McBirnie and May go back-to-back, Knutson takes the $500 on RBF Electric Night at the races.

 It was RBF Electric Night at the Races on Friday at the Karl Auto Group Marshalltown Speedway.  Jake McBirnie made it two-in-a-row in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, and Jay Schmidt won for the second time in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.  It was Jarrett Franken, Maquoketa, Iowa, taking the checkers in the IMCA Friesen Performance SportMods, and Eric Knutson went home $500 richers when he won the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.  Josh May took the win for the third consecutive week in the IMCA STARS Mod Lites, and it was Kolby Sabin winning in the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts.

Things kicked off with the 15 lap feature for the Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation.

Josh May had little trouble in getting to the front quickly after starting ninth.  He was running second to Joe Glick by lap four and had the lead on lap nine, never to look back.  He finished well ahead of second place Jon Padilla, Silvis, Illinois racer.  Joe Glick, in a borrowed car, took third place, fourth went to Cory Sonner, and Eric Eischeid took fifth.  May won for the third consecutive week.

The Hobby Stocks, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center were racing for $500 in their 20 lap feature.

Eric Knutson started eleventh and took the lead on lap nine, never to look back.  He finished well ahead of last week's winner Calvin Dhondt who raced from twelfth starting spot, to take the runner up position. Following a distant third was Corey Van Der Wilt, and Zach McNeese, Independence, Iowa, was fourth.  John Watson rounded out the top five. 

The 20 lap feature for the SportMods, presented by Rugged Radios, was plagued by yellow flags.  It didn't seem to bother Jarrett Franzen however, as he got the lead at lap five, and held it the rest of the way through multiple cautions to get his first win at the speedway.  He held off the advances of tenth place starter Brayton Carter who had to be content with second place.  Third went to Tony Olson, fourth was eleventh place starter, Sam Wieben, and Camdan Vincent rounded out the top five. 

The Modifieds, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap ran 20 laps for their A Main. 

Jimmy Gustin leaped from his pole starting spot immediately, with Izac Mallicoat in tow right behind him.  A yellow flew at lap two for a car setting in turn two, and while under caution, Gustin drove off into the pits....his night done.  This handed the lead over to Mallicoat who had lots of company behind him as the race returned to green. Johnathon Logue, Jake McBirnie, Drew Janssen, and Todd Shute were hot on his tail and jousting for position.  Logue then got the top spot for a couple of laps, Jantzen held it briefly, and then it was McBirnie running the top of the track, and taking command at lap twelve. He then kept the lead for good, and scored his second win in as many weeks.  Todd Shute raced from tenth starting spot to take the runner up position.  A close third went to eleventh place starter, Drew Janssen, Johnathon Logue finished fourth, and Joel Rust completed the top five.  

The IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Drury Automotive were next on the track for 20 laps of feature racing.

Jay Schmidt passed his brother-in-law Micheal Smith on lap two, and then held the lead the rest of the way to the checkers.  Winning the battle for second place at the line was Michael Jaennette, Todd Reitzler going a close third.  Gage Neal, Anamosa, Iowa racer made his first appearance at the track, and came from tenth starting spot, to take fourth.  Tyler Pickett rounded out the top five.  This was Schmidt's second feature win of the season.

The Sport Compacts, presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown put a night cap on the racing as they ran their 15 lap feature.

It was Kolby Sabin taking home the win, his third this regular season.  Sabin started eighth and had the lead by lap seven, and then pulled away to take the easy win.  John Gill just beat David Kimmel at the line to take second, Kimmel going third.  Fourth went to Curtis Masterson, and Matt Miller was fifth. 

Yesterday was a warm one, but the evening and night turned out to be a beautiful one to be at the races. There were 109 cars checked in to the pits, a few regular drivers missing, but a few visiting racers in attendance.   In the Stock Cars, Ian Huff, Robins, Iowa, Stephen Streeter, Madera, California, but who calls Vinton, Iowa home for the summer at least, and as mentioned above, Gage Neal made his first trip to Marshalltown a good one, and took home a fourth place finish.  Jarrett Franzen in the SportMod class in what I believe was only his second trip to Marshalltown, made it worthwhile, taking the win. Isaiah Geisel, Torquay, Saskatchewan, Canada was in the house, racing in the Modifieds.  Those were just a few non-regular drivers in attendance.  

