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July 26
Marshalltown Speedway,
Marshalltown, IA
Sanction: Malvern Bank East Series (Dale DeFrance Memorial) - $4,544
Information provided by: Mike Ruefer, series and track reports (last updated July 27, 12:17 pm)
Last-lap pass lifts Kay to win DeFrance Memorial
Dale DeFrance Memorial
- Justin Kay
- Dave Eckrich
- Andy Eckrich
- J.C. Wyman
- Chad Holladay
- Tad Pospisil
- Luke Goedert
- Jeff Tharp
- Jason Hahne
- Joseph Joiner
- Bill Leighton Jr.
- Matt Ryan
- Curt Schroeder
- Brian Kosiski
- Andrew Kosiski
- Chris Spieker
- Charlie McKenna
- Logan Duffy
- Dylan Thornton
- Darrel DeFrance
- Kyle Berck
- Curtis Glover
- Jake Bridge
- Dylan Sillman
- Jesse Enterkin
Justin Kay takes the checkers at Marshalltown Speedway.
What won the race: Using a last-lap pass to clear race-long leader Dave Eckrich as they came to take the checkers, third-starting Justin Kay of Wheatland, Iowa, led the final lap to win Friday's seventh annual Dale DeFrance Memorial at Marshalltown Speedway. Kay captured the $4,544 victory, his second Malvern Bank East Series triumph of the season and the 11th of his career, further extending his lead on the tour's all-time wins list.
Quotable: "I don't think I was as good as Dave (Eckrich), he just kinda got caught up in lapped cars and got a little slower," Kay said. "No leaderboard, I had no idea where we were, I was just guessing that we were getting close. I just started ringin' the top and hope for the best."
Key notes: Kay becomes the tour's first two-time winner at Marshalltown after topping last year's $4,644 DeFrance Memorial. Kay, the two-time East champ, was also credited with his fourth career Malvern West Series victory in the co-sanctioned event that honored Dale DeFrance, a longtime Midwest racer who died on May 22, 2017, at the age of 81. ... Dave Eckrich led the opening 43 laps from the outside front row before giving way to Kay on the final lap. Kay appeared to clear Eckrich at turn-two exit, only for Eckrich to storm back and nose ahead entering turn three before Kay powered around the outside and beat him to the checkers. ... Andy Eckrich, brother of Dave, improved 12 positions and finished third. ... West Series points leader Chad Holladay rounded out the top five. ... Joseph Joiner made his series debut and finished 10th aboard the Jay Burdic-owned No. 99 machine normally driven by Jesse Sobbing, who's season recently ended after back surgery. ... Brian Kosiski trailed Dave Eckrich for the first six laps before sliding off the track in turn two and finishing 14th. ... Curtis Glover spun to draw the race's lone stoppage on lap eight. ... The night's time trial session was cancelled following an issue with the transponder loop, heats were lined up by pill draw; the track's scoreboard also remained inoperable all evening.
On the move: Andy Eckrich of Oxford, Iowa, started 15th and finished third; Tad Pospisil of Norfolk, Neb., started 18th and finished sixth.
Winner's sponsors: Kay’s MB Customs Race Car carries sponsorship from A&E Freight Service, Hoker Trucking, Wyffels Hybrids, Petersen Insurance, Kay Farms Elevator Trucking, Wetrs Machine & Racing Products, Wheatland Auto Body, Wyffels Hybrids, Hyperco, Dynamic Drivelines, Performance Bodies and Capital Race Decals.
Points chase: East Series after Marshalltown: 1. Andy Eckrich (1,916); 2. Dylan Thornton (1,858); 3. Chad Holladay (1,856); 4. Jason Hahne (1,850); 5. Jeff Tharp (1,810).
West Series after Marshalltown: 1. Chad Holladay (1,322); 2. J.C. Wyman (1,310); 3. Bill Leighton Jr. (1,304); 4. Tad Pospisil (1,272); 5. Andrew Kosiski (1,234).
Current weather: Clear, 79°F
Car count: 28
Polesitter: Jeff Tharp
Heat race winners: Justin Kay, Charlie McKenna, Jeff Tharp, Matt Ryan
Consolation race winners: Kyle Berck
Provisional starters: Dylan Thornton, Andrew Kosiski, Curtis Glover, Jake Bridge, Jesse Enterkin
Next series race: July 27, Adams County Speedway (Corning, IA) $4,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.