I may have never gotten to know Larry personally but one thing I know he is smiling down every night on his son Jeff on the race track, even the bad nights. I have become great friends with the entire Wollam Racing Team over the years and you could say I am their unofficial stat keeper, its always touching to hang out with them in the pits every race night because they have been supporters of me and my passion for racing.
Larry always lived by his view of Life and they honestly couldn't be any more spoken words.
THE LARRY WOLLAM VIEW OF LIFE--
If you think you're beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch that you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out in the world we find -
Success begins with a fellow's will,
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you're outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself,
Before you can win the prize.
Life's battles don't always go,
To the strongest or fastest man.
But sooner or later the person who wins,
Is the person who thinks he can.
Eighty-Nine Cars signed in to race on the high banks of Marshalltown including nine North Iowa Vintage Club. Mike Morrill, Jacob Floyd, Jake McBirnie, Steve Meyer and Joel Rust were all feature winners. Morrill, Leah Wroten, McBirnie, Meyer and Tim Ward were all crown track champions. Top Ten in points in all classes were automatically locked in with all other cars including new cars racing their way into their starting spots for the features.
First feature of the night was the Mod Lites 15 lap feature event and it was "Huggie Bear" Joel Huggins grabbing the early race lead with Mike Morrill in tow. Huggins began to work lap traffic and that allowed Morrill to think about making a move for the top spot. Morrill did exactly that as he took the lead away coming to the white flag putting Huggins back to second. Morrill went on to take his sixth win of the season and the track championship. Huggins finished second on the track and second in points by 4 pts. Randy Bryan was third, Joe Glick was fourth and Charlie Brown was fifth.
Jake McBirnie took advantage of being the Points leader by starting on the front row in the 18 lap IMCA Sport Mods feature event. McBirnie wrestled the lead away from Austin Schrage on the start and cruised on his third win in Motown. Austin Kaplan got by Schrage six laps to go and Kaplan held on to take second. Schrage finished third, Jenae Gustin and Travis Peterson was fourth and fifth respectively. McBirnie nabbed the 2019 track championship by 12 pts over Peterson.
In the IMCA Hobby Stocks 15 lap feature event, it was Track Champion Leah Wroten leading the first 11 laps despite having the pesky Rookie Kaden Reynolds following right in her tire tracks. The caution came out on lap 11 when racing veteran Bill Bonnett blew up and caught fire going down the front stretch before coming to a stop in turn two. Wroten and Reynold battled it out for the race lead but it looked as if Wroten was going to take the win but on lap 13, Reynolds tried to make a move for the race lead but was unsuccessful. Reynolds again tried and took the top spot away going into turn three on the final lap but Wroten made contact spinning Reynolds out in turn three. Wroten came across the line to the checkers at the same time the yellow came out, Wroten was penalized for questionable driving and Reynolds was the caution so that gave the win to Jacob Floyd, who ran third the entire distance. Gary Pfantz was second, Jamie Coady came across the line in third was disqualifed in post race tech inspection for chip infraction so that handed the third spot over to Ben Newhouse. Jeremiah Andrews and Scott Ellis rounded out the top five. Wroten clinched the track champion by simply taking the green flag.
What can you say about the IMCA Stock Cars 18 lap feature, other than they truly are the "Class Too Tough Too Tame" and it was no different on this night. Steve Meyer and Todd Reitlzer battled it out early in the feature event with Meyer leading lap one. A caution came out just after the completion of lap one when Michael Peterson hit the front stretch wall and coming to a stop. Reitzler took the lead away from Meyer on the restart but the caution came out on lap seven when third place runner Dallon Murty spun in turn two. Reitzler continued to lead even when the caution came out on lap ten for Damon Murty sliding off the top side of turn three. The caution came out a lap later on lap 11 when Curt Hook came to a stop on the top side of turn one. Meyer got by Reitzler on lap 12 and shortly after Reitzler spun in the bottom side of turn two. Meyer held on to take his third win of the season ahead of hard charging Damon Murty. Jeff Wollam finished third on a night remembering his dad. Dave Atcher was fourth and Dallon Murty came back to finish fifth. Meyer took the track championship, his first since his 2012 Stock Car Track Championship.
Final feature of the night was the IMCA Modifieds 20 lap feature event. Joel Rust jumped out to the race lead and managed to lead all 20 laps fending off challenges from Tim Ward early in the feature the went caution free. Rust took win number seven of the year in Motown. Ward finished second, Ronn Lauritzen was third, Sam Wieben was fourth and Jared Van Deest was fifth. Ward held on to win the track championship by 3 pts over Rust.
