Mother Nature No Match for Marshalltown Speedway
By Denny Grabenbauer

MARSHALLTOWN, IA. (Aug. 18, 2006) -  very busy and productive week of racing came to an end on Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway, as Local UAW 893 night at the races would end the weeks racing. This past week saw the return of the I.M.C.A. Late Models to the high-banked quarter mile speedway, and local drivers Dave Stanton and Darrell DeFrance returning to there roots of racing. “I just couldn’t be happier,” said a very tired and weary track promoter Toby Kruse. “Every week I find a different obstacle that continues to make this job very interesting. Tuesday night, it was a beautiful night of racing, and everything seemed to go quite easy. But Friday night, with the weather the way was, I spent all day long wondering if we would be racing or not. Every weather forecast I heard was different, and when it quite raining around noon, I just decided that we were going racing and nothing was going to stop us.”

Kruse would battle Mother Nature and on this night would come out the winner. As the weather maps kept saying that rain was coming closer, Kruse just kept going ahead with what he does best, promote the racing program. Eighty-one race teams were on hand Friday night to compete on the high-banked quarter mile raceway way. Even with rain supposedly coming, Kruse would have his water truck crew sprinkle water on the topside of the raceway, in surprise of the fellow competitors. “He’s the guy who has the job of having a race track for us to race on, so I guess if he wants more water, then that’s what we are going to have is more water, and as it turned out, it was the right call to make,” said last weeks Modified feature winner Marv Halverson.

Two and three wide close racing from the heat races right into the feature events will thrill the fans in the stands during week number nineteen. New winners, first time winners and a driver who has only raced at the speedway for the second time would take home the first place hardware.

Billy Davis Jr, from Des Moines who was making his second appearance at the speedway would find himself in victory lane by becoming the fourteenth different driver to go to victory lane during the first nineteen weeks of the year. Davis would win his heat race and then go on to lead from start to finish in the twenty-lap I.M.C.A. Modified feature as he scores the victory. Challenged through the event, but would never give up the top spot as Davis would stay focused through out the race. Behind Davis was Mike O’Lear, Todd Conrad, who posted his best finish of the year and finishing forth was Scott Simatovich who posted his forth-top four finishes in a row.

Jeff Wollam, who had not visited victory lane since August 15th of 2003, would have his streak broken on Friday night. One week earlier, Wollam would lead up to the closing laps but would finish second. On Friday night, Wollam would take the lead on lap five, from Michael Jaennette then have to battle with Damon Murty and lap traffic between them but would stay focused and go on to score the victory. “This is all about our race team,” said a very relieved Jeff Wollam in victory lane. “They never gave up. We just try to have fun, at times it might be frustrating, but we do this because we have fun doing it, it is our hobby. I just can’t thank them enough for keeping the faith in me.” Wollam continued his march into the third position of the point standings with Friday night’s win. Finishing second would be point leader Tracy Gienger followed by Scooter Dulin and Luke Veren.

The I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock feature would also prove to be a pleasant surprise for Mike Zeman who would finally finish at the top posting his first feature win of his career. Zeman would take the lead from Donovan Nunnikhoven in the closing laps and would stay in front until the checkered flags would fly to score his first career feature win. Pat Cross would cross the finish line in third followed by Neil Follett.

Jason Mallicoat would win his seventh feature of the year in the I.M.C.A. Sport Mod feature adding on to his division leading point standings. Brett Ladehoff would finish second followed by Jacob Murray and Kyle Wahlert. Mallicoat who became a new father on Tuesday would also add to his National Point leader standings by posting the feature win.

With the season winding down to its final two weeks of the year, first year promoter Toby Kruse encourages fans to come out to enjoy his Friday night’s racing programs. “We are giving the fans, the best show possible, on and off the track. I think I can promise you that you will not leave disappointed in the racing action on the track.”

Next Friday night the gates will open at 5:00 pm with hot laps starting at 6:45 and the first race of the night will begin at 7:30. Next Friday night the car’s of yesterday will be racing on the track as the “Nostalgic Stock Car Club of Iowa” will be show casing there cars on the raceway.


I.M.C.A. MODIFIED:

HEAT 1: Billy Davis Jr.-Des Moines—Todd Conrad-Waterloo—Randy Havlik-Cedar Rapids

HEAT 2: Adam Larson-Ames—Mike O’Lear-M’town—Tim Stevens-Cedar Rapids

HEAT 3: JJ Scott-Dallas Center—Jimmy Gustin-M’town—Jeff Schroyer-M’town

FEATURE: Billy Davis Jr—Mike O’Lear—Todd Conrad—Scott Simatovich—Tim Stevens—Randy Havlik—Marv Halverson—Jeff Schroyer—Don Portwine—Todd Luther—Tom Rawlins—Vern Jackson—JJ Scott—Jimmy Gustin—Doug Lauterwasser—Adam Larson—Adam Bolin—Don Erger—Heath Kusel



I.M.C.A SPORT MOD:

HEAT 1: Jacob Murray-Hartford—Kurt Hogan-Vinton—Kyle Wahlert-Des Moines

HEAT 2: Jason Mallicoat-Boone—Tony Olson-Cedar Rapids—Kyle Brown-Kellogg

FEATURE: Jason Mallicoat—Brett Ladehoff—Jacob Murray—Kyle Brown—Danny Dvorak—Kurt Hogan—Tony Olson—Scott Jorpeland—John Dumer—Mark McNeece—Shawn Ritter—Rob Olson



I.M.C.A. STOCK CAR:

HEAT 1: Rob Schneider-M’town—Tracy Gienger-Newton—Michael Jaennette-Newton

HEAT 2: Don Vis-M’town—Jeff Wollam-M’town—Dave Atcher-M’town

HEAT 3: Dusty Vis-Legrand—Damon Murty-Chelsea—Terry (Scooter) Dulin-Vinton

FEATURE: Jeff Wollam—Tracy Gienger—Terry (Scooter) Dulin—Luke Veren—Michael Jaennette—Shawn Hoskins—Kyle Krampe—Steve Meyer—Jay Schmidt—Shawn Anderson—Bob Stats—Dave Atcher—Robert Engelkes—Mike Miller—Andy Bryant—Shelly Mizell—Wendy Reisinger—Damon Murty—Dusty Vis—Chris West—Rob Schneider—Rick Brown



I.M.C.A HOBBY STOCK:

HEAT 1: Kevin Sather-Ankeny—Michael Smith-M’town—Joe Bown-M’town

HEAT 2: Donovan Nunnikhoven-Sully—Bo Hunter-Nevada—Donovan Smith-Lake City

HEAT 3: Mike Zeman-Tama—Jamie Schirm-Dexter—Brad Bartling-Tama

FEATURE: Mike Zeman—Donovan Nunnikhoven—Pat Cross—Neil Follett—Donovan Smith—Kevin Sather—Joe Bown—Chad Witte—Mark Lamar—Jason Rice—Josh Bly—Shawn Simatovich—Philip Morrison—Josh Saunders—Zach Rawlins—Michael Vibbard—Bo Hunter—Alan Damme—Michael Smith