several times by Andy Tiernan, but it was to no avail as Gilman went on to take the checkers.  Tiernan had to be content with second place, Chase Rudolf finished third, Clint Wendel was fourth, and Jimmy Gustin raced from tenth starting spot to take fifth.  The race went green to checkers.  This was Gilman's first weekly win since 2011 at the Boone Speedway, and a "Happy" one he was getting back to the winner's circle after such a long absence. 

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars ran their usual entertaining 20 lap race.  There was lots of close racing action up front with David Smith taking the early race lead. Mike VanGenderen was knocking on the door and Rod Richards, Donavon Smith, and Tyler Pickett were in hot pursuit as well.  A flat tire knocked Richards out of the game before the halfway mark of the race, and now Michael Jaennette had thrown his hat into the ring running in third spot behind Donavon Smith, as they both had their eye on David Smith.  Jaennette reeled them both in and took over the top spot on lap thirteen.  He then went on to hold that lead the remainder of the way to the checkers and the win.  David Smith finished second, brother Donavon Smith took third, Scott Davis started fifteenth, and finished fourth, and Mike VanGenderen snagged a top five finish.  This was Jaennette's first trip back to victory lane for a weekly show at Boone since May of 2014.

The IMCA Hobby Stocks found a first time winner taking a trip to the podium.  Matt McDonald wrestled away the lead from Jack Phillips with just three laps remaining in the 15-lap feature to take home the win.  Wayne Gifford took second place, just getting by third place finisher Eric Stanton in the closing moments.  Fourth went to Mike Smith, and Jack Phillips rounded out the top five. By my records (not always correct of course) it appears this was McDonald's first time winning a feature at Boone though a longtime competitor at the track.  

Find a race to attend and help support the sport we all love, dirt track racing.  

 

Bell takes first ever feature win, and Agee stays perfect

 It was Mahaska Bottling Company Night at the Races on Wednesday at the Southern Iowa Speedway.  It was also Kid's Night where the  youngsters enjoyed a ride around the big ole Monster Half Mile in a race car....and a little later, a candy scramble on the track during intermission.  

At the end of the night, history was made, when a driver who has raced for 30 years, finally got his first EVER feature win.  It also found a driver keep his 2021 record perfect at the speedway, winning for the third week in a row.

Just five Non-Wing Sprint cars were on hand, but this class made history last evening as the #71 of Robert Bell, "The Colfax Comet", put it in victory lane.  Bell, who has been racing for thirty years, was pretty emotional in his post race interview with announcer Jerry Mackey after winning his first feature.  "It means more to me than you'll ever know", was his comment, and the crowd responded with a rousing round of applause.  It was our understanding that he was also recovering from pneumonia, and wasn't sure he'd have the stamina to race last evening.  But race he did, and led all ten laps on his way to that elusive first win.  Congratulations to him!  

The Sport Compacts were the biggest class of the evening, bringing eighteen competitors to try their hand at taming "The Monster".  After an initial no start the 4-cylinder class raced the ten laps to the checkers without a yellow.  

Matt Moore led the first handful of laps but was suddenly off the pace and into the pits after lap five was scored.  This handed the race lead over to last week's winner Jaden DeLonjay with Clayton Webster in hot pursuit, and Jeffrey DeLonjay hanging close by.  Webster made the pass on lap seven to take the top spot away, and Jaden DeLonjay would then be off the pace the following lap and into the pits.  This would pit Webster and Jeffrey DeLonjay in the final run to the checkers.  It was no contest in the closing moments however, as Clayton Webster would take the checkers comfortably over Jeffrey DeLonjay in second.  Billy Cain, Lewie Winkelman, and Nathan Moody rounded out the top five.

Dustin Griffiths, last year's track champion in the Hobby Stock division, got back on track from his great 2020 season, and took the checkers, scoring his first win of the year.  Griffiths nabbed the lead away from Aaron Martin on lap three, and from there on, never looked back.  Martin took the runner up spot, Brad Stephens was third, fourth went to the previous two week's winner, Rick VanDusseldorp, and Keaton Gordon was fifth.

