Kay Wins A Thriller, Gustin Claims Victory at the Dale DeFrance Memorial

It was a picture-perfect night for the 7th Annual Dale DeFrance Memorial, presented by Vinyl Cup Records. This is the third time in the history of this event that it got in on the first attempt. However, Dale was definitely present as the scoring loop was not working, resulting in no late model time trials along with reverting to hand scoring on Friday night for all classes. 

Every driver saw extra money in their envelopes and extra certificates, thanks to the hard work of Judy (DeFrance) Gustin, Darrel DeFrance, Kathy Link, and Mike O'Lear. The list of sponsors is so long, but I know they appreciated everyone who helped make this event special again this year. Dale was a pioneer of racing, as he raced on the old Marshalltown Fairgrounds track before the current track was built in 1964. He raced until he supported his kids Judy and Darrel's racing and continued to support Darrel's racing, and then his grandkids racing until he passed away in 2017. 

The racing action once again did not disappoint, as they were all over the racing surface and sometimes found their way off the surface. One hundred-sixty cars sign in to tame the high banks for the Dale DeFrance Memorial, and the final twin checkers waived at 11:48 p.m. The night as saw Hunt the Front Drivers Joseph Joiner and Jesse Enterkin making their first ever appearance to the high banks. 

The first feature of the night was the Rugged Radios IMCA Friesen Performance Northern Sport Mods 24-lap feature event. The initial start was called back, but when the race got on the right track, Zander Keeland led the opening lap before Kansas' Eddie Ingram briefly grabbed the lead on lap two. Jenae Gustin took the top spot away on lap three prior to the caution for Keeland spinning in turn three. Gustin held off Ingram and Brayton Carter on the restart, but the caution came out again on lap four when Chris Burke spun in turn four. Gustin was determined to not be denied and again got a great restart and led until she slipped up on lap ten, allowing Ingram to regain the lead. Ingram's lead was short as he led until the caution came out on lap eleven for Hunter Smith off the top of turn two. Gustin regained the lead on the restart and held on to capture the $1,044 top prize. She was excited and in tears in victory lane, winning the race in honor of her grandpa Dale. Carter came home in second, sixteenth-place starter Cam Reimers finished third, twelfth-place starter Logan Anderson was fourth, and Ingram fell back to fifth.

Cayden Carter grabbed the early race lead in the Drury Automotive and Truck Repair IMCA Stock Cars 24-lap feature event. Carter pulled away until Dallon Murty found a line to his liking and was able to chip into the race lead. Dallon Murty took the spot away from Carter on lap 14. The only race caution came out on lap 17 when Jeff Mueller spun in turn two. Dallon Murty held off Cayden Carter and tenth-place starter Damon Murty, who worked his way up to third on the restart. Dallon Murty went into cruise control and went on to take the $1,044 to win the feature.. Jimmy Gustin made a hell of a run, as he was in seventh with five to go and was able to take the runner-up honors. Wisconsin's Jeff Steensbergen worked his way from twentieth to finish third, Damon Murty was fourth, and Carter fell back to fifth.

Next up was the headliner 44-lap Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing Series feature event for $4,544 to win. Jeff Tharp and Dave Eckrich led the field to the green flag. Eckrich took full advantage, jumping out to the race lead and building up a large lead over the rest of the field. They were going side-by-side and times 3 wide through out the field until the only caution on lap eight for Curtis Glover spinning out in turn two. Eckrich had to contend with Justin Kay and Tharp on the restart, but again, he held them off and pulled away. Kay would adventurely reel in Eckrich as Eckrich was catching lap traffic, as were JC Wyman and fifteenth-place starter Andy Eckrich. Kay made several attempts, but all were unsuccessful as Dave Eckrich held him off until the final lap. Kay tried a slider on Eckrich in turns one and two, but Eckrich crossed back over. Kay took the briefly exiting turn two, but Eckrich refused and attempted to return the favor but came up short, allowing Kay, known as "The Flyin' Farmer," to take the feature win. The win was Kay's 13th career SLMR Series victory and the first repeat winner in Motown. Dave Eckrich finished second, Andy Eckrich finished third, Wyman was fourth, and twelfth-place starter Chad Holladay finished fifth.

