Feature Archives

Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights finale, IMCA Modified tour title to Richie Gustin

VINTON, Iowa (Sept. 28) – Richie Gustin clinched the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour championship by taking the green flag Saturday night. He earned $1,500 by taking the IMCA Modified checkers 25 laps later at Benton County Speedway. Gustin passed long-time race leader Cayden Carter following a restart with six laps left en route to his record-extending fifth tour win of the season. He became the 10th different driver to win the championship in as many years the tour has been held. Carter was a lapped car ahead of Gustin before that yellow and still had the lead when the 20th circuit was scored. Gustin had a half car length advantage at the stripe the next two times around, however, then pulled ahead. Carter, early leader Tim Ward, Joel Rust and Jeff Larson completed the top five. Hard charger Al Hejna advanced a dozen spots from his original starting position. The all-time leader with 13 tour victories, Gustin had also won at the Vinton Bullring in 2014. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, he’ll [Read More]

Thornton dominates opening night of Race For Hope 71

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 26) – After having the first two scheduled nights postponed due to rain, the third annual IMCA.TV Race For Hope 71 got underway Thursday night at Batesville Motor Speedway. Ninety-five of the best IMCA Modified drivers from across the country were checked in for action at the high-banked three-eighths mile oval. Inaugural Race For Hope 71 champion Ricky Thornton Jr. of Adel, Iowa, by way of Chandler, Ariz., cruised to the 30-lap qualifying A-main feature win. Thornton started on the inside of row two and quickly moved by front row starters D.J. Shannon of Merced, Calif. and Curtis Cook of Conway, Ark. Once out front, Thornton Jr. distanced himself from the rest of the field. “The car was really good. We were able to get into the lead on the first or second lap, then I just kind of rolled around the bottom,” said Thornton. “I looked at the track right before our feature and decided to make a few changes. I think that really helped us a bunch. We should be [Read More]

Wet weather wins at West Burlington, 500th Deery event moves to Davenport

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (Sept. 27) – Inclement weather was again the winner at 34 Raceway. The Deery Brothers Summer Series event scheduled tonight (Friday) in West Burlington has been canceled because of rain and a less than promising forecast for later in the day. The 500th event in series history and finale for the 33rd annual tour for IMCA Late Models now moves to Davenport Speedway to headline the Iowa Governor’s Cup program on Saturday, Sept. 28. Pit gates open at 1 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 2 p.m. Hot laps are at 4 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and teens, and free for kids 12 and under accompanying a paid adult. The main event pays $2,000 to win and a minimum of $300 to start. More information is available by calling 563 340-4079. Deery Brothers Summer Series top 20 point standings – 1. Andy Eckrich, Oxford, 412; 2. Joel Callahan, Dubuque, 395; 3. Matt Ryan, Davenport, 386; 4. Curt Martin, Independence, 372; 5. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, 368; [Read More]

Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour finale set Saturday at Benton County

VINTON, Iowa – The final checkers fly this weekend at Benton County Speedway for the 10th annual Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour. IMCA Modifieds race for $1,500 to win in their Saturday, Sept. 28 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying feature. Also on the card at Vinton are IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. In addition to special series points for the Modifieds, IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and E3 Spark Plugs State points will be awarded. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., the grandstand opens at 4 p.m. and hot laps are at 4:30 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $15 for seniors, $12 for students and military, and free for kids ages five and under. Pit passes are $30. Saturday’s race program will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. More information is available by calling 319 429-6931. Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour top 20 point standings – 1. Richie Gustin, Gilman, 276; 2. Joel Rust, Grundy Center, 242; 3. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, 226; 4. [Read More]

2019 IMCA point season ends on Sunday, Sept. 29

VINTON, Iowa – The 2019 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season will end on Sunday, Sept. 29. Final points races will be held that day for sanctioned Modifieds, Sprint Cars, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Northern SportMods, Southern SportMods and Sport Compacts. Bonus points will be figured and national and regional champions and rookies of the year announced as soon as possible. Local track officials have until noon Central Standard Time on Monday, Oct. 28 to notify IMCA of corrections that affect their top 15 point standings before all standings for those divisions become official. Questions about IMCA point totals and standings should be directed to Virginia Lindsey, director of membership and points, at vlindsey@imca.com or by calling 319 472-2201, ext. 215.

