Northern SportMod News

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (Apr. 27, 2025) — Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars took center stage at Nodak Speedway’s season opener, and the 3/8-mile “Playground of Power” delivered thrilling side-by-side action on a crisp Sunday evening. Chris Tuchscherer, the 2005 Williston Basin Stock Car champion and double-duty driver for the night, grabbed the early lead. However, two-time defending track champion Will Scheresky found a way around him by lap 4 and began pulling away before a caution slowed the field on the fifth circuit. On the restart, Gabe Deschamp — fresh off a win at Marshalltown’s Frostbuster earlier in the month — tracked down Scheresky and completed a bold move on the inside to take command on lap 6. The two would battle fiercely until another yellow interrupted the action. Deschamp nailed the restart and continued his dominance, but Mike Hagen soon emerged as a threat. Hagen, a two-time Nodak Stock Car champion, briefly edged ahead on lap 15 only for Deschamp to counter immediately and retake the lead. The Westhope driver scampered away in the [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (Apr. 26, 2025) — A rare Saturday night show kicked off the 2025 season at Nodak Speedway, and the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds delivered an instant classic on the 3/8-mile “Playground of Power” at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. Marcus Tomlinson and Justin Medler battled for the early advantage, with Tomlinson edging ahead after lap one. The six-time defending North Dakota State champion and 2022 Nodak track king looked strong before a restart brought two-time North Dakota State champion and 2017 IMCA national titlist Jason Wolla into the mix. Wolla muscled his way to the front by lap five, with Travis Hagen soon entering the fray. What followed was a family affair as Wolla and Hagen — brothers-in-law off the track — staged a thrilling duel on it. Hagen, a former Nodak champion and eight-time Williston Basin Speedway titleholder, applied steady pressure and began drawing even with eight laps remaining. The pair traded sliders and crossovers before Hagen finally gained the upper hand with a bold move coming to the high-raised [Read More]

By Suzan McCoy NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (Apr. 26, 2025) — D.J. Banks stole the show Saturday night at Lincoln County Raceway, roaring from 13th on the grid to the front of the pack to win an electrifying Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. The driver out of Brush, Colorado made his move just past the halfway mark and never looked back, collecting both the victor’s purse and his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region triumph of 2025. Robert Leonard and Tyler Barribo completed the podium after a hard-fought battle behind him. In the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, Jacob Olmstead of Overton thrilled fans with a masterful drive from 10th to first. It took Olmstead only ten laps to claim the lead, and once he got out front, he remained unchallenged to secure his first win of the new campaign. Joseph Cooper and Ryan Arbogast ran strong races to finish second and third. The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature was packed with excitement. Zach Olmstead picked up his fourth B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region win of the [Read More]

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (Apr. 25, 2025) — Logan Veloz scored his first ever Sunoco IMCA Late Model feature win. The 21-year-old Colona, Illinois driver took the lead of the race on lap 3 and never looked back. Veloz becomes the third different Late Model feature winner at Davenport in as many races this season. Travis Denning started on the pole in the race and led the first two laps before finishing second. Evan Miller was third. The full field of Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds was sprinkled with some top-name talent.  Wisconsin’s Skyler Woods jumped out to the early lead in the 20-lap main. However, the race would be halted by a red flag on lap 5. An eight-car pile-up on the frontstretch blocked most of the track. All drivers involved were able to walk away from the incident. On the restart, Woods resumed the lead, but now with Spencer Diercks on his rear bumper. Spencer would grab the top spot on lap 10 and pace the field the rest of the way. Ben Chapman [Read More]

By Jerry Vansickel MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Apr. 27, 2025) — Mother Nature looks to be a race fan this Friday night as Marshalltown Speedway kicks off its 62nd Annual Season Opener, highlighted by the annual UAW Local 893 Cliff Chambers Memorial. Each year, the event honors one of the great promoters in the track’s storied history. Cliff Chambers was instrumental in keeping weekly racing alive on the famed 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval for many years, and this memorial race continues his lasting legacy. The chase to Championship Friday begins in all of our weekly divisions: Karl Chevrolet IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts, and Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Friday’s program begins with pit gates opening at 5:15 p.m., grandstands opening at 5:30 p.m., and hot laps at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $10 for veterans, seniors (65+), and students ages 11-17. Kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult. Pit passes are $35 [Read More]

