By Greg Grabianowski
ALGONA, Iowa (July 23, 2026) — Willy Kirk enjoyed the biggest night of Thursday’s Salute to Veterans Tour powered by Performance Bodies & Parts, sweeping both the Race of Champions and the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature during the 10th annual Hunting With Heroes Salute to Veterans Night at Kossuth County Speedway.
Kirk collected $2,500 for his efforts while earning his first career Salute to Veterans Tour victory and his 10th feature win of the season, but first at Algona in 2026.
The evening opened with the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod Race of Champions, where Josh Appel and Tad Reutzel paced the nine-car field for the 12-lap special paying $1,000 to the winner.
Pole sitter Appel grabbed the lead at the start and remained out front through the halfway point before Kirk slowly reeled him in. Kirk took command with four laps remaining and, once in clean air, was never challenged.
Smith finished second ahead of Appel, Herrera, and Reutzel.
The 24-car feature followed with Blake Luinenburg leading the opening five laps before Slade Fitzgerald’s spin brought out the caution on lap six.
Three laps later, another caution slowed the field after a door panel came off in turn three, followed immediately by another yellow when three cars tangled in turn two.
Justin Klynsma inherited the lead on the restart and remained out front at the halfway point with Luinenburg, Smith, Kirk, and Tyler Nerud in pursuit.
Smith moved into the lead with seven laps remaining before another caution with two laps to go erased his advantage.
Smith led entering the final lap before Kirk wrestled away the lead on the backstretch and drove on to the $1,500 victory, completing the evening sweep.
Smith finished second, Payce Herrera was third, season point leader Alec Fett claimed fourth, and Nerud rounded out the top five.
Fett and Simpson each advanced 13 positions to share hard charger honors. Appel won the B feature while Jacob Tachney, Charlie Stevens, Bill Wegner and Luinenburg won the heat races.
Skyler Wood, who was paired with Kirk, won the Henry Boy Limited Edition Rifle. Wayne Landheer received the DeWald tool set, Gary Kunnetz won the CAT cooler, and Chad Hanson and Ruth Isebrand also earned prizes after being paired with wrapped car drivers.
Starry Scores First Salute to Veterans Tour Victory
The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars also brought a full field of 24 cars to the speedway.
John Oliver Jr. paced the opening 10 laps before Cameron Starry powered into the lead on lap 11. Two laps later, Oliver Jr. developed mechanical problems, bringing out the caution.
On the restart, Starry maintained the top spot while Mike Albertsen, Johnathan Logue, Kelly Shryock and Colby Fett battled intensely behind him for second.
Starry drove away to collect the $3,500 victory over Fett, Shryock, Logue, and Randy Klein.
Chad Palmer and Justin Luinenburg each gained 12 positions to share hard charger honors. Luinenburg won the B feature while Horejsi, Starry, Opheim and Oliver Jr. captured heat race victories.
The win was Starry’s 16th of the season, his second in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, first at Kossuth County Speedway this year and first career Salute to Veterans Tour victory.
The feature also served as a qualifier for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Starry was already on the eligibility list to try and qualify for the event.
Melvin Duckett won the Henry Boy Limited Edition Rifle after being paired with Starry. Brandon Miller received the DeWald tool set, Herman Harms claimed the CAT cooler, while John Emsweiler, Lyle Hippen and Brandon Evans also collected prizes after being paired with wrapped car drivers.
Nielsen Breaks Through in Hobby Stocks
Another full field of 24 cars took the green flag in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature.
Pole sitter Dylan Nelson led the opening laps before cautions on laps four and eight slowed the race.
At halfway, Nelson remained in front while Dalton Weepie, Brandon Nielsen, Cory Probst, and Corbin White battled closely behind him.
Nielsen finally took command with three laps remaining and raced away to earn the $1,000 victory.
Nelson finished second, Weepie was third, Probst crossed the line fourth, and Will Smith completed the top five.
Smith earned hard charger honors by advancing from 14th to fifth. Nash Palmer won the B feature while James Burns, Roger Krebs, Hanselman and Sidles claimed heat race victories.
The win was Nielsen’s seventh in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region this season, his third at Kossuth County Speedway and his first career Salute to Veterans Tour victory.
Paul McMahon, paired with Nielsen, won the Henry Boy Limited Edition Rifle. Tanner Boever received the DeWald tool set, Marvin Tigges claimed the CAT cooler, while Tim Ryan and Dan Rasman also won prizes after being paired with wrapped car drivers.
Mills Dominates Modified Feature
Jeremy Mills left little doubt in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified main event.
Starting from the pole, Mills built a commanding lead through the opening nine laps before the first caution slowed the field. Another yellow with two laps remaining gave Kyle Brown one last chance, but Mills pulled away again on the restart to secure the victory.
Season point leader Chaz Baca Jr. finished second, followed by Brown, Joel Rust, and Colby Fett.
Jordan Sours earned hard charger honors after charging from 19th to eighth. Nick Meyer, Brown and Baca won the Modified heat races.
The victory was Mills’ ninth of the season, eighth in the Razor Chassis North Central Region, fourth at Kossuth County Speedway this year and his second career Salute to Veterans Tour triumph after previously winning at Algona in 2024.
The feature served as a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational. Mills was already eligible to attempt to qualify at the IMCA Super Nationals.
Dale Wilcoxton won the Henry Boy Limited Edition Rifle after being paired with Mills. Brandon Miller received the DeWald tool set, Herman Harms claimed the CAT cooler, while R.J. Reynolds and Billy Lawrence also won prizes after being paired with wrapped car drivers.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
