MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — It was 1989 the last time the quarter mile at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds raced sprint cars.
That night the main event ended early when a driver tangling with the turn four fence. Repairs took a long time to complete and the race was called.
The driver who was leading at the time of the damage was named the winner. Now an Iowa legend, Terry McCarl has stated he will be defending his winning night in 1989 when the sprint cars return to Marshalltown Speedway on August 11.
Promoter Toby Kruse has been connected to Marshalltown Speedway since 1991, starting with 15 years of announcing and flagging until the promoter, Robert Lawton, decided to focus on his Boone Speedway, co-owned with Kathy Root.
Kruse became promoter in 2006 and Jerry Vansickel has been the general manager since 2022.
The return of sprints to Marshalltown became a plan when three men were enjoying chatting while sitting alongside a lake. Kruse, Tony Moro and Lee Nelson came to the decision to bring sprint cars back to Marshalltown. They will follow Knoxville rules.
Marshalltown has a reputation of being very efficient running a show (Efficiency Is The Winner) and having a quality track. Turns three and four have a reputation of multiple cars side by side due to the banking and width.
Turn four can be five-wide competition while turns one and two are more conventional three-wide turns. One and two are not quite as wide plus are in the sun all afternoon.
Responsible for Marshalltown’s efficiency is Vansickel. Back in 2006, Vansickel became a track official, announcer, and flagman when Kruse became the promoter. Kruse is still on hands about half the time and Vansickel handles the very critical track prep.
His prep work starts on Friday night after the races are complete to work over what one could expect after more than 100 cars have raced. Tuesday and Wednesday are days to water and use the sheep’s foot. Thursday is grade and at night water heavy.
Of course, this plan is based on the weather being nice and often it doesn’t go that way. A recent Thursday followed multiple inches of rain meant at 2 a.m. Friday he was working on the track. Vansickel did all that work only to get rained out with more rain on Friday.
Vansickel noted, “The average race crowd is age 50. There are so many things to do in the summer that were not there before, such as travel sports that the youngsters play. We are lucky to have sponsors.”
The general manager described his tasks as basically being responsible for everything.
Just hope it doesn’t rain.
