Feature Archives

Herndon takes $10,000 checkers at Batesville’s 28th Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship

BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 30, 2023) – A win that’s been a long time coming came Saturday night for T.J. Herndon. Herndon led the last 29 of 50 laps and banked $10,000 after the long green flag run that ended the 28th annual Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Championship at Batesville Motor Speedway. “I’ve been after this one for 10 or 15 years. It took me a long time,” said Herndon, from Atwood, Tenn., and newly guaranteed a starting spot in the 2024 B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. “I feel like I had two or three taken away from me but we finally got one.” There was no taking anything from Herndon once he worked his way from fourth starting to the front on lap 22, passing Zane DeVilbiss and outrunning early leader Troy Burkhart the rest of the caution-free distance. “I was just praying ‘Please don’t let the caution come out,’” said Herndon, fully aware of an ailing car ahead of him trying to stay out of the way and get off [Read More]

2023 IMCA point season ends Sunday, Sept. 24

VINTON, Iowa (Sept. 19, 2023) – The 2023 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season will end this Sunday, Sept. 24. Final points races will be held that day for sanctioned Modifieds, Late Models, Sprint Cars, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Northern SportMods, Southern SportMods, STARS Mod Lites and Sport Compacts. Track championship bonus points will be figured and national and regional champions and rookies of the year, as well as the Junior National Champion and Lady Eagle winner, announced as soon as possible after all race reports are received. Track and series officials have until noon Central Standard Time on Monday, Oct. 23 to notify IMCA of corrections that affect their top 15 point standings before 2023 standings become official. Questions about IMCA point totals and standings should be directed to Virginia Lindsey, director of membership and points, at vlindsey@imca.com or by calling 319 472-2201, ext. 215.

Sean Lias Memorial checkers fly for Morgan

By Michael Benjamin SUSQUEHANNA, Pa. (Sept. 16, 2023) – The second night of a weekend doubleheader took Close Racing Supply NY-Penn IMCA Modified Series presented by M.R. Graphix drivers to Penn Can Speedway Saturday and it was Rodney Morgan winning the annual Sean Lias Memorial race and $1,637. Also the series winner at Susquehanna in May and The Hill Speedway in July, Morgan’s latest run to the checkers was also good for 2024 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Dash winner Tyler Stoddard and Bobby Maynard paced the field to the green but Rich Michael Jr. came through the field from his fifth starting position to take the lead. Morgan found himself working his way up into the runner-up spot from sixth before a caution that bunched up the field and put him on the outside of Michael on the restart. The two then put on a spectacular show for the fans as they battled for the top spot. Morgan finally got past Michael for the lead after a lap 10 restart and never looked back. [Read More]

Berry is double winner on World Nationals Night Two

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Sept. 16, 2023) – The Karl Auto Group Marshalltown Speedway held its Night Two of the World Nationals on Saturday for the Local UAW 893 Cliff Chambers Memorial Saturday Night Spectacular. Tom Berry Jr. doubled up and won both the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature and the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature went to Matt Avila and Adam Wasserman took the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock title. Blake Driscol took the honors in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. The Stock Car feature became a runaway after Berry grabbed the lead at lap three. He never looked back and finished well ahead of second place and Friday winner Dallon Murty. Kaden Reynolds crossed in third place but was docked two positions for a deck height infraction, handing him a fifth place finish. This moved Damon Murty to third and opening laps leader Austin Kaplan to fourth. The race paid $1,000 to the winner and was a B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifier for next year’s Super Nationals. The [Read More]

Ward takes Night No. 1 of World Nationals

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Sept. 15, 2023) – Marshalltown Speedway held its 17th annual World Nationals on Friday night. Taking top honors in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds was Tim Ward. Dallon Murty took the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win and Brayton Carter went to victory lane in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. Benji Irvine was tops in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Christian Grady took the checkers in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Things got kicked off with 30 laps of Stock Car racing. The early leader was Damon Murty with son Dallon on his tail. Dallon took command on lap ten with the elder Murty suddenly off power and out of the running on lap fourteen. Dallon Murty held his lead the remainder of the race, with Tom Berry Jr. looking for any way around him, but it was not to be as Murty held his ground expertly and sailed home to the win. Berry made a last-ditch slide attempt but had to settle for the runner-up spot. Another slider was pulled off in the [Read More]

