Feature Archives

Braaksma Repeats as Dakota Classic Modified Tour Champion; Munoz Breaks Through in Stock Cars

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (July 11, 2025) — The 2025 Wolla Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric wrapped up with 82 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds competing across six nights of thrilling action. In the end, Ethan Braaksma of Newton, Iowa rose to the top once again, securing his second consecutive tour title. Driving the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned no. 111, Braaksma built a consistent and commanding week: runner-up at Jamestown, third in Estevan, back-to-back wins at Williston and Dickinson, and a seventh-place finish at Mandan despite a blown engine in the finale. His ability to finish strong each night proved pivotal in defending his crown. California’s Cody Laney was a hard-charging runner-up in the standings. The Torrance native battled through adversity all week, coming out of B Mains in four of five features and posting finishes of ninth, fifth, seventh, sixth, and third, respectively. Justin O’Brien of West Union, Iowa took third in the Modified points chase. O’Brien put together a steady week, including a second-place finish at Jamestown, a third [Read More]

Strickler Wins Dakota Tour Finale at Mandan; Braaksma Repeats as Tour Champion

By Ben Deatherage MANDAN, N.D. (Jul. 10, 2025) — Two-time Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion Kyle Strickler of Mooresville, North Carolina, scored a dramatic win in the final Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature of the 2025 Wolla Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric. Driving the Cade Dillard-owned no. 8, Strickler secured his first win of the season in the Razor Chassis North Central Region and second career tour victory in the Dacotah Speedway finale. Defending tour champion Ethan Braaksma of Newton, Iowa, overcame a last-lap engine failure to coast across the line in seventh and lock up his second consecutive Dakota Classic Modified Tour title. Wisconsin’s Brandon Schmitt led early in the Jack Jones-owned no. 20, fending off pressure from 10-time Dacotah Speedway track champion Shawn Strand. Schmitt regained the lead after briefly losing it and began pulling away, but a caution with a dozen laps left stacked the field. Braaksma, who restarted eighth, methodically rolled the bottom groove in the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned no. 111 and [Read More]

Braaksma Wins Thriller at Dickinson, Becomes First Repeat Modified Tour Winner

By Ben Deatherage DICKINSON, N.D. (Jul. 9, 2025) — Ethan Braaksma emerged victorious from an epic 30-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event during night five of the Wolla Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric at Southwest Speedway. Braaksma became the first repeat winner of the 2025 tour and collected his seventh win of the season, including six in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. A sensational back-and-forth duel unfolded in the early going between Braaksma and Tom Berry Jr., two heavyweight drivers in the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing scene. Berry, a two-time Dakota Tour champion, 2020 National Modified champion, and 2022 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner, set a strong early tone. But Braaksma, the 2025 IMCA.TV Winter Nationals champion, kept pace in the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned no. 111 entry. The two pilots traded the lead more than a dozen times, with seven official lead changes scored at the stripe before Braaksma took control for good on lap 13. He held steady through two restarts and [Read More]

Sanders Rallies from 18th to Win Ralph Bloom Memorial and Freedom Cup Finale at CGS

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 5, 2025) — Matt Sanders came from 18th on the grid to win the fifth annual Ralph Bloom Memorial and clinch his third consecutive Freedom Cup title at Cottage Grove Speedway. The 33-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature paid $3,333 to win and served as the finale to the 2025 Freedom Cup. Hunter Bloom led early before the race was slowed by a couple of quick cautions. Ray Comer moved into the top spot and set the early pace until 2023 Oregon State champion Trevor Points took over on a restart. Points built a comfortable margin as the field shuffled behind him during a caution-heavy middle portion. Sanders, from Brookings, methodically picked his way through the pack. Just past halfway, he used a restart to drive around Points at the line and never looked back. He became the fifth different winner in as many editions of the Ralph Bloom Memorial and recorded his fifth CG win of the season and 10th overall in 2025. Points finished second, followed [Read More]

Braaksma Bests the Field in Thrilling Williston Modified Main

By Ben Deatherage WILLISTON, N.D. (Jul. 8, 2025) — Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds headlined another exciting night at Williston Basin Speedway during the fourth round of the Wolla Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric. With packed grandstands and 30 laps on the docket, fans were treated to a thrilling late-race finish as defending tour champion Ethan Braaksma charged to victory to become the third different winner in as many race on the 2025 tour. Braaksma, the 2025 IMCA.TV Winter Nationals champion, started fifth in the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned no. 111 and patiently worked the bottom of the track throughout the second half of the race. With just three laps to go, he made the decisive move in turn three to slip past longtime leader Jason Wolla. Wolla made one final attempt to reclaim the lead but couldn’t close the gap, as Braaksma pulled away to score his second career Dakota Tour win, his first at Williston, and sixth victory of the 2025 season, including five in the Razor Chassis North Central [Read More]

