Monday, September 7, 2020 Archives

Thornton repeats with opening night Late Model Super Nationals crown

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 7) – Ricky Thornton Jr. became a two-time champion at last year’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. He became a two-time Late Model champion on a windy opening night of the 2020 event. Thornton got the lead back from Jeff Aikey on the 32nd of 50 circuits, then led Richie Gustin through lapped traffic to the $3,000 checkers Monday night at Boone Speedway. “It was really hard this year, admitted Thornton. “I tried high, I tried low and I was finally able to move by him (Aikey) for the lead.” Thornton had started seventh, Gustin from sixth. Aikey, who was chasing his career eighth and seventh Late Model crown, ended in third while Andy Nezworski worked his way back into the top four with 11 laps left. Nebraskan Cory Dumpert had the fastest car at the start, building a half straightaway advantage over Nezworski before a lap eight caution. Thornton got up to second but could only watch as Aikey drove by to the front on lap 17. After Dumpert [Read More]

Mike Nichols moved to the top of IMCA’s all-time wins list with his career 558th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win on Sept. 3 at Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus, Neb. He is pictured in victory lane with wife Anita. (Photo courtesy of Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway)

Nichols hustles to IMCA record 558th career win

COLUMBUS, Neb. – Mike Nichols couldn’t recall many of the details of his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win.He’ll remember everything about his latest. Nichols won for the 558th time in his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career at Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus, Neb., becoming IMCA’s all-time wins leader with the Sept. 3 checkers. It was the latest accomplishment for the most decorated driver of the sanctioning body’s modern era.“Everything you do is special in its own way,” said Nichols, now running for his ninth national championship. “Everything is its own accomplishment. When I’m in a nursing home years from now, this is something I’ll be able to talk about.”From Harlan, Iowa, Nichols has averaged better than 29 wins a season since 2002, with an IMCA record-tying 54 in 2016. He also owns more than 40 career track championships, another IMCA-best total, with at least one track title to his credit every season except one in the past 19 years.”“To be consistent for such a long time is remarkable, especially in a Stock Car, which [Read More]

Jayden Schmidt

He’s got a career-best 14 feature wins and two track titles to his credit, long with a big lead in the state points race. But the cherry on top of Jayden Schmidt’s Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod season would be be qualifying for Saturday’s main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Seventeen years old and a senior at Seymour, Wis., High School, Schmidt got his first look at Boone Speedway when he pulled into town on Sunday. He was comfortable wheeling his way around Iowa’s Action Track and ready to get down to the serious business of winning Monday’s 16th heat. “I’ve driven on similar tracks so I’m used to corners like they have at Boone,” he said. “I know the competition here is very good. My goal is to make the show on Saturday, then I’ll be happy.” Sixth in current national standings and a contender for the Junior National Champion honors as well, Schmidt learned the racing basics in go karts before moving to the SportMod class. He’s got some time yet [Read More]

Jerry Hunt

A Michigan driver who made a long-awaited return to victory lane last weekend hopes to see his new streak continue this week at Boone Speedway. Jerry Hunt earned the IMCA Modified win at Thunderbird Raceway over the weekend, along with $1,000 and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth. He made the tow to Super Nationals with son Mitchell, a third generation driver who was elected to start the upcoming version of that race. Hunt was retired for more than three years before getting back on the track during the Fourth of July Weekend in a GRT by S & S Motorsports ride bought from Shawn Bearce. “My son is my best competition. The tables have turned and now I’m learning from him,” said Hunt, especially proud to see Mitchell race his way into the Big Dance two years ago. “I’m going to give it my best this week. I know we’re going to be up against the best of the best . We’re going to see what happens.”

Bonuses, lap leader money add $8,000-plus to Super Nationals paydays

BOONE, Iowa – More than $8,000 in bonuses and lap leader money will be paid out at the Sept. 7-12 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway. Quick Performance gives $100 bonuses to the winners of three qualifying features for Hobby Stocks, three qualifying features for Northern SportMods and six Stock Car qualifying features. One hundred dollar bonuses from Aeromotive go to drivers winning the qualifying features for Modifieds. Lap leaders in Friday’s 30-lap Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational for Modifieds earn $25 courtesy of Elmquist Towing each time they’re scored first around the track. Leading each circuit in the 12-car, 12-lap Harris Auto Racing Race of Champions for Modifieds pays $100. From start to finish, companies anteing up C Notes are Dirt Monthly Magazine, Intensitee, Cookie’s Sauce and Seasoning, Walmart, Baymont Inn & Suites, Wheelock’s Service, Joe Busch Ag Repair, Ames Ford Lincoln, Pulse Racing Innovations, Hy-Vee, Top Level Suites and JVan Sports. The Sunoco Race Fuels Race of Champions for Stock Cars, Stephenville Starter Race of Champions for Hobby Stocks and BSB Manufacturing Race [Read More]

IMCA.TV bonuses guarantee $14,000+ to Super Nationals champs

BOONE, Iowa – A couple clicks is all it will take for drivers to put themselves in the running for bigger paydays at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. IMCA.TV bonuses replace Weekly Racing Bonuses to guarantee an additional $14,150 be paid to main event winners who pre-register for the 38th annual event, and who share Super Nationals information on their Facebook page any time before the first green flag flies on opening day Monday, Sept. 7 at Boone Speedway. If they meet both requirements, the Modified champion earns $7,000, with $5,000 paid to the Stock Car champion, $3,000 to both Late Model and Northern SportMod champions, $2,000 to the Hobby Stock champion and $1,000 to the Sport Compact champion. “With the abbreviated schedules at many tracks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, very few if any drivers will be able to reach the maximum number of starts to determine Weekly Racing Bonuses,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “It’s not fair to promote the champions’ payout this way so for this Super Nationals it [Read More]