By Ben Deatherage
SPENCER, Iowa (May 4, 2025) — The 2025 Clay County Classic roared to life Sunday evening at Clay County Fair Speedway with an action-packed program featuring five divisions of IMCA racing. The night’s headliner was a dramatic Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature, where five-time National champion Jordan Grabouski stormed from 11th starting to first in a late-race thriller.
A three-wide scrap for the lead broke out between Kelly Shryock, Chaz Baca Jr., and Ricky Stephan in the early laps, with Shryock gaining the initial advantage. After an early caution, Baca—the two-time defending National champion—blasted to the front on lap 4.
Baca, a standout in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, tagged the wall on lap 10 but held the lead. Meanwhile, Grabouski and Shryock waged war for second, allowing the Arizonan some breathing room until Grabouski eventually broke free. The Beatrice, Nebraska, pilot made his move on lap 18 with a stunning inside pass to take the lead.
Baca searched for a way back by but couldn’t stop Grabouski’s charge. The win marked Grabouski’s third of 2025 in a Modified and his first in the Razor Chassis North Central Region this year. Baca settled for second, with Shryock completing the podium.
Grabouski Doubles Up with Stock Car Victory
Jordan Grabouski’s stellar night didn’t end with the Modifieds. He doubled up by scoring a second feature win in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Brayton Carter led early in the Carter Van Den Berg-owned no. 7V until Kelly Shryock surged around him on lap 6. The battle for third between Carter and Jeff Ware was fierce, but attention quickly turned to the front as Grabouski began a relentless pursuit of the 2024 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Stock Car winner.
After working multiple lanes, the 2019 National Stock Car champ found his opening with 10 laps to go and powered into the lead. A series of late cautions kept the pressure on, but Grabouski executed flawless restarts and pulled away to earn his fifth win of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Shryock, piloting the Lake View Motorsports No. 3 for car owner Mike Hauan, finished second, while Ware edged Carter in a photo finish for third.
Jordan Grabouski made it a double-duty sweep with his fifth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region Stock Car victory of 2025. (Track Photo)
Looft Launches 2025 With Dominant SportMod Drive
Matthew Looft looked every bit the seven-time defending national champion in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods. After Brady Joynt held the initial lead, Looft stormed past on lap 5 and never looked back. Alec Fett, the Iowa Spring Nationals winner at Spencer back in March, mounted a top-side charge, but his efforts were eventually overtaken by Colby Fett, who grabbed second on lap 10.
Despite lapped traffic and several challenges from the Fett family duo, Looft checked out late in the race. The Swea City native cruised to his first win of the season. Two-time Hobby Stock Super Nationals winner Mike Smith worked his way into seoncd while a thrilling duel for third played out behind him. The four-time reigning Hancock County Speedway track titlist Alec Fett would win the race for third.
Matthew Looft shares victory lane with his family after claiming the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature win at Clay County. (Track Photo)
Probst Prevails in Hobby Stock Thriller
The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks produced a fan-favorite feature with multiple lead changes and a close finish. Blake Luinenburg was fast out of the gate, leading the early laps and holding off Justin Frederick before a caution reset the field. Two-time National champion Cory Probst restarted on the move and methodically reeled in Luinenburg by lap 12.
Luinenburg refused to go quietly, and on the final circuit dove beneath Probst in turn three. Probst, composed as ever, crossed back under Luinenburg in the final corner and won the drag race to the checkers. It was Probst’s second win of 2025 in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. Jay DeVries edged Frederick in the battle for third.
Cory Probst scores his second B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region Hobby Stock win of the year in a last-lap duel. (Track Photo)
Mahlberg Goes Wire-to-Wire in Sport Compact Main
Caine Mahlberg made the most of his front-row opportunity in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts, darting from third to first on the opening lap and never looking back. A lap 1 caution slowed things briefly, but Mahlberg launched again on the restart and left the field behind.
It was a statement win for the 2021 National champion from Dunlap, marking his first triumph of the season. Reigning Kossuth County Speedway champ Brooke Osler finished second, while 2024 South Dakota State champion Mike Vogt took third in a spirited run.
Caine Mahlberg earned his first win of the season in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts at Clay County. (Track Photo)
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Advantage Racing TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
