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Berry Buries the Field on Night #1 of the World Nationals

Marshalltown, Iowa September 16, 2022
Friday night, the Marshalltown Speedway came back to life for the first of two nights of the 16th Annual World Nationals. IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds and Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, and Hobby Stocks, and IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts were in competition for J & M Fabrication Friday Night Lights. One hundred forty-four cars checked in for a full night of racing action.

The IMCA Sport Compacts ran their 15 lap feature event first. Kolby Sabin has been on a tear at the track this year, having won eight times previously, and he added number nine to his list Friday night. Sabin started fourth, had the lead on lap one, never to look back. He pulled away from the field and won going away. Following a distant second was Cristian Grady, Curtis Masterson was third, fourth went to Mitchell Bunch, and Blake Driscol completed the top five.

The IMCA Hobby Stock ran their 20 lapper next. Calvin Dhondt, Kellogg, Iowa, started on the outside front row, and immediately grabbed the lead. His momentum was slowed by two yellow flags and subsequent restarts. However they were of no issue as he once again held on to that top spot when the race returned to green, The final lap saw sixteenth place starter Austin Mehmen throw a slider out of turn four, but Dhondt kept his composure and made it to the finish line first to secure the win. Mehmen had to settle for the runner up spot. John Watson ran up front all night long, and finished third, fourth went to Walker, Iowa's Adam Streeter, and Tanner Jones, Boone, Iowa was fifth. Dhondt just returned to racing this year after being absent for several seasons.

Tyler Inman went home $1,000 richer by taking the checkers in the 20 lap IMCA Northern SportMod main event. He overtook then leader Dusty Masolini on lap four and from there on it was all his race. Brayton Carter chased Inman for much of the race, but had to be content with second. Following a distance behind in third was sixteenth place starter, Logan Anderson. Tony Olson came from thirteenth to finish in fourth, and lady racer Taylor Kuehl was fifth.

The IMCA Stock Cars ran a 25 lap "A" feature. Dallon Murty, fresh off of his Super National's win, got the early lead. However, he soon had Jeff Mueller on his tail as he dug along the bottom of the track. Mueller made it work in that low groove, taking over the top spot on lap six. Mueller would then stretch out his lead, content with his low ride around the track, as Murty kept up top on the High Banks. A caution flew at lap twenty-three....just what Murty was looking for. However, the restart proved to be of no consequences for Mueller as he motored off and took the checkers....as well as a $1,000 pay day. Murty was second, third went to twelfth place starter Dylan Thornton, Santa Maria, California racer who was doing double duty racing in the Modifieds as well. Austin Kaplan, and Damon Murty, were fourth and fifth respectively.

The night cap was 30 laps of ground pounding IMCA Modifieds. Gilman, Iowa's Richie Gustin jumped to the lead immediately from his pole starting spot. Madrid, Iowa's Kyle Brown ran second with about ten laps remaining. That's when a caution flew for a spinning car. On the restart, Tom Berry powered by both Gustin and Brown, to take the lead. From there on out, Berry, who just won the IMCA Super Nationals, pulled away and at the finish line, won going away. Joel Rust came on strong in the final portion of the race, but could do no better than finish a distant second. Gustin finished third, fourth went to ninth place starter, Dylan Thornton, and Tim Ward took fifth.

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