Sport Compact Archives

Chased, challenged, never caught, Thornton collects Clay County Clash checkers

SPENCER, Iowa (Aug. 7, 2024) – He was chased and he was challenged but Dylan Thornton was never caught. Thornton led every lap of Wednesday’s Clay County Fairgrounds Speedway Clash main event for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, keeping Tim Ward behind him the first 20 laps and holding Tom Berry Jr. at bay the last 10 times around the track. The IMCA Speed Week win was also Thornton’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying third and was good for $2,500. He parried a last-turn slider from Berry, winner of Tuesday’s Harris Clash, to secure that big check. “I saw his (Berry’s) nose so I knew he was close enough to slide me,” he said. “What you have to do coming down the backstretch is not make a mistake and not stuff it into the fence or something stupid, you have to be able to turn back down.” “We actually went home after last night, woke up this morning, decided we were too dumb to quit and decided to drive four hours back up this way,” said Thornton, who’d [Read More]

Dacotah Stock Car checkers are first for Gartner

By Becca Pelkey MANAN, N.D. (Aug. 2, 2024) – It was a super hot Friday night at Dacotah Speedway on Friday and the night kicked off with the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car make-up feature from June 28. Dylan Herner and Jason Meidinger led the field to the green flag. Meidinger took the early lead but Shawn Strand quickly worked his way to the front to challenge. They raced door-to-door for several laps before Strand slipped by on lap four. Meidinger then fell into the clutches of Hunter Domagala. As they raced hard for second, Shawn Volk made it a three-car battle. While racing for second, Domagala got loose and spun in front of the field with six laps to go. On the restart, Todd Carter passed Volk for second and was all over Strand’s rear bumper. When the checkered flag waved, Strand held off Carter for the victory. Volk finished a season-best third. When the green flag waved in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature, it was a three-car battle for the lead between Alex [Read More]

Mike Smith nabs 100th, Ward among other Saturday winners at Boone

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 3, 2024) – It was Elmquist Towing & Recovery night at the Boone Speedway on Saturday where six divisions took to the track for a full night of racing action. History was made at Iowa’s Action Track when Mike Smith found his way to victory lane, marking his 100th career win in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Tim Ward returned to the winner’s circle when he won the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature and Devin Smith got the win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Randy Havlik got his first win at Boone in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, Austin Gray repeated his win from last week in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites and visiting class on the night, the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts saw Cristian Grady take the win. The Mod Lite 15-lap feature was first on the track. William Nobles led the troops through the first three laps until Ben George snatched it away on lap four. Meanwhile, Gray had been making his way through the field [Read More]

Fair winners collects big trophies at Colby

By Sheldon Wickwar COLBY, Kan. (Aug. 2, 2024) – Every racer dreams of winning big races and taking home a big trophy and Eddie Belec, Kyle Pfeifer, Blaine Walt, Brady Bencken and Kyle Mortensen all did that Friday night at the Thomas County Fair. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods were up first with a 15-lap feature event paced by Monty Nordyke and Douglas Beaman. Nordyke gained the early advantage and pulled away from second-running Nick Hankins until a lap six caution. Walt took the lead off of the restart and duked it out with Nordyke until a lap nine yellow. Walt then pulled away by a big margin over Josh Barnhart, who charged up to second place late in the feature, to pick up win number four of the season. Second was Barnhart and third was Nordyke. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks were next and their 15-lap feature event started with a front row of Gordon French and Aiden Miller, but Bencken quickly gained the lead after making it three-wide on the initial start. Bencken led [Read More]

