June 4, 2021
After four straight weather outs, May 14, the May 19 Castrol FloRacing Super LM show, May 21, and May 28, the Marshalltown Speedway came back to life on a beautiful Friday night. Four new winners made their way to victory lane last evening, and two drivers earned repeat wins at the track.
The IMCA Sport Compacts brought 15 cars strong to run their first full event of the year. They are not a weekly class, but will be on the docket throughout the year. They made their first appearance back on May 14, but the program was cut short due to rain.
At the end of their 12-lap feature, it was Des Moines, Iowa's Kolby Sabin standing in victory lane to take the first feature win of the class at Marshalltown. Sabin started fifth on the starting grid, and was running in second place to leader Dalton Sowers when a yellow flew on lap nine. Sabin took advantage of the restart situation and had the lead by lap ten. He held on to the top spot the rest of the way to the checkers and the win. Sowers crossed the line in second, holding off John Gill, a close third. Mark Smith was fourth, Max Heimbuch fifth, and Chad Larson in sixth. A post race disqualification for Sowers, would then move all those finishing behind him up in position.
National point leader Kaden Cochrun in the IMCA STARS Mod Lite class, added to his lead as he led all 15 laps of the feature on his way to the win. Cochrun, who hails from Bakersfield, California but is racing in the area for the summer, had to fend off the advances of Doug Byers for most of the race. Byers ran one of his best races of the year, staying close to the leader throughout the race, but had to settle for the runner up spot on this night. Joe Glick took third, fourth went to Cory Sonner, and Bryan Zehm was fifth. Cochrun was a happy camper in his post race interview, stating he could never have imagined being able to stand in victory lane at the Marshalltown Speedway, a second to none track in his book.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks could not get past lap three in their 15 lap main event, as cautions kept waving. Three yellows and a red for Dalton Coady's roll over out of turn two kept stopping the action. It didn't bother Eric Knutson however, as he took the lead on lap one, weathered the stoppage situations, and led all laps to capture the win. Eleventh place starter Kaden Reynolds made it interesting in the closing laps, but had to be content with a close second place finish. Carter Koop came from twelfth to finish third, and Solomon Bennett and Luke Schluetter rounded out the top five. This was Knutson's first win of the 2021 season at the speedway.
Up next was 18 laps of Northern SportMod feature racing. They too had trouble getting their racing rhythm, with three yellows flying in the first two laps. The race would then continue green to the checkers. Brayton Carter started on the outside front row, grabbed the lead immediately, and never looked back on his way to his second win of the season. Izac Mallicoat started sixth and was quick to grab the number two spot, challenged Carter several times, but could do no better than the runner up spot at the checkers. Johnathon Logue, Austin Schrage, and Jenae Gustin rounded out the top five.
There was some close racing up front in the opening laps of the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature. Pole sitter Austin Kaplan, Jason Hall, and Scott Rice were locked into a heated battle and then just four laps in, tenth place starter Dallon Murty was throwing his hat into the mix. At lap seven, Murty was challenging then leader Hall when he ran out of room at the top of turn three. He slipped off the track, bringing out a yellow and had to tag the tail of the field for the restart. When the yellow flew for Murty, it was Todd Reitzler in command, Hall having dropped back a couple of spots, and now Damon Murty had moved from ninth, to run in second. A few laps later, Murty took over the top spot, taking to the rim of the track, and sailing home to another feature win. Reitzler took second, Dallon Murty flew through the pack after his earlier incident and finished third, fourth went to Steve Meyer, and Dave Atcher was fifth. This was Damon Murty's second feature win of the year at Marshalltown.
The IMCA Modifieds finished off the night's racing in fine form....running their 20 lap main event caution free...the only one of the night. Pole sitter Jake McBirnie would lead this one flag to flag on his way to victory. He was challenged most of the distance by Ethan Braaksma. Braaksma made several attempts to edge out McBirnie, but to no avail, and having to be satisfied with the runner up spot. Trailing a distant third place was Dylan Thornton, fourth went to Tim Ward, and fifth was Gatlin Leytham. This was McBirnie's first Modified feature win at the track for 2021, and if my records are correct, his first ever Modified win at Marshalltown.
Next Friday, June 11 will be Salute to Marshalltown Firefighters, EMTS, and First Responders night at the Speedway. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:50 with racing at 7:30.
Find a race to attend. There are many specials as well as regular weekly races at the area tracks. Hopefully Mother Nature has decided to play nice for a while! Support the sport we all love, dirt track racing!
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