The racing season is quickly passing, find a race to attend, and help support the sport we all love...dirt track racing! 

Make up features to Logue and Fye, then Mother Nature steps in again

We headed to the Boone Speedway Saturday for our regular home away from home, though we knew there was a threat of rain going to be moving in. The further we drove west, the darker it became, but still no rain as we arrived at the track. 

The make up features (which were run about a half hour earlier than start time was scheduled) for last week's rain out at the Boone Speedway were completed before Mother Nature spoiled the rest of the night's festivities. These were run before the regular weekly show began.  Johnathon Logue won the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature and it was Aron Fye taking the honors in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Both features went flag to flag.

The IMCA Stock Cars ran their 20 lap make up feature first and Johnathon Logue would lead all but the opening laps of this one.  He got around early leader Lonnie Hodges on lap six and then went on to claim the top spot the rest of the way to the checkers.  Austin Bouzek, the Trenton, Missouri driver who has been racing at the track weekly, was on Logue's tail for much of the race, and tried a last ditch effort slider out of turn four on the run to the checkers, but wasn't successful.  Bouzek had to be content with the runner up spot.  Hodges took third, fourth went to eighth place starter Kyle Everts, and fifth was Scott Davis, who had started in eleventh spot. This was Logue's second Stock Car feature win of the season.

The make up feature for the IMCA Hobby Stocks came to the track for their 15 lap A main.  Aron Fye lead all but the opening lap of the race, and would end up going away to take the win.  He finished well ahead of second place Wayne Gifford, and a close third place went to Eric Knutson.  Fourth was Solomon Bennett, and Mike Smith rounded out the top five. Fye earned his first ever feature win a few weeks back at the track, and now claimed his second career win.

The regular weekly program then began, and the Mod Lite and SportMod heats got completed.  The first Modified heat was on the track when the heavens opened up.  It wasn't just a little shower either!  We waded water as we eventually made our way to our vehicle.  Of course, before we got to Ames, there had been no rain, and none the rest of the way home.  It did eventually catch up to our home area however, and Mother Nature blessed us with over an inch of much needed rain.

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

 

Gustin, Dhondt, and May go back-to-back on Midwest Liquid Systems Night at the Races

It was Midwest Liquid Systems Night at the Karl Auto Group Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night and a beautiful night of racing it was. Mother Nature cooperated for a change, with only a very slight breeze....and in the right direction!

The IMCA Modifieds were going for $1,000 to win, and Jake McBirnie pocketed that money. It was deemed the "Night after the Creek" as the speedway's sister track, 141 Speedway in Wisconsin had just wrapped up their big $10,000 to win Modified special. 

Austin Kaplan walked away with the IMCA Stock Car win, and Jenae Gustin won the IMCA Northern SportMod feature piloting a borrowed car for the second week in a row. Calvin Dhondt also went back-to-back when he won the IMCA Hobby Stock feature, and Josh May also equaled his win from last week in the IMCA STARS Mod Lite class.  The Outlaw Cruisers were on tap for the first time this year, and it was the duo of Corey Van Der Wilt and Brett Maasdam taking that win. They both did double duty last evening as they were also competing in the Hobby Stock division. 

The IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods presented by Rugged Radios was on tap first for feature racing.

Veteran racer Duane Peterson held down the top spot in the early going of the 20 lap event, holding off Brady Hilmer and last week's winner, Jenae Gustin. Peterson's night would end later, as he blew up, leaving the track with a huge cloud of smoke that lingered in the calm air.

Jenae Gustin, who started tenth, took to the topside of the track and by lap four, was in the lead.  She was challenged at times by Travis Peterson, and then by Sam Wieben, but it was to no avail. Gustin would withstand any of those challenges and take home the win for the second week in a row piloting the rent a ride of Jason Pansegrau.  Sam Wieben finished as the runner up, Kyle Olson raced from twelfth starting position to finish in third, Travis Peterson was fourth, and Tony Olson rounded out the top five. 

