Sprint Car Archives

French Grimes: A Life Remembered

By Ben Deatherage MADISON, Va. (Sept. 28, 2026) — French Grimes once compared himself to Johnny Appleseed. Instead of carrying a sack filled with apple seeds, Grimes believed his contained something else. RaceSaver. “I said I’m Johnny Appleseed,” Grimes explained during a 2013 interview. “I’ve got a sack of seeds for RaceSaver, and I go around the country. I poke them in a hole where I think it’ll grow, and then we find somebody who’s dedicated to make sure we water it and make it grow.” For nearly three decades, that is essentially what he did. Grimes helped plant those seeds in Virginia. They took root in Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, the Carolinas and eventually across much of the country. What began as an effort to make Sprint Car racing affordable enough for ordinary working racers grew into a national movement and eventually became intertwined with IMCA racing across the country. Grimes, the founder and driving force behind RaceSaver, died Sept. 13 at the University of Virginia Hospital surrounded by his family. He was 83. He [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Sept. 24, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, and William Gould, Calera, Okla., both 993; 3. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 973; 4. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 972; 5. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 969; 6. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 965; 7. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 964; 8. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, and Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, both 961; 10. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 955; 11. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 953; 12. John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., 951; 13. Travis Hagen, McGregor, N.D., 946; 14. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 944; 15. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 943; 16. Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, 940; 17. Donald Proctor, Ionia, Michigan, 937; 18. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 934; 19. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, and Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Michigan, both 932. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 992; 2. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 984; 3. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, and Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, both 982; 5. Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn., 975; 6. Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, Neb., 974; 7. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, [Read More]

Shatzer Schools Virginia Sprint Series Field at Natural Bridge

By Jim Haines NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (Sept. 19, 2026) — Dylan Shatzer is a schoolteacher by day, but Saturday night he moved the classroom to Natural Bridge Speedway and taught the Virginia Sprint Series field a lesson with a clean sweep of the evening. Shatzer won his heat race before charging to the front of the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature and staying there through the checkered flag. Matthew Mullins was the other heat race winner. Mullins and Billy Hubbard led the feature field to green, with Mullins getting the early advantage while Hubbard settled into second. Shatzer and Daren Bolac followed close behind. Shatzer quickly worked his way around Hubbard for second and immediately began applying pressure to Mullins for the top spot. The eventual winner swept into the lead, with Hubbard moving into second. Behind them, Bolac and Mullins battled for third while Jerald Harris began working his way forward from fifth. Bolac eventually secured third, dropping Mullins to fourth, but his night came to an early end when front-end damage forced him to [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Sept. 17, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, and William Gould, Calera, Okla., both 993; 3. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 973; 4. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 972; 5. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 969; 6. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 963; 7. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, and Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, both 961; 9. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 959; 10. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 955; 11. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 953; 12. John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., 945; 13. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 944; 14. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 943; 15. Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, 940; 16. Donald Proctor, Ionia, Michigan, 937; 17. Travis Hagen, McGregor, N.D., and Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., both 934; 19. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, and Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Michigan, both 932. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 992; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, and Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, both 982; 4. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 980; 5. Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn., 975; 6. Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, Neb., 974; 7. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, [Read More]

Danley Breaks Through for RaceSaver Nationals Crown at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 6, 2026) — After years of trying, Joey Danley finally reached the top of the mountain at Eagle Raceway, capturing his first RaceSaver Nationals championship in Sunday night’s $14,000-to-win Big Dance. Danley took command with eight laps remaining in the 35-lap championship feature and survived late-race drama to secure the biggest victory of his career at the Nebraska oval. The win came in his 13th attempt at capturing the RaceSaver Nationals crown. Twenty-seven Sprint Cars lined up three-wide for the championship event, with Jake Bubak taking the early lead ahead of Tyler Drueke, Danley, and Brandon Horton. Drueke worked his way around Bubak on lap 10 to take command, while Danley remained in contention. Danley moved past Bubak for second on lap 22 and set his sights on Drueke. The battle for the $14,000 payday intensified as the laps wound down, and Danley made his move with eight circuits remaining to take the lead. Drueke remained in the hunt until three laps remained, when contact with the lapped car of [Read More]

