March 13, 2026

Noteboom matches wins record at PJ

JEFFERSON, S.D. (Aug. 11) – On a beautiful night in the Siouxland, it was the beautiful white number seven IMCA Modified of Jay Noteboom rolling into victory lane at Park Jefferson Speedway.

With his win, Noteboom tied Joe Kosiski at the top of the all-time win list at the Park Jefferson Speedway with 73 total checkers.

There was no denying Noteboom, who started sixth, but in just two laps flew by front row starters Jason Schneiders and Harvey Vande Weerd to fly to a lead he would never relinquish. Noteboom opened a huge lead that was up to 8.5 seconds at one point.

Greg Taylor was the J&J Fitting IMCA Stock Car winner and Andy Hoffman posted a convincing victory in the Z98 IMCA Hobby Stock main.

Cody Thompson outran hard charger Karl Brewer for the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod checkers. Andrew Harris and Kaytee DeVries had a spirited battle to wrap up the Sport Compact point season at Park Jeff. Andrew Harris, who was dominant all year, got past DeVries to pick up his sixth Mach-1 Sport Compact win of 2018.

On Park Jefferson Intern night, a huge shoutout went to 2018 intern Aaron Van Voorst, who coordinated the entire program of candy toss, car ride alongs for kids, bike giveaways and school supplies to thrill the crowd on season championship night.

parkjeffersonspeedway

Park Jefferson IMCA Modified win for Mills

JEFFERSON, S.D. (June 1) – A former track champion in the Stock Car division was the Artworks Graphics IMCA Modifieds feature winner Saturday at Park Jefferson Speedway. Chris Mills was able to benefit from a front row starting spot and jump to an early lead, ultimately winning by a margin of four seconds. Mills was chased by R.J. Merchant, who has found a lot of speed over the past few weeks, while Jay Noteboom was third. In the Stevenson Hardware IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, Dusty Ballenger came flying from eighth with point leader Brant O’Banion in tow as the drivers from the fourth row were able to slide around the smooth racing surface to race into the lead. Ballenger has shown an affinity for the Park surface since the Sprint Cars became weekly and picked up his second win of the year. The J&J Fitting IMCA Stock Cars saw Greg Taylor hold off Elijah Zevenbergen by just one tenth of a second to pick up his second feature win of the year. The Pizza Ranch [Read More]

Marriott prevails in Park Jefferson IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights feature

JEFFERSON, S.D. (July 23) – A driver from Missouri was first to the checkers when the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour for IMCA Modifieds made its first-ever visit to South Dakota. Hunter Marriott topped the $2,000 to win main event Monday night at Park Jefferson Speedway, putting his name on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot for 2019 with his career fifth tour victory. Ricky Thornton Jr.’s record streak of three straight tour wins came to an end with a second-place finish. Kyle Strickler, Joel Rust and Chris Abelson rounded out the top five. Forty-three touring Modifieds from 11 states vied in front of a big crowd at Jefferson, on hand for just the second tour event held outside Iowa. Joel Rust was the very early leader before 2016 tour champion Abelson took charge. A mid-race caution that caught up Jason Wolla and Jay Noteboom put Marriott on Abelson’s back bumper for the ensuing restart. Marriott worked the low side of the track to take the lead while Abelson stayed higher up on the [Read More]

IMCA Late Model sanction is first for Park Jefferson, South Dakota

JEFFERSON, S.D. (Feb. 21, 2024) – Park Jefferson Speedway will crown its first-ever IMCA Sunoco Late Model track champion this season. Sanctioned Late Models join five other IMCA divisions at PJ and run on six select nights in 2024. The class will also crown its first state champion in South Dakota. “We wanted to add a division that was maybe a little different than anything that was running around here,” explained promoter Wayne Becker. “I have a soft spot in my heart for the Late Models. They ran here back in the day and were very entertaining.” “We’re trying to bring a little bit of the 1990s back, and all the feedback we’ve received so far has been positive.” IMCA Late Models made their last and what was believed only previous appearance at Park Jefferson as part of the Summer Series in June of 2007. They’re on the schedule for April 25, May 16, May 23, June 6, Aug. 15 and Aug. 29, all nights the division is not running at US 30 Speedway in [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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