Feature Archives

Raceway Park homecoming pays off for Hansen

By Bob Coney JEFFERSON, S.D. (April 8-9) – Mike Hansen returned to his old stomping grounds to score the $1,000 Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified checkers at Raceway Park South Dakota Spring Nationals. The North Dakota transplant led the last 16 circuits in Saturday’s 20-lap finale, earning a spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot along with the big check. “We had a trailer full during and after the races,” said Hansen, who’d been a Raceway Park regular for most of eight seasons and won in front of a large contingent of family and friends in his return to Jefferson. “It was a good time.” Ricky Stephan jumped out front at the drop of the green flag and led the first four circuits before Hansen moved into the top spot, switching to the low line in the first set of turns to make the pass, then going back to the higher line and running in front to the finish. While Stephan stayed in tow, Jeff Larson charged through the field only to come up [Read More]

Thornton outruns Brown for IMCA Frostbuster checkers at Benton County

VINTON, Iowa (April 10) – His first-ever visit to Benton County Speedway ended with Ricky Thornton Jr.’s second $1,000 Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified Frostbuster feature win in as many nights. Thornton followed the Saturday checkers at Boone Speedway with the Sunday night victory in a star-filled field at Vinton. He led the last 21 of 25 laps, outrunning Kyle Brown – himself a two-time Frostbuster winner – in the race to the checkers. “It feels awesome to be able to win here,” Thornton said before the victory lane photos were snapped. “Tim Ward was here for the Frostbuster last year and gave us an idea what gear to run.” “We loosened the car up and changed gears after the heat race tonight,” the Chandler, Ariz., driver continued. “We set the car up to run up top and it worked for us.” Brown had won the first two Frostbuster features, at Southern Iowa Speedway and Friday at Marshalltown Speedway. He’d made a late challenge on the inside but Thornton was faster on the backstretch and [Read More]

Denny Eckrich dominates in Deery opener at West Liberty

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (April 9) – Once he got back into the lead, there was no catching Denny Eckrich in Saturday’s opening night Deery Brothers Summer Series feature at West Liberty Raceway. Eckrich started the IMCA Late Model tour 40-lapper from the pole but fell back as far as third early on. He passed Jeff Aikey for the lead following a lap 14 restart and checked out on the rest of the field from that point. The win paid $2,000 and was the Deery career fourth for Eckrich. Aikey, two-time defending series champion Justin Kay, Richie Gustin and Matt Ryan completed the top five in the lidlifter for the 30th annual series. Eckrich set the fast pace before the caution flew for a multi-car tangle on lap six, then gave way to Aikey and Kay. Kay tried the low line in his unsuccessful bid to pass Aikey; Eckrich made a higher line work when he drove by for the lead coming to the stand at the end of the 17th circuit. He pulled away from that point [Read More]

Thornton races to Boone Frostbuster checkers

BOONE, Iowa (April 9) – Ricky Thornton Jr. showed the Midwest what he’d done all winter out West. The Chandler, Ariz., hotshoe scored the $1,000 payday in Boone Speedway’s season-opening Frostbuster event for Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds. Nick Roberts and Jimmy Gustin split time at the front in the early stages of the 25-lap Fast Shafts All-star Invitational ballot qualifier while Thornton worked through traffic from a sixth row start. Thornton settled into fourth by the time caution slowed action on lap six. He raced the top side past Gustin for the lead on the 10th circuit while Mike Van Genderen mounted a charge running the high groove. As Thornton built a sizable advantage, Van Genderen shot past Gustin in the waning laps and chased down the leader. Thornton denied Van Genderen’s challenges to seal the win, his sanctioned 10th already this season. Gustin ran third. Kyle Strickler came from 16th starting to finish fourth. Jay Schmidt raced the low groove to victory in the 20-lapper for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Norman Chesmore held the early lead [Read More]

Brown continues IMCA Frostbuster success at Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (April 8) – Close finishes in all four feature events highlighted season-opening Frostbuster action Friday at Marshalltown Speedway. Kyle Brown took the early lead and then held off late pressure from his father David and Josh Gilman on his way to the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified victory. Kyle Brown, who was inches behind Nick Roberts at the completion of the first lap, inherited the lead when Roberts spun a short time later to bring out the caution. Brown took advantage on the restart and built a half-straightaway lead by the time David Brown made his way into second on the sixth of 25 laps. He maintained that advantage until he encountered lapped traffic with 11 laps to go. Traffic was no longer a factor after caution slowed action a final time with four laps remaining. The straightaway Gilman trailed the leader also disappeared. When racing resumed, Kyle Brown held off Gilman by less than a car-length to take the victory with David Brown close behind. Tim Ward raced from 18th starting to fourth. [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through April 7

Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds – 1. Lance Mari, Imperial, Calif., 632; 2. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 595; 3. Brian Schultz, Casa Grande, Ariz., 566; 4. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., 506; 5. Jason Noll, Peoria, Ariz., 489; 6. Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif., 484; 7. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo., 482; 8. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 469; 9. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif., 438; 10. Paul Stone, Winton, Calif., 389; 11. Ryan Gaylord, Lakewood, Colo., 385; 12. Brent Schlafmann, Bismarck, N.D., 376; 13. R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz., 372; 14. Matt Guillaume, Haslet, Texas, 365; 15. Zachary Madrid, Phoenix, Ariz., 350; 16. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb., 344; 17. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 339; 18. Michael Jergens, Plover, Iowa, 306; 19. John P. Gober, Poolville, Texas, 295; 20. Jeremy Thornton, Tucson, Ariz., 289. IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Cars – 1. Logan Scherb, Decatur, Texas, 297; 2. Chase Parson, Abilene, Texas, 242; 3. Chad Wilson, North Richland Hills, Texas, 216; 4. Marcus Thomas, Corsicana, Texas, 207; 5. Robert Vetter, Wolfe City, Texas, and Michelle Melton, Flower Mound, Texas, both 193; 7. Andy [Read More]

Davenport Deery canceled, West Liberty now opens tour schedule

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Wet and unfavorable conditions have forced the cancellation of Friday’s season opener for the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models at Davenport Speedway. There is no make-up date for the April 8 event. The 30th annual Late Model tour is now scheduled to open its season with a $2,000 to win show this Saturday, April 9, at West Liberty Raceway. West Liberty opens the gates at 4:30 p.m. and the grandstand at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow. Spectator admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, $10 for students ages 13-17 and free for 12 and under. Also running are Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts for all applicable points. Pit passes are $30. Additional information is available by calling 563 744-3620 and at the track’s www.simmonspromotionsinc.com website. 2015 Deery Brothers Summer Series top 25 point standings – 1. Justin Kay, Wheatland, 811; 2. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, [Read More]

IMCA Atomicwraps.com Empire State Series opens April 16 at Five Mile Point

KIRKWOOD, N.Y. – Although the first green flag for the 15th annual Atomicwraps.com Empire State Series has been delayed, more money will be up for grabs when action gets underway Saturday, April 16 at Five Mile Point Speedway. The winner’s share for touring Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds has been upped from $400 to $500. The feature pays a minimum of $100 to start in the lidlifter at Kirkwood. Originally scheduled for this Sunday, the series opener was postponed due to weather. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. April 16 and the grandstand opens at 4 p.m. Hot laps are set for 5:15 p.m. with the first heat at 6 p.m. There is no entry fee. Pit passes are $35. Spectator admission is $20 for adults, $16 for seniors 65 and over, $10 for students ages 13-17 and free for kids 12 and under. The April 16 event will also be for local track points. More information is available by calling 607 775-5555. Five Mile Point also hosts the second of nine 2016 tour events on May 1. Atomicwraps.com is in [Read More]

Marshalltown, Boone, Vinton host rescheduled IMCA Frostbusters this weekend

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – A trio of rescheduled Frostbuster specials are on the schedule for this weekend, each boasting $1,000 to win feature races for Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks are also on the card for Frostbusters Friday, April 8 at Marshalltown Speedway; Saturday, April 9 at Boone Speedway; and Sunday, April 10 at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. Modified features double as qualifiers for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Stock Cars run for $500 to win, Northern SportMods for $400 to win and Hobby Stocks for $250 to win each night of the Frostbuster. Pit gates open at 4 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 6:15 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m. at Marshalltown. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and free for kids 10 and under. Boone opens the pit gates at 2 p.m. and the grandstand at 3 p.m. Hot laps start at 4 p.m. and racing is at 5 [Read More]

Russell races to $1,000 Nolan Wren Memorial payday

WILLIS, Texas (April 2) – A former mini sprint racer took home the maximum share of the purse from Saturday’s Nolan Wren Memorial. Tyler Russell held off Jeb Sessums for the $1,000 checkers at Gator Motorplex. The Southern United Sprints victory was the career first in any class at Willis for Russell. “This was definitely the biggest win I’ve ever had,” the third-year IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Car pilot said. “It was an exciting race to win. It was such a great feeling. I was definitely overwhelmed.” Early leader Kent Lewis Sr., Matt Migl and Trey Schmidt rounded out the top five. Russell started outside row one in the 20-lap main event and headed pursuit of Lewis, chasing the leader into lapped traffic before midway. After trading paint with Sessums, Russell brought him along when passing Lewis for the point. Frontrunners caught up with the back of the field following a lap eight restart. Sessums peeked inside with two laps left but couldn’t complete the pass and had to settle for second. The fifth annual [Read More]