Shryock takes crown in King of the Highbanks at Marshalltown

By Joyce Eisele

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (April 12, 2024) – Kelly Shryock already has 5,000 reasons to celebrate the start of his 40^th racing season.

The veteran from Fertile topped Friday’s King of the Highbanks main event for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars at Marshalltown Speedway, taking the $5,000 checkers ahead of defending race winner Jeffrey Abbey.

Now guaranteed a starting spot in the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational, Shryock started from the pole and took the lead as the race went green, with Dallon Murty in second and Boyd, Texas charger Abbey third.

Those three ran closely in the opening portion of the race, with Murty seeking high and low for a way around Shryock and Abbey just waiting for a bobble from either.

At halfway, it was still the same running order for the top three but seventh place starter Cole Czarneski had joined them and was giving chase. A yellow flew on lap 30 and again on lap 37; when the race restarted after the final caution, Abbey was able to sneak by Murty to take over second place as Shryock stretched out his lead.

It was no contest for Shryock from then on, as he went home to the flying checkers and took the crown for the King of the High Banks.  Abbey took home second place, and Murty kept hold of third. Elijah Zevenbergen finished in fourth and it was Damon Murty coming from 12th starting to complete the top five.

Shryock was happy to finally find his way to the winner’s circle at Marshalltown Speedway, a feat that has eluded him. He’d won the inaugural B & B All-Star Invitational in 2021.

One hundred and seventy-one cars checked in for Friday night action at the high banks.

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds were running for a $1,500 payday and the 30-lap feature was a no contest for the previous night’s winner Tom Berry Jr., who never looked back on his run to the flying checkers.

Joel Rust took home the runner-up spot and third went to Todd Shute. Berry is now perfect at the Speedway having won the previous night as well as last week’s Frostbuster.

Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods ran a 25-lap feature for $1,000 to win.  Brayton Carter took the lead as the race started, with the previous night’s winner Cam Reimers tucking into second.

Just past the halfway mark, Dylan VanWyk arrived on the scene and pressured Reimers for second.  It paid off at lap 17 when VanWyk got by Reimers.  It was an exciting next few laps as the two Oskaloosa racers went at it. 

VanWyk made a slide attempt out of turn four that failed but then was able to nose under Carter on the backstretch with just two laps left in the race. He would hold off Carter to get to the checkers first.  Third went to another southern Iowa racer, Logan Anderson.

This was redemption for VanWyk after losing power while leading the night before.

IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks also raced for $1,000 to win in their 25-lap main event. It was looking like “The Mayor” John Watson out of the capital city of Des Moines,was going to see victory lane as he led from the start and was looking strong.

But hold on!  Cody Williams of Minneapolis, Kan., thought otherwise. Williams ran down Watson and took command with 10 laps to go.

It was William’s race from there on as he went on to the win.  Watson had to be satisfied with second place on this night.  Third went to newcomer on the night Eric Stanton, Carlisle, Iowa, who was the show of the race coming from 20th starting.

Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites went 20 laps for their main event.  Kansas City’s Dillon Raffurty would see victory lane in this one.  He led from lap five and never gave it up as he raced home to the checkers flying. 

Thursday winner Jaedon McDowell raced from 11th starting to take second. Early leader Riley Clem was third. 

The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts were the final feature of the night.  They ran 15 laps and it was Devin Jones taking home the win. Tyler Thompson finished as the runner-up and third was Jeremy Williams.

Friday night, April 26 will mark the 60th year for the Marshalltown Speedway when they have their regular IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly series Racing opener. All six IMCA divisions will be in competition. Hot laps are 6:45 p.m. and racing is at 7:30 p.m.