North Iowa Vintage Club made a special appearance to the Marshalltown Speedway and it the end of its 12 lap feature event, it was Ray Guss Jr from Illinois taking the win in a 1975 Chevy Nova owned by Keith Simmons. Guss took the lead on lap three and never looked back.
All that is left on the Marshalltown Speedway 2019 Schedule is special events. The first of which is Friday August 30th for the Safelite Auto Glass Showdown at Motown. IMCA Modifieds are $1,000 to win meanwhile IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Sport Mods are both $500 to win. IMCA Hobby Stocks also race for a top prize of $300 to win. Draw/Redraw show for IMCA National, Regional and State Points. The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks also make an appearance to the Marshalltown Speedway. Hot Laps at 6:45, Racing at 7:30!
Then the Speedway takes a week off for Super Nationals in Boone before they return for the 13th Annual World Nationals on September 12th through 14th. Thursday September 12th is an Open Track Practice for all classes. Friday September 13th, Qualifying for IMCA Modifieds plus a complete show for IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods and IMCA Hobby Stocks. Saturday September 14th, Last Chance races and $10,000 to win finale for the IMCA Modifieds. Stock Cars, Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks also race on Saturday. Stock Cars and Sport Mods are $1,000 to win both Friday and Saturday meanwhile the Hobby Stocks are $500 to win each night. Racing starts at 7!
For information about the Marshalltown Speedway check out Marshalltown Speedway or Like Marshalltown Speedway on Facebook.
Marhalltown Speedway
North 3rd Ave Dairy Queen
Larry Wollam Memorial Season Championships
Friday August 23rd, 2019
IMCA Modifieds
A Feature : 1. 26J Joel Rust (Grundy Center); 2. 4TW Tim Ward (Chandler, AZ); 3. 10K Ronn Lauritzen (La Porte City); 4. 198 Sam Wieben (Dysart); 5. 80J Jared Van Deest (Holland); 6. 13 Anthony Hofbauer (Huxley); 7. 237 Zack Rawlins (Kellogg); 8. 3W Garret Wilson (Carlisle); 9. 40RC Rod Clement (Rhodes); DNS 57 Tyler Gross (Bondurant)
Track Champion : Tim Ward
IMCA Stock Cars
A Feature : 1. 94 Steve Meyer (Grundy Center); 2. 99D Damon Murty (Chelsea); 3. 3W Jeff Wollam (Marshalltown); 4. 2 David Atcher (Laurel); 5. 99 Dallon Murty (Chelsea); 6. 2K Kyle Everts (Holland); 7. 4 Scott Rice (Marshalltown); 8. 22D Jared Daggett (Marshalltown); 9. 22R Todd Reitzler (Grinnell); 10. 75 Curt Hook (Ackley); 11. 3T Scooter Dulin (Cedar Rapids); 12. 04 Don Vis (State Center); 13. 50X Kevin Balmer (Garwin); 14. 1X Michael Peterson (Montezuma); DNS 32 Tom Cannon (West Branch); DNS 4JR Russell Damme Jr (Waterloo); DNS 42 Doug Russell (Conrad)
Heat : 1. Peterson; 2. Damon Murty; 3. Balmer; 4. Dulin; 5. Cannon; 6. Vis; 7. Damme; 8. Russell
Track Champion : Steve Meyer
IMCA Sport Mods
A Feature : 1. 82 Jake McBirnie (Boone); 2. 1 Austin Kaplan (Ankeny); 3. 14X Austin Schrage (Cresco); 4. 19J Jenae Gustin (Marshalltown); 5. 25 Travis Peterson (Gladbrook); 6. 34Z Cory Van Zante (Sully); 7. 22H Curt Hilmer (Dysart); 8. 77AU Frank Packer (Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia); 9. K9 Brian Kauffman (Reinbeck); 10. 7L Brian Lepa (Waterloo); 11. 57R Ryan King (Montour); 12. 4 Dustin Dreesman (Grundy Center); 13. 98S Dennis Stewart (Marshalltown); DNS 98X Bill Hildreth (Iowa Falls)
Heat : 1. Kauffman; 2. Curt Hilmer; 3. Packer; 4. Hildreth; 5. King; 6. Stewart; 7. Dreesman; DNS 22JR Brady Hilmer (Dysart)
Track Champion : Jake McBirnie
IMCA Hobby Stocks
