Incredibile night at the Iowa Racing Hall of Fame Induction

 It's already been a week since the 2024 Iowa Racing Hall of Fame Induction was held near Webster City at the Briggs Woods Conference Center, but the memories of a wonderful night linger on.  Fourteen new members were honored on that evening after a fun social hour and catered meal were enjoyed.  

We were honored to be asked to be there for two good friends that were being inducted....Rick Brown, and Jeff Broeg.  Jeff was a columnist during the Hawkeye Racing News era, writing under "The Back Stretch" , has been and continues to be a great announcer at races, started doing the All Iowa Points back in 1979...which I believe may have been our first acquaintance with the man who is an encyclopedia of racing knowledge. I know we inquired if we could get a hard copy of some of his All Iowa Points, and he sent them to us.  He also headed up the Nation Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure series for the Modified and Hobby Stock classes that ran for several years. We followed that tour most everywhere.  He then began the Positively Racing website, emphasising a positive approach to short track racing, where he also published his Back Stretch blog, along with several other bloggers.  He was gracious to ask if we would join the other bloggers and write about our races we attend.  That is where the 4dfan Report began. Congratulations, Jeff!  A well deserved recognition!  

Speaking of the 4dfan Report....that 4dfan means FORDfan, and that brings us to our great friend Rick Brown.  Rick piloted a Ford powered machine for most of his racing career except for his early few years in a bomber class.  We had previously followed another local racer from back in the day, Dave Blankenship...who also was a Ford man.  When he let go of  his "new look Ford Thunderbird" IMCA Stock Car in 1991, it was Rick who acquired that  car and jumped to the IMCA Stock Car class...and thus began our long term family friendship.  It proved to be a great move to the Stock Car class for Rick, and he had great success with that Ford Thunderbird!  A few years later, he had a new Thunderbird Stock Car built, but the original ride also stayed around, and both cars saw many Victory Lane visits.  IMCA began a NAPA Winner's Series traveling series, and Rick made everyone of those races (except for the final which fell on the same night he was fighting for his hometrack of Marshalltown Speedway's track championship)...within the state of Iowa, and beyond in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska if I recall correctly.  We followed him to nearly everyone of those races....and what a fun time we had.  What fond memories we hold of those times. We were honored to have "Eisele Motorsports" carried on his cars as one of many sponsors.  He never missed a night of racing at the Marshalltown Speedway in 23 years, and won 5 track championships.  We were also privileged to see him win his 100th IMCA Stock Car victory...his career wins ending at 124.  Congratulations, Rick!  What a ride!

Earlier in the evening, we got to visit with many racing friends, and one of those was former Stock Car racer, (except for one year in a Late Model) Bobby Greiner, Jr....a 2023 recipient of the Iowa Racing Hall of Fame.  What a fun time we had with reminiscing about the good old days, and some of those hilarious moments that had my jaws aching from laughing.   

The other 2024 inductees were:  Dale Suhr, who started his career in a supercharged gas dragster, and has continued for 5+ decades as a racer, owner, engine builder, fabricator, tuner and teacher. 

Posthumously honored was Jerry Smith, who raced motorcycles starting at age 18 thru 72 years old. 

Another inductee was Doug Haack, who we have seen waving the flags at many race tracks, and weekly for several years at the Southern Iowa Speedway. Currently, he has 4 tracks on his calendar for the racing season. 

Lynn Richard has been an owner, builder, and car sponsor, along with being a great auctioneer, doing many benefits, among them the Knoxville Late Model Nationals to benefit the Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Lynn started racing go-karts in 1977, then a stock car, a sportsman, and late model.  Then he became a car owner and sponsor.   

Among the Pre-1990 inductees was Harald "Andy" Andersen.  At 97 years of age, he was in attendance and accepted his award on stage.  He first raced a 1937 Ford Coupe at the Okoboji Speed Bowl in 1953, to being his racing journey .  

Another pioneer of dirt track racing was Hilbert Schramm.  He began racing a 1932 Ford Coupe in 1950. In August of 1952 he set a new speed record on the fifth-mile oval at Fort Dodge of 18.54 seconds. 

Dave Chase is a famous name in Iowa.  He started racing in 1968 in the the Sioux City, and Sunset Speedway in the Nebraska area.  He had over 300 wins in over 30 states.  A highlight of his career was when he drove for Jack Housby and being a teammate of Ramo Stott.

The late Ron Hutcherson, one of the Keokuk, Iowa famous racers, and brother to Dick Hutcherson, had the award accepted by his wife.  Ron raced in the IMCA Stock Car class, then moved on to the ARCA series where he had much success, winning at the Daytona Speedway among other tracks.  

Dirk Kirk, son of great racer Bill Kirk, who passed away in 1988, accepted for his father.  His racing career started in 1959 when he caught the racing bug after first seeing a race at the local track in Onawa.  He became a Siouxland sensation winning 14 championships in the region, and became known as the "Salix Speedster", racing everything from a coupe, to a modified, a stock car, and lastly, in a late model.  His grandson Willy Kirk is now racing in the IMCA Northern SportMod class sporting his grandfather's #86 and carrying on the family tradition.

Randy Smith began racing sprint cars in 1975, racing in 23 states, Canada, and Australia.  He won features at 32 different tracks, winning many at the Knoxville Raceway.

Karla Lampe started racing in 1995 at the Audubon  Speedway and won her first race the following year, sporting her #7  car.  She continues to race in the dirt and asphalt modified class. 

Finally, Steve Jackson.  Jackson was a threat anytime he showed up at a track starting in the late 1980's.  He was the first IMCA Stock Car driver to reach 100 wins.  He also won the IMCA Super Nationals 5 times....1988, '90, '93, '96, and 2000 and was a two time IMCA Stock Car National Champion.  

Many of the former Hall of Fame Inductees were in the house last Saturday.  Among them were some real heroes from back in the day....Ed Sanger and Curt Hansen. The following is a list of all of the inductees so far...beginning in 2018.

2018 - Legendary:  Ernie Derr (my personal hero), Don White, Johnny Beauchamp, Dick Hutcherson, Ramo Stott, Emory Collins, Duesenberg Brothers - August and Frederick, Tiny Lund, Marion Robinson, Ed Sanger, Gus Schrader,  Johnny Gerber, J. Alex Sloan, Al Sweeney, and Frank Winkley Drivers: 1970-present:  Roger Dolan, Curt Hansen, Tom Hearst, Bob Shryock, and Gary Webb. Drivers 1948-1969: Darrell Dake, Red Droste, Verlin Eaker, Denny Hovinga, and Ronnie Weeden. Owner/Mechanic/Builder/Manufacturer/Car Sponsor:  Larry and Penny Eckrich, Larry Clement, Bob Harris, and Bob Trostle. Promotor/Official/Media Member/Event/Series Sponsor:  Ralph Capitani, Al Frieden, and Keith Knaack. Motorcycle: Whit Hemingway. Figure 8: Larry Conkin. Drag Racing: The Grove Brothers.

2019 - Drivers: Dick Gustin, Lee Kunzman, Joel Rasmussen, Earl Wagner, Norm Wiemers, Bill Davis, Sr., Dave Farren, and Bob Hill.  Motorcycle: Chad Pederson. Figure 8: Tony Boger. Drag Racing: Vern Moats. Owner/Mechanic/Builder/Manufacturer/Car Sponsor: Johnny Johnson, and Gil Sonner. Promoter/Official/ Media Member/Event/Series Sponsor: Bill Haglund, Phil Roberts, and Nona Warden.

2020-2021 -  Drivers: Pre 1946: John Sloan.  Drivers 1946-present: Al DeCarlo, Ray Guss, Jr., Don Hoffman, Mel Kenyon, Wayne Larson, Stacy Redmond, Bill Rice, Gene Schattschneider, and Mike Smith.  Motorcycle: Larry Schultz.  Figure 8: Marty Pringle. Drag Racing: Mark Bacon.  Owner/Mechanic/ Builder/Manufacturer/Car Sponsor: Jack Housby, and Keith Simmons.  Promoter/Official/Media Member/Event/Series Sponsor: Morris "Beetle" Bailey, and Dean Malone. 

2022 - Drivers: Bill Beckman, John Connolly, Darrel DeFrance, Ron Jackson, Les Wildin, Gary Crawford, John Logue, Terry McCarl, Joe Merryfield, Ken Walton, Bill Zwanziger.  Owner/Builder/Car Sponsor: Dean Sylvester. Promoter/Official/Media: Robert Lawton, Jim Wilson.  Motorcycle: Justin Brayton. Figure 8: Orville Kinne, Tim Nelson.  Drag Racing: David Wells.  Innovator:  Larry Sommerfelt.  Racing Family:  The Killen Family, John, Don, Vern, and Tom.  

2023 - Drivers pre 1990 Em Fretheim, Bob Hilmer, Butch Householder, Dan Nesteby, Dick Schultz, Jim Wyman, Ted Zieman. Drivers: 1990 - present: Jeff Anderson, Ron Barker, Bobby Greiner, Jr., Brian Birkhofer, Danny Wallace.  Motorcycle: Edison Dye, Gavin Faith.  Figure 8: Scotty Slawson.  Drag Racing: Carl Moyer.  Owner/Builder/Car Sponsor:  Pat Fagen.

That's quite a list of prestigious racing icons from Iowa!  Many we saw race, or in other capacities, know them.  

 Let's all keep supporting the sport we all love....dirt track racing...and help keep it alive and well!   

Marshalltown Speedway Harvest Hustle on the High Banks closes out racing for the season

 The Marshalltown Speedway closed its doors on the 2024 season with the running of the Fast Shafts Harvest Hustle on the High Banks this past weekend with the final races in Iowa.  Friday night, October 25, saw qualifying through double heats for the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Friesen Performance Sport Mods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites, and the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts.  The drivers earned points through their finishing position and passing points. The top 10 in each class on Friday, were locked in for the Saturday night finale. The kids also got to have fun in the pits before the races on Saturday, as they walked the pit trailers for Trick or Treats from the drivers.

Saturday, October 26, Last Chance heats, and Last Chance Qualifiers were run to complete the starting grid for the classes. It was their chance of big payouts for each divisions and a unique combine harvester trophy.  There were 239 drivers checked in from all across the country for their chance to tame the High Banks of Marshalltown.

The Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation were first up for feature racing.  Their 20 lap feature paid $1,000 to the winner, and $100 to start the 24 car field.

Dillon Raffurty, Kansas City, Missouri, would lead this race from flag to flag, and was never really challenged on his way to victory.  Randy Bryan, Ames, Iowa finished in second, with track champion, Jon Padilla, Silvis, Illinois a close third.  Fourth went to Tanner Gannon, Des Moines, Iowa, and tenth place starter, Austin Gray, Story City, Iowa rounded out the top five. Raffurty builds the Raffurty Chassis for the family business.   

The SportMods, presented by Rugged Radios were up next for their 30 lap $2,000 to win main event and $200 to start.  

Logan Anderson, Eddyville, Iowa took the lead from his pole starting position as the green flag flew.  Track champion, Brayton Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa was quickly up to challenge the leader.  It took but a couple of peeks until Carter was able to swing to the outside and make the pass for the lead at lap 10.  It was easy sailing from there on out for the leader, as he smoothly maneuvered his way through lap traffic on his way to the feature win.  Tyler Nerud, Dorchester, Nebraska came home in second, getting around third place finisher Logan Anderson with just three laps left in the race.  Tyler Bannister, the driver from Bakersfield, California finished fourth, and Zach Davis, Lonsdale, Minnesota was fifth.  Only one yellow flag flew late in the race, which was no issue for Carter as he closed out his successful season of racing at Marshalltown.

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars ran a 30 lap feature for $3000 to win with $300 to start.  It was presented by Drury Automotive.  This race was led from start to finish by "The Game Changer", Dallon Murty, Chelsea, Iowa.  Track Champion and hometown driver Jimmy Gustin started seventh, threw some challenges at the leader, but was unable to do more than that.  As the race finished, Murty pulled away for the easy win, with Gustin taking the distant runner up position. Jeff Mueller, who now calls Boone, Iowa home, finished in third place. Thor Anderson, Monroe, Iowa finished fourth and Marshall, Minnesota's Jim Horejsi was fifth. Murty also went home with an extra $800 bonus money.  He had won the feature recently at the Maquoketa Speedway that had offered up the bonus if their winner could back up the win at the Harvest Hustle.  

The "Ground Pounders", the IMCA Modifieds, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap ran a 40 lap main event.  Track Champion, Tripp Gaylord, the Colorado native who is now living in the area, started on the pole and led all 40 laps on his way to the checkers.  Dallon Murty chased the leader in the early portion of the race, seeing visions of collecting the $4,000 winning money.  Just before the halfway mark of the race, Zack VanderBeek, made his way to second and began his quest to catch the leader.  It wasn't to be, however, as Gaylord went home to the flying checkers and the win....VanderBeek taking second.  Cody Laney, the native of Torrance, California finished third, fourth went to seventh place starter, Tom Berry, Jr., Marshalltown, Iowa, and fifth was Dallon Murty. As a note, Gaylord works at VanderBilt Chassis, and finished ahead of his boss, Zack VanderBeek, making it a one-two finish for the chassis.   

The Hobby Stocks were running for $3,000 to win and $200 to start in their 30 lap feature event, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center.

Nathan Ballard jumped to the immediate lead from his outside front row starting spot and was still leading when a red flag flew on lap six.  Tight racing down the front chute caused contact and two cars flipped simultaneously, halting the racing action.  Bradly Graham, Brooklyn, Iowa and visiting racer Brandon Bombardo, New Prague, Minnesota had their night end on a sour note, but both drivers were okay.  When racing action picked back up Ballard was still leading, with fifth place starter Adam Wasserman, Fairbury, Nebraska in second.  As the race wore on, Ballard maintained his top spot, with Wasserman taking peeks for a way around.  The final lap saw the two go side-by-side down the back chute. As they came out of turn four looking at the checkers, Wasserman swung to the outside, and around Ballard, beating him to the finish line to secure the win. Ballard had to settle for second place.  Third went to veteran racer, John Watson, Des Moines, Iowa, Solomon Bennett, Minburn, Iowa started was fourth, and pole sitter, Dylan Nelson, Adel, Iowa, was fifth.  

The final race of the year was the $1,000 to win, $100 to start 20 lap feature for the Sport Compacts.  

Dillon Richards, Beatrice, Nebraska started on the pole and never looked back.  Only a lengthy yellow at lap thirteen marred the race, but the restart was no issue for Richards in maintaining his lead.  He went home to the flying checkers, the $1,000 payday and the cool combine trophy.  Following him across the line in second, was sixth place starter, Luke Fraise, Houghton, Iowa.  Third went to another Beatrice, Nebraska racer, Johnny Thomas.  Cane Mahlberg, Dunlap, Iowa was an early race challenger to Richards, but had to settle for a fourth place finish.  Rounding out the top five was, Mason City, Iowa's Devon Jones, and a former two-time Super Nationals champion.  I believe Dillon Richards who has switched to racing Hobby Stocks from the Compact class, was piloting his wife Kaylee Richard's Sport Compact ride. Kaylee is the 2024 IMCA National Champion in the division and also the 2024 Lady Eagle National Champion of the class.  Dillon Richards is a former Sport Compact National Champion and Hobby Stock National Champion.  What a successful racing team!  

The Marshalltown Speedway has shuttered its doors for 2024, but looks forward to another racing season in 2025.  

This is likely our last racing blog of the year, but look forward to chasing racing again next year!  Keep supporting the tracks and help keep the sport we all love, dirt track racing, alive and well.  Happy off season to you!  

Another Super Nationals in the Books

 It got to be a struggle at times, but we managed to get nine straight days/nights of racing in recently.  We started off at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night, August 30 for their Showdown in MoTown special. Right after that was completed, we headed right over to check into our hotel in Ames for the upcoming marathon at the Boone Speedway starting on Saturday for their two-night Prelude to the Super Nationals, and then right into the 42nd Annual Super Nationals that started on Labor Day Monday. We seldom are known to leave a race early, but a few nights of the Super Nationals, we did just that!  

Prelude Night #1 on Saturday, August 31 saw 416 cars in competition in the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Mod Lites, and Sport Compacts.  There were 20 Mod Lites that punched their ticket to their Super Nationals Big Dance on Sunday, with Jaedon McDowell from Murfreesboro, Tennessee winning their first A Main, to start on the pole and Dillon Raffurty won the second A, and would start on the front of the middle row on Sunday.  

The Sport Compact Prelude win went to Dyllan Bonk, Hannibal, Missouri who led most of the race, lost the lead on lap 19 of the 20 lapper, but regained it to claim the win.  

The IMCA Stock Cars had 157 in the house, and with that car count, two A Mains were run.  The first feature went to Troy Jerovetz.  Jerovetz started on the pole and led all 25 laps to claim his Prelude Championship.  The second 25 lap feature went to sixth place starter John Oliver, Jr.  He chased then leader Jay Schmidt through lap ten, but gained the lead at lap eleven and then held it to the flying checkers and the win.  

There were 131 IMCA Modifieds checked in, and they too, ran two A Mains.  Tim Ward took command from his outside front row starting spot, passing leader Izac Mallicoat on lap five, and never looked back.  Ward, who amazingly has won the Prelude for the last four years, once again took the podium, and was dubbed, "Prince of the Prelude".  A Main #2 was red flagged on lap one when veteran racer, Russ Dickerson rolled off of the top between turns three and four, coming to a rest jammed against some of the catwalk posts.  It was a relief to know when he was out of the car, however the accident would put an end to his upcoming week at the Super Nationals.  When the race restarted it didn't take long for Cody Laney to slide his way around Mike VanGenderen and into the lead, and Jake McBirnie followed suite to take over second.  The chase was then on as slide after slide was attempted by McBirnie, until he finally made it stick on lap eleven.  He kept hold of the top spot then the rest of the race to score the victory over Laney.  

The last checkers flew at 1:24 a.m.....and we were already behind the 8 ball with lack of sleep!

Sunday, September 1, and Day #2 of the Prelude to the Super Nationals dawned and another beautiful day.  Today would see the crowning of the first of the 2024 Super Nationals champions as the IMCA Mod Lites finished their qualifying and then their Big Dance finale.  For a while it was appearing as though Dillon Raffurty would be taking his third championship since it first began in 2021, but mechanical issues put him out of the running just after the halfway point of the race.  When he pulled off into the pits, this put Riley Clem, Wildersville, Tennessee to the point, and he would then pull away from the field and take his first Super National's crown.

Other Prelude winners on the night were Matt Looft in SportMod A #1, and Logan Anderson in SportMod A #2. Zach Olmstead won Hobby Stock A #1, and it was Cory Probst, Brewster, Minnesota taking A #2.  Racing drew to a close at 12:35 a.m. and we were beginning to run on empty.

Labor Day Monday, September 2, was the official first day of the 2024 IMCA Super Nationals, and as always, was the traditional day for the Late Models and their Big Dance.  Also starting their qualifying run were the SportMods and the Hobby Stocks.  

There were 39 IMCA Late Models in the house with the starting field of 24 cars being whittled down through B mains.  Austin Becerra the driver from Carthage, Illinois was looking strong as he led the troops after grabbing the immediate lead from his pole starting position and held it through lap forty of the 50 lap event.  He then suddenly drove off of the track, assuming because of mechanical issues, and this put Cory Dumpert to the lead.  Yellows would fly on lap forty-four....twice, and again on lap forty-five, shaking up the field for the restart....Dumpert still in command.  However, by that time Dylan Thornton, the Orcutt, California native who is now calling Belle Plaine, Iowa home had worked his way into second place.  The final laps were a shoot out between Dumpert and Thornton, sliders being thrown.  A slider by Thornton in turn two with just one lap remaining paid off for him, and he raced his machine home to score the win.  Cory Dumpert, Anthony Roth, Matt Ryan, and Alex Bank completed the top five.  

We wore out before the racing was finished for the night, and headed to our hotel in Ames for some much needed sleep.

Day #2 of the 2024 Super Nationals would crown one more Champion in the IMCA Sport Compact class while the SportMods and the Hobby Stocks continued with their qualifying.  There was also the Race of Champions for the SportMods and the Hobby Stocks.  Jake Sachau won the SportMods and it was Cory Probst, Brewster, Minnesota in the Hobby Stock class. 

