This past friday was the 21st annual Cliff Chambers Memorial, mother nature has won the show 3 weeks before but because a sponsor decided not to sponsor the night everything worked out that the 21st annual cliff chambers memorial was to be run. Cliff Chambers was the promotor at the marshalltown speedway back in the 1980's!
But this night would bring 3 and 4 wide racing and give the drivers a wide and smooth track to race on throughout the night. It would also bring a "Mr. Perfect" status continue.
First up was the Mod Lite Dwarf Car Division for their 15 lap feature and this feature was plagued by cautions. DJ Robinson took the lead from his pole position but was passed by Charlie Brown on lap 2. Brown would hold the top spot until lap 11 when he was passed by Mike Morrill and Andy Hennigar. There was 3 cautions before lap 11 and they were on laps 4 ,5 and 7. Morrill took the lead and then 2 more cautions would be displayed on lap 12. Andy Hennigar would pull off with 2 laps to go and end up finishing 21st. Morrill would go on and make it 7 for 7 on the year and Brown would end up 2nd with Eric Hendrickson in 3rd, Randy Bryan in 4th and Josh May in 5th.
Next up was the Big 8 Tyre Center IMCA Sport Mods for their 15 lap feature event. The Sport Mods would run 4 heats and a b-feature to set the field for the feature. Paul Nagle would take the lead on lap 1 and held on to that top spot until a caution on lap 8 came out for Gaitlin Leytham spun out in turn 2, bunched the field up on the Restart Luke Wanninger made the pass for the lead, at the same time Kevin Sather was making his way to the front. Wanninger on the bottom and Sather on the top set up for a great battle to the finish and indeed it was it was a photo finish at the line but the ruling was Sather won and Wanninger was 2nd, Paul Nagle, Scott Davis and Brett Meyer rounded out the top 5.
Aaron's IMCA Stock Cars would come out for the 18 lap feature and would run it green-to-checkered. Trent Murphy would take the early race lead but would lose that on lap 8 to Dustin Smith. Behind Smith and Murphy was Dusty "The Iceman" Vis, Damon "The Chelsea Charger" Murty and Tracy Gienger.
The IMCA Modifieds Sponsored by Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel would be up next for their 20 lap feature which saw some great racing action. "Fast"Danny Fetters would lead the first 2 laps in the feature would slip up handing the lead over to Vern Jackson on lap 3 but "Superman" Jimmy Gustin would pass Jackson on the next lap for the lead and never look back despite cautions coming out on lap 8, 12 and 14. Finishing by Gustin was Adam Larson, "Showtime" Jon Snyder, "Showtime" Joey Schaefer and Fetters.
The Last Feature of the Night wasn't the final thing of the night but the final feature of the night was the Junction Bar & Grill IMCA Hobby Stocks for their 12 lap event. "Mean" Gene Nicklas would lead the the first 2 laps lose it to Dustin Elliott on lap 3. Elliott would appear to be the winner but a caution came out with 1 lap to go setting up a green-white-checkered finish. Nicklas would make the last lap pass coming off of turn 4 in a pack of 5 cars. Nicklas would take the win, Todd Reitzler would finish about 3/4 car back in 2nd, Elliott would fall to 3rd and "Turbo" Terry Shaffar and Justin Lichty would finish 4th and 5th.
The Finale of the evening was the Modified King of the Hill. In the first round you would see Danny Fetters beat Derek Reimer, Jon Snyder defeat Todd Conrad, Jay Schmidt defeat Vern Jackson and Jimmy Gustin would have a draw with Denny Rosenberg bc neither one wanted to run. In the 2nd Round It was Snyder beating Fetters and Schmidt receiving a bye. Snyder got lane choice and he chose the inside lane, forcing Schmidt to the outside lane. "Showtime" Jon Snyder would take the win.
This friday night will be Minuteman Printing Night at the Races. Ed Gifford, owner of minuteman printing will have his 41o sprint car he owns on hand. Also on hand will be the driver of the car "Zoom Zoom" Dusty Zomer and he will hot lapping the car and will compete against the Modified feature winner in a match race!
