By Jerry Mackey
MAQUOKETA, Iowa (July 18, 2026) —The Sunoco IMCA Late Models capped another outstanding night of racing Saturday at Maquoketa Speedway with a thrilling finish. The perfectly prepared racing surface at the Jackson County Fairgrounds quarter-mile allowed competitors to race two and three-wide throughout the evening, producing an exciting 25-lap feature that wasn’t decided until the final few feet.
Steve Johnson paced the field early before Dalton Simonsen took over the top spot. Tenth-starting Blaise Lewis worked the extreme low groove to take the lead with 10 laps remaining and appeared headed to victory.
A late caution, however, erased Lewis’ advantage and set up a dramatic four-lap sprint to the finish. Lewis hugged the bottom while Dustin Smith powered around the top and Ron Klein repeatedly threw sliders at the leaders.
Smith completed the winning pass less than 50 feet before the checkered flag, edging Lewis by only a couple of feet for his third victory of the season, with his wins coming at three different tracks.
Lewis finished second, Klein crossed the stripe third, Travis Denning advanced from ninth to fourth, and Simonsen completed the top five.
Butt Opens Summer Showdown With Hobby Stock Victory
Saturday also marked the opening round of the Not Quite Done Yet BBQ Summer Showdown for the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. The three-race series awards extra money, contingencies and a point fund totaling $20,000, with additional rounds scheduled for July 25 and July 30.
Thirty Hobby Stocks answered the call for the opening feature, and Preston’s Carson Butt once again displayed poise beyond his years.
Running the high side of the speedway, Butt led every lap while repeatedly surviving caution-filled restarts to earn his fourth B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season and second at Maquoketa Speedway.
Brett Hahlen finished second ahead of Karter Miles, Jared Miles, and Kile Vohringer, who advanced from 12th to fifth.
Randy La Mar turned in one of the night’s best drives, charging from 19th to eighth, while Brandon White raced from 20th to ninth. Wisconsin’s Ashden Schilling also gained 11 positions, advancing from 29th to 18th.
Burk Breaks Through in Stock Cars
The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars once again delivered one of the night’s most entertaining features.
Andrew Burk raced to his first victory of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region after holding off a late charge from Jerry Miles.
The Milan, Illinois, driver collected the win ahead of Miles and Jacob Ellithorpe. Jordan Miles charged from ninth to fourth, while Gage Neal advanced from 10th to complete the top five.
Eckrich Continues Strong Season in SportMods
A talented field of 25 Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods took the green for their 15-lap feature.
For the second time this season at Maquoketa Speedway, 16-year-old Bryson Eckrich drove to victory after charging from the fifth starting position.
The Oxford driver earned his fourth victory of the season.
Hudson Morris made the trip from Yuma, Arizona, worthwhile by advancing from 12th to finish second. Jarrett Franzen placed third, Ryan Reed produced one of the night’s strongest charges from 23rd to fourth, and Nathan Silaggi rounded out the top five.
