Friday, September 6, 2019 Archives

Aikey, Carter are first in Friday Modified qualifiers

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 6) – The drivers who ran 1-2 in last year’s Modified main event both finished first in their respective qualifying features Friday night at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Defending champion Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls took the lead on the third lap, then outran a determined Steven Bowers Jr. following a late restart in the first qualifier. 2018 runner-up Cayden Carter of Oskaloosa led the last four times around the track in topping the nightcap at Boone Speedway. The 12th starting Bowers, from Topeka, Kan., Russ Dickerson of Boone and Trent Loverude of New Ulm, Minn., completed the top four behind Aikey. Carter had started the second qualifier from 13th, was all of a sudden in the top three by lap 10 and took the second spot from Riley Simmons of Susanville, Calif., after midway in the 25-lapper. He finally caught Malvern’s Jesse Sobbing with four to go. Sobbing, Simmons and Cory Wray of Trenton, Mo., were next across the stripe. Top four finishers from both qualifiers advance [Read More]

Rust shines in race to Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational checkers

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 6) – Joel Rust had a year to think about his disappointing end to last year’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. He’ll have a lifetime to remember how the 2019 event played out. Rust, from Grundy Center, led all 30 laps of the Modified special during Friday’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s program. The win was good for $1,000, plus another $750 in lap money. “We’ve been racing a Modified for six years. This is one of the biggest races you can win and we can finally say we did it,” Rust exclaimed from victory late at Boone Speedway. “This definitely ranks right up there.” Tanner Black of Otis, Kan., took over the second spot following back-to-back cautions on lap five and chased Rust to the finish. The race stayed green the last 26 circuits, with Jesse Sobbing of Malvern, 10th starting Steven Bowers Jr. of Topeka, Kan., and Richie Gustin of Gilman completing the top five. Rust moved to a higher line after Sobbing challenged early. He pulled away from [Read More]

Bag toss win puts Shannon on front row

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 6) – Those California drivers are just as good at bag tossing as they are at wheeling their IMCA Modifieds. D.J. Shannon became the second California speedster to win a front row starting spot in Saturday’s main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, defeating Nick Roberts in a Friday matchup. Both had won Thursday qualifying features at Boone Speedway. Top four finishers in those events duked it out this afternoon in the Fan Zone to determine the order one through eight in the middle row. Cody Laney will start third, Jordan Grabouski fourth, Randy Brown fifth – making the California drivers 3-for-3 on the day – Kelly Shryock sixth, Jeff Taylor seventh and Jimmy Gustin eighth. Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif., will start on the pole.

Jeff Bodendorfer Jr.’s Incredible Hulk super hero-themed ride was the young judges’ pick for top honors in the best appearing car contest for IMCA Modifieds at Super Nationals. Along with bragging rights and a trophy, Bodendorfer will take a steering box from Sweet Manufacturing and a case of oil home to Waterford, Wis. (Photo by Nick Woolley)

Hesston Shaw

BOONE, Iowa – Hesston Shaw’s previous IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s career highlight was starting on the pole for the Sunoco Race Fuels Race of Champions in 2016. He topped that and then some Thursday night. Shaw, from Hennessey, became the first driver from Oklahoma to qualify for the Stock Car Big Dance when he ran third in his qualifying feature. The Longdale Speedway regular put the Baird Motorsports ride, a former Mike Nichols car purchased over the winter, in the show after starting eighth. Needless to say, the superlatives flowed following post-race tech. “I still can’t believe I did it. This is a huge deal,” said Shaw, who pretty much grew up at the track. “Making the show is a dream come true. I’ve got goose bumps just thinking about it.” He raced his way up to fourth by lap seven and to third before a series of cautions near midway. “It was hard not to pay attention to the leader board,” said Shaw, who had tough customer Cayden Carter moving [Read More]

Much to see, enjoy in Fan Zone during week of Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa – There’s much to see and plenty to enjoy at the Fan Zone throughout the week of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Numerous events will be held at the Fan Zone, located south of the main grandstands, each day of America’s Racin’ Vacation Sept. 2-7. The Casey’s General Store redraw for starts in the front six rows of the Deery Brothers Summer Series main event will be held at approximately 7 p.m. on Monday. Monday’s Hobby Stock and Northern SportMod qualifying feature winners sign autographs at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Drivers in the two divisions winning qualifiers Tuesday evening sign autographs during another 6 p.m. session on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Card games to determine the starting grid for Northern SportMod and Hobby Stock race of champions events will be held at approximately 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, on Wednesday Top four finishers from Wednesday’s Modified and Stock Car qualifiers Rochambeau for starting positions and sign autographs starting at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively on Thursday, Sept. 5. Qualifiers from [Read More]