Jeremy Mills led the first lap of the Farley Wholesale Tire and Quick Lane IMCA Modified Summer Challenge Series presented by Mesa Muffler with track sponsor Tire Demon by Love Tap Fabrication in the 34-lap feature event. "T-Dub" Tim Ward made the pass for the top spot and never looked back, going on to take the race win worth $1,544 in the only feature that went caution-free. Ward takes over the Modified Summer Challenge Series heading into Stuart on Sunday by one point. Zack VanderBeek tried to chase him down but came up short, with Tripp Gaylord in third, points leader Tom Berry Jr. coming into Motown in fourth, and twelfth-place starter Brandon Beckendorf from Minnesota finishing fifth. 

The final feature event of the night was the Cappy's Big 8 Tyre Center IMCA Hobby Stocks 24-lap feature event for $1,044 to win. Eric Knutson grabbed the top spot right away from his outside front row starting spot and checked out. The caution came out on lap eight, first for Brayden Fahrni in turn two and then on the restart for debris in turn four. Knutson held off eleventh-place starters Solomon Bennett and David McCalla on the restart, but a caution came out again on lap nine for Jacob Floyd in turn two. Knutson remained strong, held everybody off on the restart, and looked to be heading on to the easy win until a caution on lap 22 for Shane Richardson spinning in turn three after his right front wheel broke. Knutson hung on to take the feature win. McCalla, Calvin Dhondt, Bennett, and tenth-place starter Corey VanDerWilt rounded out the top five. 

Next Friday night is the EMW Trucking Military Memorial Race, with IMCA Modifieds ($2,000 to win), IMCA Stock Cars ($750 to win), IMCA Sport Mods ($1,000 to win), IMCA Hobby Stocks ($500 to win), plus IMCA Mod Lites and IMCA Sport Compacts returning. Pit Gates Open at 5:15 p.m., Grandstands Open at 5:30 p.m., Hot Laps at 6:45 p.m., and Racing at 7:30 p.m. Grandstands will be $15 for adults, seniors, and veterans $10; for kids (ages 11–17) $10; for children (10 and under) free. Pits will be $30 for Adults, Kids (3-12) $15 and Children (2 and Under) Free. 

Then on Friday, August 9th, VESSCO Inc. and BHE Night will feature specials for Mod Lites and Sport Mods. Larry Wollam North 3rd Ave. Larry Wollam Season Championships are on August 16th; rain date for season championship if needed is August 23rd. 

For more information about Marshalltown Speedway checked out marshalltownspeedway.com or like the Facebook page Marshalltown Speedway or contact promoter Jerry Van Sickel at 515-231-4046 or jvansports@gmail.com.

Malvern Bank SLMR Late Models East and West Series both head to the Adams County Speedway in Corning on Saturday for the Ray Houck Memorial event. Then the west series takes steam with races at US 30 Speedway in Columbuson August 1st, Thayer County Speedway in Deshler on August 9th, Off Road Speedway in Norfolk on August 10th, Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction on August 17th, all in Nebraska. The next East Series race will be clash with the West Series at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City on August 24th for the Bill Rice Memorial.  For more information about the SLMR Series check out slmrseries.com, or like the Facebook page Super Late Model Racing (SLMR) Series or call the SLMR office at 402-342-3453. 

IMCA Modified Summer Challenge Series head to the Karl Chevrolet of Stuart International Speedway on Sunday for the Whole Hog 50 event. Then have the last 2 races in Jefferson, South Dakota. First at Interstate Speedway on August 18th and then head across the street to Park Jefferson Speedway on August 19th. For more information about the IMCA Modified Summer Challenge Series like the Facebook Page IMCA Modified Summer Challenge Series or call Trent Chinn at 712-260-5254 or Mike VanGenderen at 641-521-0330.