The IMCA STARS Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation ran 15 laps for their main event, and it was Josh May taking the checkers for the second consecutive week.  May started ninth, and had the lead at lap five.  Jon Padilla ran the leader down and was giving a hard challenge to May when misfortune bit him when he lost grip in turn two and spun with just three laps remaining.  May would have no trouble on the restart when the race returned to green and would go home to the flying checkers, matching his win from last Friday night. Jason Masengarb, Colona, Illinois finished second, third went to Cory Sonner, Mike Zemo, Jr., Davenport, Iowa, came from fourteenth to finish fourth, and Randy Bryan was fifth after starting thirteenth. Padilla rallied back to score sixth place.

The IMCA  Friesen Performance Modifieds, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap came to the track next for their 20 lap feature. They were running for $1,000 on the "Night after the Creek" at 141 Speedway in Wisconsin.  

Jake McBirnie started on the outside front row, and leaped to the immediate lead when the race went green.  He would then go on to lead every lap on his way to the checkers to capture his first win at the speedway this season.  Joel Rust and Maguire DeJong had a good battle going on behind McBirnie, with Rust winning out for the second place position....DeJong taking third.  Lakewood, Colorado's Tripp Gaylord started fourteenth, and finished fourth, and Paul Nagle completed the top five. 

Todd Shute was going for three in a row in the Modified class last night, but bad luck got him last night, as his car would not fire as he sat in staging.  

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, presented by Drury Automotive went non-stop in their 20 lap feature event. Always great to have a race go green to checkered....there have been few of them this season.  

Early leader Garrett Corn, Merced, California, but who is now calling Marshalltown home, led the opening laps, but it was Michael Jaennette that came calling on lap three, and took command.  Jaennette continued his run at the front and was looking strong. However, Austin Kaplan was slowly beginning to reel him in.  On lap fourteen, Kaplan took over the lead, swinging to the topside as Jaennette kept his lower line run.  He would then keep that lead the rest of the way to the checkers and the win. Jaennette finished as the runner up, and trailing a distance behind in third place was Steve Meyer.  Scott Rice and Jeff Wollam rounded out the top five.  Kaplan also won the season opener back on April 28.

It was another 20 lap feature in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center.  

Much of this race was Eric Knutson fending off the likes of Dustin Filloon and Calvin Dhondt.  Knutson had taken the lead at lap three and was throwing off challenges by them both as the laps wound down.  Dhondt was finally able to establish the second spot and then with just two laps left in the race, was able to sneak under the leader coming out of turn two.  Dhondt then held the top spot to the flying checkers and the win....his second in a row.  Knutson had to settle for second place, third went to Dustin Filloon on his best showing of the year, fourth was Corey Van Der Wilt, and Sam West came from twelfth, to finish fifth.  Dhondt raced his way from eleventh, to take the victory. Dhondt also won the Frostbuster special, and Night #1 of the King of the High Banks before the regular season began.

Next Friday night, June 24, is RBF Electric Night at the races. The IMCA Hobby Stocks will be racing for $500 to win.  Also on tap are the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Mod Lites, and Sport Compacts.  Hot laps are scheduled for 6:55 with racing at 7:30.

It was an enjoyable night of racing again last night sharing it with racing friends, and it always makes it better when Mother Nature cooperates.  Find a race to attend and enjoy the sport we all love...dirt track racing!

Smith takes Hawkeye Challenge, Mills, Lopez, and May see checkers, and then Mother Nature wins

The Boone Speedway held its Hawkeye Challenge on Saturday night.  It is one of the most unique races in the country pitting six different classes of cars all racing at one time.  The over all winner was young Mike Smith in the Hobby Stocks.  In the regular weekly racing features, it was Jeremy Mills winning for the second week straight in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds.  Kaylin Lopez took the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod victory, and Josh May won for the third consecutive week in the IMCA STARS Mod Lite class.  Mother Nature would then call a halt to the racing action with two features remaining....the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, and the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.  Those classes will run double features next week.

