Saturday, September 16, 2023

Ward takes Night #1 of the World Nationals

 Marshalltown Speedway held its 17th Annual World Nationals on Friday night. Taking top honors in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, was Tim Ward.  Dallon Murty took the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win, and Brayton Carter went to Victory Lane in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class.  Benji Irvine was tops in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Christian Grady took the checkers in the MACH-1 IMCA Sport Compacts.  

Things got kicked off with 30 laps of Stock Car racing, presented by Drury Automotive.  Early leader was Damon Murty with son Dallon on his tail.  Dallon took command on lap ten with the elder Murty suddenly off power and out of the running on lap fourteen.  Dallon Murty held his lead the remainder of the race, with Tom Berry, Jr. looking for anyway around him, but it was not to be as Murty held his ground expertly and sailed home to the win.  Berry made a last ditch slide attempt, but had to settle for the runner up spot.  Another slider was pulled off in the closing moments with Kaden Reynolds, who started twenty-third on the field, getting around Austin Kaplan as they finished third and fourth respectively.  Gage Neal finished fifth after starting eleventh.  The win paid $1,000 and was a B & B Chassis All Star qualifier for next year's Super Nationals.

The IMCA SportMods, presented by Rugged Radios ran a 25 lap main event.  Logan Anderson took advantage of his outside front row starting spot and shot to the lead immediately.  It wasn't long however, until Brayton Carter, who started fourth, was hot on his tail.  The two southern Iowa drivers then jockeyed for position with Anderson holding the upper hand until Carter was able to get under the leader and take command at lap eighteen. Carter then kept hold to the lead the rest of the way to the flying checkers and the win.  A restart for a late caution was not kind to Anderson as he slipped back with two cars getting around him.  Ben Chapman took the runner up honors, Cam Reimers was third, and Anderson was fourth.  Tenth place starter Jenae Gustin rounded out the top five.

The IMCA Modified feature, presented by Tire Demon, ran 30 laps and paid $2,000 and was a qualifier for next year's Fast Shafts All Star Super Nationals race.

This one was all Tim Ward, as he picked up where he left off from his Super Nationals win.  He led the entire race, with Tom Berry, Jr. chasing him the distance.  He was never seriously threatened and took the win, with Berry going second.  Third went to Todd Shute, Dylan Thornton was fourth, and Joel Rust came from sixteenth starting spot, to take fifth.

The IMCA Sport Compacts, presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown were added to the night's program.  They ran a 15 lap main event that was led from start to finish in the flag to flag race by Cristian Grady, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  He kept his ride at the top of the track to take the checkers followed by Blake Driscol in second.  Mark Smith, Bryan Vanaussdle, and Spencer Roggentien completed the top five.

The nightcap was 20 laps of IMCA Hobby Stock racing, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center.

David McCalla led the first ten laps, but Benji Irvine, Oelwein, Iowa racer took over as lap eleven was scored.  He was never threatened the rest of the way home and snagged the win.  Joren Fisher, Garrison, Iowa finished in second place.  Calvin Dhondt drove his hot rod from tenth starting spot, to take third.  Fourth went to David McCalla, and Corey VanderWilt was fifth.

Night #2 of the World Nationals will be tomorrow night, Saturday September 16, with racing in all the same classes.  Hot laps are scheduled for 6:40 p.m. with racing at 7.  This will close out the racing for the 2023 year at the Marshalltown Speedway. 





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