Feature Archives

Home state IMCA Modified hero Wolla prevails in Dakota Classic Tour at Southwest Speedway

DICKINSON, N.D. (July 8) – The best of the best Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified drivers converged at Southwest Speedway Wednesday night and this time a home state driver prevailed. Jason Wolla ran second for most of the 30-lap Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Modified Tour main event. He passed Spencer Wilson with seven circuits to go and held point leader Ricky Thornton Jr. and defending series champion Jeff Taylor at bay in a furious fight to the finish. “This has to be my biggest win ever. The talent in this series is just so good.” Wolla said following the relatively close-to-home $2,100 checkers, his tour career first. “This is kind of a home track. All the fans packing the stands made it special for us.” “It takes a good car, a good setup, everything down to the right draw,” he added. “All the things we needed to have happen fell into place.” Rounding out the top five were Strand, despite engine issues, and Aaron Turnbull, the 2013 tour champ. The first four tour events have [Read More]

Determined Kay runs away with Independence Deery

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (July 8) – Justin Kay came to Independence Motor Speedway with a chip on his shoulder Wednesday night. He left town with his fourth Deery Brothers Summer Series feature win of the season, a check for $3,000 and sole possession of first place in point standings for the IMCA Late Model tour. “I was a little disappointed after last night,” understated Kay, clearly on a mission after running an oh-so-close second to Brian Harris in the Tuesday Deery feature at West Liberty. “I pushed as hard as I could. When you have Jeff Aikey and Ryan Dolan behind you, you have to do that.” Aikey was the runner-up, two lapped cars and half a straightaway off Kay’s torrid pace. Dolan led most of the first half of the 40-lapper before ending in third, while Rick Wendling and Scott Fitzpatrick completed the top five. Brian Hunter drew the pole start and led the first three laps. Dolan was scored just ahead at the line the next time around. Meanwhile, Kay had raced from outside [Read More]

California trip pays dividends for Thornton in IMCA Dakota Tour feature at Williston

WILLISTON, N.D. (July 7) – A trip to California earlier this season helped put first-time Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Tour contender Ricky Thornton Jr. in Williston Basin Speedway’s victory lane. Thornton made the most of the lower line and caught pole starter Kelly Shryock for the lead with six circuits left in Tuesday’s 30-lap Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified main event. After working his way around a lapped car, he collected the $2,100 checkers and took over the top spot in the tour point standings as the best of the best IMCA Modified drivers converged in North Dakota. “That was probably the biggest win of my career,” Thornton said following his 20th victory of the season. “The competition here is so good.” “Our goal coming in was to make the show every night and maybe make the top 10 in points,” he added. “It would be great if we could pull it off and win the tour championship.” The Arizona speedster had started seventh and ran a lower line than most of the rest of the [Read More]

Harris overcomes ailing engine, edges Kay for West Liberty Deery win

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (July 7) – Brian Harris overcame an ailing engine and beat Justin Kay to the checkers by less than half a car length to win the Deery Brothers Summer Series feature at West Liberty Raceway. The last two champions of the IMCA Late Model tour – Harris in 2013, Kay in 2014 – settled the Tuesday show with a drag race to the finish line. Harris had opened the door with a bobble in the final turn, but recovered in time to outrun Kay. The $3,000 victory was Harris’ career 11th and his third at West Liberty. Kay had won the last three, and four of the last five Deery events there. Kay and third place finisher Andy Nezworski are now tied for the lead in the point standings with nine of 18 series races in the book. Rob Moss and Tyler Droste complete the top five. Moss led the first three circuits from the pole before giving way to Harris. Three cautions waved before midway of the 40-lapper while Harris stayed in [Read More]

Career highlight accompanies $3,000 check for Sheen’s win at father’s memorial special

EUNICE, N.M. (July 4) – Michael Sheen traveled to Cardinal Speedway and came home with $3,000 and a new IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career highlight. He started from the pole and led all 30 laps at Cardinal’s sixth Kelly Sheen Memorial, the special held in honor of his father, a long-time Stock Car competitor at Eunice. “I’ve been trying to win this race for five years. My dad got me started racing a Stock Car at the age of 15 and my grandfather Don died last year, so I kind of got this win for both of them,” Sheen said. “A lot of my family was there Saturday and this meant a lot to all of us.” EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region points leader Kirk Martin, Tim Pfalzgraf, two-time defending regional champion Matt Guillaume and Steffan Carey rounded out the top five. “The cautions were making me nervous. Those always give you time to think about everything possible that could happen to make you lose,” said Sheen. “I think I’ve probably led more laps [Read More]

