Racing Past And Present On Friday at Marshalltown
By Denny Grabenbauer

MARSHALLTOWN, IA. (Aug. 25, 2006) - Friday night was truly a full night of racing memories as J & V NAPA week number twenty roared to life at the high-banked quarter mile raceway at the Marshalltown Speedway. The night was filled with many surprises, as drivers from the past were on hand to celebrate Nostalgic Night at the races. Cars and drivers from days gone by were on hand to compete in vintage classes that have been put together from around the state of Iowa. Even a driver from the state of South Dakota was on hand to take part in the racing action. The fields of cars were grouped into two sanctioned bodies. Central Vintage Racing Association, which consisted of opened wheel Coupe and Sedan bodies, and the Nostalgic Stock Car Club of Iowa, which is made up of full-bodied cars, were in competition.

As drivers who were racing from past history and memories, one driver would make his own history on this night in the I.M.C.A. Modified feature. First year driver Todd Conrad would have a dream come true when he pulled into victory lane at the end of the twenty-lap feature event. Conrad would become the fifteenth different feature winner, but the win would not come in an easy fashion.

The start of the I.M.C.A. Modified feature would see the red flag come out before a complete lap would be scored. Coming off of turn two, with the field bunched together, Kendall Sather would find himself upside down on the back straight a way. Sather was uninjured but the car would receive extensive damage. Also involved in the incident was point leader Jeff Schroyer. Schroyer would go to the work area for repairs and would return to rejoin the field. When the race was able to be restarted, Conrad would jump into the early lead. On lap four, Randy Havlik would make the pass for the lead. Havlik would hold the top spot past the half way point until Conrad would take it back on lap thirteen. For the remaining handful of laps the two drivers would swap the lead in almost every corner. With one lap to go, it was apparent that Conrad was not going to be denied the win, as he crossed the finish line the winner of his first feature event. “This has been a dream, and tonight I have accomplished our goal, to win a feature race,” said a tired but happy driver in victory lane.” Havlik would finish second followed by Billy Davis and Verne Jackson.

I.M.C.A. Stock Car point leader Tracy Gienger would pick up his third checkered flag in the eighteen-lap feature event. Andy Bryant would lead the first eight circuits before Gienger would take the top spot on lap six. Two yellow flags would slow the event, but not Gienger, as he would hold off the hard charging Jay Schmidt to the checkered flag, to score the win. Behind Gienger and Schmidt was Shawn Hoskins and Dusty Vis.

Kevin Sather would take the lead from Dustin Elliott with two laps to go in the I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock feature to win his third feature of the season. Finishing third would be Mike Zeman and forth would go to Neil Follett.

Kyle Wahlert found himself in victory lane for the second time this season in the I.M.C.A. Sport Mod feature. Wahlert passed Scott Jorpeland on lap three and would lead the remaining twelve laps for the win. On the final lap of the race, Wahlert engine would start to smoke and when crossing the finish line, the motor would blow, so one more lap would of cost the Des Moines driver a victory. Jacob Murray from Hartford, Danny Dvorak from Vinton and Tony Olson from Cedar Rapids would follow Wahlert across the finish line.

The Dwarf Car class was on hand again this week and Tim Hennigar would take the lead on lap six and pick up his first checkered flag and trophy from Marshalltown. This division is quickly gaining popularity with the crowd, and again on this night they would put on a very good racing program. Andy Hennigar, Jimmy May and Jason Toppenburg followed Hennigar across the line.

Next Friday night will be the final night of the 2006-racing season for first year promoter Toby Kruse. “I can’t believe that the end is in sight, this has been work, a lot of work but it has been very rewarding,” said Kruse. “I think we can all appreciate the job our staff has been doing. We have had more first time feature winners this season than I can ever remember anyone having, and I am just so proud of all of our classes. Plus the caliber of competition that race weekly with us, is just unbelievable. Right now we have three drivers, Damon Murty, Jason Mallicoat and Donovan Smith who all race with us weekly are leading the I.M.C.A. National Point in there respective divisions and that ranks through the entire United States.”

Next week’s Larry Wollam season championships will begin with hot laps starting at 6:45 and the first event of the night will get underway at 7:30. This year’s racing banquet has been set for Friday night November 3rd.