Logan Anderson started in the number one spot, and stayed there the entire 16-lap SportMod feature to make his first stop in victory lane for 2021.  Curtis VanDerWal was quickly up to challenge Anderson early in the race, and was applying pressure. But at the half-way mark, in an attempt to dive under Anderson in corner one, VanDerWal went uncharacteristically spinning out, bringing out a yellow.  VanDerWal tagged the field of eight cars for the restart.  Anderson would hold the top spot the remaining distance to the checkers to secure the win.  VanDerWal flew through the field to take the number two spot. Maguire DeJong, last week's winner, who was a bit late in arriving at the track as he was inducted into his Montezuma High School's National Honor Society, finished third.  Fourth went to Blaine Webster, and Scott Brau was fifth.  

Dustin Griffiths was hoping for a twofer night, as he led the 16 lap Stock Car feature through lap nine.  However, Derrick Agee had his goal of keeping his streak going as he started eighth and was up to challenge Griffiths by the half-way mark.  By lap ten, Agee had made the pass going down the back chute, for the lead.  Griffiths hung close but on this night, it was Agee again taking the checkers, Griffiths having to settle for second.  Todd Reitzler made his first appearance at the track in 2021, and went home with a third place finish.  Nathan Wood and Jason Hall rounded out the top five. Agee is a perfect three for three so far this season.

Next week, Wednesday May 19 will be Memorial Night at the races, where drivers and fans can recognize those who have left us.  

Find a race to attend and keep the sport of dirt track racing alive and well!  

 

100th win by Kay, Carter brothers double up, and Reynolds keeps it perfect

It was a rare Thursday night of Thunder at the Marshalltown Speedway where the 4th Annual Dale DeFrance Memorial was held. The race honored the late racer who started the long line of future racers connected with the DeFrance family that includes Gustins and Murtys.  Not a bad lineage!  

Justin Kinderknecht, the driver out of Salina, Kansas made his trip for racing in the area pay off by winning the 15 lap IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature and led all laps on his way to doing so.  Kinderknecht drew the lucky #1 pill, started on the pole, and had no trouble in taking the checkers.  Josh May took second, third was Cory Sonner, Ed Griggs from Pleasant Hill, Missouri was fourth and Mike Kennedy was fifth.  Kinderknecht had just come off a win at the Stuart Speedway the previous night and is in the area racking up some National points in the new IMCA sanctioned class.  

Kaden Reynolds made it a perfect points season thus far, when he captured his third straight feature win in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock 18 lap main event.  Reynolds started sixth, and had the lead by lap three, never to relinquish it.  Braden Richards crossed the line in second place.  However, a post race inspection handed Richards a disqualification, giving the runner up spot to Eric Knutson.  Kyle Parizek was third, fourth went Luke Schluetter, who recovered nicely after an early race spin, and Jeremiah Andrews took fifth.  Reynolds also won the Frostbuster special that kicked off racing at the speedway back on April 2.  Reynolds, who was initially dq'd last week after his win, was reinstated shortly after due to a question about a shock.  

The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods went 18 laps for their main event and Brayton Carter went wire to wire in taking his first feature win of the season.  Johnathon Logue came from tenth starting spot to take second, and it was a fight to the finish for third through fifth place, as an intense battle ensued.  Jenae Gustin won out for third place over Dylan VanWyk in fourth, and Izac Mallicoat in fifth as the checkers fell.  Hard charger was Tony Olson, who came from twenty-second starting spot, to finish sixth.

Three yellows would fly in the Northern SportMod class, but thankfully, it was not the marathon that occurred the previous week.  

Damon Murty drew the #1 starting position for the 20 lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature.  Murty set sail on the top of the track, his preferred line at the High Banks, and went for a visit to Victory Lane.  Jeff Mueller (piloting a #81 car last evening instead of his usual #77) consistently dug on the bottom of the track like always.   He gave it his all in another nip and tuck finish at the line, but had to settle for second.  A close third went to Chanse Hollatz, Steve Meyer, last week's winner, was fourth, and Dallon Murty came from seventeenth starting position, to finish fifth.

Cayden Carter started seventh and quickly moved up to challenge pole sitter Richie Gustin in the IMCA Modified 20 lap clash.  By lap eight, Carter had the lead, which he would hold the remaining distance to the checkers.  Joel Rust threw a couple of challenges at Carter, but he could do no better than the runner up spot.  Tim Ward made big headway late in the race, finishing third after starting sixteenth.  Last week's winner, Dylan Thornton was fourth and pole sitter Richie Gustin took fifth.

