Irvine wins big at Marshalltown

By Joyce Eisele

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (April 15) – No stranger to winning big, Brian Irvine took the $1,000 top prize in the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified feature on opening night Friday at Marshalltown Speedway.

Thirty-one Modifieds were on hand for the 25-lap, Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying contest and Joel Rust started on the pole.  Rust hung on tight to that top spot through the first 14 laps before the caution came out and his lead disappeared.

By this time, Irvine had made it into second place and applied pressure when the race re­started. Rust and Irvine raced closely the remaining laps, swapping the lead numerous times, but it was Irvine taking final command and sweeping home to a victory.

Third place went to Tim Ward, 11th starting Kyle Brown was fourth and Tom Berry finished in fifth.

In the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main, it was a shootout to the finish.  Jared VanDeest kept his steady ride at the top of the track and was able to hold off the challengers for the win.  Close behind in second was Randy Roberts, last week’s Frostbuster winner.  Austin Luellen took third, Sam Wieben was right behind in fourth and Clint Luellen was a close fifth.

Eric Stanton took top honors in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock 15-lap event. Stanton started on the pole and led all laps on his way to the win.  Nathan Ballard finished as the runner-up, chasing Stanton the entire race. Tim Barber, Gary Pfantz and 11^th starting Gene Nicklas completed the top five.

The Class too Tough to Tame, the IMCA Stock Cars put on their usual exciting race.  Steve Meyer jumped to the immediate lead from his outside front row starting spot, but had all he could handle in keeping the pack at bay.

Devin Smith challenged the leader in the early laps of the 20-lap feature, while Tyler Pickett chal­lenged on the low side. Meyer fended off the advances however, and took the checkers.  Devin Smith wrangled a second place finish away Pickett in third, Donavon Smith came from 14th start­ing to fourth and 12^th starting Trent Murphy rounded out the top five.