We ran out of steam again before the Big Dance for the IMCA Sport Compacts, but it was Brad Chandler taking those honors.

Day #3, and the day the IMCA Modifieds and Stock Cars made their first appearance.  The crowd always seems to increase substantially on this day.  There were 78 races and 726 laps on this day.  Yeah...we didn't see all of that, as once again we had to get some rest. We heard the racing was over around 3 a.m.  

Thursday, September 5, and Day #4 of the 2024 IMCA Super Nationals.  This was the day we were a bit worried about the "R" word, and as we left Ames to drive to the track, we did run into rain, though not very hard.  Thankfully it was only about an hour long, and by 11:30 a.m., it was gone....never to be seen again the rest of the week!  It was no issue for the track, in fact, probably good for it, and racing began for the day just a bit after the 2 p.m. announced start.  It was cooler and more overcast for those early in the day races, which was also good.  The Modifieds and Stock Cars continued their qualifying and the Stock Cars ran their All Star Invitational 30 lap event.  Hometown driver, Jake McBirnie got to the lead on lap five, and never looked back to secure that title.  We called it a night early once again and headed for our hotel in Ames. We were told the racing ended somewhere after 2:30 a.m.  

Friday, and it was Day #5....when it's Monday or Tuesday you are thinking the final days are so far off, but here it was Friday already!  

The Modifieds and Stock cars continued qualifying for their Big Dances on Saturday, and The Modifieds ran their 30 lap All Star Invitational.  Tom Berry, Jr. started sixth in the three-wide starting field of 30 cars, and by lap two, he had the lead.  It was all but over then as Berry kept it up front the rest of the way to the flying checkers. Once again we headed out before the races ended.  We heard the final checkers flew about 12:40 a.m.

Saturday, September 7, and it was the Big Dance day for the Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, and Hobby Stocks.  Last chance heats and then last chance, last chance A's were run for the the Modifieds and Stock Cars to fill in their 33 and 30 car starting grids respectively.  The Modifieds and Stock Cars also had their Race of Champions.  Devin Smith led all 12 laps of the Stock Car ROC to claim that honor, as did Mitchell Hunt, Lakeview, Michigan in the 12 lapper for the Modified ROC.  

There was a record number of 168 Hobby Stocks this year.  When the 30 car 3-wide field began their 30 lap Big Dance, early on there were four former Champions running 1-2-3-4, those being Dylan Nelson, Mike Smith, Nathan Ballard, and Zach Olmstead.  With 10 laps remaining, the four drivers were still at the front, but Mike Smith had taken over as the leader.  A lap later, Nelson was out of the game with a flat tire.  Heavy lap traffic was encountered at lap 25, and that's when the final caution came out, setting up what would be a dash to the checkers...Smith still leading.  In the scramble to the finish, Olmstead got eliminated, as did Smith who suffered a flat tire when the two made contact...Olmstead getting the "bad dog, no biscuit" black flag.  This put Nathan Ballard to the lead for the final run to the finish....which he held to take the win...matching his win from 2020.  Cody Williams, Minneapolis, Kansas moved up twelve spots to finish second, as did Brewster, Minnesota's Cory Probst who was scored third.  John Watson hard charged his way to finish fourth after advancing twenty-one positions.  Keith Burg rounded out the top five.

The Northern SportMods had 176 entries. Their 3-wide, 30 car Big Dance was also 30 laps.

Tony Olson started on the pole and took the immediate lead, but it was the outside front row starter Logan Anderson leading at lap two.  It was quite an entertaining slide job contest throughout the first half of the race, Anderson always able to maintain the lead despite Olson's attempts.  A caution flew at lap sixteen and on the restart Olson was able to gain the lead...but only briefly for one lap, and then Anderson came storming back to the front. In the final go arounds, Anderson was able to pull away from the field, and when the checkers flew, took the easy win.  Robbie Thome, Spalding, Nebraska came from starting in the middle of the third row and finished a distant second.  Dylan VanWyk, Oskaloosa, Iowa took third place, early leader Tony Olson was fourth, and Muscatine, Iowa's Shane Paris was fifth.  

The IMCA Stock Cars came up next for their 30 lap, 30 car, 3-wide Dance.  The class had a record setting 266 entries this year.  They have been one of the largest classes running this year that we've noticed in our area.  Many Modified drivers have taken to racing the fendered cars as well, all seem to love it.  One of those is veteran racer Kelly Shryock.  Shryock, who has tried many times in the past for a Super Nationals win, just falling short one year in the Modified division, finally got that elusive title in the Stock Car class.

Jake McBirnie and Dallon Murty put on the show in the early going as they wrestled back and forth but Kelly Shryock was soon in the picture after starting in the middle of the second row and began pressuring the front two.  A caution flew on lap 15, Murty leading, McBirnie in second, and Shryock in third.  When the race restarted, Murty and McBirnie made contact going into turn two, and Shryock shot past them both, and into the lead!  Murty didn't go away and the closing circuits saw him pestering Shryock to the max....but it was to no avail, and Shryock finally got that long yearned for Super Nationals win. Murty finished as the runner up, Fairmont, North Dakota's Jonny Carter was third, Jeff Mueller was fourth, and Jake McBirnie was fifth.

It was an emotional interview in Victory Lane for Shryock as he mentioned saying a little prayer to his dad as the race was winding down.  Shryock was the 26th different Big Dance winner in the Stock Cars....and in his 40th year of racing.  He received one of the loudest ovations we have heard at the Super Nationals.

And now it was time for the finale of the 42nd Annual IMCA Super Nationals....the Modified 40 lap, 33 car, 3-wide Big Dance.  There were 225 entries in the class of 2024.

Troy Morris III, one of the many Bakersfield, California racers in attendance... and known as "TM3" led the first handful of laps, but it was Dylan "Dilly Dilly" Thornton taking the lead on lap six from starting on the outside of row two. Dallon Murty fell into run second from starting in the middle of the front row, and Zack VanderBeek tagged on to run third after his middle of the second row starting position. The three ran nose to tail for lap after lap, Murty taking peeks under leader Thornton from time to time, but never a real threat.  After a caution and subsequent restart on lap thirty, VanderBeek was able to take over second place, and he too, began peeking under Thornton.  It was no issue however, as Thornton kept hold of that coveted lead those final ten laps to the flying checkers and secured the Super Nationals Big Dance Modified win. Tanner Black, Otis, Kansas, came on late in the race after starting ninth, and took the runner up title.  VanderBeek was third, Murty took fourth, and Austen Becerra, Carthage, Illinois rounded out the top five.  Thornton became the 30th different Modified champion in the 42 year history, and was a double Big Dance winner this year after his Late Model win on Monday.

That last checkered flag fell at 11:18 on Saturday night, and yes, we did stay for all of the racing on that night!  

Some notes from this year's races:

This year's Super Nationals had one of, if not the best ever, weather runs.  The fans filed into the stands late on some nights, and on Saturday night, it was so crowded you could hardly get through the concession area behind the main grandstands.  

Former Super Nationals champions are invited back to the event each year, and this year we were privileged to have the 2nd Super Nationals Modified champion spend some time with us.  Jack Mitchell was the 1984 SNs champion that was held in Independence, Iowa.  The 1993 Modified champion, Ron Pope also spent a short time in the VIP tower.  

It was a record 1,036 entries this year, and 506 races were run...including the Prelude.  That's a lot of cars and a lot racing!  The dedicated track crew did it again this year.  After late nights, or rather early mornings before the racing was done, they were back out on the track "farming" in just a few hours...day after day.  The scoring tower had little sleep as well, but still got it all done like a fine oiled machine.  

We love catching up with racing family we see but once a year, as well as our Iowa racing family we hang with throughout the year.  That is one of the best parts of the entire Super Nationals.  Of course the racing is great too, and we saw some fabulous finishes that came right down to the wire.  

Edit:  We often stick around for the motor auctions after the final race on Saturday, but didn't this year.  However, this is what we learned they went for.  Hobby Stock $7,500, SportMod $8,000, Stock Car $10,500, and Modified $7,000.

We may have a race or two left in 2024, but weather will determine that for us.  There are races to be found for those more hardy than us though, so find a track to support and help keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing....alive and well!   

 

  

Showdown in Motown checkers go to Laney, Kaplan, Gustin, Graham, Freeburg, Gardner and Inman

The Karl Auto Group ShowDown in MoTown was held at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday with a whopping 178 cars from all across the United States tuning up for the upcoming IMCA 42nd Annual Super Nationals.  Cody Laney would take the honors in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, and Austin Kaplan won the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car class.  Jenae Gustin repeated her win from last year's ShowDown in MoTown when she took the checkers in the IMCA Friesen Performance SportMod division.  Bradly Graham won the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature, Brandon Freeburg won the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites, Michael Gardner won the IMCA MACH-1 Sport Compacts, and the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Truck win went to Tyler Inman.

Feature racing kicked off with the 16 lap Northern Sport Mod feature, presented by Rugged Radios.

Hometown racer, Jenae Gustin started third on the grid, grabbed the lead immediately, and held that top position the entire run to the checkers.  Jake Sachau started seventh, and tried chasing down Gustin but had nothing for her, and had to settle for second place.  Third went to Brayton Carter, Jason Bannister, Bakersfield, California was fourth, and David Schwartz, Greenfield, Iowa was fifth.  Gustin matched her ShowDown in MoTown win from 2023.

The Mod Lites ran a 20 lap feature, presented by Knight Sanitation, paying $1000 to the winner. 

Brandon Freeburg, Metamora, Illinois started on the pole for the feature, and would be all she wrote for anyone else.  Freeburg led every lap on his way to the victory.  Track champion Jon Padilla, Silvis, Illinois started third and attempted to run down the leader, but it was all in vain as he had to be content with second.  Third was Joe Glick, fourth went to eleventh place starter Ben George, and Alex Eischeid started sixteenth and finished fifth.

The IMCA Stock Car came to the track next for their 20 lap main event, presented by Drury Automotive.

