By Ben Deatherage
SPENCER, Iowa (Jun. 4, 2025) — Kelly Shryock completed his dominance of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car features during the IMCA Summer Nationals at Clay County Fair Speedway, winning Wednesday’s $5,000-to-win 30-lapper in dominant fashion.
Texan Jeffrey Abbey, the 2016 Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod National champion, jumped to the early lead. But Shryock, the defending Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner, was on the move from eighth.
Piloting the Lake Mills Motorsports No. 3 owned by Mike Hauan, Shryock powered into the lead on lap five, overtaking Abbey at the stripe. The Fertile, Iowa, native pulled away from the field and never looked back, even while navigating lapped traffic in the closing circuits.
The victory was Shryock’s second of the week at Spencer and his sixth of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Abbey held on to second while Braden Richards rallied from 14th starting to finish third.
Braaksma Dominates for Summer Nationals Modified Title
Ethan Braaksma returned to form in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, leading all 30 laps of the $4,000-to-win main event and scoring an impressive Summer Nationals triumph. Braaksma, the defending Dakota Classic Modified Tour and IMCA.TV Winter Nationals champion, took the lead at the drop of the green in the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned No. 111.
A caution on lap seven bunched the field, but Braaksma nailed the restart and began pulling away again. Brandon Beckendorf, the 2018 Razor Chassis North Central Region champ, ran solidly in second while 2021 National champion Jeff Larson and 2021 Super Nationals winner Cody Laney battled just behind.
Laney worked past Larson on lap 18, but Braaksma’s pace was untouchable. The Newton driver earned his fifth win of the season, including four in the Razor Chassis North Central Region, all at different tracks. Beckendorf and Laney completed the top three.
Ethan Braaksma captured the $4,000 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event victory on June 4, to close out the IMCA Summer Nationals at Clay County Fair Speedway. (Photo by Pixel Boss Productions)
Carter Outduels Sachau in SportMod Thriller
The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature saw Brayton Carter power his way to a thrilling $2,000 victory in a 25-lap contest that had fans on their feet.
Josh Barnhart, a former Sherman County Speedway Hobby Stock champion from Kansas, led early before Zach Davis took over on lap two. Jake Sachau turned up the heat by lap six and wrestled the lead away on lap nine.
A lap 13 debris caution set up an intense battle. Davis attempted a slide job on lap 15, but Sachau countered. The duel opened the door for Carter, the defending Iowa State champion, who ran the bottom while Sachau stayed committed to the top.
Carter was patient on the bottom groove, and once he grabbed the lead on lap 18, his line proved superior. Sachau remained within striking distance, but Carter held steady to secure his 16th win of the season after starting 11th.
Sachau settled for second, while seven-time defending national champion Matthew Looft made a strong charge from 17th to third.
Brayton Carter topped the $2,000-to-win Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature on June 4, at Clay County Fair Speedway’s IMCA Summer Nationals finale. (Photo by Pixel Boss Productions)
Probst Powers to Hobby Stock Win
Cory Probst turned in another standout performance in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, taking the checkers in the 18-lap feature and earning his fourth win of the year at Spencer.
Kaylb Brunssen, the 2024 South Dakota State champion, led early before Probst grabbed the top spot on lap nine. Brunssen’s bid ended with a flat tire, setting the stage for a showdown between Probst and Monday winner Blake Luinenburg.
The two Minnesota racers — who have dueled all season — went at it again until a caution with five laps to go. On the restart, Probst opened up enough of a gap to secure the win.
The Brewster, Minn. veteran’s victory was his 12th in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region this season. Luinenburg finished second, and Austin Jahnz came home third.
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.
