Northern SportMod Archives

Richards Powers to Hobby Stock Glory in $1,500 Summer Nationals Finale at Clay County

By Ben Deatherage SPENCER, Iowa (Jun. 2, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks were in their final night of Summer Nationals competition at Clay County Fair Speedway on Monday night, and the $1,500-to-win 18-lap main event delivered an absolute thriller. Blake Luinenburg, the reigning track champion at both Murray County and Worthington Speedways, launched from the outside pole and immediately took command using the high groove. A caution on lap five bunched up the field, allowing Tyler Smith and 2022 National Hobby Stock champion Dillon Richards to close in on the restart. Luinenburg built another strong lead, but Richards — who started 14th — began methodically searching the track for speed. He found it, and by lap 12, he was at the leader’s door. Richards worked the bottom while Luinenburg held firm up top. The two exchanged the lead before a caution flew just after Luinenburg reclaimed the spot. On the restart with five to go, Richards pulled even and took the lead for good on lap 15. Luinenburg mounted one last-lap charge, but the [Read More]

Graham Tops the Hobby Stocks for $1,000 at Marshalltown

By Kaden Krebs MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (May 30, 2025) — The RBF Electric/Mid States Boring-sponsored Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature at Marshalltown Speedway paid $1,000 to win, and it delivered in the excitement department. Tom Killen Jr. started on the pole, with Kolby Sabin to his outside. Killen led lap one before last week’s winner, Kevin Sather, worked past him and held the top spot for much of the race. Bradly Graham wasn’t going to let him run away with it. Graham reeled him in, battled side by side, and made the winning move with two laps to go. He beat Sather to the line to secure his first Marshalltown victory of 2025 and third win overall in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. Eric Stanton completed the podium in third. Carter Charges to Stock Car Win at MoTown The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars brought plenty of action. Kyle Olson led the opening lap from the pole, but the field stayed bunched up with Olson, Austin Kaplan, and Jimmy Gustin racing hard in close quarters. Quietly but [Read More]

Trebelhorn Thrills Arlington Crowd With Stock Car Triumph

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 31, 2025) — A new face in victory lane had the crowd roaring as Jed Trebelhorn and A.J. Zimmerman started on the front row of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event and raced side by side for the first five laps until Tim Pessek worked his way into the mix. A yellow flag waved when Mark Zimmerman spun in turn four and exited the track. On the restart, Trebelhorn maintained the point and took off, while Pessek, Zimmerman, and Josh Larson battled for second. Another caution came on lap ten when Randy Melvin had issues and pulled off the track. Trebelhorn again led the field to green and withstood heavy pressure. Some drivers found grip on the top, others searched low, but lap by lap, Trebelhorn held on for an exciting win — his first career Stock Car victory at Arlington and in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Larson finished second, with Pessek close behind in third. Loverude Outlasts Hatlestad for Second Arlington Modified Triumph of the Year [Read More]

Rooker Steals the Show in Thrilling Sport Compact Finish

By Chris Kolstad BRAINERD, Minn. (May 31, 2025) — Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact action at North Central Speedway delivered the finish of the night. Colton Lodermeier jumped to the early lead and looked to have things in hand during the 15-lap main event. With four laps remaining, Hunter Carlson broke a right rear axle and nearly rolled, but safely landed the car and brought out a caution. On the restart, defending track champion Baylen Rooker moved around Gabe Ridlon into second, then quickly challenged Lodermeier on the outside. The two raced side-by-side for the final four laps — Lodermeier glued to the bottom, Rooker right against the cushion. Coming out of turn four on the final lap, Rooker got just enough grip to edge ahead by mere inches at the line for his second win of the season. Ridlon, continuing a strong sophomore year, finished third. Anderson Claims Second Hobby Stock Win by a Bumper Veteran Mike Nelson and rookie Andrew Malinowski led the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock field to green in their feature, with Nelson [Read More]

Walt Prevails on Final SportMod Restart at WaKeeney For Late Race Win

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (May 30, 2025) — The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods had a busy night at WaKeeney Speedway, capped by an exciting feature that saw Blaine Walt emerge victorious after a late restart. Ryan Kirchoff stormed out to an early lead and looked unstoppable, leading the first sixteen laps before contact between a lapped car and Jack Kirchoff brought out the caution. That restart placed Walt on the inside of the front row. Kirchoff got a strong jump and led for a few more laps, but Walt slipped underneath to take the lead. Kirchoff made one last attempt, but Walt held on to claim his fourth win of the season and third at WaKeeney, adding to his sweep of the John Fose Memorial. Kirchoff settled for second, with Cody Gearhart completing the podium. Sproul Dominant in Mod Action Dakota Sproul led every lap of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature, commanding the race from start to finish. Late-race contact between Mike Bainter and Kyle Rohleder, who was nursing a soft right rear [Read More]