Defying the odds, Smith returns to race and represent PA in All-Star Invitational

COLUMBIA CROSSROADS, Pa. – A year and a half ago, doctors were telling Brad Smith he’d never race again. In July, his family, friends and fellow IMCA Modified drivers were calling and texting to congratulate the Columbia Crossroads, Pa., driver on his election to the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. He’ll become just the second Pennsylvania driver in the 16-year history of the event to start the Friday night special at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “Words can’t describe it,” said Smith, who had earned his place on the All-Star ballot by topping Summer Nationals at Outlaw Speedway. “I’ve been to Boone the last four years. Seeing all that takes place makes my hair stand up. The All-Star Invitational is one of the most prestigious races in IMCA.” Being able to race was first and foremost in his mind following a Jan. 12, 2018 traffic accident on his way home from work, after staying late to wrench on a race car at his shop in Horseheads, N.Y. The head-on crash left Smith [Read More]

Nine All-Stars make career first starts in Fast Shafts Invitational

BOONE, Iowa – Nine IMCA Modified drivers make career-first starts while three former race winners look for new success in the 16th annual Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. The twenty-eight drivers elected on Super Tuesday to start the Sept. 6 Invitational, during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, includes first timers Collen Winebarger of Corbett – also the first driver from Oregon elected to an All-Star race – Braxton Yeager of Green River, Wy., Jeffrey Abbey of Comanche, Texas, Larry Adams of Van Alstyne, Texas, Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls, Tom Berry Jr. of Newburg, N.D., Tanner Black of Otis, Kan., Brad Smith of Columbia Cross Roads, Pa. and Collin Thirlby of Traverse City, Mich. Second-time All-Stars are Cayden Carter of Oskaloosa, Clay Money of Penokee, Kan., and Joel Rust of Grundy Center. Drew Armstrong of Benton, Ark., Steven Bowers Jr. of Topeka, Kan, and Malvern’s Jesse Sobbing each were elected for the third time while Kyle Brown of Madrid and Zane DeVilbiss of Farmington, N.M., both were elected for the fourth. Defending race [Read More]

Super Tuesday arrives, All-Star voting begins

VINTON, Iowa – It’s Super Tuesday and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational voting is underway. Twenty-eight of the 30 IMCA Modified drivers to start the All-Star race, to be held Sept. 6 at Boone Speedway during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, will be elected today. All ballots will be cast the IMCA Facebook page with the electronic polls open until 9 p.m. CST. “The All-Star Invitational is a fan favorite and one of our most prestigious races. Like the first 15 Invitationals, the 16th annual event will feature many of the best drivers in our Modified division,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “It’s going to be a great race and we look forward to seeing which drivers IMCA fans elect to the starting field.” The top three vote recipients from each of the five Modified regions are guaranteed starting spots, with their region of candidacy determined by where they made the majority of their IMCA sanctioned starts. The next 13 drivers with the highest vote totals, regardless of region, become All-Stars. Completing the [Read More]

Last-minute campaigns underway for Super Tuesday IMCA Fast Shafts All-Star voting

VINTON, Iowa (July 29) – IMCA Modified candidates have today to do last-minute campaigning before Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballots are cast. Twenty-eight of the 30 drivers starting the All-Star Invitational will be elected on Super Tuesday tomorrow, July 30: All voting will be through the IMCA Facebook page with the electronic polls open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST. The top three vote recipients from each of the five Modified regions are guaranteed starting spots, with their region of candidacy determined by where they made the majority of their IMCA sanctioned starts. The next 13 drivers with the highest vote totals, regardless of region, become All-Stars. Completing the field will be drivers with the top national point total and with the most 40-point feature wins as of Aug. 29 competing at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The $1,000 to win, 30-lap event will be held Sept. 6 at Boone Speedway. All-Star drivers receive firesuits from Velocita and mini-replica drive shafts from event title sponsor Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange. [Read More]