It was Capital Sign Company Night at the Races at the Marshalltown Speedway Friday evening. More than 130 cars filled the pits for a full night of racing. Good weather and the anticipation of the racing action brought out a good crowd to kick of the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Twenty-three drivers were on hand for the IMCA STARS Mod Lites. They ran a 20-lap feature that paid $100 just to start thanks to an anonymous donor.

Joe Glick led from start to finish in the main event, but had to outlast the constant challenges of Joel Huggins through most of the race. They ran side-by-side at times, but Glick never flinched and kept his cool to take the flying checkers. Huggins took the runner-up spot. Michael Raffurty from Kansas City, Mo., took third after starting 13th. Fourth went to last week’s winner, Randy Bryan, and making his first appearance of the year at the track, Charlie Brown started 16th and finished fifth. This was Glick’s first win of the season at the track.

The IMCA Northern SportMods were up next for their 18-lap feature. This race was marred with caution flags, two before the race even began. When the fourth yellow came out, Jenae Gustin had just taken the lead, and though several more cautions interrupted the race, Gustin was able to maintain the top spot, much to the delight of the crowd. This was Gustin’s first win at the track this race season.

Shane Paris of Muscatine made his first trip to Marshalltown this year after his usual Friday night track was rained out. He started 10th and took second place. Tony Olson was third, Sam Wieben came from 15th to finish fourth, and Matthew Mayo of Bakersfield, Calif., was fifth.

John Watson took home his third victory at the High Banks this year when he won the 20-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Bradly Graham, last week’s winner, was looking to repeat, though Watson had caught him and was following in his tire tracks lap after lap. With just a handful of laps remaining, Graham slipped off the top of turn two, bringing out a yellow and putting himself out of the running.

Watson had it well in hand for the final five laps and took the checkers. Seth Butler got by Ryan Havel in the closing moments as they went second and third respectively. Tipton’s Daniel Wauters was also a first-timer at the track. He started 16th and finished fourth. William Klosterman rounded out the top five.

Steve Meyer looked strong all race long in the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature. Meyer had the lead on lap three, took to the top of the track and was pulling away. A caution stopped the racing action on lap 14, erasing his comfortable lead.

Meyer held off the challenges of two hard-charging #1’s in the final circuits. Austin Kaplan squeaked by Kaden Reynolds in the closing moments as they took second and third in that order. Dave Atcher finished fourth, and veteran Jeff Wollam finished fifth. This was Meyer’s first trip to Victory Lane this year.

Jimmy Gustin has been getting closer and closer to an IMCA Modified win this year, and Friday night it was looking to becoming a reality. Gustin started ninth and was leading by lap three. He broke loose from the pack, but brought Dallon Murty along to run in second. The two ran the rim of the track, Murty giving it a look for a way around and also attempting a failed slider at one point.

As the laps wound down, lap traffic became a factor, and it was lap 15 that was Gustin’s undoing. Two slow lap cars were right in front of Gustin as he exited corner four, and Murty opted for the low road. Gustin got caught behind the slow cars as Murty took the lead, and just after the lap was scored, another caution came out. On the restart, Murty kept command, and held it to the flying checkers — his third this year. Drew Janssen of Pella also managed to get around Gustin in the final moments as they finished second and third respectively. Maguire DeJong of Montezuma finished fourth after starting 18th, and Zach Rawlins was fifth.

Kolby Sabin had the IMCA Sport Compact 15-lap event well in hand from lap two on. He pulled away from the rest of the field and had a good half-lap on his nearest competitors as the checkers flew. It was a close one at the finish line, but John Gill took second, just beating out Tyler Fiebelkorn in third. Chad Larson and Mark Smith were fourth and fifth. This was Sabin’s second win at the track this season.

The next race at the Marshalltown Speedway will be Thursday, July 7, for the postponed Dale DeFrance Memorial. The headliner will be the SLMR Super Late Model Dirt Series. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., hot laps begin at 6:55 p.m., and the green flag drops at 7:30 p.m.