Hesston Shaw, Hennessey, Oklahoma started from the pole and grabbed the lead as the race went green.  Before the halfway point of the race, Austin Kaplan had tracked down the leaders, and was applying pressure.  Then he was able to make the pass on the backstretch, passing then leader Scott Rice, and took command.  It was all Kaplan's race from then on, as he stretched it out and went home to the easy win.  Shaw finished a distant second, third went to twelfth place starter, Troy Foulger, Oakley, California, Daniel Eckblad, St. Peter, Minnesota was third, fourth went to Scott Rice, and eighteenth place starter, Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa rounded out the top five.

The IMCA Modifieds were also vying for a $1000 to win in their 20 lap event, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap.  

Ricky Alvarado, Hotchkiss, Colorado was the polesitter and grabbed the immediate lead as the race started.  By lap five, Cody Laney, Torrance, California was challenging the leader after coming from tenth starting spot.  The rest of the race was a battle between the two.  A slide job failed for Laney just past the halfway mark, but another on lap fourteen did the trick, with Laney taking over the lead.  After Laney got that lead, he drove off and went home to the flying checkers with an easy win.  Alvarado followed a distant second.  Third went to IMCA defending national champion Chaz Baca, Mesa, Arizona, Mitchell Hunt, Lakeview, Michigan was fourth, and Troy Foulger, the Californian doing double duty after just racing his Stock Car, took fifth,

The Sport Compacts ran 15 laps for their feature, presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown.

The entire race was between two cars up front, Cristian Grady, and Michael Gardner, both regulars at the track.  Grady held the upper hand until two laps remaining when he was able to sneak by Grady, and then go home to the feature win.  Grady had to be content with second place, Anthony Clark, Omaha, Nebraska was third, Kevin Reuter, San Diego, California finished fourth, and David Kimmel was fifth.

The Hobby Stock feature was 16 laps, and was presented by Big 8 Tyre Center.

This race was led flag to flag by regular weekly racer at the speedway, Bradly Graham.  Graham was never seriously challenged on his way to victory, and finished comfortably ahead of second place Eric Knutson.  Andrew Burg took third, fourth went to Josh Sidles, Emmetsburg, Iowa, and Brandon Nielsen, Spencer, Iowa completed the top five.

The night's racing ended with the Karl Dirt Trucks and their 16 lap feature.

Tyler Inman started on the pole and led this race for the entire caution free event.  Brandon Cox chased the leader for most of the race, but could do no better than runner up.  Third went to Mason Mitchell, fourth was Rick Cox, and Austin Meiners rounded out the top five,

The Marshalltown Speedway now falls silent but not until a final fling on October 25 and 26 for the Harvest on the High Banks.  

We now begin eight more days/nights of racing as we head to the Boone Speedway.  First up the two days of the Prelude to Super Nationals on August 31, and September 1. Then on Labor Day Monday, the 42nd Annual Super Nationals starts.  We hope we can hold up!

Find a track to support, and help keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing, alive and well! 

Murty Doubles Up on P1P Challenge and Watermelon Classic Night, Lathrop Takes First Time Winner Feature, and Gustoff, Reimers, Smith and May Also Find Victory Lane

Boone Speedway saw their annual Watermelon Classic, P1P Challenge, and First Time Winner night on Saturday at the track.  Dallon Murty doubled up by winning the Watermelon Classic and the P1P features in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds. The Watermelon Classic has become a tradition due to the fact that supposedly, drivers once were heard or told that they would race for watermelons!    Cody Gustoff won his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Feature, and it was Cam Reimers taking the honors in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods.  Mike Smith went back to Victory Lane for winning another IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature, and it was Josh May leading flag to flag in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lite main event. In the SportMod First Time Winner race, Ottumwa's Tommy Lathrop finally got it done!  Extra laps were added to the feature events, extra money was on the line, and of course, the drivers were awarded the sought after watermelon!

It was a night filled with some different racing action with the Modifieds running time trials and then also earning passing points in heat races for the P1P Challenge and the Watermelon Classic features.  

The P1 Promotions Challenge for the Modifieds ran first after they had earlier qualified through timing.  Only the top twelve fastest were locked in for the main event.  A redraw was held for the top twelve to set their starting lineup for the 15 lap feature. Dallon Murty and Dan Wagner were the lucky recipients of the front row. 

When the green flag flew, Wagner grabbed the lead and Murty tucked right in behind him.  Wagner continued his lead through lap four with Murty hounding him. Then just after lap four was in the books, Murty got under Wagner on the backstretch, threw a perfect slider in turns three and four, and had the lead when lap five was scored.  It was all smooth sailing for Murty from then on as he pulled away and scored the convincing win.  Wagner, finished in second place, Tim Ward just got by Jeremy Mills in the closing seconds as they went third and fourth respectively, and Izac Mallicoat was fifth. Murty took the $1,000 check and hardware.

The Watermelon Classic features came next and first on the track were the Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck & Farm.  They ran a 20 lap race.

Josh May, by luck of the draw, sat on the pole for the start.  It was all but over when he grabbed the immediate lead when the race went green.  Travis Stensland started fifth, and quickly got to second place but that would be all she wrote as he chased May the rest of the way to the checkers, and had to settle for the runner up position.  Charlie Brown started twelfth and finished an impressive third, fourth went to Ben George, and Austin Gray came from fourteenth starting spot, to finish in fifth.  The race went caution free.

The run for the coveted watermelon for the Northern SportMods, presented by Elmquist Towing, came next, with their 23 lap main event. 

Tim Eaton, St. Joseph, Missouri led the first handful of laps holding back Alec Fett, and then Cam Reimers.  Reimers made his move on the backstretch after lap five was scored, and was leading when lap six was counted.  Reimers had the race in command from there on and took the checkers and the win.  He was content to let Fett and Taylor Kuehl duke it out behind him for second place in the latter part of the contest with Kuehl winning out for the runner up spot, Fett going third.  Fourth went to Randy Havlik, and track champion Dusty Masolini raced from eleventh to finish in fifth.

The Modified came to the track next, racing for $1,000, hardware, and the watermelon. They had earned passing points in their earlier heat races, and thus were aligned accordingly.  They ran a 25 lap feature, presented by D & E Outside Services.

Johnathon Logue got the lucky redraw and started on the pole of the event.  He had his hands full with the likes of Jeremy Mills and Kyle Brown, both taking the lead briefly.  Logue fought back however and regained the lead again on lap ten.  Brown was soon off the pace and into the pits, and now Logue was having to hold back eighth place starter Todd Shute, and eleventh spot starter, Dallon Murty.  The fifth yellow of the caution plagued race flew on lap eighteen, Logue still leading, and Murty and Shute eager for the restart. Logue held the lead when nineteen went in the books, but with just five laps remaining, it was Murty to the lead.  Yet another yellow flag would fly on lap twenty-two, but Murty had no issue on maintaining his lead and went home to the flying checkers and scored his second win of the night.  Todd Shute was second, third went to Nick Meyer, who started thirteenth and had an impressive run, as did fourteenth place starter Zachary Madrid, the Arizona native who now calls Boone, Iowa home, who was fourth.  Jeremy Mills completed the top five.  

The Stock Cars ran a 25 lap main event, presented by Boone Moose Lodge and paying $1000 to the winner.

It was the duel of two #19s for much of the race, with Alan Van Gorp leading the way, and Jay Schmidt chasing him.  The two battled closely for lap after lap with Cody Gustoff giving them both fits.  Then on lap nineteen, an unfortunate incident took out both Schmidt and Van Gorp in turn one as contact happened with the two leaders and Gustoff. It looked to be a "bad dog, no biscuit" move to us, but no black flag was shown with Schmidt and Van Gorp got the short end of the stick, and their night would draw to a close. The lead was then handed over to Gustoff for the restart. Gustoff would hold on the final laps to score the win....his first in a Stock Car at Boone.  David Smith scored the runner up spot after starting ninth, and Scott Olson was third after a tenth place start. Rod Richards, and Liberty, Missouri's Justin Custer rounded out the top five.  

The final Watermelon Classic feature of the night was 20 laps of Hobby Stock racing, presented by Pickett Salvage.  

Keith Burg grabbed the immediate lead from his pole starting position as the race began.  Eric Knutson tagged on to run second.  Knutson took command on lap six and continued his run at the front through four cautions, but on the final yellow at lap sixteen, it was track champion Mike Smith hot on his tail for the restart.  Smith swung to the top out of turn two when the race went green, and had the lead when lap seventeen was scored.  The final circuits were all Smith's as he raced home to yet another impressive win in the division.  Knutson was second, Burg went third, fourth went to tenth place starter Wayne Gifford, and first timer Justin Frederick, Cleghorn, Iowa rounded out the top five.  

After a final farming session, the 3rd Annual John Logue First Time Winner's 20 lap race was held.  This year, it was the Northern SportMods.  The 15 car field was aligned with the oldest driver to the front and the youngest to the back. The parade lap was led by John Logue in his # 69 throwback Stock Car. 

Tom Lathrop, the sixty-three year old veteran racer from Ottumwa, Iowa started on the pole as he sought his first ever win in a Sport Mod.  Lathrop would get out in front and lead the entire caution free race and take that long overdue victory.  There was some shake-up in the final two laps when Jessiah Taylor's last ditch effort to better his position fell short putting him far back at the finish.  This allowed twelfth place starter Cam Vincent to take the runner up position, Jason Carney, who ran up front most of the race and finished in third place, fourth went to thirteenth place starter, and rookie Mike Smith making his debut in a SportMod, and David Hoover completed the top five.  

We were happy to see a true weekly SportMod racer get his first win.  We've watched Tommy Lathrop for years and years at many tracks, but mainly at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Osky....dating back to at least the early '90's.  He was one happy camper, getting his first ever SportMod win last night....sporting his ever-present Vikings wrap on his Harris chassis.  

Next on tap at the Boone Speedway, will be night #1 of the Prelude to Super Nationals on Saturday, August 31, followed by night #2 on Sunday, September 1.  Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Compacts, and Mod Lites will run on Saturday.  The Sunday night show will feature the Northern Sport Mods, and Hobby Stocks, and the Mod Lites will crown the first of the 2024 Super Nationals champions.  Hot laps are scheduled for 1:30 with racing at 3 both days.  Then on Labor Day Monday, September it will be the first of six straight days/nights of racing at the 42nd Annual Super Nationals spectacle!  

