McBirnie, Avila,and Stensland return to Victory Lane, Mueller, Burg, and Kilwine take first checkers

It was a full night of racing entertainment for the fans at the Boone Speedway on Saturday night, with 183 cars packing the pits. It was also a nice night weatherwise, with no worries of Mother Nature spoiling the fun.

Repeat wins went to Jake McBirnie in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified class, Matt Avila in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods, and Travis Stensland went back to Victory Lane in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites.  First time winners were Jeff Mueller in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, and Andrew Burg in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.  Also on the docket last evening were the visiting Outlaw Mini Mods with Nathan Kilwine, Glenville, Minnesota taking that win.

Things got off to a great start with the flag to flag running of the 15 lap feature for the Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck, and Farm.

Polesitter Jamie Bailey led the opening lap, but Cliff Barber, piloting the usual ride of Cory Sonner, took over when lap two went into the books.  By lap eight, it was eighth place starter Travis Stensland who was captain of the ship.  When Stensland got the lead, he drove off from the rest of the field, and scored the easy win.  Cliff Barber was a distant runner up, followed by Austin Gray in third, Ben George in fourth, and visiting racer Justin Raffurty, Kearney, Missouri rounded out the top five.  This was Stenslands fourth win of the season, and the first of any division to do so.  

It was 18 laps of Northern Sport Mod racing next, presented by Elmquist Towing.  

Zander Kelland, the Bakersfield, California racer who is spending his summer racing in the area, took the lead as the race went green.  He was soon being pestered left and right by Jessiah Taylor, Matt Avila, and Brett Thomas.  Avila, who started tenth, took the lead coming out of turn four as lap six was scored.  Avila was about to enter big lap traffic at lap thirteen, when the yellow flag waved when a couple of cars got together in the corner, and while under the yellow, second place runner Brett Thomas exited into the pits, putting him out of the running.

Three more yellows would fly, one that would put the race into "overtime" with a green-white-checkered finish, with Avila still at the helm.  The final circuits were no issue for Avila as he took the comfortable win, scoring his third of the season. Seventh place starter Chris Burke was second, third went to early leader Zander Kelland, fourth was hard charging Hunter Longnecker, who started twenty-second, and Dusty Masolini was fifth.  

It was 20 laps of Modified feature racing, presented by D & E Outside Services next. It was marred by five yellows before the checkers flew.

Greg Elliott, Webster City, Iowa was the early leader but Brandon Leeman was soon up to challenge him.  Then Jake McBirnie, who started tenth made his presence known and started pressuring them both.  A perfect slide out of turn four as lap seven was scored, and McBirnie had taken over.  McBirnie would never give up that top spot, weathering three more cautions, the final one that put this race into overtime as well with a green-white-checkered finish, as he snagged his third feature win off the season.  Jimmy Gustin tried his best to run down the leader, but to no avail, and had to settle for second place.  Third place went to ninth place starter Paul Nagle, fourth to sixteenth place starter, Cory Sauerman, and Izac Mallicoat completed the top five. 

The visiting Outlaw Mini Mods had 29 entries that required a B main to whittle their starting field to 24 cars for their 15 lap A Main.

The early laps were all a Daniels show running upfront...Chase Daniels, Robert Daniels, and Lucas Daniels running one-two-three.  A yellow flew on lap eight, bunching the field, and by this time Nathan Kilwine, Glenville, Minnesota had made his way from tenth starting spot, to run in third.  When the race restarted, it took him but one lap to take over the lead. A red flag flew on lap eleven when a couple of cars got together at the bottom of turn two, sending Bobby Ruehlow, Mason City in an easy roll, landing on his top.  He was okay and when the race restarted, it was no issue for Kilwine who easily kept his lead to the checkers to score the win.  Early race leader Chase Daniels took the runner up spot, third was eleventh place starter Ben Kraus, Kanawha, Iowa, fourteenth place starter Wyatt Medlin, Rockford, Iowa came on late in the race to score a fourth place finish, and Kaden Rice, Bondurant, Iowa was fifth.

The IMCA Stock Cars, The Class too Tough to Tame, saw their 20 lap feature, presented by Boone Moose Lodge, go caution free.

Jeff Mueller started on the pole, took immediately to his preferred line on the bottom of the track, stayed there, and went home with his first win of the year at Boone. Troy Jerovetz, Iowa Falls, Iowa started tenth, and chased Mueller from a distance for much of the race to score second place.  Third went to Kyle Everts, eighth place starter Michael Jaennette was fourth, and Scott Davis started ninth, and finished in fifth place.  This was Mueller's first victory at the track this year.

It it wasn't for bad luck, Jay Schmidt would have no luck at all!  He got spun around on the frontstretch in his B feature, and sat facing traffic.  All avoided him except one car, who was exiting corner four, raceceiver saying, "go low, go low", with plenty of time to avoid him, but nope...smacked right into him! Plenty of damage to both cars that could have been avoided.   

The finale of the evening, 15 laps of Hobby Stock racing, presented by Pickett Salvage, also went flag to flag.

Keith Burg took the lead when the race went green, with his dad, Andrew Burg soon on his tail.  By lap seven, Andrew Burg was leading the race, Keith Burg had exited the track, and Lake City's Daniel Smith was now in second place and eleventh place starter Eric Knutson was now in third and looking for more. With just three laps remaining, Knutson was now running second, and trying to reel in the leader.  He closed in on the final run to the checkers, but to no avail, as Burg held on to snag his first feature win of the year.  Knutson finished a close second, third place went to Mike Smith, John Watson, and Curt Reed went fourth and fifth, and hard charger of the race, Calvin Dhondt started twentieth and finished sixth.

Next up at the speedway will be the annual 4th of July Eve of Destruction.  Gates open at 6 and racing at 7:30 for the IMCA Stock Cars and Northern SportMods who will be running for National, Regional, and State points, but not track points.  Fans will also be entertained by a roll over contest, pit bike race, and trailer races, along with a huge fireworks show. Then on Saturday, July 6, it will be another weekly series of racing with the Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites in action. 

It was a later night than usual by the time the last checkered flag fell at 11:42 p.m. and that was with three classes going caution free!  That did include an extra class however, with the big field of Outlaw Mini Mods on the ticket.  Us old folk are not taking these late nights like we used to!  

Marshalltown Speedway got rained out on Friday, so Saturday at Boone was our only race of the week.  Next week with the 4th of July special at Boone, Friday at Marshalltown, and Saturday back at Boone, it may be a three race week.  

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

 

  

Thompson Banks Hawkeye Challenge Win in his 305 Winged Sprint, Thornton, Bouzek, Reimers, Knutson, and Stensland take feature wins

The Boone Speedway held one of the most unique races in the country on hot and steamy Saturday night with the running of the Hawkeye Challenge.  It was one of those nights when many were checking the radar and with the recent heavy, heavy rains in Northwest, Iowa, we were all hoping that nothing like that would interfere with the racing at Boone.  Nothing more than interesting clouds happened for the night however, and the 156 race cars checked in provided a full night of entertainment for the fans.