The Hawkeye Challenge was run before feature racing time, and it pitted six different classes of cars racing at one time on the track. It is certainly a sight to witness!  Twenty-one cars were scheduled to start, qualified through track points, and through heat racing earlier.  The classes were staggered by lap count, with the lone Sprint Car of Mike Houseman needing to complete 25 laps, the Modifieds 23 laps, SportMods and Mod Lites 22 laps, Stock Cars 21 laps, and the Hobby Stocks 20 laps. When the dust cleared in the race that went non-stop, it was young Mike Smith taking the over all win and pocketing the $1,000 prize.  Other class winners were Josh May in the Mod Lites, Johnathon Logue in the Stock Cars, Jeremy Mills in the Modifieds, Kaylin Lopez in Northern SportMods, and Mike Houseman in the Sprint car. The class winners took home $500 each. Smith was the lead car the entire race per the transponders. 

Weekly feature racing kicked off with the IMCA STARS Mod Lite's 15 lap A main.

It was appearing as if there would be a new first time winner in the class as David Bailey took advantage of his pole starting position, flew to the lead immediately and pulled away from the field.  With just a couple of laps remaining however, Josh May had been closing the gap, and with a lap remaining, was on his tail.  Just after the white flag flew, May rose to the top of the track and around Bailey, and into the lead.  May successfully picked Bailey's pocket, and went home to the flying checkers, Bailey having to settle for second.  Bryan Zehm took third, fourth went to Austin Gray, and Cory Sonner was fifth.  May, who started in eighth, made this his third win in a row, and his fourth of the season. The race went flag to flag.  

The IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods came to the track next for their 18 lap feature and they "let them all run" in a 28 car field.  It was looking as if there could also be a first time winner in this event as well, as fourteen year old Gage Hilgenberg (he previously drove an Outlaw Mini Mod, and is the son of Modified driver Tony Hilgenberg) looked strong out of the gate, flying to the lead from his outside front row starting spot, and holding off his competition.  Yellows would plague this race, but did not seem to hinder Hilgenberg on the restarts as he continued his lead.  At lap fourteen the fifth caution flew, and the drivers were then placed under a time limit....the race would be called complete at the next caution or the checkers, whichever came first.  Hilgenberg still retained his lead when the race returned to green, but Kaylin Lopez, who had dogged him the entire race, was now just waiting for his opportunity to rattle the youngster's cage.  Lopez showed him his nose, and that was all it took for him to get past with one lap remaining.  Lopez then went home to take the win, Hilgenberg crossing the line in second.  His disappointment on the night continued however, when he was docked two spots in post race inspection for deck height...thus dropping him to finish in fourth.  This handed second position over to Braden Richards, and Jackson Harpole started thirteenth, and was awarded third place.  Eleventh place starter Cory Pestotnik completed the top five.

The IMCA Friesen Performance Modified quickly came to the track for their 20 lap main event....as sprinkles were now becoming a nuisance.  

Joel Bushore jumped to the lead from his outside front row starting spot as the green flag flew.  He still had a comfortable lead going when Jimmy Gustin had a motor let go on lap twelve, bringing out a yellow.  This bunched the field for the restart, with veteran Denny Pittman holding down second, and Jeremy Mills had moved from eleventh starting spot, to run in third place.  Just a lap later, Pittman broke and was out of the competition, with Mills taking over second and then reeling in leader Bushore.  The last lap of this race would also be the undoing for Bushore, as on the final lap, Mills went to the topside, and flew around Bushore to take the lead and the subsequent win.  Bushore had to be content with the runner up position, third went to Johnathon Logue, Izac Mallicoat was fourth, and thirteenth starter Russ Dickerson took fifth.  Mills repeated his win from last week.  

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars came to the track, but before their feature could start, the pesky rain drops became more persistent, and would not cease.  The decision soon came to call it a night, and Mother Nature won out. There will be double features next week for the Stock Cars, and Hobby Stocks plus a full regular show. 

Keep supporting the sport we all love...dirt track racing!

Schmidt and Gustin see first wins at Marshalltown, Shute goes back-to-back on P & D Welding Solutions Night

It was P & D Welding Solutions Night at the races at the Marshalltown Speedway Friday.  Todd Shute came away with back-to-back wins in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, and Jay Schmidt got win #1 of the season in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.  It was hometown racer Jenae Gustin taking the checkers in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class, and Calvin Dhondt went to Victory Lane in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock division.  Josh May also saw the winner's circle for the first time this season in the IMCA STARS Mod Lites, and Kolby Sabin repeated in the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts.  The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks were also on the docket and it was Brandon Toftee taking home that win. It was a jammed packed night of racing with seven classes running and a special Shoot Out contest for the Modifieds. 

