BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 7) – A driver with an IMCA Modified resume already filled with big wins raced to his biggest Friday night at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
Hunter Marriott topped the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, leading the last six laps en route to a $1,150 payday. He’d reeled in race-long leader Joel Rust, who saw an otherwise stellar run end with late contact with a lapped car.
“We’ve had a lot of big wins but this is the biggest one,” Marriott said from victory lane at Boone Speedway. “It was a slick track and that fits my driving style.”
Richie Gustin, Kelly Shryock, Ethan Dotson and Chris Abelson completed the top five. Cayden Carter started last in the field of 30 and finished seventh.
Rust set a blazing pace from the onset, leading Dotson by half a straightaway before the first caution of the contest came out on the seventh of 30 laps. Marriott moved into second on the ensuing restart and the front pair pulled away from the rest of the pack.
It was a two-car battle by midway and just two car lengths separated Rust and Marriott as they ran into lapped traffic with nine circuits to go.
That traffic would finally play a role in the outcome as Marriott was negotiated his way closer to Rust’s back bumper.
“I was just figuring the car out and I could pick and choose where I ran” he said. “Once I took the lead I felt comfortable.”
Marriott was already on the 2019 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. His previous best All-Star finish had been eighth, in both the 2015 and 2016 events.
Feature results – 1. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo.; 2. Richie Gustin, Gilman; 3. Kelly Shryock, Fertile; 4. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.; 5. Chris Abelson, Sioux City; 6. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz.; 7. Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa; 8. Kody Scholpp, Estevan, Sask.; 9. Troy Foulger, Oakley, Calif.; 10. A.J. Ward, Ionia, Mich.; 11. Tyler Frye, Belleville, Kan.; 12. Steven Bowers Jr., Topeka, Kan.; 13. Kevin Sustaire, Emory, Texas; 14. Scott Hogan, Vinton; 15. Joel Rust, Grundy Center; 16. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz.; 17. Chris Elliott, Abilene, Texas; 18. Austin Wonch, Crystal, Mich.; 19. Zachary Madrid, Phoenix, Ariz.; 20. Will Ward, Cobleskill, N.Y.; 21. Jason Wolla, Ray, N.D.; 22. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn.; 23. Clint Luellen, Minburn; 24. Kyle Brown, Madrid; 25. Cory Sample, Winnemucca, Nev.; 26. William Gould, Calera, Okla.; 27. Shane Hiatt, Rising City, Neb.; 28. Jay Noteboom, Hinton; 29. Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif.; 30. Kyle Strickler, Troutman, N.C.