October 6, 2025

Tasker takes IMCA Modified checkers at Crystal

M-Casey-Tasker-VL — Casey Tasker topped the July 6 IMCA Modified main event at Crystal Motor Speedway. (Photo by Christine Hale)

By Verwayne Greenhoe

CRYSTAL, Mich. (July 6) – Casey Tasker scored his first win in the Lane Automotive IMCA Modified feature Saturday at Crystal Motor Speedway.

Brady Hollenbeck and Mitchell Hunt were next across the stripe.

crystalmotorspeedway

Brenten DeYoung is best at Great Lakes Nationals

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Sept. 18, 2022) – The latest addition to Team DeYoung’s Great Lakes Nationals trophy collection will have a special place in the display case. Brenten DeYoung topped the 50-lap, $3,000 to win special for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds Sunday at Crystal Motor Speedway. The checkers were his career first at one of the premier events for the division in Michigan and in the Dirt Works Eastern Region, and came ahead of his father and seven-time Great Lakes Nationals king Myron. “It’s incredible,” the younger DeYoung said following his second feature win of the season at the family’s long-time home track. “This is a race I’ve wanted to win for a long time and I’m grateful to finally pull it off.” Fourth on the initial grid, he moved up to the outside of the front row following a lap one restart, used the outside line to pass pole starter Nathan Patrick going into the first turn and led every time around the track. Multiple cautions kept the field close throughout before DeYoung was able [Read More]

Bree Wonch Outduels Husband Austin for Memorable First Modified Victory

By Ben Deatherage CRYSTAL, Mich. (May 3, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Crystal Motor Speedway delivered a career-defining moment for Lady Eagle racer Bree Wonch, who stormed to her first-ever victory in the DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region. After a daring pass on the bottom of turn four on lap 4, she surged to the lead and began to distance herself from the field. Despite a mid-race caution erasing her substantial advantage, Wonch nailed the restart and once again pulled away. Behind her, husband Austin Wonch, the 2019 Crystal track champion, worked his way into second, setting up a family one-two finish that brought the Crystal crowd to its feet. With the win, Bree not only captured her first feature victory but also became eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, set to be held during the 2025 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Austin held on for second, while Casey Smith completed the podium in third. The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap [Read More]

Harnick, Brillhart are great at Crystal’s Great Lakes Nationals

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Sept. 14, 2024) – A career-best season for Austin Harnick got even better Saturday night, while Rob Brillhart made history of his own at Crystal Motor Speedway. Harnick won the 32nd annual Great Lakes Nationals feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and $5,000 while Brillhart topped the $2,000 to win IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main, in that division’s debut at Michigan’s premier sanctioned event. Not much more than a month removed from his 22nd birthday, Harnick had the second quickest time in Friday qualifying and started outside Mitchell Hunt on the front row for the Modified 40-lapper. Winner of the Rage Chassis Race of Champions at Boone the previous weekend, Hunt saw early advantages erased by a couple cautions. Harnick took the lead following a restart 12 laps in and the front pair fought for the lead most of the way, before Harnick was able to pull away as the race wound down. “The last five laps or so was just pretty much going for it with everything I have,” said Harnick, newly eligible to [Read More]

Feature

Ashton Thompson: Turning Laps for a Cause

By Ben Deatherage SALEM, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2025) — In the rolling hills of southern Indiana, where small towns dot the countryside and history runs deep, sits Salem. It has become a crossroads town with a courthouse square at its heart and strengthened by generations who rebuilt after every setback. Today, its brick streets and quiet neighborhoods still reflect that heritage of resilience. From this backdrop rises Ashton Thompson’s story — a third-generation racer who has carried her family’s tradition further than ever, chasing speed across the Midwest and now carving her path in the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car division with the Huntley’s Hoosier Winged Sprint Series. A Family Affair “I’m a third-generation racer,” Thompson said with a grin. “My dad told me I had to play a sport when I was six, and I chose racing. We kept it in the family.” Her father, Tyson, and grandfather, Gerald, both ran Mini Sprints on the local scene. Ashton went further, climbing from quarter midgets into Micro Sprints, Midgets, and even developmental series on pavement and road [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Braxton Yeager Wins Modified Thriller and Claims Clash Crown at Desert Thunder

By Ben Deatherage PRICE, Utah (Sept. 27, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds closed out the Castle County Clash at Desert Thunder Raceway with a barnburner. Waylon Hale led the opening lap before a lap-two caution reset the field. On the restart, Kade Dimick — a two-time Utah State and Desert Thunder Raceway Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod champion — powered into the lead. Dimick controlled the race through another caution on lap seven, setting the pace as Hale kept close. With only a handful of laps left, the leaders entered lapped traffic, and Hale slipped underneath to challenge. Just as the duel heated up, Braxton Yeager joined the mix. Running the high line to perfection, Yeager beat both Dimick and Hale back to the stripe for the dramatic win. Yeager, the 2022 Sweetwater Speedway track champion from Green River, Wyoming, was driving for the Hislop family and clinched the overall Clash crown with the victory. Dimick held on for second, Hale ran third, while Yeager’s father Justen, 2009 Shaw Race Cars Western Region champion, [Read More]

Feature

Pavlicek Finally Breaks Through in SportMods at Dacotah’s Oktoberfest

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (Sept. 27, 2025) — Casselton’s Rich Pavlicek quickly pulled away in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMod feature on the final night of Oktoberfest at Dacotah Speedway. The real battle was for second as Keenan Glasser, Troy Speten and Nathan Speten fought it out. A series of mid-race cautions regrouped the field, with Nathan Speten slipping past Glasser for second. Glasser rallied, however, and retook the spot with six laps remaining. After coming up short the past two years, Pavlicek finally broke through and parked in Dacotah Speedway victory lane. Glasser held off Nathan Speten for second, with Chris VanMil fourth and Jayden Pavlicek rounding out the top five. Satran Survives Caution-Filled Hobby Stock Main When the green flag waved in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, it was an early duel between Diezel Raynard and Kyler Satran. Satran grabbed the lead before a caution reset the field, the first of several that slowed the pace. The restarts worked to the advantage of former Oktoberfest champion Brandon Beeter, who sliced his way [Read More]

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