7/17/2023
Marshalltown Speedway
Gaylord, Ballard, Stanton, and Bunch take first checkers of the season
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (July 14, 2023)
It was Rumours Bar and Grill and Salute to Marshall County Law Enforcement, First Responders, and EMT Night at the Karl Auto Group Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night. Last week's races were rained out and Friday the track was dodging threats of rain, but the show went on as scheduled with 134 cars checking in for a full night of racing action.
First time wins went to Tripp Gaylord in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modified class, and it was Nathan Ballard taking the checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car division. Eric Stanton earned a first time win in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks as did Mitchell Bunch in the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts. Brayton Carter made it his second trip to Victory Lane in the regular season by winning a close one in the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods, and Josh May won his fourth feature in the IMCA Stealth Racing STARS Mod Lites.
Mitchell Bunch led the IMCA Sport Compacts, presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown, flag to flag on his way to the checkers. Kolby Sabin chased Bunch for most of the race, but had to be satisfied with the runner up spot. Andrew Bieber, Independence, Iowa, started thirteenth, and finished in third place. Fourth went to Curtis Masterson, and David Kimmel made a good comeback after sliding into a frontstretch billboard on lap one, had to tag the field, and still got a top five finish. This was Bunch's first time in Victory Lane at Marshalltown this season.
The IMCA STARS Mod Lites, presented by Knight Sanitation saw Josh May start tenth and inherit the lead on lap four when then leader William Nobles was suddenly off power on the backstretch, bringing out a yellow.
May never relinquished his lead the rest of the way, and visited the winner's circle for the fourth time this season. Jon Padilla mounted a good challenge but had to be content with second place. RJ Gonzales, Colona, Illinois regular competitor at the track, had a good run after having to rally back after an early race spin, and finished third. Joe Glick and Cory Sonner rounded out the top five.
It was an exciting finish to the 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature, presented by Rugged Radios. Eddyville, Iowa's Logan Anderson, in his Herbie the Love Bug car, was looking strong as he led from lap one, holding off the challenges of some heavy hitters in Tony Olson, Brayton Carter, and Sam Wieben.
Wieben was still leading at lap seventeen when the yellow flew, and by this time, Brayton Carter had moved his ride into second spot. Another yellow at lap eighteen would set up a green-white-checkered dash to the finish. Anderson held the lead at lap nineteen, but it was Carter finding his way around the outside and passing for the lead on the run to the checkers...securing his second win of the regular season, after also winning the Frostbuster special and Night #2 of the King of the Highbanks pre-season special.
Tripp Gaylord, Lakewood, Colorado who is calling Iowa home for the summer, made it win #1 in the IMCA Modifieds, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap. Gaylord started tenth, ran down then leader Johnathon Logue by lap six, with Todd Shute joining in the fight to make it a three-way battle for the lead. Gaylord managed to take over the top spot at lap fourteen, and then kept it the rest of the way to the flying checkers. Todd Shute started seventh, and took second place, it was early leader Jimmy Gustin taking third, Johnathon Logue finished fourth, and Izac Mallicoat was fifth.
The IMCA Stock Cars, presented by Drury Automotive, ran their 20 lap feature next.
Leah Wroten took command from her outside front row starting spot as the race went green. She was soon being pestered by Steve Meyer and tenth place starter, Nathan Ballard. Meyer took the lead briefly on lap seven, but just two laps later, it was Ballard grabbing the lead. From there on out, it was Ballard's race as he went home to the flying checkers and captured his first feature of the year at the speedway. Austin Kaplan started eleventh, and caught the leader with seven laps to go, but had to settle for second. Steve Meyer was third, fourth went to Jeff Wollam, and Garrett Corn took fifth.
The IMCA Hobby Stock 20 lap feature, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center, put a nightcap on the night's racing.
Mark Hidlebaugh held the upper hand in the early portion of the race, with Bradly Graham chasing him in second place. By lap seven, twelfth place starter Eric Stanton had charged through the field to run third....and two laps later, he had taken over the lead. Stanton then kept hold of that top spot the rest of the way to the finish line and the win...his first at Marshalltown this season. Bradly Graham finished as the runner up, Seth Butler ran at the front of the pack all race long, and finished third, fourth went to Mark Hidlebaugh, and Sam West was fifth.
Next Friday night, July 21, is Vescco Inc. $2,000 to win Stock Cars Highbanks After the Creek Dirt Crown. The Outlaw Mini Mods will also join the IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites. Pits open at 5:15, gates at 5:30, hot laps at 6:55, and racing at 7:30.
Article Credit: Joyce Eisele
Submitted By: Jerry Vansickel
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