Rain Friday morning followed by a brief shower before action got started last night didn't hamper things from happening last night at the Marshalltown Speedway. The track crew and drivers cooperated in ironing the track back into racing condition and the show went through smoothly from that point on.
The dwarf cars were first to hit the track for their feature event. With seventeen cars set to do battle, it was Colby Oberembt getting the early advantage while Joel Huggins and Eric Hendrickson duked it out for third. Meanwhile, points leader Mike Morrill was on the move as he passed Huggins for fourth using the outside line. Morrill would then change lanes and use the inside groove to make his way by Hendrickson and Jeff Stensland to slide into the second spot by lap six. Tim Hennigar would put his name into the hat as well as he moved into third after passing Hendrickson. Oberembt had one final set of turns to make to capture the win, but a lapped car in turn four forced him to decide which direction to get around him. Oberembt chose the outside, and the lapped car pushed up the track. Mike Morrill was close enough to slip under both cars and steal the win away. Oberembt finished with a disappointing second, Tim Hennigar third, Eric Hendrickson fourth, and Josh May completed the top five.
Out next would be the IMCA sportmods. After a b-main shaved the field down to twenty-four cars, it would be Gaitlin Leytham grabbing the lead when the green flag waved. Just behind him Zach Rawlins was making the cushion work for his machine as he drove by Lauren Vis for second before a caution slowed the action down on lap three. Rawlins would take advantage of the restart as he powered by Leytham on the outside a lap later to claim the top spot. Cayden Carter ducked to the inside of Lauren Vis to advance to third before yet another yellow was displayed. When racing resumed, Carter would slip inside Leytham for the runner up spot before setting his sights on the leader Rawlins. Carter closed in on him with each passing lap, and on the last lap made his move on the inside to take the exciting win away from Rawlins. Rawlins settled for second, Leytham third, Doug Smith fourth, and Eric Flander fifth.
The competitive IMCA stock cars were up next with nineteen cars ready to go. Tracy Gienger used the outside front row starting spot to get the early lead, but deeper in the field Dustin Smith was already charging to the front. Smith found himself in fifth at the completion of the first lap before passing Steve Meyer on the inside for fourth two laps later. Damon Murty was another guy on the move as he used the inside lane to take the fourth spot away from Smith. Smith would regroup and slide to the inside of Rick Brown to take the second position away on lap seven. With Gienger comfortably out front, Trent Murphy came from nowhere to snag the runner up spot with Damon Murty right behind. Up front it would be Tracy Gienger leading flag to flag as he picked up the win. Dustin Smith would get by Trent Murphy for second with Murty just behind in fourth. Rick Brown edged out Sean Johnson for fifth.
With twenty-one IMCA modifieds making their way to the track, the crowd was anxious to see how it was going to go down. Outside front row starter Todd Shute paced the field early on while Josh Gilman sat in second. Rookie Daniel Hilsabeck was looking solid as he got under Todd Conrad to take over the fourth place. On lap eight, Josh Gilman would spin his machine in turn two. Hilsabeck had no place to go and made solid contact with Gilman, ending both of their nights. Todd Conrad took advantage on the restart as he got under Brett Ladehoff for second. A bit further back Richie Gustin was advancing through the field as he powered his machine on the cushion to fifth when another caution waved.
When the green flag came back out, Luke Wanninger got inside of Conrad for second while Gustin powered by Conrad on the outside for third. Mike O'Lear was also making some noise as he followed Gustin to fourth. Wanninger's car would slow in turn three, allowing Gustin to take over the second spot when the caution waved for the final time. With Gustin right behind Shute, the crowd was anticipating a shootout. That never panned out as Shute was able to keep some distance between him and Gustin as he went home with the win. Gustin settled for second while Randy Havlik finished third after starting twelfth. Mike O'Lear and Denny Rosenberg rounded out the top five.
The final event of the night belonged to the IMCA hobby stocks. Gary Pfantz lead the opening lap of the twenty-three car starting field before Dustin Filloon and Eric Stanton made it a three-wide battle for the lead. Stanton would grab the top spot on lap three while Calvin Dhondt was on the charge to second by lap four. Eric Larson was on a mission as he climbed to third with five laps to go before giving way to Michael Murphy with two laps remaining. On the final set of corners, Calvin Dhondt drove his machine deep on the inside of Stanton. Dhondt would force Stanton up the track, allowing Dhondt to squeak out his first career victory. Stanton would settle for second, Michael Murphy third, Eric Larson fourth, and Devin Smith completed the top five.
So as you can see, it was a fantastic night of close finishes and last lap passes. While the track was a bit on the rough side, the drivers still put on a show for the fans. For complete results from last night, check out www.marshalltownspeedway.com.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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