Dan Engledow

Huish sprints to IMCA RaceSaver Nationals crown

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 3, 2023) – Night four of the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car Nationals presented by Twin Rivers Jeep Dodge Ram and Twin Rivers Ford was a repeat of nights two and three as far as the weather was concerned. Each day of racing saw the temperature rising, much like the action on the high banks of Eagle Raceway. It had cooled off to only 98 degrees at race time, matching the heated action that was to come as the Battle For The Belt began in earnest. Beginning with the “F” Feature, every race meant more and more as drivers tried to advance to the Big Dance where the winner would not only the coveted winner’s belt, the top prize of $3,000 but also the knowledge that they had bested the other 86 drivers in attendance. The spotlight introduction of the 27 warriors, highlighted by 3,000 glow sticks in the stands served to bring the crowd to a fever pitch in anticipation of the battle about to be waged on the high banks [Read More]

Sachau still fast in a SportMod, Anderson repeats at Prelude

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 3, 2023) – Jake Sachau proved he still knew how to wheel a Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod. Logan Anderson had to give a 10 to his win in the division, too, in Sunday’s Wild Rose Casino Double Down Prelude at Boone Speedway. Sachau became the ninth different winner in nine Northern SportMod events in Prelude history before Anderson became the first repeat winner in the nightcap. Both checkers were good for $750. After the STARS Mod Lite championship event, $400 IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock winners were Blake Luinenburg and James Johnson. Pole starter Sachau, currently 12th in national IMCA Sunoco Stock Car standings and challenging for rookie of the year honors in The Class Too Tough To Tame, just edged leader Arie Schouten to the line following the first of three restarts midway through the first SportMod feature. The 2022 BSB Manufacturing Race of Champions winner outran Schouten the rest of the 25-lapper, with Colby Fett, Matthew Looft and 19th starting Kaylin Lopez completing the top five. “We’ve been in a Stock Car most of [Read More]

An IMCA Super Nationals first for Tennessee as Choate claims STARS Mod Lite crown

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 3, 2023) – Ronnie Choate returned to Boone Speedway and the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s to run with the best. On Sunday night, he proved he was the best. Choate, from Cookeville, became the first driver from Tennessee to win a Super Nationals championship in any division, driving past Jon Padilla on the final circuit for the history-making STARS Mod Lite Big Dance victory. “This means a lot to us. There have been several big races we have won and this is one of the biggest,” said Choate, again sharing much of the credit with brother-in-law, crew chief and Precision Bulldog Chassis partner Logan Rittenberry. “There had been times when we weren’t very good and thought about quitting, but I didn’t give up, he didn’t give up, and here we are.” “We’re basically a two-man crew. I couldn’t do this without him.” Choate had started fifth and ran somewhere in the top five all 30 laps. R.J. Gonzales, winner of the final qualifying feature held earlier Sunday, battled [Read More]

Wilson shines in IMCA STARS Mod Lite Race of Champions

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 3, 2023) – The caution Jeromy Wilson didn’t want to see came out with four laps left in Sunday’s STARS Mod Lite Race of Champions. “I was a sitting duck,” the Mabelvale, Ark., driver said from victory lane at Boone Speedway, after holding off Jon Padilla to win the first RoC of the 41st annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “But I knew there were good, clean racers behind me.” Wilson led the distance from the pole. Padilla made his way from eighth starting to finish just 12 hundreth’s of a second off the pace and two-time defending race winner Dillon Raffurty was third. 2023 track, series and state champions or point leaders, and former Super Nationals champions and race of champions winners – Raffurty, in both the last two cases – were eligible to qualify for the 12-lap race. Ronnie Choate and Bryce Vowan completed the top five. Eight states were represented in the 12-car field. “This is huge,” Wilson said following his win, in the third appearance by [Read More]

IMCA Double Down Prelude checkers are first for Van Genderen

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 2, 2023) – Checkered flag runs by a driver who has been in victory lane at Boone Speedway before and a first-time winner bookended opening night of the Wild Rose Casino Double Down Prelude. A record 402 cars saw action during the Saturday show, which saw former race winner and defending IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champ Jake Benischek top the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature and Rowdee Van Genderen win for the first time in an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car in the nightcap. In between, Tim Ward and Jimmy Gustin both won Friesen Performance IMCA Modified features and $1,500, and Tyler Wilson won $1,000 and a Stock Car feature of his own. The 16-year-old Van Genderen, in a borrowed ride and in just his second full season in The Class Too Tough To Tame, led the last 27 of 30 laps and was never challenged by a stout field following a restart at midway. “I don’t know what to say. It’s my first win,” admitted Van Genderen, a sure [Read More]

