Sport Compact Archives

NAPA Fan Zone to Host Full Slate of Interactive Activities at 2025 IMCA Super Nationals

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 22, 2025) — The NAPA Fan Zone at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s continues to grow as one of the most interactive experiences in all of dirt track racing. Located near the grandstands and filled with displays, activities, and special appearances, the Fan Zone brings drivers and fans together like no other venue during the weeklong event. Returning on Wednesday, Sept. 3 is the popular Women in IMCA Meet & Greet, coordinated with the help of Andrea McCain. This initiative celebrates female competitors and industry professionals and was a major hit in 2024. Any female drivers with questions can contact Andrea via her Facebook page. Drivers can also sign up to participate in the Women in IMCA session using this form: https://forms.gle/YDsoZtnFzJgZzFoU9 Monday, Sept. 1 brings the Young Guns in IMCA showcase, featuring the next generation of racing talent, with younger competitors from the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing program getting their time to shine in a meet and greet of their own. Drivers can sign up [Read More]

Kristi Dorn: From the Bighorn to Boone’s Super Nationals

By Ben Deatherage HARDIN, Mont. (Aug. 22, 2025) — The wide plains of Montana stretch endlessly toward the horizon, where the Bighorn River winds past fields of wheat and the ghosts of history linger at the Little Bighorn Battlefield. It’s a land where distances are measured in hours, where weather can change in a heartbeat, and where determination is the price of survival. It’s here, in the small town of Hardin along I-90, that Kristi Dorn is finally chasing a dream she’s carried since childhood. At 8 years old in Louisiana, watching her father rumble around a local short track, she knew she wanted to race. For decades that dream waited — through family, loss, work, and raising children. This summer, at 46, she strapped into a Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact, the no. 34DD, for the very first time. Her story is one of persistence and survival. From Louisiana roots to Montana resilience, from heartbreak to triumph, Kristi Dorn is proof that it’s never too late to climb into the driver’s seat. Love and Loss Steel [Read More]

Mayden Masters Midweek Mayhem with Cottage Grove Modified Triumph

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (Aug. 20, 2025) — Springfield’s Jake Mayden returned to victory lane Wednesday night at Cottage Grove Speedway, scoring the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature in round five of the Midweek Mayhem Series. The reigning Cottage Grove track champion, defending Midweek Mayhem Series titlist, and 2021 Oregon State champion wheeled the Dustin Brooks-owned no. 5M to his first win since May and his third of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Mayden jumped out front at the drop of the green and never wavered, despite constant pressure from Kevin Williamson in the Superior Fuel Cell-backed no. 42. The only slowdown came on lap one, and from there the leaders navigated heavy traffic around halfway, where Williamson closed the gap but couldn’t complete the pass. Mayden kept his composure and drove to victory, becoming the fifth different winner in as many Midweek Mayhem events this year. Williamson settled for second while Matthew Drager claimed third, the final car on the lead lap. Ashley Dominates SportMods for Fourth Mayhem Win [Read More]

1,000 Drivers Set to Chase Glory at 2025 IMCA Super Nationals

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 20, 2025) – For the fourth consecutive year, pre-entries for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s have topped the 1,000 mark. On August 20, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock driver Eric Cross of Salina, Kansas, became the 1,000th driver to register for the 43rd annual event. All divisions are currently pacing ahead of last year’s totals, with 285 Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, 237 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, 168 Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, 159 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, 78 Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites, and 60 Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts already entered. The overall all-time record of 1,036 competitors was set last year, with 1,061 pre-registered entries. The Stock Car total is already an all-time preregistration record for the class, surpassing last year’s mark of 281. Outside of Iowa, leading states in registration are Wisconsin with 75, Minnesota and Nebraska each with 58, Texas with 52, Kansas with 50, Arizona with 40, Missouri with 38, Colorado with 27, California with 24, and Arkansas with 23. Six straight nights [Read More]

Looft Snatches Arlington Stock Car Victory in Last-Lap Thriller

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 16, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Arlington Raceway delivered a breathtaking finish in a caution-free main event. Chris Neisen jumped out front from the pole and dominated the early laps before Ken Tietz charged from fifth to seize control by lap 12. Tietz looked strong as Matthew Looft and Dan Mackenthun closed in during the closing circuits. On the final lap, the top three stormed into turn four nearly three-wide. Tietz led into the corner, but Looft dove low while Mackenthun swept high. At the line, it was Looft who emerged first for his second EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the season, both at Arlington. Mackenthun grabbed second with Tietz in third. Johnson Powers Late to Sprint Car Win The RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car main event featured plenty of drama as Zach Glaser led the opening 11 laps while Matt Hasara gave chase. Matt Johnson worked his way forward by lap 10 and began closing rapidly on the leaders. Two laps later, Johnson and [Read More]