 The Hawkeye Challenge race pitted six different classes against each other as they ran the track at the same time.  Tyler Thompson would be the overall winner in that contest, wheeling his 305 winged sprint car.  Dylan Thornton was the winner of the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, and Austin Bouzek took the checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.  Cam Reimers in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods and Eric Knutson in the Sunoco Hobby Stocks captured back to back wins and it was Travis Stensland winning the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites.

The Hawkeye Challenge race ran before the features and it was quite a sight to see with six different classes racing on the track at the same time.  This race originated back in the earlier years of the Boone Speedway and was revived a few years back and is quite the sight to see as it is one of the most unique races in all of the country.  Each weekly class had four participants, the point leader locked in and the other three filled in by earlier heat passing points. Only two 305 Sprints were on hand, Tyler Thompson, second generation racer as his dad Bob used to race, and Mike Houseman, Jr.,both out of Des Moines.  The first driver to complete his required division's laps....Sprint 25, Modified 23, Mod Lite and SportMod 22, Stock Car 21, and Hobby Stock 20....would be the overall winner.  Charlie Brown in the Mod Lite was leading overall until the final corner when Tyler Thompson in his 305 winged sprint made it to the checkers first.  Other class winners were Jeremy Mills in the Modifieds, David Smith in Stock Cars, Hunter Longnecker in Northern SportMods, Curt Reed in the Hobby Stocks, and Charlie Brown in the Mod Lites.

Features kicked off with 15 laps of Mod Lite racing, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck & Farm.

Randy Bryan, who was racing in the Austin Gray machine, led the field for lap one, and then a caution flew.  When the race returned to green, it was Cory Sonner taking over the top spot with Travis Stensland soon in tow.  The two would battle it out for several laps before Stensland took over at the flagstand when lap nine went into the books.  From there on out, it was all Stensland's race.  He pulled away to a healthy lead in the closing laps to take his third win of the season. Cory Sonner finished a distant second.  It was a close one for third and fourth, with seventeenth place starter Josh May winning out over Charlie Brown.  Joe Glick completed the top five.

The Northern SportMods, presented by Elmquist Towing went 18 laps for their main event, and it was a thriller at the finish line.

Early leader of the race was Zander Keeland, Bakersfield, California native but at lap four, it was Dusty Lynch in the lead with Dusty Masolini charging hard behind him.  Things got shook up a bit when two cautions flew close together, one at lap nine, and one at lap ten.  When the race returned to green Lynch was still holding down the lead, but now it was Hunter Longnecker breathing down his neck, Masolini running third.  Those three raced closely for several laps with Masolini taking the top spot on lap fourteen, then lap seventeen Longnecker was the leader.  A caution would then fly sending the race into overtime, with a green, white, checkered finish.  Cam Reimers had just made the pass into second place for the restart of the final run to the checkers, and as the race went green, Longnecker was holding Reimers off....until that final dash to the checkers as Reimers crossed the timing line 15/1000 seconds ahead of Longnecker to take the win.  Masolini, Matt Avila, and Dusty Lynch completed the top five. Reimers took back to back wins, and scored his fourth feature win of the year.  

The Modified 20 lap feature, presented by D & E Outside Services saw Webster City racer Greg Elliott the early leader, but by lap four, eighth place starter Dylan Thornton made a slider work to his advantage out of turn four and took command.  From there on out it was all Thornton at the helm as he raced home to secure his first feature win of the year.  A caution at lap seventeen bunched the field and took away Thornton's healthy lead, but it was no issue as he held off tenth place starter Jeremy Mills the final circuits to see the checkers first.  Third place went to Ronn Lauritzen, Johnathon Logue came from fourteenth to finish fourth, and last week's winner Cory Sauerman started eleventh and rounded out the top five.  

The IMCA Stock Car 20 lap feature, presented by Boone Moose Lodge, came to the track next.

Jason Vansickel led lap one, but before lap two was in the books, he was sent spinning when contact was made by second place runner Chad Everts.  That would warrant Everts a "bad dog, no biscuit" black flag, sending him to the pits, but sending Vansickel to start at the rear.  Nick Roberts would inherit the lead on the restart of the race which he would hold to the next yellow at lap nine.  When racing action picked back up, the driver out of Trenton, Missouri, Austin Bouzek, who had been ripping the lip, was soon in second spot and targeting the leader.  A slider didn't work for Bouzek at lap thirteen, but a lap later, he had established the lead and then went home to take the flying checkers and the win.  Roberts took the runner up spot, Johnathon Logue came from eleventh spot to finish in third place, fourth was Alan VanGorp in one of his best runs of the season, and Jay Schmidt started seventeenth, and finished in fifth in a battered car after getting buffeted around earlier in the race.  Bouzek, who has made Boone his weekly Saturday track this season, scored his second feature win of 2024.

The nightcap of the evening was 15 laps of Hobby Stock racing, presented by Pickett Salvage.

Andrew Burg survived being in the middle of Eric Knutson and Aron Fye to take the lead on lap two, but two laps later, it was Knutson in front.  Then all eyes were on Mike Smith as he skillfully made his way to the front and chased down leader Knutson.  It was a spirited final few laps as the two front runners pulled away from the rest of the field.  Smith made a last corner ditch effort with an unsuccessful slider out of turn four, with Knutson holding off the charge to take the win.  Smith had to be content with the runner up spot on this night.  Following a distant third it was tenth place starter John Watson, fourth went to Hawkeye Challenge division winner Curt Reed, and Solomon Bennett was fifth. Knutson matched his win from last week, and scored his third feature win of the year.

It was a full night of good racing at Boone, as the show clicked off efficiently as usual.  Next Saturday night, June 29, the Outlaw Mini Mods will join the five regular IMCA classes in their first appearance of the year.

Unbelievably heavy rain, mostly to our northwest, has left some tracks underwater, and some towns as well.  Huset's Speedway just across the border in Brandon, South Dakota, near Sioux Falls, had a near disaster during their scheduled High Banks Nationals, when so much rain fell so quickly, leaving their campgrounds in an emergency situation in the early morning hours as knocks on the camper doors called for evacuation!  We heard the people were all safe, but a look at some of the pictures we saw had many campers surrounded by water and no way to get out, and porta potties floating!  The town of Spencer, Iowa is also underwater, and the Clay County Fair Speedway had to cancel their scheduled Midwest Madness tour for Monday due to the historic flooding.  These are sad situations for these two places and we send our prayers as they deal with these unprecedented disasters.   

