On this night one thing that would be the same as almost any other race night at Marshalltown would be the battle with good ole mother nature and once again it would throw a wrench and a curve ball at Promotor Toby Kruse. It would certainly make it unique for every body, rain would return before the night end but would let the show get completed. Also on this night we saw new first time winners and a couple of repeat winners.
Toby and the track crew would take time after each race to roll out the ruts and keep the track wide and race able. "The track was spongy, soft and hard to keep smooth but our crew kept trying to make it the best track in each race we ran, but it was a challenge in staying ahead of the program."
Before the night got started there was a father and son match race for Engelkes Racing, Robert in the Stock Car would start on the outside and his son Ryan in the Sport Mod would start on the inside. Early on Ryan and Robert would race door to door but Ryan would out distance his father in the end of it.
When it was time to roll the feature events on the race track the Dwarf Car/Mod Lites would be up for their 15 lap feature. Joel Huggins would take the lead from the pole position. The only caution would come out just after on lap was in the books when Travis Stensland and Ivan Guerra spin in turn 4. Huggins would continue to lead and would hold off challenges from Josh May and Mike Morrill. Huggins would get his 3rd feature win of the season, Josh May would get his best finish of the season by finishing 2nd, Point Leader Mike Morrill was 3rd, Last Week's Winner Tim Hennigar would get 4th and CJ Speedway Regular Jason Masengarb would get 5th.
Then it was time for the Big 8 Tyre Center IMCA Sport Mods, 4 heats and a b feature would be taken to dwindle the field down to 24 cars from the 30 cars that signed in. Shawn Simatovich and Bryan "Stretch" Rodman would pace the field to green. Rodman would jump to the lead a never look back despite 5 cautions and battles from Kyle Brown late in the race. the first caution came out on lap 2 when Joel Rust spun in turn 2 and Ryan Engelkes and Kenny Hay got together in turn 3. The next caution came on lap 7 when Luke Wanninger was spun around in turn 2. Then on lap 9, the red flag would come out when Curt Hilmer would roll his race car in turn 2, Hilmer would climb from the race car uninjured. Two more cautions would come out on lap 10 and 11, on lap 10 Shawn Simatovich spun in turn 2 and on lap 11 when Geoff Olson spin in turns 3 & 4. Rodman would go on and get his first career win, he had raced golf cars in the past and decided to lead his golf car racing and race a sport mod. "We race a couple of times a week and we really are only able to come here when it works out, we love it here and would like to race here more. I have to thank my wife in encouraging me to do this, I owe this win to her." Rodman was followed by "Downtown" Kyle Brown, Neil Follett, Scott Davis and Point Leader Kevin Sather, who started 22nd.
Up next is the Aaron's IMCA Stock Cars, 4 heats and a b feature would also be used to dwindle the field down to 24 cars from the 29 cars that signed in. The Veteran Tommy Thompson would take the early race lead, Clay Deppe would take his turn at the lead on lap 5 until lap 14 when "Chelsea Charger" Damon Murty would make the pass for the lead but Track Point Leader aka "Superman" Dustin Smith would take the lead on lap 16. The only caution would come out after lap 16 was completed when Trevor Titus and Michael Johnston get together on the front stretch. Smith would not let the green-white-checkered finish faze him as he would go on and get his 8th feature win of the season as he would out distance the field. Murty would end up 2nd, Michael Jeannette would finish 3rd, Rob Schneider would get 4th and Eric Flander came home in 5th.
Meskawki Bingo Casino Hotel IMCA Modifieds were up next for their 20 lap feature. Tim Stevens would lead the first lap but he would bobble coming off of turn 2 and this would allow David Brown, which was only his 2nd night out of the season. The first of three cautions came out on lap 2 when Rod Clement, Vern Jackson, Denny Rosenberg and Kyle Krampe would get together in turn 1, Tim Stevens would drive off in turn 1 and break something in the front of his car, Jimmy Gustin would drive off too but kept moving. Brown would continue to lead and hold on to the lead until the restart of the next caution. the next caution came out on lap 4 when Krampe spun in turn 1, this would send him to the pits. On the restart Tim Murty would make the pass on Brown for the lead, after this would happen and the lap was scored in the book another caution came out. This was the final caution but it saw Jimmy Gustin and Jay Schmidt get together in turns 1 & 2 and Rick Speck spin around in 1 & 2. Murty would maintain the lead but would lose it on lap 9 to the "Flyin Mopar" Scott Simatovich. Simatovich would have too hold off Murty and "Motown Missile" Brett Ladehoff for the victory late in the race. Simatovich would take the win and in victory lane he would state, "We have been waiting and we kept waiting knowing we would someday get one, I just stay patient and it finally tonight it paid off." Behind Simatovich was Murty, Ladehoff, "The Iceman" Scott Hogan and Randy Havlik
The Final Feature of the night was the Junction Bar & Grille IMCA Hobby Stocks and their 12 lap feature. Clint Nelson led the first 9 laps in this feature but Former Crusier and Figure 8 Racer Eric Larson would take the lead with 2 laps to go and he would outdistance himself from the field to pick up his first career victory. The only caution in the feature came out on lap 7 when Mike Anderson, Russell Damme and Terry Shaffar spun in turn 1 & 2. "Wild Woman" Jennifer Hulin came home 2nd, Michael Vibbard, Michael Murphy and Todd Reitzler came home 3rd through 5th.
Last on the Night was the Stock Car King of the Hill. In the first round, Todd Kearney would beat Rob Schneider, Donnie Bown would beat Steve Meyer, Damon Murty would receive a bye and Clay Deppe, Rick Brown and Trevor Titus all scratched. In the semifinal round, Kearney would go against Murty in which Murty would win, Bown would receive a bye. The Finale of the America's Best Value Inn Stock Car King of the Hill was between Damon Murty and Donnie Bown, Murty would out distance himself for the win in the King of the Hill.
Racing action completed at 11:10 pm. Next Friday Night is the New Hope Christian Church Cardboard Classic and J&V Napa Auto Parts Night at the Races. Gates Open at 5:30, Drivers Meeting at 6:45, Hot Lap at 7 and Racing at 7:30!
Don't forgot coming up on Wednesday Night August 19th, The Deery Brother Summer Series for IMCA Late Models returns to the Marshalltown Speedway plus the IMCA Sport Mods will run for $400 to win, $250 to win in Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks and $200 to win in the Mod Lites.
