Northern SportMod Archives

Olson Takes Top SportMod Honors at Benton County Speedway

By Christine Rublack VINTON, Iowa (Jun. 22, 2025) — Brandon Tharp led the early laps of the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods feature at Benton County Speedway during Iowa Donor Night, held in remembrance of the Urbana 5, but Kyle Olson quickly reeled him in. Brady Hilmer moved into third as Olson turned up the pressure. By halfway, Olson powered into the lead while Hilmer worked the low groove to take over second. Lapped traffic brought the front-runners together again in the closing laps, with Brett Thomas joining the battle. Olson held off a hard-charging Hilmer for the win, his third of the season and second at “The Bullring” this year. Thomas finished third. Fisher Inches Ahead in Hobby Stock Close Finish Joren Fisher edged out the competition in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. He quickly moved into the lead with Dustin Filloon and Mike Kimm giving chase. Filloon later slipped into the top spot as lapped traffic began to play a role in the outcome. Leah Wroten advanced into third ahead of Justin Stander as [Read More]

Gustin Grabs Three Wins in One Night at Boone

By Coty Mallicoat BOONE, Iowa (Jun. 21, 2025) — Boone Speedway delivered a jam-packed doubleheader with 188 racecars in the pits for Farley Tire Smackdown and Hawkeye Challenge night. Rain had postponed the June 14 Smackdown program, setting up a rare two-show Saturday — and Jimmy Gustin stole the spotlight with a sweep of three feature victories across two classes. In the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified makeup feature, Gustin jumped from the second row and never looked back. The veteran driver fended off strong runs by Greg Elliott and Trevor Fitz. It was Gustin’s first Modified win of 2025 in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. Switching machines in the infield, Gustin returned for the makeup Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main and wheeled from seventh to the lead. Doug Smith and Devin Smith challenged lap after lap, but Gustin stood tall. The Stock Car finale might have been the race of the night. Jeff Mueller led early with Jay Schmidt in pursuit, but Gustin charged from 12th to the lead as the laps wound down. Jake [Read More]

Probst Prevails in Hobby Stock Feature at Arlington

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Jun. 21, 2025) –– There were three different leaders in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature at Arlington Raceway. Dan Probst led early before Brad Becker took over. By lap six, Cory Probst was in control and never looked back, holding off both Becker and Chad Volk in a fierce battle for second. Volk secured the runner-up spot while Becker settled for third ahead of Jordan Robinson. The win was Cory Probst’s fourth at Arlington this season and his 15th in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. Gatton Sweeps Sport Compact Night Dale Gatton had a clean sweep in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact division, winning both his heat and the feature. Starting from the front row, Gatton never relinquished the top spot en route to his first Arlington win of 2025 and second overall this season. The lone incident came when Gary Schumacher exited on the backstretch with mechanical issues. Alan Lahr finished second and Justin Dose took third. Reierson Rallies for SportMod Victory The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod [Read More]

14th Annual Richie McGowan Memorial and Bakersfield’s Biggest Fireworks Show This Saturday at Bakersfield Speedway

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Jun. 24, 2025) – This Saturday June 28th, Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway honors a great racer and honors America with the 14th Annual Richie McGowan Memorial, featuring Bakersfield’s biggest fireworks show, plus racing for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Saturday’s event is the first time Kern Raceway at Enos Ln & I-5 will host the McGowan Memorial. Grandstand gates open at 4pm with hot laps at 5pm. On Track Autographs are scheduled by 5:30pm followed by opening ceremonies, heat races, and main events. Bakersfield’s Biggest Fireworks Show closes the show. General Admission tickets are on sale now at www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com. Adult general admission tickets are $25 with kids ages 6-12 admitted for $15 while kids five and under are free! Parking is free of charge. McGowan was an important figure at Bakersfield Speedway as a racer and fellow competitor, along with his daughter Tina. His memorial race has served as one of the most cherished events of the season throughout [Read More]

Championship Weekend Set to Cap Off Season at Phillips County Raceway on June 28–29

By Suzan McCoy HOLYOKE, Colo. (Jun. 24, 2025) — The 2025 racing season at Phillips County Raceway will go out with a bang as the high banks host a massive Double Header Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, June 28–29, featuring the final IMCA-sanctioned races of the year at the venue. This thrilling two-night finale not only crowns the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing track champions but also serves as a pivotal stop for the Colorado Alliance Tour (CAT), making it a can’t-miss event for fans and drivers alike. Race fans will be treated to two full nights of action-packed IMCA racing, with Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts all battling for final season bragging rights and valuable CAT tour points. As the only IMCA-sanctioned event in Colorado this weekend, all eyes turn to Holyoke as drivers from across the region converge to chase championship glory. The unique weekend format features draw-for-heat and redraw-for-feature both nights, promising unpredictable lineups, intense racing, [Read More]

