Feature Archives

Ward gets career fourth Greased Pig win

By Roger Williams AUBURN, Mich. (June 15) – The first race in the new dirt track era of Tri-City Motor Speedway took place in mid-June back in 2011. Each year, Tri-City commemorates the occasion with the annual Greased Pig special for the IMCA Modifieds. On Friday night, A.J. Ward won the event for the fourth time and earned $2,018. Chris Cohoon started on the pole and led the field to green flag but his night ended early because of mechanical problems. With Cohoon out, the lead was handed to Matt Szecsodi, who took advantage of a long green flag run and began to pull away from the field. However, with 31 laps down and 10 to go, a caution bunched up the field and put the ninth starting Ward and defending track champion Kody Johnson on Szecsodi’s rear bumper. Ward fought Szecsodi using the bottom groove as the two tussled over the final seven circuits. The two-time defending Dirt Works Eastern Region champion, already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, was finally able to [Read More]

53(!) IMCA RaceSaver Sprints vie at Hagerstown

By Jim Haines HAGERSTOWN, M.D. (June 16) – Ken Duke proved to finish first, you must first finish when 53 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars converged at Hagerstown Speedway. The Saturday event was co-sanctioned by the Laurel Highlands Sprint Series, Pennsylvania Sprint Series and Virginia Sprint Series. Duke was running second but took the win after Jeff Miller fell out on the last lap. He led PASS point leader Zach Newlin and defending LHSS champion Scott Lutz across the stripe. Newlin and Ryan Lynn paced the field to the initial green with Newlin out first. Miller stayed close to the leader while Duke worked his way toward the front. Miller became the new leader on lap seven with Newlin holding off Drew Ritchey for second with Duke closing in. Miller was smooth out front while Duke took over second on the 16th circuit. With laps winding down, the field looked to be set but a quick yellow changed everything as Miller pulled in and Duke led the rest of the lap that mattered most. Feature results [Read More]

141 Speedway hosts history-making $10,000 to win Clash at the Creek for IMCA Modifieds June 20-21

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. – A $10,000 top check is at stake when IMCA Modifieds travel to 141 Speedway for the history-making June 20 and 21 Clash at the Creek. The Clash doubles as the second installment of the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour and pays a minimum of $750 to start in the tour’s first-ever venture outside the State of Iowa. Ken Schrader joins the Modified field for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods race for $1,000 to win both nights at Francis Creek. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Side Biter Chassis North Central Region and EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, and Wisconsin State points will be awarded. Pre-tech starts at noon and an open practice session runs from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19. Dirt Kings Late Models are in town, pit passes are $25 and admission to the grandstand is $10 for adults. Clash qualifying for the Modifieds starts Wednesday, June 20. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and racing starts [Read More]

Nelson hustles to $1,000 Hobby Stock win

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (June 14) – Along with talent, winning a special in dirt track racing frequently involves two other factors, a little luck and a good draw. Dylan Nelson used all those things to top a big field of IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks in a $1,000 to win main event Thursday at Kossuth County Speedway. Nelson started on the outside of the front row and led all 20 laps. The caution flew on four occasions to regroup the field, but each time Nelson pulled away from the pack. Cody Nielsen ended up in second place with Chanse Hollatz placing third. Leah Wroten took fourth and Greg Sidles was fifth. Kyle Sidles went from 22nd starting to eighth as the hard charger. Other feature winners during the evening were Rob Hughes in the IMCA Modifieds, Calvin Lange in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, George Nordman in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Oliver Monson in the Mach-1 Sport Compacts. Feature results – 1. Dylan Nelson; 2. Cody Nielsen; 3. Chanse Hollatz; 4. Leah [Read More]

Gustin, Olson race to IMCA wins on Iowa Donor Network Urbana 5 Night

VINTON, Iowa (June 10) – Richie Gustin and Tony Olson took home the top checks from Benton County Speedway’s Iowa Donor Network Urbana 5 Memorial Sunday night. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Gustin started third in the IMCA Modified 20-lapper and took the lead from Brennen Chipp with just a few circuits scored. Gustin pulled away before the seventh starting Troy Cordes found the fastest line and began making up ground. Cordes closed on Gustin and nearly drew even until a late caution. Gustin then pulled away for the $1,000 victory while Dripps worked past Cordes for second. Also the winner of 2015 and 2016 IDN/Urbana 5 Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod features, Olson started third row and raced the low side to the front early on. He’d withstand pressure from Joe Docekal, winner of Friday’s SportMod Challenge at Davenport Speedway, following two early yellows and again on a green, white, checkered finish. That win was good for $1.300. Ryan Dolan took advantage of his pole position start to earn his second IMCA [Read More]