Thompson Goes Flag-to-Flag in RaceSaver Nationals Qualifier at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 5, 2026) — Landon Thompson led every official lap of Saturday night’s RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car qualifying feature at Eagle Raceway, securing his place in Sunday’s Big Dance during night three of the 14th annual RaceSaver Nationals. After 12 heats, two D Features, two C Features, and two B Features, the Sprint Cars were brought out for the 25-lap main event that would determine the second nine cars transferring to Sunday’s championship feature. The first attempt at a start saw Ryan Padgett spin in turn four, sending him into the wall and tipping the No. 98P onto its left side. Padgett was not injured but would have to wait until Sunday for another opportunity to race his way into the Big Dance. Once the race officially got underway, Thompson put the No. 31W out front on lap one with Brandon Horton second, Hunter Hanson third, and Michael Day fourth. The top four remained unchanged until four circuits remained, when Trevor Grossenbacher got around Day to take fourth. Two laps later, [Read More]

Bubak Bests Drueke in Late-Race Battle at RaceSaver Nationals Qualifier

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 4, 2026) — Jake Bubak and Tyler Drueke traded the lead in the closing laps Friday night at Eagle Raceway before three-time event champion Bubak prevailed in the qualifying feature during night two of the 14th annual RaceSaver Nationals. The 25-lap feature set the first three rows of the three-wide starting grid for Sunday’s Big Dance, with the top nine finishers earning their places in the championship finale. Bubak took off from the pole to put the No. 74B in front on lap one, with Drueke, Trevor Serbus, and Tyler Knight hot on his push bumper. Colby Stubblefield passed Knight on lap two to move into fourth before a lap-six red flag slowed the action. Serbus passed Drueke for second on lap eight as Joey Danley moved into fourth. Serbus fell back rapidly the following lap, moving Drueke back to second and Stubblefield to third, while Danley advanced another position on lap 10. Drueke got around Bubak for the lead on lap 12, but Bubak reclaimed the spot the following [Read More]

369 Days Later, Bolden Captures RaceSaver Nationals Crown

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 3, 2026) — Last year’s RaceSaver Nationals was plagued by threats of poor weather. With the forecast worsening as the weekend drew closer, officials decided to run both the Friday and Saturday programs on Friday, leaving the finale for Saturday. Sadly, as the 27 Sprint Cars were on the track Saturday, a light drizzle began to fall. As the liquid sunshine became actual rain, the cars were pushed off in an attempt to save the racing surface. Mother Nature’s wrath eventually won out, and the call was made to postpone the 2025 finale until the Thursday festivities of the 2026 RaceSaver Nationals. Well, just 369 days later, the race finally took place Thursday at Eagle Raceway. Carson Bolden took advantage of his pole starting position to lead lap one, with Joey Danley second, Kevin Ramey third, and 2026 Eagle Raceway track champion Adam Gullion fourth. Ramey got past Danley on lap two to take second, while Gullion moved into third on lap six. Ethan Barrow slowed on lap 11, bringing [Read More]

Rucks Memorial Brings $1,000-to-Win Modified Showdown to Arlington on Sept. 19

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 4, 2026) — Arlington Raceway will host the Jeff Rucks Memorial for Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds on Saturday, Sept. 19, with $1,000 awaiting the winner. The event will also give the winner eligibility to attempt to qualify for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Clint Hatlestad captured the Rucks Memorial victory in 2025, while Brandon Beckendorf won each of the previous three editions. The Modifieds will use a draw/redraw format. Also in action will be Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars, and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., with the grandstands opening at 4 p.m. and racing beginning at 6 p.m. For additional information, contact Levi at 507-380-6998.

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Sept. 3, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, and William Gould, Calera, Okla., both 993; 3. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 973; 4. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 970; 5. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 963; 6. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, and Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, both 961; 8. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 959; 9. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 957; 10. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 955; 11. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 944; 12. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 942; 13. Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, 939; 14. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 937; 15. Travis Hagen, McGregor, N.D., and Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., both 934; 17. John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., 933; 18. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, and Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, both 932; 20. Donald Proctor, Ionia, Michigan, 930. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 992; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, and Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, both 982; 4. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 980; 5. Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, Neb., 974; 6. Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn., 973; 7. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, [Read More]