Feature Archives

Velasquez rebounds for Dodge City RaceSaver Sprint win

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (May 26) – Just one weekend removed from a wild heat race flip, Taylor Velasquez bounced right back to win Saturday’s 25-lap United Rebel Sprint Series vs. Precise Racing Products Sprint Car Clash main event at Dodge City Raceway Park. Velasquez put his IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car out front at the outset from the pole position and capitalized on a lap 20 caution that negated a Jake Martens pass for the lead to secure the win. Given a reprieve, Velasquez burst out to a lead of several car lengths as the race restarted, but Martens closed back in and tried to slip under in the final pair of corners only to fall two car-lengths short at the stripe. “This week has been blood, sweat and tears,” Velasquez explained. “I wasn’t really sure how I’d feel tonight. Getting through the heat race was the most important part of the night. After that, I got a lot more comfortable in the car.” Gunning into the lead at the drop of the green flag, [Read More]

Noteboom cashes in at Memorial Clash

JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 26) – Jay Noteboom trumped a stout field of 24 Artworks Graphics IMCA Modifieds to take home the top spot and $1,500 at Park Jefferson Speedway’s Memorial Clash. At the jump, it was Chad Ten Napel jumping out to the early lead followed by Bob Moore and Chris Abelson. Eventually, Abelson wore down Ten Naple to take the point. Noteboom and Moore swapped the runner-up spot with Noteboom utilizing a crossover move to secure the runner-up spot. Abelson, who appeared to have checked out and was possibly counting all $1,500 of the top spot, got loose between turns three and four and jumped the cushion. This allowed Noteboom to power away for his third consecutive victory and set the stage for a colorful post race interview with the new Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier discussing preferred driving lines around Park Jefferson. Abelson worked his way back to second with rookie Todd Boulware finishing third. Noteboom also moved his name to one away from Joe Kosiski on the [Read More]

Martin denies Day for URSS victory at 81 Speedway

PARK CITY, Kan. (May 27) – Jason Martin took the lead in the early stages and then held off a late-race challenge by Michael Day to claim the United Rebel Sprint Series 25-lap feature finale during at 81 Speedway’s Sprint Car Maynia II Sunday night. The 10th starting Martin passed both Colby Estes and Day in taking over the front spot just seven laps in the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car headliner. His first encounter with the back of the field began on lap 11 while holding onto his half-stretch lead at midway. With drivers utilizing the top and bottom of the 3/8’s mile oval, passing was intense throughout the event. With five laps to go, it appeared Martin would be able to cruise but Day closed the deficit to five car lengths with four laps to go. Approaching another slower car on the last lap, Day looked to make one last challenge for the lead but Martin got a good run between turns three and four to take the three car-length victory. Jake Martens came [Read More]

Streak-stopper Martin wins Boone Deery

BOONE, Iowa (May 28) – A driver who knows a thing or two about winning streaks ended one and started one of his own Monday night at Boone Speedway. Curt Martin led all but one of 40 laps in winning the Memorial Day Deery Brothers Summer Series event at Boone, earning $2,000 for his career 27th IMCA Late Model tour victory. His convincing run at the front ended Justin Kay’s bid for a record fifth consecutive series victory. Jeremiah Hurst finished a distant second, with Ryan Dolan, Kay and Joe Zrostlik rounding out the top five. Martin drew the pole and gave up the lead early to Hurst for a single circuit before resuming command. Just a couple cautions slowed what was otherwise a fast-paced feature but Martin edged ahead on lap 10 and 22 restarts. Hurst was the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing winner. Martin and Kay are now tied for third on the all-time series wins list; Martin had been the first Deery driver to win three straight features, doing so [Read More]

McGaha outruns Red River Tour foes at 281

By J.M. Hallas STEPHENVILLE, Texas (May 28) – Josh McGaha’s $1,000 checkers at 281 Speedway capped a big Memorial Weekend of racing for the Red River IMCA Modified Tour “Man, it was good,” the new Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier exclaimed following the Monday night victory. “The car pretty much drove itself. We made a call at the last minute after seeing track take some rubber and get some grip to it.” “We got lucky enough to draw the front but I feel like we still had a good car,” he continued. “After last night and all the bad luck, I’ll take it however I can get it. It was fun.” Eric Tomlinson was the runner-up and third was Heart O’ Texas Speedway tour winner Tyler Stevens. Chris Elliott and ‘B’ feature winner Clay Money rounded out the fast top five. After a series of early yellows, McGaha quickly checked out while Tomlinson and Stevens swapped second. A mid-race caution erased McGaha’s big lead but gave him open track for the restart. He sped [Read More]

