By Joyce Eisele
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Sept. 15, 2023) – Marshalltown Speedway held its 17th annual World Nationals on Friday night.
Taking top honors in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds was Tim Ward. Dallon Murty took the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win and Brayton Carter went to victory lane in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. Benji Irvine was tops in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Christian Grady took the checkers in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts.
Things got kicked off with 30 laps of Stock Car racing. The early leader was Damon Murty with son Dallon on his tail.
Dallon took command on lap ten with the elder Murty suddenly off power and out of the running on lap fourteen. Dallon Murty held his lead the remainder of the race, with Tom Berry Jr. looking for any way around him, but it was not to be as Murty held his ground expertly and sailed home to the win.
Berry made a last-ditch slide attempt but had to settle for the runner-up spot. Another slider was pulled off in the closing moments with Kaden Reynolds, who started 23rd on the field, getting around Austin Kaplan as they finished third and fourth, respectively. Gage Neal finished fifth.
The win paid $1,000. Murty was already B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, having won that race at the recent IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
The Northern SportMods ran a 25-lap main event. Logan Anderson took advantage of his outside front row starting spot and shot to the lead immediately.
It wasn’t long, however, until Carter, who had started fourth, was hot on his tail.
The two southern Iowa drivers then jockeyed for position with Anderson holding the upper hand until Carter was able to take command at lap 18. Carter then kept hold to the lead the rest of the way to the flying checkers and the win.
A restart for a late caution was not kind to Anderson as he slipped back with two cars getting around him. Ben Chapman took the runner-up honors, Cam Reimers was third and Anderson was fourth. Jenae Gustin rounded out the top five.
The Modified feature ran 30 laps and paid $1,000.
This one was all Tim Ward, as he picked up where he left off from his Super Nationals championship, which had already earned his Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. He led the entire race, with Berry chasing him the distance.
He was never seriously threatened and took the win, with Berry going second. Third went to Todd Shute, Dylan Thornton was fourth and Joel Rust came from 16th starting to take fifth.
Sport Compacts ran a 15-lap main event that was led from start to finish in the flag to flag race by Grady. He kept his ride at the top of the track to take the checkers followed by Blake Driscol in second. Mark Smith, Bryan Vannaussdle and Spencer Roggentien completed the top five.
The top line took Cristian Grady to Mach-1 Sport Compact victory lane on Friday, opening night of World Nationals at Marshalltown Speedway. (Photo by Jordan Hanisch)
The nightcap was 20 laps of Hobby Stock racing.
David McCalla led the first 10 laps but Irvine took over as lap 11 was scored. He was never threatened the rest of the way home and snagged the win.
Joren Fisher finished in second. Calvin Dhondt drove from tenth starting to third. Fourth went to David McCalla and Corey VanderWilt was fifth.
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