A Feature : 1. 14J Jacob Floyd (Cedar Rapids); 2. 4X Gary Pfantz (State Center); 3. 17X Ben Newhouse (State Center); 4. 37G Jeremiah Andrews (Union); 5. 40SE Scott Ellis (Marshalltown); 6. 47 Ray Fees (Des Moines); 7. 81M Travis Merical (Marshalltown); 8. 11K William Klosterman (Ackely); 9. 117 Zach Hovell (Pella); 10. 9F Breyden Forbes (Evansdale); 11. 15D Dan Brady (Deep River); 12. 57C Cory Ogden (Cedar Rapids); 13. 17 Andy Peck (Newton); 14. 75M Preston Merical (State Center); 15. 18 James Jensen (Newton); 16. 1 Kaden Reynolds (Cedar Rapids); 17. 14C Leah Wroten (Independence); 18. 06B Brandon Long (Des Moines); 19. 57 Marlena Betzer (Central City); 20. 19 Bill Bonnett (Knoxville); 21. 30T Brian Stevens (Newton); 22. 71A Kyle Dulin (Brandon); DQ 56J Jamie Coady (Colfax)
Heat 1 : 1. Hovell; 2. Betzer; 3. Dulin; 4. Stevens; 5. Long; 6. Jensen; 7. Preston Merical
Heat 2 : 1. Bonnett; 2. Travis Merical; 3. Klosterman; 4. Brady; 5. Forbes; 6. Ogden
Track Champion : Leah Wroten
MADCRA Mod Lites
A Feature : 1. 6 Mike Morrill (Altoona); 2. X50 Joel Huggins (Des Moines); 3. 64 Randy Bryan (Ames); 4. 3G Joe Glick (Madrid); 5. 82 Charlie Brown (Nevada); 6. 28 Terry Brown (Nevada); 7. 92 Ryan Mills (Des Moines); 8. 47 Cory Sonner (Huxley); 9. 8W Joe Wood (Boone); 10. 18M Chelsea May (DeSoto); 11. 4G Ben George (Altoona); 12. 14 Bryan Compart (Madrid); 13. 88 Thomas Messamer (Des Moines); 14. J7B Chris Weir (Colo); DNS 3T Tanner Gannon (Des Moines)
Heat 1 :1. Charlie Brown; 2. Mills; 3. Weir; 4. Compart; 5. Messamer; 6. Wood
Track Champion : Mike Morrill
North Iowa Vintage Club
Feature Winner : 38 Ray Guss Jr (Milan, IL) --- 1975 Chevy Nova owned by Keith Simmons
For out in the world we find -
Success begins with a fellow's will,
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you're outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself,
Before you can win the prize.
Life's battles don't always go,
To the strongest or fastest man.
But sooner or later the person who wins,
Is the person who thinks he can.
Eighty-Nine Cars signed in to race on the high banks of Marshalltown including nine North Iowa Vintage Club. Mike Morrill, Jacob Floyd, Jake McBirnie, Steve Meyer and Joel Rust were all feature winners. Morrill, Leah Wroten, McBirnie, Meyer and Tim Ward were all crown track champions. Top Ten in points in all classes were automatically locked in with all other cars including new cars racing their way into their starting spots for the features.
First feature of the night was the Mod Lites 15 lap feature event and it was "Huggie Bear" Joel Huggins grabbing the early race lead with Mike Morrill in tow. Huggins began to work lap traffic and that allowed Morrill to think about making a move for the top spot. Morrill did exactly that as he took the lead away coming to the white flag putting Huggins back to second. Morrill went on to take his sixth win of the season and the track championship. Huggins finished second on the track and second in points by 4 pts. Randy Bryan was third, Joe Glick was fourth and Charlie Brown was fifth.
Jake McBirnie took advantage of being the Points leader by starting on the front row in the 18 lap IMCA Sport Mods feature event. McBirnie wrestled the lead away from Austin Schrage on the start and cruised on his third win in Motown. Austin Kaplan got by Schrage six laps to go and Kaplan held on to take second. Schrage finished third, Jenae Gustin and Travis Peterson was fourth and fifth respectively. McBirnie nabbed the 2019 track championship by 12 pts over Peterson.