The headline event of the evening was the running of the Dale DeFrance IMCA Late Model 44-lap event.  The 44 laps was another means of  honoring the late racer who ran that number on his race cars.  By the end of the race, the track was a mirror.  

Veteran racer Greg Kastli started on the outside of the front row, and immediately took the lead over Joe Zrostlik.  By lap ten,  seventh place starter Justin Kay had made his way to second place and began reeling in the leader.  Kay took the lead with a move to the outside of Kastli as they came out of corner four as lap nineteen went into the books.  From there on Kay had little trouble in keeping his run at the front of the field, pulling away and taking the victory.  He finished well ahead of second place Zrostlik, Todd Cooney made a late race pass around Greg Kastli as they went third and fourth respectively.  Fourteenth starter Matt Ryan rounded out the top five.  The win was extra special for Kay, as it marked his 100th IMCA Late Model win. 

There is no racing at the speedway this Friday night, but racing returns next Friday, May 14, for Casey's Salute to the Military and Haverhill Social Club Night.  The green flag drops at 7:30.

It was another windy and chilly night at the track.  Seems Mother Nature is not in a hurry to give us race fans some pleasant outdoor setting weather!  We did however enjoy the company of fellow Positively Racing colleague, Danny Rosencrans who made his way up from Missouri with some racing buddies.  Be sure and check his take of last night's action as well as the calendar at Positively Racing, and find a race to attend.  We've got to keep the sport going we all love....dirt track racing!

Agee and VanDusseldorp repeat in just second week at SIS

The Southern Iowa Speedway returned to racing Wednesday night, getting in week #2 of their season.  Two drivers repeated their wins from last week, and two drivers were missing in action.

Just five Non-Wing Sprint cars were on hand last evening and there was a new winner!  Doug Sylvester led all ten laps of the feature event and went home with his first win since the class started in 2019.  Kelly Graham chased him the entire distance and finished a close second.  Lance Silvers was a distant third.  Two cars did not finish.....Robert Bell, and AJ Johnson.  One driver missing in the pits last evening, was usual winner Jonathan Hughes.

Sport Compacts were up next for their 10-lap main event and this class also saw a first time winner at the track.  Jared DeLonjay made the haul over from Quincy, Illinois along with his brother Jeffrey, who also raced, and made it pay off.  

It was three-wide across the finish line as the first lap was scored, and Jared DeLonjay took the lead over Lewie Winkelman and Clayton Webster.  DeLonjay would then go on to lead all the remaining laps and score his first ever win at the track easily.  Clayton Webster took second over Lewie Winkelman in third.  Seth Meinders and Nathan Moody completed the top five.

It was a nip and tuck race in the Hobby Stocks.  Their 14 lap feature was a three car break away and they ran nose to tail most of the race.  Rick VanDusseldorp got the early lead with Dustin Griffiths and Aaron Martin tucking in right behind.  Griffiths ran on VanDusseldorp's bumper and took peeks for a way around, with Martin just waiting for the two to make a mistake as the laps wore down.  Lap thirteen, and VanDusseldorp and Griffiths went side-by-side, but VanDusseldrop's 1R was too much for the competition this night, and he took the win for the second week in a row.  Griffiths was a very close second, Martin went third, and Rick Goldsberry and Tyler Graves were fourth and fifth.

It was no contest in the 16 lap SportMod event as young Maguire DeJong started from the pole and no one could catch him as he swept to the easy win.  Blaine Webster came from row three to finish as the runner up.  Logan Anderson started in row five and took third place.  Casey Lancaster made the haul up from Glenwood, Missouri and took home fourth, and Tyler Heckert was fifth.  

DeJong has had a whirlwind 2021 already.  He just turned sixteen in March and already has an Iowa High School basketball team championship (Montezuma) and also won the SportMod division of the Bristol Dirt Nationals at the famed track.  His quote in Victory Lane was, "this track feels faster than Bristol".  

It was another close finish in the 16 lap Stock Car feature as Derrick Agee held off the challenges of Dustin Griffiths and secured his second win in as many weeks.  

