Well for once the friday didn't start out with rain so the we wouldn't have to sit there and question whether or not we were racing the answer was we were racing but the ultimate question would be would we finish in time since storms were moving in from the north.
127 race cars signed in to do battle on the high banks of Marshalltown in the 5 weekly classes do battle for the track points. Also racing this night for the first time ever at Marshalltown was the Spectator Eliminator races.
Only one major incident would happen in the heats or b-features and that was when Eric Elliott rolled his Sport Mod on the backstretch in the Sport Mod B-Feature, from my view in turn 3 & 4 it looked liked Stacy Clark made some contact with Elliott. Other than that racing were minor incidents.
In the O'Reilly Auto Parts Mod Lites 15 lap feature action. Before the completion of 1 lap, Kevin Grisham would roll his car coming out of turn 2 and collect the car of Tim Sutherland ending their day on the hook. When the race got going Joel Huggins would take the lead but then after 2 laps were completed another catuion would come out for Eric Hendrickson coming to a stop on the frontstretch. Huggins would still be able to maintain the lead and look to be cruising away but the final race catuion came out on lap 10 when Larry Sorenson would spin in turn 2. Huggins would now have Josh May on his back bumper and would have to hold him off, he would do that until lap 13 when May would pass by Huggins. May would go on and take the win, his 2nd at Marshalltown. Huggins was 2nd, Tim Hennigar was 3rd, Mike Morrill was 4th and Jimmy May was 5th.
Next out was the Big 8 Tyre Center IMCA Sport Mods for their 15 lap feature, it took 4 heats and a b-feature to dwindle the field down from 36 cars to 24 for the feature. Before 1 lap was completed, Neil Follett and Brad Iverson would get together on the front stretch wall bring out the caution. When the race got going Tom Rawlins would take the early lead but the it was the father & son duo of Fred & Gatlin Leytham that would put on a show as they would catch up to Rawlins forcing him to mess up which then resulted in Zack Rawlins making slight contact with his dad Tom. Fred Leytham would take over the lead on lap 6 and not look a back as the only one to be able to challenge for the lead was his son Gatlin despite the final race caution came out on lap 10 when Cayden Carter got in to the front stretch wall after contact with 18J. But "Fast Freddie" wouldn't let that caution faze him as he was still able to cruise on to the win his first at Marshalltown this year, Gatlin would finish 2nd behind his dad. Kyle Brown was 3rd, Carter Vandenberg was 4th and Zack Rawlins was 5th.
In the Class "Too Tough to Be Tamed" Aaron's IMCA Stock Cars for their 18 lap feature. The Veteran Tommy Thompson would lead lap 1 but he would be passed by Jeff Wollam on lap 2 for the lead. Wollam would be cruising safely away until lap 10 when the caution came out on lap 10, first for Steve Meyer blowing up going in to turn 1 and then for Donnie Boucher in turn 3. When racing resumed Wollam would be passed by Dustin Smith and then Trent Murphy would get by and take 2nd. Then another caution would come out on lap 12 when Robert Engelkes spun in turn 2. Smith still maintained the lead and then another caution would come out on lap 14 when Robbie Merkle would spin in turn 2. Smith will still be able to hold on to the lead but then he would have a tire go down on lap 16, the good thing was 2 cautions came out on lap 16 first for Rick Gustin stopping in turn 2 and then for Engelkes and Merkle in turn 4. Murphy would be handed the lead since Smith had a flat tire, Wollam now in 2nd. With Smith out of the equation for the final 2 laps, Murphy and Wollam would do for the race lead, Murphy held off Wollam for his 3rd win at Marshalltown this year. Thompson was 3rd, Tracy Gienger was 4th and Dave Atcher was 5th.
In the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel IMCA Modifieds for their 20 lap feature, Josh "Happy" Gilman would take the early race lead but Scott Simatovich would pass Gilman on lap 4 for the lead. Simatovich would hold on to that top spot until lap 9 when "Mo'town Missile" Brett Ladehoff would take the race lead but right after that a caution would come out when Joel Bushore would break something and come to a stop in turn 2. On the restart, Ladehoff would have ignition problems and would pull in that would hand the lead back over to Simatovich. A lead Simatovich wouldn't give up, this would be Simatovich 2nd win of the year at Marshalltown. Gilman would take 2nd, Jon Snyder was 3rd, Mike O'Lear was 4th and Adam Larson was 5th.