In the IMCA Hobby Stocks 15 lap feature event, it was Track Champion Leah Wroten leading the first 11 laps despite having the pesky Rookie Kaden Reynolds following right in her tire tracks. The caution came out on lap 11 when racing veteran Bill Bonnett blew up and caught fire going down the front stretch before coming to a stop in turn two. Wroten and Reynold battled it out for the race lead but it looked as if Wroten was going to take the win but on lap 13, Reynolds tried to make a move for the race lead but was unsuccessful. Reynolds again tried and took the top spot away going into turn three on the final lap but Wroten made contact spinning Reynolds out in turn three. Wroten came across the line to the checkers at the same time the yellow came out, Wroten was penalized for questionable driving and Reynolds was the caution so that gave the win to Jacob Floyd, who ran third the entire distance. Gary Pfantz was second, Jamie Coady came across the line in third was disqualifed in post race tech inspection for chip infraction so that handed the third spot over to Ben Newhouse. Jeremiah Andrews and Scott Ellis rounded out the top five. Wroten clinched the track champion by simply taking the green flag.
What can you say about the IMCA Stock Cars 18 lap feature, other than they truly are the "Class Too Tough Too Tame" and it was no different on this night. Steve Meyer and Todd Reitlzer battled it out early in the feature event with Meyer leading lap one. A caution came out just after the completion of lap one when Michael Peterson hit the front stretch wall and coming to a stop. Reitzler took the lead away from Meyer on the restart but the caution came out on lap seven when third place runner Dallon Murty spun in turn two. Reitzler continued to lead even when the caution came out on lap ten for Damon Murty sliding off the top side of turn three. The caution came out a lap later on lap 11 when Curt Hook came to a stop on the top side of turn one. Meyer got by Reitzler on lap 12 and shortly after Reitzler spun in the bottom side of turn two. Meyer held on to take his third win of the season ahead of hard charging Damon Murty. Jeff Wollam finished third on a night remembering his dad. Dave Atcher was fourth and Dallon Murty came back to finish fifth. Meyer took the track championship, his first since his 2012 Stock Car Track Championship.
Final feature of the night was the IMCA Modifieds 20 lap feature event. Joel Rust jumped out to the race lead and managed to lead all 20 laps fending off challenges from Tim Ward early in the feature the went caution free. Rust took win number seven of the year in Motown. Ward finished second, Ronn Lauritzen was third, Sam Wieben was fourth and Jared Van Deest was fifth. Ward held on to win the track championship by 3 pts over Rust.
North Iowa Vintage Club made a special appearance to the Marshalltown Speedway and it the end of its 12 lap feature event, it was Ray Guss Jr from Illinois taking the win in a 1975 Chevy Nova owned by Keith Simmons. Guss took the lead on lap three and never looked back.
All that is left on the Marshalltown Speedway 2019 Schedule is special events. The first of which is Friday August 30th for the Safelite Auto Glass Showdown at Motown. IMCA Modifieds are $1,000 to win meanwhile IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Sport Mods are both $500 to win. IMCA Hobby Stocks also race for a top prize of $300 to win. Draw/Redraw show for IMCA National, Regional and State Points. The Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks also make an appearance to the Marshalltown Speedway. Hot Laps at 6:45, Racing at 7:30!
Then the Speedway takes a week off for Super Nationals in Boone before they return for the 13th Annual World Nationals on September 12th through 14th. Thursday September 12th is an Open Track Practice for all classes. Friday September 13th, Qualifying for IMCA Modifieds plus a complete show for IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods and IMCA Hobby Stocks. Saturday September 14th, Last Chance races and $10,000 to win finale for the IMCA Modifieds. Stock Cars, Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks also race on Saturday. Stock Cars and Sport Mods are $1,000 to win both Friday and Saturday meanwhile the Hobby Stocks are $500 to win each night. Racing starts at 7!
For information about the Marshalltown Speedway check out Marshalltown Speedway or Like Marshalltown Speedway on Facebook.
