Dubuque checkers fly for Callahan

By Rob Hinckley  DUBUQUE, Iowa (July 21) – Dozens swarmed to Hoker Trucking/C&W Trucking/Kam Koncepts Victory Circle. Tears flowed. There was emotion in the winner’s voice.  Jeremiah Hurst has won many, but the season championship at his hometown Dubuque Speed­way is always special.  Hurst started eighth but made his run to the front quick, taking the point for good on lap five and won the Eichman’s Bar & Grill IMCA Late Model 25-lapper Sunday evening at Dubuque Speed­way. “It’s always special to win here,” Hurst said. “We’ll just keep winning.  The finale had to go to overdrive/overtime as runner-up Joel Callahan slammed the turn two wall and finally stopped on turn four as the white flag was ready to fly.  Hurst beat Jeff Tharp, Eric Pollard, Nebraska’s Cory Dumpert and Donnie Pataska on the green, white, checkered finish. “That (car) thing was digging holes off the turns,” Hurst said. “I knew I had to get to the bottom when I saw (Pollard) on the bottom. My car owner (Ken Roberts) and I had the same [Read More]

By Rob Hinckley  DUBUQUE, Iowa (Aug. 4) – He hit the gas early and never looked back. Matt Gansen raced to the front from his fifth starting position and won his second race in the last three tries at Dubuque Speedway Sunday evening. The Merfeld Brothers Automotive IMCA Modified ace took the non-stop 20-lap affair over early leader Timmy Current, Bryce Garnhart, Jed Freiburger and Jeff Larson.  Jason Roth finally got the monkey off his back in the Peosta Warehousing Logistics IMCA Northern SportMod 15-lap finale. After leading the previous three, he kept it on top this night for the win. Fellow Wisconsin driver Travis Fecht, Jake Murphy, Justin Becker and Mitch Current followed. Becker started the race in the rear.  Cole Mather topped the K Motorsports IMCA Stock Car 10-lap feature one more time. Freiburger, in Justin Brimeyer’s machine, Reece Norton and Kenny Taylor were next. Daniel Wauters made a late slide job on Shane Oberbreckling work and hung on to win the Kinsella Concrete IMCA Hobby Stock 10-lap main. Brian Brunscheen, Brandon White [Read More]

By Rob Hinckley DUBUQUE, Iowa (May 12) – He tried high and low. The latter worked in the end for Jeremiah Hurst. The Dubuque ace slid by early leader Terry Neal af­ter a caution and won the 25-lap Eichman’s Bar and Grill IMCA Late Model season opener Sun­day evening at Dubuque Speedway.  “They (his crew) were down at the turn waving me to stay low and it worked,” the defending na­tional champion said from Hoker Trucking Victory Lane. “The car was great. The track was great. It was a special night.” The track, under new promoter Trackside Promotions, finally got the opener on the fifth try due to bad weather through April and first weekend of May. Andy Nezworski also got by Neal for the runner-up spot. Matt Ryan and Jeff Tharp rounded out the top five. Jeff Larson weaved his way through two and three wide groups to take the 20-lap Merfeld Broth­ers Automotive IMCA Modified feature. Early leader Jaden Fryer, a charging Tyler Madigan, Jed Freiburger and Austin Moyer came next.  Tyler Soppe [Read More]