Feature Archives

Marriott goes back-to-back with Nodak win, Zevenbergen rules Dakota Tour Stock Cars

By Mike Spieker MINOT, N.D. (July 8) – Hunter Marriott looks poised to back up last year’s Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic IMCA Modified Tour championship. The Brookfield, Mo., driver claimed the $2,454 IMCA Modified win Sunday at Nodak Speedway for his second win in as many nights. Things heated up at halfway as both Ricky Thornton Jr. and Marriott got a run on leader Michael Greseth down the backstretch, which made for a three-wide race for the lead into turn three. Marriott went from third to the point as Thornton drifted up out of turn four and caught the wall. Greseth returned the favor on Marriott with a big slide job in turns one and two, but Marriott was able to regain the lead down the backstretch. Once out front, Marriott checked out from the rest of the field. Behind him, a torrid battle for second continued. On lap 18, Tim Ward drove from fifth to second after getting a run off turn two. Greseth, Wolla and Thornton went three wide for third into turn three, [Read More]

Opening night Dakota Tour feature wins at Jamestown go to Marriott, Rogers

By Mike Spieker JAMESTOWN, N.D. (July 7) – The 29th annual Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic IMCA Modified Tour got underway Saturday at Jamestown Speedway with a familiar name in victory lane as two-time and defending champion Hunter Marriott, picked up the opening night win in convincing fashion. Marriott took the point as the race resumed after an early restart with Mark Dahl and John Corell in tow. Several cautions plagued the opening circuits, but once the race endured a green flag stretch, Marriott checked out. Seventh starting R.C. Whitwell quickly moved into the second spot as Dahl and Corell continued to battle. Marriott reached lapped traffic at the halfway point, but by then he had already established a full straightaway lead over Whitwell. Seeming effortlessly, Marriott sliced through the dense traffic before increasing his advantage in the final stages. Marriott cruised to the win over Whitwell, while Jeff Taylor came from 12th to round out the podium. Dahl and Corell rounded out the top five. “The car felt really good tonight. I’ve never won here in [Read More]

Dolan leads all 50 laps of 50th Deery event at 34 Raceway

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 3) – It had been a few years since his last trip to West Burlington, so Ryan Dolan relied on Mapquest to get to town. Once he got to 34 Raceway and got some early evening brake issues figured out, he didn’t need any help getting around the track. Dolan led all 50 laps of the Tuesday night Deery Brothers Summer Series main event at 34. The feature ran green to checkered and Dolan pocketed $2,000 for his career third IMCA Late Model tour win. “It was a classic and a sweet victory for the Rick Dralle team,” Dolan said following the tour’s 50th visit to the West Burlington oval. “It was an exciting track to race on – it just suits my driving style. I ran the middle to the top, kept my momentum up and tried to stay out of trouble because there was quite a bit of lapped traffic.” Dolan started outside Darrel DeFrance on the front row. DeFrance led the field into the first turn but Dolan [Read More]

Brown is late-race hero at Hogan Memorial

VINTON, Iowa (July 3) – Kyle Brown had one win and a bunch of fourth-place finishes going into Tuesday’s Hogan Memorial. He had the most prestigious win of his IMCA Modified career when it was time to load up the trailer following the 24th annual special at Benton County Speedway. Brown pounced when leader Troy Cordes got out of line with seven circuits to go in the 50-lapper, charging to the front and outrunning defending race winner Hunter Marriott to the checkers. Forty Modified drivers from across three states were entered and Cordes, two-time Hogan winner Richie Gustin and Chris Simpson completed the top five in a main event that played out in front of a packed grandstand. Four different drivers took turns in the lead in a race interrupted by caution just once. “I don’t know what it paid to win,” said Brown, who had yet to look at the $2,683 amount written on the presentation check he received in victory lane, “but it feels real good to put up a win against this [Read More]

James tames Willamette for career first Wild West Shootout checkers

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (June 29) – Night number seven of the Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout belonged to Bricen James. The Albany speedster gained the lead near midway and led to the $1,000 checkers Friday at Willamette Speedway, earning his tour career first victory and a berth on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Rob Mayea made his first start with the series and got to the front on the initial green. Mayea was mighty fast while leading but unfortunately got caught up with a lapped car on the 13th circuit. Although Mayea retained the lead due to not stopping, his car was sustained enough damage to take him out of contention for the victory. On the restart, James blazed past Mayea and officially took over first place on lap 14. James tried to separate from the rest of the field but a handful of contenders gave chase. The race started intensified as lapped traffic came into the picture in the last laps. James kept all challengers in check to become the sixth [Read More]

