Muscatine Mall race car show set for March 16

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (July 26) – “Yeah!” That shout rang out and probably could be heard over the carnival rides behind the grandstand and the cheers of the appreciative crowd occupying the grandstand and bleacher seats. The exclamation came from Matt Ryan as he pulled off the racing gloves and other driver safety equipment, then he climbed from his Andover Meat IMCA Late Model following the 25-lap win during the Jackson County Fair at Maquoketa Speedway. A win during fair week is special. “I tried a long time,” the Davenport ace and 2017 track champion said in victory lane. “Last year I led this whole race and then Justin Kay passed me on the last lap. I didn’t forget.” Ryan passed a handful of competitors and chased down early leader Joe Zrostlik. “I watched that Modified race and those guys were going around there (high groove) pretty good,” Ryan said. “But I thought sooner or later that’s going to burn off and I needed to get by Joe and then get down. I [Read More]

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (June 16) – The checkbooks may come out soon as many are seeing boun­ties on the horizon for a handful of drivers at Maquoketa Speedway. Daniel Wauters outran the hot weather and the competition to make it four straight checkered flags in the IMCA Hobby Sunoco Stocks Saturday evening during the Donna Heister Memorial. “What a night at Maquoketa Speedway,” Wauters said on Facebook. “Kids got plenty of ice cream from the Little Racers Car Club, got to ride around in the Batmobile, then we got our fourth straight feature win there. Track was once again excellent and there was some exciting racing.” Jeff Larson took his third consecutive QCJeeps.com IMCA Modified 20-lap main. The Freeport, Ill. ace continued his three-state hot streak with the win and topped a stellar, 26-car field. Joe Bonney pulled away from Mike McGarry for his second straight Ueland Auto IMCA Stock Car win. Last year’s champion Matt Ryan has made the inside groove work at all the tracks he competes. Saturday was no exception picking up [Read More]

By Rob Hinckley  MAQUOKETA, Iowa (July 6) – Like a lot of drivers, Tyler Soppe surveyed the right side damage to his car. Unlike the others, he did it in Hoker Trucking/C&W Trucking/Kam Koncepts Victory Circle after taking another 15-lap B&D Pit Stop IMCA Northern SportMod feature Saturday evening at Maquoketa Speedway.  “Seemed like a top side track, but made the bottom stick and here we are,” Soppe said. “This is our 15th win of the year and each one seems different.” His seventh Maquoketa win came on Husco International Family Night before a great pre-fireworks display crowd. Soppe jetted from his ninth starting spot on the bottom groove and passed Jacob Ellithorpe on lap nine. He also endured several cautions to wait out the win.  “I knew Jacob was sticking high and a tough run,” Soppe added. “This was different type of track, more of a hammer down, but we can adjust.”  Ellithorpe would later drop out. Kyle Olson, Rusty Deshaw, Jerry Miles and 17th-starting Brandon Tharp rounded out the top five. Jeremiah Hurst [Read More]