DeVilbiss can’t be denied sixth straight win, second Wild West IMCA Modified Tour title

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (Sept. 21) – Rain could delay but not deny Zane DeVilbiss a record sixth straight series feature win and the Wild West IMCA Modified Tour title that went with it Saturday night. DeVilbiss topped the main event at Idaho Falls Raceway, leading all 25 laps from the pole in the $1,200 victory. “It was an amazing deal for us. We had a good weekend and we’ve had a good year,” said DeVilbiss, already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. “They gave us a great track and I was able to run anywhere I wanted.” Also the 2010 tour champ, DeVilbiss moved into sole possession of second place on the all-time tour wins list with 19; he’d been tied with Justen Yeager, the runner-up at Idaho Falls. “We had a late yellow and both Justen and Braxton (Yeager) were right there to challenge me,” said DeVilbiss. “They didn’t make it easy, that’s for sure.” Regan Tafoya and Shawn LaRocque completed the top five. Travis Metz started 14th and finished sixth. Once the Friday [Read More]

Shute, Rust rule IMCA Modifieds at Stuart’s Fever Heat 100

By Josh Reynolds STUART, Iowa (Sept. 20-21) – Todd Shute and Joel Rust were IMCA Modified winners while Elijah Zevenbergen, Corey Madden and Mitchell Bunch each swept Fever Heat 100 feature events at Stuart Speedway. Shute used the top side of the track to lead all 25 laps and take the dominating win on Friday, putting his name on the 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot with the $1,000 victory. Jesse Dennis finished second and Ethan Braaksma third. Dennis and Braaksma ran up front before Rust raced ahead for the $1,500 checkers. Already on the All-Star ballot, he was chased across the stripe by Braaksma and Dennis third. Zevenbergen earned $1,000 on opening night and $1,500 on night two. Derry and Damon Murty put on quite a battle for second but it was all Zevenbergen out front in the Friday IMCA Sunoco Stock Car show. Zevenbergen worked the bottom side of the track Saturday and on lap 19 it would pay off as he took over the top spot and drove off to weekend sweep. [Read More]

34 Raceway reschedules 500th Deery for Friday, Sept. 27

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – Rain was the winner on Saturday and as a result 34 Raceway will host the 500th Deery Brothers Summer Series event this Friday, Sept. 27. The IMCA Late Model tour feature at West Burlington pays $2,000 to win and a minimum of $300 to start. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and free for kids 10 and under. Pit passes are $35. The Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour for IMCA Modifieds and Gangbusters 41 portions of the program were not rescheduled. More information about Friday’s race program is available by calling 319 752-3434 and at the 34raceway.com website. The 33rd annual tour concludes Saturday, Sept. 28, headlining the Iowa Governor’s Cup card at Davenport Speedway in another $2,000 to win event. Deery Brothers Summer Series top 20 point standings – 1. Andy Eckrich, Oxford, 412; 2. Joel Callahan, Dubuque, 395; 3. Matt Ryan, Davenport, 386; 4. Curt Martin, Independence, [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds are Batesville bound for Sept. 24-28 Race For Hope

BATESVILLE, Ark. – One of the biggest races for IMCA Modifieds will also benefit two area non-profit organizations this season. Batesville Motor Speedway’s third annual Race For Hope 71 is Sept. 24-28, with $15,000 paid to win and a minimum of $2,000 to start the main event. More than 60 drivers will earn at least $1,000 during the Saturday, Sept. 28 program alone. Saturday’s main event is a qualifier for the 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Jet Racing Central Region and E3 Spark Plugs Arkansas State points will be awarded. Saturday’s “D” main pays $2,000 to win and a minimum of $400 to start, the “C” main pays $3,000 to win and a minimum of $600 to start, and the “B” main pays $4,000 to win and a minimum of $1,000 to start. Top two finishers in each of 15 heats on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday advance to qualifying features that send the top 10 finishers to the inside, middle and outside rows, respectively, of Saturday’s 30-car starting [Read More]

Old memories shared, new ones made at Cardinal’s inaugural Sam Hodges Memorial

EUNICE, N.M. (Sept. 14) – Already pretty good through August, Colby Deming saw his season pick up some more at Cardinal Speedway’s Sam Hodges Memorial. Deming led all 40 laps of Sunday’s main event for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, earning $3,055 for a win that mattered more than the money. “I’d known Sam and his son Cody is one of my best friends. It was an honor to be able to win that race,” he said following the event, held in honor of the late track owner, promoter and driver. Deming drew the pole start, held off challenges from Michael Sheen early on and was still in front when the race was halted at midway for a mandatory pit stop. Cautions kept lapped traffic from becoming a factor in the second half of the contest. Jason Rogers made his way to second but couldn’t catch Deming. Michael Sheen, Don Sheen and Cary White rounded out the top five. “Nobody made it easy for me, that’s for sure,” Deming said. “Cardinal is our home track and [Read More]