Deery Series makes 50th visit to 34 Raceway

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – 34 Raceway celebrates the Big 5-0, then gets an early start at celebrating Independence Day next Tuesday. The Deery Brothers Summer Series makes its 50th visit to West Burlington on July 3. Touring IMCA Late Models chase a top check of $2,000 with a minimum of $300 paid to start the main event. 34 Raceway was the site of the first-ever IMCA Late Model tour event, won by hometown driver Jay Johnson on April 11, 1987. The series has since traveled to West Burlington more often than any other track in its 31-plus years, with the single event record of 71 entries set there in 2006. Thirty-one different drivers have won Deery features at 34, the most recent of them Nick Marolf of Moscow on opening night of the 2017 series. “It’s an important milestone coming up on Tuesday, for IMCA and the Deery Series as well as 34 Raceway,” noted Tour Director Kevin Yoder. “34 was a fixture on the series schedule for so many years. It’s is always great [Read More]

Williamson becomes first to repeat in Wild West Shootout

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (June 27) – The driver with the most Wild West Shootout career wins to his credit became the first repeat winner in the 2018 IMCA Modified tour Wednesday at Sunset Speedway Park. Four-time and defending champion Jesse Williamson topped the Banks show, and earned $1,000 for his career 12th victory. He’d also won on June 25 at Cottage Grove Speedway. John Campos seized the top spot at the drop of the green flag and remained in front until lap five, when Bricen James made it around him. James had the car to beat but unfortunately suffered mechanical issues while under caution on lap 22 and Campos inherited the lead. Williamson made the crucial pass on Campos on lap 27 to become the third different leader of the race. He stayed in front to the finish to win for the fourth time at Sunset Speedway Park. Campos was second followed by Ethan Dotson. Collecting fourth was Grey Ferrando while fifth went to Collen Winebarger. Feature results – 1. Jesse Williamson; 2. [Read More]

Hurst gets best of Benton County Deery Series foes

VINTON, Iowa (June 28) – It wasn’t that long ago Jeremiah Hurst wasn’t sure about his future in racing. On Thursday, he was in victory lane telling all about his Deery Brothers Summer Series win at Benton County Speedway. “This is awesome. It’s my first win since my heart attack (last July). It seems like we have a lot of seconds,” said Hurst, most recently runner-up in back-to-back IMCA Late Model tour events last month at Quad City Speedway and Boone Speedway. “It feels really good to be able to win tonight.” Boone had been the site of Hurst’s last Deery win, during the 2002 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. His career first tour win had come the previous September at 34 Raceway. “There was a time when I didn’t know if I’d be racing,” Hurst said. “This is my second year racing for Ken Roberts and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened for me.” Hurst took home $2,000 for the Benton County fair victory. The checkers came a full second [Read More]

Late race heroics lift Dotson to CGS Wild West Shootout checkers

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 26) – Ethan Dotson rolled the dice and came up a $1,000 Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout winner Tuesday at Cottage Grove Speedway. Four-time and defending tour champion Jesse Williamson quickly got to the front at the start of the main event and looked to make it two straight wins at the famed quarter-mile oval. Williamson set a rapid pace and seemed to be the class of the field before an extremely long green flag run brought lapped traffic into the mix. Danny Lauer reeled in Williamson and looked to challenge, but couldn’t quite get underneath the leader. A lap 33 caution regrouped the field one last time. On the restart, Williamson went to the bottom to keep Lauer in check. Dotson, however, gambled on the high side. Williamson and Dotson were side-by-side at the line coming to the white flag and battled it out on the final circuit. Dotson managed to motor his way in front and secure the top spot on the exit of turn two. Already on the Fast [Read More]

Defending champion is fourth different Wild West Modified Shootout winner

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 25) – The latest installment of the 2018 Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout ended with the fourth different winner in as many events. Four-time and defending tour champion Jesse Williamson topped Monday’s feature at Cottage Grove Speedway. The $1,000 victory was his tour career 11th and third at Cottage Grove, and came despite the best efforts of challenger Bricen James. The new Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot candidate seized the early lead and took off right from the get-go. Williamson was tracked down and passed on lap 14 by James, who lost the lead to Williamson on the following circuit. Shortly after a lap 21 restart, James made a pass Williamson again and the battled hard the rest of the way. Williamson regained the coveted top spot on lap 26 and held off James at the line for the victory. James was followed across the stripe by John Campos, “B” qualifier Grey Ferrando and Curtis Towns was fifth. Forty entries from five states and Canada necessitated three consolation features. The Wild [Read More]