Stevens shines at Heart O’ Texas with Red River Tour triumph

By Mike Spieker WACO, Texas (May 27) – Tyler Stevens raced to the win on night two of the IMCA Red River Modified Tour at Heart O’ Texas Speedway on Sunday, earning $1,000 and a spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Matt Guillaume, Kevin Sustaire and Stephens went three-wide for the race lead down the back stretch on lap 10. Guillaume fended off the challenge to remain in the lead as a caution reset the field on lap 11. As the race resumed, Stevens jumped into second over Sustaire and set his sights on Guillaume. The following circuit, Stephens dove to the inside of Guillaume and completed a textbook slide job with 11 laps remaining. Stevens opened up a four car length lead and Guillaume and Sustaire continued to battle for second. A late race caution set up a green, white, checkered finish with Sustaire and Guillaume lined up in second and third, respectively. Stevens got a great start off turn four and ran the final two trips around the high-banked quarter-mile dirt oval [Read More]

Thornton catches Cordes for opening night Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights checkers

VINTON, Iowa (May 28) – A rare visit to Benton County Speedway resulted in a frequent result for Ricky Thornton Jr. Thornton passed race-long leader Troy Cordes following a late restart and led the last four laps in winning Monday’s Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour feature for IMCA Modifieds. The checkers in the tour lidlifter were good for $2,000. “I had a really good run on the restart and was thinking I’d either win or finish last,” Thornton said of the roll-the-dice pass on the high side of the oval. “I had pretty good car and made a couple strong runs but might have to have settled for second without that restart.” Cordes led the first 26 circuits from his outside pole start. Jarrett Brown headed the pursuit through the first half of the race before Thornton made his way to second following a caution at midway. Hunter Marriott passed Thornton on lap 19 and challenged Cordes before going off the backstretch four laps later. That put Thornton back in second and in position [Read More]

Drake, DeVolder score IMCA Modified feature wins at Santa Maria Nationals

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 26-27) – Logan Drake raced back to victory lane on opening night while Shane DeVolder earned his career first IMCA Modified feature win on night two of Santa Maria Raceway’s Memorial Weekend Nationals. Drake, also a 2017 winner at Santa Maria, led the last 10 circuits in winning Saturday’s 25-lapper. DeVolder regained the lead with two turns around the track left in Sunday’s main, also 25 laps. Both events paid $1,200 and put the winners on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Robby Sawyer started on the Saturday pole flanked by Austin Burke and the first seven laps ran in that order. The third-starting Drake took over second on lap eight and moved to the extreme high groove to take the top spot from Sawyer on lap 15. The only caution of the event came on lap 20. Drake led the final five laps for his first feature win of year and was followed across the stripe by Sawyer, Clay Daly, D.J. Shannon and Cody Laney. “Santa Maria is only about [Read More]

IMCA Modified winners earn $1,500 at Classic Shootout

WINNEMUCCA, Nev. – An event that’s guaranteed to be a classic will see IMCA Modified drivers vie for top checks of $1,500 on both nights of Winnemucca Regional Raceway’s Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3 High Desert Classic Shootout. Both features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. A minimum of $100 will be paid to start and each main event purse totals $5,500. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, IMCA State and track points will be awarded for each show. Entry fee is $150 for both days or $100 a day at the gate for non-registered drivers. Racing starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday and follows 12:30 p.m. hot laps on Sunday. A pit party follows the Saturday race program at Model T Hotel and Casino, sponsor of the second annual event. Both shows are draw/redraw with an optional pill draw. Grandstand admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and free for kids ages 12 and under. Pit passes are $25. An open [Read More]

Allen races to Red River IMCA Modified Tour win at Kennedale

By Spieker Promotions KENNEDALE, Texas (May 26) – Chase Allen scored the opening night win of the inaugural Red River IMCA Modified Tour at Kennedale Speedway Park Saturday night. Allen claimed the lead on lap 11 of the 25-lap event before having to hold off Jeffrey Abbey in the closing stages. Eric Tomlinson started on the outside of the front row and led the field of 24 on the opening lap. Tomlinson pulled away in the early laps, building a six-car length lead as several cars raced for second. Abbey won the battle for second and set his sights on Tomlinson for the lead. Abbey closed the gap on lap eight and put heavy pressure on Tomlinson as the lead duo fought for position on the low side of the speedway. As the race for the lead was heating up, the caution was displayed for debris in turn four. On the ensuing restart, third place runner Allen drove around the outside of Abbey to take second. Allen stayed in the outside groove and pulled even with [Read More]