Marshalltown Speedway

6 days ago

G Money takes 10Gs with World Nationals win

September 15, 2018

The Marshalltown Speedway held Night #2 of the World Nationals Saturday night. The headliner of the evening was the $10,000 to win IMCA Modified feature with also a full program of IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, and IMCA Hobby Stocks.

The first feature to hit the track was the 20-lap A main for the IMCA Northern SportMods. Jared VanDeest led all laps in the caution free race to snare a World Nationals title. VanDeest took the checkers well ahead of runner up Ethan Braaksma. It was a close finish for third through fifth place with Jake McBirnie winning the battle and taking third. McBirnie, who started ninth, held off fourth place Johnathon Logue, and a close fifth went to Clintonville, Wisconsin driver, Jason Ebert. VanDeest is no stranger to the winner's circle at Marshalltown, making this his fifth visit to victory lane in 2018 at the High Banks.

Dylan Nelson captured a World Nationals win in the IMCA Hobby Stock main event. Nelson started third on the 24-car grid, and took command at lap five, never to look back on his way to the win. Eric Knutson had an impressive run, coming from sixteenth starting spot to take the runner up position. Third place went to the previous night's winner, Chanse Hollatz, fourth was Andrew Burg, and Aaron Rudolph completed the top five. Nelson took his third win at Marshalltown in 2018.

Damon Murty, who has claimed the topside of the High Banks at Marshalltown as his own this season, was in top form Saturday night in winning the IMCA Stock Car feature. Murty started fourth on the 24-car line up for the 20-lap main event, swung to his favored topside of the track, and had the lead at lap six. Murty road the rim of the speedway to another victory, winning on cruise control. Following a distant second, was the Murty team car, piloted by Kyle Brown. Kyle Pfeifer, Hill City, Kansas finished third, fourth went to Friday night's winner, Jeff Mueller, and pole sitter, Travis VanStraten, Hortonville, Wisconsin, rounded out the top five. Murty stepped into victory lane at Marshalltown for the eighth time in 2018.

The grand finale was the 50-lap IMCA Modified feature, with a prize of $10,000 awaiting the winner. Ten drivers had locked themselves into the main event through points earned during Friday's qualifying. The starting 24-car field was completed through C qualifiers, and a Final Four last chance race.

The impressive starting field of cars was brought to the frontstretch and out of car introductions were made to the large crowd on hand.

Richie Gustin, the driver out of Gilman, Iowa who has the nickname of "G Money", for winning big money shows, earned the pole starting position for the race. When the green flag flew, he shot to the lead. Gustin was still leading when a caution at lap six waved. By this time, Jordan Grabouski, the hot shoe from Beatrice, Nebraska was running in second place and eager for the restart. However, Gustin shot off to the lead once again. Grabouski challenged Gustin once, sliding around him, only to have Gustin counter back and regain the lead. A final caution flew with just two laps remaining, giving the contenders another opportunity to overtake Gustin in the final moments, but he was never seriously threatened, and swept home to take the win comfortably ahead of the field. Grabouski held on to take the runner up spot, Cayden Carter took third place, Tim Ward was fourth, and Benji LaCrosse, a former World Nationals winner, finished fifth.

The racing season at the Marshalltown Speedway has now come to a close for the 2018 season, but looks forward to more racing action in 2019. ... See MoreSee Less