The IMCA Sport Compacts presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown kicked off the feature racing with their 15 lap A main.

Kolby Sabin led from the drop of the green to the checkers, to take his second win of the year in the Sport Compacts.  He was chased most of the way by Terry Bickford who crossed the finish line in second.  However, Bickford was later disqualified in the post race inspection.  This handed second spot over to Matt Miller, and Mitchell Bunch was third in a close one at the line.  Fourth was awarded to Larry Werner, and rounding out the top five was Chad Larson.  Sabin also added the King of the High Banks win to his resume, making this his third checkers at the track in 2023.

The Big 8 Tyre Center IMCA Hobby Stocks ran 20 laps for their feature event and it was Calvin Dhondt taking the checkers.  Dhondt started ninth and ran down early leader Sam West. He made a nifty pass low in turns one and two and had the lead by lap ten. The last half of the race was all his as he swept to the win, comfortably ahead of second place Sam West.  Solomon Bennett was third, twelfth place starter Bradly Graham finished fourth, and Eric Knutson was a close fifth.  

Blake Driscol made his debut in the Hobby Stock class on Friday, jumping up from the Sport Compact class.

It was 20 laps of feature racing for the Northern SportMods next, presented by Rugged Radios.  

Logan Anderson looked to be on his way to seeing Victory Lane but a late race caution proved to be his undoing.  Anderson had lead from lap one until the yellow flew at lap fifteen, closing the gap between him and his competition on the restart. When the race restarted, it was Jenae Gustin flying around the top passing Brayton Carter who had been running second, and then a couple of laps later, her topside momentum took her into the lead....and then on to the checkers.  Anderson took the runner up spot, and twelfth place starter Brayton Carter was third.  Sam Weiben and Kyle Olson finished fourth and fifth respectively.  Gustin started eighth on the grid, and piloting the borrowed race car of Jason Pansegrau again this week, nabbed her first win of the year.  

William Klosterman was racing in the SportMod division last evening, jumping up from his previous Hobby Stock ranks. It was also nice to see Cory VanZante, Sully, Iowa back racing last night, in what we believe to be his 2023 debut.  He finished sixth in the A Main. 

The IMCA Modifieds, presented by Tyre Demon by Love Tap were running for a $1,000 on this night, in a 20 lap feature event.

The race did not start off well as the original start was a no go when a three-car incident going into turn three called off the start.  When things realigned, it was Ethan Braaksma grabbing the lead when the race went green.  Todd Shute was hot on his tail almost immediately, and a slight jump of the cushion allowed Shute to make the pass by lap five.  Shute then had the lead for good, and pulled away to take the dominate win.  Tripp Gaylord, Lakewood, Colorado came from tenth starting spot to finish second.  Early leader Ethan Braaksma took third place, Dallon Murty started eleventh and was fourth, and pole sitter Jacob Murray completed the top five.  Shute won for the second time in as many weeks, and it was the third of the regular season. The race was not the usual style of the Modifieds, as at lap six, the yellow flew three times before they could get going and with already over fourteen minutes elapsed. The race did then continue caution free to the finish. 

There were some traveling Modified drivers in the house last night.  Two drivers made the 1,250 mile haul from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada to test the High Banks.  Trent Guest was piloting the #45T machine, and Mitch Stovka was the in #66M and Spencer Wilson from Minot, North Dakota was in the #75. The guess would be they are in the Midwest on their way to the big Clash at the Creek show this coming week at 141 Speedway in Wisconsin.

Earlier, there was a P & D Welding Structural Shoot Out for the Modifieds with $500 going to the winner of the contest, which pitted sixteen drivers.  The top four in track points were locked in, and the other twelve drivers qualified through their heats. The bracket style racing got the final 4 still standing down for the final shoot out.  Dallon Murty was the victor, beating out Joel Rust, Tripp Gaylord, and Minot, North Dakota's Spencer Wilson.

The Drury Automotive IMCA Stock Cars came next for their 20 lap main event.

