139 race teams pack Maquoketa Speedway for season opener 

Hobby Stock, Late Model, Modified, Northern SportMod, Results, Stock Car

Justin Kay raced to his first feature win of the season, and IMCA Sunoco Late Model career 133rd, on Saturday night at Maquoketa Speedway. (Photo by Simply Modified)

By Jerry Mackey

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (May 4, 2024) – The 2024 racing got underway Saturday at the Maquoketa Speedway quarter-mile dirt track located on the Jackson County Fairgrounds. A whopping 139 teams took part. 

The IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature was the headliner of the night. Local standout … and four-time national champion … Justin Kay started on the pole and led the main event flag to flag. Defending track champion Andy Nezworski kept Kay in his sights but was unable to mount a serious challenge in taking second ahead of third place finisher Travis Denning who had started 10th. 

Defending Friesen Performance IMCA Modified track champion Jeff Larson scored the opening night win, his second in as many nights after pacing the Friday show at Lafayette County Speedway.

Larson started fourth and took the lead early, wrestling the point position away from Jake Morris. Larson went on to race under the checkers ahead of Mitch Way and Jason Schueller. 

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars saw an outstanding field of 23 drivers sign in. The Class Too Tough To Tame always provides plenty of action and Saturday night was certainly no exception.

Tom Schmitt led early until defending track champion and hometowner Jacob Ellithorpe took over the point position. The no. 72 of Ellithorpe went on to record the win but not without a late race challenge by Tanner Allen who had taken the initial green flag way back in 10th. Schmitt held on to take third at the checkers. 

Jacob Ellithorpe began defense of his 2023 Maquoketa Speedway track title with the opening night IMCA Sunoco Stock Car checkers. (Photo by Simply Modified)

Twenty-six Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods lined up for their 15-lap feature. Jared Staver led early from his outside front row start while ninth starting Shane Paris made his way to the front.

Paris took over the top spot as the race passed the midway point and the 17C of Paris went on to record the win ahead of a strong running Logan Veloz. Scott Williams turned in the drive of the night in the SportMods, coming from 13th to finish third. 

The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks also saw a large field of 23 drivers take the initial green flag. The Hobby Stock main event was red flagged twice for rollovers. Both Logan Jones and Lukas Short were uninjured in separate incidents.

Jared Miller scored the opening night win, racing to the checkers ahead of Daniel Wauters and Sheldon Hunter. 

Racing will continue at Maquoketa Speedway on Saturday, May 11 and it will be Tub O Towels night at the races with all in attendance receiving free product from Tub O Towels. Hot laps will get underway at 6 p.m. 

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124 race teams pack pits at Maquoketa Speedway

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Wroten dominates in IMCA Hobby Stock opener at Maquoketa

By Rob Hinckley  MAQUOKETA, Iowa (April 6) – Crews and drivers discussed the track conditions throughout the pit area Saturday evening at Maquoketa Speedway.  The consensus was fast and tacky even at feature race time. Leah Wroten adjusted and ‘Mrs. Dominator’ did just that, dominated, en route to the 20-lap Shawn’s Auto Service IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature win. “This heavy track usually isn’t my style this late in the night,” Wroten said in Hoker Trucking Victory Lane. “But I was able to put the car anywhere I needed and it worked. I can’t thank everyone on the car enough. They had it ready to go.”  Wroten, of Independence, wheeled from middle of the starting field and bided her time to the front, which gave her a view of what feature two may look like with an inverted start.  “I started this one eighth so it gives me a good idea what to watch for and we know this car can do it.”  Justin Kay was all smiles in Victory Lane following a 20-lap sweep [Read More]

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