We plan to start our marathon of racing this coming Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway for the Showdown in MoTown.  The next day will start eight days/nights at the Boone Speedway for the Preludes on August 31, and September 1, and then six straight days/nights for the 42nd Annual Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals.  Not sure how or if we will hold up for the entire run, but will give it a shot!  

Find a track to support and help keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing....alive and well!

 

Boone Season Champion Crowns to McBirnie, Smith, Masolini, Smith, and Glick

It was Season Championship Saturday night at the Boone Speedway ending the 2024 regular season.  Feature racing saw the top six in points locked in for the night and inverted for their starts, while the rest of the main event line ups were determined through heat races. Each class was brought to the frontstretch prior to their feature event, with out of car introductions.  Each class had five laps added to their features

The IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lite 20 lap feature, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck and Farm was up first.  Ben George grabbed the lead when the race went green, and it was to his liking.  He would lead all 20 laps on his way to the caution free event, for his fourth checkers of the year.  Cory Sonner would follow him most of the distance to take second place.  Josh May finished a distant third, fourth went to Garrett Barber, and Jaxon Carr started eleventh, and finished fifth.  Track Champion Joe Glick finished in seventh and sealed his track crown.

The IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods ran a 23 lap feature, presented by Elmquist Towing.  

Most of the race was a two car battle up front between Dusty Lynch and Hunter Longnecker.  The two raced side by side, lap after lap.  Three yellows and subsequent restarts did not change up the two that kept battling each other as the race neared its conclusion.  However, a fourth and final yellow at lap 20, did change things up as on the restart, Matt Avila who had been running third, made his way into second place behind Lynch and then Longnecker made a slide work for him on the final lap, and got by both Avila and Lynch to get to the checkers first...sealing his win.  Avila finished as the runner up, Cory Pestotnik got by Lynch in the closing moments to take third, fourth going to Lynch, and Randy Havlik came from twelfth starting spot to take fifth.  Longnecker took his first feature win of the year.  Track Champion was Dusty Masolini...going back to back for the title. 

The IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds ran 25 laps, presented by D & E Outside Services.

Johnathon Logue started on the outside front row and took command, Izac Mallicoat, polesitter, taking over second place.  Point leader Jake McBirnie made his way to the front of the pack by lap eight and the three broke away from the pack.  McBirnie was able to get the lead just before the halfway point of the race, Mallicoat getting by Logue to take over second place.  Then at lap twenty, an unfortunate incident occured when a lap car got in the leaders way, and contact was made. A yellow flew, and before McBirnie was able to get moving, he was deemed involved, and it put him out of the running.  This put young Izac Mallicoat to the point position for the restart.  Four more yellows would fly before the conclusion of the race but Mallicoat skillfully held his lead the rest of the way to the checkers and the win...his first in the Modified class at Boone.  Jimmy Gustin took the runner up spot.  Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Arizona visitor came from twenty-second starting spot to take third, Jaxon Saathoff, Beatrice, Nebraska also advanced through the field well, starting eighteenth and taking fourth.  Veteran racer Russ Dickerson completed the top five.  McBirnie is the Track Champion for 2024, by only having to take the green to secure his title.  

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge, ran a 25 lap main event.

Devin Smith and Josh Daniels sat on the front row for the start of the race.  Daniels grabbed the lead but just a meer four laps later, it was Smith taking over.  Smith didn't let five cautions after that bother him on restarts, as he took off easily to hold the lead.  In the final laps, Smith pulled away from the rest of the field and took the easy win....his second of the year at the Speedway.  Following a distant second was Tyler Pickett, third was  brother David Smith, Josh Daniels was fourth, and another brother, Donavon Smith was fifth.  David Smith is the 2024 Track Champion in the Stock Cars.

The feature racing ended with the 20 lap IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature, presented by Pickett Salvage.  

Braden Gifford started on the outside front row and immediately took command.  Meanwhile, point leader Mike Smith, who started sixth, was quick to snake his way up to the front, and by lap four, had the lead.  The rest of the race was all Smith's as he smoothly ran the track on his way to the win in the race that went flag to flag.  John Watson finished a distant runner up with Eric Knutson a close third.  Solomon Bennett and Seth Butler rounded out the top five.  Smith is the 2024 Track Champion with six regular season wins at the track and the only Track Champion to also win the feature on the night.

A season awards ceremony was held in the infield after the races, honoring the top drivers in their divisions.  Also last night, there were new BRIGHT caution lights installed around the track.  No way could a driver not see those!  

The regular season has come to a conclusion, but next Saturday night, will be a Super National's Tune Up, P1P Challenge, and the Watermelon Classic.John Logue's "first time feature winners race for the SportMods, will also take place.  This year, no jumping classes and the drivers must have run at least one SportMod race prior.  The IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites will be in action.  Grandstands open at 5:30, Hot laps at 6 and racing at 7.  Then the following weekend, August 31, and September 1, is two nights for the Prelude to Super Nationals.  Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Compacts, and Mod Lites will run on August 31, and on September 1, the Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks will run, and the Mod Lites will be the first to be crowned with a Super Nationals title.  Monday, Labor Day September 2, will dawn the first of six days/nights of the 42nd Annual IMCA Super Nationals.  We plan to be there and enjoy, barring any unforeseen issues for us senior citizens!

There are still races to be found as the season winds down, so try and find a track to support and help keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing....alive and well!

 

Six Track Champions Crowned on Season Championship Night at the Marshalltown Speedway

It was N 3rd Avenue Dairy Queen Larry Wollam Season Championship Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway and six track champions were crowned.  Out of car introductions were made for all features.  The point leader in each division drew for the way the feature would be lined up...4, 6, 8, or complete field inverted.  

First to the track was the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods, presented by Rugged Radios.  The draw was for the "field" to be inverted.  Six extra laps were added making it a 22 lap main event, and putting point leader Brayton Carter to start at the rear.

When the race went green, it was outside front row starter Ryan Leeman taking the lead.  A yellow flew on lap three when Will Wolf lost a wheel, and by this time, Brayton Carter had already made his way up to third place.   When the race picked back up Carter wasted no time in moving forward and had the lead when lap five went in the books.  It was all Carter's race from there on out as he took the checkers and the win, as well as the track championship for 2024. It was Carter's fourth regular season win of the season after having also taken the Frostbuster win.  Leeman held on to take the runner up spot, Colton Livezey was third, fourth went to Keith Simmons, and Hunter Clement completed the top five. 

The IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites had point leader Jon Padilla, who had the track title all wrapped up, make the call without even drawing, He opted to invert the entire field of cars, putting him to start tail end Charlie.  The feature, presented by Knight Sanitation went 23 laps.

Mike Pershing and Michael Mann, both from Colchester, Illinois were the lucky front row starters due to the field being inverted for the start.  Mann led lap one, Pershing took over on lap two, and Colona, Illinois Jason Masengarb took over on lap three.  Masengarb pulled his lead to a full straight away when a yellow flew on lap sixteen.  By this time Jon Padilla was up to second place and battling with Josh May who was running third.  When the race returned to action, Masengarb maintained his lead, but briefly lost it to Padilla on lap eighteen, but then came right back to reclaim the top spot.  He never gave it up the remaining distance to the finish, and sealed the win, his third of the season. Padilla started twentieth and had to settle for second, nineteenth place starter Josh May came home in third place, fourth went to Colona, Illinois racer Mike Morrow, and twelfth place starter Cory Sonner was fifth. Padilla made the 2 hour and 40 minute trip weekly to race at the speedway.  

Point leader in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars was Jimmy Gustin....who had the point title all wound up before the green even fell....drew a six, to invert for the 20 lap feature, presented by Drury Automotive.  

Last year's track champion, Steve Meyer took the lead when the race went green, Scott Rice falling in to run second, and Jimmy Gustin was already up to third at lap one.  A yellow flew at lap four when Rice had the misfortune of an incident that left him stopped at the top of turn four, and ending his good run. When the racing action picked back up, Meyer continued to hold down the top spot, and now Gustin was on his tail in second place.  Michael Jaennette had now tossed his hat into the ring, and was throwing challenges at Gustin.  He got to the second spot and then with an attempt at a slide on leader Meyer, got a bit too high in turn four, and slipped off the edge.  He gathered it back in but was now running a distant third, Gustin now in second place and looking to challenge leader Meyer.  The final circuits however, saw no change in the front running order, as Meyer went home to the flying checkers and the win, Gustin having to settle for second.  Meyer held the third place position, fourth went to seventeenth place starter Paul Stone, Winston, California, and Damon Murty, racing a borrowed car for the evening, was fifth.  This was Meyer's second feature win of the season, who stated in his post race interview he almost didn't come due to a back injury, but decided to, "load up on ibuprofen" and give it a try.  

The luck, or in some cases, the bad luck of the draw for the starting line up in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified feature, saw point leader Tripp Gaylord draw six to invert.  Lucky recipient of the pole then went to Kyle Brown, with visiting Bates City, Missouri driver Cody Brill sitting alongside for the start of the 26 lap feature, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap.

Brown, who was racing his newly built IMCA Modified, after being a regular on the USMTS trail this year, grabbed the lead when the green flag flew with Brill giving chase.  Brown continued his run at the front, but just before lap sixteen went into the books, he drove off of the track on the backstretch, and into the pits....his night ended with an overheating issue. This put Brill to the point position and soon he had a pair #77s reeling him in.  Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Arizona, and Tripp Gaylord, were duking it out for second place, and putting on a spirited battle.  Brill never gave up his leader of the pack spot however, and went home to score the win...his first time at the Marshalltown Speedway.  Gaylord finished second and sealed his track championship, third went to Austin Kuehl, fourth to Kaylin Lopez, and veteran racer David "Blue" Brown, rounded out the top five.  Winner Brill made the four hour trip up to race at Marshalltown in his first IMCA race of the year.   

The IMCA Mach-1 Compacts saw point leader Cristian Grady pull an eight to invert for their 15 lap feature. Corwyn Whisler, Des Moines, Iowa got to start on the pole and Mark Smith sat alongside. 

Whisler held down the lead for two laps until last week's winner Michael Gardner, who had started fifth, took command.  Gardner was never threatened from there on out as he sailed home to a comfortable win.  Point leader Cristian Grady, who took the track championship, was second.  Third went to early leader Corwyn Whisler, fourth went to David Kimmel, and Mark Smith was fifth.  Gardner captured his second feature win of the season and praised his "Wicked Ways" chassis.

