Lousy weather leaves time for reflection on Havoc

After a great night of action Friday night at Marshalltown, I hated to see Saturday and Sunday roll in and pretty much put a stop to everything. The Yankee got in, East Moline raced, but otherwise, a lot of race fans were left holding out for skies to clear. As I write this, they certainly have - it is sunny and in the 80s, and I'm headed to Oskaloosa tonight for the rescheduled USMTS Show.

I'm hoping what I see tonight compares with what I saw Friday as I went to Havoc on the Highbanks at Marshalltown and watched the IMCA modifieds go green-to-checkered with Richie Gustin taking the win. The last show I saw before that was Jimmy Gustin winning at Super Nationals, and tonight at Oskaloosa, I have a good chance of seeing Ryan Gustin win a USMTS feature. To say 2010 has been a good year for Gustins might just be an understatement.

Gustin wins - Richie Gustin was the big winner at Marshalltown on Friday night. - BWJ photo

For the lead - Richie Gustin (19G) works under Jon Snyder (69x) to win the Hawkeye Dirt Tour event at Marshalltown. - BWJ photo

Another Gustin winner - Jimmy Gustin was all smile after winning Super Nationals. I will add some more Super Nats stuff as the week goes on. - BWJ photo

Friday night saw 40 modifieds sign in for the Hawkeye Dirt Tour event at Marshalltown. After four heats and two B mains, Scott Simatovich and Ron Pope sat on the front row for the start. Simatovich would end up playing a role in the outcome, along with Jon Snyder and Richie Gustin. The three spent most of the race battling for the lead, with Snyder and Gustin running several laps door-to-door and through traffic before Gustin would win.

Mod lite - Tim Hennigar was the mod lite feature winner. - BWJ photo

Sportmod pass - Cayden Carter (10) passes Scott Davis (81D) to win the IMCA sportmod main event. - BWJ photo

Hobby battle - Scotty Pippert (47) works around Rob Allison (12A) in turn three at Marshalltown Friday night. - BWJ photo

Stock winner - Dustin Smith won the Havoc IMCA stock car feature. - BWJ photo

I really liked the track on Friday. It kept trying to produce a nice, thick cushion, and after rolling it in several times, the track crew let the cushion go and let the cars blast it up the race track - this gave the racers a good, solid, high line to use. The low line would come in as well by the final feature rolled out, and between the top and the bottom, drivers were able to race just about wherever they wanted. I think that helped keep the green flag out, making for an enjoyable race to watch. Cayden Carter, Scotty Pippert, Tim Hennigar and Dustin Smith were the other winners on the night. As I headed for the car that night, I was pumped up and ready to see some more racing, only having to wait until tonight.

My plan was to catch the AMA show at Knoxville Saturday night, but that ended up getting canceled Sunday. I'm hoping they bring it back in 2011. The vintage bikes that ran on Friday night look like they put on a neat show.

I was also disappointed the Deery Brothers finale fell to rain. Granted the points were decided, but, it would have been good for those drivers to run 100-laps for big bucks, but what can you do? Cars don't race through water, and the schedule this time of year is special heavy, so you can't schedule and reschedule on top of other traditional events. I have the satisfaction of seeing the final two Deery features for the year - an impressive win by Josh Most at Donnellson, and Ray Guss' defense of his Super Nationals title at Boone Congratulations do go to TJ Criss for his win in the Iron Man race at 34 Raceway. Criss has stayed in the Deery mix all season, and it was good to see him make it to victory lane.

As we go through the week, I will be catching up on random thoughts ,photos and other pieces of business from the last couple of weeks. Keep those calendars full - fall starts this week, and winter is way too close!