Stremme captures NY-Penn IMCA Modified Series checkers at Clinton County

By Paul Szmal FORT HILL, Pa. (Sept. 15, 2023) – A 20-car field made the trip to Clinton County Speedway on Friday night to contest the next round of the NY-Penn MCA Modified Series presented by Close Racing Supply and presented by M. R. Graphix. Ken Schrader and David Stremme were part of the field looking for the winner’s payday and it was Stremme who would ultimately earn that $1,000 check plus Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Eddie Sites looked to maintain his point lead going into the first race of a doubleheader weekend for touring Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Jake Maynard and Rodney Morgan brought the field to the green flag, with Morgan grabbing the early lead. Stremme and Rich Michael Jr. started 10th and 12th, respectively, with Stremme breaking out first, moving to third by lap five and pressuring Maynard for second. Michael cracked the top five on lap six and battled with Keith Jack Lamphere and George Dixon as the first caution flew for debris on lap seven. Under the caution, Dixon pulled up in turn four [Read More]

Hard working Ward rewarded with IMCA Super Nationals Modified championship

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 9, 2023) – Tim Ward’s run to the Modified championship at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s was even more spectacular than the fireworks displays that preceded and followed it. The Arizona native and Iowa transplant led the last half of Saturday’s 40-lap finale at Boone Speedway, ultimately outdistancing 2021 champion Cody Laney to earn his first title and $10,000. The 41st annual Super Nationals brought a record 1,017 cars to Boone, 17 more than the previous mark set just last September. “You have to work so hard to make the show, let alone win the thing,” said Ward, who’d begun his week at Iowa’s Action Track with the checkers in the Wild Rose Casino Double Down Prelude. “Two years ago I ran second to Cody and I was probably the grumpiest guy in the pits. I felt like I made a couple mistakes that night and I knew what it was like to get close to winning Super Nationals.” He chased Laney again on Saturday, finally pulling alongside on lap 19 [Read More]

Shryock, Thornton star in Stock Car qualifiers

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 8) – Two-division stars Kelly Shryock and Dylan Thornton led parades to the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s main event with Stock Car qualifying feature wins Friday at Boone Speedway. Shryock led the last nine circuits of the first 25-lapper, finishing at the front of a top four that ultimately included Troy Burkhart, Cole Czarneski and Derrik Agee. Thornton drove from 17th, took the lead on the very last lap and led Travis Barker, Jake McBirnie and Jeff Ware across the stripe and onto the outside row for Saturday’s big show. “This is the closest I’ve ever started toward the front,” said Shryock, his eye on Saturday. “I’ve won a lot of big races and any time I can pull onto this stage it means a lot to me.” DQ’d from apparent top four finishes were Dustin Larson and Cody Center. McBirnie took the lead following a lap two restart and lost it after a caution with three to go in the finale. “I’m glad we got it done. [Read More]

Victory for VanderBeek, Ward wins Modified qualifier

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 8, 2023) – One driver raced his way into the Big Dance for the first time while another will make his career fifth run at an IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Modified championship following Friday qualifying at Boone Speedway. Zack VanderBeek started on the pole and led the distance of a fast-paced 25-lapper than ended green, white, checkered. Jacob Hobscheidt, 22nd starting Riley Simmons and Dan Menk rounded out the top five. And Tim Ward, who has won just about everything except the Lottery this season, motored from fifth starting to the checkers in the nightcap. That win came ahead of Shane DeMey, Dan Roedl and 2007 champ Todd Shute. Top four finishers from each feature advance to Saturday’s main event. Hobscheidt was quickly up to second in the first feature and was scored in that position every circuit. Simmons snuck into third and Menk held off Paul Stone for the final transfer after the late restart. “The car felt good. Hopefully we have a shot tomorrow,” said VanderBeek. “We [Read More]

Rust is fastest in IMCA Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 8, 2023) – Every win at Boone Speedway is a good one to get, and Joel Rust got another one Friday night. Rust raced to a bookend trophy during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s program at Iowa’s Action Track, catching Jeremy Mills just after halfway and running way out front in the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Chaz Baca made his way to second from 14th starting in the field of 32 of the fastest Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at Boone, but there was no denying Rust the $1,000 winner’s share of the purse and another $350 in lap money. “My All-Star win (in 2019) is special because it was the first one,” said Rust, also runner-up in last year’s race. “What makes this one special is that there were so many good cars here tonight and I had to work my way from eighth to get to the front.” Mills, the first to congratulate Rust post-race, Mitchell Hunt and Chris Morris ran 3-4-5 in the 30-lapper. Mills had led much [Read More]