Feature Archives

Guaranteed to be the biggest and best: All roads lead to Eagle for 8th annual RaceSaver Nationals

EAGLE, Neb. – What’s guaranteed to be the biggest and the best Sprint Car event of the season plays out Sept. 3-6 at Eagle Raceway. One hundred-plus IMCA drivers from 15 states are already entered in the eighth annual RaceSaver Nationals, each of them making the trip with the goals of making the 27-car field and ultimately taking the $2,500 checkers. “The quality of the competition speaks for itself. Winning the RaceSaver Nationals title has quickly become an accomplishment that every driver wants on their resume,” said promoter Roger Hadan. “RaceSaver Nationals is also an event that’s just fun to be part of, whether you’re a driver or a fan, and I think that’s what really makes it special.” Qualifying heats for the $1,000 to win Jake Ita Memorial Race of Champions follow pre-tech and practice on opening night on Thursday. Nine cars advance from $700 to win qualifying features on Friday and Saturday. Last-chance races complete the Sunday, Sept. 6 main event grid. Stuntman Dr. Danger, also known as The American Daredevil, performs during intermissions [Read More]

Richards sails to 141 Captain of the Creek checkers

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (Aug. 20) – The win was great. His daughter’s reaction to finding the presentation check propped up against her bedroom door the next morning was even better. Kenny Richards started 13th, took the lead following back-to-back restarts just past midway and then outran a field of Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod heavy hitters in taking the $5,000 Captain of the Creek checkers Thursday at 141 Speedway. The big win came in a Jack Jones Dump Bar and Grill ride Richards hadn’t seen before qualifying started the night before. Jones and brother Jerry, the Two Old Guys Race Team, adjusted the pedals and steering wheel and Richards took it from there. “I had my fingers crossed we would even make it in. Then I hoped for a top 10. I wanted the bottom two feet (of the track) and we hit that like 49 of the 50 laps,” he said. “I knew when we were in the top 10 that we had a shot at the top five.” Colby Fett led the first 21 [Read More]

Contingency signup continues through IMCA website

VINTON, Iowa – Drivers in five divisions can continue making themselves eligible for post-season product, certificate and/or cash awards. Contingency forms for IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod competitors are available on the IMCA website and accessible utilizing the forms pulldown at the top of the home page. “We want to make sure as many drivers as possible take advantage of the extended signup opportunity,” said IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder. Forms can be filled out and returned electronically or printed and mailed to the IMCA home office along with a car photos providing proof of decal placement.

DeVolder, Hogge crowned at Bakersfield, Jernagan takes Speedweek SportMod title

By Stephanie Deatherage BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Aug. 15) – Shane DeVolder won the battle, Bobby Hogge IV won the war and Garrett Jernagan won both on the final night of California IMCA Speedweek presented by Hoppes Motorsports. DeVolder won the IMCA Modified feature at Bakersfield Speedway, earning $1,000 and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth, while runner-up Hogge took the overall Modified tour title. Jernagan clinched the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod crown with his fifth $750 victory of the week. DeVolder regained the lead from Alyssa Smith before a long green flag run got him into lapped traffic. Three cautions slowed the final 10 circuits but neither Hogge or Ryan Daves had anything for the leader and finished in that order behind him. Jim Pettit II and Jerry Flippo completed the top five. Brent Curran set the tone early in a SportMod feature slowed by yellows, nailing each restart and checked out on the rest of the pack. Jernagan finally navigated his way into the lead following a lap 11 restart, holding off all challengers [Read More]

Heckman hauls Hanford IMCA Modified mail, Speedweek SportMod checkers fly for Curran

By Stephanie Deatherage HANFORD, Calif. (Aug. 14) – Round five of the California Modified Speedweek presented by Hoppes took the tour to Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds, where Kyle Heckman prevailed over a field of 64 IMCA Modified entries and Brent Curran collected his first Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod victory. The Modified feature ran non-stop and Heckman took control of race lead from the get-go, pulling away from the rest of the pack and never looking back. Heckman handled lapped traffic perfectly, earning $1,000 and a spot on the 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot while becoming the fifth different winner in as many Speedweek events. A spirited battle for second went to Bobby Hogge IV while Troy Foulger was third over “B” qualifiers Paul Stone and Alex Stanford. Garrett Jernagan brought a streak of four straight Northern SportMod wins into the night but was a quick casualty after getting caught up on a multi-car crash on the original start. Curran took over the lead on the ensuing restart and, after the final [Read More]

Sawyer tops IMCA Modified thriller at Merced, Jernagan posts fourth straight Speedweek win

