Sprint Car News

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 4, 2024) – Where could you see 151 cars signed in, running a race program that included five main events, four ‘B’ features, three ‘C’ features and two ‘D’ features and the final checkers at 10:30 p.m.? Eagle Raceway fit that bill Saturday night with IMCA feature wins going to Shawn Harker, Brandon Horton, Kyle Vanover, Dillon Richards and Cole Wayman. Harker’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win was his career first win in the class. He’d be in the pits ‘til the wee hours of the morning getting congratulations from friends and fellow racers along with early birthday greetings. “It feels great. We’ve come close a lot of times and this time the circumstances finally worked out for us,” said Harker, who collected track titles at Eagle in 2018 and 2021 while totaling 40 Northern SportMod checkers plus special events wins in Las Vegas and around the Midwest before moving to the Modified three years ago. “Coming to the checkers I thought ‘Finally, I finally got the monkey off [Read More]

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 979; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 902; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 598; 5. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 446; 7. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., 419; 8. Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., 389; 9. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 373; 10. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 372; 11. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 12. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 361; 13. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 14. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 336; 15. Chuck Grohnke, Mesa, Ariz., 326; 16. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wy., 316; 17. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 311; 18. Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, 307; 19. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 296; 20. Trevor Fitz, Marshalltown, Iowa, 295. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Evan Miller, Silvis, Ill., 142; 2. Dylan Schmer, Aurora, Neb., 117; 3. Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, 115; 4. Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill., 110; 5. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, and Christopher Lawrence, Colona, Ill., both 109; 7. Jacob Kubicka, [Read More]

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (April 27, 2024) – The fourth time was a charm Saturday night for Chris Miller. The Chillicothe speedster was first across the stripe every lap of the inaugural East Coast Nationals Chad Hyatt Memorial, collecting a $2K IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car payday at hometown Atomic Speedway. “This has been a race we’ve had our eves on for a while, but it got rained out twice last year and again last week,” Miller explained following his first checkers in three Ohio Thunder Sprint Series starts so far in 2024. “To pick up the win means a lot. We’ve been focused on this race for a while.” Miller had run second in his heat and posted the second fastest time before lining up outside pole for the headline 30-lapper. Owen Timm was briefly ahead before Miller regained the lead in lapped traffic. The final caution came with eight circuits to go and defending series champion Wyatt Justice made the race to the finish a close one after Miller got stuck on the lower line. Justice, [Read More]

WINCHESTER, Va. (April 27, 2024) – He didn’t lead the most laps, just the most important one. Dylan Shatzer raced in the top three for the whole feature and was finally able to swoop around the leader in traffic after taking the white flag in second and go on to win in the Saturday IMCA RaceSaver event co-sanctioned by the Virginia Sprint Series and Laurel Highlands Sprint Series at Winchester Speedway. Matt Klien and Ryan Lynn started on the front row of the feature but Klien stopped in turn two with a broken rear axle, which could have been a disaster at speed. After clearing the car, Croix Beasom and Lynn paced the field to green with Beasom out first, Lynn second and Shatzer third. Action would continue after a red flag for three cars bicycling and stopping or flipped in turn one with Beasom out again with Lynn and Shatzer on the really fast clay oval. Lap after lap they chased each other as the pack behind them were changing every circuit. As they [Read More]

By Sheldon Wickwar HUTCHINSON, Kan. (April 26, 2024) – Dakota Sproul, Cody Williams, Warren Huffman, Tathan Burkhart, and Taylor Velasquez all picked up historic first IMCA feature wins at Saltcity Racing located at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. Sixty-five race teams checked into Hutchinson, and the packed grandstands saw some great opening night IMCA racing action, along with the United Rebel Sprint Series. The 15-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature started with a front row of Craig Miller and Tathan Burkhart. Miller was in front early but down the backstretch Burkhart grabbed the race lead. Meanwhile his father Troy was battling for fourth place with William Nusser. Tathan Burkhart built a big lead right away as Miller and Mike Petersilie were nose to tail for second and third place. At halfway, Tathan Burkhart entered lapped traffic while still holding a big lead over Miller but lap seven saw a caution for a car stopped on the front stretch Miller surrendered second place to Petersilie off the restart. Tathan Burkhart pulled away late and went on to [Read More]