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

 

 

First season wins to McBirnie, Murty, Anderson, Stanton, Sonner, and Cox, as Bunch repeats

It was one of those hot and humid Iowa nights at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday, where it was Midwest Liquid Systems night at the races.  One hundred forty-seven cars came to play. The IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds were running for $1,000 to the winner and $100 to start in the draw/redraw format.  It was also a Fast Shafts All Star Qualifier.  Jake McBirnie ran the track perfectly on his way to that victory.  Damon Murty saw victory lane for the first time in the regular season when he won the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature.  Logan Anderson got the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod win, and Eric Stanton took the accolades in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.  Cory Sonner won in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites, and Mitchell Bunch returned to the winner's circle when he took the checkers in the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts.  Also joining the regular classes for the evening were the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks with Brandon Cox taking that win.

The 15 lap feature for the Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation were up first. 

Cory Sonner started on the pole and jumped to the immediate lead with Jason Masengarb tagging in to run second.  Masengarb's night would end just a couple of laps later when he was off the pace and out of the race.  Now it was eighth place starter Charlie Brown dogging the leader.  Brown reeled in Sonner and had the lead on lap nine. It looked to be the night Brown would go to victory lane. However, bad luck would bite him when a lap car got in his way, contact was made, and leader Brown was done for the night.  This put Sonner back in the lead for the final two lap shootout to the checkers.  He had no issue in keeping that lead the rest of the way to score his first win at the speedway this season.  Jon Padilla, Silvis, Illinois made his weekly trip to Marshalltown, and came home in second.  Third went to tenth place starter Josh May, fourth was Alex Eischeid, and Joe Glick rounded out the top five.  

The Stock Cars, who had 29 cars on hand were presented by Drury Automotive. They had to run a B main to whittle down their 24 car starting field for their 20 lap A. 

Damon Murty started on the outside front row, established the lead immediately, with pole sitter and hometown boy, Jared Daggett tagging on his tail.  Murty took to his preferred top line of the high banks, and shot off.  Jay Schmidt came calling just a few laps into the race, and took over second spot as he tried to run down leader Murty.  Murty continued to plant himself on the top shelf as the race wore on and two cautions late the race were no hindrance to the Chelsea Charger as he went home to the win. Second place runner Schmidt had misfortune bit him again in the closing laps of the race when he went for a spin, taking him out of the running and putting Daggett in second where he finished at the checkers.  Third place went to eleventh place starter Jimmy Gustin who put on a late race charge, it was Michael Jaennette in fourth, and Scott Rice completed the top five.  This was Murty's first regular season win at the speedway, after having won the Frostbuster Special in early April.

The Northern SportMods, presented by Rugged Radios, ran a 20 lap main event.

Tony Olson led the opening laps of the race, but Logan Anderson quickly rose to the top from his seventh place starting position, swung to the outside coming out of turn four, and had the lead on lap four.  It was all Anderson race from there on out, as he pulled away in the latter portion of the race to take the easy win.  Matt Avila took the runner up spot after starting in eighth place, Dylan VanWyk, Oskaloosa, Iowa started thirteenth and finished third.  Early leader Tony Olson took fourth place, and last week's winner Brayton Carter was fifth.  This was Anderson's first win at Marshalltown this season.

The IMCA Modifieds, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap, ran 20 laps for their $1,000 payoff win, in a draw/redraw format that found Jake McBirnie get the lucky #1 pill to start on the pole.  The 33 cars that checked in also required a B Main to fill in their 24 car starting field.

Tripp Gaylord, the Colorado native who is now calling New Sharon, Iowa home, came calling from his fourth starting position and was soon in second spot.  Gaylord looked for any way around McBirnie, but it wasn't to be as McBirnie continued to hit his marks perfectly each lap, and went home to the flying checkers and the $1,000 payday.  Gaylord had to be content with the runner up spot.  Johnathon Logue ran at the front all race long and finished third.  Fourth went to fourteenth place starter, Drew Janssen, Pella, Iowa, who has been having a good run this season, and twelfth place starter Tom Berry, Jr., was fifth.  This was McBirnie's first trip to Victory Lane at Marshalltown this year.

The Hobby Stock 20 lap feature, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center was next to the track.

Corey VanderWilt, the "Lynnville Lightning" was the early leader of the contest, but Independence racer Zach McNeese was soon up to challenge him.  McNeese took over the top spot on lap nine, but twelfth place starter Eric Stanton was charging hard through the pack, and by lap twelve, found his way into the lead after making the pass on the backstretch.  Stanton held on to that lead then the rest of the circuits to claim his first victory at Marshalltown in 2024.  Two cars were going at it behind him as they fought it out for second, with Sam West winning out over McNeese as they finished second and third respectively.  Fourth was eleventh place starter, and the previous two week's winner, Calvin Dhondt, and Solomon Bennett went fifth. 

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

Mitchell Bunch, Des Moines, Iowa started on the pole, and dominated this flag to flag contest.  He pulled away and took the easy win.  Michael Gardner, also from Des Moines, ran second the entire race but finished a distant second.  Third went to Oskaloosa, Iowa driver Jeremy Williams, Kinzer Jaennette was fourth, and Cristian Grady took fifth.  This was Bunch's second regular feature win of the season after also taking the Frostbuster Special at the track.

The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks made their first appearance at the High Banks this year and ran a 15 lap feature to close the night's racing.  

Brandon Cox made a nifty slide out of turn four to take the lead over Brandon Toftee as lap one went into the books.  From there on, Cox never looked back in the flag to flag contest, and scored the win.  It was a dog fight behind him however as Toftee and Tyler Inman went at it.  Inman won that battle as he scored the runner up spot.  Toftee took third place, Austin Meiners, who was doing double duty last evening as he also competed in the Stock Car division, was fourth, and Mason Mitchell rounded out the top five.   

There were fewer yellow flags last evening, and no reds, which was refreshing.  Also two classes went flag to flag which is also nice to see.  More new drivers showed up last night, which included more of those western U.S. drivers who love to come back and try their hand on the Iowa black dirt.  

It's off to the Boone Speedway tonight for the running of their unique Hawkeye Challenge race that pits all divisions on the track at once along with the regular racing of the night.  Hoping Mother Nature doesn't rear her ugly head.  

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

Sauerman Finds Victory Lane for First Time This Year, Smith, Reimers, Knutson, and George Make Return Visits

It was Farley's Pre-owned Night at the Boone Speedway Saturday, and despite the gloomy forecast of rain/storms later on, and thinking the whole program would not get in, the rain didn't happen...until we got about two miles east of the track on the way home and had to turn on the windshield wipers!  We quickly ran out of it though. I guess we shouldn't view the future forecast as all too often, what they predict, doesn't happen. 

Cory Sauerman in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified division took his first win of the season.   Return visits went to Doug Smith in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Cam Reimers in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods, Eric Knutson in the the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and Ben George in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lite victory.

The Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck & Farm rolled to the track first for their 15 lap feature event.

