Feature Archives

Harris Clash Postponed to August 5 Due to Weather Forecast

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Jun. 23, 2025 ) — Due to a gloomy weather forecast, officials have announced that the Harris Clash, originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, at Boone Speedway, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, August 5. Bob Harris, Boone Speedway staff, and IMCA officials made the decision to help teams save money by avoiding unnecessary travel. The early announcement gives teams time to adjust their plans and refocus for the new date. In light of the schedule change, IMCA officials have also begun working on the return of Iowa Speedweek, with further details on dates and participating tracks to be announced soon.

Whisler Wires IMCA Wild West Speedweek Modified Field at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (Jun. 19, 2025) — Eston Whisler wasted no time establishing control of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Cottage Grove Speedway on Thursday night during IMCA Wild West Speedweek. The 20-year-old racer from Otis, took the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back. A caution on lap two bunched the field early, but Whisler mastered the lone restart and quickly rebuilt his advantage. As the race stayed green, he encountered lapped traffic by lap 13 and spent the remainder of the 35-lap contest slicing through slower cars. Behind him, a spirited battle for second unfolded between Kevin Williamson, piloting the Superior Fuel Cell-owned No. 42, and Bricen James in the Schram Motorsports No. 13. James finally cleared Williamson on lap 26, but the 2019 Shaw Race Cars Western Region champion and 2022 Speedweek king was too far back to mount a charge. Whisler went unchallenged to score his first career Speedweek victory, and his third Shaw Race Cars Western Region triumph of 2025 — [Read More]

$7,500-to-Win Modified Nationals Returns to Grays Harbor Raceway July 18–19

By Ben Deatherage ELMA, Wash. (June 18, 2025) — One of the biggest Friesen Performance Modified races in the Pacific Northwest returns for its 26th running, as the Modified Nationals takes center stage at Grays Harbor Raceway on Friday and Saturday, July 18–19. The event pays an impressive $7,500 to win and $200 to start Saturday’s 40-lap main event, with over $20,000 in total purse money up for grabs. This IMCA-sanctioned special will feature two nights of intense racing. On Friday, all drivers will compete in two heat races — the first lined up straight-up by pill draw, the second fully inverted by original draw order. Points will be awarded based on finishing position and passing points. The top 18 in overall points from Friday advance directly to Saturday’s A Main, while the rest will transfer into Saturday’s B Mains. Also, Friday night, the prestigious Race of Champions returns — a 25-lap showdown featuring up to 20 drivers who are either former Modified Nationals champions, Modified track champions from the past 10 years, or 2024 Grays [Read More]

Barker Banks $5,000 RTI Nationals Win at Park Jefferson

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON, S.D. (Jun. 15, 2025) — The Sunday night RTI Nationals brought a packed house to Park Jefferson International Speedway with a whopping $5,000 payday on the line for the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. And it was two-time South Dakota State champion Travis Barker who cashed in. Barker, who started seventh, muscled his way through a hard-fought 35-lap main event. Early on, Brady Wenzlaff controlled the race while three-time Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod winner, Johnathon Logue, and Devin Tripp waged a three-wide battle for the top spot. Tripp edged ahead on lap four and began to stretch his lead, but Barker closed fast. A lap 13 caution reset the field, and on lap 16, Barker nipped Tripp at the line to take over the top spot. Tripp countered by moving to the high side, only for another yellow to wave. That opened the door for 2015 IMCA Hobby Stock national champion Justin Luinenburg, who slotted into second. Luinenburg and Tripp fought hard to the [Read More]

James Makes History with Fourth Straight IMCA Speedweek Win at the Douglas County

By Ben Deatherage ROSEBURG, Ore. (Jun. 17, 2025) — Bricen James etched his name into the IMCA Wild West Speedweek record books Tuesday night at the Douglas County Dirtrack, capturing a thrilling Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature for his fourth straight Speedweek victory — the most consecutive wins in series history for the Modifieds. James’ triumph was his 15th career Speedweek win and sixth of the 2025 season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, keeping him undefeated in Speedweek action at the Roseburg oval. 2023 Skagit Speedway champion Geoff Morris, from British Columbia, led the opening circuit before Chad Groves rocketed around the outside to take command on lap three. Groves built a comfortable lead through lapped traffic until the race’s first caution on lap 16 bunched the field. A red flag for a multi-car crash on lap 20 halted the momentum again, but Groves remained steady on the ensuing restart. James, wheeling the Schram Motorsports no. 13 machine, methodically closed the gap over the final dozen laps. On lap 34, Groves made a move [Read More]