MARSHALLLTOWN SPEEDWAY 2024 TRACK SPONSORS: Karl Auto Group of Marshalltown (Buick, GMC, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram Dealer), Tire Demon by Love Tap, Drury Automotive & Truck Repair, Rugged Radios, Cappy's Big 8 Tyre Center, Knight Sanitation, Hy-Vee of Marshalltown, Fertilizer Equipment Specialists, Brian Doyle Farms, H&H Tiling Dozing & Excavating, Competition Motorsport, BeMobile / Verizon Wireless, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Schaeffer's Oil / Arnold Motor Supply, Availa Bank, Central State Bank,  Coors Light/Miller Lite (H&F Distributing), Fisher Trucking, Spot On Calibration & Repair, Local UAW 893 of Marshalltown, Independent Auto, RBF Electric, Mid-State Boring, KFJB 1230 AM-93.9 FM / KIX 101.1 (Trending Media), ELH Professional Power Washing, Velocita, Karl Chevrolet, Karl Kustoms, The Joie of Seating, Tom Cat Performance / Carolina Racing Supply, Elmquist Towing Co., Fast Shafts, Quick Performance, Victory Fuel, Your Life Iowa 1-800 BETS OFF, P&D Welding LLC, Untied Rentals, Martin Maretta, Grasshopper Kellogg Lawn & Snow, Stealth Racing,  Quick Car Racing Products,  J&M Fabrication, BW Outdoors / CAMP CHEF, La Carreta Mexican Grill,  Performance Bodies & Parts, Xtream by Mediacom, Hogeland Auto Plaza, Precision Ink Signs & Graphics, Toby K's Hideaway, North 3rd Ave Dairy Queen, Longacre Scales, Chevrolet Performance, Friesen Performance, Capital Signs, American Family Insurance - Ryan Timm, SUNOCO Race Fuels, Minute Man Printing, Abilene Race Rads, 25 Club Members, D&E Outdoor Services, VESSCO Inc., Dirt Defender. 

Karl Auto Group of Marshalltown Speedway

Marshalltown, Iowa

7th Annual Dale DeFrance Memorial 

presented by Vinyl Cup Record

Friday July 26th 2024

SUPER LATE MODEL RACING SERIES
presented by Malvern Bank

Malvern Bank A Feature (44 Laps) : 1. 15K Justin Kay (Wheatland); 2. 58 Dave Eckrich (Oxford); 3. 56 Andy Eckrich (Oxford); 4. 4 JC Wyman (Griswold); 5. 32C Chad Holladay (Muscatine); 6. 04 Tad Pospisil (Norfolk, Neb.); 7. 44 Luke Goedert (Guttenburg); 8. 10T Jeff Tharp (Sherrill); 9. 76H Jason Hahne (Webster City); 10. 99 Joseph Joiner (Milton, Fla.); 11. 24 Bill Leighton (Lavista, Neb.); 12. 07 Matt Ryan (Davenport); 13. 15C Curt Schroeder (Newton); 14. 52 Brian Kosiski (Papillion, Neb.); 15. 53 Andrew Kosiski (Lavista, Neb.); 16. 56S Chris Spieker (Massena); 17. 22 Charlie McKenna (Clear Lake); 18. 14L Logan Duffy (Independence); 19. 38T Dylan Thronton (Orcutt, Calif.); 20. 99D Darrel DeFrance (Marshalltown); 21. 14 Kyle Berck (Marquette, Neb.); 22. 32G Curtis Glover (Knoxville); 23. 1 Jake Bridge (Waverly, Neb.); 24. 35D Dylan Sillman (Alvo, Neb.); 25. J1 Jesse Enterkin (Milton, Fla.).

Predators Custom Trailers B Feature 1 (12 Laps) : 1.  Berck; 2. Pospisil; 3. Leighton; 4. Schroeder; 5. Andrew Kosiski; 6. 74 Ron Boyse (Kalona); 7. Glover; 8. 15 Justin O'Brien (Atlantic); 9. K1 Kyle Krampe (Baxter); 11. Bridge; 12. Thronton; 13. Enterkin. 

Heat 1 (10 Laps) : 1. Kay; 2. Brian Kosiski; 3. Wyman; 4. Holladay; 5. Leighton; 6. Boyse; 7. Thornton. 
Heat 2 (10 Laps) : 1. McKenna; 2. Dave Eckrich; 3. Hahne; 4. Joiner; 5. Berck; 6. Andrew Kosiski; 7. O'Brien. 