Jennings Storms From Row Seven to Stock Car Victory at Kossuth County

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (Aug. 14, 2025) — Austin Schrage and Chad Palmer led the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car field to the green, with Palmer pacing the opening five laps. Two early cautions slowed the action, but once the race found rhythm, Palmer had his hands full with a high-flying McCain Jennings. By the halfway point, a thrilling three-car battle emerged between Palmer, Mike Albertsen, and Jennings. Working the top side, Jennings powered into the lead on lap 11 and never looked back. Palmer held second with Albertsen third. Jennings, who charged from 14th starting, earned hard-charger honors and celebrated his second EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the year — both at Algona. Emotional Hobby Stock Win for Wickman The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature delivered one of the most emotional moments of the season. Darin Johnson led the early laps before Steve Wickman made his move to the front on lap 11. Wickman then held off a late charge from Brandon Nielsen in a green-white-checkered finish to secure his first victory of [Read More]

IMCA TV Brings Full-Menu Coverage of Super Nationals With Whole Pie Package

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 19, 2025) — IMCA.TV returns as the official streaming provider of the 2025 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. From August 30 through Championship Saturday, September 6, fans can feast on eight straight days of live coverage served hot from Boone Speedway, home of America’s Racin’ Vacation. And just like a Casey’s pizza to fuel you at the track, in the shop, or at home, fans can order up the Whole Pie package from IMCA TV to make sure they don’t miss a single lap. For $179.99, the Whole Pie delivers start-to-finish coverage of every division and every night. Each day is a slice of the action, with single-day passes available for $34.99 — except Championship Saturday, priced at $49.99. This all-inclusive pass remains the best value and includes the expanded JE Pistons & Manley Products Studio Show featuring in-depth analysis from Blake Walker alongside IMCA TV’s own Ben Deatherage. To whet fans’ appetites even more, Speed Sport 1 will air The Speedway Motors Road to the Dance live — [Read More]

Hagen Surges Late to Win Monte Lundy Memorial at Nodak

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (Aug. 17, 2025) — McGregor’s Travis Hagen powered from eighth starting to win the Second Annual Monte Lundy Memorial for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, pocketing $4,014 on Sunday night at Nodak Speedway’s “Playground of Power.” The victory was Hagen’s 10th of the season in the Razor Chassis North Central Region and his sixth at Minot. 2014 Nodak Speedway title winner Drew Christianson led the opening laps before cautions slowed the early going. 2017 IMCA national kingpin Jason Wolla — also a two-time North Dakota State and former Nodak Speedway titlist — applied pressure on the restart, while four-time reigning Estevan Motor Speedway track ruler Kody Scholpp used the outside groove to grab the lead on lap six. Christianson briefly regained the point after a lap 14 restart, but Scholpp battled back on the high side. Defending Monte Lundy Memorial winner Aaron Turnbull, the 2013 Dakota Classic Modified Tour titlist, soon entered the fight, with multiple cautions — including one on lap 23 — keeping the leaders tight. In the closing [Read More]

Lessig Family Sweeps Stock Cars at El Paso County; Brian Sr. Edges O’Lear by Three Points for Title

By Suzan McCoy CALHAN, Colo. (Aug. 16, 2025) — On championship night at El Paso County Raceway, the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event turned into a family affair as Peyton’s Brian Lessig powered to victory, followed by his son, Brian Lessig Jr. of Colorado Springs, in second. Local driver Ryan O’Lear of Calhan crossed in third to complete the podium. The win was Brian Lessig’s second of the season at El Paso County Raceway and also his second in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. More importantly, it secured him the track championship by just three points over O’Lear, 255 to 252, in one of the closest title battles of the year. Clay Dominates SportMods; Championship Decided by Six Points The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods produced some of the fiercest racing of the year, but on championship night Colorado Springs’ Scott Clay left no doubt. Starting from the pole, Clay led every lap in a dominant performance, with Pueblo West’s Dave Stock in second and Calhan’s Daniel Payne in third. The victory was Clay’s [Read More]

Whitman Prevails in Outagamie Speedway Modified Feature

By Joe Orsini SEYMOUR, Wis. (Aug. 15, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale at Outagamie Speedway kicked off with Kevin Feck grabbing the top spot at the drop of the green. Marcus Yarie wasted no time sliding into the runner-up spot and pressured Feck until making the pass on lap three. While that battle raged, Jayden Schmidt quietly worked the No. 24 into third, but Konnor Wilinski had other ideas and slipped by both Schmidt and Feck for second just before the halfway caution. Mechanical issues sidelined Feck under yellow, erasing a strong run. Wilinski used the restart to lead lap 11, but Yarie countered the very next trip around. That duo swapped the lead like kids trading baseball cards until point leader Johnny “The Hitman” Whitman joined the party in third. A late caution set the stage, with Wilinski seizing the restart, Whitman sliding into second, and then daring the high side. On lap 19, momentum carried Whitman past Wilinski and to the win. Dan Roedl snatched second with a last-lap move, and [Read More]