March 19, 2025

Pepper prevails in Salina Stocks

By Dusty Wiegert

SALINA, Kan. (June 3) – After a three week lull in the action at Salina Speedway due to unfavorable weather the 3/8-mile oval came back to life on June 3.

Michael Pepper rallied late to pick up his second feature win in the Coors Light IMCA Stock Car division in as many visits. A late caution allowed Pepper to catch up and work past Tanner Portenier for the win. Tanner Thiel picked off the runner-up spot with Portenier third and Scott Miller fourth.

Coming from the furthest back of all the divisions to win was Daniel Gottschalk in the M & H Motors IMCA Northern SportMods. Gottschalk came from 11th to slip past Dakota Sproul for another triumph. Sproul finished second, Tyler Watts third, and Brian Davidson fourth.

Eighth starting Mike Traskowsky held off Tommy Fose to win the feature for the Budweiser IMCA Hobby Stock division. Shay Simoneau came in third with Tony Slothower fourth.

Tyler Frye continues to impress in his rookie season and picked up another feature win in the Long McArthur IMCA Modified division. Coming from the eighth place position on the grid he worked past Larry Sutton and distanced the rest of the field to capture the victory.

Sutton finished second, with Brian Knoell and Corey Lagroon both coming from the back after early incidents to finish third and fourth, respectively.

Mike Vandermark Jr.: From Snowy Michigan to Clash On The Coast Champion

CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. (Mar. 14, 2025) — A Wolverine who took his mittens off at this year’s IMCA TV Clash On The Coast was Mike Vandermark Jr., who never finished outside the Top 5 and earned the overall championship title in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car series. His worst finish was fourth on the final night at Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Alabama, to become the second champion in the class in two seasons. Racing Against the Odds Vandermark stands out for more than his performance. Like Florida’s Wyatt Parker and Evan Foust of Maryland, during this year’s Clash, he comes from a state without a track that hosts IMCA Stock Car races weekly. Despite the long journey and limited experience in the division, he finished second in a three-wide photo finish on the first night and claimed victory at Northwest Florida Speedway. Seizing the Opportunity “There’s a bunch of snow and cold weather back at home, so it was a perfect opportunity to go down and race and have some fun,” Vandermark said. “We stayed [Read More]

Feature

South Texas IMCA Modified Series Ready for Sophomore Season

SAN ANTONIO (Mar. 14, 2025) — Race fans, get ready — the South Texas IMCA Modified Series is back for an action-packed second season in 2025! Ten races at five Lone Star State tracks are scheduled, starting March 28 at Heart O’ Texas Speedway near Waco, followed by I-37 Speedway in Pleasanton on March 29. Chris Morris is the defending champion. “Texas has a strong group of (Friesen Performance) IMCA Modified drivers,” said series director Kevin Rogers. “I look forward to showcasing their talent in the upcoming season at these awesome facilities we will travel to.” Each race will pay at least $1,000 to win and $100 to start, with increased payouts for higher car counts. If 25 to 39 cars enter, the purse rises to $1,500 to win and $125 to start. For over 40 entries, the winner gets $2,000, and starting pays $150. Drivers will compete not just for cash, but will also earn points for the National, South Central Region, and Texas State championships. A $10,000 point fund is available for drivers finishing [Read More]

Feature

Chris Tuchscherer: From the Octagon to the Race Track

BURLINGTON, N.D. (Mar. 12, 2025) — North Dakota’s Chris Tuchscherer knows how to race hard, achieve success, and persevere. His competitive drive stems from a background in wrestling, which began in his high school hometown of Bowman. Excelling at both the high school and collegiate levels, he wrestled at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo and Moorhead State before stepping into the Octagon as a competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Racing Roots and Return to the Track Tuchscherer’s passion for racing began with derby cars before transitioning to Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Despite the long commute from Fargo, on the Minnesota side of the Peace Garden State, he claimed the IMCA Stock Car title at Williston-Basin Speedway in 2005 — a track located in the northwest corner of North Dakota near the Montana border. However, as his MMA career gained momentum, racing took a backseat. His competitive fire never faded, though. Four years ago, he made his return to Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly competition, stepping into the highly competitive Friesen Performance IMCA Modified [Read More]

Pepper prevails in Salina Stocks

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