Heat 3 (10 Laps) : 1. Tharp; 2. Spieker; 3. Goedert; 4. Andy Eckrich; 5. Pospisil; 6. Glover; 7. Enterkin. 

Heat 4 (10 Laps) : 1. Ryan; 2. Sillman; 3. Duffy; 4. DeFrance; 5. Schroeder; 6. Krampe; 7. Bridge.

IMCA MODIFIEDS

presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap & Friesen Performance

Farley's Whole Sale Tire & Lube Express IMCA Modified Summer Challenge Series presented by Mesa Muffler

A Feature (34 Laps) : 1. 4TW Tim Ward (Harcourt); 2. 33Z Zack VanderBeek (New Sharon); 3. 77T Tripp Gaylord (Lakewood, Colo.); 4. 11X Tom Berry Jr. (Marshalltown); 5. 5B Brandon Beckendorf (Danube, Minn.); 6. 5 Todd Shute (Norwalk); 7. 99X Dallon Murty (Chelsea); 8. 26J Joel Rust (Grundy Center); 9. 10 Jeremy Mills (Clear Lake); 10. 10K Ronn Lauritzen (La Porte City); 11. 3W Garrett Wilson (Carlisle); 12. 12LF Jonathan Mawhinney (Las Vegas, Nev.); 13. 2Z Zack Rawlins (Kellogg); 14. 77 Jeff Aikey (Cedar Falls); 15. 7D Dustin Wilwert (Dubuque); 16. 16K Kaylin Lopez (Chowchilla, Calif.); 17. 88 Matt Crafton (Mooresville, N.C.); 18. 48K Kollin Hibdon (Fargo, N.D.); 19. 69 Johnathon Logue (Logansport); 20. 13 Jerry Flippo (Bakersfield, Calif.); 21. 28 Trevor Fitz (Camarillo, Calif.); 22. 11 Izac Mallicoat (Boone); 23. 21K Kyle Brown (Madrid); 24. B24 Owen Barnhill (Milton, Fla.). 

B Feature 1 (10 Laps) : 1. Crafton; 2. Aikey; 3. Fitz; 4. 33Y Bryson Yeager (Green River, Wy.); 5. 82 Jake McBirnie (Boone); 6. 27 Timothy Allerdings (Prescott Valley, Ariz.); 7. 8 Griffin Taylor (Kannapolis, N.C.); 8. 5M Zachary Madrid (Boone); 9. 2B Robert Moore (Maxwell). 

B Feature 2 (10 Laps) : 1. Hibdon; 2. Mallicoat; 3. Barnhill; 4. Rawlins; 5. 33BY Braxton Yeager (Green River, Wy.); 6. 47 Jason Hyerdall (Shakopee, Minn.); 7. 40RC Rod Clement (Rhodes); 8. Wilwert; 9. 43S Scott Simatovich (State Center). 

Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. VanderBeek; 2. Ward; 3. Beckendorf; 4. Aikey; 5. Hibdon; 6. Mallicoat; 7. Madrid; 8. Allerdings; 9. Taylor. 
Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Mills; 2. Rust; 3. Logue; 4. Shute; 5. Lopez; 6. Fitz; 7. Barnhill; 8. Hyerdall; 9. Braxton Yeager. 

Heat 3 (8 Laps) : 1. Gaylord; 2. Brown; 3. Wilson; 4. Lauritzen; 5. Crafton; 6. Wilwert; 7. Bryson Yeager; 8. Moore. 

Heat 4 (8 Laps) : 1. Flippo; 2. Murty; 3. Berry; 4. Mawhinney; 5. McBirnie; 6. Rawlins; 7. Simatovich; 8. Clement. 

