March 28, 2024

Drivers carry on 50-year tradition of strong dirt track racing at Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN — Racing fans have watched some of the best dirt-track stock car racing at Marshalltown Speedway since Aug. 17, 1964. The Speedway celebrated its 50th anniversary with six action-packed feature races and Fourth of July fireworks display.

David Moorman, Charlie Brown, Eric Stanton, Clint Luellen, Dave Atcher and Luke Wanninger captured victories on the track on July 4.

Moorman pushed to the front of the IMCA Sport Compacts feature early. He led the full eight-lap race. John Gill, Zach Brenner and Alec Gill went second, third and fourth, respectively. Aaron Miller experienced troubles and was unable to make the feature.

Charlie Brown wrestled the lead away from Eric Hendrickson in the Mod Lites 15-lap feature. Hendrickson had the lead early until a caution flag bunched the field up and Brown made his move to the front on Lap 12. Brown won his fourth feature race of the season at Marshalltown. Jimmy May, Hendrickson, Mike Morrill and Josh may rounded out the top five.

Stanton claimed his third win in the IMCA Hobby Stocks division at Marshalltown. Following a wreck involving Brice Udelhoven, Stanton used the restart to get past Clint Nelson for the lead. Eric Larson ran second followed by John Watson, Nathan Ballard and Justin Lichty.

The Big Eight Tyre Center IMCA Northern SportMods 18-lap feature race had Jenae Gustin running out front with only four laps to go. Gustin’s card developed mechanical problems on Lap 14 ending her night on the track. Clint Luellen raced to the front and stayed there for the victory. Andy Tierman challenged but settled for second place. Tony Olson finished third followed by Sam Wieben and Brett Lowry.

Atcher weathered several caution flags and a strong challenge by Donavon Smith the final eight laps to win the IMCA Stock Cars’ 18-lap feature race. It was Atcher’s first win since May 20, 2009 when he won the stock car feature during the USMTS Special and his first IMCA win since June 23, 2006 at Marshalltown. Smith finished second with Trent Murphy, Michael Jaennette and Jay Schmidt in third through fifth.

The IMCA Modifieds 20-lap race was the final feature race of the night. Luke Wanninger  was the third — and final — leader in the race. Wanninger drove past Tyler Droste on Lap 11 and won his fourth race at Marshalltown. Rookie Eric Elliott led early until Elliott’s car tangled up with Scott Simatovich’s car on Lap 7. Ronn Lauritzen worked his way up to finish second. Droste was third, Tony Snyder was fourth and Joel Rust was fifth.

Following the racing action, fans were treated to a July Fourth fireworks display. Fans also enjoy Marshalltown Speedway 50th Anniversary activities through the evening.

Friday night is Casey’s General Stores and Racers Against ALS Night at the Central Iowa Fair. Youngsters will also take to the high banks in the annual Kids Bike Races. Hot laps at 6:44 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30 p.m.

Marshalltown Speedway Results

50th Anniversary Celebration Night

July 4th, 2014

IMCA Modifieds

Feature: 1. 20 Luke Wanninger (Minburn); 2. 10K Ronn Lauritzen (Jesup); 3. 92 Tyler Droste (Waterloo); 4. 8 Tony Snyder (Redlyn); 5. 26J Joel Rust (Grundy Center); 6. 64ZC Brandon Leeman (Roland); 7. 2Z Zack Rawlins (Newton); 8. 18J Jake Strayer (Newton); 9. 9E Eric Elliot (Boone); 10. 12 Andrew Kinser (State Center); 11. 43S Scott Simatovich (State Center); 12. 17R Derek Reimer (St. Anthony); 13. 40RC Rod Clement (Rhodes); 14. 10B Josh Pruitt (Dexter); 15. 87 Joel Bushore (Boone)

