It was Rumours Bar and Grill Salute to Marshalltown Police at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday evening. It was a warm one, with a threat of the "R" word mixed in, but it turned out to be a beautiful night of racing. The southerly breeze was great, not real humid, and though we watched the sky most of the night, there was nothing that developed more than some distant lightning right before the show was completed.
Dustin Kroening took the extra pay of $1,000 back to Hebron, Illinois when he took the checkers in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified feature. Marshall, Minnesota's Jim Horejsi went home $1,000 richer by winning the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event. Travis Peterson won for the second week in a row in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class, and it was Eric Stanton capturing the checkers first in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Randy Bryan came home first in the IMCA STARS Mod Lites. The Outlaw 2-man Cruisers were also on the program and the #G60 duo took the checkers and the names I caught for those two were Vorwald and Hoeger.
The IMCA STARS Mod Lites kicked off the feature racing, and they ran their 15 lapper caution free.
Joel Huggins was the early race leader with Randy Bryan giving chase. Bryan reeled in the leader, and by lap nine, had the lead. From there on out, he distanced himself from the field, and went home to the flying checkers and the win. Following a distance behind in second place was Joel Huggins. Charlie Brown took third, fourth went to Cory Sonner, and Alex Eischeid completed the top five.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks followed up with another flag to flag race in their 20 lap feature event.
Eric Stanton started fifth, snatched the lead from early leader Solomon Bennett at lap four, and never looked back on his way to the win. The closing laps saw Eric Knutson close the gap, take a late peek for a way around, but had to be content with a close runner up finish. Solomon Bennett took third place, William Klosterman was fourth, and Seth Butler finished fifth. After the race was completed, it was noted that Stanton had a right rear tire going down, slowing him a bit and allowing Knutson to reel him in at last.
The IMCA Northern SportMod 20 lap A main was not so lucky as it was marred with the yellow flag flying....six by my count.
Travis Peterson started sixth and made his way to the top spot with a handful of laps in the books. He had lots of company behind him however, and had to keep fending off some heavy hitters. Two of those cars giving the leader fits were Kyle Olson and Dylan VanWyk when they rose to his rear bumper by the halfway mark of the race.
More yellow flags flew and closed up any gaps Peterson gained. One of those late race cautions found Kyle Olson grabbing the lead away after the restart. Peterson fought back however, regained the lead, and then held on to claim his second win in as many weeks. Dylan VanWyk started twelfth and took second, Kyle Olson was third, Sam Wieben took fourth, and Kaylin Lopez rounded out the top five.
The IMCA Modifieds all had visions of capturing the $1,000 prize money in their 20 lap feature race.
Joel Rust, who had just become a new daddy two days before, looked strong as he took the early lead with Dustin Kroening and Dallon Murty tucking in right behind him. At lap six, Rust was suddenly off power, his night ended, and Kroening taking command....Murty on his tail.
Kroening sailed along as captain of the ship the rest of the way. Murty gave it one final last ditch slide job coming to the checkers, but it was to no avail as Kroening took the win, Murty having to settle for second. Ronn Lauritzen took third place, fourth went to Scott Simatovich, and Zach Rawlins was fifth. Kroening, who lists his residence as Hebron, Illinois, has made several trips to the Marshalltown Speedway this season, but this was his first win....a big one!
Lightning was flashing to the distant northwest as the IMCA Stock Cars took to the track for their $1,000 to win 20 lap feature.
This race was a runaway after Jim Horejsi Marshall, Minnesota's hot shoe, got past Dave Atcher on lap three, pulled away, and was content to let the cars behind battle it out for position. When the checkers flew, Jorejsi finished well ahead of second place Dave Atcher. Jeff Wollam wrangled a third place finish, just beating out visiting Casey Wokens, Norton, Kansas who started tenth and finished fourth, and Damon Murty took fifth after starting twelfth. The Class too Tough to Tame went all 20 laps caution free.
Due to the predicted excessive heat on Friday, the start times were moved to a later time. By my notes, the first green flag dropped at 8:17, and the final IMCA feature was completed at 10:17...a program run in two hours!
We will be heading to Boone Speedway tonight, for the third and final 3 race series Salute to Veterans. Race cars with their special wraps will be on display, veterans get in free, served a free meal, and there will be gifts and prizes awarded. The gates open at 4 to allow time for the pre-race functions. Hot laps are scheduled for 5:30 and racing is to begin at 7. It's to be another Iowa July scorcher, so everyone stay safe as you continue to support the sport we all love....dirt track racing!
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