IMCA STOCK CARS
presented by Drury Automotive & Truck Repair

A Feature (24 Laps) : 1. 99X Dallon Murty (Chelsea); 2. 19 Jimmy Gustin (Marshalltown); 3. 62 Jeff Steenbergen (Johnson Creek, Wis.); 4. 99D Damon Murty (Chelsea); 5. 1X Cayden Carter (Oskaloosa); 6. 26H Joel Rust (Grundy Center); 7. 22R Todd Reitzler (Grinnell); 8. 49 Kyle Olson (Cedar Rapids); 9. 1 Kaden Reynolds (Cedar Rapids); 10. 19J Jay Schmidt (Tama); 11. 90.5 Tommy Fain (Abilene, Texas); 12. 57B Ryan Diatte (Gilroy, Calif.); 13. 22D Jared Daggett (Marshalltown); 14. 03W Timothy Warner (Malone, Wis.); 15. 4A Chase Alves (Sioux Falls, S.D.); 16. 14X Austin Schrage (Knoxville); 17. 41 Thor Anderson (Rock Valley); 18. 14B Austin Bouzek (Trenton, Mo.); 19. A1A Austin Kaplan (Collins); 20. 77M Jeff Mueller (Boone); 21. C29 Garrett Corn (Marshalltown); 22. 5A Tyler Pickett (Boone); 23. 93 Michael Jaennette (Kellogg); 24. 01 Troy Jerovetz (Iowa Falls). 

B Feature (10 Laps) : 1. Mueller; 2. Jerovetz; 3. Anderson; 4. Alves; 5. 95 Bo Eads (Trenton, Mo.); 6. 8 Braxton Franks (Cedar Rapids); 7. 37 Kylie Rawlins (Kellogg); 8. 4 Scott Rice (Marshalltown); 9. 52W Weston Koop (Rockwell); 10. 31 Michael Smith (Marshalltown); DNS 21 Jim Horejsi (Marshall, Minn.); DNS 88CW Curtis Kline (South Amana). 

Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Kaplan; 2. Pickett; 3. Dallon Murty; 4. Warner; 5. Schrage; 6. Eads; 7. Koop; 8. Rawlins. 
Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Jaennette; 2. Carter; 3. Daggett; 4. Diatte; 5. Reynolds; 6. Rice; 7. Anderson; 8. Franks. 

Heat 3 (8 Laps) : 1. Rust; 2. Damon Murty; 3. Corn; 4. Reitzler; 5. Fain; 6. Smith; 7. Horejsi; 8. Kline. 

Heat 4 (8 Laps) : 1. Gustin; 2. Schmidt; 3. Bouzek; 4. Olson; 5. Steenbergen; 6. Mueller; 7. Jerovetz; 8. Alves.

IMCA NORTHERN SPORT MODS
presented by Rugged Radios & Friesen Performance

A Feature (24 Laps) : 1. 19J Jenae Gustin (Marshalltown); 2. 01 Brayton Carter (Oskaloosa); 3. 21 Cam Reimers (Kelley); 4. 53 Logan Anderson (Eddyville); 5. 54 Eddie Ingram (Kansas City, Kan.); 6. T23 Tony Olson (Cedar Rapids); 7. 86W Willy Kirk (Sloan); 8. 09B Kevin Bethke (Neenah, Wis.); 9. K3 Kyle Olson (Cedar Rapids); 10. 24T Tony Steffensmeier (Madison Lake, Minn.); 11. CB25 Chris Burke (Altoona); 12. 193 Jessiah Taylor (Boone); 13. 29 Colton Livezey (New Sharon); 14. R31 Ryan Leeman (Roland); 15. 7V Carter VanDenBerg (Oskaloosa); 16. 2X Matt Avila (Boone); 17. 79W Bill Wegner (Armstrong); 18. 1S Shelby Alves (Sioux Falls, S.D.); 19. 75R Joe Roller (Morning Sun); 20. 01S Hunter Smith (Fort Morgan, Colo.); 21. 44 McLain Reed (Lincoln, Neb.); 22. 27K Zander Keeland (Bakersfield, Calif.); 23. 18 Joaslyn Elmquist (Boone); 24. 2K Taylor Kuehl (Cave Creek, Ariz.). 