Marhalltown Speedway
North 3rd Ave Dairy Queen
Larry Wollam Memorial Season Championships
Friday August 23rd, 2019
IMCA Modifieds
A Feature : 1. 26J Joel Rust (Grundy Center); 2. 4TW Tim Ward (Chandler, AZ); 3. 10K Ronn Lauritzen (La Porte City); 4. 198 Sam Wieben (Dysart); 5. 80J Jared Van Deest (Holland); 6. 13 Anthony Hofbauer (Huxley); 7. 237 Zack Rawlins (Kellogg); 8. 3W Garret Wilson (Carlisle); 9. 40RC Rod Clement (Rhodes); DNS 57 Tyler Gross (Bondurant)
Track Champion : Tim Ward
IMCA Stock Cars
A Feature : 1. 94 Steve Meyer (Grundy Center); 2. 99D Damon Murty (Chelsea); 3. 3W Jeff Wollam (Marshalltown); 4. 2 David Atcher (Laurel); 5. 99 Dallon Murty (Chelsea); 6. 2K Kyle Everts (Holland); 7. 4 Scott Rice (Marshalltown); 8. 22D Jared Daggett (Marshalltown); 9. 22R Todd Reitzler (Grinnell); 10. 75 Curt Hook (Ackley); 11. 3T Scooter Dulin (Cedar Rapids); 12. 04 Don Vis (State Center); 13. 50X Kevin Balmer (Garwin); 14. 1X Michael Peterson (Montezuma); DNS 32 Tom Cannon (West Branch); DNS 4JR Russell Damme Jr (Waterloo); DNS 42 Doug Russell (Conrad)
Heat : 1. Peterson; 2. Damon Murty; 3. Balmer; 4. Dulin; 5. Cannon; 6. Vis; 7. Damme; 8. Russell
Track Champion : Steve Meyer
IMCA Sport Mods
A Feature : 1. 82 Jake McBirnie (Boone); 2. 1 Austin Kaplan (Ankeny); 3. 14X Austin Schrage (Cresco); 4. 19J Jenae Gustin (Marshalltown); 5. 25 Travis Peterson (Gladbrook); 6. 34Z Cory Van Zante (Sully); 7. 22H Curt Hilmer (Dysart); 8. 77AU Frank Packer (Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia); 9. K9 Brian Kauffman (Reinbeck); 10. 7L Brian Lepa (Waterloo); 11. 57R Ryan King (Montour); 12. 4 Dustin Dreesman (Grundy Center); 13. 98S Dennis Stewart (Marshalltown); DNS 98X Bill Hildreth (Iowa Falls)
Heat : 1. Kauffman; 2. Curt Hilmer; 3. Packer; 4. Hildreth; 5. King; 6. Stewart; 7. Dreesman; DNS 22JR Brady Hilmer (Dysart)
Track Champion : Jake McBirnie
IMCA Hobby Stocks
A Feature : 1. 14J Jacob Floyd (Cedar Rapids); 2. 4X Gary Pfantz (State Center); 3. 17X Ben Newhouse (State Center); 4. 37G Jeremiah Andrews (Union); 5. 40SE Scott Ellis (Marshalltown); 6. 47 Ray Fees (Des Moines); 7. 81M Travis Merical (Marshalltown); 8. 11K William Klosterman (Ackely); 9. 117 Zach Hovell (Pella); 10. 9F Breyden Forbes (Evansdale); 11. 15D Dan Brady (Deep River); 12. 57C Cory Ogden (Cedar Rapids); 13. 17 Andy Peck (Newton); 14. 75M Preston Merical (State Center); 15. 18 James Jensen (Newton); 16. 1 Kaden Reynolds (Cedar Rapids); 17. 14C Leah Wroten (Independence); 18. 06B Brandon Long (Des Moines); 19. 57 Marlena Betzer (Central City); 20. 19 Bill Bonnett (Knoxville); 21. 30T Brian Stevens (Newton); 22. 71A Kyle Dulin (Brandon); DQ 56J Jamie Coady (Colfax)
Heat 1 : 1. Hovell; 2. Betzer; 3. Dulin; 4. Stevens; 5. Long; 6. Jensen; 7. Preston Merical
Heat 2 : 1. Bonnett; 2. Travis Merical; 3. Klosterman; 4. Brady; 5. Forbes; 6. Ogden
Track Champion : Leah Wroten
MADCRA Mod Lites
A Feature : 1. 6 Mike Morrill (Altoona); 2. X50 Joel Huggins (Des Moines); 3. 64 Randy Bryan (Ames); 4. 3G Joe Glick (Madrid); 5. 82 Charlie Brown (Nevada); 6. 28 Terry Brown (Nevada); 7. 92 Ryan Mills (Des Moines); 8. 47 Cory Sonner (Huxley); 9. 8W Joe Wood (Boone); 10. 18M Chelsea May (DeSoto); 11. 4G Ben George (Altoona); 12. 14 Bryan Compart (Madrid); 13. 88 Thomas Messamer (Des Moines); 14. J7B Chris Weir (Colo); DNS 3T Tanner Gannon (Des Moines)
Heat 1 :1. Charlie Brown; 2. Mills; 3. Weir; 4. Compart; 5. Messamer; 6. Wood
Track Champion : Mike Morrill
North Iowa Vintage Club
Feature Winner : 38 Ray Guss Jr (Milan, IL) --- 1975 Chevy Nova owned by Keith Simmons
