By Ben Deatherage
SPENCER, Iowa (Jun. 2, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks were in their final night of Summer Nationals competition at Clay County Fair Speedway on Monday night, and the $1,500-to-win 18-lap main event delivered an absolute thriller.
Blake Luinenburg, the reigning track champion at both Murray County and Worthington Speedways, launched from the outside pole and immediately took command using the high groove. A caution on lap five bunched up the field, allowing Tyler Smith and 2022 National Hobby Stock champion Dillon Richards to close in on the restart.
Luinenburg built another strong lead, but Richards — who started 14th — began methodically searching the track for speed. He found it, and by lap 12, he was at the leader’s door. Richards worked the bottom while Luinenburg held firm up top. The two exchanged the lead before a caution flew just after Luinenburg reclaimed the spot.
On the restart with five to go, Richards pulled even and took the lead for good on lap 15. Luinenburg mounted one last-lap charge, but the Beatrice, Nebraska, driver held on to win his 24th feature of the season — 18 of them in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. Smith was third.
Aldape Wraps Up Summer Nationals with $600 Sport Compact Victory
The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts wrapped up their final night of Summer Nationals racing with a wild 15-lap, $600-to-win finale — and IMCA.TV Winter Nationals champion Gilbert Aldape made the most of it. A chaotic four-car battle erupted on the opening lap, but Aldape emerged out front and never looked back. A caution early in the race was the only thing to slow him down.
Aldape, from Sioux City, was flawless on the restart and cruised to his fifth win of the season. Brooke Osler, the defending Kossuth County Speedway champion, claimed second. Three-time Iowa State title winner Tyler Fiebelkorn charged from 13th to finish third.
Gilbert Aldape celebrates his $600 Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature win during the IMCA Summer Nationals on June 2 at Clay County Fair Speedway. The Sioux City, Iowa driver led from the opening lap to earn his fifth victory of the season. (Photo by Pixel Boss Productions)
Shryock Muscles to Stock Car Victory from 10th
Opening night of the Summer Nationals for the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars featured a $1,250-to-win 20-lap finale, and it was a memorable one.
Jake Masters showed early dominance, fending off attacks from Mike “Wahoo” Albertsen and Steve Churchill while building a commanding lead. Albertsen, a two-time Iowa State champion, found himself in a heated scrap for second with Kelly Shryock, the defending Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Stock Car winner. Shryock, piloting the Lake Mills Motorsports no. 3 for car owner Mike Hauan, worked his way to second on lap six.
A lap-11 caution erased Masters’ advantage. Shryock pounced on the restart, grabbing the lead down the backstretch. Though Masters and two-time Super Nationals Stock Car winner Dallon Murty mounted pressure late, Shryock held steady and scored his fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the season — all at different tracks. The Fertile, Iowa, driver started tenth. Masters was runner-up, with Murty in third.
Gaylord Goes Wire-to-Wire in Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds
The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds launched their opening night of Summer Nationals with a $1,000-to-win 20-lap feature, and Colorado native Tripp Gaylord stole the show.
Missouri’s Cory Wray fired off well, but Gaylord surged ahead at the line to lead lap one. Tanner Black gave chase early but couldn’t keep pace once Gaylord settled into rhythm. A lap-10 caution for debris was the only hiccup in the race’s flow.
Gaylord was untouchable over the final 10 laps, collecting his third win of the year in the Razor Chassis North Central Region after starting fourth. Black, from Kansas, finished second, while 2015 National Champion Chris Abelson took third.
Carter Outduels Kirk for Northern SportMod Payday
The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods kicked off their Summer Nationals campaign with a 20-lap, $1,000-to-win feature — and it didn’t disappoint.
Willy Kirk grabbed the early lead, only to be slowed by a multi-car tangle that brought out a caution before lap two. Kirk retained the point on the restart and controlled the next several circuits. The reigning Park Jefferson Speedway champion and two-time South Dakota State titleholder appeared to be in full command. Brayden Ahlers and Brayton Carter battled for second behind him until Ahlers, the 2023 Murray County Speedway champ, spun on lap 15 and restacked the field.
Carter, the defending Iowa State champion from Oskaloosa, found grip on the bottom after the restart and made his move. He took the lead in turn three on lap 16 and pulled away for his 15th win of the season. Kirk held on for second, while 2023 Lady Eagle winner Taylor Kuehl completed the top three.
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.