Scott Bailey led the troops through the first seven laps of the event, but seventh place starter Ben George had quickly risen to challenge him and was able to take command at lap eight.  Cory Sonner was reeling in George when the race was halted on lap twelve when David Bailey went for a tumble in corner four.  Thankfully, he was okay, and the racing soon returned to green.  George continued his command at the front the rest of the way to the checkers, and sealed his third win of the season.  Sonner went second, third went to Scott Bailey, Bryan Zehm was fourth, and Joe Glick completed the top five. 

The IMCA SportMod 18 lap feature, presented by Elmquist Towing, had more than its share of cautions, and at the conclusion, was under the time limit. Seems this is happening quite often lately as the same thing happened the previous night at the Marshalltown Speedway.

Zander Keeland, the Bakersfield, California driver who is racing in Iowa this summer, was the early leader of the race, but that all ended when he went for a spin on lap six, bringing out what was already the fourth stoppage of the race.  Cam Vincent then inherited the lead for the restart, with Ryan Leeman, Dusty Masolini, and tenth place starter Cam Reimers in tow.   Another caution flew at lap eight with Vincent still leading, but now Reimers had taken over second.  On the restart, Reimers flew around Vincent and into the lead.  The yellow rag was not done flying yet, as again on lap thirteen it reared its ugly head once again.  Reimers was still holding down the number one position but visitor on the night, and defending Super Nationals champion, Jake Sachau was now running second.  At this point, the time limit went into effect, and it was going to be called complete when the next caution flew, or the race was completed.  This time, it was green the remaining five laps to the checkers, and Reimers was able to get the victory....his third of the season.  Sachau had to be content with second place, Leeman took third, Matt Avila hard charged his way from twenty-sixth (dead last) starting spot to take fourth, and Cam Vincent was fifth.  Reimers was also the winner of the King of the Hill contest run earlier in the night.

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

Greg Elliott, Webster City, Iowa led from the drop of the green and was looking strong when at lap twelve, he lost the handle and went for a spin in corner four, bringing out the yellow.  Paul Nagle now took over the top spot for the restart of the race, with Joel Bushore, Cory Sauerman, Russ Dickerson, and Jeremy Mills behind him.  Another caution flew on lap fourteen, and on the restart of the race, Cory Sauerman threw a successful "white castle" drive through in corner four, and took over the lead.  The final circuits saw Sauerman stretch out his lead, and take the comfortable win as the double checkers flew.  Thirteenth place starter, Jake McBirnie made a late race rally and finished in second.  Third went to Nagle, veteran racer Russ Dickerson was fourth, and Joel Bushore rounded out the top five. Sauerman came from eleventh starting spot to nab his first feature win of the year.

After seeing so many caution filled races earlier, it was refreshing to find the 20 lap Stock Car feature, presented by Boone Moose Lodge, go flag to flag! 

The opening laps of the race was led by Alan VanGorp, who returned to the racing scene this year after a hiatus. Then Doug Smith made his appearance quickly after starting eighth, and took over the lead on lap six.  It was all Smith's race from there on out, as he pulled away to the comfortable win in the rest of the caution free run to the checkers.  Jay Schmidt had a great race, starting fifteenth, and dicing through the pack of cars to take the runner up spot.  VanGorp took third in his best run of the year, Bryan Snell was fourth, and the winner's brother, Dave Smith, took fifth after starting back in seventeenth starting spot. This was Doug Smith's second feature win of the year.

The finale of the night was 15 laps of Hobby Stock racing, presented by Pickett Salvage.  

Joey Young led the field of cars in the first four circuits of the race, but Eric Knutson had been coming hard on the top of the track, and was able to take command on lap five.  Knutson would then weather two cautions and take the win....holding off last week's winner, Braden Gifford at the finish.  Seth Butler took third place, followed by Wayne Gifford in fourth, and Tom Killen, Jr. in fifth. This was Knutson's second feature win of the year.

There was a little added excitement at the track last evening!  At least four police vehicles entered the parking lot behind the grandstands, in what we heard (so not confirmed) was a pursuit of a suspect.  The suspect supposedly tried to enter the grandstand area after abandoning his vehicle...in hopes of blending into the crowd we assume. Didn't work evidently, as the police got their man. What doesn't happen at a race track?! 

We thoroughly enjoyed another entertaining night of racing, and it always makes it even better to share it with racing friends.  Do try and find a track to support, and help keep the sport we all love....dirt track racing....alive and well! 

   

Murty Takes Modified Money Month Win, Meyer, Carter, Dhondt, May, and Bonk Also See Checkers

It was P & D Welding Night at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night with a good field of 124 cars checked in that provided the fans with some exciting racing action on a pleasant night to be setting at a race track. June has been deemed Money Month for the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, and it was the "Game Changer", Dallon Murty taking home the $1,000.  Steve Meyer got back to Victory Lane in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Brayton Carter was dominant in his win in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods, and Calvin Dhondt repeated his win from last week in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.  Josh May took his first win of the season in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites, and a visiting driver from Missouri, Dyllan Bonk put a win in his resume at the Marshalltown Speedway in the Mach-1 Sport Compact division.

Feature racing kicked off with the 15 lapper for the Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation.  The early leader was Cory Sonner with Jon Padilla and Josh May falling in line behind him to pester him.  Josh May made the topside work when he took command at lap eleven, and from there on, he never looked back on his way to the checkers.  When things got sorted out in the fight behind him among the hard running cars, it was Jon Padilla taking the second spot, early leader Cory Sonner came home in third, fourth went to Joe Glick, and Alex Eischeid rounded out the top five.  May started in tenth spot on the starting line up and took his first win of the season.

The 20 lap feature for the SportMods, presented by Rugged Radios came next to the track.  This one would have its race plagued by cautions and a red flag, and the time limit was in place for the final run to the checkers.  However, that saw the race go the full 20 laps with not another yellow.  

Cam Vincent led the first two laps of the race,...which already had three yellows waved....but Brayton Carter, who started seventh, flew to the top of the track, and had the lead when lap three was scored. He was still leading when the red flag flew at five, when Joslyn Elmquist and William Klosterman disappeared off the track in turn three, causing a lengthy halt to the action for their retrieval.  

When things returned to action, the cars were aligned in single file order for the restart, and Carter once again shot off like a rocket on the topside.  One more caution would fly at lap seventeen, with Carter still in command, and now Kyle Olson was running in second place and hoping the restart would be to his advantage.  It wasn't to be however, as Carter completed the final three laps strongly in command and took the convincing win.  Following a good distance behind was Olson in second place, Cam Vincent ran a great race and finished in third, fourth went to visiting Norfolk, Nebraska racer Jonathan Janssen who started tenth on the field, and twelfth place starter, Cory Van Zante, Sully, Iowa in just his first outing of the season, rounded out the top five.  This was Carter's second regular season win of the year.  

The Stock Car 20 lap feature, presented by Drury Automotive found Steve Meyer getting back to Victory Lane after a lengthy absence, despite being the defending track champion with his consistency last year.  