IMCA Stock Cars

Feature: 1. 2 Dave Atcher (Marshalltown); 2. 35 Donavon Smith (Lake City); 3. 25 Trent Murphy (Scranton); 4. 93 Michael Jaennette (Newton); 5. 19J Jay Schmidt (Tama); 6. 43X Nate Thelen (Newton); 7. 59 Tracy Gienger (Newton); 8. 81 KC Ansel (Dubuque); 9. R31 Ryan Leeman (Roland); 10. 54 Robbie Merkle (Des Moines); 11. 8M Sam McClure (Floris); 12. 87A Aaron Matthias (Fairbank); 13. 22D Jared Daggett (Marshalltown); 14. 50X Kevin Balmer (Garwin); 15. 21K JD Kennedy (Ackley); 16. 46 Corey Barker (Floris); 17. 196 Chuck Davis (Conrad); 18. 3W Jeff Wollam (Marshalltown); 19. 78P Terry Pruitt (Dexter); 20. 45 Matt Deaton (Newton); 21. 94 Steve Meyer (Grundy Center); 22. 4JR Russell Damme Jr. (Waterloo); 23. 199 Nick Thelen (Kellogg); 24. 50 Robert Stofer (Jefferson); 25. 6R Adam Rickett (Marshalltown)

IMCA Northern SportMods

Feature: 1. 3L Clint Luellen (Minburn); 2. 321 Andy Tiernan (Woodward); 3. T23 Tony Olson (Cedar Rapids); 4. 198 Sam Wieben (Dysart); 5. 72 Brett Lowry (Montezuma); 6. 80J Jared Van Deest (Holland); 7. 777 Jayme Duinink (Pella); 8. 7 Carter VanDenBerg (Oskaloosa); 9. 24B Brandon Brinton (Nevada); 10. 3S Adam Shelman (Ames); 11. 98 Bill Hildreth (Marshalltown); 12. T17 Tom Rawlins (Kellogg); 13. 57R Ryan King (Montour); 14. 6T Siraj Thomason (Montezuma); 15. 7D Dakota Sellers (Vinton); 16. 36 Jacob Salisbury (Dunkerton); 17. 26B Bryan Johnson (Roland); 18. 16 Austin Schuring (Newton); 19. 19J Jenae Gustin (Marshalltown); 20. 9 Scott Williams (Atkins); 21. 22 Paul Siefken (Grundy Center); 22. 7R Ryan Ashton (Beaman); 23. 30 Tracy Wassenberg (Shawano, WI); 24. 7SR Shawn Ritter (Keystone); 25. 19G Gatlin Leytham (Garwin); 26. 406 Shawn Weatherly (Eldora)

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Feature: 1. 7B Eric Stanton (Carlisle); 2. 20E Eric Larson (Holland); 3. 4W John Watson (Des Moines); 4. 29N Nathan Ballard (Marengo); 5. 166 Justin Lichty (Waterloo); 6. 14T Mitchell Thomas (Marshalltown); 7. 27 Clint Nelson (Marshalltown); 8. 3X Steve Fricke (Marshalltown); 9. 55 Vince Buchholz (Waterloo); 10. 87M Milo Matthias (CoCo, FL); 11. T56 Tim Barber (Story City); 12. 29 Jake Nelson (Newton); 13. 88D CJ Dall (Marshalltown); 14. 42T Tyson Overton (Carlisle); 15. 500 Garrett Eilander (Newton); 16. 91 Chris Moore (Fairfax); 17. 5H Andy Hick (Adel); 18. 81M Travis Merical (Marshalltown); 19. 85M Dillon Million (Marshalltown); 20. 19D Dustin Elliott (Marshalltown); 21. 17 Andy Peck (Newton); 22. 3A Austin Luellen (Minburn); 23. 7C Chad Larson (Brooklyn); 24. 4X Gary Pfantz (State Center); 25. 26 Brice Udelhoven (Newton)

Mod Lites

Feature: 1.82 Charlie Brown (Nevada); 2. 5J Jimmy May (DeSoto); 3. 66F Eric Hendrickson (Ankeny); 4. 6 Mike Morril (Altoona); 5. 99 Josh May (DeSoto); 6. 28 Terry Brown (Nevada); 7. 15 Andy Hennigar (Ankeny); 8. 4 Travis Brandt (Des Moines); 9. 95 Mike Kennedy (Boone); 10. 64 Randy Bryan (DeSoto); 11. 4L Larry Sorenson (Ame); 12. 17S Chris Weir (Nevada); 13. 12 Amber Coffman (Nevada); 14. 94 Dustin Marshll (Prairie City); 15. 8 Dusty Masolin (Des Moines); 16. 7 Erin Turner (Newton)

IMCA Sport Compacts

Feature: 1. 6M David Moorman (Beaman); 2.  02 John Gill (Marshalltown); 3. 33B Zach Brenner ( Dubuque); 4. 00 Alec Gill (Marshalltown); 5. 01 Aaron Miller (Marshalltown)