Gilman is IMCA Modified winner at Stuart’s Bill Davis Sr. Memorial

Josh Gilman collected the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified checkers at Stuart Speedway’s Bill Davis Sr. memorial. (Photo by Jim Zimmerline)

By Josh Reynolds 

STUART, Iowa (June 22, 2022) – One hundred and five race cars made their way to Karl Chevrolet of Stuart International Speedway for the Bill Davis Sr. Memorial on Wednesday night.

Todd VanEaton led the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature until a lap nine caution came out and the field was reset. This let 15-year-old Rowdee Van Genderen take advantage of the restart to get out front and lead the first feature laps of his young career. 

Van Genderen led and was pulling away when another caution slowed the field on lap 15. He would stay out front for one more lap, but getting a great drive off of the bottom was Josh Pruitt with Miciah Hidlebaugh in tow.

Hidlebaugh made it to Pruitt’s door in turn four but the two kept things clean and it was Pruitt taking the win. Hidlebaugh finished second with Van Genderen third, Ty Hill fourth and Austin Meiners fifth. 

Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts were on the track next with Elijah Hoyt leading through lap two. Kolby Sabin took over on lap three and drove off to the easy win. Tyler Fiebelkorn finished second with Jeremiah Downing third, Craig Furstenau fourth and Mark Smith fifth.

Jared Smith had the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock field covered until a lap 14 yellow flew. A couple different restarts changed everything and it was Eric Stanton who benefitted to lead the next two laps. Contact in the last turn amongst the top three cars let Luke Ramsey take advantage and get to the checkered flag first. Stanton finished second with Solomon Bennett third, Brandon Cox fourth and Skylar Pruitt fifth.

Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods came up next and it was a dogfight for second as David Schwartz led all 20 laps through some cautions to get the win. Mitchell Morris won the battle for second with Mike Dullard third, Brayton Carter fourth and Thomas Nelson fifth.

The last race of the night was the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Nick Roberts led early with Josh Gilman and Ethan Braaksma close behind.

Gilman got the advantage on lap five and looked to drive off to an easy win, but a yellow on lap 12 erased any gap and set the field up for an eight-lap dash to the checkers. Gilman didn’t make it easy on himself but found a way to lead at the line each time as he went on to the win. Roberts settled for second with Braaksma third, Cory Wray fourth and Chase Rudolf fifth. 

Thursday, June 30 welcomes the Ron Little Memorial and Midwest Madness Tour.