Spring Has Finally Sprung at the Marshalltown Speedway!
By Denny Grabenbauer

MARSHALLTOWN, Ia. (May, 19, 2006) - After dodging rain, cold temperatures and miserable racing conditions, the near capacity crowd was treated to shirtsleeve type summer weather for week number six at the Marshalltown Speedway. A special night of racing action as this year’s Cliff Chambers Memorial was run with one hundred and four race teams signing in to compete on the high-banked quarter mile raceway. “This is the night that we have been waiting for,” said first year promoter Toby Kruse. “Our fans have seen it all this year and I am so glad that we could have a nice night for people to enjoy our sport.”

One driver, who definitely enjoyed his night at the speedway, would be Brett Ladehoff, grandson of the late Cliff Chamber who the night was honored after. “This is like a dream come true. Mom, dad and I have talked about this what seems like for ever and tonight our dream came true.” Ladehoff a driver in the I.M.C.A. Sport Mod division won his third feature of the early season but no other win will ever be like the one on Friday night. “I have to thank my crew and all of their work that they have put in to get me here. I never would of believed I would have this many wins in this short of time and to win on grandpa’s this is something very special.”

Ladehoff would start the twelve-lap event in the seventh starting spot and take the lead on lap two. Five wide racing on the opening lap would stir the field allowing Ladehoff to slip into the lead on by running on the low side of the raceway. Only one yellow with three laps to go would slow Ladehoff in route to his third win of the season and his second in as many weeks. Close to Ladehoff was Jason Mallicoat who finished second. Keith Williamson would finish third, followed by Scott Durlin in forth.

The I.M.C.A. Stock Car feature would take to the raceway next and as always the “Class To Tough To Tame” lived up to its billing. Three and four wide racing would follow from the opening green flag, the lead would change hands almost on every lap. Paul Zimmerman would lead the opening lap, but would give way to Clay Deppe on lap two. Deppe held the lead until rookie sensation Steve Meyer made a high side pass to take the lead on lap four. Three and four wide racing would follow, as the eighteen-lap event would go non-stop until the end. Lap traffic would be the only thing that would slow Meyer, as he would go on to post his third win of the season. Behind Meyer at the end was, Deppe, Terry Dulin and Damon Murty.

Jeff Schroyer would win his seventh Cliff Chambers Memorial and his ninety-ninth career I.M.C.A. sanctioned event. The twenty-lap feature event had the fans on there feet through out, as the racing action proved to be the story of the night. A three-car battle between Mike O’Lear, Richie Gustin and Schroyer during the middle of the event would have many anxious moments. At the end Gustin would finish second followed by Ed Anderson and Troy Cordes who was making his first appearance of the year.

With the evening running at an excellent pace, the first of two I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock features would take to the raceway. The first feature would run green to checkered as Donovan Smith who pass Bo Hunter at the half way point to go on to win his fifth feature of the year. Behind Smith would be Kevin Sather followed by Dustin Elliott and Hunter. On the opening lap, of feature number two, a two-car incident between Chris Arkama and Dustin Filloon would send both cars flipping off of turn one and bringing out the red flag for a twenty-minute delay. Then on the restart Adam Rickett would roll his car on the back straight a way bringing out the second red flag of the night. All drivers were uninjured but their racecars would be destroyed. The winner of feature number two would be Michael Smith who won his first feature of the year. Behind Michael were Dustin Smith, Pat Cross and Trent Murphy.

Racing will continue next Friday night with the final Friday night of the month, with JR Motorsports night at the speedway. The central Iowa band, Clutter Billy will be performing after the nights racing action comes to an end. Hot laps will begin at 6:45 and the first race of week number seven will begin at 7:30.


