Dan Engledow

Tony Olson makes a record 12th straight Championship Night start from the pole on Saturday, after winning the first IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals Northern SportMod qualifying feature. (Photo by Tom Macht, www.photofinishphotos.com)

Long runs at front lead Olson, Franzen to victory lane in SportMod qualifiers

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 2, 2024) – After long runs at the front, Tony Olson and Jarett Franzen made their plans to go dancing. Olson led all but the first two laps in winning his Monday night qualifier and will start on the pole of Saturday’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s main event for Northern SportMods at Boone Speedway. Franzen was scored first across the stripe all 25 circuits of the second qualifier, outrunning hard-charging and defending champion Jake Sachau the final time around the track, and will start at the front of the middle row. One hundred and seventy-six Northern SportMods vied Monday at Iowa’s Action Track. Olson qualified for a career record 12th Big Dance, beating Joe Docekal to the checkers by three tenths of a second. “We threw it up top and the car was amazing. This is awesome,” he said. Docekal would fail compression in post-race tech and be disqualified while Taylor Kuehl gave up her eighth place finish to run for a better starting spot on Tuesday. With that shuffling, [Read More]

It’s one down and two to go now for Dylan Thornton following his Monday night Late Model championship run at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. He’s pictured post-race with IMCA President Brett Root in the NAPA Fan Zone. (Photo by Tom Macht, www.photofinishphotos.com)

After Late Model triumph, Thornton takes aim at two more Super Nationals titles

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 2, 2024) – One down, two to go, Dylan Thornton had the fastest car when it mattered most Monday at Boone Speedway, driving away from Cory Dumpert on the final lap in winning the Late Model main event on opening night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. While taking the $3,00 checkers, the 2023 Stock Car champion became just the sixth driver in the 42-year history of Super Nationals to win titles in multiple divisions. “It’s awesome. We had one goal for this week and that was to go 3-for-3 and be the first person to do that,” said Thornton, winner of his first Late Model start at Boone and looking to add two more big trophies to his collection on Saturday night. “This was cool. I love Super Nationals and it means so much to win any race here,” he continued. “So far, we’re starting off strong. Now we want to go for that Modified and that Stock Car win.” Austen Becerra, another of the 13 first-time [Read More]

Logan Anderson won a third consecutive Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature on night two of the NAPA Auto Parts Double Down Prelude Sunday at Boone Speedway. (Photo by Tom Macht, www.photofinishphotos.com)

Anderson three-peats at NAPA Auto Parts Double Down Prelude

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 1, 2024) – Another record-setting night at the NAPA Auto Parts Double Down Prelude saw another driver make history at Boone Speedway. Logan Anderson won the second of two Sunday evening features for the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, extending his unprecedented Prelude streak in that division to three straight checkers. Anderson led the last 21 of 25 laps, chased the last 15 of those circuits by Robbie Thome. Anderson was leading by less than nine hundredths of a second before a late restart and managed to add a tenth or two to that lead the final couple laps. “That was a hard fought race. I can’t believe I’ve won this three years in a row,” he said. “It’s crazy to think about, with the number of cars and the talent that are here.” Thome had also been runner-up to Anderson in 2022. Justin Addison, Jacob Olmstead and 18th starting Randy Havlik completed the top five. A record 709 cars competed over the two days of the Prelude, 45 more than at last [Read More]

Riley Clem became the first champion crowned at the 42nd annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, after leading the last half of Sunday’s STARS Mod Lite Big Dance. He is pictured with IMCA President Brett Root. (Photo by Tom Macht, www.photofinishphotos.com)

Clem captures Super Nationals STARS Mod Lite crown

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 1, 2024) – Riley Clem’s first Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite win of the season came in April at Boone Speedway. His biggest win of 2024 and of his career in the class came Sunday night at the same location, in the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s main event. Clem inherited the front spot when leader Dillon Raffurty was unable to answer the call following a red flag delay midway through the 30-lapper, then ran unchallenged the last 15 times around the track, beating Jon Padilla to the checkers by three-plus seconds. “It was as a great night for sure,” said Clem, a first-time qualifier for the Big Dance and $2,000 richer for his efforts. “I don’t know what happened to (Dillon) but I think we would have had a pretty good run for sure.” A record 78 Mod Lites vied in the division’s fourth appearance on the card at Super Nationals. Native Californian and Tennessee transplant Clem became the second straight champion from the Volunteer State. His [Read More]

Following his Sunday STARS Mod Lite Race of Champions win, Jon Padilla was joined in victory lane by IMCA President Brett Root, Bryan Compart of division title sponsor Stealth Racing and Division Director Jimmy May. (Photo by Tom Macht, www.photofinishphotos.com)

Padilla makes STARS Mod Lite RoC win look easy

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 1, 2024) – Hard to believe but Jon Padilla believes Boone Speedway isn’t as easy to get around as he made it look. Padilla led all 12 laps of Sunday’s STARS Mod Lite Race of Champions, cruising to the checkers nearly three seconds ahead of Ed Griggs “This track is really tricky to get around,” Padilla averred from victory lane. “I’m still trying to get it figured out.” “With day racing, the track changes so much it’s hard to guess what you’re going to get,” continued the Silvis, Ill., driver, runner-up in both 2022 and 2023 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s main events as well as last year’s RoC. “We’re going to work on something in the middle for the feature (tonight). I’ve got a lot to move up if I can do anything but I’m going to give it hell.” Two-time RoC winner Dillon Raffurty raced from 10th in repeating his third place finish from the 2023 Race of Champions. Randy Bryan and Blake Wilson completed the top five. [Read More]