After an initial no go start, this one would go flag to flag.  The opening laps was a shoot out between Michael Jaennette and Jay Schmidt. Schmidt took the lead at lap three, with Jaennette not going away, and then ninth place starter, Damon Murty was suddenly in the picture.  The three leaders ran the rim of the race track for most of the duration of the race, with Murty making the pass around Jaennette with just four laps remaining.  Schmidt went home to the flying checkers to seal his first win of the season at Marshalltown, with Murty and Jeannette going second and third in that order.  Scott Rice ran the low side and made it work to finish in fourth place.  Steve Meyer rounded out the top five.

The Knight Sanitation STARS Mod Lites saw their 15 lap feature go caution free.  Josh May started fourth and had the lead at lap one, never to give it up on his run to the win.  RJ Gonzales, Colona, Illinois started fifth and trailed May the entire race to finish a distant second.  Alex Eischeid and Jason Masengarb battled each other much of the race as they finished third and fourth, and Cory Sonner took fifth. This was May's first win this year.  

The night cap was 20 laps of Karl Chevrolet Dirt Truck racing.  Brandon Toftee found his way around leader Mason Mitchell by going to the topside, where no one else was venturing.  He took command with just three laps remaining and then held it the rest of the way to score the win.  Mitchell held on to second, third went to Brandon Cox, in a borrowed ride from Shaun Clinger, Jeff Johnson was fourth, and Jared Meyers was fifth. 

Get out and find a race to attend if you can.  We all need to keep supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing!

Dirty 30 Topless wins to Mills and Reimers

Saturday night at the Boone Speedway, the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds and Northern SportMods shed their tops on Dirty 30 Topless night presented by Capital Sign Company and 1-800-BetsOff. Jeremy Mills came away with the win for the Modifieds and it was Cam Reimers taking the victory in the Northern SportMod division.  Troy Jerovetz went to the winner's circle in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car class, and it was Mike Smith for the win in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for the third week straight.  Josh May made it two in a row in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites, and young Kaden Rice won in the Outlaw Mini Mods.  The duo of Blake Mcallister and Keaton Daniel won the Two-Man Cruiser event.

Feature racing kicked off with the 15 lap A main for the Mod Lites.

Austin Gray, who had started in eighth position, overtook early leader William Nobles on lap five and then continued his run at the point position through lap thirteen.  Then on lap fourteen, the pressure coming from Josh May allowed him to slip into the lead.  May would then hold that lead to the flying checkers and the win.  Austin Gray took the runner up spot. Bryan Zehm had run at the front of the field all race long, and finished in third place.  Scott Bailey and Randy Bryan went fourth and fifth respectively.  May, who started tenth, made it two in a row at the track, and this was his third win of the season.  The race went flag to flag.

The first of the twin Dirty 30's was the IMCA Northern SportMods in their 30 lap topless contest that paid $1,000.  The Dirty 30 Two-Fers had the first go around the previous night at the Marshalltown Speedway where Kyle Olson pulled off that win.

Matt Avila jumped to the immediate lead from his pole starting position when the race went green.  Third place starter Shane Paris tucked in on his tail quickly and then the two went at it.  The two drivers then put on a clinic up front as they dueled it out lap after lap, often side by side on the frontstretch.

By lap fourteen, Shane Paris made the pass into the lead. Avila was still breathing down his neck and now Cam Reimers, Taylor Kuehl, and Logan Anderson had arrived on the scene.  With ten laps remaining, Reimers had taken over the number two spot, and was applying pressure and looking for anyway around the leader.  A slide job in the closing moments and a drag race to the finish sent Reimers to cross under the checkers first, Paris finishing no doubt a disappointed runner up.  Logan Anderson had an impressive run, driving his machine from twenty-second starting spot, to finish in third place.  Fifteenth starter, Taylor Kuehl was fourth, and Jackson Harpole, Farmington, New Mexico racer who is spending the summer in Iowa before starting college, started twentieth and finished fifth. Reimers repeated his win from last week.

The IMCA Modifieds ran their Dirty 30 Topless event next, with a payday of $1,200. The previous night in Marshalltown, it was Todd Shute winning the topless feature.

