Second Half Of Season Underway at the Marshalltown Speedway
By Denny Grabenbauer

MARSHALLTOWN, IA. (June 23, 2006) - The second half of the 2006 race season roared to life on Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway welcoming the Nobel Family Reunion to the speedway again this year. A beautiful summer night greeted the near capacity crowd to week number eleven, as the start of a very busy week of racing would take place at the speedway. “We have talking about the Stock Car Shoot out and now it’s only three days away,” said promoter Toby Kruse. “The phone lines have been busy with drivers calling and asking directions, car set ups and gear ratios as they prepare to head out for Marshalltown. Drivers from Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Iowa have committed to come race with us, and that will make for a very interesting two nights of racing as they tackle our quarter mile speedway”. With the enthusiasm high for the upcoming event, the racing action seemed to be at its best on Friday night. Another night of close racing action, two, three and four wide action, which is becoming a weekly happening and another first time winner finding his way to victory lane.

Todd Luther would take the lead from Jimmy Gustin on lap two of the I.M.C.A. Modified feature and go on to score his first victory of the season. When checking with Todd and the record books, it shows that this was Luther’s first ever Modified feature win and his first win since the 2001 racing season when he last won, driving a I.M.C.A. Stock Car. “I can’t hardly believe it, I finally won a feature, I just can’t believe it,” said a very happy and normally quiet Todd Luther. “The car, the track everything was just perfect tonight. My goal is to drive smooth and stay consistent, tonight we were just faster than any one else and it finally took us back to victory lane.” Two yellow flags would be the only thing that would slow Luther on this memorable night as he finished ahead of Adam Bolin, Heath Kusel and Vern Jackson.

A point race and an eighteen-lap feature would take place in the I.M.C.A. Stock Car feature, as Shawn Hoskins would battle with Tracy Gienger through the half way point of the race until the end when Hoskins would capture his second feature of the year by two feet over Gienger. As Hoskins and Gienger was battling each other for the top spot lap traffic would become a factor as the two maneuvered through the crowded racetrack. Behind Hoskins and Gienger were Damon Murty and Clay Deppe. With Gienger’s second place finish, he would take back the point lead that he had lost one week prior to Mike VanGenderen. Bad luck plagued Gienger last week but this week it would take it’s toll on VanGenderen. The night would end with Gienger holding a nine-point lead over VanGenderen going into next Friday night.

Point leader Jason Mallicoat would again find his way to victory lane in the I.M.C.A. Sport Mod feature for his third win of the year. Scott Durlin would pressure Mallicoat, as the two drivers would race side by side through out the event. Tony Olson and defending National Champion Danny Dvorak would round out the top four.

Trent Murphy would not only win his second I.M.C.A. Hobby Feature of the year but also with his win, he would take over the point lead starting the second half of the season. Murphy would take the lead over on lap five when leader Jamie Whitaker would have a flat tire sending him to the pit area. Murphy was followed across the finish line by Mike Zeman, Donovan Smith, and Brad Bartling, to end the nights racing action at 9:20.

Monday night will be the first night of qualifying for the 11TH Annual American Stock Car Shoot-Out. The grandstand will open at 5:30 with hot laps beginning at 6:30 and the first race of the night will begin at 7:30. Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Sport Mods will be racing on Monday night, with the band Clutterbilly performing after the races. Tuesday night will be the finals of the Shoot-Out, with I.M.C.A. Modifieds joining the evenings racing action. It will be the same starting time on Tuesday night.

MARSHALLTOWN SPEEDWAY FRIDAY June 23, 2006

I.M.C.A. MODIFIED:

HEAT 1: Todd Luther-Laurel—David Brown-Kellogg—Shawn Plymesser-Lake Mills

HEAT 2: Mike O’Lear-M’town—Heath Kusel-Elberon—Adam Bolin-Waterloo

HEAT 3: Vern Jackson-Waterloo—Kevin Stoa-Polk City—Jimmy Gustin-M’town

FEATURE: Todd Luther—Adam Bolin—Heath Kusel—Vern Jackson—Jimmy Gustin—Jeff Schroyer—Rick Speck—Richie Gustin—Marv Halverson—John Timmesch—Doug Lauterwasser—Shawn Plymesser—Todd Conrad—Tim Murty—Tim Stephens—Mike Reichart—David Brown—Mike O’Lear—Tom Rawlins



I.M.C.A SPORT MOD:

HEAT 1: Brett Ladehoff-M’town—Scott Davis-Boone—Jason Mallicoat-Boone

HEAT 2: Tony Olson-Cedar Rapids—Kyle Brown-Kellogg—Danny Dvorak-Vinton

FEATURE: Jason Mallicoat—Scott Durlin—Tony Olson—Danny Dvorak—Keith Williamson—Kurt Hogan—Rob Olson—Mark McNeece—John Dumer—Scott Jorpeland—Don Boucher—Brett Ladehoff



I.M.C.A. STOCK CAR:

HEAT 1: Tracy Gienger-Newton—Kyle Krampe-Baxter—Jay Schmidt-Tama

HEAT 2: Jeff Wollam-M’town—Damon Murty-Chelsea—Don Vis-M’town

HEAT 3: Dave Atcher-M’town—Andy Bryant-Clemens—Clay Deppe-Kellogg

FEATURE: Shawn Hoskins—Tracy Gienger—Damon Murty—Clay Deppe—Andy Bryant—Kyle Krampe—Jeff Wollam—Rick Brown—Tim Murty—Jay Schmidt—Steve Meyer—Scooter Dulin—Shawn Anderson—Rod Schneider—Mike VanGenderen—Luke Veren—Wendy Reisinger—Tommy Thompson—Dave Atcher—Don Vis—Michael Jaennette—Robert Engelkes



I.M.C.A HOBBY STOCK:

HEAT 1: Michael Smith-M’town—Dustin Elliott-M’town—Mark Hidlebaugh-Grinnell

HEAT 2: Donovan Smith-Lake City—Jamie Whitaker—Independence—Jerry Hinton-Des Moines

HEAT 3: Trent Murphy-Jefferson—Joe Bown-M’town—Neil Follett-Conrad

HEAT 4: Luke Wanninger-Jefferson—Brad Bartling-Tama—Josh Saunders-Newton

B-Main: Eric Knutson—Zach Rawlins—Bo Hunter—Keith Lester

FEATURE: Trent Murphy—Mike Zeman—Donovan Smith—Brad Bartling—Michael Smith—Neil Follett—Luke Wanninger—Adam Rickett—Bo Hunter—Zach Rawlins—Shawn Simatovich—Jason Rice—Josh Saunders—Mark Lamar—Michael Vibbard—Chad Witte—Eric Knutson—Jamie Whitaker—Dustin Elliott—Jerry Hinton—Joe Bown