Garrett Corn led the opening laps but a slip off the tricky topside saw him exit the track, handing the lead over to Todd Reitzler.  Fighting hard for position right behind him were Michael Jaennette and Steve Meyer.  Meyer made that thin line topside work for him as he grabbed the lead at lap three. Meyer had some challenges however, as Michael Jaennette was on his tail.  Meyer then put a bit of distance between himself and the field a bit later, but it was a whole sale battle behind him then as Jaennette, eleventh place starter Jimmy Gustin, and Todd Reitzler went at it.  Meyer was content to let them do battle behind him, and he went home to the checkers and the win.  Jimmy Gustin won out over Jaennette as they went second and third respectively, it was early contender Todd Reitzler in fourth, and twelfth place starter Jeff Mueller rounded out the top five.  This was the first time Meyer has been back in Victory Lane at Marshalltown since August of 2022, after his weekly consistent top finishes earned him the Stock Car track title in 2023.    

The month of June is "Money Month" for the IMCA Modifieds and they were running for $1,000 again Friday night.  Their 20 lap feature was presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap.  

Dallon Murty started on the outside pole, and Todd Shute started third, and most people were thinking it was going to be a shoot out between those two for the win.  It was.  Murty immediately grabbed the lead as the race went green, and Shute tucked in right behind to run second.  Those two circled the treacherous thin lined topside for the entire caution free race.  Shute took a couple of looks under, contemplated some slide jobs, but nothing worked to get by Murty as he raced home to the win.  Shute had to be content with second.  Johnathon Logue finished a distant third, ninth place starter and last week's winner Joel Rust was fourth, and Izac Mallicoat ran at the front all race long, and finished in fifth.  This was Murty's first feature win of the year at the speedway.

Earlier in the evening, a shoot-out, courtesy of P & D Welding Solutions, paying $500  for the Modifieds was run, pitting four cars in several rounds to begin the contest.  This sent two on to the next round until the final round found Izac Mallicoat, Joel Rust, Tripp Gaylord, and Jake McBirnie pitted for the final run.  Jake McBirnie took home that $500.  

The Hobby Stock 20 lap feature, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center had more than it's share of cautions on the night.  

Chad LeGere led the troops through the opening laps, as meanwhile it was last week's winner Calvin Dhondt slicing and dicing his way from tenth starting spot, to take command by lap five!  He was distancing himself from the pack when a late yellow came out to set up a green-white-checkered run to the checkers.  It was no hindrance to Dhondt however, as he raced home to the checkers for the second consecutive week, and his third of the year.  Eleventh place starter Eric Knutson finished as the runner up, seventeenth place starter Corey VanderWilt, in a borrowed car, hard charged it to a third place finish, and Solomon Bennett and Bradly Graham went fourth and fifth.  

The Sport Compacts put a nightcap on the racing with their 15 lap A main, presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown.  Coming out of a 3-wide run down the backstretch on the start of the race, and into the lead at lap one, was David Kimmel.  He hung on until lap six, when visiting Hannibal, Missouri racer, Dyllan Bonk came calling and took the lead.  Bonk never gave up that top spot the rest of the caution free race, to seal the win.  Following a distant second, was Mason City's Devin Jones, a two-time Super Nationals Champion.  Third place went to eleventh place starter Michael Gardner, fourth to Kimmel, and Cristian Grady took fifth.

Next Friday, June  21, will be another weekly racing series, with the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Mod Lites, and Sport Compacts in action and an appearance by the Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks.  It will also be another $1,000 to win for the Modifieds in "Money Month" at the track, thanks to Midwest Liquid Systems.  Hot laps are 6:45 with racing at 7:30.

It's off to the Boone Speedway for us tonight, and fingers crossed that Mother Nature doesn't stop that what with the predicted potential threatening weather in the forecast.  

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

Dirty 30 Topless Wins Go to McBirnie and Kuehl

Saturday night at the Boone Speedway, the fans were treated to the once a year spectacle of topless racing in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds and Northern SportMods. The Capital Signs Co. Dirty 30's saw the roofs and sails removed from the two divisions as they raced for $1,200 for the Modified victory, and $1,000 for the SportMods.  Jake McBirnie and Taylor Kuehl got the distinct honors of taking home those prizes.  Johnathon Logue clawed his way to the front and took checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Braden Gifford got his first ever win in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks....in a wild and crazy incident filled feature, and Charlie Brown got back to Victory Lane in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites.

Feature racing kicked off with the 15 lapper for the Mod Lites, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck & Farm.

Charlie Brown, who just returned to the racing scene this season after several years off, started on the pole and drove off.  He was still leading at lap seven, when veteran Mike Kennedy took a violent multi  roll down the frontstretch when contact was made.  Everyone was very thankful when he emerged from the mangled car, alert and talking.  When racing action picked back up, Brown shot off to the lead once again, with defending track champion, Josh May and Cory Sonner ready to make their challenge for the lead.  It wasn't to be however, as Brown held the top spot, and finished comfortably ahead of the field to score the win. Sonner made the pass on May in the closing moments as they went second and third respectively, with Bryan Zehm right there in fourth.  Ben George rounded out the top five.  This was only Brown's third night back racing after coming out of "retirement". 

Now it was time for the SportMod 30 lap Dirty 30, presented by Elmquist Towing.  The draw/redraw format for the class saw Taylor Kuehl get the lucky #1 to start on the pole.  She wasted no time in shooting off to the lead, and was pulling away, slicing through lap traffic easily when the only caution flag flew at lap 20 for a spinning car.  Her 3.5 second lead vanished for the restart with Willy Kirk, Sloan, Iowa and Woodward, Iowa racer Hunter Longnecker anxious for the restart as they envisioned the $1,000 payday waiting for the winner.  Kirk took over the second spot, and tried his all for a way around Kuehl, but she kept her cool, running the topside, and took the popular win with the crowd.  Kirk took the runner up spot with Longnecker going third.  Fourth went to Dusty Masolini, and Logan Anderson was fifth.  

The Modifieds, presented by D & E Outside Services, followed up with their 30 lap Topless Dirty 30. Chase Weimer, and Green Bay, Wisconsin's Tyler DeBouche drew the lucky front row, but it was third place starter Trevor Fitz, a California transplant, who was leading at lap one.  Fitz was still leading when the second and final caution flew at lap ten, but he had brother's Jimmy and Richie Gustin right behind for the restart.  Richie Gustin made a topside pass to take over the lead at lap thirteen and was looking strong.  Fitz didn't go away however, and took back the lead a couple of laps later.  Sliders were being thrown shortly with Jake McBirnie now in the mix.  At lap nineteen, it was McBirnie taking over as captain of the ship, then Fitz regaining the lead!  Fitz was looking strong and he could see visions of the $1200 pay off when he suddenly experienced mechanical issues....driving off the race track with four laps left and...no yellow coming out.  This put McBirnie now back in front and he would hold it to the waving checkers and the win.  Ninth place starter Richie Gustin took the runner up position, Cory Sauerman rallied in the last part of the race, with a plus fourteen run to take third place.  Richie Gustin and Riley Simmons rounded out the top five.  

The IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge ran their 20 lap A main next.  Front row starters Bryan Snell and Craig Carlson swapped the lead in the first two laps, but "The Bobcat", Johnathon Logue quickly clawed his way to the front by lap three, after starting sixth.  It would be a spot he would never relinquish, weathering four cautions, to take the win.  Fifth place starter David Smith bested the challenge of Buck Schafroth as they went second and third respectively.  Eleventh place starter Jay Schmidt took fourth place, and Tyler Pickett raced from thirteenth starting spot, to take fifth.  This was Logue's second feature win of the season.  

The nightcap, the 15 lap Hobby Stock feature, presented by Pickett Salvage was one for the books!  Pole sitter Aron Fye was leading the race until an incident in corner one halted the action at lap nine.  Seth Butler had taken over second place and last week's winner John Watson was running third. Then when the race restarted and going into corner one, Butler's car suddenly broke/stopped and Watson ended up under his rear end, and Andrew Burg with no place to go, made it a three car pile up.  When things were cleaned up and racing picked back up, Fye was still leading, but meanwhile, it was young Mike Smith, eighteenth place starter, who had been coming fast and furiously on the topside, and two laps later, made it to the lead.  Fye was then out of the race with a flat tire, leaving Eric Knutson in second and trying to run down Smith.  The wild and crazy happenings weren't done yet, as a caution came out on lap eleven, Smith still leading, and then....another yellow before a lap was scored when a tap by Knutson sent Smith spinning in corner two, getting him a "bad dog, no biscuit", and bringing out yet another halt to the action.  By this time, about nine cars were left on the track, and on the restart, Smith had to tag the field for the race to the checkers.  Now it was veteran Wayne Gifford setting in the catbird seat when things picked back up and Solomon Bennett in second.  Crazy circumstances in this race were still not over as on unlucky lap thirteen, Bennett went for a roll in corner one, leader Gifford had a flat tire under yellow and had to go to the hot pits, and now Gifford's son, and recent high school graduate Braden Gifford found himself in the lead for the restart!  Thankfully, the final laps were without incident,  and young Gifford held off Mike Smith (yes he raced himself back to second) and scored his first career win.  Smith went second, third went to twenty-third place starter Joe Doran, fourth was tenth place starter Matt McDonald, and Seth Janssen started twentieth, and finished fifth.  Braden Gifford was a happy camper in Victory Lane, and grateful to survive the attrition from wrecks, mechanical issues, roll overs, black flags, and flat tires in the wild and chaotic contest.  

It was certainly an entertaining and action packed night at Boone and the Hobby Stock feature that ended the night....finally...will go down in the books as "the chaos" night.  It was entertaining though, but a lot of headaches and repairs lie ahead for the drivers who got the short end of the stick.  It was great to see a driver get his first ever win when Braden Gifford saw the checkers.  He is the son of veteran Wayne Gifford and I believe it is just his sophomore season of racing. 

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

 

Twin 30 Topless Wins go to Rust and Paris as Carter, Dhondt, and Masengarb also find Victory Lane

Marshalltown Speedway was host to the first of two Twin Topless Dirty 30 races, presented by Capital Signs on Friday night.  The IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds and Northern SportMods both removed their tops for the unique race program.  The second night for the topless divisions moves to Boone Speedway on Saturday.

The weather was questionable, but every forecast you looked at was different!  I'm sure it kept some people away from the night's fun.  We had sprinkles as we left home for the track, but quickly ran out of that.  It was overcast at the track, and some of the cloud cover was even interesting...mammatus clouds that look like cotton balls hanging down. The temperatures were good though and even the winds we've put up with lately were calm.  We felt just a drop or two fall early in the stands, but then we were treated to a beautiful sunset!  Nothing beats a race track sunset in my opinion.  Then with just a couple of laps remaining in the SportMod feature, a light shower began.  The cars were kept on the track, the rain quickly stopped, and it was back to racing action. 

Joel Rust won the exciting Modified feature, and it was Muscatine, Iowa's Shane Paris winning in the SportMods.  Cayden Carter ran away and hid in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car event, Calvin Dhondt came from row six to take the checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock division, and Illinois racer, Jason Masengarb took the honors in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites. 

The feature racing kicked off with the running of the 15 lap main event for the Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation.  

Jason Masengarb, Colona, Illinois, started on the pole and led all but a brief moment when Charlie Brown was scored the leader at lap three.  That's when action was halted for Tracen Glick, when he went for an easy roll in corner four. He was not hurt.  When the race returned to green, Masengarb once again took control and then never looked back as he raced home to the flying checkers and the win.  Josh May raced his way from eighth starting position to finish as the runner up.  Third place was Jon Padilla, Silvis, Illinois, Charlie Brown came home in fourth place, and Bryan Zehm finished fifth after starting in eleventh place.  This was Masengarb's first feature win of the season at the speedway.

The Hobby Stock were up next for their 20 lap feature, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center. 

Don't ever count out Calvin Dhondt...the Kellogg, Iowa Flying Fireman!  Dhondt started twelfth on the field and methodically picked off car after car on his way to the front.  The third yellow flew at lap eight, and at that time, Eric Knutson was holding the lead, with Solomon Bennett in second, and Dhondt had moved into third.  Dhondt had the lead at the line on lap eleven and then pulled away in the closing portion of the race to score the win. Eric Knutson, who started eleventh, took the runner up position, thirteenth place starter Sam West was third, fourth went to Solomon Bennett who started tenth, and fourteenth place starter Bradly Graham was fifth.  Dhondt chalked up his second feature of the year.

The IMCA 20 lap Stock Car feature, presented by Drury Automotive, saw Cayden Carter take the easy win...and a $1,000 pay off as well as a B & B Chassis All-Star Invitational Qualifier for Super Nationals.

Gage Neal started outside front row, and immediately took the lead, followed by visiting Abilene, Texas racer, Tommy Fain.  Neal looked strong and put distance between himself and the field, but then a yellow flew at lap seven, bunching them up for the restart.  When the race returned to green, it was Neal, Cayden Carter, and Maguire DeJong fighting it out for the top spot.  At the halfway mark, Carter had established the lead, and then he went on to "walk the dog" as he sailed to the easy win.  Neal finished second, just holding off DeJong in third.  Fourth went to Tommy Fain, and Dallon Murty rounded out the top five.

The first of the topless races was the 30 lapper for the SportMods, presented by Rugged Radios.