The final feature of the night was the Junction Bar & Grille IMCA Hobby Stocks 12 lap feature. Gary Pfantz would lead the first 5 laps but then would see a caution come out for John Schuring spinning in turn 3. On the Restart, Pfantz would be passed by Adam Rickett but that would be short lived as Devin Smith would take over the lead on lap 7. On lap 8 the final race caution came out when Terry Shaffar, Brandon Brinton, Michael Murphy, Mike Vibbard and Adam Rickett would get together on the front stretch. Smith wouldn't let that faze him but 2 laps later Smith would then have a right rear tire going down so that would end his night and that would hand the lead over to Todd Reitzler. Reitzler would go on to his 1st win at Marshalltown this year. Tyler Pickett, Eric Knutson, Gary Pfantz and Josh Saunders rounded out the top 5.
The final event of the night was the Spectator Eliminators as there was like 23 cars partcipating and the when it was all completed the winner was Ivan Guerra. Because of the poplularity of the Spectator Eliminators at Marshalltown, Promotor Toby Kruse has decided to do them again on Friday July 23rd.
Racing continues at Marshalltown on Monday with the start of the Great American Stock Car Shootout Series for IMCA Stock Cars plus IMCA Hobby Stocks and IMCA Sport Mods. Pit Gates Open at 4:30p, Grandstands at 5p, Hot Laps at 6:15p, Racing at 7p. Then were back to the race track on friday night for Elliott Racing Night with IMCA Modifieds running for $500 to win plus IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Mod Lites and Micro Mini Sprints.
Check out http://www.marshalltownspeedway.com/ for more information about racing coming up.
O'Reilly Auto Parts Mod Lites
A MAIN:1. Josh May (De Soto, IA), 2. Joel Huggins (Pleasant Hill, IA), 3. Tim Hennigar (Clarion, IA), 4. Mike Morrill (Altoona, IA), 5. James May (De Soto, IA), 6. Dusty Masolini (Des Moines, IA), 7. Randy Bryan (Story City, IA), 8. John Gardner, Jr (Des Moines, IA), 9. Jason Hall (Grinnell, IA), 10. Ivan Guerra (Marshalltwon, IA), 11. Larry Sorenson (Ames, IA), 12. Colby Oberembt, 13. Jeff Stensland (Nevada, IA), 14. Mike Kennedy (Boone, IA), 15. Charlie Brown (Nevada, IA), 16. Eric Hendrickson (Ankeny, Ia), 17. Tim Sutherland (marshalltown, ), 18. Kevin Grisham (Boone, Ia), 19. Brian Efkamp (Perry, Ia),
Big 8 Tyre Center IMCA Sport Mods
A MAIN:1. Fred Leytham, 2. Gaitlin Leytham (Garwin, Ia), 3. Kyle Brown (Kellogg, IA), 4. Carter VanDenBerg (Oskaloosa, Ia), 5. Zach Rawlins (Kellogg, IA), 6. Scott Davis (Boone, IA), 7. Geoff Olson (Ames, Ia), 8. Josh Sherbon (Cedar Falls, IA), 9. Jenae Gustin (Marshalltown , Ia), 10. Eric Flander (Barnes City, IA), 11. Jayme Duinink (Pella, Ia), 12. Bill Hildreth (Marshalltown, IA), 13. Joel Rust (Grundy Center, Ia), 14. Jared VanDeest (Grundy Center, Ia), 15. Jason Severance (Grundy Center, Ia), 16. Lauren Vis (LeGrand, Ia), 17. Curt Hilmer (Dysart, IA), 18. Cayden Carter (Oskaloosa, Ia), 19. Ryan Engelkes (Dike, IA), 20. Jake Strayer (Newton, Ia), 21. Tom Rawlins (Kellogg, IA), 22. Dylan Book (Adel, Ia), 23. Brad Iverson (Grinnell, IA), 24. Neil Follett (Conrad, IA),