Ethan Barrow wheeled his way to the qualifying feature checkers during the Saturday IMCA RaceSaver Nationals show at Eagle Raceway. (Photo by Joe Orth)

Back to basics, Barrow is best in RaceSaver Nationals qualifier

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 31, 2023) – A typical late summer day greeted the fans that streamed through the front gates of Eagle Raceway Saturday for the Saturday portion of the 2024 IMCA Racesaver Nationals. All but the nine teams who qualified for Sunday’s Big Dance the night before strapped back in to compete for the coveted first nine spots in the outside row for the “A” Main on Sunday. With 97 racers battling you can bet that the action was hot and heavy. Ethan Barrow used his pole position spot to grab the lead on lap one with Cole Vanderheiden, John Carney II and Jake Bubak rounding out the top four. Dan Nekolite spun coming out of turn four on lap two and collected Tyler Drueke, who made the long walk back to his pit as his car was towed back to his trailer. Nekolite’s racer was likewise hooked up and taken to his pit. Clint Benson passed Bubak on lap four to put the no. 100 into the fourth spot. Benson [Read More]

Tim Ward extended his NAPA Auto Parts Double Down Prelude record with a fourth consecutive Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win Saturday at Boone Speedway. (Photo by Bruce Badgley, Motorsports Photography)

Ward, McBirnie write more Prelude history at Boone

BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 31, 2024) – Tim Ward made more history Saturday at Boone Speedway. Then Jake McBirnie wrote some of this own. Defending IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion Ward won the first of two Friesen Performance IMCA Modified features for his fourth consecutive victory during the NAPA Auto Parts Double Down Prelude. Brother-in-law and former Northern SportMod victor McBirnie then followed with a Modified win of his own, making him the first driver to win Prelude crowns in different divisions. A record 416 cars in four divisions saw action during the Saturday show. Ward chased and caught pole starter Izac Mallicoat four laps into their feature, then led another 21 fast-paced times around Iowa’s Action Track. The sole caution came on lap 16 but Ward quickly caught up with the back of the pack and beat Mallicoat to the $1,500 checkers, his Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying 11th dating to last September. “I figured it was going to be really tough to get four in a row. There’s just something about the [Read More]

McDowell, Raffurty are Mod Lite Saturday stars at Boone

Jaedon McDowell will start from the pole in the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s main event, after winning Saturday’s first qualifying feature for STARS Mod Lites at Boone Speedway. (Photo by Bruce Badgley, Motorsports Photography) BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 31, 2024) – Two STARS Mod Lite drivers with some unfinished business at Boone Speedway took care of business Saturday night. Jaedon McDowell raced from 10th, Dillon Raffurty from 12th in winning their respective IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s qualifying features. McDowell, from Murfreesboro, Tenn., will start on the pole in Sunday’s $2,000 to win big dance, while Kansas City, Mo., ‘shoe Raffurty takes the green from the front of the middle row. A Super Nationals record 78 Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites were among the 416 cars competing at Iowa’s Action Track, another new mark for opening night of the NAPA Auto Parts Double Down Prelude. “It felt amazing. Last year we came out here and couldn’t even get a heat win. Tonight we came out and did both. Hopefully tomorrow [Read More]

Cody Thompson got a huge dose of momentum headed to Boone with his $10,000 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win at Rocket Raceway Park’s Bryan Mize Memorial, (Photo by Stacy Kolar, Southern Sass Photography)

Thompson towers above IMCA Modified foes at Paris

PARIS, Texas (Aug. 31, 2024) – He didn’t know for sure where on the track he needed to be but Cody Thompson ended up in the place he wanted to be Saturday night. The Sioux City, Iowa, speedster led the last half of the 40-lap Bryan Mize Memorial main event at Rocket Raceway Park, earning a career-best $10,000 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified payday. One of 47 IMCA entries at the 10th annual event, Thompson started the big show from sixth, was quickly up to third, snuck under pole starter Jared Maupin for second and then rode in the runner-up spot several circuits before reeling in Matthew Day. “I kind of wanted to be where he (Day) was at but I didn’t know if I needed to be on the bottom right around the tires or in the middle,” Thompson admitted. “There’d be times when I’d leap out ahead of him and there’d be times he’d leap out ahead of me.” “I really didn’t know what to expect because I’m not super familiar with that place or [Read More]

Trevor Grossenbacher was first to the checkers in the Friday night qualifying feature at the IMCA RaceSaver Nationals. (Photo by Joe Orth)

Grossenbacher is first in Friday RaceSaver qualifier

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 30, 2024) – Thursday was to have been a practice night to allow time for participants in the IMCA Racesaver Nationals to get acclimated to the high banks of Eagle Raceway, but that evil deity Mother Nature decided to gift us with her liquid sunshine. That caused the Eagle officials to call off the night’s events. But Friday saw a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and lots of race teams in the pits just waiting to put on a show for the fans and attempt to lock themselves into the inside nine rows of Sunday’s Big Dance. In all, 106 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars filled the pits. Lap one of the Sprint Car feature saw Billy Alley and Shayle Bade make contact with Alley spinning and causing the cars behind him to bunch up. Zach Rhodes then made contact with Koby Werkmeister, sending Rhodes flipping. Rhodes’ car was pushed to the pits while Alley drove to the pits for repair and rejoined the field. The restart saw Stu [Read More]