Grossenbacher returns to US 36 to take $1,000 checkers at Budweiser Shootout

OSBORN, Mo. (June 8) – It’s been a few years since he’s been to Osborn but Trevor Grossenbacher showed he still knows how to get to the front at US 36 Raceway. Grossenbacher caught up with Tyler Drueke in traffic and made what proved to be the winning pass with four laps to go in Friday’s Budweiser Shootout feature for IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars. “The last time I ran here was five years ago,” said Grossenbacher, who earned $1,000 for the feature victory and another $200 for winning his heat race. “It’s a 2-1/2 hour trip for us but I’m sure we’ll go back. It was a fun night.” The fifth starting Drueke and fourth starting Grossenbacher ran 1-2 much of the 20-lapper, contested by 19 cars representing six states. The caution came out with six laps remaining; Grossenbacher used the top side to take the lead away two circuits later. “I thought for sure he’d (Drueke) go to the top for the restart,” Grossenbacher said. “He went to the bottom and that’s when I [Read More]

Docekal dials up SportMod Challenge win at Davenport

DAVENPORT, Iowa (June 8) – Joe Docekal dialed up the $2,000 feature win at Davenport Speedway’s Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod Challenge Friday night. The 50-lap main event started with Troy Bauer taking the lead from a front row starting spot. After a lap 11 restart, Dalton Simonsen, made his bid for the lead on the high side. As Bauer moved up to block the move, Tony Olson dove to the bottom and took away the lead. Olson, the 2016 SportMod Challenge winner, then led the next 30 laps. The final restart came on lap 44 and allowed Docekal to drive around Olson for lead. Docekal led the remaining laps for the win. Gage Neal also passed Olson in the final laps to finish second. Olson held on for third. Brayton Carter finished fourth and Simonsen fifth. Drivers from three states vied in the sixth annual event. Austin Moyer topped the IMCA Modified main and Chuck Hanna won his second straight Petersen Plumbing & Heating IMCA Late Model feature. Feature results – 1. Joe Docekal; 2. [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds make Sheyenne Speedway debut this Sunday

LISBON, N.D. — For the first time, IMCA Modifieds are coming to Sheyenne Speedway in Lisbon, N.D. Fans will get their first glimpse of the Powdercoat Specialists IMCA Modifieds on the 1/4-mile dirt oval this Sunday, June 10. Racing begins at 6 p.m. Modifieds have appeared at Sheyenne in past years, but this will be the first time IMCA-sanctioned Modifieds will run at the track. They also run at Sheyenne on July 1, Aug. 12 and Sept. 30. “We are thrilled to bring the IMCA Modifieds in for the first of four trips to Sheyenne Speedway,” promoter Benji Froemke said. “We know there are several tracks around our region that run the IMCA Modifieds and we know there is a lot of fan interest in our local area to see them race.” Several tracks in the Fargo-Moorhead region run the IMCA Modifieds weekly – Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo (Fridays), Jamestown Speedway (Saturdays), Norman County Raceway in Ada (Thursdays) and Buffalo River Race Park (Sundays). BRRP is giving the [Read More]

Eckrich outruns Deery pack for Marshalltown checkers

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (June 5) – After he kept the pack behind him, Andy Eckrich picked up the top check from Marshalltown Speedway’s Steve Priske Miller Lite 50 Deery Brothers Summer Series show. Eckrich led the last 48 of 50 laps in earning the $2,000 victory Tuesday night and pocketed another $400 in bonus money from Rumours Bar and Grill for winning his heat and the main event. “We got going pretty early but I figured the pack of wolves would be coming,” said Eckrich, who set sail after the final caution came out on the 14th circuit. “I got into traffic around lap 30 and with six to go caught up with four lapped cars that were racing hard. It took a while to get by them.” Point leader Justin Kay started 12th and chased Eckrich across the stripe, but didn’t get close enough to challenge. Todd Cooney, Jeff Aikey and Eckrich’s brother Denny completed the top five. The checkers were his Deery career eighth and first since opening night of the 2014 tour. Eckrich [Read More]

IMCA RaceSaver Sprints chase $1,000 check at Budweiser Shootout

OSBORN, Mo. – IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars are in the running for a $1,000 top prize at US 36 Raceway’s Friday, June 8 Budweiser Shootout. The feature pays a minimum of $250 to start. Heat winners also earn another $200. Also on the card are Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods racing for $500 to win and a minimum of $70 to start. Both divisions are draw/redraw. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Missouri State and track points will be awarded. Pit passes are $30; there is no entry fee. Spectator admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and military with ID, $8 for kids ages 7-12 and free for six and under. Pit gates open at 5 p.m., the grandstand opens at 6 p.m., hot laps are at 7:30 p.m. and racing follows.