By Ben Deatherage
SPENCER, Iowa (Aug. 6, 2025) — Joel Rust showed the way in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Clay County Fair Speedway, collecting his first-ever Hunting With Heroes Salute To Veterans Tour presented by Performance Bodies and Parts victory. The win came during the third night of Iowa Speedweek and also served as the Clay County Clash. The 20-lap, $2,000-to-win contest marked Rust’s third triumph of the season in the Razor Chassis North Central Region, each at a different track.
Rust, from Grundy Center, took the lead from the drop of the green and built a commanding advantage before a caution on lap 14 gave second-running Brandon Beckendorf one final shot. But Rust, a two-time Benton County Speedway champion and 2016 Harris Clash winner, was unfazed and pulled away on the restart for a dominant win.
Beckendorf, the 2018 regional champion and five-time Minnesota State title holder, finished second while Nick Meyer, the 2018 Kossuth County and Hancock County Speedways champ, took third.
Fisher Fends Off All Stock Car Challengers for First Salute To Vets Win
Jason Fisher scored a milestone win in the 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main, grabbing his first career Salute To Veterans Tour triumph and a $2,000 payday. The win was his third of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, each at a different race track.
Fisher, the 2014 Murray County Speedway Modified champion, took the lead on lap 7 and never gave it up. A red flag with six laps to go halted action after Justin Luinenburg, the 2015 Hobby Stock National champion, came to a stop.
On the restart, the Lakefield, Minnesota motorist pulled away while a thrilling battle for second unfolded between two-time Iowa State champ “Wahoo” Mike Albertsen and 2017 Kossuth County Speedway champ Jake Masters. Wahoo nipped Masters at the stripe to finish second.
Jason Fisher scored the $2,000 Sunoco IMCA Stock Car victory on Aug. 6 in Salute To Vets Tour action at Clay County Fair Speedway. (Photo by NW Iowa Pics)
Smith Scores First SportMod Tour Win in Crazy Finish
Mike Smith added a new accolade to his already decorated resume with his first career Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod win on the Salute To Veterans Tour. The Lake City driver and 2022 Junior National Champion took home a $1,000 check for the 20-lap victory — his 10th of the 2025 season. Smith, a two-time Super Nationals Hobby Stock champion, led from the start and looked to have things in hand until cautions began stacking up near the halfway mark.
A scuffle with Matt Avila ended Avila’s night and bunched the field again. Smith held strong through a late caution with six to go and withstood pressure from Justin Klynsma to secure the win. Minnesotan Zach Davis edged out Utah traveler Payce Herrera for third on the final lap.
Mike Smith collected the $1,000 Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod win on Aug. 6 during the Salute To Vets Tour event at Clay County Fair Speedway. (Photo by NW Iowa Pics)
Richards Rallies for 38th Win in Wild Hobby Stock Finale
Dillon Richards added another major win to his sensational 2025 campaign, taking the 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock main and collecting a $1,000 prize for his first Salute To Veterans Tour triumph. The 2022 National Champion now boasts 30 wins this season in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region and 38 overall — including two at Clay County Fair Speedway.
Evan Schettler led early and fought off pressure from Richards and defending Stuart and Shelby County Speedways champ Skylar Pruitt. Richards took the lead on lap 16 after Schettler suffered a flat tire, but a caution set up a thrilling green-white-checkered finish.
Pruitt briefly grabbed the lead on a late restart, but a red flag negated the move. Richards nailed the final restart and kept Pruitt behind him for the win. Five-time reigning Hancock County champ Brandon Nielsen finished third.
Dillon Richards won the $1,000 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature on Aug. 6 as part of the Salute To Vets Tour at Clay County Fair Speedway. (Photo by NW Iowa Pics)
Monson Masters the Compacts for Spencer Score
Oliver Monson was in command from the opening lap of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature and never looked back, earning his second IMCA win of the season and a $300 top prize. The 2024 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion surged ahead of four-time Lady Eagle champion Kaytee Devries on the first circuit and was never seriously challenged again.
Behind Monson, the battle for second went to the wire as Devries fended off two-time Interstate Speedway track champ Tyler Thompson in a photo finish.
Oliver Monson prevailed in the $300 Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature on Aug. 6 at Clay County Fair Speedway. (Photo by NW Iowa Pics)
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. Don’t miss Season 2 of The Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.