Padilla, Raffurty star in IMCA Super Nationals Mod Lite qualifiers

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 2, 2023) – The drivers who finished 2-1 last year at Boone Speedway will line up 1-2 in this year’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s STARS Mod Lite championship event. 2022 runner-up Jon Padilla led start to finish in winning Saturday’s first 25-lap qualifying feature, earning the pole start in Sunday’s Big Dance. Two-time defending champion Dillon Raffurty was just as impressive in the second qualifier, outrunning Ronnie Choate following a late restart in his own flag-to-flag run. He’ll start from the front of the middle row in the main event. “It felt great,” Padilla said from victory lane, admitting he “didn’t know if anyone was keeping up” with him. Joel Huggins did his best, chasing the Silvis, Ill., speedster around the track the last 24 circuits. Following the front pair across the stripe and into the inside row in the main event were 14th starting Brandon Freeburg, Josh May, Justin Kinderknecht, Jeromy Wilson, Garrett Stonum, Tanner Gannon, Blake Wilson and Michael Raffurty. Dillon Raffurty paused to remember his late [Read More]

Memorial Day 2023

The IMCA Offices will be closed on Memorial Day and will reopen with normal business hours on Tuesday.

Stevie is a wonder at East Bay Winter Showdown

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 18) – After Thursday and Friday night IMCA STARS Lite feature wins at East Bay Raceway Park, Stevie Throop knew he was fast. After completing his weekend sweep at Tampa Bay with Saturday’s $4,000 Winter Showdown checkers, everybody else knew it, too. “After the first two nights I knew I would have a good shot in the main,” said Throop, from West Palm Beach. “I was starting from the pole and felt pretty good about it. I knew I just had to get out there and run my race.” Throop had topped $300 to win and $400 to win features, respectively, from the pole on Thursday and from eighth starting on Friday, then set the stage for Saturday’s main event with the dash victory. “We rolled with the same setup as the Sugar Bowl (the previous weekend) and didn’t change anything on the car after opening night,” said Throop, who led the IMCA STARS Mod Lite 25-lap big show from start to finish after a caution erased Joe Isabell’s pass for the [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Sept. 15

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb., 997; 2. A.J. Ward, Ionia, Mich., 989; 3. William Gould, Calera, Okla., and Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Mont., both 983; 5. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 982; 6. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 970; 7. Matthew Day, Farmersville, Texas, Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, and Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., each 968; 10. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 962; 11. Jacob Poel, Nunica, Mich., 961; 12. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 960; 13. Jeff Reay, Portland, Mich., 957; 14. Chris Morris, Taylor, Texas, 955; 15. Chris Abelson, Sioux City, Iowa, 952; 16. Dallon Murty, Chelsea, Iowa, 951; 17. Jarrett Brown, Ainsworth, Iowa, and Austen Becerra, Carthage, Ill., both 950; 19. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 948; 20. Mitchell Hunt, Lakeview, Mich., 947. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 796; 2. Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, Iowa, 774; 3. Jacob Waterman, Colona, Ill., 766; 4. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, 765; 5. Dalton Simonsen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 741; 6. Chase Osborne, Norfolk, Neb., 735; 7. Alex Banks, Newman Grove, Neb., 729; 8. Chuck [Read More]

Berry tops record 40^th IMCA Super Nationals with Modified crown

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 10, 2022) – Tom Berry Jr.’s run to the Modified championship brought the final checkers down on the record-setting week of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, when 1,000 cars brought 1,000 stars to Boone Speedway. Berry, one of the record 1,000 drivers from 28 states and four Canadian provinces competing at the 40th annual event, caught Kollin Hibdon for the lead just before midway of the 40-lapper, then held off the young speedster from Nevada the rest of the way. “This is unbelievable,” Berry said before trophy photos were taken in the NAPA Fan Zone. “I’ve been coming to Super Nationals for years and finally did it. To win Super Nationals just topped my season. I can’t believe it.” The Oregon native had raced in the Pacific Northwest and then out of North Dakota before moving to Iowa. Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational winner Cody Thompson was in and out of the top five before ending in third and Canadian Aaron Turnbull was fourth. Other Saturday champions were Dallon Murty, [Read More]