B-MAIN:1. Jason Severance (Grundy Center, Ia), 2. Curt Hilmer (Dysart, IA), 3. Jared VanDeest (Grundy Center, Ia), 4. Lauren Vis (LeGrand, Ia), 5. Stacy Clark (Stanhope, Ia), 6. Cody Clegghorn, 7. Jesse Belez (MARENGO, IA), 8. Justin Efkamp (Ankeny, IA), 9. Eric Elliott (Boone, IA), 10. Herbie Wilson (Marshalltown, ia), 11. Zac Becker (Waterloo, IA), 12. Shawn Simatovich (Marshalltown, IA), 13. Colby Heishman, 14. Brandon Smith (waterloo, ), 15. Cody Moore (Marshalltown, IA), 16. Josh Banzhaf (Marshalltown, IA),
Aaron's IMCA Stock Cars
A MAIN:1. Trent Murphy (Jefferson, IA), 2. Jeff Wollam (Marshalltown, IA), 3. Tommy Thompson (Marshalltown, IA), 4. Tracy Gienger (Newton, IA), 5. Dave Atcher (Marshalltown, IA), 6. Rick Brown (Kellogg, IA), 7. Russ Buriel (Ankeny, Ia), 8. Dustin Vis (Le Grand, IA), 9. Ed Kasperbauer (Des Moines, IA), 10. Dustin Smith (Lake City, IA), 11. Trevor Titus (Newton, Ia), 12. Rick Gustin (Marshalltown, IA), 13. Kevin Rose (Waterloo, IA), 14. Robert Engelkes (Dike, IA), 15. Robbie Merkle (Buckingham, Ia), 16. Leroy Staub (Newton, IA), 17. Michael Jaennette (Newton, IA), 18. Donny Bourcher (Marshalltown, Ia), 19. Steve Meyer (Grundy Center, IA), 20. Justin Hartgers (Newton, Ia), 21. Don Vis (Marshalltown, IA),
Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel IMCA Modifieds
A MAIN:1. Scott Simatovich (State Center, IA), 2. Josh Gilman (Earlham, IA), 3. Jon Snyder (Ames, IA), 4. Mike O'Lear (Marshalltown, IA), 5. Adam Larson (Ames, IA), 6. Richie Gustin, Jr. (Gilman, IA), 7. Jay Schmidt (Tama, IA), 8. Nate Caruth (Ames, IA), 9. Luke Wanninger (Jefferson, IA), 10. Jimmy Gustin (Marshalltown, IA), 11. David Brown (Kellogg, IA), 12. Ronn Lauritzen (Jesup, IA), 13. Denny Rosenberg (Grimes, Ia), 14. Rick Speck (Garwin, IA), 15. Rod Clement (Rhodes, IA), 16. Joel Bushore (Boone, MIA), 17. Brett Ladehoff (Marshalltown, IA), 18. Todd Conrad (Central City, IA), 19. Andrew Kinser (Marshalltown, IA), 20. Daniel Hilsabeck (Adel, IA),
Junction Bar & Grille IMCA Hobby Stocks
A MAIN:1. Todd Reitzler (Grinnell, IA), 2. Tyler Pickett, 3. Eric Knutson (Huxley, IA), 4. Gary Pfantz (State Center, IA), 5. Josh Saunders (Newton, IA), 6. Calvin Dhondt (Kellogg, Ia), 7. Michael Murphy (Jefferson, IA), 8. Matt Sorenson (Ames, IA), 9. Jennifer Hulin (Marshalltown, IA), 10. Brandon Brinton (Nevada, Ia), 11. Jesse Hopkins (Ames, IA), 12. Russell Damme, Jr. (Waterloo, IA), 13. Vince Buchholz, 14. Devin Smith (Lake City, IA), 15. Adam Rickett (Marshalltown, IA), 16. Mike Vibbard (Liscomb, IA), 17. Aaron Rudolph (Grand Junction, Ia), 18. Terry Shaffar (State Center, IA), 19. Jake Nelson (Newton, IA), 20. John Schuring (Newton, IA), 21. Mike Anderson (Marshalltown, IA), 22. Eric Larson (Holland, Ia), 23. Russell Keefer (Albion, IA), 24. Wes Stanek (Buckingham, Ia),
B-MAIN:1. Aaron Rudolph (Grand Junction, Ia), 2. Brandon Brinton (Nevada, Ia), 3. Jennifer Hulin (Marshalltown, IA), 4. Mike Vibbard (Liscomb, IA), 5. Matthew Hedspeth (Madrid, Ia), 6. Dustin Tapp (Ames, ), 7. Dustin Filloon (Toledo, Ia), 8. John Clemens, 9. Nic Shearer (Des Moines, Ia), 10. Matt Deaton (Newton, Ia), 11. Eric Stanton (Hartford, Ia),
