DeFrance takes challenge, doubles his money at Marshalltown

Darrel DeFrance doubled his IMCA Late Model payday on season championship night at Mar­shalltown Speedway. (Photo by Bruce Badgley, Motorsports Photography)

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Aug. 25) – It was season championship night at Marshalltown Speed­way on Friday and the nightcap was 20 laps of IMCA Late Model racing.

Front row starters Todd Cooney and Darrel DeFrance both chose to go to the back of the field for a try at doubling their payoff for the night. Paul Nagle was then moved to the pole. He shot to the lead and continued his run at the front until he slowing on lap 12 and exiting to the pits.

DeFrance then flew around Joe Zrostlik on lap 13 to become the new man in charge. DeFrance kept his competition at bay and went home to the flying checkers, the win, and double his pay­day.  Track champion Cooney was third.

Tim Ward ran all 25 laps of the IMCA Modified feature at the front of the field to score his third win at Marshalltown this year. Track champion Jake Strayer took the challenge to start at the tail to earn double his money to win but settled for fourth.

Todd Reitzer took the lead immediately in the 20-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event. But gave way to Damon Murty following a lap nine restart.

Murty looked destined to take yet another win at the high banks but his car let out a big puff of smoke and he exited on lap 17. Reitzler inherited the lead and kept it the final three laps to the checkers. Third was track champion Donavon Smith.

Track champion Shannon Anderson led the entire 20 laps of the caution-free IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature.

The Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods went 20 laps for their season championship fea­ture.  Jared VanDeest led the first five laps until a lapped car eliminated his lead and Sam Wieben grabbed the advantage.

Wieben never relinquished the top spot the rest of the way to the win. The race went green to check­ers. The track championship title went to Travis Peterson.

Point standings for all IMCA divisions become official on Oct. 23.