Fans, race car drivers and officials were treated with a very beautiful night at the Marshalltown Speedway. This night not only had horsepower but foot power as the kids got to have fun in the annual New Hope Christian Church Cardboard Classic, where they make cardboard race cars of their favorite drivers, even promotor Toby Kruse jumped in on the fun.
The First Feature of the evening was the Dwarf Car/Mod Lites for their 15 lap feature. David Schmalzried took the early race lead but hard charging and point leader Mike Morrill would cruise to the lead on lap 3. The only thing that slowed Morrill would be a caution on lap 9 when Joe Wood shot of turns 3 & 4 (got got up in the fence) and then again on lap 13 when Travis Stensland, Eric Hendrickson and DJ Robinson made contact with each other on the front stretch. Morrill this would be his 9th win of the season at marshalltown, Andy Hennigar would finish 2nd, Jimmy May was 3rd, Mike Kennedy and Matthew Goodin was 4th and 5th.
Big 8 Tyre Center IMCA Sport Mods were up next for their 15 lap feature, it took 4 heats and a b-feature to set the field from 29 cars to 24. A caution would follow before 1 lap was complete when Curt Hilmer, Joel Bushore and Jason Morchouse would get together in turn 2. Then when racing did get going one of the heat race winners Adam Shelman would take the lead from his pole position and lead until the next caution on lap 5, this one came out because Kevin Sather lost a driveshaft and Ryan Ashton makes contact with Sather. On the restart Brad Iverson would pass Shelman for the lead and then after another lap was scored in the books the final caution came out when Shelman spun around in turns 3 & 4. Iverson would get his 2nd win of the season, Jake Strayer was 2nd, Scott Davis had a early race flat tire but was able manage to come up and finish 3rd, Zach Rawlins was 4th and Neil Follett rounded out the top 5.
The Aaron's IMCA Stock Cars was up next for their 18 lap feature event. Trevor Titus would lead the first lap. Michael Johnston from Des Moines would lead laps 2 and 3, Steve Meyer would then take the lead on lap 4 and lead until Michael Jeannette would catch up to him and pass him on lap 8 , the only race caution came out right after that when Joe Luethje spun around in turn 2 for a flat tire. Jeannette looked to be going on for the win but he would be passed by Track Point Leader Dustin Smith on lap 13 and Smith would cruise to his 9th win of the season at marshalltown. Jeannette, Jeff Wollam, Tracy Gienger and Michael Johnston rounded out the top 5.
Up Next would be the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel IMCA Modifieds for their 20 laps feature. "The Flyin Mopar" Scott Simatovich would take the win in the only feature to go green-to-checkered on the night, it would Simatovich's 2nd win of the season, the 2nd straight win at marshalltown. Simatovich was being chased down by Jay Schmidt in his new looking race car, Adam Larson and "The Iceman" Scott Hogan. Schmidt was 2nd, Larson 3rd, Hogan 4th and "Mighty" Mike O'Lear was 5th.
The last feature of the night was the Junction Bar & Grille IMCA Hobby Stock Feature for 12 laps. "Pistol" Pete Hutzel would take the lead and appear to be cruising on to victory despite 2 cautions. The first caution was on lap 3 when Eric Larson when off the top of turn 2 and then on lap 8 when Daniel Hilsabeck was spun around on the backstretch by Todd Reitzler, Reitzler was sent to the pits for questionable driving, Hilsabeck rejoined the field. Hutzel still held on for the lead and look to be go on to victory but on the last lap he was passed by Devin Smith. For Smith it would be his 5th win at marshalltown in 2009, Hutzel would finish 2nd, "Turbo" Terry Shaffar was 3rd, Michael Murphy was 4th and "Wild Woman" Jennifer Hulin was 5th.
Racing action was completed at 10:23 pm. Racing action continues next friday night with Custom Concrete Night at the racesplus the Dwarf Car King of the Hill and Nostaglia Cars. Gates open at 5:30, Hot Laps at 7 and Racing at 7:30!
This week the trackside report will be at the Iowa State Fair Races on Tuesday, The Deery Show at Marshalltown on Wednesday and the weekly show at Marshalltown on Friday.
