Cold April Temperatures did not stop the Marshalltown Speedway from opening the 2021 weekly racing season on Friday Night. The Haulin' with Hoker Trucking SLMR Late Models East Series finally got their season started at Marshalltown after having their first two shows cancelled due to mother nature. Independent Auto in Marshalltown added an extra $100 into each feature payout for the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and IMCA Mod Lites.
They were racing two, three and four wide all night and several finishes came down to the start finish line in both heats and features. The fans were definitely not left disappointed, first heat race went green at 7:45 after Late Model Time Trials and the final checkered flag waived at 11:41 pm.
First feature of the night was the IMCA Mod Lites 15 lap feature event. "Huggie Bear" Joel Huggins grabbed the early lead from the pole position however not long into the race the caution came out when Tim Glick made contact with Cody Yaw before sliding into to some infield billboards. Huggins got a great restart and never was challenge the rest of the way taking the easy win. Kaden Cochrun ran second the entire way. Yaw finished third, Ed Griggs was fourth and Josh May was fifth.Tony Olson wrestled the early race lead from pole sitter Ryan King in the IMCA Sport Mods 18 lap feature. Just after the completion of lap one, the caution came out when Brayton Carter spun in turn four. Tony Olson continued to lead the way meanwhile King had his handful with Johnathon Logue. Logue took second just prior to the caution on lap four for Brian Schrage in turn one. The field completed another before the final caution was displayed on lap five when Jake Kubik and Maguire DeJong spun in turn two. Logue grabbed the lead away when Tony Olson left the door open. Logue went on to take the checkered flag ahead of Tony Olson, Vern Jackson, Brian Schrage and Dylan Van Wyk.
IMCA Hobby Stocks 15 lap feature event saw Nathan Ballard grab the early race lead when he out Dustin Filloon on lap one. Ballard flexed his muscles until the red flag came out on lap three when Ben Newhouse rolled off the top of turn one. Ballard held off Kaden Reynolds and Luke Ramsey initial until Reynolds made the move taking the race lead on lap six. Ballard returned the move in turn one taking the race lead back. The caution came out before the lap was completed when Reynolds came to a stop exiting turn two meanwhile Jason Fusselman went off the top side of turn one. Ballard held off Ramsey and Tom Killen Jr on the restart and appeared to be heading on to the easy win. Eric Knutson followed in tire tracks and tried to make the move but could not make the pass on Ballard. Ballard took the win with Knutson finishing a close second. Ramsey, Filloon and Killen finished third through fifth respectively.
Heath Tulp, making the drip down after the Hancock County Speedway cancelled, led the first three laps of the IMCA Stock Cars 18 lap feature event before the first caution. The caution was for Kenzie Ritter and Mark Hidlebaugh in turns one and two. Tulp led until "Game Changer" Dallon Murty was able to take the top spot away on lap five. Dallon Murty held off several challenges from Tulp and Jeff Mueller. The field saw the race slowed three more times. First time on lap seven when Jami Ritter spun in turn four and Russell Damme Jr made contact. The second time was on lap eight when Mueller came to a stop exiting turn two. The final time was on lap 11 when Michael Jaennette, Shawn Ritter and Kyle Everts spun or went off the top of three and four. Dallon Murty was not fazed as he held off challenges from his father Damon Murty and Randy Brands. Dallon Murty went on to take the feature win with Damon Murty finishing second. Brands was third, Steve Meyer was fourth and Jay Schmidt was fifth.
Final feature of the night was the IMCA Modifieds 20 lap feature event. Defending track champion Tom Berry Jr led from start to finish in the feature that went green-to-checkered. Cayden Carter ran in the runner up spot, Joel Rust took third after Carter got by on lap nine. Kelly Shryock finished in fourth and 2019 Track Champion Tim Ward finished fifth.
Following week is the Annual Cliff Chambers Memorial presented Local UAW 893. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and IMCA Mod Lites. Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks will open up their 2021 season when they join the card on Friday April 30th.
Then so Thursday Night Thunder Action takes place on Thursday May 6th when the Speedway holds the 4th Annual Dale DeFrance Memorial. IMCA Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and IMCA Mod Lites are all racing.
For more information about Marshalltown Speedway checked out marshalltownspeedway.com or like the Facebook page Marshalltown Speedway or contact promoter Toby Kruse at toby@marshalltownspeedway.com.
Kevin "Shooter" Sharp Miller Lite 30 / Season Opener
Ideal Ready Mix Heat 1 (10 laps) : 1. Dalton Simonsen; 2. Jeff Aikey; 3. Chad Holladay; 4. Luke Pestka; 5. Josh Leonard; 6. Darrel DeFrance; 7. Curtis Glover; 8. Rusty Patterson.
