Two New Winners Find Victory Lane at Marshalltown
By Denny Grabenbauer

MARSHALLTOWN, IA. (May 25) - It was a beautiful night, and a great way to start the long Memorial Day weekend this past Friday, as a capacity crowd witnessed one the finest nights of racing during the early part of the season. Again one hundred race teams and crews made their way to the high-banked quarter mile speedway to try their luck as week seven roared to life. Not only would there be close racing, but first time winners would make there way to the Aarons Victory lane before the night would come to an end.


And if that wasn’t enough, promoter Toby Kruse again announced something exciting that he is bringing back to the fans in the stands. Week seven marked the first of monthly “King of the Hill” races that will be run. “We are really going to give it to our fans with this one”, said an energetic Kruse. “We will have our “King of the Hill” in a different class each month. We will take the winner of each month and we will put all five of our class winners on the same racetrack at the same time during Season Championship night, this will be our All-Star event in Marshalltown. The winner of the final race will be recognized as our “King of the Speedway” for 2007. I know the fans will enjoy this, and I am sure once the drivers think about it, they would want nothing better than to be our “King of the Speedway.” The King of the Hill event is where two cars race each other head to head for three laps. The winner moves on and loser is done and becomes a race fan. Verne Jackson becomes the first winner of the “King of the Hill” event. “I’ve always wanted to be a king,” said Jackson, “now maybe my dream will come true.”

Dreams definitely came true for two drivers on Friday night, as Kyle Brown and Brett Ladehoff became first time winners in their respective classes. Brown who has had the honors of leading the first lap each week in the I.M.C.A. Sport Mod class, then would drop out of the event with engine trouble, would have his luck change on this night. Brown would lead the opening lap again this week, but this week he would dodge any engine problems, stay in the lead and go on to win his first career feature event. “Here I am standing in victory lane, and I don’t know what to say, I just can’t believe it,” said a very excited Brown during his post race interview. “I knew that someday I would get here, I just tried to stay focused and not worry about the past and concentrate on what I was supposed to be doing, it worked.” Week two feature winner Danny Dvorak who was coming to the front would finish second with Neil Follett having his best run of the season in third and J.D. Albright forth.

Brett Ladehoff, who is in his rookie season in the I.M.C.A. Modifieds, would lead from start to finish to score his first career win. Ladehoff visited victory lane seven times last season in the I.M.C.A. Sport Mod class, realizes that it was going to take time to win, when you move up a division. “I feel like I just keep learning every week. I love this place, the track has just been awesome, it feels good to be back in victory lane,” said Ladehoff. Point leader Jimmy Gustin would finish second followed by J.D. Auringer and Jeff Schroyer.

Rick Brown would follow in his nephew Kyle’s shoes, as Rick would win his second Aarons I.M.C.A. Stock Feature of the year, and his 99th of his career. But just by saying Brown got the win, is leaving out more than half of the story. Brown and 2005 Track Champion Dave Atcher put on a battle that lasted all eighteen laps of the race. Brown would lead lap one, Atcher lap 2, but the lead would only be by inches. Each lap the two would exchange the top spot through out each corner, and all of the time running side by side. Atcher would hold the lead by the start finish line with two laps to go, then Brown was able to mussel his Ford Thunderbird to the front to stay and score his second win of the year. Third place would be Tracy Gienger followed by Steve Meyer in forth.

Luke Wanninger would win his third of the year and his second in as many weeks in the I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock class. Wanninger would take the lead from Todd Reitzer on lap four; work around two yellow flags to go on to score his victory. Jamie Schirm, Daniel Hilsbeck and Dustin Elliott would round out the top four.

Two appearances, two wins for Troy Hudson in the Dwarf Car class as he would take the lead from point lead Andy Hennigar on lap eight then go on for the win. Behind Hudson at the end of the twelve lap event was Ed Zehm in second followed by Anny Hennigar in third and Tim Hennigar in forth.

Racing will continue next Friday night with Minuteman Printing night at the speedway. 410 Sprint Car driver Dennis Moore Jr will have his #17 car on display then will take on the fan choice I.M.C.A. Modified driver in a five-lap match race. The grandstands will open at 5:30 with hot laps starting at 6:45 and the first green flag of the night will wave at 7:30.