Agee, Griffiths, and Nathan Woods (dubbed "The Racing Educator" by announcer Jerry Mackey) broke away from the pack, racing in that order for most of the feature.  That would be the way they would finish....one-two-three as the checkers fell.  Donnie Pearson took fourth, and Jason McDaniel was fifth.  

Racing was completed by 9:22 p.m. allowing fans to get on their way home for early morning work calls.  Next Wednesday night, May 12, at the Monster Half-Mile will be kids night presented by Mahaska Bottling Company.  Hot Laps are scheduled for 7:15, with racing to follow.

Thornton, Meyer, Peterson, Reynolds, May, and Davis, Jr. take Cliff Chambers Memorial victories

It was UAW Local 893 and Cliff Chambers Memorial night at the Marshalltown Speedway Friday. The race paid honor to Chambers, former promoter and longtime race supporter at the track.  All five regular IMCA classes were in competition along with the addition of the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks. 

Josh May took home the trophy in the IMCA STARS Mod Lite 15 lap event, leading all but the first lap of the feature.  May started fourth, got to the front quickly and had no trouble in keeping a substantial lead through out the race. He finished well ahead of second place Joel Huggins.  Third went to Randy Bryan, Cory Sonner was fourth, and Austin Gray was fifth.

Veteran racer Bill Davis, Jr., stood in Victory Lane at the end of the 12 lap Karl Chevrolet Dirt Truck A main.  Davis was a happy camper in his winner's circle interview, stating that you just never know when it might be for the last time.  Davis led all laps on his way to the checkers.  Following a distant second place was Bryan Spangler, Rick Clark finished third, fourth was Dennis Plain, and Shonn Mapes completed the top five.

The IMCA Northern SportMods could not find their rhythm in their 20 lap main event....with yellow after yellow waving.  Tony Olson, led the first seven laps with Johnathon Logue in hot pursuit.  After several challenges, Logue made it stick and took over the top position on lap seven.  Olson would not go away however, and continued to pester Logue, and momentarily taking back the top spot, only to have Logue snatch it back.  They continued to battle hard and their battling for position resulted in them both spinning out low in corner four with just three laps remaining.  Travis Peterson was the happy recipient of the top spot when the race restarted. It was not an easy run to the finish as he was hounded by last week's winner Kyle Olson, and Austin Schrage, but held on to the top spot and was first to the checkers and the win.  Austin Schrage started eleventh and took the runner up position, and Kyle Olson started twelfth and finished in third.  Tony Olson re-grouped after his spin to garner a fourth place finish, and Thomas Egenberger was fifth.   

Kaden Reynolds, last week's winner in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock 20 lap feature led most of the event, and went on to capture back-to-back wins.  Reynolds took the lead at lap six and would stretch out his lead to finish well ahead of second place Braden Richards.  Richards started nineteenth and took  the hard charger recognition of the night.  Jeremiah Andrews, Solomon Bennett and Kyle Parizek rounded out the top five.  

Steve Meyer made it look easy on his way to the win in the 20-lapper for the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.  He flew from starting eighth and into the lead by lap three, took to the lip of the track, and pulled away for an easy win.  The "Game Changer", Dallon Murty, came from ninth starting spot, to finish in the runner up spot.  Shawn Ritter started tenth, ran up front all race long, and finished third. Polesitter, Tyler Pickett was fourth, and Damon Murty came from twelfth, to finish fifth.

The night cap was the IMCA Modified main event.  Temporary transplant from Santa Maria, California, Dylan Thornton got to step into the Marshalltown Speedway Victory Lane for the very first time.  He led most of the feature easily to make his first visit to the speedway's winner's circle. Joel Rust ran out of time in his attempt to catch the leader, and had to settle for second place.  Jared VanDeest took third, Hebron, Illinois racer, Dustin Kroening took fourth, and Ronn Lauritzen finished in fifth place.

Up next at the Marshalltown Speedway will be the Dale DeFrance Memorial on Thursday, May 6.  The IMCA Sunoco Late Models will be the headliners, along with the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and STARS Mod Lites.  Please note that there will not be racing on Friday May 7 next week. 

The area racing season is getting started in full force now.  Be sure and check the calendar at Positively Racing, and find a race to attend and help keep the sport we love alive and well.