March 12, 2026

Moyer scores Fan Appreciation Night win

By Jerry Mackey

DUBUQUE, Iowa (June 17) – Sunday night racing action returned to the high-banked 3/8-mile dirt track on the Dubuque County Fairgrounds on Fan Appreciation Night.

The final feature of the night was the Merfeld Brothers Auto IMCA Modified event. Austin Moyer shot to the front from his second row start, immediately took to the high side of the track and went on fight off the constant challenges from Matt Gansen to score the win in the 20-lapper.

Moyer took the checkers a couple of car lengths ahead of Gansen. Mark Schulte made a late-race charge to take third.

The Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature was in doubt right to the checkers as Jason Roth was able to overcome K.C. Ansel on the last corner of the 18-lap event and nip Ansel by a few feet for the win. Jerry Miles ran third.

Sunday, June 24 will be Casey’s General Store Night at the races, The staff at the Dubuque Speedway has also announced that hot laps will be moved half hour later now that school is out, Hot laps will get underway at 6 p.m. with racing to follow.

dubuquespeedway

Sunoco bonuses awarded at Independence, Dubuque this weekend

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (June 1, 2023) – Sunoco Race Fuels bonuses will be awarded when IMCA Late Models hit the track for big events this weekend at Independence Motor Speedway and at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway. The divisional title sponsor awards $250 bonuses to feature winners on Saturday, June 3 during the Hall of Fame Night show at Indee and Sunday, June 4 on Fan Appreciation Night at Dubuque. Drivers can get the bonus one time in a season; the $250 will be awarded to the top finishing non-winning driver any night the winner has previously received the bonus. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow Saturday at Independence, where pit passes are $30 for adults, $15 for kids ages 6-14 and free for five and under. Spectator admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students ages 13-17. Grandstand admission is free for Dubuque’s Fan Appreciation, with pit passes $30 for adults and $15 for kids ages 7-13. Kids can enjoy the bounce house that evening. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock [Read More]

Dubuque Deery date rescheduled for April 28

DUBUQUE, Iowa (April 15) – The new date for the Deery Brothers Summer Series show at Dubuque Speedway is Sunday, April 28. Postponed from April 14, the main event for touring IMCA Late Models pays $2,500 to win and a minimum of $300 to start and headlines the Hershel Roberts/Ray Guss Sr. Memorial program originally scheduled last Saturday at Maquoketa Speedway. The April 13 show lost to low temperatures will not be rescheduled. Also running at Dubuque will be IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods for national, regional, state and track points, along with a local 4-cylinder class. Pit gates and the grandstand open at 2:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 4:30 p.m. with racing to follow. Spectator admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students and free for ages 12 and under. Pit passes are $30. More information is available by calling promoter Nick McCrady at 563 940-7841 and at the www.tracksidepromotionsia.com website. The 33rd annual Deery Brothers Summer Series will open with a $2,000 to win show [Read More]

Gansen among Dubuque season championship checkers

By Rob Hinckley DUBUQUE, Iowa (Aug. 25) – He tossed another helmet tearoff as the white flag flew. Matt Gansen’s car made it that final lap as he won the 20-lap Merfeld Brothers Automotive IMCA Modified Season Championship feature Sunday evening at Dubuque Speedway. “The car started to overheat and steam was hitting my faceshield,” a jubilant Gansen said. “I was using a tearoff every lap. I didn’t know what was going on on the track.” Gansen moved by early leader Jaden Fryer after several side by side laps on lap nine and extended the advantage. “It looked like (Fryer) was staying on the bottom and we were fast enough up top,” Gansen added. “I wasn’t sure if he would figure something else out so wanted to make the move.” Tyler Madigan also passed Fryer late. Track champion Bryce Garnhart and Timmy Current rounded out the top five. “It takes consistency and wins,” Garnhart said. “We put a lot of time in at the shop and I can’t thank my crew and sponsors enough.” Tyler [Read More]

Feature

Joel Magee: Collecting Toys and Checkered Flags

By Ben Deatherage PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Mar. 9, 2026) — Inside hotel ballrooms and convention halls across America, Joel Magee can often be found leaning over a folding table with a magnifying glass in hand, carefully studying a toy that might be decades old. A faded lunchbox, a worn toy car, or a well-loved action figure could all hold stories — and sometimes surprising value. For the past several decades, collectors have brought their treasures to Magee hoping to learn what they’re worth. To many in the collecting world, he’s known simply as “The Toy Scout.” But when the appraisal tables close and the lights go down, Magee trades vintage toys for something much louder — the rumble of a race car engine. The Sioux City, Iowa native is also the driver of a Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock, and at 64 years old, he’s chasing checkered flags with the same enthusiasm he brings to tracking down rare collectibles. And in 2026, he’s already off to a strong start. Winter Champion, Summer Contender Magee opened the [Read More]

News

Al Buschelman: A Life Remembered

By Ben Deatherage GREEN RIVER, Wyo. (Mar. 10, 2026) — Dirt-track racing in southwestern Wyoming didn’t simply appear overnight. Tracks were carved from open ground, racecars were built in home garages, and entire racing programs grew from the efforts of volunteers who believed in the sport. Few individuals embodied that spirit more than Allen “Al” Buschelman — racer, builder, community servant, and longtime IMCA official whose influence helped shape generations of racing across the region. Buschelman passed away Sunday, March 8, at age 88 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. For decades he was a familiar figure at Wyoming racetracks, whether behind the wheel of a racecar, operating heavy equipment, or helping guide the sport as an IMCA regional director. Those who knew him remember a man who loved fast cars, valued hard work, and cared deeply about the people around him. From Nebraska Roots to a Life in Wyoming Al Buschelman was born in Crofton, Nebraska. He attended high school in Crofton and grew up in a rural environment that emphasized hard work and [Read More]

Divisions

Johnson Avenges Opening Night Flip with Round Two SportMod Victory in Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 7, 2026) — Following a prolific 2025 season at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway across various Stock Car classes, Nicholas Johnson took on the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods in 2026. His season opener in February ended on his lid, but he quickly regained his form at the one-third-mile dirt track on Saturday during March Madness with a coveted comeback victory. Johnson dominated his heat race, then lined up third for the 25-lap feature alongside his brother Ethan. Ethan jumped ahead at the start with Nicholas sliding into second. Following a crash in turn one on the opening lap, Nicholas Johnson used the restart to take over the lead on the second lap. Johnson dominated the rest of the feature to score his first Bakersfield SportMod win. Tate Lofts drove from eighth to second, with Chris McKellar, 2024 champion Jason Bannister, and Alyssa Smith rounding out the top five. 2023 and 2024 Bakersfield Speedway Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified champion Gavyn Manning returned to the top step of the podium, winning the [Read More]

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