The Inaugural running of the King of the High Banks for IMCA Stock Cars got in the books on Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway, as Night #2 crowned the king. There were 170 cars filling the pit area, that also included the IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts, and the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks. Qualifying for the big $5,000 to win Stock Car title was completed, while the other classes ran a full show.
The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods kicked off the feature racing for the night, running a 20 lap feature. Logan Anderson led the race through lap nine, constantly being hounded by Brayton Carter, Jenae Gustin, and Tony Olson. Carter made the move to the outside in turn four, and found his way into the lead as lap ten was scored. Carter never looked back from there on until the checkered flag, and repeated his Frostbuster win from last Friday. Logan Anderson threw off the late race challenge of tenth place starter Tony Olson, as they went second and third respectively. Fourth went to Marshalltown's own Jenae Gustin, and pole sitter Cole Fenske was fifth.
The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks ran next with their 20 lap main event. "The Mayor" John Watson led from the drop of the green, but seventh place starter Eric Knutson was soon on his tail. The two drivers then began an exciting battle with Watson working outside, and Knutson digging on the bottom. The bottom finally worked for Knutson as he took command on lap six, and would keep it to the flying checkers and the win. Brandon Bombardo, New Prague, Minnesota came from sixth to finish as the runner up. Adel, Iowa's Dylan Nelson raced from eighth starting spot to take third, fourth was early leader John Watson, and Luke Ramsey, Bedford, Iowa rounded out the top five. Calvin Dhondt crossed the finish line in second place in a near photo finish, but was later disqualified in tech.
The Mach 1 IMCA Sport Compacts hit the track for the first time this year, and ran a 15 lap feature.
Kolby Sabin started on the pole, and was never seriously challenged as he sailed home to the checkers. Terry Bickford chased Sabin for most of the race, but had to be content with second place. Marschall Robinson from Arlington, Minnesota took third place, pushing around Matt Miller as the cars came to the checkered flag, and it was eleventh place starter Curtis Masterson taking fifth.
The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks made their first appearance of the year at the Marshalltown Speedway, running 20 laps for their A main.
Otho, Iowa's Brandon Toftee took the lead from his pole position as the green flag flew. He was able to hold off the challenges of Brandon Cox, and Jeff Johnson through the halfway point of the race. Then a lap or two later, Jeff Johnson made the low side of the track work to his advantage, taking over the top spot. Johnson, who is the defending Karl Chevrolet Dirt Truck Champion, and a former IMCA Stock Car driver and Sprint car racer, pulled away and scored the win at the High Banks. Brandon Cox held on to finish a distant second, Toftee was third, fourth went to Shawn Cooney, and tenth place starter, Jared Myers was fifth.
The IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds came next for their 25 laps of pounding fury. Hometown favorite, Jimmy Gustin had his fans excited as he looked to be on his way to victory. He leaped to the lead from his pole starting spot, and held it through lap seventeen. That's when a hole low in corner one sent him bouncing (two holes developed there through the night, and became a nemesis to more than one driver) and Tim Ward was Johnny-on-the-spot, seeing his way into the lead as Gustin regained control. When Ward saw the front of the field, he was gone, pulling away to score the win. Ward won last week's Frostbuster special, and Thursday night's King of the High Banks, giving him a perfect three-for-three at the speedway in 2023. Gustin held on to the runner up spot, finishing a good distance behind the winner. Jeremy Mills took third, Jake McBirnie was fourth, and Johnathon Logue completed the top five. Ward came from twelfth starting spot to score the win.
The long awaited running of the 50 lap feature for the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and the subsequent crowning of the first ever King of the High Banks for the division was now at hand. The fifth year of trying to get the big show in, finally came to fruition.
Ten cars were locked in through passing points from Thursday night's show, and then they completed qualifying through five heats, with two going to the feature, and two Last Chance B Mains, taking two each, to round out the starting field of 24 cars, out of the 58 checked in.
Jim Horejsi, Marshall, Minnesota who had looked strong on Thursday, started on the outside front row, and sprang to the lead when the green flag dropped. He soon had the company of Dallon Murty and Dylan Thornton to contend with. Thornton found his way around on lap four, taking over the top spot.
Thornton continued to lead with 20 laps down, but by this time, Comanche, Texas racer, Jeffrey Abbey had worked his way from seventh, into second place and began his quest to reel in the leader. Abbey worked his way methodically to the tail of Thornton, and got under him to take over the lead at lap 28.
Two late race yellows allowed some close racing in the final circuits, but in the end as the checkers flew, it was Abbey, taking the crown home to Texas. Thornton held on to score the runner up spot. with Troy Jerovetz, Iowa Falls taking third place. Fourth went to Little Suamico, Wisconsin's Tyler Wilson, and "The Chelsea Charger", Damon Murty was fifth.
Drivers from across the country came to try their hand on the famed High Banks of Marshalltown Speedway. There were drivers from at least eleven states, which included Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, joining our Iowa racers. The weather was also more cooperative, though the wind was once again blowing strong out of the south, dying as the night wore on, and temperatures staying in the 60's. The big crowd on hand certainly got their money's worth as well, with the full slate of racing action.
There will be racing next Friday night, April 21, billed as the IMCA Friday Night Spectacular. IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Sport Compacts will be running. Hot laps are 6:45, and the green flag drops at 7:30. The following Friday, May 28, will be the season opener for points racing at the track.
Check out the racing calendar at Positively Racing, and find a race to attend as our racing season starts. Help support the sport we all love, dirt track racing!
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