COLUMBUS, Neb. – Mike Nichols couldn’t recall many of the details of his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win.
He’ll remember everything about his latest.
Nichols won for the 558th time in his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career at Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus, Neb., becoming IMCA’s all-time wins leader with the Sept. 3 checkers. It was the latest accomplishment for the most decorated driver of the sanctioning body’s modern era.
“Everything you do is special in its own way,” said Nichols, now running for his ninth national championship. “Everything is its own accomplishment. When I’m in a nursing home years from now, this is something I’ll be able to talk about.”
From Harlan, Iowa, Nichols has averaged better than 29 wins a season since 2002, with an IMCA record-tying 54 in 2016. He also owns more than 40 career track championships, another IMCA-best total, with at least one track title to his credit every season except one in the past 19 years.”
“To be consistent for such a long time is remarkable, especially in a Stock Car, which I consider to be IMCA’s most competitive division,” he said. “Racing is really a team sport. I think about all the people who have helped me and all the things that have gone right over the years. It’s crazy.”
A brief foray into the IMCA Modified class was rewarded with regional rookie of the year honors in 2000. Nichols’ decision to get back in a Stock Car has led to an unequalled two decades of success.
His first national championship came in 2002. Nichols won the Sunoco Race Fuels Race of Champions two years later and the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in 2017.
Nichols started the 2020 season with 529 wins. He equaled the career mark of Modified legend David Murray Jr., who had reigned as IMCA’s career wins leader since the 2005 season, by topping the Connie Jewett Memorial show at Dawson County Raceway.
Murray, a driver Nichols has long respected, was in attendance that evening and was among those offering post-race congratulations.
“We have worked very hard for this. After getting the win, it was a good time for reflection,” said Nichols, who set the new record two days before is 43rd birthday. “It was almost surreal. We looked back and asked ourselves how the heck did we do this? It’s something that will look amazing on any racing resume.”