Qualifying B (3 laps) : 1. Dave Eckrich 15.402; 2. Jeff Tharp 15.556; 3. Jason Hahne 15.689; 4. Luke Goedert 15.744; 5. Matt Ryan 15.762; 6. Andrew Kosiski 15.768; 7. Joel Callahan 15.798; 8. Ron Klein 15.809; 9. Todd Cooney 15.810; 10. 1 Jake Neal 15.854; 11. Curt Schroeder 15.867; 12. Kyle Krampe 16.074; 13. Bobby Hansen 16.415; 14. Jill George 16.561; 15. Stacy Griffis 17.010.
Feature (18 laps) : 1. 99X Dallon Murty (Chelsea); 2. 99D Damon Murty (Chelsea); 3. 27 Randy Brands (Boyden); 4. 94 Steve Meyer (Grundy Center); 5. 19J Jay Schmidt (Tama); 6. 5A Tyler Pickett (Boxholm); 7. 50 Heath Tulp (Britt); 8. 2 David Atcher (Laurel); 9. 13 Anthony Hofbauer (Huxley); 10. 1C Austin Kaplan (Collins); 11. 195 Michael Sheen (Lamesa, Texas); 12. 44 Todd Fisher (Des Moines); 13. 4 Scott Rice (Marshalltown); 14. 93 Michael Jaennette (Kellogg); 15. 14C Leah Wroten (Independence); 16. 5JR Jami Ritter (Keystone); 17. 64H Mark Hidlebaugh (Ames); 18. 7SR Shawn Ritter (Keystone); 19. 2K Kyle Everts (Holland); 20. 22R Todd Reitzler (Grinnell); 21. 77M Jeff Mueller (Albion); 22. 4JR Russell Damme Jr (Waterloo); 23. 121 Kenzie Ritter (Keystone); 24. 20V Dustin Vis (Cedar Rapids).
Heat 1 (8 laps) : 1. Jay Schmidt; 2. Jeff Mueller; 3. Michael Jaennette; 4. Steve Meyer; 5. Russell Damme Jr; 6. Kenzie Ritter; 7. Bryce Carey; 8. William Russell.
Heat 2 (8 laps) : 1. Damon Murty; 2. Heath Tulp; 3. Tyler Pickett; 4. Dustin Vis; 5. Leah Wroten; 6. Jayson Alexander; 7. Cody Center; DQ Austin Kaplan. (DQ too light on the scales)
Heat 3 (8 laps): 1. Kyle Everts; 2. Todd Fisher; 3. Shawn Ritter; 4. Todd Reitzler; 5. Jami Ritter; 6. Tobie Talk; 7. Mark Hidlebaugh; 8. Jeff Wollam.
Heat 1 (8 laps) : 1. Jenae Gustin; 2. Tyler Soppe; 3. Josh Appel; 4. Maguire DeJong; 5. Tyler Titus; 6. Jacob Swanson; 7. Tom Lathrop; 8. Jessiah Taylor; 9. Craig Carpenter.
Heat 3 (8 laps) : 1. Kenny Wyman Jr; 2. Brian Schrage; 3. Ryan King; 4. Brandon Allison; 5. Justin Wacha; 6. McLain Reed; 7. Chance Titus; 8. Joseph Luethje.
IMCA Hobby Stocks
B Feature 1 (8 laps) : 1. Luke Schluetter; 2. Jason Fusselman; 3. Mike Smith; 4. Jake Nelson; 5. 12T Tanner Jones (Cairo, Neb.); 6. 54B Brennen Neeh (Kensington, Kan.); 7. 47 Darin DeZwarte (Knoxville); 8. 37G Jeremiah Andrews (Union); 9. 43 Kevin LeBeau (Dallas Center); 10. 17 Andy Peck (Newton); 11. 28 Josh Killen (Des Moines); 12. 81M Travis Merical (Marshalltown); 13. 75M Preston Merical (State Center).
Heat 1 (8 laps) : 1. Kaden Reynolds; 2. Tom Killen Jr; 3. Braden Richards; 4. Chad Rigby; 5. Raymond Fees; 6. Travis Merical; 7. Jason Fusselman; 8. Andy Peck; 9. Brennen Neeh.
Heat 3 (8 laps) : 1. Ben Newhouse; 2. Nathan Ballard; 3. Luke Ramsey; 4. Clint Nelson; 5. Kyle Parizek; 6. Luke Schluetter; 7. Mike Smith; 8. Darin DeZwarte.
Heat 1 (6 laps) : 1. Randy Bryan; 2. Ed Griggs; 3. Cody Yaw; 4. Ben George; 5. Doug Byers; 6. Cory Sonner; 7. Rodney Brown; 8. Kamryn Glick.