Hibdon’s North Dakota IMCA Modified success continues at Gumke Memorial

Feature

Kollin Hibdon raced to his second IMCA Modified special event win in North Dakota in as many weekends, topping the Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial at Jamestown Speedway Saturday evening. (Photo by Cody Papke)

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (June 12) – Another IMCA Modified feature win at another North Dakota track put another $2,222 in Kollin Hibdon’s racing account Saturday night. 

Hibdon led all 25 laps of Jamestown Speedway’s second annual Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial, leading the way through lapped traffic the first 21 circuits and then outrunning teammate Casey Arneson after a caution with four laps left.

“I’ve had the chance to get into the Arneson program and come to some nice, slick tracks that I’ve never been to before,” said the 17-year-old from Nevada, who’d taken the win and $5,000 top prize at last weekend’s 100-lap Iron Man special at Dacotah Speedway. “I’ve had a lot of really good mentors in my very few years of racing and have been in the lucky position of being able to pick myself up a couple (wins). I’m lovin’ it.” 

Rusty Kollman, Dave Shipley and Crist Pittenger completed the top five. 

Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Hibdon won both his qualifying heats and started outside defending race winner Austin Arneson on the front row.

Austin Arneson and Casey Arneson ran 2-3 behind Hibdon before Austin went too high and off the top of the track racing for the lead to bring out the only caution of the race.

“Starting on the front row was a blessing,” Hibdon said. “My main goal was to get the jump and get out to the lead, and we made it happen.”

“I wasn’t sure how much of a lead I had. I knew lapped traffic was heavy and races are easy to lose in lapped traffic,” he added. “After the restart, I knew I had to keep my head on straight, hit my marks and not make any mistakes.” 

Casey Arneson made his way forward from seventh starting, Pittenger from 10th.

Gumke and other local drivers who passed away recently were remembered throughout the evening.

“I never had the opportunity to meet Don but I’ve heard a lot of great things about him,” said Hibdon. “This was a great race to win. They put on a terrific show tonight.”

Hibdon saw his luck do a 180 from opening night at Jamestown, when his engine expired on the first lap of his heat race.

Related Articles

Events

Top Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial check for IMCA Modifieds is $2,222

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – IMCA Modifieds run for $2,222 to win, with a berth on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot on the line as well at Jamestown Speedway’s Saturday, June 12 Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. for the second annual event. The grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m., draw cutoff is at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m.  IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Side Biter Chassis North Central Region and KMJ Performance State points will be awarded.  Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $5 for students ages 12-17 and free for kids 11 and under. Pit passes are $30. Car and driver is $50.  More information is available on Facebook and at www.jamestownspeedway.com. The Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial will be broadcast by DacotahSpeedwayTV.

Feature

Arneson adds Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial win at Jamestown to IMCA Modified resume

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (June 13) – An IMCA Modified driver with a knack for winning big races won another of them Saturday night at Jamestown Speedway. Austin Arneson led all 30 laps in topping the Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial while Jason Grimes finished second in Gumke’s no. 2 car, which had come out of the Arneson shop. “It’s pretty cool any time you can win a memorial race, especially when you knew the guy,” said Arneson. “I’m proud to say I’ve accomplished this. It means a lot to me to have won this race.”  Arneson had drawn the pole and Grimes the outside front row start for the inaugural special. The race stayed green past the halfway mark before two back-to-back cautions. Arneson then shut the door on his challengers, leading Grimes, Billy Kendall, Spencer Wilson and 12th starting John Corell to the checkers. “Jason gave it a good shot,” said Arneson, who counts a Stampede victory at Jamestown among his marquee feature wins. “But I’ve been doing this long enough that I knew how to protect [Read More]

Events

50th Stampede at Jamestown features IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Jamestown Speedway hosts an event half a century in the making, with IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods on 50th annual Stock Car Stampede race programs Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24 and 25. Modifieds race for $1,250 to win on Friday and $1,750 to win Saturday. Both races are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifiers and pay a minimum of $125 to start. Northern SportMod features pay $750 to win on Friday and $1,250 to win on Saturday. Both shows are draw/redraw. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and KMJ Performance State points will be awarded and Modifieds earn Side Biter Chassis North Central Region points as well. Weekend entry fee is $120 for Modifieds and $100 for SportMods. Pit passes are $40 for Saturday only or $70 for both days. Drivers who have not raced at Jamestown this year are asked to register ahead of time on MyRacePass.  Pit gates open at 10 a.m. on Friday. The grandstand opens at 3 p.m., cutoff for the draw is 6 p.m. and racing [Read More]