Feature racing concluded with the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.  Point leader Calvin Dhondt pulled a 4 to invert on the start of their 16 lap feature, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center.  

The race did not get one lap in before it went red flagged when Eldora, Iowa's Derrick McNeece spit out a driveshaft and went for a spectacular tumble at the top of turn three.  Thankfully, he was not hurt, but the car was not as fortunate.

Eric Knutson took advantage of his outside row starting spot, thanks to the four car invert, and immediately took the lead.  It would be a lead he would never relinquish as he went home to the flying checkers and the win.  Bradly Graham started third, and took the runner up spot after getting around Solomon Bennett, who was third.  Sam West came from sixth starting spot to finish fourth, and Calvin Dhondt secured his track championship with a fifth place finish...three points up on second place Bradly Graham.  This was Knutson's third feature victory of the year.

At the conclusion of the feature racing, some Powder Puff racing entertained the fans.  Kathryn Jenkins won in the SportMod division racing Boe Jenkin's car.  The Stock Car winner was Rylea Kriegel piloting Kylie Rawlins ride, Addy Stevens won the Hobby Stock class racing Brad Graham's car, Natalie Barber piloted Cliff Barber's Mod Lite to take checkers, and Nikole Kimmel won the Sport Compact contest in David Kimmel's car.  

The next race at the Marshalltown Speedway will be on August 30....no racing next Friday, August 23 as it was a rain date only for the Season Championships.  The August 30th race is the Showdown at MoTown with the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks joining the other six regular classes.  Hot laps are scheduled for 6:15, with racing at 7. 

The wind decided to come out of the WNW last night, and we ate a bit of the track as well as took some home with us.  We did however, enjoy the racing action once again at our Friday night home at the Marshalltown Speedway.  

Find a track to support, and help keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing....alive and well! 

IMCA Modified Presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap

---

A Feature 1 (26 Laps): 1. 96-Cody Brill[2]; 2. 77T-Tripp Gaylord[11]; 3. 77X-Austin Kuehl[3]; 4. 16K-Kaylin Lopez[7]; 5. 21-David Brown[9]; 6. 56-Dustin Kroening[4]; 7. 43S-Scott Simatovich[8]; 8. 12-Bret Ramsey[6]; 9. 2B-Robert Moore[5]; 10. (DNF) 21K-Kyle Brown[1]; 11. (DNF) 2Z-Zack Rawlins[10]; 12. (DNS) 96J-Jaxon Saathoff

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 56-Dustin Kroening[2]; 2. 21-David Brown[4]; 3. 16K-Kaylin Lopez[3]; 4. 96-Cody Brill[6]; 5. 96J-Jaxon Saathoff[5]; 6. 12-Bret Ramsey[1]

Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 2Z-Zack Rawlins[4]; 2. 77X-Austin Kuehl[1]; 3. 77T-Tripp Gaylord[5]; 4. 43S-Scott Simatovich[3]; 5. 2B-Robert Moore[2]; 6. (DNF) 21K-Kyle Brown[6]

20 entries

IMCA Stock Car Presented by Drury Automotive

---

A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 94-Steve Meyer[2]; 2. 19-Jimmy Gustin[6]; 3. 93-Michael Jaennette[5]; 4. 66P-Paul Stone[17]; 5. 99D-Damon Murty[9]; 6. 38T-Dylan Thornton[15]; 7. 013-JD Auringer[18]; 8. 93L-Blake Lehman[16]; 9. 14X-Austin Schrage[3]; 10. 32A-Ethan Atcheson[19]; 11. 37-Kylie Rawlins[8]; 12. 32-Bill Atcheson[20]; 13. (DNF) I 80-Dillon Solum[12]; 14. (DNF) 2-Dave Atcher[11]; 15. (DNF) 31-Micheal Smith[13]; 16. (DNF) 30M-Maguire DeJong[7]; 17. (DNF) 32C-Tom Cannon[10]; 18. (DNF) 22R-Todd Reitzler[1]; 19. (DNF) 4-Scott Rice[4]; 20. (DNF) 16B-Jeff Byers Jr[14]

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 4-Scott Rice[4]; 2. 38T-Dylan Thornton[8]; 3. 22R-Todd Reitzler[6]; 4. 93-Michael Jaennette[5]; 5. 93L-Blake Lehman[3]; 6. 32A-Ethan Atcheson[10]; 7. I 80-Dillon Solum[7]; 8. 66P-Paul Stone[9]; 9. 37-Kylie Rawlins[2]; 10. 16B-Jeff Byers Jr[1]

Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 32C-Tom Cannon[2]; 2. 2-Dave Atcher[6]; 3. 19-Jimmy Gustin[8]; 4. 30M-Maguire DeJong[7]; 5. 99D-Damon Murty[3]; 6. 31-Micheal Smith[1]; 7. 013-JD Auringer[9]; 8. 14X-Austin Schrage[4]; 9. 32-Bill Atcheson[10]; 10. (DNF) 94-Steve Meyer[5]

9 entries

IMCA SportMod Presented by Rugged Radios

---

A Feature 1 (22 Laps): 1. 01-Brayton Carter[9]; 2. R31-Ryan Leeman[3]; 3. 29-Colton Livezey[4]; 4. 511-Keith Simmons[2]; 5. 40HC-Hunter Clement[6]; 6. 18-Josalyn Elmquist[5]; 7. 151-Boe Jenkins[1]; 8. (DNF) 27K-Zander Keeland[7]; 9. (DNF) 7-Will Wolf[8]

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 29-Colton Livezey[6]; 2. 18-Josalyn Elmquist[2]; 3. 27K-Zander Keeland[3]; 4. 01-Brayton Carter[8]; 5. R31-Ryan Leeman[5]; 6. 7-Will Wolf[4]; 7. 511-Keith Simmons[7]; 8. 151-Boe Jenkins[9]; 9. 40HC-Hunter Clement[1]

24 entries

IMCA Hobby Stock Presented by Big 8 Tyre Center

---

A Feature 1 (16 Laps): 1. 12K-Eric Knutson[2]; 2. 2G-Bradly Graham[3]; 3. 11B-Solomon Bennett[1]; 4. 47SW-Sam West[6]; 5. 69-Calvin Dhondt[4]; 6. 17K-Briar Kriegel[8]; 7. 55X-Corey VanDerwilt[5]; 8. 7F-Brayden Fahrni[9]; 9. 51X-Dustin Filloon[7]; 10. 7B-Eric Stanton[18]; 11. H20-Daniel Wauters[23]; 12. 55-Brett Maasdam[17]; 13. 9-Kolby Sabin[21]; 14. 72RJ-Joey Hughes[20]; 15. 17-Andy Peck[10]; 16. 7-Clayton Sogge[13]; 17. (DNF) 146-Leighton Potter[22]; 18. (DNF) 29X-Matt Miller[19]; 19. (DNF) 27-Brad Graham[16]; 20. (DNF) 78N-Matt Nelson[14]; 21. (DNF) 88H-Kale Hemsley[12]; 22. (DNF) 17T-Aidan Lamasters[11]; 23. (DNF) 48-Derrick McNeece[15]; 24. (DNS) 59C-Chad Rickett

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 88H-Kale Hemsley[3]; 2. 2G-Bradly Graham[7]; 3. 55X-Corey VanDerwilt[6]; 4. 146-Leighton Potter[5]; 5. 69-Calvin Dhondt[8]; 6. 7F-Brayden Fahrni[4]; 7. 72RJ-Joey Hughes[1]; 8. 29X-Matt Miller[2]

Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 55-Brett Maasdam[3]; 2. 12K-Eric Knutson[7]; 3. 27-Brad Graham[5]; 4. H20-Daniel Wauters[8]; 5. 9-Kolby Sabin[6]; 6. 17T-Aidan Lamasters[2]; 7. 47SW-Sam West[4]; 8. 7-Clayton Sogge[1]

Heat 3 (6 Laps): 1. 17K-Briar Kriegel[4]; 2. 51X-Dustin Filloon[6]; 3. 11B-Solomon Bennett[7]; 4. 48-Derrick McNeece[2]; 5. 78N-Matt Nelson[3]; 6. 59C-Chad Rickett[8]; 7. 17-Andy Peck[1]; 8. (DNF) 7B-Eric Stanton[5]

23 entries

IMCA Mod Lite Presented by Knight Sanitation

---

A Feature 1 (23 Laps): 1. 49-Jason Masengarb[10]; 2. 11P-Jon Padilla[20]; 3. 99-Josh May[19]; 4. 17M-Mike Morrow[3]; 5. 47-Cory Sonner[12]; 6. 8N-William Nobles[15]; 7. 16P-Mike Pershing[1]; 8. 5-Michael Dominguez[9]; 9. 24-Michael Mann[2]; 10. 14-Bryan Compart[16]; 11. 55-Jaxon Carr[11]; 12. 4-Cliff Barber[5]; 13. (DNF) 70-Alex Eischeid[18]; 14. (DNF) 9-Garrison Anderson[6]; 15. (DNF) 3G-Joe Glick[14]; 16. (DNF) 4G-Ben George[17]; 17. (DNF) 5G-Tracen Glick[13]; 18. (DNF) 18M-Chelsea Ladurini[8]; 19. (DNF) 2G-Grant Anderson[4]; 20. (DNF) 23-Tiffani Dominguez[21]; 21. (DNF) 9XL-Colin Anderson[23]; 22. (DNS) 96-Dillion Bush; 23. (DNS) 00B-Brittani Dominguez

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 99-Josh May[6]; 2. 24-Michael Mann[7]; 3. 8N-William Nobles[5]; 4. 5-Michael Dominguez[3]; 5. 2G-Grant Anderson[1]; 6. 9XL-Colin Anderson[8]; 7. (DNF) 18M-Chelsea Ladurini[2]; 8. (DNS) 4-Cliff Barber

Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 11P-Jon Padilla[6]; 2. 3G-Joe Glick[1]; 3. 70-Alex Eischeid[5]; 4. 9-Garrison Anderson[4]; 5. 17M-Mike Morrow[3]; 6. 16P-Mike Pershing[7]; 7. 96-Dillion Bush[2]; 8. (DNS) 00B-Brittani Dominguez

