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!