MARSHALLTOWN SPEEDWAY FRIDAY May 25, 2007

By Denny Grabenbauer



“Aarons” I.M.C.A. STOCK CAR:

HEAT 1: Donovan Smith-Lake City—Luke Veren-Haverhill—Michael Jaennette-Newton

HEAT 2: Rick Brown-Kellogg—Dave Atcher-M’town—Tracy Gienger-Newton

HEAT 3: Sean Johnson-Independence—Rob Schneider-M’town—Steve Meyer-Grundy Center

FEATURE: Rick Brown—Dave Atcher—Tracy Gienger—Steve Meyer—Jeff Wollam—Donovan Smith—Rob Schneider—Scooter Dulin—Don Vis—Andy Bryant—Jarred Daggett—Wendy Reisinger—Kyle Krampe—Damon Murty—Mike VanGenderen—Michael Jaennette—Sean Johnson



I.M.C.A. MODIFIED:

HEAT 1: Marv Halverson-M’town—David Brown-Kellogg—Jay Schmidt-Tama

HEAT 2: Brett Ladehoff-M’town—Verne Jackson-Waterloo—J.D. Auringer-Evansdale

RON’S TOWING & SERVICE KING OF THE HILL: Verne Jackson

FEATURE: Brett Ladehoff—Jimmy Gustin—J.D. Auringer—Jeff Schroyer—Verne Jackson—Adam Johnson—Jay Schmidt—Todd Conrad—Scott Simatovich—Marv Halverson—Rob Olson—Leroy Staub—David Brown



I.M.C.A SPORT MOD:

HEAT 1: Kyle Brown-Kellogg—Austin Kaplan-Ankeny—Neil Follett-Conrad

HEAT 2: Kevin Sather-Ankeny—Brett Meyer-Ames—J.D. Albright

FEATURE: Kyle Brown—Danny Dvorak—Neil Follett—J.D. Albright—Ryan Engelkes—Shawn Simatovich—Bradley Wilson—Zach Rawlins—Butch Lester—Eric Becker—Brad Iverson—Brett Meyer—Rodney McDonald—Austin Lucas—Austin Kaplan—Kevin Sather



I.M.C.A HOBBY STOCK:

HEAT 1: Eric Knutson-Huxley—Luke Wanninger-Jefferson—Dustin Elliott-M’town

HEAT 2: Jamie Schirm-Dexter—Daniel Hilsbeck-Adel—Jordon Watkins-Des Moines

HEAT 3: Beau Kaplan-Ankeny—Bo Hunter-Nevada—Adam Rickett-M’town

HEAT 4: Todd Reitzer-Grinnell—Mike Smith-M’town—Michael Vibbard-M’town

B-FEATURE: Trent Murphy-Jefferson—Michael Murphy-Prairie City—Steve Kesl-Elberon—Joe Bown-M’town

FEATURE: Luke Wanninger—Jamie Schirm—Daniel Hilsbeck—Dustin Elliott—Mike Smith—Bo Hunter—Michael Murphy—Eric Knutson—Gene Nicholas—Steve Kesl—Michael Vibbard—Larry Fricke—Beau Kaplan—Brad Bartling—Josh Saunders—Jordon Watkins—Josh Bly—Adam Rickett—Keith Miner—Todd Reitzer—Joe Bown—Trent Murphy—Jennifer Hulin—Phil Morrison



DWARF CARS:

HEAT 1: Troy Hudson-Ankeny—Tim Hennigar-Clarion—Ed Zehm-Ames

HEAT 2: Andy Hennigar-Ankeny—Mike Morrill-Altoona—Mike Kennedy-Boone

FEATURE: Troy Hudson—Ed Zehm—Andy Hennigar—Tim Hennigar—Mike Kennedy—Mike Morrill—Shawn Hunter—Jeff Stensland—David Schmalzried—Dusty Masolini—Duane Coffman—Terry Brown—Johnny Moredock—Joe Wood—Nathan Hovick—Todd Bennett—Joel Huggins