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (Apr. 26, 2025) — Fans at Maquoketa Speedway were treated to a heart-pounding finish in the 25-lap Sunoco IMCA Late Model main event. Travis Denning appeared poised to go back-to-back, but a thrilling final-turn scramble in traffic opened the door for Mitch Morris. As the leaders split a lapped car coming to the checkers, Morris shot low while Denning went high, with Logan Veloz charging right behind them. Morris edged ahead at the line for his first win of the 2025 campaign, with Veloz nipping Denning for the runner-up spot. Mohr Muscles to First Modified Win of the Year The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds was another hotly contested race with the final outcome not decided until the final turns of their 20-lap main event. Charlie Mohr raced Shane Paris for several laps before Mohr was able to secure the top spot. A late race caution bunched the field and the last couple of laps saw the Top 5 positions being swapped as the race wound down to the checkers. At the [Read More]

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Apr. 26, 2025) — A longtime competitor in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Chad Andersen broke through in a big way Saturday night at Eagle Raceway, scoring his first career win in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car division. Andersen took over the top spot on lap 10 after a thrilling, multi-lap battle with John Anderson, then held off late pressure to secure the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory. Anderson, who led early, remained a threat throughout the 20-lap contest, while Mason Richards raced his way into third. A caution with just three laps to go bunched the field, but Andersen kept his composure to seal the milestone win in front of an enthusiastic Eagle crowd. Teen Star Jack Thomas Captures Sprint Car Victory Brandon Bosma was first back to the flag stand on the opening lap of the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature. Bosma already started picking off lapped cars on lap 6 before a caution came out. Jack Thomas took advantage of a bobble by Bosma with ten circuits [Read More]

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Apr. 25, 2025) — For the second event in a row the Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMods put on an action filled 20-lap main feature. Chowchilla’s Emali Van Hoff brought home the Ocean Speedway title last year without winning a main event, while using extreme consistency. On Friday night she was determined to check off a main event win and had some tremendous battles with Trent Golden, K.C. Keller and others. The SportMods ran high and low on the well-prepared Watsonville bullring. Van Hoff led some before falling to second but regained the lead around the halfway point. She went on to claim the big triumph over Keller and previous feature winner Bo Crebs racing the no. 168 for car owner Jerry Movrich. It was the Lady Eagle racer’s first win of 2025. The event was streamed live on IMCA TV affiliate Stars On Dirt TV. Replays are available through the IMCA TV Replay Subscription for $24.99/month. Already subscribed? Be sure to check out Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming [Read More]

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (Apr. 25, 2025) – 18-year-old Dana Wells of Wilton is only in his sophomore season in a race car, but the young man has shown that he will be a strong contender in the very tough Sunoco IMCA Stock Car class. Wells advanced from a third-row start and set his sights on race leader Austin Kemper. The two young drivers battled for several laps before Wells took control and raced on to win his career first in the division and the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Kemper was second, and eighth-starting Dustin Vis came through the pack to finish in the third spot. A couple of local hot shoes put on a good show in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Kurt Kile and Brandon Banks raced very hard for the win on Friday night, with Kile prevailing when the checkers flew. It was the first win of 2025 in the Razor Chassis North Central Region for the Nichols native. Banks settled for second ahead of Adam Shelman in the main [Read More]