Lamphere Takes Third Annual Billy Ward Memorial at Thunder Mountain

By Michael Benjamin CENTER LISLE, N.Y. (Jul. 5, 2025) — Saturday was a picture-perfect night for the Close Racing Supply NY/Penn IMCA Modified Series presented by Insinger Performance. With 26 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds signed in—the largest car count since the series began in 2021. When the green flag dropped for the feature, the first caution quickly followed in turn two as Brad Chilson and David Stalker tangled. The incident ended Chilson’s night with damage to his front steering components. On the restart, Aaron Benjamin and Jakub Ingham led the field to the green. Ingham jumped out front and went uncontested for the first 10 circuits. A lap 10 restart brought defending race winner Keith Lamphere to Ingham’s outside. The two battled for a pair of laps before another yellow flew, but it was clear Lamphere had the stronger car. From there, Lamphere controlled the remaining laps and raced to his second Billy Ward Memorial victory. The win marked his third of the 2025 season in the DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region. Randall Paxton finished second, with [Read More]

Scholpp Scores Emotional Tour Win at Home Track in Estevan

By Ben Deatherage ESTEVAN, Sask. (Jul. 7, 2025) — Kody Scholpp gave the hometown fans a night to remember, fending off repeated challenges to win Monday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Estevan Motor Speedway, night three of the Wolla Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric. With a packed grandstand cheering him on, Scholpp turned in a flawless performance that electrified the Estevan faithful. Drew Christianson, the 2014 Nodak Speedway track champion, led the opening lap, but Scholpp—who started seventh—quickly made his way to the front and claimed the top spot on lap four. The five-time defending Estevan track champion wasn’t going to be denied on home soil, even as a trio of mid-race cautions brought the field back to his rear bumper. Iowans Justin O’Brien and defending tour champion Ethan Braaksma in the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned No. 111 both took shots at Scholpp in the second half of the race, but none could unseat him. Scholpp held strong up top to secure his second career Dakota Tour victory—and his first [Read More]

Reid Claims Second Victory in the Tex Meyers 8-Ball Classic

By Justin Newman NASHVILLE, Ark. (Jul. 5, 2025) — The 5th Annual Tex Meyers 8-Ball Classic, presented by Meyers Supply, brought fans together Saturday night at Diamond Park Speedway for a night of thrilling Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite action and heartfelt remembrance. The event, held annually in honor of regional racing pioneer Tex Meyers, continues to be a cornerstone of the summer schedule — not just for the racing, but for the legacy it preserves. Tex Meyers, who passed away in 2020 due to complications from COVID-19, was a pivotal figure in establishing Mod Lite racing in the region. His contributions, character, and dedication continue to live on through this special event. Jace Reid once again etched his name in the history books, securing his second career win in the event and joining Blake Wilson as a two-time winner of the Tex Meyers Classic. Reid wheeled his entry from a fifth-place starting spot, working his way forward in a fierce back-and-forth battle with Wilson that had fans on their feet. Wilson settled for a [Read More]

Inaugural Red River Sprint Speedweek Set to Rumble Through The Upper Midwest

By Mike Speiker WEST FARGO, N.D. (Jul. 6, 2025) — The Superior Customs IMCA Red River Sprint Series is set to embark on the biggest week of RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car racing since the class was introduced to the area in 2021. The Red River Sprint Speedweek will be a four-night swing through eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, boasting a nightly purse north of $6,600. Each night will pay $1,250 to the winner and $200 to start, with a $200 hard charger, presented by Donnohue Designs Racing and GRP Motorsports. Five $50 Gunderson Racing Inc. gift cards will go to the drivers that finish 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 20th all four nights. The Speedweek will begin Thursday, July 17th at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn., followed by a trip to the Legendary Bullring, River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D. on Friday. The tour will then head south to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D. on Saturday, before wrapping up on Sunday at Buffalo River Speedway in Glyndon, Minn. The mini-series [Read More]

Hibdon Storms to Jamestown Victory in Dakota Classic Modified Tour Opener

By Ben Deatherage JAMESTOWN, N.D. (Jul. 5, 2025) — Kollin Hibdon used the high side of Jamestown Speedway to perfection to score the opening night victory of the 2025 Wolla Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric. The Pahrump, Nevada, native led the final 23 circuits of the 30-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature to earn his second career tour win at Jamestown, fourth career Dakota Tour triumph, sixth win of the season overall, and fifth in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. Justin O’Brien grabbed the early lead before a lap four caution reset the field. Hibdon quickly went to work on the top groove, charging to the point on lap seven. Another caution on lap 12 gave defending tour champion Ethan Braaksma a shot at Hibdon, and he put the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned No. 111 into second on the restart. But Hibdon was consistently strong up top and never faltered, even while navigating lapped traffic. Braaksma would finish second with early leader O’Brien ending the night third. Richey Awarded Stock [Read More]