Heat 3 (6 Laps): 1. 47-Cory Sonner[4]; 2. 49-Jason Masengarb[6]; 3. 4G-Ben George[5]; 4. 55-Jaxon Carr[2]; 5. 5G-Tracen Glick[1]; 6. 14-Bryan Compart[3]; 7. (DNF) 23-Tiffani Dominguez[7]

17 entries

IMCA Sport Compact Presented by Hy-Vee

---

A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 46-Michael Gardner[5]; 2. 89-Cristian Grady[8]; 3. 21-Corwyn Whisler[1]; 4. 33K-David Kimmel[7]; 5. M80-Mark Smith[2]; 6. 6R-Spencer Roggentien[13]; 7. 16-Curtis Masterson[6]; 8. 75K-Kaiden Gosselink[3]; 9. 2K-Katelynn Watts[16]; 10. 61F-Tyler Fiebelkorn[14]; 11. 13-Conner Adkins[11]; 12. 02-John Gill[10]; 13. (DNF) 22C-Jeremy Williams[4]; 14. (DNF) 83B-Mitchell Bunch[9]; 15. (DNF) 49B-Bryce Bartel[15]; 16. (DNF) 99-Henry Dieleman[12]; 17. (DNS) 07-Brooke Osler

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 89-Cristian Grady[9]; 2. 75K-Kaiden Gosselink[2]; 3. 2K-Katelynn Watts[4]; 4. 21-Corwyn Whisler[6]; 5. 33K-David Kimmel[8]; 6. 16-Curtis Masterson[7]; 7. 99-Henry Dieleman[5]; 8. 49B-Bryce Bartel[1]; 9. (DNF) 61F-Tyler Fiebelkorn[3]

Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 83B-Mitchell Bunch[8]; 2. 46-Michael Gardner[6]; 3. 22C-Jeremy Williams[2]; 4. M80-Mark Smith[5]; 5. 6R-Spencer Roggentien[7]; 6. 13-Conner Adkins[3]; 7. (DNF) 07-Brooke Osler[1]; 8. (DNS) 02-John Gill

 

 

Checkers fly for McBirnie, Pickett, Carter, Filloon, and Zehm at Iowa's Action Track

It was another comfortable and beautiful night for racing at the Boone Speedway for another of their weekly racing series on Saturday night. There is only one more week of points racing to go with season championship night next week.  Two drivers picked up their first season wins as Tyler Pickett took the checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car class, and Dustin Filloon went to victory lane for the first time when he won the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature.  Jake McBirnie won the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified main event, Brayton Carter took the honors in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class, and  Bryan Zehm was the winner of the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites. 

Feature racing kicked off with the 15 lap Mod Lite feature, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck, & Farm.

William Nobles was holding down the lead when the race was red flagged at lap three when Joel Huggins, in just his second night out this year, rolled violently several times in corner one when he appeared to wheel hop a car trying to avoid another that was sitting still on the track.  It was a relief to have Huggins emerge from the car unhurt, but his car was not as fortunate. We noted many dangling parts as it was taken off the track. Not a good way to end his first weekend of racing after having nabbed a successful second place finish the previous night at Marshalltown.  

When the race returned to action, Noble kept hold of the lead for another lap until Joe Glick took command on lap five, and then it was tenth place starter Bryan Zehm taking over at lap six.  Zehm never gave up that top spot as he continued to lead the pack the rest of the race and took the checkers. He finished well ahead of second place Joe Glick. Eleventh place starter Austin Gray was third, just holding off Josh May in fourth, and Bryan Compart rounded out the top five. This was Zehm's second feature win of the year. Joe Glick holds a 19 point edge for the track title over Josh May as they head into next week's season championship night.

The Northern SportMod feature was 18 laps, presented by Elmquist Towing.

Brayton Carter took immediate advantage of his pole starting spot, shot off into the lead, never to relinquish his run to the checkers.  Randy Havlik, last week's winner, chased Carter the entire distance but had to be content with a second place finish this week.  Third went to eighth place starter Tyler Inman in a borrowed ride, fourth was Hunter Longnecker, and Dusty Masolini completed the top five. This was Carter's first weekly win at the track, after taking the Frostbuster special win. Dusty Masolini leads the points race by 20 over Cory Pestotnik as the season concludes next Saturday night.

It was 20 laps of Modified feature racing next, presented by D & E Outside Services.

Joel Bushore started on the outside front row and got the jump on pole sitter Danny Fye as the race went green.  Visiting driver Cory Wray, Trenton, Missouri came from fourth place to soon be pestering leader Bushore, and twelfth place starter Jake McBirnie had taken to the top of the track, and was gaining a lot of ground on the leaders at lap nine as lap traffic was coming into the picture.  Bushore was suddenly off power and drove off the track, and at lap ten, it was McBirnie taking the lead.  McBirnie was still easily leading when Wray went for a spin right near the flagstand, and came to a rest.  Somehow, all cars avoided him in what could have been a real disaster.  When the racing action picked back up, McBirnie went back to the top shelf, and was never seriously challenged on the final circuits to the checkers and the win.  Tenth place starter Cory Sauerman came on strong in the latter portion of the race to finish in second place.  Third went to eleventh place starter Zachary Madrid, Arizona native who is now calling Boone, Iowa home, fourth was Jacob Snyder, Dunkerton, Iowa, and Matthew Meinecke was fifth.  McBirnie won for the sixth time this season, and look to have the track title all but wrapped up going into next week's season championship as he leads by Cory Sauerman by 43 points.

The IMCA Stock Cars went 20 laps for their feature, presented by Boone Moose Lodge.  

Doug Smith jumped to the lead from his outside front row starting spot when the race started.  He was still leading when the first of two yellows flew at lap eight, with "Hot Rod" Richards running in second place, and eleventh place starter Tyler Pickett had flown through the pack to run in third place.  When the race returned to green, Pickett wasted no time in taking command and had the lead at lap nine.  Another yellow with just four laps remaining still found Pickett in charge of the pack, and when racing picked back up, he had no issue in maintaining that top spot the rest of the way to the finish to secure his first win of the season.  Austin Bouzek, the Trenton, Missouri racer who makes the trip up to Boone weekly, ripped the lip of the track and came from eighth place to finish as the runner up.  Doug Smith took third place, fourth went to brother Devin Smith who came from sixteenth starting spot, and another brother, Dave Smith started fourteenth, and finished fifth.  David Smith leads Tyler Pickett by 16 points as we head into Season Championship night next week.

The 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, presented by Pickett Salvage put a nightcap on the racing.

Dustin Filloon grabbed the lead from his outside front row starting spot and from there on, never looked back on his way to the checkers and his first ever win at the track.  He held off some stiff competition from John Watson who chased the leader for much of the race until falling back at the conclusion, and then having to fend off Eric Knutson and last week's winner and twelfth place starter Mike Smith as the checkers flew.  Filloon was no doubt a happy camper to secure his first time in Victory Lane at the track.  Knutson finished in the runner up spot, Smith went third, Watson fell to fourth place in the final run to the finish, and Joe Wollenhaupt took fifth. It's a tight race for the track championship next week with Mike Smith holding a slim 3 point lead over Eric Knutson.  

A few new drivers made their appearance at the track last night.  Among the Modified class were two Wisconsin drivers, Dan Ratajczak, and Rob Charapata, and Ryan Gillmore, Springfield, Missouri, the driver who sat on the pole for the Super Nationals a couple of years ago, only to have to miss championship night due to his father's passing.  Also, veteran racer Lloyd Henderson, Bouton, Iowa made his first appearance of the year as he always does right before Super Nationals.  

Things are getting prepped at Boone as Super Nationals approaches quickly.  The new infield slab that was poured last week was in use last night, with the scales in use and the first driver to use the slab for a feature win was Mod Lite racer Bryan Zehm. The entire area behind the grandstand had been newly sealcoated as well and looking fresh.  Some new pit RV hook ups have been installed, and this past week, new dirt along with the well-known Boone wood chips had been added to the racing surface.  

The season is oh so quickly winding down.  Find a track to support, and help keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing....alive and well!

Next week, August 17, is Season Championship night when five track champions will be crowned.  Pits open at 4:30, gates at 5:30, with hot laps at 6, and racing at 7. 

 

Jaennette, Inman, Nielsen, Gardner all first time winners at Motown

It was quite a change from our recent hot and humid weather we've endured at races, as it was a beautiful night at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night with a spectacular sunset that is always something I love. It was VESSCO/BHE/RBF Electric night at the track with those sponsors adding extra money to the SportMod, Hobby Stock and Mod Lite classes, all paying $1000 to win.  Visiting driver in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class, Tyler Inman took the checkers in that division.  It was another visitor on the night, Brandon Nielsen, taking the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock win, and Jon Padilla was back in victory lane in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites.  Tripp Gaylord matched his opening night win when he took the checkers in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, and Michael Gardner won the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compact feature.  

The Northern SportMods 16 lap feature, presented by Rugged Radios ran first.

Tyler Inman, Altoona, Iowa who was a hired gun for the evening racing the Thomas Behle car, redrew the outside front row starting spot, and from there on out, never looked back on his run to the checkers and the win.  Cory Van Zante, Sully, Iowa and Oskaloosa's Brayton Carter chased Inman for the entire race but Inman never faltered and took the flying checkers and the win.  Carter and Van Zante finished second and third respectively.  Kyle Olson and Colton Livezey rounded out the top five.  Inman went home with the $1000 pay day thanks to Bob Harris Enterprises (BHE). From the post race interview, Inman said the car had gone from the frame shop to victory lane on Friday.  Brayton Carter holds a nine point lead over Kyle Olson as we go into next week's season championship

The Mod Lite 15 lap feature, presented by Knight Sanitation also paid $1,000 thanks to VESSCO, Inc.

Joel Huggins, who was racing for the first time last night after being absent from the scene in 2024, drew the outside front row. His bright yellow machine quickly grabbed the lead as the race went green with third place starter Jon Padilla tagging to his tail. Padilla harassed Huggins immediately and by lap four, snatched the lead away.  Two yellows would fly....one at lap five and another at lap thirteen....but it was no issue for Padilla on the restarts as he stretched out the lead in the final circuits and took the comfortable win. Joel Huggins had to be pleased with his second place finish on just his first start of the year, third went to tenth place starter Bryan Zehm, fourth was Josh May, and twelfth place starter Ben George completed the top five.  This was Padilla's third feature win of the season.  Padilla leads the point chase by 26 over Josh May as the season concludes next week.

