6/5/2019
Marshalltown Speedway
Richie Gustin cashes in with Dirt Knight win at Marshalltown
June 4, 2019
The Marshalltown Speedway hosted the season opener Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights tour for IMCA Modifieds presented by Wehrs Machine and Racing Products on Tuesday night. After two previously scheduled tour races were rained out, the third time was the charm at Marshalltown. Also in competition were the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, and the IMCA Late Models, running for national, regional, and state points.
Shannon Anderson walked away with another IMCA Hobby Stock feature in relatively easy fashion. Anderson drew the lucky outside pole starting position, and promptly grabbed the lead. Anderson would go on to lead all fifteen laps of the event and took another visit to victory lane. Anderson already had two weekly feature wins under his belt. Dylan Nelson came from the sixth starting spot to take the runner up position. Third went to Kayden Reynolds, Leah Wroten was fourth, and Gary Pfantz completed the top five.
The IMCA Northern SportMods found Brayton Carter taking the checkers, repeating his Friday night trip to the winner's circle. Carter took command at lap four and never looked back on his way to the checkers. Jake McBirnie hustled his way to the runner up spot after starting ninth, Dylan VanWyk made it to third after starting tenth, fourth went to early leader Kyle Olson, and Josh Foster rounded out the top five. Carter was also the Frostbuster winner at Marshalltown.
Damon Murty captured his first win of 2019 at the track in the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap A main. Murty set sail on the top side after starting eighth, and had the lead by lap four. Murty continued his familiar run around the rim, and took the comfortable win. Beatrice, Nebraska's Jordan Grabouski, could only chase Murty across the line to finish in second place. Third went to last Friday night's winner, Todd Reitzler, Curt Hook took fourth place, and early leader Austin Even went fifth.
The IMCA Late Models also came for a play date on Tuesday night. This turned into a two-car breakaway race between Jeremiah Hurst and Jeff Aikey. Hurst led the entire caution free race to score the win, and Aikey had to settle for the runner up position. Third went to Justin Kay, Andy Eckrich was fourth, and hometown boy Darrel DeFrance started thirteenth, and finished in fifth.
The 30-lap Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knight tour for the IMCA Modifieds feature ended the night's racing. Tim Ward led the stout field of cars as the race went green, with Richie Gustin tucking in behind to run in second. Gustin took several peeks in the corners, tried an unsuccessful slide at lap seven, then managed the pass on the frontstretch at lap eight to take command. Gustin soon had Joel Rust reeling him in, with Jordan Grabouski coming with a head of steam to run third after starting eleventh. Gustin continued his untouched run at the front of the field while Rust and Grabouski battled it out for the number two spot. As the laps ticked down, Gustin pulled away, and took the comfortable win. Grabouski got around Rust in the closing laps, as they finished second and third respectively. Ricky Thornton, Jr. started fourteenth, and finished fourth, and Tim Ward took fifth.
This Friday night, June 7, is Snittjer Grain Night at the Marshalltown Speedway with all regular weekly classes in competition. The green flag drops at 7:30.
Article Credit: Joyce Eisele
