By Kara Beech
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. (Jul. 5, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds delivered the most electric action of the night at Sweetwater Speedway on July 5, with 29 cars packing the pit area for a high-stakes showdown. In the end, it was Green River’s Bryson Yeager charging from ninth on the grid to park it in victory lane for his sixth win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region and second at Sweetwater in 2025. Brother Braxton Yeager followed him across the line for a memorable 1-2 family finish, while Casey Delp completed the podium.
Valdez Goes Back-to-Back With First Sweetwater Win of 2025
After picking up a victory last weekend at Diamond Mountain Speedway, William Valdez of Rock Springs made it back-to-back wins by capturing Saturday’s Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod main event at Sweetwater Speedway. It was his first triumph of the season at his home track and second overall win in 2025.
Colorado’s Waylon Hale, a first-time visitor to Sweetwater, impressed with a 12th-to-2nd charge, earning hard charger honors in his No. 43 machine. Cole Marlatt completed the podium in third.
Poll Powers to Fourth Sport Compact Victory of 2025
In Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact action, Green River’s Ethan Poll picked up his fourth win of the season and first at Sweetwater, surviving a tough 30-car turnout to top the 24-car starting field. Cody Poll brought home a runner-up finish, followed by Travis Bott in third.
Despite a rocky start to the holiday weekend, Sweetwater Speedway came roaring back to life on July 5 after the much-anticipated July 4 program was rained out. Track crews and racers gave it everything they had to battle the elements, but Mother Nature had the final say. Still, their determination didn’t go unnoticed—especially with a big assist from Dave Pitt Construction, whose donation of crushed asphalt turned a potentially muddy pit area into a solid, workable space that kept things moving for teams and fans.
That same spirit of resilience carried into Saturday night, kicking off with a powerful moment from the Combined Color Guard, made up of members from the American Legions Archey Hay Post 24 and Tom Whitmore Post 28, American Legion Riders, VFW Post 2321, Sons of the American Legion, and their auxiliaries. With quiet precision, they presented the flags in a stirring ceremony that brought chills to the grandstands.
As the flags cleared, the no. 29 Modified of Jim Shoemaker rolled out for a single tribute lap in memory of his father, Jim Shoemaker, who helped organize this event for the past decade. It was a sacred, emotional reminder of service, sacrifice, and the strength of family and community—everything Sweetwater Speedway stands for.