The Stock Cars ran a 20 lap feature, presented by Drury Automotive.  Scott Rice started third on the grid, had the lead immediately, was running strong and looked to be on his way to seeing checkers for the first time this year.  Michael Jaennette started fifth and tucked in to run second.  Jaennette continued to chase Rice lap after lap, taking a peek on lap thirteen in corner four, but it wasn't until lap fifteen that he got the job done, making the pass on the backstretch and taking the lead.  Jaennette then kept that top spot the rest of the way to the finish to score his first win at the speedway this season.  Rice held on to take the runner up spot, third went to Steve Meyer, Jimmy Gustin started tenth, had to recover from avoiding an incident on the track, and came back up to finish a close fourth, and Austin Schrage was fifth.  Jimmy Gustin is way out in front of the points chase for the track title, leading by 84 points going into next week's final season race.   

The IMCA Modifieds came to the track next for their 20 lap main event, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap.

Scott Simatovich started on the outside front row, led the first lap, but it was eighth place starter Dallon Murty taking over at lap two.  Seventh place starter Tripp Gaylord followed suit, and was soon on Murty's tail.  Gaylord took the lead on lap four with Murty looking determined to regain the lead.  That would happen on lap seventeen but it was a brief moment as Gaylord came storming back to take command once again and hold it the final two times around the track to score the win.  Murty had to be content with the runner up spot.  Third and fourth place put on a great contest running neck and neck in the final laps with Kellogg, Iowa boys Zack Rawlins just beating David Brown at the line.  Visiting driver from Springfield, Missouri, Ryan Gillmore, started thirteenth, and finished fifth.  This was Gaylord's second time in victory lane at the speedway as he also won the season opener back on May 3. Gaylord is up twelve points on Zack Rawlins for the run for the track title in the Modified division.

The Sport Compacts ran a 15 lap feature, presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown.  

Michael Gardner, Des Moines, Iowa started seventh, and had the lead on lap two.  He had to hold off point leader Cristian Grady most of the race with Grady taking a brief lead on lap twelve, only to have Gardner come right back to the top spot. Gardner wasn't about to give it up again as he kept the lead the final three laps to score the win.  Grady took second place, third went to Oskaloosa, Iowa's Katlynn Watts, fourth was Corwyn Whisler, and David Kimmel rounded out the top five. This was Gardner's first ever win at the Marshalltown Speedway.  Grady is up 29 points on second place David Kimmel for next week's finale.

The night's racing action drew to a close with the 16 lap Hobby Stock $1,000 RBF Electric feature, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center.

Solomon Bennett started fourth and had the lead by lap one with Calvin Dhondt giving chase.  It wasn't long until visiting Spencer, Iowa racer Brandon Nielsen, in his Blue Angel's tribute car was joining in the run for the front after starting seventh on the field. It was a close race up front with those three drivers, but it was Nielsen who finally got the job done on the backstretch and was scored the leader when lap twelve went in the books.  He would then hold that lead and go home to the flying checkers and the win.  Solomon Bennett took the second place, Dhondt going third, fourth went to visiting Morning Sun racer, Tucker Richardson, and eleventh place starter Eric Knutson made a good comeback after an early incident put him far back in the field, and took fifth. Calvin Dhondt holds a nine point lead over Bradly Graham for the track title.

 Where did the season go? Next Friday night, August 16 is N 3rd Avenue Dairy Queen Larry Wollam season championship night.  Should it be needed due to a rain out, the following week, August 23 will be used for season championship night.  If not needed on the 23rd, there will be no racing that night.  

Find a track to support, and help keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing....alive and well!

  

Mike Smith gets 100th win as Ward, Smith, Havlik, Gray, and Grady also find Victory Lane

It was Elmquist Towing & Recovery night at the Boone Speedway on Saturday where six classes took to the track for a full night of racing action. It was another hot Iowa summer night that saw history made when young Mike Smith found his way to Victory Lane, marking his 100th career win in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Tim Ward returned to the winner's circle when he won the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified feature, and Devin Smith got the win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.  Randy Havlik got his first win at Boone in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class, Austin Gray repeated his win from last week in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites, and visiting class on the night, the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts saw Cristian Grady take the win.

The Mod Lite 15 lap feature, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck, & Farm was first on the track for their main event of the evening.  

William Nobles led the troops through the first three laps until eighth place starter Ben George snatched it away on lap four.  Meanwhile, Austin Gray had been making his way through the field from tenth starting spot and on lap five, flew around George to take over the lead.  From there on out, it was Gray's race as he pulled away from the field to take the comfortable win as the checkers flew.  Bryan Zehm took the runner up spot, coming from ninth place, third went to Ben George, pole sitter Jon Braathun was fourth, and Tracen Glick completed the top five.  Gray got his second win of the year in repeating his victory from last week.

The Northern SportMod 18 lap feature, presented by Elmquist Towing, had problems getting the first lap in the books.  Before the initial first lap was scored, there was a big pile up of cars coming out of corner three.  This eliminated six cars, and took some time to clear the track. The second attempt to start the race got as far as turn one when another incident took place taking out two more race cars. The third time was the charm and the race finally got underway with Kenser Ellis grabbing the lead for lap one.  Ellis was still leading when yet another yellow flag flew on lap two.  Randy Havlik was hot on the leader's tail when the race went green and soon had the lead.  Havlik then took command of the race which continued caution free, and pulled away from the field.  Havlik put his first SportMod feature win in the books after previously racing in the Modified class in years past.  Logan Veloz, Colona, Illinois made his trip worthwhile, racing from eleventh starting spot, to finish in second place.  Dusty Lynch took third place, Brett Thomas started twenty-second and finished in fourth, and Ryan Leeman was fifth.

The IMCA Modified 20 lap feature, presented by  D & E Outside services came to the track next.

Jimmy Gustin started fourth, snatched the lead as the race went green, with visitor Jesse Patterson, Marana, Arizona sniffing at his heels. Patterson grabbed the lead on lap three, only to have Gustin come right back to the lead as he made the topside his own.  Gustin, who was no doubt hoping to match his Stock Car win from the previous night at Marshalltown, continued to lead through cautions at lap five and another at lap nine.  When the race restarted after the caution at lap nine, he had Izac Mallicoat and seventh place starter Tim Ward right behind him, and ready to change things up. The restart was not Gustin's friend, and when lap ten went into the books, it was Ward leading and Mallicoat in second, Gustin falling to third.  The race then would continue to the checkers caution free as Ward and Mallicoat flew around the rim of the track.  Ward, defending Super Nationals champion, took the flying checkers to secure his win, his first at the track in 2024.  Mallicoat finished in the runner up spot, eleventh place starter and last week's winner, Jake McBirnie got around Gustin in the closing laps as they went third and fourth respectively, and Owen Barnhill, the Florida native who has called Iowa, and Super 8's his home for the summer, rounded out the top five.

The IMCA Sport Compacts were in the house last night for a tune up for their upcoming Super Nationals run.  They ran a 15 lap feature.

Gilbert Aldapt, Sioux City, Iowa went from starting fourth and into the lead on lap one.  Seventh place starter Cristian Grady was soon into second place and beginning to pressure the leader.  Aldapt seemed to lose power coming out of turn two, and Grady got by him to take over the top spot on lap nine.  After his falter, Aldapt regained his momentum and soon got back to second place.  The only caution of the race came at lap twelve, with Grady still holding down the top spot.  It was no issue for him on the restart and he kept hold of the lead the rest of the way to the checkers to take the win.  Aldapt held on to score second, third place went to Kolby Sabin, Amana, Iowa's Spencer Roggentien took fourth, and ninth place starter Jake Paysen, Wall Lake, Iowa was fifth.  

The IMCA 20 lap feature for Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge came to the track next, and for much of the race it was looking like an Indiana racer was going to be going to Victory Lane.  Sheldon Oberle, Battle Ground, Indiana grabbed the lead from the pole as the race went green. Sixth place starter Doug Smith was soon chasing him as he ran second.  Oberle was still leading with just two laps to go when Smith made a bit of contact with Oberle, causing him to spin, and bringing out a caution.  This knocked both Oberle and Smith out of the game, handing the race lead over to brother and twelfth place starter Devin Smith when the race restarted. Smith then held on to the top spot the final circuits to the checkers and scored the win, his second of the season. Another Smith brother, David Smith, came from eighth starting spot to take second place, third went to last week's winner Troy Jerovetz who had started tenth, fourth was ninth place starter Buck Schafroth, and Tyler Pickett raced his way from sixteenth to finish in fifth.  

Finale of the evening was 15 laps of Hobby Stock feature racing, presented by  Pickett Salvage.  

Christian Cook, Coon Rapids, Iowa started on the pole and grabbed the immediate lead when the race went green.  On lap four, some contact coming out of corner four made for mayhem on the frontstretch, Cook took a tumble, and the race was red flagged.  Cook was okay, but his night was over.  When the race restarted, Seth Janssen had the lead but it didn't take long until Mike Smith, who had restarted in fourth place, took to the outside going down the backstretch, and had the lead on lap five.  It was all but over then. Smith pulled away from the field as the rest of the race continued to the checkers caution free, and took his record setting 100th IMCA Hobby Stock win.  Janssen took second, third went to Keith Burg, fourth to Eric Knutson, and Tom Killen was fifth.  It was a big party in Victory Lane as the Smith Clan, 100th win banner and all, celebrated Mike Smith's win. It took less than five years for the now 20 year old to get the milestone after his first racing debut in 2019.  

There were many new faces last night at the track, as drivers show up to test the waters for the upcoming Super Nationals which is in less than four weeks. The Indiana Stock Car driver, Sheldon Oberle was one of those.  We understand that he may be just one of two IMCA Stock Car registered drivers from the state of Indiana....the other being Ricky Thornton, Jr.  Two Wisconsin Modifieds racers were also in the house....Cody Apfelbeck and Will Garceau, and Justin Kinderknecht from Salina, Kansas was racing in the Stock Car class.

Find a track to support and help keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing....alive and well!