Jimmy Gustin shot to the lead from his pole starting spot as the race began.  Gustin looked to be well on his way to capturing the win, looking strong, and still leading at lap twenty.  Meanwhile, several drivers had been making their way through the pack and had caught up to the leader.  Jeremy Mills was one of those racers, as well as last week's winner Todd Shute, along with Jake McBirnie, and Cody Laney had worked his way into third from starting twenty-sixth.

Gustin had established his line at the very top of the track, and bad luck would jump up and bite him when he dropped off the lip of the track in turn four.  He gathered it back in, but that slight miscue dropped him several positions, and Jeremy Mills took over the top spot.  In the closing laps, Mills lengthened his lead and went home to the flying checkers and the Dirty 30 win.  Hard charging Cody Laney finished in the second spot, Jake McBirnie was third, fourth went to Todd Shute, and Jimmy Gustin rounded out the top five.

The Outlaw Mini Mods ran a fifteen lap feature in their first appearance at the track this season.

The feature had its issues with cautions, but none of that bothered twelve year old "KidRocket" Kaden Rice as he led from start to finish to take the win.   Rice, who hails from Bondurant, Iowa  finished comfortably ahead of second place Chase Daniels, Carlisle, Iowa, who had started eleventh on the grid.  TJ Stalker, Mason City, Iowa was third, fourth went to tenth place starter Bobby Daniels from Des Moines, and Clear Lake, Iowa's Logan Brown took fifth. The race was placed under the time limit rule at just six laps in the books, but the race did go the entire 15 laps after the drivers took heed of that stipulation. 

The IMCA Stock Cars always put on a great show, and their 20 lap feature this night was no exception.

The race was fast and furious with sixth place starter Troy Jerovetz holding down the top spot on lap one, and fifth place starter Jay Schmidt taking over at lap two.  Jeff Mueller was also quick to throw his hat into the ring from starting ninth.  Jerovetz was able to nose under Schmidt and retake the lead at lap seven, and from there on he would hold the top spot the rest of the way to the finish line and the win.  Schmidt would hold on to the runner up spot, Jeff Mueller took third, fourth was twelfth place starter Buck Schafroth, and Austin Meiners was fifth.  The race went non-stop.  Jerovetz won the Frostbuster special, but this would mark his first regular season win at the speedway.

The IMCA Hobby Stocks ran a 15 lap main event that saw young Mike Smith once again take the victory.  Smith started twelfth, and overtook then leader Andrew Burg by lap seven, and then sailed away to another win.  Burg was second, third went to earlier leader Branden Gifford, Seth Janssen was fourth, and Mark Hidlebaugh came from seventeenth to finish fifth. This was Smith's third win in a row, and his fourth of the season, along with a Frostbuster win.

Next Saturday, June 10 is the Mid Season Championship along with the unique Hawkeye Challenge where all five classes will be in competition at one time on the track. The regular program will also be run.  Pits open at 4:30, gates at 5:30, with hot laps at 6, and racing at 7. 

It seems impossible that it is already Mid Season Championship time at some tracks.  Seems the racing season just got started!  There are lots of racing yet to be had all around the state, so check out the racing calendar at Positively Racing and find a race to attend.  Keep supporting the tracks and the sport we all love....dirt track racing!

 

Dirty 30 Topless wins to Shute and Olson

It was the Dirty 30 Topless Two-Fer presented by Capital Sign Company at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night.  The IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds and Northern SportMods shed their tops for a night of racing topless.  The Modified winner was Todd Shute, while Kyle Olson went to Victory Lane in the SportMod class.  Jeff Wollam took the honors in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, and the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock victor was Jake Nelson.  Dillon Raffurty won the IMCA Mach-1 Mod Lite feature, and Clayton Vanderploeg was declared the winner of the Outlaw Mini Mods.

The IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Rugged Radios kicked off the feature racing for the night. There were 34 of the topless cars that checked in, which required a B main to set the 24 car starting lineup.  Tony Olson took that win.

The 30 lap main event was plagued with yellow flags, but once Kyle Olson found his way to the front of the pack by the halfway mark of the race, it was his the rest of the way to the checkers and the $1,000 payday. 

