By Joyce Eisele
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Aug. 19, 2022) – There was a threat of rain and ominous clouds all around but Marshalltown Speedway avoided the shenanigans and racing went on as usual on Friday night.
Karl Kustoms Night at the Races saw Tim Ward win for the first time this year in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Steve Meyer made it win number two on the year when he saw the checkers first in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Kaylin Lopez finally put it in victory lane when he won the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature. Bradly Graham chalked up his second win of the season in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Randy Bryan won his fifth feature in the IMCA STARS Mod Lites.
The feature racing kicked off with 15 laps of Mod Lite racing and when all was said and done, it was Bryan getting the win. Bryan started fifth and snatched the lead away from Cory Sonner on lap two, never to look back. Sonner finished as the runner-up.
Graham was dominant in getting his second Hobby Stock win of the year as he led all 20 laps on the way to the flying checkers. It was a dogfight behind him for position however, with cars going four-wide at times. Eric Knutson, who started ninth, won that battle as he took the runner-up spot.
Lopez took the lead as the race went green in the 20-lapper for the Northern SportMods. By lap seven, he was holding off Jenae Gustin until she then took command at the halfway mark.
Gustin was enjoying her run at the front of the field when a yellow flew at lap 16. Just before the restart, Gustin was suddenly off power on the backstretch and had to be pushed into the pits, ending her night on a disappointing note.
This then handed the lead back to Lopez for the final four-lap dash to the finish. He was able to hold that top spot the rest of the way, and score his long awaited first win at the speedway. Kyle Olson finished in second place after starting 10th.
The Stock Cars put on another exciting race in their 20-lap feature. Kaden Reynolds was looking strong in the early portion of the race as he led the field. He soon had Damon Murty and Steve Meyer following him up top as they circled the High Banks.
Meyer got around Murty on lap 11 and took command on lap 13. He weathered three yellow flag restarts after that and then took his ride to victory lane. Austin Kaplan started seventh and took second.
Regan Tafoya, visiting from Farmington, N.M., led the opening laps of the 20 lap feature for Modifieds. On lap three it was Ronn Lauritzen in charge. He had big time company behind him however as Joel Rust and Ward were hot on his tail.
Lauritzen hung on until lap 14 when it was Ward taking over as captain of ship. From then on, it was all Ward as he hung on to take the checkers. Lauritzen held on to second place and Rust was third.
Friday night, Aug. 26 is North 3rd Avenue Dairy Queen/Larry Wollam Season Championship. Hot laps are 6:55 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.