Thrills, Chills and Spills greeted the capacity crowd Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway
by: Dennis Grabenbauer

MARSHALLTOWN, IA (July 27) - Thrills, Chills and Spills greeted the capacity crowd Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway for Hy-Vee Night, and week number 14. Close racing with another new driver adding his name to the Aarons Victory Lane, two roll over’s and one driver escaping his car before the car was engulfed in flames, would keep race fans on there feet and another driver adding a win in the “King of the Hill” event.

Defending track I.M.C.A. Modified Champion Jeff Schroyer would slide off of turn one in his qualifying heat and roll his car down the embankment would be the first causality of the evening, but with hard work and a lot of effort was able to repair his car to start the feature event and even would finish in the fifth starting position after starting in the last position. Ed Zehm in the Dwarf Cars was not as lucky car wise as he would flip his car end over end before coming to rest on his side. After Zehm was helped from the car uninjured, and his car was turned back over the car burst into flames. It would take track officials a little time to put out the gas line fire before taking Zehms battered car back to the pit area.

Sean Johnson would become the ninth different driver to score a victory in the Aarons I.M.C.A. Stock Car feature. Joe Luethje would lead the opening laps then last weeks winner Rick Brown would take the lead on lap three, but right after taking the lead the Brown’s Ford Thunderbird would go up in smoke ending his bid for career win number 102. Johnson would jump into the lead on lap five and start to pull away from the rest of the field. Just when it looked like Johnson would have it easy, the yellow would come out erasing nearly a full straight a way lead. Luke Veren would now give Johnson all the pressure he would want as two time feature winner Veren was making a bid for his third win of the year. The two drivers would exchange the top spot right to the end before Johnson would nip the pesky Veren and score the victory. Behind Johnson and Veren was Mike VanGenderen and new point leader Tracy Gienger.

Marv Halverson would lead the opening lap of the I.M.C.A. Modified feature. The first yellow of the event would come out on lap three and on the restart Scott Simatovich would pressure Halverson for the lead, the two would make contact locking each other bumpers and bringing out another yellow flag. This would turn the lead over to J.D. Auringer. Auringer, the winner on week ten was now up front, a position he would not relinquish during the remaining laps. Pressured at times by Jay Schmidt, Auringer was not going to be denied his second win of the season. Point leader Jimmy Gustin would take the biggest hit of the night with engine problems sending his to the pits and a twelfth place finish. Jackson with a second place outcome would now pull with seven point of the point lead behind Gustin with five nights to go. Behind Auringer and Jackson was the hard charging Todd Conrad followed by Schmidt.

Mike Morrill would make it three wins in as many weeks in the Dwarf Car feature after taking the lead from Mike Kennedy on lap six. Morrill would stay ahead of a three-car battle between himself, point leader Andy Hennigar and Troy Hudson. At the end of the twelve-lap event, Morrill would claim the win followed by Hennigar, Hudson and Shane Hunter.

Four drivers would hold the top spot in the I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock feature before point leader Luke Wanninger would charge to the front at the half waypoint then go on for his sixth win of the season. Wanninger would hold off Jamie Schirm for the win with Gene Nicklas and Joe Bown rounding out the top four.

When Jason Mallicoat makes an appearance at the speedway you almost expect Mallicoat to find his way to the Aarons Victory lane and on Friday night he would find his way back to victory lane again. Mallicoat would cruise to victory in the feature of the I.M.C.A. Sport Mod feature then return to win the Hy-Vee King of the Hill event. Mallicoat would take the lead at the halfway point of the fifteen-lap event, then work through one yellow on lap eleven to score his second win of the year, in a season where he has only competed three times. Mallicoat would out distance Brett Meyer and Austin Lucas by a full straight a way for the win. J.R. Merchant from South Sioux City Nebraska would finish forth. Mallicoat would then win the final race of the night by beating Danny Dvorak in the King of the Hill event to add his name to the season ending event which already has Vern Jackson and Dustin Smith in the field to find out who will carry the title of “King of the Speedway” until next season.

