Darrel DeFrance and Jenae Gustin “keep it in the family”, with wins at Marshalltown Speedway

MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA (August 11, 2017) – It was another night of fast action and close finishes at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night.   The track was slick and racy with distinct top and bottom grooves…the drivers picking their preference much of the night.

It was a draw/redraw night for the IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA Hobby Stocks.  They were all gunning for a $500 prize in each class.

Hometown boy Darrel DeFrance inched out a win in the IMCA Late Model feature.  Jenae Gustin kept it a family affair by winning the IMCA Modified feature.  Sam Wieben took the IMCA Northern SportMod feature in a squeaker, as did Donavon Smith in the IMCA Stock Cars.  Veteran racer Jeff Anderson posted a first win in the IMCA Hobby Stock division and Travis Stensland scored win #7 in the Mod Lite class.

Win #7 didn’t come easy for Travis Stensland in the Mod Lite 15 lap feature.  Stensland got the lead early but by lap five, he had his hands full with last week’s winner Jason Masengarb.  Masengarb took command at lap eight; Stensland hot on his heels, and not far behind in third was Bryan Zehm…just waiting for his opportunity. Stensland was able to nose under Masengarb on the final lap and beat him to the checkers for the win.  Masengarb was a disappointed runner up, Bryan Zehm finished a close third, fourth went to Mike Morrill, and Jeff Stensland came home in fifth place.

The IMCA Northern SportMod 18 lap feature had a close finish also. Sam Wieben and Travis Peterson swapped the lead numerous times, and often ran side by side.  The two pitted each other from the very start of the race, all eyes on the front of the pack.  The final circuit found Wieben holding off Peterson at the checkers.  Third went to Jared VanDeest, fourth was Jake McBirnie and Shawn Cooney completed the top five.  This was Wieben’s second win of 2017.

It was a tight race up front in the IMCA Hobby Stock A Main event also.  Eric Stanton established the lead at lap one.  He soon had Jeff Anderson sniffing at his heels and by lap three, Anderson was captain of the ship.  Stanton didn’t go away however, and he was soon joined in the chase by Shannon Anderson.  It was Jeff Anderson’s night though, and he took the flying checkers and the win.  Eric Stanton chased him closely across the line to finish second, Shannon Anderson a close third.  Fourth was Gene Nicklas and Leah Wroten was fifth.  This was Jeff Anderson’s first win at Marshalltown this year.

The IMCA Stock Cars, the Class too Tough to Tame, once again lived up to its name.  The 18 lap feature was a hard fought battle at the wire between Donavon Smith and Michael Jaennette.  Smith had led from lap eleven, digging on the bottom line of the track.  The sudden appearance of Michael Jaennette, who had started eleventh, came into play at lap twelve as he flew around the rim of the track.  Jaennette got the advantage on lap sixteen, but a last lap slide a bit high, was his undoing. Smith seized the moment and took the lead, and crossed under the checkers first.  Jaennette had to settle for the runner up spot, Kyle Everts was third and Jason Minnehan and Jared Daggett were fourth and fifth. This was Smith’s second win this season

The 20 lap Modified feature came next. Veteran racer, Joe McBirnie, looked destined to go to victory lane after grabbing the lead in the opening lap, and driving away from the field.  Fifth row starter Jenae Gustin had something to say about that however.  She put her ride to the top of the track and set sail.  She gained ground each lap, and by the halfway mark, had flown into the lead.  It was Gustin that now pulled away from the pack, keeping the lead and scoring a resounding win….to the delight of much of the crowd.  McBirnie held on to second place, third was Jake Strayer, Jason Murray was fourth and Gatlin Leytham rounded out the top five. The race went green to checkers. Gustin won for the second time at Marshalltown this year.

Not to be outdone, Darrel DeFrance matched his niece Jenae Gustin’s win by scoring the victory in a close finish in the IMCA Late Model contest.  DeFrance held off a hard charging Todd Cooney to take his turn in the winner’s circle.  Joe Zrostlik came home in third place, Paul Nagle took fourth, and Justin Mitchell was fifth.

Racing continues next Friday night at the Marshalltown Speedway.  The green flag drops at 7:30.

Category: Iowa