Abelson Scores First Win of Season at Park Jefferson

Hobby Stock, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Results, Sport Compact, Stock Car

Chris Abelson celebrates after winning the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on July 31 at Park Jefferson Speedway. The Sioux City, Iowa, driver earned his first Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season after charging from eighth on the starting grid. (Photo by Purdy Photography)

By Ben Deatherage

JEFFERSON, S.D. (July 31, 2026) — Chris Abelson took advantage of a mid-race break to collect his first Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season Friday night in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature at Park Jefferson Speedway.

Jesse Patterson led the opening laps before Jimmy Cole charged around the outside to take command. Cole appeared headed for victory until he jumped the cushion exiting turn two midway through the 20-lap main event, bringing out the caution.

That handed the lead to Abelson, who had worked his way forward from eighth on the starting grid. The Sioux City, Iowa, driver took full advantage, driving away over the closing laps for the win.

Duke Erickson advanced from 10th to finish second and earn hard charger honors, while Greg Taylor climbed from 11th to third. Patterson held on for fourth, and R.J. Merchant completed the top five.

Cole and Abelson won the heat races.

Ward Earns Second Stock Car Victory of ‘26

Jason Ward raced to his second EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season, with both wins coming at Park Jefferson, in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature.

Mike Jensen led the early laps before Wyatt Luke moved into the top spot. Ward soon took command and remained out front the rest of the 18-lap contest.

Greg Peck put together the drive of the night, charging from 16th to second to earn hard charger honors. Luke finished third, Ryan Harris was fourth, and Tyler Smith rounded out the top five.

Travis Barker and Luke captured the heat race victories.

Kirk Keeps Rolling in SportMods

Willy Kirk continued his dominant season by charging from 10th to win the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature.

The Salix, Iowa, driver earned his 11th victory of the season and sixth at Park Jefferson Speedway in 2026.

Jake Newsom finished second, Geoff Olson was third, Rusty Montagne fourth, and Brayden Shepherd fifth. Elie Welch advanced from 21st to seventh to earn hard charger honors.

Olson, Montagne, and Tommy Tanner won the heat races.

Malasek Reaches 10 Regional Wins

Cody Malasek raced from ninth to the front to capture the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature.

The Emerson, Nebraska driver recorded his 10th B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season and his sixth at Park Jefferson Speedway this year.

Zach Ankrum finished second, Carter Davis was third, Wyatt Johnson fourth, and Ben Schneiders completed the top five.

Malasek and Johnson won the heat races.

Vogt Goes Flag to Flag in Sport Compacts

Mike Vogt, of Sioux City, Iowa, led every lap of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature to earn his first victory of the season.

Bentley Freeman charged from ninth to finish second and claim hard charger honors. Levi Volkert finished third, Michael Gardner fourth, and Auston Honeycutt rounded out the top five.

Justice Limoges, Vogt, and Dalton Woodle were heat race winners.

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.

Related Articles

Hobby Stock

Seibold rings up career first IMCA Stock Car win

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (May 9, 2024) – His phone started ringing right after Brian Seibold’s Thursday night IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win at Park Jefferson Speedway. It hasn’t stopped. The victory was Seibold’s first in nearly 120 career starts in The Class Too Tough Too Tame dating to 2019. Mike Nichols, IMCA’s all-time wins leader, Texas hotshoe Shelby Williams and Todd Gereau completed the top four behind him. “It was pretty amazing, to say the least. The top five or six guys there were fast, really fast,” said Seibold, “and when they showed up and I saw them pulling into the pits I thought to myself that this was going to be a rough night.” He added fuel but made no setup changes after going backwards in his heat, accurately figuring what his car and the track would do in the main event. Seibold drew the outside front row start, passed Corey Frye early and led the last 18 of 20 circuits, keeping Nichols & Co. at bay in a green, white, checkered finish. “He never [Read More]

News

Mackenthun Masters Make-Up Main at Park Jefferson

By Ben Deatherage  JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 2, 2025) — A thrilling Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature—rescheduled from April 18—unfolded Friday night at Park Jefferson Speedway, with Minnesota’s Dan Mackenthun emerging victorious in the 18-lap contest. Aaron Cain led early and built a strong advantage as Greg Peck and Devin Tripp waged war for second. A caution on lap 3 reset the field, and Tripp used the restart to charge the high side, pulling alongside Cain on the backstretch before taking the lead. A caution waved and Mackenthun momentarily took the lead on the next green, only for another yellow to erase the pass. On the ensuing restart, Tripp pushed too high, lost positions, but was rescued by yet another caution. Mackenthun kept the pressure on, and when Tripp bobbled in turn four on lap 8, the Hamburg, Minnesota veteran capitalized and never looked back. The 10-time reigning Minnesota State and 13-time Arlington Raceway track champion dominated the second half of the race to notch his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of 2025. Chad Ten [Read More]

Events

Monumental IMCA Rushmore State Wide Open Tour travels to Wagner, Park Jefferson, New Raceway Park

WAGNER, S.D. (May 6, 2022) – A monumental tour for five IMCA divisions is in the works at three South Dakota speedplants. Opening night Friday, May 13 for the Rushmore State Wide Open Tour is at Wagner Speedway with the Saturday, May 14 show at Park Jefferson Speedway and the Sunday, May 15 finale at The New Raceway Park.  Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars both race for $1,000 to win, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks both for $400 to win and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts for $200 to win each night. Modified feature winners become eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational while Stock Car winners become eligible to qualify for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, KMJ Performance State and track points will be given each night; Modifieds earn national, Razor Chassis North Central Region and state points at Wagner.  All three programs are draw/redraw. Pit passes are $35 and entry fee each night [Read More]