A total of 119 cars checked in to compete on the High Banks of Marshalltown on a Thursday Night. Twenty-One Hobby Stocks, 27 Sport Mods, 43 Modifieds, 17 Stock Cars and 11 Late Models. Shannon Anderson, Jared Van Deest, Damon Murty, Joel Rust and Darrel DeFrance all took the feature wins.
First feature of the night was the IMCA Sport Mods feature event slated for 20 laps. Thomas Egenberger took advantage of his front row starting spot by leading the opening lap. Travis Storjohann took the lead away on lap two but that would be short lived as the caution came out for the only time on lap three when Jake McBirnie rolled off the top of turn two. On the restart, Storjohann was challenged by Jared Van Deest. Van Deest took the lead away and cruised to the win ahead of Brayton Carter, who moved up through the field after starting in 10th. Austin Luellen came back from a B-Main to finish 3rd. Dusty Masolini finished 4th and Sam Wieben was 5th.
Next up was the IMCA Hobby Stocks 18 lap feature and it took them four chances to get going after a trio of cautions. First caution was for Ben Newhouse in turn two then Mitchell Thomas on the back stretch. Third caution was for Justin Lovig in turn 2 after he nearly flipped upside down but leaving a lot debris in turns 1 and 2. When the race got going it was 7 time National Champion Shannon Anderson grabbing the lead. Anderson appeared to be comfortable out front but the caution came out again on lap 7 for Kevin Derry in turn four and then again on lap 11 for Newhouse in turn two. Anderson had to contend with Eric Stanton late in the race but held off the challenges late to take the win in the class known as the "Wild Thing". Stanton, Eugene Nicklas, Justin Wacha and Keeran Sampson rounded out the top five.
After the Hobby Stocks had a total of five cautions it was nice to see that the class known "The Class to Tough To Tame" IMCA Stock Cars went 20 laps caution free. Paul Shepard and Jay Schmidt led the field to the green which saw Schmidt grabbing the top spot early. Schmidt worked the high side of the speedway but so was Damon Murty, a slight bobble was all Murty needed from Schmidt and he was going to be in the lead. Murty saw the door open just slightly on lap nine and grabbed the top spot away. Murty went on to the win meanwhile Schmidt was passed by Jeff Mueller for second. Shepard and Tyler Pickett finished fourth and fifth.
IMCA Modifieds 20 lap feature was only slowed once when Ricky Thornton Jr. went off the top of turn two. Joel Rust started on the pole and would lead all 20 laps of the feature event meanwhile behind him they were racing hard for positions. Hunter Marriott finished 2nd, Tyler Droste was third, Tim Ward finished fourth and Ethan Dotson was fifth.
Final feature of the night was the IMCA Late Models 20 lap feature event and it would be all the hometown boy Darrel DeFrance leading all 20 laps and taking his first win of the 2018 season. However just after 1 lap in the books the red flag came out when Joe Zrostlik got sideways on the backstretch over corrected and collected five other cars : Jeremiah Hurst, Todd Cooney, Andy Nezworski, Curtis Glover and Luke Pestka. Cooney went off the backstretch in to the dirt hills and flipped upside down and Glover also flipped upside down on the backstretch. Everybody was okay but ended their nights. DeFrance was the man the whole way despite a last lap slide job attempt by Chad Holladay. Rob Toland, Curt Schroeder and Luke Pestka rounded out the top five.
Won't have to wait long as the Marshalltown Speedway is right back in action tonight (Friday Night) for Night 2 of the Twin Highbanks Hustle. Modifieds are $1,000 to win again, Stock Cars & Sport Mods $500 to win, Hobby Stocks $300 to win, Late Models $750 to win and the Mod Lites $200 to win. Hot Laps at 7 pm and Racing is at 7:30 pm.
For more information checked out Marshalltown Speedway on Facebook and marshalltownspeedway.com.