I.M.C.A. MODIFIED:

HEAT 1: Randy Havlik-Cedar Rapids—Jeff Schroyer-M’town—Adam Bolin-Waterloo

HEAT 2: Todd Conrad-Waterloo—Vern Jackson-Waterloo—Todd Luther-Laurel

FEATURE: Todd Conrad—Randy Havlik—Billy Davis—Vern Jackson—Scott Simatovich—Marv Halverson—David Brown—Mike Reichart—Heath Kusel—Mike O’Lear—Pat Graham—Adam Bolin—Jeff Schroyer—Jimmy Gustin—Kendall Sather



I.M.C.A SPORT MOD:

HEAT 1: Rob Olson-Cedar Rapids—Jacob Murray-Hartford—Danny Dvorak-Vinton

HEAT 2: Brett Ladehoff-M’town—Mark McNeece-Albion—Kyle Wahlert-Des Moines

FEATURE: Kyle Wahlert—Jacob Murray—Danny Dvorak—Tony Olson—Mark McNeece—Jason Purvis—Heath McReynolds—Scott Jorpeland—Jason Mallicoat—Bill Hildreth—Rob Olson—John Dumer—Brett Ladehoff



I.M.C.A. STOCK CAR:

HEAT 1: Dusty Vis-Legrand—Damon Murty-Chelsea—Luke Veren-Haverhill

HEAT 2: Rick Brown-Kellogg—Jeff Wollam-M’town—Tracy Gienger-Newton

HEAT 3: Jay Schmidt-Tama—Shawn Hoskins-M’town—Andy Bryant-Clemens

FEATURE: Tracy Gienger—Jay Schmidt—Shawn Hoskins—Dusty Vis—Luke Veren—Andy Bryant—Damon Murty—Scooter Dulin—Kyle Krampe—Rick Brown—David Atcher—Robert Engelkes—Tommy Thompson—Jerbo Warrick—John Wilson—Wendy Reisinger—Jeff Wollam—Mike Miller—Steve Meyer—Aaron Wendel—Shawn Anderson

I.M.C.A HOBBY STOCK:

HEAT 1: Todd Reitzer-Boone—Jamie Schirm-Dexter—Donovan Smith-Lake City

HEAT 2: Joe Bown-M’town—Neil Follett-Conrad—Brad Bartling-Tama

HEAT 3: Dustin Elliott-M’town—Mike Zeman-Tama—Kevin Sather-Ankeny

FEATURE: Kevin Sather—Dustin Elliott—Mike Zeman—Neil Follett—Brad Bartling—Eric Knutson—Donovan Nunnikhoven—Joe Bown—Mike Smith—Zach Rawlins—Jason Rice—Dustin Graham—Chad Witte—Paul Sheppard—Ron Prymech—Dustin Filloon—Josh Saunders—Jamie Schirm—Shawn Simatovich—Mike Vibbard—Bo Hunter—Craig Gosselink—Donovan Smith—Chad Sawyer—Josh Bly—Todd Reitzer



DWARF CARS:

HEAT 1: James May-Desoto—Mike Morrill-Altoona—Jason Toppenburg-Story City

HEAT 2: Ed Zehm-Ames—Tim Hennigar-Clarion—Andy Hennigar-Clarion

FEATURE: Tim Hennigar—Andy Hennigar—James May—Jason Toppenburg—Andy Bryan—Cliff Barber—Fred Schimmels—Jeff Stensland—David Schmalzried—Joel Huggins—Charlie Brown—Brad Melton—Ed Zehm—Jerry Schimmels—Mike Thomas—Joe Wood—Mike Morrill



CENTRAL VINTAGE RACING ASSOCIATION:

HEAT RACE: Dave Farren-Des Moines—Bruce Lund-Brandon South Dakota—Jack Larson Afton, Iowa

FEATURE: Dave Farren—Dan Osborn—Jack Larson—Bruce Lund—Larry Sowers—Russell Keefer—Verne Schumann—Mark David—Jim Klipping



NOSTALGIC STOCK CARS OF IOWA:

HEAT RACE: John Schroyer-Laurel—Rob Koopman-Cedar Rapids—Brad Huff-Marion

HEAT RACE: Bill Meier-Cedar Rapids—Dave Muhlena-Union—Jim Gauthier-M’town

FEATURE: Brad Huff—John Schroyer—Jamie Huff—Rob Koopman—Jim Clayton—Jim Gauthier—Bill Meier—Dave Muhlena