By Joyce Eisele
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (April 23) – Marshalltown Speedway held its first 2021 track points racing on Friday, presented by Iowa Air Barrier, and Sleeping Angels Fundraiser Night. It was also Driver Appreciation Night where last year’s track champions were recognized on the front stretch before racing action began.
Those track champions were Tom Berry in the IMCA Modifieds, who went on to also be IMCA national champion of the division. IMCA Sunoco Stock Car track champion was Dallon Murty, the Karl Kustoms Northern Northern SportMod track title went to Johnathon Logue and the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock champion was Solomon Bennett.
Joel Huggins picked up where he left off last week, taking home the win in the IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature. Huggins led the entire 15 laps on his way to victory. Randy Bryan chased Huggins across the finish line to take the runner-up spot. A close third went to Josh May, Bryan Zehm was fourth and Mike Kennedy took fifth.
In the 20-lap Northern SportMod feature, Austin Schrage came from fourth into the lead by the time lap one was counted and appeared to be well on his way to a feature win as the race wore on. Schrage led much of the race until a late yellow proved to be his undoing.
Kyle Olson was waiting in the wings on the restart and with two laps to go, made his move into the lead. He led those final circuits of the High Banks, and take the checkers ahead of Schrage, who had to settle for second place on this night. Kaylin Lopez, the Chowchilla, Calif., racer came from 12th starting to take third place. Jason Bass finished fourth, and 14-year-old Izac Mallicoat took fifth
Kaden Reynolds took the checkers in the 20-lap Hobby Stock main event. He nabbed the lead away from early leader Tom Killen Jr. on lap eight and from there on never looked back, pulling away from the competition to score the comfortable win.
It was a dog fight behind him, however, as Nathan Ballard, Bennett, Luke Ramsey and Braden Richards all jousted for second through fifth position. Reynolds had a four second lead vanish when a yellow flew with five laps to go. However, it was no issue for him as he took the win easily. Bennett was second, Richards finished third, Ramsey was fourth and Killen rounded out the top five.
Chanse Hollatz made the trip from Clear Lake and went home $1,000 richer by seizing the win in the Stock Car main event. He ran down early race leader Scott Rice at lap eight and held off the competition the rest of the 12 laps to take home the trophy and the money. Murty started 15th and finished second. Jeff Mueller was third, fourth went to Steve Meyer and 12th place starter Dusty Vis completed the top five.
Berry started second and immediately took the lead in the Modified main. However, pole sitter Joel Rust was having none of that, pulled a perfect slide job and was scored the leader on lap two.
Only one yellow, at lap 19 of the 25-lap event would halt the action, but it proved to be no hinderance to Rust as he sailed home the remaining distance and took the flying checkers. Veteran Kelly Shryock took second, 10th place starter Cayden Carter was third, Berry finished fourth and Tim Ward was fifth.