Horsepower would turn to foot power during this past Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway
By Denny Grabenbauer

MARSHALLTOWN, IA (Aug. 11, 2006) - Horsepower would turn to foot power during this past Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway as week number eighteen and the annual Cardboard Classic races were run. New Hope Christian Church was on hand to promote the event, and with there help and guidance, a total of sixty-three home made cardboard race cars were constructed and raced by fans, and fellow drivers as well. Pastor Kerry Jech was on hand to witness the night’s activities. “We are all having a great time, and it is really neat to see the enthusiasm everyone has working with the youth in making these home made car’s,” said Pastor Jech.

After a total of three inches of rain fell, two day’s prior, the racetrack would come into shape as another two and three wide smooth racing surface for promoter Toby Kruse and his racing teams. “If you would of seen this place yesterday morning, you wouldn’t believe we were able to get things in order to even race tonight,” said Kruse. “Again, the guys worked and worked to get the track in shape not only for tonight, but for next Tuesday during our special Late Model show. It’s going to be a busy and exciting week next week and we are all up for the racing action that we will see.”

Friday night for one driver will be remembered for quite some time as the night when a dream became a reality and his promise was kept. Forth year driver Marv Halverson promised his mother that he would get a win for her. Halverson’s mother with health concerns cannot attend the weekly races anymore but still watches how her son does on the track. “I report into her every Saturday and tell her what happened. She tells me to do the best that I can do, and I keep telling her that I would win one just for her,” said Halverson. On Friday night Halverson’s dream and his promise to his mother would come true. Marv would take the lead on the opening lap of the twenty-lap I.M.C.A. Modified event and would hold off many challenges and yellow flags to score his first career feature win. “I felt like if I could just stay running my line, they wouldn’t get by me. A couple of times I think I saw two cars under me in the corners but my car was working perfect in the middle up, and I would just zoom past them coming off the corners. This is a great feeling and I am glad that I am finally able to experience this,” said Halverson in victory lane. Finishing a close second was Vern Jackson followed by Scott Simatovich and Jimmy Gustin.

The lead in the I.M.C.A. Sport Mod feature would change hands twice before Jason Mallicoat would take the lead at the half waypoint of the event. Scott Jorpeland and Kyle Wahlert would share the lead in the early going before point leader Mallicoat would storm to the front and go on to win his sixth feature of the season. Finishing second was Brett Ladehoff who would stay glued on the back bumper of Mallicoat through out the event. Wahlert would finish forth followed by Danny Dvorak.

Again this week the I.M.C.A. Stock Car feature would have the fans standing and cheering through out the eighteen-lap event. Week sixteen winner Kyle Krampe would lead the opening lap, but would give way to Don Vis on lap two only to regain the lead on lap three. Vis would again charge to the front on lap four and hold the lead until Jeff Wollam would take his turn at the top position. Wollam would keep his car stuck on the bottom of the racetrack, as the competitors behind him would be battling each other for position. Damon Murty who started toward the back of the field would be working his way to the front and with five laps to go, had worked his way into the second spot. With the laps winding down, and Wollam running low and Murty running high, Murty was closing in on the number one position. With three laps to go, Murty would make his high side pass to the lead. Wollam would keep working the low side, but Murty was able to keep his speed up by running high and would go on to score his fifth win of the season. Wollam would finish second followed by Dusty Vis and Shawn Hoskins.

For the thirteenth time this season Donovan Smith would finish up front in the I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock feature. Mike Zeman, and Mark Lamar would both take there turns at the front but Smith take the lead on lap seven to score his victory. Finishing second was Zeman followed by Neil Follett and Kevin Sather. Smith leading I.M.C.A. National Hobby Stock points now has won thirty-six feature events through out the state in his quest for the National title.

When the Friday nights racing action came to an end, Kruse started looking toward Tuesday night and that program. “We have a weeks work to do in only three day’s. Tuesday night will be one of the biggest nights of racing fans at Marshalltown have seen in many year’s, and we want everything to be perfect.” Joining the Deery Brother’s Summer Series will be the I.M.C.A. Sport Mods and the Dwarf Cars. “We want to encourage race fans to come early and meet and talk to the drivers. They will be racing at the State Fair on Monday night then coming to Marshalltown on Tuesday night.” Pit gates will open and 4:00 with hot laps at 6:45 and racing beginning at 7:30. “We will be having a special National Guard fly over and then a surprise production of our National Anthem,” concludes Kruse.

Next Friday night the weekly racing season will continue with a “back to school” special. All kids under twelve, will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Hot laps will start at 6:45 and races will begin at 7:30.
 

I.M.C.A. MODIFIED:

HEAT 1: Richie Gustin-Gilman—Todd Luther-Laurel—Scott Simatovich-State Center

HEAT 2: Vern Jackson-Waterloo—Marv Halverson-M’town—Mike O’Lear-M’town

FEATURE: Marv Halverson—Vern Jackson—Scott Simatovich—Jimmy Gustin—Adam Larson—Rick Speck—Todd Luther—Jason Murray—Todd Conrad—Mike O’Lear—Heath Kusel—Don Erger—Doug Lauterwasser—Tom Rawlins—Jim Hibner—Jeff Schroyer—David Brown—Leroy Staub—Richie Gustin



I.M.C.A SPORT MOD:

HEAT 1: Tony Olson-Cedar Rapids—Danny Dvorak-Vinton—Mark McNeece-Albion

HEAT 2: Brett Ladehoff-M’town—Jason Mallicoat-Boone—Austin Kaplan-Ankeny

FEATURE: Jason Mallicoat—Brett Ladehoff—Kyle Wahlert—Danny Dvorak—Jason Murray—Tony Olson—Rob Olson—Kurt Hogan—Mark McNeece—Don Boucher—Austin Kaplan—John Dumer—Scott Jorpeland—Kyle Brown—Chris Mosher



I.M.C.A. STOCK CAR:

HEAT 1: Tracy Gienger-Newton—Rob Schneider-M’town—Jeff Wollam-M’town

HEAT 2: Don Vis-M’town—Dusty Vis-Legrand—Dave Atcher-M’town

HEAT 3: Scooter Dulin-Vinton—Steve Meyer-Grundy Center—Kyle Krampe-Baxter

FEATURE: Damon Murty—Jeff Wollam—Dusty Vis—Shawn Hoskins—Tracy Gienger—Steve Meyer—Don Vis—Luke Veren—Scooter Dulin—Jay Schmidt—Andy Bryant—Michael Jaennette—Kyle Krampe—Rob Schneider—Wendy Reisinger—Robert Engelkes—Rick Brown—Dave Atcher



I.M.C.A HOBBY STOCK:

HEAT 1: Kevin Sather-Ankeny—Mike Zeman-Tama—Paul Nagle-Nevada

HEAT 2: Donovan Smith-Lake City—Dustin Elliott-M’town—Larry Fricke-Clemens

HEAT 3: Eric Knutson-Huxley—Neil Follett-Conrad—Joe Bown-M’town

HEAT 4: Bo Hunter-Nevada—Mark Lamar-Melbourne—Mike Vibbard-M’town

FEATURE: Donovan Smith—Mike Zeman—Neil Follett—Kevin Sather—Jamie Schirm—Andrew Burg—Chad Witte—Bo Hunter—Bard Bartling—Eric Knutson—Joe Bown—Dustin Elliott—Larry Fricke—Mike Vibbard—Shawn Simatovich—Mark Lamar—Dustin Filloon—Josh Saunders—Alan Damme—Zach Rawlins—Josh Bly—Paul Nagle—Sol Bennett—Calvin Pierson—Phillip Morrison