Sprint Car Archives

Sweigart rides high side to Port Royal PASS victory

By Frank Buhrman PORT ROYAL, Pa. (April 20, 2024) – Two weeks ago, Nick Sweigart committed to the high side of Port Royal Speedway’s racing surface, and while his racing line thrilled the crowd, he needed some late attrition among other front-runners for it to result in a fourth-place finish in the River Valley Builders Pennsylvania Sprint Series makeup of the 2023 Keystone RaceSaver Challenge. This Saturday night was very different. Hanging high, and hitting the wall once, the Myerstown veteran shot from his sixth starting position into second on the opening lap, then got past early leader Ken Duke at the beginning of lap three. From that point on, Sweigart was atop the Speed Palace leaderboard and despite his critical appraisal of his driving over the last half of the race, he held his lead in traffic and scored a 2.159-second victory over defending PASS champion Logan Spahr, who took the runner-up spot from Duke on the final circuit of the 20-lap feature. The feature ran non-stop and was completed in less than seven minutes. Only [Read More]

Saturday Ice Breaker Challenge checkers fly for Braaksma

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (April 20, 2024) – On a track that’s definitely different than what he’s used to running on, Ethan Braaksma raced to the same results Saturday night. Braaksma won his sixth Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature, and fifth Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying race of the season, collecting $2,000 on night two of the Ice Breaker Challenge. “It was a pretty good run. I just took my time and hit my marks. I was kind of searching there at the beginning but once I found the bottom I hit it really good,” said Braaksma, the leader from lap 11 to the finish. “I could see where the others were messing up in front of me and that’s how I got to the lead. I just had to be sure to get the left side down in the moisture so I could get off of the corner.” Ricky Stephan and then Shawn Harker held down the front spot early on. Braaksma caught Chad Andersen for second on lap seven and grabbed the [Read More]

Harris hustles to Hagerstown IMCA RaceSaver win

By Jim Haines HAGERSTOWN, Md. (April 20, 2024) – Jerald Harris finished the race right where he started it: At the front. Harris led the distance of Saturday’s IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car main event at Hagerstown Speedway, in the first of five races at the Maryland oval co-sanctioned by the Virginia Sprint Series and Laurel Highland Sprint Series. After running second in his heat, Harris and Jay Fry paced the 25-car field to green with Harris out first before Fry got too high in the loose stuff and spun to a stop. On the second start, Harris was out again with Dylan Shatzer now in second followed by Caleb Harris, John Scarborough and Ben Miklos. Following another caution, Harris and Shatzer were joined by Scarborough and Caleb Harris. The leader was stretching it out with Shatzer and Scarborough battling for second and behind them it was sprinters swapping every spot every lap. A stalled car slowed the field bunching it up as the end was near but Harris took off and left second place up [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through April 18, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 965; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 883; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 564; 5. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 407; 7. Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., 389; 8. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 9. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 361; 10. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., 353; 11. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 12. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 336; 13. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 334; 14. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 311; 15. Chuck Grohnke, Mesa, Ariz., 298; 16. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 297; 17. Ethan Braaksma, Des Moines, Iowa, 290; 18. Mike Dimond, Rapid City, S.D., 278; 19. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev., 268; 20. Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo., 267. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Tom Svoboda, David City, Neb., 78; 2. Dylan Schmer, Aurora, Neb., 77; 3. Austin Svoboda, David City, Neb., 76; 4. Christopher Lawrence, Colona, Ill., 75; 5. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, and Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill., both 73; [Read More]

PASS heads back to Port Royal this Saturday

By Frank Buhrman PORT ROYAL, Pa. (April 18, 2024) – The River Valley Builders Pennsylvania Sprint Series batting average has dropped to .333 after a second postponement in three 2024 tries, so it’s up to Port Royal Speedway to successfully negotiate with Mother Nature and get things back on track this Saturday night. PASSIMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car teams are set to join 410 sprints and super late models for a sure-to-be-wild, hope-to-be-dry show at Port Royal. This past Friday night’s Spring Sprint Spectacular at Williams Grove Speedway fell victim to soggy conditions and the likelihood of high winds. The PASS tour is scheduled to race at the Grove next on Friday, May 24. In the meantime, Port Royal looms large, with two programs in the next three weeks. On Saturday, May 4, the same program of 410 sprints, super lates and River Valley PASS IMCA RaceSavers will bring out the cars and drivers again. Both the upcoming Port shows already have 40 or more teams preregistered. Heading that list is Keystone RaceSaver Challenge winner Ken Duke, runner-up [Read More]