Olson started fifth and worked his way by early leader Cam Reimers to take the top spot.  The two ran side by side down the frontstretch for several laps before Olson established the lead for good.  Visiting driver from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Danny Concelman hard charged his way from starting tenth, to second place with a good late race run.  Cam Reimers took third, fourth went to Sloan, Iowa's Willy Kirk, and rounding out the top five was eleventh place starter Jenae Gustin....in a borrowed car. She raced Jason Pansegrau's car in the feature after her hot rod had mechanical issues in hot laps. This was Olson's second win of the regular season.

The IMCA Modifieds presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap ran their 30 lapper next.

Johnathon Logue started on the pole and jumped to the immediate lead, as Joel Rust who had started on the outside front row, tucked in to run second. Rust had the lead by lap six, but by then it was ninth place starter Todd Shute and Dallon Murty joining in challenging Logue and leader Rust in a real dog fight.  

Shute made the pass down low on Rust at lap twelve and took the lead, with Dallon Murty and then Drew Janssen giving him chase.  The closing laps saw Murty try his darndest to get by Shute....throwing a last ditch slider out of turn four as they raced to the checkers.  It was all for naught as Shute threw off that challenge and took the checkers first, Murty taking the runner up spot...in an every so close finish at the line.  Drew Janssen ran at the front of the field all night long, and took third place.  Ethan Braaksma and Joel Rust completed the top five. Shute, who also won the season opener, took home the $1,200 pay off. 

Shute has been on a roll lately.  He won Boone last Saturday night, and then capped off the Memorial Day weekend with the Whole Hog 50 win at the Stuart Speedway.  

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars presented by Drury Automotive ran 20 laps for their Main event.

Taylor Kuehl led the pack through the opening laps of the race, looking strong, but was suddenly off power on the backstretch. She recovered, but dropped several spots. This handed the lead over to Scott Rice.  Tripp Gaylord, Lakewood, Colorado, and hometown veteran racer Jeff Wollam threw their hats in the ring by that time and were hounding Rice. By lap ten, Wollam had taken over the top spot. He would then take his "Dilly Bar Special" home to the win. Wollam last saw Victory Lane at the speedway back in August of 2021.   Finishing a close second was seventh place starter, Austin Kaplan, Scott Rice was third, fourth went to Tripp Gaylord, and Steve Meyer got in the mix late in the race, and finished fifth, and early race leader, Kuehl, took sixth. The race went caution free. 

The Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation ran 20 laps in their A main and it was Colona, Illinois racer RJ Gonzales coming from sixth starting spot into the lead by lap one. Gonzales maintained that lead until Dillon Raffurty, Kansas City, Missouri made the pass for the lead with just five laps remaining. He would go on to take the win.  Gonzales took the runner up position, eighth place starter and last week's winner Jon Padilla, Silvas, Illinois was third.  Fourth went to Jason Massengarb, Colona, Illinois and Josh May was the only Iowan in the top five. 

The IMCA Hobby Stocks presented by Big 8 Tyre Center also ran a 20 lap feature.  Newton, Iowa's Jake Nelson would lead this from start to finish.  He had pressure in the last half of the race the entire time from Eric Knutson, but he could do no better than second place.  Bradly Graham worked his way from eleventh starting spot to take third place.  It was Luke Ramsey in fourth, and Solomon Bennett rounded out the top five.  

The Outlaw Mini Mods were the final feature of the night and they were to run a 15 lap main event.  However this one would end early when a red flag flew at lap seven when a car launched off of turn four and into the pits. It appeared something broke or the throttle stuck. With the emergency vehicles on site, and the late hour, the decision was made to call the race complete.  Clayton Vanderploeg had been in command from the drop of the green and was still leading when the race was halted under the red flag.  He was awarded the win.  Ben Kraus was second after starting tenth, third was Kaden Rice, fourth went to Bobby Daniels, and fifth to Logan Brown. Edit: An update on driver Lucas Daniels who was driving the car that launched off into the pits, per his Facebook post, he thanks everyone for their thoughts and concerns, and was thankful for the car that kept him safe.  Unfortunately, he says the car is junk, but hopes to be back on the track sooner than later.  

The Modifieds run for $1,000 next Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway and also have a "Structural Shoot-Out contest paying $500. Joining the other IMCA classes are the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks.

Keep supporting the sport we all love.....dirt track racing!