By Ben Deatherage
JEFFERSON, S.D. (June 6, 2025) — Zach Zeitner made it a perfect night in Sunoco IMCA Late Model action at Park Jefferson International Speedway, sweeping both features on a special Friday doubleheader. The Bellevue, Nebraska, driver claimed the regularly scheduled $1,000-to-win 25-lap feature and the rescheduled main event from the rained-out April 18 opener.
In the evening’s headliner, Zeitner jumped to the lead early and was smooth and steady out front despite a couple of caution flags, including a key restart on lap 19. Kale Kosiski, the 2023 Crawford County Speedway track champion, managed to reel Zeitner in and pulled alongside with two laps to go. But Zeitner kept his composure, running the middle lane to perfection and holding off Kosiski at the finish. Eric Faber completed the podium in third.
The win was Zeitner’s fourth of the season, and he also collected the Sunoco Race Fuels Bonus, which included a commemorative door panel, fuel jug, hat, and a $300 prize.
Zach Zeitner (left) is joined by Sunoco IMCA Late Model division director Joe Hayes after earning the $300 Sunoco bonus at Park Jefferson International Speedway on June 7. (Track Photo)
Earlier in the night, Zeitner won the 20-lap makeup feature from April 18. Kosiski paced the field in the early going before the reigning Shelby County and Crawford County Speedway track title winner worked his way into second just before halfway. A lap 11 caution gave Zeitner a chance to attack, and he did just that, sliding under Kosiski for the lead on lap 13. Another late caution reset the field, but Zeitner nailed the restart and drove away for his first win of the night. Kosiski again ran second with Faber rounding out the top three.
Ward Wires Stock Car Field from Row Four
Jason Ward powered from eighth to win the 18-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. Mike Jensen led the opening circuits until a lap four caution stacked the field. That opened the door for a fierce battle among Jensen, Wyatt Luke, and Ward. Ward swept around the outside of both on lap six and never looked back, even through a late restart with three laps to go.
Ward, the six-time South Dakota State champion and 2018 Park Jefferson titlist, kept his car glued to the top and held off a charge from Todd Gereau in the final laps. It was Ward’s second win at Park Jefferson in as many weeks and his second in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region in 2025. Luke completed the podium.
Meyer Fends Off Woodard in SportMod Thriller
Pierce, Nebraska’s Cameron Meyer picked up his first Park Jefferson win of the year in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature. Meyer got around Caleb Woodard on lap three and held the lead through a series of cautions.
Woodard came back strong, working the high line to challenge Meyer with six laps remaining. He briefly took the lead on a restart, but a caution erased the pass. Meyer nailed the final restart and held off Woodard by a nose at the line. It was Meyer’s third win of 2025 and added to his impressive résumé as the reigning three-time Off Road Speedway titleholder and the 2012 National Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact titlist. Defending track champ Willy Kirk outdueled Jonah Chinn for third.
Malasek Claims First Hobby Stock Win of Season
Cody Malasek of Emerson, Nebraska, broke through for his first win of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region with a strong showing in the 15-lap Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock main event. Malasek led early and held off steady pressure from Steven Taylor throughout the second half of the race.
Taylor made a slide job with two laps to go, but Malasek crossed him over and reclaimed the lead on the backstretch. Taylor tagged the frontstretch wall coming to the white flag and settled for second. Austin Lundquist was third.
Osler Fends Off Werner in Compact Clash
Seventeen-year-old Brooke Osler continued her stellar season by picking up her third win of the year and first at Park Jefferson in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact division. The Lady Eagle racer from Milford, Iowa, led from the start.
Nebraska’s Kiegan Werner made a late run and briefly passed Osler on lap nine, but Osler recovered in turn four and held on through the final circuits. Werner settled for second while defending track champion and National Rookie of the Year Johnny Thomas took third.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA 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.