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 974; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 893; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 564; 5. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 446; 7. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., and Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., both 389; 9. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 373; 10. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 372; 11. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 12. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 361; 13. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 14. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 336; 15. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wy., 316; 16. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 311; 17. Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, 307; 18. Chuck Grohnke, Mesa, Ariz., 298; 19. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 296; 20. Trevor Fitz, Marshalltown, Iowa, 295. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Evan Miller, Silvis, Ill., 142; 2. Dylan Schmer, Aurora, Neb., 117; 3. Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, 115; 4. Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill., 110; 5. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, and Christopher Lawrence, Colona, Ill., both 109; 7. Jacob Kubicka, [Read More]

By Frank Buhrman PORT ROYAL, Pa. (April 20, 2024) – Two weeks ago, Nick Sweigart committed to the high side of Port Royal Speedway’s racing surface, and while his racing line thrilled the crowd, he needed some late attrition among other front-runners for it to result in a fourth-place finish in the River Valley Builders Pennsylvania Sprint Series makeup of the 2023 Keystone RaceSaver Challenge. This Saturday night was very different. Hanging high, and hitting the wall once, the Myerstown veteran shot from his sixth starting position into second on the opening lap, then got past early leader Ken Duke at the beginning of lap three. From that point on, Sweigart was atop the Speed Palace leaderboard and despite his critical appraisal of his driving over the last half of the race, he held his lead in traffic and scored a 2.159-second victory over defending PASS champion Logan Spahr, who took the runner-up spot from Duke on the final circuit of the 20-lap feature. The feature ran non-stop and was completed in less than seven minutes. Only [Read More]

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (April 20, 2024) – On a track that’s definitely different than what he’s used to running on, Ethan Braaksma raced to the same results Saturday night. Braaksma won his sixth Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature, and fifth Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying race of the season, collecting $2,000 on night two of the Ice Breaker Challenge. “It was a pretty good run. I just took my time and hit my marks. I was kind of searching there at the beginning but once I found the bottom I hit it really good,” said Braaksma, the leader from lap 11 to the finish. “I could see where the others were messing up in front of me and that’s how I got to the lead. I just had to be sure to get the left side down in the moisture so I could get off of the corner.” Ricky Stephan and then Shawn Harker held down the front spot early on. Braaksma caught Chad Andersen for second on lap seven and grabbed the [Read More]

By Jim Haines HAGERSTOWN, Md. (April 20, 2024) – Jerald Harris finished the race right where he started it: At the front. Harris led the distance of Saturday’s IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car main event at Hagerstown Speedway, in the first of five races at the Maryland oval co-sanctioned by the Virginia Sprint Series and Laurel Highland Sprint Series. After running second in his heat, Harris and Jay Fry paced the 25-car field to green with Harris out first before Fry got too high in the loose stuff and spun to a stop. On the second start, Harris was out again with Dylan Shatzer now in second followed by Caleb Harris, John Scarborough and Ben Miklos. Following another caution, Harris and Shatzer were joined by Scarborough and Caleb Harris. The leader was stretching it out with Shatzer and Scarborough battling for second and behind them it was sprinters swapping every spot every lap. A stalled car slowed the field bunching it up as the end was near but Harris took off and left second place up [Read More]

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 965; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 883; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 564; 5. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 407; 7. Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., 389; 8. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 9. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 361; 10. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., 353; 11. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 12. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 336; 13. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 334; 14. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 311; 15. Chuck Grohnke, Mesa, Ariz., 298; 16. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 297; 17. Ethan Braaksma, Des Moines, Iowa, 290; 18. Mike Dimond, Rapid City, S.D., 278; 19. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev., 268; 20. Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo., 267. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Tom Svoboda, David City, Neb., 78; 2. Dylan Schmer, Aurora, Neb., 77; 3. Austin Svoboda, David City, Neb., 76; 4. Christopher Lawrence, Colona, Ill., 75; 5. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, and Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill., both 73; [Read More]

