Racing would heat up on the chilly night at the Marshalltown Speedway. It would be annual North 3rd Ave Dairy Queen Larry Wollam Season Championships. The night would be picture perfect weather wise and a full moon in the sky. It would bring drivers from Farmington, New Mexico and Dawson County, Nebraska. One driver was Regan Tafoya, nicknamed the "Fastest Barber" from New Mexico , drove 23 hours to get here but would blow up in hot laps and we also had the Hoing Family, Robert and Greg from Nebraska come and race.
The night would bring an end to the 2009 track points standings. We would have out of the car driver introductions and Australian Pursuit races, that would be added thrills to the fans plus a little added bonus if the front row would take the promotor challenge and go to the rear. All the features would have an added 5 laps being its season championship night.
The first feature of the night would be the Dwarf Car/Mod Lites for their 20 lap feature. Mike Morrill and Mike Kennedy would both elect not to take the challenge and stay up front. Morrill came in with a 84 point advantage over Kennedy. Morrill would take the lead and the only things slowing him down was a caution, lap cars and a battle with Tim Hennigar. The only race caution came out on lap 14 for debris in turn 4, this would allow Tim Hennigar to restart on the back bumper of Morrill. Morrill was able to hold him off for his 10th win of the season at Marshalltown, Tim Hennigar was 2nd, Mike Kennedy was 3rd, Andy Hennigar 4th and Randy Bryan 5th. With Morrill's win and Kennedy finishing 3rd, Morrill would win the track championship by 86 points.
The Junction Bar & Grille IMCA Hobby Stocks was up nextfor their 17 lap feature. Devin Smith and Michael Murphy would both chose to not take the promotor challenge . Smith came in with a 3 point advantage over Murphy. Smith would jump in to the race lead and for the first half of the race would have to handle cautions and the 2nd half of the race dealing with the lap cars. 3 cautions would come out, first on lap 2 which resulted in a red flag when Adam Rickett flipped off of turn 1 & 2. The next caution came out on lap 5 when John Schuring spun in turn 4 and the last caution came out on lap 8 when Michael Murphy blows up and stops on the run off road. Smith would go on and lead the entire 17 laps, getting his 6th win of the year at Marshalltown and winning the track championship by 12 points over Terry Shaffar, who finished 2nd, Murphy would fall to 3rd in the final standings and 24 points back with a 22nd place finish. Todd Reitzler was 3rd, Nick Murty moved up 20 spots to finish 4th and Clint Nelson would move up 7 spots to finish 5th.
Next up was the Dwarf Car Australian Pursuit, Josh May would get passed on the final lap by Mike Morrill, Morril would win the Australian Pursuit. Dusty Masolini, David Schmalzried, Joel Huggins, Mike Kennedy, Jimmy May, Johnny Mordock and Josh May were eliminated in that order.
Coming out next was the Big 8 Tyre Center IMCA Sport Mods for their 20 lap feature. Kevin Sather and Scott Davis would also decline to take the challenge. Before one lap was completed, Shawn Simatovich and Scott Durlin would come together in turn 2. Finally when they did get going Davis would jump out to the lead, he would engage in numerous battles with Sather. Another caution would come out on lap 8 when Ryan Engelkes spun in turn 3. The next catuion came out on lap 10 when Lauren Vis and Herbie Wilson would spin around in turn 3, Durlin and Jade Robinson would drive of fthe top to avoid making contact. Davis would maintain the lead through it all and resume command and go on to the victory. It would be Davis's 3rd win of the season at Marshalltown. Sather finished 2nd and would win the track championship by 3 points over Davis. Jake Strayer, Kyle Brown and Shawn Hunter would round out the top 5.
Then it was time for the Junction Bar & Grille Hobby Stock Australian Pursuit, Devin Smith would go on to the victory and Dustin Elliott would get 2nd. Others were eliminated in this order: Josh Saunders, Eric Knutson, Todd Reitzler, Jennifer Hulin, Eric Larson and Terry Shaffar.
Aaron's IMCA Stock Cars was up next for their 23 lap feature. Dustin Smith and Jeff Wollam would both decline to take the challenge. Smith came in the night with track championship already in his hands as he came in with a 75 point advantage. Jeff Wollam would jump out to the race lead and appeared to be going on to the victory on the night in the honor of his father, despite holding of Smith numerous times. The first of 2 cautions came out on lap 7 when Damon Murty came to a stop in turn 1 & 2. On the restart Wollam and Smith would continue to battle for the top spot, Wollam would lead until lap 11 when Smith was scored the leader and then Wollam took back the lead on lap 12 but Smith would give up as Smith would make the pass on lap 19 for the lead. The final caution would come out on lap 22 when Trevor Titus and Eric Flander would get together in turns 1 & 2. Smith would go on and win number 11 at Marshalltown and win the track championship by 76 points over Wollam, who finished 2nd. Michael Jeannetter was 3rd, Tracy Gienger came home 4th and Steve Meyer was 5th.
Then it was time for the Big 8 Tyre Center IMCA Sport Mod Australian Pursuit. Bill Hildreth would start out front and not be passed and go on to the victory. Other Participants was Jake Strayer, Scott Davis, Brad Iverson, Zach Rawlins, Kyle Brown and Shawn Hunter.
The final feature of the night was the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel IMCA Modifieds 25 lap feature. Jimmy Gustin and Jon Snyder would be the front row unless one took the challenge. Gustin elected to take the challenge to go to the rear so that would move Adam Larson to the pole position. Jon Snyder would look to be going on to victory but would be passed by Adam Larson on lap 18 of the feature event. Jimmy Gustin would start at the back and would come up and finish 3rd in the green-to-checkered feature. Scott Simatovich and Jay Schmidt rounded out the top 5.
Up next was the Aaron's IMCA Stock Cars Australian Pursuit. Don Vis would lead the first 5 laps then would be passed by Steve Meyer and Jeff Wollam. Wollam would pass Meyer for the win. Other participants were Tracy Gienger and Rob Schneider.
The final event of the night was the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel IMCA Modifieds Australian Pursuit. Brett Ladehoff would lead the entire 8 laps, Tim Murty would end up 2nd and Scott Simatovich was 3rd. Other participants were Jimmy Gustin, Jay Schmidt and Jon Snyder.
Track Points have come to an end but racing action at Marshalltown hasn't as the track will sit idle while track officials prepare for the 3rd Annual Havoc on the High Banks on Friday and Saturday September 18th & 19th.