James Makes It Three in a Row with IMCA Wild West Speedweek Win at Coos Bay

By Ben Deatherage COOS BAY, Ore. (Jun. 16, 2025) — Bricen James continued his dominance in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds with his third straight IMCA Wild West Speedweek win and third career Speedweek victory at Coos Bay Speedway. The Albany, native started ninth and took the lead with five laps to go to collect his 14th career Speedweek series win and fifth triumph of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Seventeen-year-old Ian Whisler set the early tone by taking control at the drop of the green. He built a solid advantage and encountered lapped traffic on lap 21 but managed to hold steady. As the laps wound down, 2022 Speedweek and 2019 Shaw Race Car Western Region champion James began reeling him in. James made his move on lap 30 and never looked back, pulling away to win the caution-free 35-lap contest. Whisler settled for second, while Washington’s Zane Miner completed the podium in third. Wild Goes Back-to-Back in Coos Bay Stock Cars B.J. Wild captured his second straight Sunoco IMCA Stock [Read More]

Hansen Scores First Career IMCA Modified Win at Jamestown

By Becca Pelkey JAMESTOWN, N.D. (Jun. 14, 2025) — Pole sitter Lindsay Hansen led the field to the green flag in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Jamestown Speedway. A lap one caution regrouped the field, but Hansen quickly pulled away on the restart. Another caution flew on lap six, bringing the field back together. On the restart, Scott Gartner passed Matthew Duchscherer for second, but a series of mid-race cautions would continue to reset the field. While battling for the lead with seven laps to go, Gartner made slight contact with John Nord, which allowed Hansen to slip away once again. Racing legend John Corell passed Nord for second with four laps to go but ultimately had to settle for the runner-up spot. Hansen earned his first-ever IMCA Modified feature win, marking also his first victory in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. Nord rounded out the podium in third.

Johnson Earns Late Model Win and Sunoco Bonus at Maquoketa

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (Jun. 14, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Late Models saw veteran racer Steve Johnson score the win and collect the Sunoco Race Fuels Bonus Money on Saturday night at Maquoketa Speedway. Johnson, who recently celebrated his 68th birthday, has been a longtime presence in Eastern Iowa racing and a staple at area tracks. Johnson charged to the front from his third-row start and led early in the feature. Point leader Travis Denning eventually reeled him in and took over the lead, but his run ended early with a drivetrain failure. That opened the door for Johnson to retake command and race to his first victory of the 2025 campaign. Mitch Morris crossed the stripe in second while Carter Johnson delivered a strong run to finish third. Steve Johnson celebrates his first Sunoco IMCA Late Model win of 2025 on June 14 at Maquoketa Speedway. The 68-year-old veteran also received the Sunoco Race Fuels Bonus, which included a $300 prize, commemorative door panel, Sunoco-branded fuel jug, and hat. (Photo by Joe Hayes) [Read More]

Zimmer Scores First Career NY-Penn IMCA Modified Series Feature Win at The Hill

By Michael Benjamin MONROETON, Pa. (Jun. 13, 2025) — The Close Racing Supply NY-Penn IMCA Modified Series presented by Insinger Performance finally kicked off its fifth season Friday night at The Hill Speedway. After the originally scheduled season opener at Clinton County was canceled in April, Friesen Performance IMCA Modified teams in the series had some extra time to prepare their equipment for the season. In the feature fans watched Earl Zimmer and Shawn Bruce battle each other for the opening two laps through a couple early caution flags. Once things settled down, the guys went to work. Bruce was overtaken by defending series champion Rodney Morgan, dropping him to third. Morgan battled hard trying to catch Zimmer. When the field hit five laps to go, there seemed to be hope for Morgan as Zimmer was working lap traffic. The rookie—yet seasoned—driver prevailed, earning his first career Modified win both with the series and in the DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region. Second went to Morgan, followed by Logan Terry in third.

James Doubles Up in Speedweek With Coos Bay Modified Win

By Ben Deatherage COOS BAY, Ore. (June 15, 2025) — 2022 IMCA Wild West Speedweek champion and 2019 Shaw Race Cars Western Region titleholder Bricen James made it two-for-two in 2025 Speedweek competition with a dominant win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at Coos Bay Speedway. Piloting the Schram Motorsports no. 13, the Albany, Ore. native jumped to the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back. A pair of cautions on lap five were the only interruptions in the 35-lap feature. James was strong on the restart and began stretching his lead until reaching lapped traffic by lap 17. Despite the heavy traffic, James made all the right moves to keep his lead safe and sailed to victory. The win was his second career Speedweek triumph at Coos Bay, his 13th career Speedweek win overall—tying him with Collen Winebarger for second on the all-time list—and his fourth Shaw Race Cars Western Region win of 2025. California’s Ethan Killingsworth earned runner-up honors while 2023 Skagit Speedway track champion Geoff Morris rounded out [Read More]