It was a picture-perfect August Friday night to wrap up the regular season at the Karl Auto Group of Marshalltown Speedway with the Annual North 3rd Avenue Dairy Queen Larry Wollam Season Championship Night. The final night is in honor of Larry Wollam, who passed away in 1999, giving back all of his contributions to the speedway, and Larry lived by a saying.
THE LARRY WOLLAM VIEW OF LIFE--
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.
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.
The racing action was hot and heavy all night. They went two, three and four wide a few times through the night and could go top or bottom on the racing surface. One hundred-five cars signed into tame the high banked quarter mile.
A little twist to season championship night was that instead of lining straight up by points like what usually happens, the points leader going into the night after driver introductions would draw a chip. There was a 4, 6, or 8 chip, meaning the top 4, 6, or 8 in points would be inverted, but there was also the wildcard chip that said field, which would mean the whole field would be inverted, and if it was pulled, there would be extra laps. There were also Powder Puff Races added to the end of the night, and with that all said and done, the final checkered flag was waived at 11:31 p.m.
The historic North 3rd Avenue Dairy Queen is one of the first 100 DQ stores ever built in the USA and has been a Marshalltown icon since 1947! They have all your hot eats and cool treats, so stop and see the great DQ team at 711 North 3rd Ave. in Marshalltown.
The first feature of the night was the Rugged Radio IMCA Friesen Performance Northern Sport Mods 22-lap feature event. Brayton Carter, the points leader, had the pleasure of drawing the chip, and he drew the entire field invert. Ryan Leeman inherited the pole after the invert because Boe Jenkins opted to stay at the back. Leeman grabbed the race lead, fending off Colton Livezey and Josalyn Elmquist. The only caution came out on lap 3 when Will Wolf had his right rear come off on the front stretch after hard contact in the right rear. Carter worked his way through the field and took the top spot on lap five. Carter never looked back, going on to claim his fifth win in Motown and take the 2024 track championship. Leeman finished second, Colton Livezey came home third, Keith Simmons was fourth, and Hunter Clement was in fifth.
Next up was the Knight Sanitation IMCA STARS Mod Lites, originally scheduled for 15 laps but increased to 23 laps. Jon Padilla, the points leader, decided instead of drawing a chip, he wanted to do a complete field invert, and Josh May then said if Padilla could win, he would give an extra $200. A pair of Colchester, Illinois, racers, Michael Mann and Mike Pershing, battled for the top spot. Mann led lap one; Pershing took the lead away on lap two and held on to it until lap five, when Jason Masengarb took it away. Masengarb pulled away from the field and built up a full straight-away lead as Jon Padilla and Josh May worked their way through the field. The caution came out on lap 15 for debris in turn four, forcing the field to bunch up. Masengarb held off Padilla and May, who had worked into second and third. Ben George and Tracen Glick got together in turn four to bring out another caution on lap 16. Masengarb held off Padilla and May again, but they refused to go away as Padilla took the top spot on lap 18. Masengarb regained the lead on lap 20, and a lap later, the final caution came out for Alex Eischeid in turn two. Masengarb held on to take third of the season. Padilla finished second and clinched the track championship. May was third, Mike Morrow was fourth, and Cory Sonner was fifth.
Drury Automotive and Truck Repair IMCA Stock Cars took to the track for their 20-lap feature event. Jimmy Gustin had the pleasure of drawing a chip after a bit of controversy over the field chip falling out. The 6 chip was drawn. Todd Reitlzer and Steve Meyer inherited the front row, with Meyer grabbing the top spot early. Reitzler fell back to fourth as Scott Rice and Gustin got by. The first caution came out on lap four when Reitzler went for the slider in turn four, making contact with Rice, resulting in heavy contact with the guard rail in turn four. Reitzler was sent to the pits for rough driving. Meyer held off Gustin and Michael Jaennette on the restart, but the caution came out again two laps later on lap six for Tom Cannon in turn four after assistance from Maguire DeJong. Meyer held off Gustin and Jaennette again and fended off any challenge from those two. The final caution came out on lap 18 for Dillon Solum blowing up in turn three and coming to a stop at the top of turn four. Meyer flexed his muscles one more time and took his second win of the season. Gustin finished second and took the 2024 track championship, his first in a stock car. Jaennette, seventeenth-place starter Paul Stone, and Damon Murty rounded out the top five.
In the Tire Demon by Love Tap IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds feature event, points leader Tripp Gaylord drew the field chip, so six laps were added, making the feature a 26-lap feature event. Kyle Brown inherited the pole, but before a single lap was completed, the caution came out when Robert Moore and Scott Simatovich got together in turn two. Brown got off to a great start on the restart, as Cody Brill ran second. Brown looked to be heading on to the win but experienced mechanical issues on lap 16, resulting in him exiting to the pits. Brill took over the lead as Austin Kuehl and Tripp Gaylord battled directly behind him for second. Brill claimed the twin checkers, his first IMCA win of the season. Gaylord took second, Kuehl finished third, Kaylin Lopez was fourth, and David Brown was in fifth.