Conner Edges Heath for First Career Win in Maquoketa SportMod Thriller

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (May 31, 2025) — A beautiful night greeted race fans at Maquoketa Speedway, where the ¼-mile oval produced thrilling action across all five IMCA-sanctioned divisions — including tight finishes and a memorable first-time winner in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods. Patric Conner led early in what turned out to be the race of the night, but multiple challengers kept him in striking distance throughout the 17-car main event. The closing laps featured a three-way scrap with Levi Heath and Jarrett Franzen, building to a dramatic, near-dead heat at the white flag. Conner stuck to the high line, Heath rolled the bottom, and at the stripe it was Conner — by just .061 seconds — scoring his long-awaited first career feature win. Heath settled for a narrow second, with Franzen right behind in third. Graduation Day Glory for Late Model Pilot Bodin It was a day to remember for Jesse Bodin of Silvis, Illinois. After walking the stage for his high school graduation earlier in the day, Bodin led all 25 [Read More]

Braaten Banks $6,069 in SportMod Smackdown Win at Southern Oregon

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (May 31, 2025) — Central Point’s Jorddon Braaten showcased his prowess by leading all 69 laps of the rebranded SportMod Smackdown at Southern Oregon Speedway, securing a commanding victory and a $6,069 prize in one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier IMCA SportMod events. Formerly known as the Dwayne Melvin Clash, the 69-lap feature attracted top competitors, with Braaten — a four-time Oregon State and Southern Oregon Speedway track champion — asserting dominance from the outset. The race’s first half was marked by intermittent cautions, but as the event passed lap 31, Braaten encountered lapped traffic. Navigating through it masterfully, he extended his advantage and began to check out from the field. In the second half, 2022 Oregon State and 2021 track champion Matt Sanders tried to mount a high-side charge, but Braaten’s low-line rhythm and ability to work traffic kept him firmly in control. Around lap 50, Braaten sliced through another wave of traffic to create a sizable lead that he never surrendered. The race for second came down to the [Read More]

LaCrosse Doubles Down With Modified and Stock Wins at 141

By Joe Verdegan FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (May 31, 2025) — Casco veteran Benji LaCrosse once again showed why his name is often mentioned among the G.O.A.T.s of local and regional dirt track racing during Saturday night’s program at 141 Speedway. LaCrosse pulled double duty and emerged triumphant in both the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified and Sunoco IMCA Stock Car divisions, respectively. LaCrosse ran the IMCA Stock Car feature first, where he started 12th on the grid of the 25 lap contest. Lacrosse marched through the field, reaching second place by lap eight. LaCrosse slowly chopped away at Collin Skindzelewski’s lead. LaCrosse motored past Skindzelewski on the high side at the race’s halfway point. LaCrosse was never headed and led the rest of the way to earn the win — his second in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region this season and first at 141 Speedway in 2025. The Stock Car feature provided plenty of side-by-side racing and passing was plentiful on the clay oval, with Kyle Resch claiming second. Former track champion Josh Mroczkowski rounded out the [Read More]

Looft’s 300th Win Secures SportMod Nationals Crown at Britt

By Chad Meyer BRITT, Iowa (May 30, 2025) — Swea City, Iowa’s Mattew Looft started the 25-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod Nationals presented by Gold-Eagle Cooperative on the inside of the second row. Using the low side of the speedway, Looft was in command early until Cole Suckow snuck around the top to lead lap 15. Looft, determined not to let a chance at victory slip away, pressed on and ultimately moved his groove to the top and led the rest of the event. The win was Looft’s 300th victory in SportMod competition and his second SportMod Nationals crown, winning his first in 2021. For 2025, it is his fourth win at four different tracks. Jake Sachau’s tremendous late-race surge had him closing on Looft and earning second place, finishing ahead of Suckow. Meyer in Total Control of Modified Feature Nick Meyer started the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature on the pole and left little doubt he had enough speed to stay there. On the heels of a recent win at Kossuth County Speedway, Meyer [Read More]

Hamilton Tops Modified Feature at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 30, 2025) — A strong Friesen Performance IMCA Modified field put on a show Friday night at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway, where Harvick was on hand serving as Grand Marshal. The 30-lap main event featured wheel-to-wheel battles, heartbreak, and a breakthrough win for Eric Hamilton. Bakersfield’s Robby Sawyer opened the feature with a thrilling three-wide move to take the lead. Behind him, Eric Hamilton, in the Bob Lyon-owned no 44, fought off champions Brad Pounds and Gavyn Manning in a fierce chase. Sawyer, aiming for his second win of the season, was sidelined by mechanical issues in turn four on lap 12. Hamilton inherited the lead and opened up a solid advantage. Manning tracked him down but slowed with mechanical trouble of his own, drawing a caution with nine laps to go. Brad Pounds mounted several late-race challenges, but Hamilton stood his ground and held on for the $750 payday — his first win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Pounds was second, [Read More]