It's rare when I attack racing in Iowa on a weekend this time of year but this weekend was an odd one, with most tracks at home shutdown for the weekend, either in deference for a major event being done at a competing track or just that time of year when many tracks schedule an off week to give everyone the chance to rest and relax before the big push to Labor Day weekend and beyond for special events.
So I found myself with not many options up North and with the rescheduling of SLMR events this weekend in both Marshalltown and Independence, it seemed like and excellent idea to head to the Hawkeye State for racing. And the timing may have been just perfect as a rainy weekend was forecast at home while the heat and humidity will help me sweat off those extra cheese curds and fries pounds that seem to be rolling on this Summer.
The first stop was Friday, August 5th at the Marshalltown Speedway for the twice postponed Dale DeFrance Memorial race that would feature the Hoker Trucking SLMR East Division along with all five classes that routinely race at Marshalltown and just for fun the Dirt Trucks were also added to the program, giving us a gigantic six division program that strained the pits to overflowing with many of the rigs in all classes parking beyond the pit gate in the field South of the pits. It made for quite a bit of hiking for me but again, all part of the newly minted exercise program that combines fun and legwork.
A large of field of race cars was on hand that numbered one hundred forty six. The weekly classes all had full fields but only the Hobby Stocks required a B Feature. As for the Late Models, their entry list was very impressive with thirty nine of them signing in to race including the top thirteen in points and twenty one of the top twenty five. There were also some visitors from Nebraska that primarily race the West Series, the Malvern Bank Series. This made for a very competitive field and the two B Features that were necessary eliminated some quality equipment from the main event.
I had a couple of friends sitting with me and without my prompting, both happened to look at the parking lot and make mention of all the people that would be in trouble because they were triple parking the lot, something both mentioned happened to them a lot in the Hawkeye State and they branded it an "Iowa Problem." I won't comment further but will let the facts speak for themselves.
One thing that held true, despite Marshalltown being such a quality operation and so well run, was that because there was group qualifying for the Late Models, the show would not start on time. And that turned out to be the case once again as it was nearly 8 pm before the first green flag flew. After that, it was pretty much nonstop racing with the only pauses to give the track a shot of water periodically. Still, with a twenty seven race program to run off that included extra distance races, it was almost Midnight before the final checkered flag flew.
With all the feature races being of good quality, it was a bit tough to highlight one specifically but I thought the Late Model feature was probably the best. Twenty six cars started this forty four lapper, in honor of Mr. DeFrance and there were four different leaders during the race. Tad Pospisil was the early leader from the pole and he would hold the front spot until overtaken by Jake Neal on lap thirteen when Pospisil started to fade back into the pack.
Neal was hammering the cushion and making it work as he gradually moved out to a nice sized lead. However, as the races ground off, with them running the last thirty four nonstop, it seemed like the berm got a bit sneaky and the high side seemed to slow up just a bit.
Luke Goedert was making the bottom work and he gradually closed in on the leader. As the top two started to get into lapped traffic, Goedert found a hole low and while Neal got hung up, Goedert was able to drive past him and take over the top spot. However, just a couple of laps later, the tables were turned. Goedert got blocked on the bottom by several cars while Neal had a free reign on the top and he was able to drive his way back into the lead. Goedert eventually got through the traffic but by then Neal was long gone and he drove on for the win which he celebrated mightily on the front chute with burnouts. Andy Eckrich would finish third.
A couple of the feature races would see early leaders go all the way and while leading all laps, they would get the wins. Joren Fisher would lead all twenty laps to win the Hobby Stock main event. Despite plenty of pressure and a late yellow that would bunch the field, He was able to control things and take the win. Eric Knutson would make one trip through the infield but would still be able to hold on for the second spot ahead of Jacob Floyd who started tenth.
The Modified feature would see Jake McBurnie start on the pole and have Joel Rust chase him for most of the contest but never get close enough to challenge him. Tim Ward would move into third early and the top three would stay pretty static through four yellow flags including a pair in the last few laps.
The Dirt Truck feature would see Todd Cooney, who also ran sixteenth in the Late Model feature, start on the pole and cruise to victory. Shonn Mapes would finish second, even though he got put into the wall at one point during the feature event.
The Stock Car feature would see one of the extended DeFrance family members crack victory lane when Damon Murty would move up from the third row to take the win in that class. Early on it was quite a battle with David Archer, Michael Jaennette and others all battling for the top spot.
However, Murty went to the cushion and he was able to work his way past them all gradually with a number of yellow flags in the first half of the race helping him out.
Eventually, Murty had to hold off repeated challenges was the yellow would fly five times during the feature. Kaden Reynolds would eventually move up to second and finish in that spot ahead of Buck Schafroth. Several of the top runners ran into various bad luck difficulties and did not finish including Taylor Kuehl, Archer, Austin Kaplan and Steve Meyer.
Starting seventh but really demonstrating a lot of speedway was Logan Anderson as he took the Sport Mod main event. He starting picking off drivers one at a time early and soon was past Kyle Olson and then took on leader Brayton Carter. Carter fought hard for a couple laps but eventually Anderson was able to get to his inside line and after a mighty struggle, Anderson would gain the edge and gradually start to pull away. With the last twelve laps run under the green, he was able to extend his advantage and drive on for the win over Carter and Tony Olson.
The crowd was a very good one on a muggy night in August and the concession stand ran out of items quickly with cold drinks being a hot commodity.
For the DeFrance family and their extended relatives, it was a checkered night. Darrel finished fifteen in the Late Model feature while Jimmy came from twenty second to ninth in the Modified finale. Richie was a DNS in that same event after having big troubles in his heat. Jenae had troubles in both the Sport Mod heat and feature and was a DNF for the main event. Damon Murty moved from sixth to top the Stock Car feature race while Dallon got into a collision in the Modified feature and was a twenty first place DNF.
The track stayed good all night with a minimum of extra fiddling with it and allowed the drivers to run all over the racing surface, with success being achieved running many different lines.
Thanks to Toby Kruse and J Van for a good night of racing and they had to have been very happy for the big crowd, particularly with how miserable the conditions were. It would be interesting to find out just how many folks stayed home and bought the pay per view too.
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