Shryock Wins Stock Car Shootout Special at Kossuth County

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (June 19, 2025) — Kelly Shryock has been the dominant Sunoco IMCA Stock Car driver in special feature races around Northwest Iowa early this summer. That trend continued Thursday night at Kossuth County Speedway, as the veteran driver added another win to his collection. Shryock took the lead on the fifth circuit of the 25-lap main event and navigated through lapped traffic in the closing stages to hold off a serious challenge from Justin Luinenburg. The Stock Car Shootout win was worth $2,000 and marked Shryock’s ninth victory of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, and third Stock Car triumph at Algona in 2025. Zayn Feaster and Jordan Rogotzke led the field to the green as each of the starters were guaranteed at least $200 to take the green flag. Feaster led the opening four laps before Shryock took command. Shryock and Luinenburg steadily pulled away from the field and caught lapped traffic with seven to go, setting up a cat-and-mouse game through slower cars. Luinenburg stayed close [Read More]

Bellm Blazes to El Paso County Stock Car Victory

By Suzan McCoy CALHAN, Colo. (Jun. 20, 2025) — In the main event at El Paso County Raceway, featuring the Colorado Alliance Tour IMCA Stock Cars, Layne Bellm of Broomfield showed exactly why she’s a driver to watch. Bellm led from the pole and never looked back, fending off D.J. Banks lap after lap to earn her second win of the season—and her first in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Bellm dominated the feature and picked up valuable points in the CAT Tour. Ryan O’Lear moved up into second after Banks dropped out with a flat tire, while Peyton’s Brian Lessig rounded out the podium with a solid third-place finish. Halley Holds Off the Heat for SportMod Win The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod class saw a 15-car field take the green, and Barry Halley of Pueblo made the most of his front-row starting spot. He led the entire distance, holding off a hard-charging Ryan Moser, who moved up from fifth to finish second. Dave Stock kept a steady pace all night to bring home [Read More]

James, Sanders, and Wild Crowned IMCA Wild West Speedweek Champions

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (June 24, 2025) — Despite the final two nights falling to rain, the 2025 edition of the IMCA Wild West Speedweek completed five races in six nights across four different Oregon tracks. Three divisions crowned champions following intense competition in the Pacific Northwest. Bricen James delivered a masterclass across the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified division to secure his second career Speedweek title, backing up his 2022 crown. The Albany, Oregon native tied the all-time record for most wins in a single Speedweek with four, matching Kellen Chadwick (2016), Collen Winebarger (2019), and himself. But this time, James set a new record with four straight Speedweek feature wins. Driving the Schram Motorsports-owned no. 13, James won the opener at Southern Oregon Speedway, both nights at Coos Bay Speedway, and added another triumph at Douglas County Dirtrack before finishing second at Cottage Grove Speedway on Wednesday, June 19. Kevin Williamson of Coburg, Oregon rebounded from adversity all week to finish second in the standings aboard the Superior Fuel Cells-fielded No. 42. He came [Read More]

Andersen Rockets from 13th to Eagle Stock Car Glory in Late-Race Thriller

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (June 21, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature’s initial start at Eagle Raceway was negated when Roger Elliot spun in turn four. On the restart, Tommy Etherton took the early lead, with Cash Beckman, Mike Scheinost and Jakob Boucher giving chase. Scott Carlson jumped past both Scheinost and Boucher on lap two to grab third, while Mason Richards moved into fourth on lap four. Lap ten saw Kyle Vanover vault into the top four, climbing to third. A caution with eight to go reset the field with a double file restart. That’s when Chad Andersen made his move, charging from 13th to second. He took over the lead with six laps remaining as Vanover followed him into second. The top four settled in from there with Andersen collecting his second Stock Car win of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, Vanover in second, and Etherton third. Waller Powers to Sprint Car Supremacy with Daring Late Charge Billy Alley led the early stages of the RaceSaver IMCA [Read More]

Cruz Birkhofer Scores First Career Win at Davenport’s Sheet Metal Showdown

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (Jun. 21, 2025) — Cruz Birkhofer claimed his first career Sunoco IMCA Late Model feature win Saturday night during the Sheet Metal Showdown at Davenport Speedway, earning a $2,000 payday in the process. Starting on the outside of the front row, Birkhofer committed to the high side and never looked back, leading every circuit of the main event. At the finish, he held a half-second advantage over Andy Nezworski. Nezworski, who started fourth, had to work past Chase Brunscheen to take over second. He managed to close to within a car length of Birkhofer in the closing laps, but couldn’t get close enough to challenge for the lead. Logan Veloz finished third after rolling off fifth. Carter charges from 12th to SportMod Win Brayton Carter picked up the $2,000 Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod win in thrilling fashion. Josh Starr set the early pace after starting on the front row and led until a lap 12 caution bunched up the field. On the restart, Dylan VanWyk powered to the front and [Read More]