By Frank Buhrman PORT ROYAL, Pa. (April 18, 2024) – The River Valley Builders Pennsylvania Sprint Series batting average has dropped to .333 after a second postponement in three 2024 tries, so it’s up to Port Royal Speedway to successfully negotiate with Mother Nature and get things back on track this Saturday night. PASSIMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car teams are set to join 410 sprints and super late models for a sure-to-be-wild, hope-to-be-dry show at Port Royal. This past Friday night’s Spring Sprint Spectacular at Williams Grove Speedway fell victim to soggy conditions and the likelihood of high winds. The PASS tour is scheduled to race at the Grove next on Friday, May 24. In the meantime, Port Royal looms large, with two programs in the next three weeks. On Saturday, May 4, the same program of 410 sprints, super lates and River Valley PASS IMCA RaceSavers will bring out the cars and drivers again. Both the upcoming Port shows already have 40 or more teams preregistered. Heading that list is Keystone RaceSaver Challenge winner Ken Duke, runner-up [Read More]

By Jim Haines NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (April 13, 2024) – On a windy and sunny day, Donnie Hendershot flew like the to finish first in the season opening race for the Virginia Sprint Series at Natural Bridge Speedway. Hendershot and Jerald Harris paced the Saturday night IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field to green. Hendershot used the low line to gain the lead with Harris staying high while John Scarborough used the low line and was on Harris quickly.  Scarborough made it to second as Hendershot continued out front and with the laps winding down, traffic was coming up and that allowed Scarborough to close in. With the white flag waving, Scarborough was within striking distance as he made the final push but Hendershot stayed strong streaking under the waving checkered flag. At the line it was Scarborough, Jerald Harris, Caleb Harris and Matthew Leach completing the top five behind Hendershot.  On Saturday, April 20, the Virginia Sprint Series and Laurel Highlands Sprint Series will join up at Hagerstown Speedway for the second race of the [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (April 15, 2024) – IMCA drivers will still be allowed to compete in specified, multiple divisions this season. What they won’t be doing, however, is changing divisions multiple times, especially when it comes time to racing in high-paying specials. Both general rules and divisional rules posted on the IMCA website now specify which divisions drivers can compete in when purchasing licenses in two or more classes; what’s spelled out in black and white is the time they’ll have to wait when switching between restricted divisions. “For example, if a driver with a Modified license switches to a Northern or Southern SportMod, they have to stay in the new division for 12 calendar months from the date they changed divisions,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “What we’ve seen primarily is drivers making that switch to race in higher-paying specials held prior to or after the end of the point season. In no way is it fair for SportMod drivers who support their weekly tracks during the season to race against Modified or Late Model [Read More]

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 956; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 879; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 528; 5. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 407; 7. Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., 389; 8. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 9. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 361; 10. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 11. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 334; 12. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 311; 13. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 297; 14. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 296; 15. Ethan Braaksma, Des Moines, Iowa, 290; 16. Mike Dimond, Rapid City, S.D., 278; 17. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., 276; 18. Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo., 267; 19. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, and Chuck Grohnke, Mesa, Ariz., both 265. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars – 1. Chad Wilson, North Richland Hills, Texas, 139; 2. Corby Scherb, Decatur, Texas, 128; 3. Cody Price, Princeton, Texas, 111; 4. Conner Thomas, Post, Texas, 109; 5. Dillan Baldwin, Taylorsville, Ky., 105; 6. Daniel “D.J.” Estes Jr., Fort [Read More]

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (April 12, 2024) – Ralph Palmer got some seat time in a Sprint Car “years ago” during his own racing career. This season, the new Lakeside Speedway general manager will get to watch the IMCA RaceSaver class run on nine Friday nights at his Kansas City track. “I think the 305 Sprint Cars will fit in well here because they’re affordable and they’re always fun to watch,” said Palmer. “We have guys from Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska who want to race here, and even some from Arkansas who have said they’re interested in coming up.” First night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season will be April 19, with race dates following on May 17, May 31, June 14, July 5, July 12, Aug. 2, Sept. 13 and Sept. 20. The July 5 show is Lakeside’s Gary D Memorial, held in honor of late drivers Gary Davis and Gary Dillinger. “Every time this track has held a Sprint Car special, we’ve had a real good turnout and a real good [Read More]