Next Friday night will be Hogeland Auto Plaza Kid’s Night at the Speedway with prizes, gifts and fun to be had by the youngsters that come next week. A giant candy toss will bring the kids to the track to pick up candy that will be spread onto the track. The gates will open at 5:30 with hot laps starting at 6:45 and the first event of the night getting underway at 7:30.

MARSHALLTOWN SPEEDWAY FRIDAY July 27, 2007
By Denny Grabenbauer


“Aarons” I.M.C.A. STOCK CAR:

HEAT 1: Joe Luethje-Zearing—Sean Johnson-Independence—Mike VanGenderen-Newton

HEAT 2: Rick Brown-Kellogg—Luke Veren-Laurel—Kyle Krampe-Baxter

FEATURE: Sean Johnson—Luke Veren—Mike VanGenderen—Tracy Gienger—Don Vis—Rob Schneider—Donovan Smith—Jeff Wollam—David Atcher—Joe Luethje—Kyle Krampe—Steve Meyer—Aaron Wendel—Clay Deppe—Donnie Bown—Rick Brown



I.M.C.A. MODIFIED:

HEAT 1: Vern Jackson-Waterloo—Scott Simatovich-State Center—Marv Halverson-M’town

HEAT 2: J.D. Auringer-Evansdale—Jimmy Gustin-M’town—Brett Ladehoff-M’town

FEATURE: J.D. Auringer—Vern Jackson—Todd Conrad—Jay Schmidt—Jeff Schroyer—David Brown—Scott Hogan—Brett Ladehoff—Ed Thomas—Marv Halverson—Tim Stevens—Jimmy Gustin—Rick Huff—Heath Kusel—Scott Simatovich—Rob Olson



I.M.C.A SPORT MOD:

HEAT 1: Danny Dvorak-Vinton—Mark McNeece-Albion—Austin Lucas-Ames

HEAT 2: Shawn Simatovich-M’town—J.R. Merchant-South Sioux City Neb—Eric Becker-Cedar Rapids

FEATURE: Jason Mallicoat—Brett Meyer—Austin Lucas—J.R. Merchant—Danny Dvorak—Kyle Brown—Joel Bushore—Eric Becker—Scott Jorpeland—Ryan Engelkes—Neil Follett—Shawn Simatovich—John Dumer—Dustin Filloon—Kurt Hogan—Mark McNeece—Brad Iverson

HY-VEE KING OF THE HILL: Jason Mallicoat



I.M.C.A HOBBY STOCK:

HEAT 1: Gene Nicklas-Grinnell—Dustin Elliott-M’town—Josh Saunders-Newton

HEAT 2: Luke Wanninger-Jefferson—Todd Reitzler-Grinnell—Eric Knutson-Huxley

HEAT 3: Joe Bown-M’town— Jamie Schirm-Dexter—Bo Hunter Saint Anthony

FEATURE: Luke Wanninger—Jamie Schirm—Gene Nicklas—Joe Bown—Bo Hunter—Todd Reitzler—Eric Knutson—Dustin Elliott—Josh Saunders—Jennifer Hulin—Mike Vibbard—Chris Law—Josh Bly—Troy Cowan—Leonard Loftus—Chad Sawyer—Phil Morrison—Brad Bartling—Adam Rickett



DWARF CARS:

HEAT 1: Joel Huggins-Pleasant Hill—Mike Thomas-Des Moines—Eric Hendrickson Pleasant Hill

HEAT 2: Troy Hudson-Ankeny—Mike Morrill—Altoona—Randy Bryan-Ames

FEATURE: Mike Morrill—Andy Hennigar—Troy Hudson—Shane Hunter—Eric Hendrickson—Mike Kennedy—Joel Huggins—Randy Bryan—Tim Hennigar—Johnny Mordock—Jeff Stensland—Craig Schrader—Terry Brown—Duane Coffman—Dusty Masolini—Mike Thomas—Nathan Hovick—Jason Whitehead—Ron Bergmann—Ed Zehm