Taylor’s last-turn heroics at Estevan yield Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Tour win

ESTEVAN, Sask. (July 6) – First he raced from 19th to second in his “B” feature to advance to the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic main event at Estevan Motor Speedway. Then Jeff Taylor started 13th and won Monday’s Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified headliner in dramatic fashion with a last-turn pass of Aaron Turnbull. “It was awesome,” the defending tour champion said from victory lane. “I had a good car and was able to get a line nobody else was running.” Turnbull, Spencer Wilson, new point leader Hunter Marriott and Ricky Thornton Jr. completed the top five. Thornton also came from the “B” features and advanced 10 spots. New series track records were set with 83 Modified and 39 Stock Car entries. As was the case on opening night at Nodak Speedway, drivers from 10 states and Canada filled out the Modified feature field. The 2013 tour king, Turnbull drew the pole start while Taylor worked his way up from mid-pack. He shot inside Turnbull coming out of the final turn to take the $2,100 win by [Read More]

West Liberty, Independence shows next for Deery Series

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (July 3) – A pair of mid-week shows are next for the Deery Brothers Summer Series. Touring IMCA Late Models race for $3,000 to win and a minimum of $300 to start on Tuesday, July 7 at West Liberty Raceway and Wednesday, July 8 at Independence Motor Speedway. Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds are also on the slate at West Liberty, racing for $1,000 to win and all applicable points. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors ages 62 and over, $10 for students ages 13-17 and free for 12 and under. Independence opens both the pit gate and the grandstand at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:45 p.m. with racing to follow. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and free for kids 11 and under. Also running at Indee are sanctioned Modifieds, plus Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco [Read More]

Potential payday now $5,000-plus for Hogan Memorial IMCA Modified winner

VINTON, Iowa – A potential payday of more than $5,000 awaits the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified feature winner at Benton County Speedway’s Sunday, July 12 Hogan Memorial. The 21st annual event is 50 laps and now pays $1,950 to win, including a $500 bonus from RACEFEEDX and IMCA.TV. Lap money is $50 for every circuit, plus $250 to the leader at midway. Hard charger cash awards add up to $600. Minimum start money has been increased to $250 and Modified heat race winners also earn $100. If not already vote eligible, the winner will be added to the ballot for the 2015 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing national, Belleville Motorsports North Central Region and Allstar Performance State points will be awarded at the draw/redraw show. A mandatory caution will be thrown for a five-minute break midway through the feature, with all cars stopping on the front stretch. Two former race winners and the top two drivers in local track points who do not qualify will receive provisional starts. Previous Hogan Memorial [Read More]

Howard Memorial this weekend at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – One of the crown jewel events of Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified racing in the Pacific Northwest will take place on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11. The Cottage Grove Speedway Modified Nationals will be run in honor of Mark Howard, who was a very inspirational person to many people in the pit area and a driving mentor to several CGS drivers. Many of the best IMCA Modified drivers in the region will be in town for the two nights of action. Saturday’s main event is a fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier, paying $2,600 to win and a minimum of $100 to start. The driver entry fee is $100. Pit passes are the regular $30.00 each. Returning for the third straight year will be the Race Of Champions, which will be held on Friday and feature past champions and 2015 Modified feature winners. Drivers must call CGS General Manager Heather Boyce at 541 729-8666 and pay a $20 entry fee. The 2015 Howard Memorial format will [Read More]

Ruter rules record-setting opener at Nodak for Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Tour

MINOT, N.D. (July 5) – Ryan Ruter was the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified winner on a record-setting opening night for the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Tour at Nodak Speedway. The $2,100 checkers flew for Ruter as a series record 93 Modifieds were checked in for the Sunday show. That eclipsed by one the mark set last year at Dacotah Speedway. Ten states and Canada were represented in the main event. Jordan Grabouski, Hunter Marriott, Ricky Thornton Jr. and Robert Hellebust completed the top five. “We drew well but this was a win we had to earn,” said Ruter, who started the 30-lapper from outside row one. “The track was good and we had a good race with Hunter for a majority of the night.” Cautions throughout the contest kept lapped traffic from becoming a factor. The last yellow set up a green, white, checkered finish. “Jordan came in and challenged a couple times but we were able to hold him off there at the end,” Ruter said. “Everything was good.” Grabouski and Thorton both [Read More]