Hy-Vee of Marshalltown IMCA Sport Compacts 15-lap feature rolled on to the speedway, and points leader Cristian Grady drew the number 8 chip. Corwyn Whisler and Mark Smith led the field to the green flag, with Whisler taking the top spot. The caution came out on lap one when Bryce Bartel spun in turns three and four. Whisler led until Michael Gardner worked his way through the field. Gardner took the top spot away on lap three and never looked back, going on to take his second feature win in Motown. Cristian Grady worked his way up to finish second and claim the 2024 track championship. Whisler, David Kimmel, and Smith rounded out the top five.
The final regular feature of the night was the Cappy's Big 8 Tyre Center IMCA Hobby Stocks 16-lap feature event. Points leader Calvin Dhondt drew the number 4 chip. Before a single lap was scored, the caution came out when Derrick McNeece's driveshaft came out, catapulting him into a tumble in turn three. McNeece climbed out on his own power. Eric Knutson out-wrestled Solomon Bennett for the race lead. The caution came out one more time for Aidan Lamasters and Kolbin Sabin in turn four. Knutson fended off Bennett, Dhondt, and Bradly Graham all through the race. Knutson went on to claim his third feature win of the season. Graham took second, Bennett was third, Sam West was fourth, and Dhondt came home fifth. Dhondt was your 2024 track champion.
After all the feature events were completed, it was time for the powder puff races. The first one was the modified and sport mods; Kathryn Jenkins won taking the sport mods as well. Natlie Barber, driving a Mod Lite led from start-to-finish in the Mod Lites and Sport Compacts, was followed by Nikole Kimmel, top sport compact. Rylea Kriegel, driving a stock car, led all six laps of the stock cars and Hobby Stocks powder puff as Addy Stevens took the Hobby Stocks.
No racing next Friday at the Karl Auto Group of Marshalltown Speedway; racing returns on Friday, August 30th, for the Karl Auto Group Showdown at Motown. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Mod Lites, IMCA Sport Compacts, and Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks all take to the high banks. Full details and an event flyer will be posted on the Marshalltown Speedway Facebook page and website.
Then remember, no racing in September, but don't forget to mark your calendars for October 24th–26th for the Harvest Hustle on the High Banks Fall Special.
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, Glory Motorsports.
North 3rd Ave Dairy Queen Larry Wollam Season Championship
Friday August 16th, 2024
IMCA MODIFIEDS
presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap & Friesen Performance
Heat 2 (6 Laps) : 1. Rawlins; 2. Kuehl; 3. Gaylord; 4. Simatovich; 5. Moore; 6. Kyle Brown.
presented by Drury Automotive & Truck Repair
Heat 2 (6 Laps) : 1. Cannon; 2. Atcher; 3. Gustin; 4. DeJong; 5. Murty; 6. Smith; 7. Auringer; 8. Schrage; 9. Bill Atcheson; 10. Meyer.
presented by Rugged Radios & Friesen Performance
presented by Cappy's Big 8 Tyre Center
Heat 2 (6 Laps) : 1. Maasdam; 2. Knutson; 3. Brad Graham; 4. Wauters; 5. Sabin; 6. Lamasters; 7. West; 8. Sogge.
presented by Knight Sanitation
Heat 2 (6 Laps) : 1. Padilla; 2. Joe Glick; 3. Eischeid; 4. Garrison Anderson; 5. Morrow; 6. Pershing; 7. Bush; DNS Brittani Dominguez.
presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown
Heat 2 (6 Laps) : 1. Bunch; 2. Gardner; 3. Williams; 4. Smith; 5. Roggentien; 6. Adkins; 7. Osler; DNS Gill.
Stock Cars / Hobby Stocks (6 Laps) : 1. 37 Rylea Kreigel (SC); 2. 93L Joanna Lehman (SC); 3. 27 Addy Stevens (HS); 4. 11B Meaghan Bennett (HS); 5. 14X Brittany Schrage (SC); 6. 22R Clarissa Reitzler (SC); 7. 55 Shelby VanDerWilt (HS); 8. 93 Breanna Sanders (SC); DNS I-80 Amanda Solum (SC); DNS 29X Bailey Smeins (HS); DNS 17t Jayda Smith (HS).
Mod Lites / Sport Compacts (4 Laps) : 1. 4 Natalie Barber (ML); 2. 33K Nikole Kimmel (SpC); 3. 89 Raven Grady (SpC); 4. 9 Terri Anderson (ML); DNS 47 Jen Barber (ML).