B Feature 1 (7 Laps) : 1. Avila; 2. Steffensmeier; 3. Leeman; 4. 7 Will Wolf (Grinnell); 5. 8 Tom Lathrop (Ottumwa); 6. MR31 Mike Rutherford (Des Moines); 7. 40HC Hunter Clement (Rhodes). 

Heat 1 (7 Laps) : 1. Smith; 2. Ingram; 3. Anderson; 4. Tony Olson; 5. Kirk; 6. Reimers; 7. Livezey; 8. Avila; 9. Wolf; 10. Lathrop. 
Heat 2 (7 Laps) : 1. Gustin; 2. Burke; 3. Kyle Olson; 4. Taylor; 5. Roller; 6. VanDenBerg; 7. Elmquist; 8. Rutherford; 9. Clement. 

Heat 3 (7 Laps) : 1. Kuehl; 2. Reed; 3. Carter; 4. Keeland; 5. Alves; 6. Wegner; 7. Bethke; 8. Steffensmeier; 9. Leeman. 

IMCA HOBBY STOCKS
presented by Cappy's Big 8 Tyre Center

A Feature (24 Laps) : 1. 12K Eric Knutson (Slater); 2. 3 David McCalla (Cedar Rapids); 3. 69 Calvin Dhondt (Kellogg); 4. 11B Solomon Bennett (Minburn); 5. 55X Corey VanDerWilt (Lynnville); 6. 47SW Sam West (Ferguson); 7. 23Z Zach McNeese (Independence); 8. 52 Joren Fisher (Garrison); 9. 51X Dustin Filloon (Tama); 10. 2G Bradly Graham (Victor); 11. 6P Preston McDonald (Keota); 12. 01 Austin Barnes (Des Moines); 13. 17X Ben Newhouse (State Center); 14. 27 Brad Graham (Brooklyn); 15. 40SE Scott Ellis (Marshalltown); 16. IB25 Shane Richardson (Wapello); 17. 12 Michael Wade (Dorchester, Neb.); 18. 14J Jacob Floyd (Cedar Rapids); 19. 7F Brayden Fahrni (Marshalltown); 20. 01X Christian Cook (Coon Rapids); 21. 88H Kale Hemsley (Sigourney); 22. 12T Tanner Jones (Grand Island, Neb.); 23. 33 Luke Phillips (Wapello); 24. 7B Eric Stanton (Carlisle). 

B Feature 1 (9 Laps) : 1. Barnes; 2. Phillips; 3. 59JR Chad Rickett Jr (Marshalltown); 4. A24 Nicholas Adams (Emmetsburg); 5. 33X DJ Robinson (Des Moines); 6. 7 Clayton Sogge (State Center); 7. 17 Andy Peck (Newton); DNS 72RJ Joey Hughes (Montezuma); DNS 55 Brett Maasdam (Sully). 

B Feature 2 (9 Laps) : 1.  West; 2. Brad Graham; 3. 17K Briar Kriegel (Brooklyn); 4. 18A Aaron Elliott (Boone); 5. 577 Corey Ogden (Monticello); 6. 17T Aidan Lamasters (Marshalltown); DNS 85 Seth Janssen (Ogden); DNS 89R Ryan Wells (Melcher-Dallas); DNS 48 Derrick McNeece (Eldora). 

Heat 1 (7 Laps) : 1. Stanton; 2. Dhondt; 3. Zach McNeese; 4. Cook; 5. Ellis; 6. Sogge; 7. Hughes; 8. Rickett; 9. Robinson; 10. Phillips. 
Heat 2 (7 Laps) : 1. VanDerWilt; 2. McCalla; 3. Filloon; 4. Newhouse; 5. McDonald; 6. West; 7. Ogden; 8. Elliott; 9. Wells; 10. Lamasters.

Heat 3 (7 Laps) : 1. Knutson; 2. Bennett; 3. Richardson; 4. Fahrni; 5. Floyd; 6. Adams; 7. Barnes; 8. Peck; 9. Maasdam. 

Heat 4 (7 Laps) : 1. Fisher; 2. Wade; 3. Jones; 4. Bradly Graham; 5. Hemsley; 6. Kriegel; 7. Brad Graham; 8. Janssen; 9. Derrick McNeece.