I.M.C.A. MODIFIED:

HEAT 1: Mike O’Lear-M’town—Jimmy Gustin-M’town—Vern Jackson-Waterloo

HEAT 2: Jeff Schroyer-Laurel—Rick Speck-Garwin—Mike Reichart-Des Moines

HEAT 3: Richie Gustin-Gilman—Adam Bolin-Waterloo—Chris Wilkie-Urbandale

HEAT 4: Ed Anderson-M’town—Marv Halverson-M’town—Adam Larson-Ames

B-Main: Scott Simatovich-State Center—Kevin Kirkpatrick-Waterloo—Doug Lauterwasser-Bell Plaine

FEATURE: Jeff Schroyer—Richie Gustin—Ed Anderson—Brad Bartling—David Brown—Mike O’Lear—Heath Kusel—Shawn Plymesser—Doug Lauterwasser—Chris Wilkie—Tom Rawlins—Mike Reichart—Don Portwine—Scott Simatovich—Jake Durbin—Todd Luther—Jeff Havlik—Adam Larson—Vern Jackson—Jimmy Gustin—Adam Bolin—Marv Halverson—Rick Speck—Kevin Kirkpatrick



I.M.C.A SPORT MOD:

HEAT 1: Keith Williamson-Bondurant—Scott Davis-Boone—Tony Olson-Cedar Rapids

HEAT 2: Jason Mallicoat-Boone—Brett Ladehoff-M’town—Butch Lester-Newton

HEAT 3: Austin Kaplan- Ankeny—Scott Durlin-State Center—Danny Dvorak-Vinton

FEATURE: Brett Ladehoff—Jason Mallicoat—Keith Williamson—Scott Durlin—Danny Dvorak—Tony Olson—Rob Olson—Austin Kaplan—Mark McNeece—Bob Ebaugh—Kyle Brown—Shawn Ritter—Scott Jorpeland—Chad Rickett—John Dumer—Scott Davis—Tim Young—Don Boucher—Butch Lester



I.M.C.A. STOCK CAR:

HEAT 1: Damon Murty-Chelsea—Clay Deppe-Kellogg—Terry Dulin-Vinton

HEAT 2: Shawn Hoskins-M’town—Rick Brown-Kellogg—Steve Meyer-Grundy Center

HEAT 3: Rob Schneider-M’town—Jeff Wollam-M’town—Don Vis-State Center

FEATURE: Steve Meyer-Clay Deppe—Terry Dulin—Damon Murty—Jeff Wollam—Tracy Gienger—Rick Brown—Rob Schneider—Don Vis—Mike VanGenderen—Luke Veren—David Atcher—Jay Schmidt—Paul Zimmerman—Michael Jaennette—Robert Engelkes—Kyle Krampe—Tommy Thompson—Aaron Wendell—Wendy Reisinger—Andy Bryant—Shawn Hoskins—Richard Quail—Stacy Clark



I.M.C.A HOBBY STOCK:

HEAT 1: Kevin Sather-Ankeny—Bo Hunter-Nevada—Steve Kesl-Elberon

HEAT 2: Chris Arkama-Sully—Mike Zeman-Tama—Matt Sorenson-Ames

HEAT 3: Donovan Smith-Lake City—Dustin Elliott-M’town—Mike Vibbard-M’town

HEAT 4: Pat Cross-Boone—Neil Follett-Conrad—Dustin Smith-Lake City

FEATURE #1:Donovan Smith—Kevin Sather—Dustin Elliott—Bo Hunter—Zach Rawlins—Steve Kesl—Brad Bartling—Larry Fricke—Chad Sawyer—Mike Vibbard—Josh Saunders—Joe Alday—Jeff Gunderson—Josh Bly—Shawn Simatovich—Keith Lester—William Neasham

FEATURE #2: Michael Smith—Dustin Smith—Pat Cross—Trent Murphy—Neil Follett—Mike Zeman—Mark Lamer—Allen Damme—Robert Pippert—Josh Scovill—Damien Bown—Adam Rickett—Chris Arkama—Dustin Filloon—Matt Sorenson—Joe Bown