Nothdurft Opens SLMR East Tour with Maquoketa Triumph

The Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing Series’ East division kicked off their 2026 tour Saturday with their annual trip to Maquoketa Speedway.

After a few weather delays earlier in the year, the East Series brought in the 2026 season with a visit to the high-banked, quarter-mile at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Maquoketa, Iowa. A tough field of 27 cars made from Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin packed the pit area for the sixth ever visit to the speedway. The race was the kickoff to a big 3-race stretch over the Memorial Day Weekend.

Keyser Manufacturing qualifying saw Ainsworth, Iowa’s Derrick Stewart lay down the fastest time of the night. He clocked in at 13.802 seconds to lead the second group of qualifiers. The first group was headed by Jason Hahne with his 13.901 second lap. The third and final group was led by 2023 East Series Champion Chad Holladay after he laid down a 13.924 second lap.

The three heat races on the night were won by Tim Ward, Jake Neal and Jesse Glenz. The points were tallied afterwards, and Derrick Stewart was the top earner giving him the first chance at the $2,200 Skyline Materials Lucky 6th Place Starter bonus. Stewart accepted the challenge and would start sixth in the feature.

After the Predator Custom Trailers B Feature was dominated and won by Tad Pospisil, he along with Justin Kay, Jesse Sobbing and Curt Schroeder all transferred to the main event. Fred Remley, Darrel DeFrance and Jeff Tharp were the night’s three provisional starters.

A field of 23 cars took center stage for Saturday’s 30-lap Malvern Bank main event. Jake Neal started on the pole, but it was ultimately Dallon Murty who took early command of the lead. The 2025 East Series Rookie of the Year took the hole shot coming off of turn two and proceeded to lead the first half of the race.

As Murty led, Neal, Tim Ward, Jesse Glenz, Nick Marolf, and Blair Nothdurft waged war for the second spot. It was a highly contested battle with multiple slide jobs and overtakes being made on both ends of the bullring.

The first of 2 cautions on the night came out when Darrel DeFrance spun out in turn four nearly collecting the leader. After racing resumed, Murty ran the low side the best he could while Ward and Glenz battled for second and were later accompanied by Nothdurft.

Nothdurft eventually made his way to second shortly before Murty caught the back of the field creating a tight battle for the race lead. With 12 laps to go, Nothdurft got the opening on the bottom lane he needed and made the go-ahead move for the top spot. The Renner, South Dakota native came around to officially lead the lap, which was just in time because shortly after the lead was made official, Dave Eckrich shredded and lost his left-rear tire and wheel bringing out the final caution of the race.

This set up an 11-lap dash. Murty had his hands filled with Ward and Glenz as they duked it out for second. This gave Nothdurft the opportunity to pull away to a commanding lead.

Nothdurft would run out the laps and secure his second career SLMR series win after he won at Deer Creek Speedway on Labor Day Weekend last year. It was Nothdurft’s first official East Series victory, and he became the sixth different winner in six races for the East Series at Maquoketa Speedway.

Jesse Glenz scored his career-best finish with SLMR with his second-place run. Tim Ward also recorded his career-best finish by taking third. Dallon Murty would be fourth while Jason Hahne rounded out the top five.

The Hoosier Tire Hard Charger award ultimately went to Jeff Tharp. After taking a provisional, the Sherrill, Iowa driver charged from dead last 23rd to finish in 10th.

The Memorial Day Weekend swing continues for the East Series on Sunday with a trip to the Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway in Dubuque, Iowa before wrapping up with the series’ debut at the Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway in Bloomfield, Iowa.

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