Gustin and Gustin go to victory lane at Marshalltown

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Aug 2, 2024) – It was EMW Trucking Military Memorial Night at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday. Pre-race ceremonies honored those that gave the ultimate sacrifice as well as honoring those veterans in attendance, who were given free admission thanks to EMW. More money was also on the line for four of the divisions racing. Tom Berry, Jr. went away with the $2,000 IMCA Friesen Performance Modified win, Jimmy Gustin had the crowd on its feet on the final corner when he won the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car $1,000 feature, and sister Jenae Gustin won the $1,300 IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods for the second week in a row. It was another close one at the line in the $600 to win IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks as Calvin Dhondt crossed the finish line first in a dash to the checkers. Jon Padilla won the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite main and it was Cristian Grady going to victory lane for the third time straight time in the Mach-1 IMCA [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Aug. 1, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 999; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 978; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 967; 4. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, 962; 5. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 957; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 954; 7. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, 950; 8. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 946; 9. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 937; 10. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 932; 11. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 927; 12. Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., 924; 13. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 922; 14. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 917; 15. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 912; 16. Ben Chapman, Clarence, Iowa, 907; 17. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 900; 18. Jacob Mallet Jr., Oakley, Calif., 897; 19. Brenten DeYoung, Carson City, Mich., 896; 20. Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, 895. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 781; 2. Evan Miller, Silvis, Ill., 762; 3. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 755; 4. Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, Iowa, 750; 5. Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill., 720; 6. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 703; 7. Mitch Morris, Long [Read More]

Improvements, updates continuing at Boone ahead of 42nd annual IMCA Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa (July 31, 2024) – Finish one project, check it off the list. Start another project, add it to the list. That list, as IMCA President Brett Root notes, is everything that has been done, is getting done or will be done before the start of the 42nd annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “There are non-stop improvements and updates at Boone Speedway which bring their own set of challenges ahead of the Sept. 2-7 Super Nationals,” said Root. “Getting ready for Super Nationals is like farming for a living in that there’s always something to be done.” A new-look infield victory lane incorporating popular jumbotrons is currently in the works, as is an updated scale pad and additional VIP pit stalls to accommodate large trailers. “Those are the most visible projects if you’re driving through Boone on Highway 30,” notes Root. “We’re also well underway with numerous other behind the scenes projects, like designing and ordering Super Nationals apparel and souvenirs, the Boone Bound social media promotion and everything the IMCA.TV crew needs [Read More]

Lahr aces Arlington Sport Compact feature

ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 27, 2024) – There was plenty of action on the track for Minnesota Farmfest Night Saturday at Arlington Raceway After an early stoppage, there was a three-way battle for the lead in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature. Taylor Manderfield led until Chad Volk took over the race. He was holding off Cory Probst and Blake Luinenburg, who had started side-by-side in the fifth row. Volk felt the pressure and on lap seven Probst got around him to take over the lead. Luinenburg followed on the next lap. A yellow came out when Manderfield hit an infield tire in turn two, putting him to the back. When the race restarted Probst held onto the lead and took the win ahead of Luinenburg and Volk. Two yellow flags occurred on the first lap of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature. Dale Gatton took the early lead but Gary Schumacher was able to get around him to take over the lead and led until Alan Lahr got under him in turn four and took [Read More]

Allstar Performance renews heat race win awards for 15th IMCA sponsorship season

WATERVLIET, Mich. (July 30, 2024) – The heat race win decals adorning IMCA race cars coast to coast and border to border again come courtesy of Allstar Performance. Drivers themselves must take the next step in making themselves eligible for post-season awards from the Watervliet, Mich., high performance parts manufacturer and 15-year IMCA sponsor. Heat race winner decals were distributed to all IMCA tracks at the beginning of the 2024 race season. Drivers winning 10 or more heat races this year receive $100 gift cards. The driver, regardless of division, winning the most heat races gets a $250 gift card. “What drivers have to do to become eligible for that $100 gift card, perhaps even the $250 car, is email a photo of their car proving heat race winner decal placement to me at contingencies@imca.com,” explained IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “All Star Performance gift cards will be presented during the IMCA national banquet in November or mailed beginning the following week.” IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock driver Cody Williams of Minneapolis, Kan., was [Read More]

Wolf gets first win, Rundle repeats at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (July 28, 2024) – It was a memorable Sunday for Will Wolf at Benton County Speedway. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod driver raced to his career first win on the fast, smooth, quarter-mile Bullring. Robert Patava led the early stages of the 15-lapper while Wolf worked into contention from a second row start. He took command a handful of laps into the event while Kyle Olson and Tony Olson made their way through the pack. Wolf built a one second lead over the Olsons, who battled side-by-side behind the leader throughout much of the race. Wolf maintained his stay out front to drive to the milestone win ahead of Tony Olson, who inched ahead of Kyle Olson at the checkers. Rayce Mullen ran fourth. One week after his first career win, Robert Rundle made back-to-back trips to victory lane in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Rundle took charge at the drop of the green and built a sizable lead while Lukas Rick raced through the field from the third row. Rundle survived [Read More]