Matt Avila was the early leader with Shane Paris and Brayton Carter in tow.  Carter kept digging and found his way into the lead on lap fifteen, and was looking for checkers.  He was still leading when a yellow flew for debris on lap twenty-three, and on the restart, still held the top spot.  It was looking like Carter was going to capture the win and the $1,000 prize as the race wore on, but that would all change when another yellow reared its ugly head with just three laps to go.  The restart was not good for Carter, as he fell back positions, and Shane Paris took over the lead.  Then on lap twenty-eight, Mother Nature decided to sprinkle the track.  The cars were kept on the track, and before long, it was back to racing.  Paris held on to that top spot, and raced home to the flying checkers and the win.  Cam Reimers mounted a late race challenge, but had to be content with second.  Early leader, Matt Avila took third place, it was Taylor Kuehl coming from ninth to finish fourth, and Kyle Olson completed the top five.  

The nightcap was 30 laps of topless Modified racing, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap. It was a Fast Shaft All-Star Invitational qualifier that paid $1,200 to the winner.

Dylan Thornton started on the pole and dominantly established himself as the leader.  He took to the top of the track and distanced himself from Tom Berry and Joel Rust duking it out for second place.  At the halfway point, Berry had reeled in Thornton, and mounted a challenge.  Berry found his attempt at the pass a little too much on lap sixteen, as he lost traction and went spinning in corner two, bringing out the yellow.  On lap twenty-one another yellow flew, Thornton still maintaining the upper hand, and by this time, tenth place starter Tripp Gaylord, who hails from Lakewood, Colorado, but is now calling New Sharon, Iowa home and is working at VanderBilt chassis, had gotten to second place, and Rust was running third.  Gaylord tried a slide job that didn't stick, and Rust was right there in the mix.  It was an exciting race upfront with the three going at it, but Rust was the one who got the pass on the backstretch and had the lead with six laps to go.  He was then able to hold on to the lead the rest of the way to the finish and score the win.  Gaylord went second, with Thornton in third, fourth was Johnathon Logue, and Trevor Fitz came home in fifth.  After finishing a disappointing second after leading much of the race last week, Rust redeemed himself with his first win at the track for 2024.

Next Friday, June 14 at the Marshalltown Speedway it will be P & D Welding Solutions $1,000 to win for the IMCA Modifieds and a $500 Shoot-out Structural Race as well.  The IMCA Stock Cars, SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Mod Lites, and Sport Compacts will also be racing.  Hot laps are 6:45, with racing at 7:30.  

It's off to the Boone Speedway tonight where the Modifieds and SportMods will go "topless" again.  Hopefully, Mother Nature won't decide to play naughty tonight.  

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

 

 

 

Last Corner Pass Scores McBirnie the Win, Gustin, Avila, Watson, and George Also Find Checkers

Saturday night at the Boone Speedway, the IMCA Stock Cars raced in memory of Eloise Davis, wife of Greg Davis, former racer, and mother of Scott Davis, who currently races in the Stock Car class.  The class had 43 cars checked in on the night honoring the Davis family.  The track was built back in 1966 on land owned by the Davis family, with racing beginning at the track in 1967.  

Jimmy Gustin got his second feature win of the year in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified division, and Jake McBirnie took the thrilling last corner pass win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Matt Avila also found Victory Lane for the second time this year in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class, and John Watson was the winner in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.  Ben George won the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites.  In the Cruiser class, the duo Blake McAllister and Logan Wurr won for the second time this year.

Ben George would lead from start to finish in the Mod Lite 15 lap feature, presented by Carquest Auto, Truck, and Farm.  George was chased the entire caution free race by last week's winner Bryan Zehm.  Zehm reeled in the leader, but was unable to garner more than a second place finish at the checkers.  Josh May started ninth, and took third place, fourth went to Austin Gray, and Joe Glick rounded out the top five.  

It was 18 laps of Northern SportMod racing next, presented by Elmquist Towing.  Chris Frisbie, the Oregon transplant who now calls Boone, Iowa home, was looking to finally get to Victory Lane as he immediately jumped to the lead from the outside front row starting spot, and sped off.  He was still leading when the yellow flew at lap ten.  Matt Avila had reeled in the leader and was happy to see the yellow fly, and anxious for the restart.  It took him until lap thirteen to get by Frisbie, but then it was all Avila's race the rest of the way to the finish, scoring the win comfortably over Frisbie in second place.  Taylor Kuehl came from ninth starting position to finish in third, fourth went to Cory Pestotnik, and Cam Reimers started tenth and took fifth place.  Avila nabbed his second feature win of the season.

The IMCA Modifieds, presented by D & E Outside Services ran a 20 lap feature, which went flag to flag.

Joel Bushore started on the pole, and jumped to the lead when the race went green.  Sixth place starter Jimmy Gustin was quickly on his tail.  After a close battle, Gustin took over on the backstretch, and was scored the leader as lap five went into the books.  A few laps later, it was Jeremy Mills that Gustin was having to contend with, and tenth place starter Jake McBirnie rising to third.  The final run to the finish it was all Gustin's as he raced home to the checkers flying. McBirnie got around Mills in the closing moments, and they went second and third at the line.  Trevor Fitz crossed in fourth, and Corey Sauerman in fifth.   However, a post race tech inspection deemed Mills and McBirnie with an infraction for deck height, docking them two positions.  The final finish found Fitz scoring second, Cory Sauerman third, Jake McBirnie fourth, and Mills in fifth.  This was Gustin's second feature win of the year.

The IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Boone Moose Lodge, ran a 25 lap feature in the special honoring Eloise Davis, and the Davis Family.  

Veteran racer David Smith got the jump on fellow veteran Kevin Opheim as the green came out.  The race was quickly halted after the first lap was scored, for a skirmish in turn one that eliminated several cars.  When the racing picked back up, Smith was still leading but now it was Tyler Pickett in second place after passing Opheim.  When the second, and final yellow flew at lap six, Smith was still holding back Pickett, Opheim running third, Chris Pruitt in fourth, and eleventh place starter Jake McBirnie had risen to run fifth.  The final caution free run to the checkers saw lots of action up front, with Pickett taking over the lead with a nice slide at lap eight.  It was looking like Pickett was going to see his first checkers of the season, but Jake McBirnie had other ideas as he had now gotten to Pickett's bumper with a hand full of laps remaining.  McBirnie tried the slide on the white flag lap, but to no avail, however, the final corner coming to the checkers worked for him, and he beat Pickett to the checkers first to score the win.  Pickett had to settle for second place on this night.  David Smith was third, fourth went to Kevin Opheim, and Dylan Thornton, piloting Jimmy Gustin's Stock Car, was fifth.  McBirnie got his second feature win of the season.  

The IMCA Hobby Stocks, presented by Pickett Salvage, ran a 15 lap feature.