Hendershot takes opener at Natural Bridge

By Jim Haines NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (April 13, 2024) – On a windy and sunny day, Donnie Hendershot flew like the to finish first in the season opening race for the Virginia Sprint Series at Natural Bridge Speedway. Hendershot and Jerald Harris paced the Saturday night IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field to green. Hendershot used the low line to gain the lead with Harris staying high while John Scarborough used the low line and was on Harris quickly. Scarborough made it to second as Hendershot continued out front and with the laps winding down, traffic was coming up and that allowed Scarborough to close in. With the white flag waving, Scarborough was within striking distance as he made the final push but Hendershot stayed strong streaking under the waving checkered flag. At the line it was Scarborough, Jerald Harris, Caleb Harris and Matthew Leach completing the top five behind Hendershot. On Saturday, April 20, the Virginia Sprint Series and Laurel Highlands Sprint Series will join up at Hagerstown Speedway for the second race of the [Read More]

License eligibility spelled out in IMCA general, divisional rules

VINTON, Iowa (April 15, 2024) – IMCA drivers will still be allowed to compete in specified, multiple divisions this season. What they won’t be doing, however, is changing divisions multiple times, especially when it comes time to racing in high-paying specials. Both general rules and divisional rules posted on the IMCA website now specify which divisions drivers can compete in when purchasing licenses in two or more classes; what’s spelled out in black and white is the time they’ll have to wait when switching between restricted divisions. “For example, if a driver with a Modified license switches to a Northern or Southern SportMod, they have to stay in the new division for 12 calendar months from the date they changed divisions,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “What we’ve seen primarily is drivers making that switch to race in higher-paying specials held prior to or after the end of the point season. In no way is it fair for SportMod drivers who support their weekly tracks during the season to race against Modified or Late Model [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through April 11, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 956; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 879; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 528; 5. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 407; 7. Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., 389; 8. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 9. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 361; 10. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 11. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 334; 12. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 311; 13. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 297; 14. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 296; 15. Ethan Braaksma, Des Moines, Iowa, 290; 16. Mike Dimond, Rapid City, S.D., 278; 17. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., 276; 18. Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo., 267; 19. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, and Chuck Grohnke, Mesa, Ariz., both 265. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars – 1. Chad Wilson, North Richland Hills, Texas, 139; 2. Corby Scherb, Decatur, Texas, 128; 3. Cody Price, Princeton, Texas, 111; 4. Conner Thomas, Post, Texas, 109; 5. Dillan Baldwin, Taylorsville, Ky., 105; 6. Daniel “D.J.” Estes Jr., Fort [Read More]

IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars have nine Friday dates at Lakeside

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (April 12, 2024) – Ralph Palmer got some seat time in a Sprint Car “years ago” during his own racing career. This season, the new Lakeside Speedway general manager will get to watch the IMCA RaceSaver class run on nine Friday nights at his Kansas City track. “I think the 305 Sprint Cars will fit in well here because they’re affordable and they’re always fun to watch,” said Palmer. “We have guys from Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska who want to race here, and even some from Arkansas who have said they’re interested in coming up.” First night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season will be April 19, with race dates following on May 17, May 31, June 14, July 5, July 12, Aug. 2, Sept. 13 and Sept. 20. The July 5 show is Lakeside’s Gary D Memorial, held in honor of late drivers Gary Davis and Gary Dillinger. “Every time this track has held a Sprint Car special, we’ve had a real good turnout and a real good [Read More]

Atomic’s East Coast Nationals double as Hyatt Memorial for Ohio RaceSaver Series

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (April 10, 2024) – IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car teams and fans will remember one of their own when Atomic Speedway hosts the inaugural East Coast Nationals Chad Hyatt Memorial. The Saturday, April 20 Ohio Thunder IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Series main event at Chillicothe pays $3,500 to win and a minimum of $300 to start. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Ohio State and series points are also at stake. Hyatt, a RaceSaver driver and race director for the Ohio Thunder series, died last August at the age of 54. “Chad is the one who originally contacted me about bringing 305 Sprint Cars back to Atomic,” explained promoter Charlie Vest. “We thought it fitting that we hold a special race like this as a memorial for him.” Local division sponsor Holdren Construction of Chillicothe adds to the purse for the evening. Pit gates open at 1 p.m. on race day, with the front gate opening at 3 p.m., hot laps at 4 p.m. and racing at approximately 6:30 p.m. Entry fee is $20 and [Read More]