By Stephanie Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (Aug. 13) – In a word, the IMCA Modified feature in the fourth installment of California IMCA Speedweek presented by Hoppes Motorsports was a thriller. Robby Sawyer collected the $1,000 checkers and 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth by all of half a car length Thursday at Merced Speedway. Sawyer passed Justin Dunn for the front spot on lap eight, during a lengthy green-flag run. A lap 23 caution brought about the only stoppage of the contest and despite a constant barrage of challenges, Sawyer held on by a slim margin to become the fourth different Modified winner in as many Speedweek races thus far. Shane DeVolder hit the line an extremely close second but was penalized two positions for jumping the start and scored in fourth. Bobby Hogge IV was promoted to second and Troy Foulger to third. Dunn completed the top five. Garrett Jernagan extended his Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod streak to four in a row with his latest $750 victory. Dave Pearson and then Cory Hemphill held the lead [Read More]

Braaksma shines at Hancock County’s Night of 1,000 Stars

BRITT, Iowa (Aug. 13) – Another big-time event brought out the best in Ethan Braaksma. Braaksma ran down Richie Gustin in lapped traffic to regain the lead late in Hancock County Speedway’s Thursday Night of 1,000 Stars special, then stayed in front to the $3,000 IMCA Modified checkers. Along with a career-best payday, Braaksma earned a spot on the 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. “So many drivers can win these races. The competition is unbelievable,” said Braaksma, already a three-time Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights Tour winner this season. “It’s awesome to be able to come to these big shows and race up front with these guys.” Gustin, who’d won his ‘B’ feature and started the main event from 16th, ended in second. Cody Laney, midway leader Jeff Aikey and Joel Rust completed the top five. Braaksma had started 11th, made the most of the fast lower line in working his way toward the front and was running third at halfway. A good jump on the restart put Braaksma at the front of the [Read More]

DeCarlo dominates Modified main at Antioch, Jernagan continues IMCA Speedweek streak

By Stephanie Deatherage ANTIOCH, Calif. (Aug. 12) – Nick DeCarlo became a first-time winner while the Garrett Jernagan show kept rolling on night three of California IMCA Speedweek presented by Hoppes Motorsports at Antioch Speedway. DeCarlo’s $1,000 IMCA Modified checkers put him on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot while Jernagan banked a third straight $750 Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod winner’s check. Robby Sawyer set the tone early in the Modified main, quick out of the box but getting company up front as the long green flag run developed. DeCarlo hunted down Sawyer, caught him on lap six and took off from there. DeCarlo pulled away from the lead pack after each of three restarts. Bobby Hogge IV gave chase but couldn’t quite catch the leader as DeCarlo, who lined up third on the initial grid, went on to become the third different winner in as many nights of Speedweek. Robby Sawyer ended the race third, Danny Wagner was fourth and Jerry Flippo fifth. Guy Ahlwardt took charge of the Karl Kustoms Northern [Read More]

Speedweek night two sees Foulger pace Petaluma show

By Stephanie Deatherage PETALUMA, Calif. (Aug. 11) – The second leg of the California IMCA Speedweek presented by Hoppes Motorsports saw Troy Foulger parked in victory lane following the Modified main event at Petaluma Speedway. Foulger picked up $1,000 and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth for the big win atop the 3/8-mile adobe clay oval. The third starting Foulger had been quick to the lead and stayed in front through long green flag action. Lapped traffic did become a factor but Foulger avoided all obstacles on his way to the checkers. Paul Stone again charged out of a “B” feature, started last in the main and rocketed to a second-place result. Night one winner Bobby Hogge IV placed third while fourth went to New Mexico standout Zane DeVilbiss. Veteran Paul Gugliomoni was fifth via a consolation feature. In the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main event, Garrett Jernagan picked up from where left off from the previous evening This time the Bakersfield driver seized the lead on the initial start, mastered each restart and didn’t [Read More]

Notable firsts, previous race winners among 28 drivers elected to Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational

BOONE, Iowa – IMCA Modified drivers from a dozen states, representing notable first-time competitors as well as previous race winners, have been elected to start the 17th annual Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Kelsie Foley of Tucson, Ariz., becomes the first female driver elected to the All-Star race. Other first-time All-Stars who will take the green flag in the Friday, Sept. 11 spectacular, during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway, are David Goode Jr. of Copperas Cove, Texas, Jake O’Neil, also of Tucson, and Brandon Smith of Bath, N.Y. They’ll be joined on the starting grid by defending race winner Joel Rust of Grundy Center, 2018 winner Hunter Marriott of Brookfield, Mo., 2013 winner Todd Shute of Norwalk, 2011 winner Chris Abelson of Sioux City and 2005 and 2008 winner Jay Noteboom of Hinton. Noteboom will make his career 12th All-Star start, Abelson and Tim Ward of Chandler, Ariz., both their 10th. Calera, Okla.’s William Gould is an eight-time All-Star. Richie Gustin of Gilman, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Adel and A.J. Ward [Read More]