Keith Burg was the early leader of the event, holding back Shaun Wirtz, then it was John Watson that came calling.  Watson was able to make the pass for the lead on lap seven, but he had his hands full with now Andrew Burg on his tail and Keith Burg running third.  Watson continued to hold down the lead, despite a big push in the corner at one point, and looked to be holding on just as the white flag was being unfurled.  However, a blown engine would change all that as the yellow came out before the leaders were scored, setting up a green-white-checkered "overtime" run to the finish.  Before the race restarted, third place runner Keith Burg pulled to the infield, ending his good run for the night.  The final charge to the checkers saw Watson hold on for the win, with Andrew Burg taking the runner up spot.  Third went to Seth Janssen, Wayne Gifford came home fourth, and first timer at the track, Dayton Ullrich, Kiron, Iowa, started twelfth, and took fifth place.

It was a night of close teching going on for the Modifieds, Stock Cars, and SportMods.  Numerous infractions were found for a shock issue with the Stock Cars, and the Modifieds and SportMods had deck height issues.  Disqualifications and spots docked were going on throughout the night.  And there was a claim last night in the Hobby Stock class.  Winner John Watson had his shocks claimed by Brian Ashburn.  

Another note of the evening saw a veteran driver absent for a while return to racing action.  Randy Havlik, who has most recently driven in the Modified division, was racing in the SportMod class last night.  

It's always nice to have a race go caution free, and this weekend we witnessed the Mod Lites and the Modifieds do just so on two consecutive nights....Marshalltown Speedway on Friday, and Boone Speedway on Saturday.  

Next Saturday night, June 8, will be another weekly series of racing at the Boone Speedway and a unique night for the Modifieds and SportMods as they "go topless".  The IMCA Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites will also be in action.  Summer start times are now in place, with pits opening at 4:30, Grandstands at 5:30, hot laps at 6, and racing at 7.  

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

Shute takes wild one at the line, Reynolds, Carter, Ballard, Gonzales, and Grady also find Victory Lane

Marshalltown Speedway was back in action again Friday night after the prior week's rain out.  But would it happen with the questionable weather?  It did!  And some great racing prevailed.  

Todd Shute won a "sparks flying" win at the checkers in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified feature.  It was Kaden Reynolds taking the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win.  Brayton Carter saw victory in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod class.  Nathan Ballard won easily in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.  Colona, Illinois driver, RJ Gonzales went to Victory Lane in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites, and it was Cristian Grady took the checkers in the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compact division.

Feature racing kicked off with the 15 lap main event for the Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation.

Joe Glick was the early leader but had Josh May and RJ Gonzales soon on his tail.  The three ran nose-to-tail until coming to the flag on lap thirteen, Glick suddenly exited the track.  Gonzales now had the lead and would then go home to the flying checkers and the victory.  Josh May was the runner up, third went to Alex Eischeid, fourth was Jon Padilla, and Ben George rounded out the top five.  Gonzales, who started tenth on the field scored his first Marshalltown Speedway win in the race that went flag to flag.

The SportMods 20 laps feature, presented by Rugged Radios was plagued by cautions, which led to Jenae Gustin's luck running out.  Gustin took the lead immediately from the outside front row's starting spot.  She soon had fifth place starter, Brayton Carter challenging.  When the fifth, and final yellow flew on lap sixteen, Gustin was still in command, but by lap seventeen, Carter was leading.  He never relinquished that top spot and went home to the win.  Kyle Olson also got around Gustin on the final restart, and took second, Gustin went third, fourth was eighth place starter Logan Anderson, and Matt Avila started ninth, and took fifth.  This was Carter's first weekly points win, after having won the Frostbuster special.

The Hobby Stocks, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center ran 20 laps next. Four cautions would mar this feature.

Early leader Joren Fisher was looking strong running in the first spot through lap nine, when the third yellow flew.  By this time, Marengo, Iowa's Nathan Ballard, who started twelfth, had come calling and challenged the leader.  When the race went green, Ballard immediately took command.  A final caution at lap fourteen was no issue for Ballard, as he drove off from the field and took the easy win.  Dustin Filloon ran at the front of the field most of the race, and finished a distant runner up.  Third went to early leader Joren Fisher, fourth was 24th place starter, Calvin Dhondt who hard charged through the field, and Corey VanderWilt completed the top five.  

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

Jay Schmidt jumped to the immediate lead as the race went green, leading as lap one was scored.  A yellow came out for a tire on the track just after the first lap was scored.  When the race returned to racing action, Schmidt raced into corner one, but got too high, dropping a wheel off the track at the top of turns one and two, saved it, but lost many positions.  This then put Michael Jaennette to the lead with Austin Kaplan and Kaden Reynolds in hot pursuit.  A yellow flew on lap five, and it was what Reynolds was wanting, as he soon took over the number one position.  The final portion of the race was all Reynolds then, as he pulled away and took the easy win as the checkers flew.  It was eleventh place starter Jimmy Gustin taking second place, third went to Austin Kaplan, Jay Schmidt redeemed himself after the early bobble, and raced his way back to fourth, with Joel Rust taking fifth.  

The Modified 20 lap feature, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap was a wild one at the finish.

Joel Rust started on the outside front row, and took command as the race went green.  Third place starter Todd Shute, fell in line right behind him.  The rest of the race, which went caution free, was all eyes on Rust and Shute.  Rust maintained the lead with Shute taking peeks under but to no avail.  Shute continued his dogging of the leader as the race neared its end.  The final lap was looking like Rust was going to maintain and find his way to Victory Lane, but a lap car would change all that.  As Rust and Shute rounded corner four, there was a lap car on the outside wall, and it was too tight a squeeze as they ran to the finish line.  Rust was the loser in that squeeze as contact was made between the three, and Shute nosed ahead at the line to secure the win.  Rust managed to get across the line in second place, with a damaged car, third went to Trevor Fitz, twenty-second place starter, Tripp Gaylord was fourth, and Zack Rawlins was fifth.  This was Shute's first win at Marshalltown this year, after having bad luck bite him previously.

The night ended with 15 laps of Sport Compact racing, presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown.

Brooke Osler, Osage, Iowa was the early leader but after a yellow flew on lap two, it was ninth place starter David Kimmel, New Virginia, Iowa leading on lap three. He had his hands full however as Cristian Grady, tenth place starter was now pestering him.  Grady was able to make his way around Kimmel at lap six, and from then on, kept the top spot the rest of the way to the checkers.  Kimmel held on to second place.  Following a distant third was Jaice Tuttle who started eleventh, Corwyn Whisler, Des Moines, was fourth, and early leader Brooke Osler was fifth.

Next Friday, June  7, will see Capital Sign's Twin Topless Dirty 30.  This will have the IMCA Modifieds, and SportMods going topless for 30 laps each in their features paying $1,500 to the Modifieds and $1,000 to the SportMods.  The Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites will also be in action, with the Sport Compacts having the night off.  Hot laps are 6:45 with racing at 7:30.

Many of us in the grandstand last night were looking at the sky, looking at the radar and forecast...which were all different...and wondering if we would get wet.  Thankfully, that didn't happen, and it turned out to be a pleasant night to set in the stands with racing friends and enjoy a night of racing.  

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