By P.J. Pedersen COLUMBUS, Neb. (Apr. 17, 2025) —  Jeff Ware picked up an exciting Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature win at Abe’s US 30 Speedway during the 2025 season opener, which marked the 39th year of racing at the Columbus speed plant. The Columbus native thrilled his hometown crowd with the victory, his first of the season in EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region competition. Dana Rasmussen started on the pin, but going into turn one, he was immediately under attack from Scott Smith and a host of others. By the halfway point, Smith had fallen back just a bit, but two new players had checked into the fight as ninth starting Austin Brauner and multi-time track champ Jeff Ware were now in the fray. But in the end, Ware and Brauner were too much. Ware would obtain the lead and would score the win. Brauner and Rasmussen were the rest of the podium finishers, in second and third. When the green flag dropped for the Sunoco IMCA Late Model main event, six-time National champ Cory [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (Apr. 19, 2025) – Ethan Killingsworth turned heads Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speedway, winning his Friesen Performance IMCA Modified debut in commanding fashion. The defending Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod track champion took the lead early and never looked back, capturing the $2,000 top prize in the 25-lap main event. Kevin Pendergrass led early before a lap one caution bunched up the field. Killingsworth then executed a textbook move to the front and dominated the top groove of the 3/8-mile oval. Eston Whisler battled with Pendergrass for second before pulling away to attempt a challenge on Killingsworth. A caution with 11 to go set up a restart, but the Yreka, California chauffeur remained smooth and composed up top, pulling away in the final laps for his first career Shaw Race Cars Western Region victory. Whisler finished second, while his 17-year-old brother Ian Whisler completed the podium. Braaten Bags First SportMod Win of 2025 in Dominant Run Four-time Oregon State champion Jorddon Braaten was untouchable in the 25-lap Karl Chevrolet [Read More]

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Brentwood’s Fred Ryland won the 20-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod main event in a near photo finish victory over Jason Ryan Jr at Antioch Speedway. This was the 40th career SportMod win for the three-time track champion, but first of 2025. Ryland led the field to the green flag ahead of Al Johnson and Jeff Bentancourt. A yellow flag waved after three laps for Scott Savell. Ryland continued to lead Johnson on the restart with Danny Wagner settling into third.  An inside pass on the front stretch of the sixth lap put Danny Wagner into second with Kenny Shrader settling into third. Ryland had a big lead erased when Alfred Johnson spun in turn three for a lap 10 yellow flag. Ryland led Wagner on the restart with Ryan moving into third, but a multi-car tangle in turn four brought out another yellow flag on lap 11. When it was all sorted out, Ryland continued to lead Wagner and Ryan. Ryan slipped past Wagner for second [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Ricky Childress Jr. bolted to the front on the opening stanza of the 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Mohave Valley Raceway and never looked back. Wheeling the Pike Racing No. 16, the 2016 Bakersfield Speedway champion masterfully navigated the 3/8-mile oval, fending off Dann Perry III through a flurry of early restarts. Once the race settled into rhythm, Childress built a strong lead until pressure mounted from teammate Jake Pike, who took over second on lap 13. Pike narrowed the gap in lapped traffic, but a late yellow set up a green-white-checkered finish. Pike pulled into the pit area under caution, and Childress powered to the $1,750 victory—his first in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region this season. Adam Hommerding and Noah Geer rounded out the podium. Morris Motors to First SportMod Victory of 2025 In the 20-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature, Nick Coffman paced the opening laps before facing a challenge from Jake Snowden and eventual winner Hudson Morris. Morris, a [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Apr. 19, 2025) — An exciting 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event saw Jonathon Logue edge out David Smith in a dramatic finish to claim his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season at Boone Speedway. Doug Smith, the 2020 National champion and 2016 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, blitzed to the point on the opening lap after starting fourth. After an early caution, David Smith moved into second on the restart, but Logue began working the low side and passed him for the runner-up spot on lap five before another yellow slowed the action. David Smith, a four-time Super Nationals champion and the 2008 National champ, briefly regained the lead on a restart before Logue, from Logansport, nosed ahead at the line on lap 11. Logue, a three-time Boone SportMod champion and three-time Super Nationals winner in the division, held the top spot as the Smith brothers battled for second. A late caution with four [Read More]

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Tyler Nerud had his work cut out for him if he hoped to double up at Eagle Raceway’s Ice Breaker Challenge and collect the extra $1,000 bonus offered for a repeat win in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, as he was starting deeper in the field from inside the sixth row. The first official lap saw Adam Vrbka showing the way. Vrbka continued to show the way, but Nerud effectively moved his way forward getting into third after a triple overtake on lap 7 and got into second around the midway mark. Nerud closed the gap steadily until he flew high and wide through turns 3 and 4 on the final lap and passed Vrbka just before the flag stand. Despite having to begin the race eleventh it did not deter the Dorchester driver’s path to the winner’s circle for his second feature win of 2025. Vrbka was second while Cole Wayman finished third. Vanover Fends Off Grabouski in Intense Stock Car Feature In the main [Read More]