Feature Archives

“It was a pretty good night” – Mike Nichols’ 600th IMCA Stock Car win comes at hometown Shelby County Speedway

HARLAN, Iowa (Aug. 20, 2022) – Another win, another milestone. Mike Nichols, won for the 600th time in his incredible IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career, taking his latest checkers Saturday night at hometown Shelby County Speedway. “It was pretty cool,” said Nichols, the winningest driver in IMCA’s 108-year history. “Years and years ago, my first win was at Harlan and it was good to get this milestone win at the same track with so many friends, fans and sponsors here.” “The environment couldn’t have been any better,” he added. There was a good car count and the grandstand was packed. It was a pretty good night.” Nichols has enjoyed a lot of “pretty good nights” since first taking The Class Too Tough To Tame by storm in 2002. Now chasing an IMCA record extending 11th national crown, he’s averaged better than 28 wins a season over the course of his Stock Car career and leads all IMCA drivers with 44 career track titles. His resume also includes 10 EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region championships and the 2017 IMCA Speedway [Read More]

Zellner sets sails to $10,000 checkers at 141’s IMCA Captain of the Creek

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (Aug. 18, 2022) – The third time was the charm Thursday night for Jacob Zellner. Making his career third start at 141 Speedway’s Captain of the Creek special for Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, the 2021 track champion finally got the best of Dylon Waldvogel late in the 50-lapper at Francis Creek. The $10,000 checkers marked a career-best payday for Zellner, who’d run 21st and 17th in his two previous Captain of the Creek outings. “Up to this point, we had nothing but bad luck in the big shows, so this was a big win for us, for sure,” he said. “It felt kind of surreal. Usually I’m pretty calm but when the checkers flew it was like ‘Wow!’” “There are definitely expectations for a defending track champion at an event like this,” continued Zellner. “I’ve raced regularly with Dylon and we always race each other clean. I was glad to be racing at the front with him.” Seventy-three entries from seven states were on hand for the Aug. 17-18 special. Elijah Koenig, 24th starting [Read More]

40 years of memories, milestones celebrated at IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s

BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 18, 2022) – The green flag flies on Labor Day for a spectacular dirt track racing event four decades in the making. Boone Speedway is the setting for the 40th annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Sept. 5-10. A record 730 drivers from 26 states and four Canadian provinces are already among the pre-entered competitors. “We have come a long way from the first Super Nationals, at what is now the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, and have continued to see growth since Super Nationals moved to Boone in 1988,” observed IMCA President Brett Root. “The number of milestones achieved and celebrated over the years at Super Nationals has been incredible.” “And the memories we share from Super Nationals have to do with more than drivers winning races,” he continued. “Countless friendships have been made over the years and they’re renewed every September in the pits and in the grandstand at Boone.” The format for the week remains largely unchanged from previous Super Nationals, although Sport Compacts have been moved [Read More]

Tire supply secure, $10K money grab for fans announced at IMCA RaceSaver Nationals

EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 18, 2022) – It may be two weeks before opening night but IMCA Sprint Car drivers and race fans already have reason to cheer the 10th annual RaceSaver Nationals. As for drivers from a dozen states who have already made plans to compete at Eagle Raceway Sept. 1-4, promoter Roger Hadan has announced that he’s been in regular contact with Hoosier and tires will be available throughout the event. “We have communicated with Hoosier regularly and have received confirmation that there will a sufficient number of tires available for purchase throughout RaceSaver Nationals,” he explained. “This is one of the biggest Sprint Car events, not just in RaceSaver but in the entire country. Hoosier feels the quality is there and they’ll make sure we have tires.” And as far as fans go, a number of them will have the opportunity to grab shares of $10,000 that will be up in the air, literally, most likely during the RaceSaver Nationals Pit Parties after the races during the Friday, Sept. 2 or Saturday, Sept. 3rd race [Read More]

Pretty incredible, Berry dominates Harris Clash IMCA Modified feature

SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (Aug. 2, 2022) – The driver who said he’s learned how to win races when everything isn’t perfect came pretty close to perfection Tuesday night at Deer Creek Speedway. Tom Berry Jr. raced from ninth starting to win the 31st annual Harris Clash, taking the lead on the sixth circuit and checking out on the rest of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified field in a fast-paced, caution-free 30 lap main event. “It’s pretty incredible to be doing what we’re doing,” Berry said following his 13th IMCA feature win of the season, and seventh since Austin Hemmen stepped into the crew chief role in early July. “We are just able to compete at a really high level.” He took home a check for $6,300, which included a $5,000 share of the purse, an $800 bonus from the TraLo Companies for advancing eight positions for the win and another $500 in manufacturers’ cup money. Two-time race winner Ethan Dotson was the hard charger, motoring from 16th at the start and taking over second on the last lap, [Read More]

It’s a 10! Nichols tops Joe Crist Memorial at US 36

By Rick Staley OSBORN, Mo. (July 29, 2022) – Mike Nichols had to give a 10 to his 10th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win of the season. Nichols became the sixth different winner in as many years US 36 Raceway has hosted the Joe Crist Memorial, earning $2,262 for the Friday night victory at Osborn. “They had 30 cars there and any time you’ve got that many Stock Cars together, you’re bound to see good racing,” Nichols said following career checkers number 593 in the division. Derrick Agee, Danny Holt and Brandon Williams were among the first to fight it out for the lead with each taking a turn out front. Agee held off Holt, who then charged by on the outside. Defending race winner Travis Barker made his own move toward the point only to see Nichols come from the outside row five starting position to challenge. Brandon Williams was fast all feature and made his presence known as well as the race progressed as did Chad Clancy. In the end, however, Nichols took [Read More]

Salute to Veterans win at home track Boone is a pretty big deal for McBirnie

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (July 30, 2022) – It was a pretty big deal when Jake McBirnie won Saturday’s rescheduled Hunting With Heroes Salute to Veterans feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at Boone Speedway. And the money wasn’t the biggest reason. McBirnie was fast from the get-go in this one, never really being challenged and winning the 25-lapper going away. Jeremy Mills started 10th and finished a distant second, followed by ninth starting Mike VanGenderen, Cory Sauerman and Chris Snyder. “This was a pretty big deal, getting $5,000 to put back into your program this late in the season,” said McBirnie already eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “It was very special when I was asked to put a veterans’ wrap on my car. I was very honored to do that and to win this event at my hometown track means a lot.” There were 178 cars packing the pits for double feature night. Also winning Salute to Veterans features postponed from the previous week by inclement weather were Josh Daniels [Read More]

String of seconds ends at Willamette as Berkeley wins $5,000 IMCA Stock special

LEBANON, Ore. (July 30, 2022) – Chase Berkeley put an end to his string of second-place finishes and put his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car in victory lane Saturday night at Willamette Speedway. Then he put $5,000 in the bank after his career-best payday. Berkeley raced from ninth starting and led the last 18 times around the track in the 50-lap marathon at Lebanon, holding Jesse Williamson at bay after a restart with six to go. “The best part about winning was that I’d had a streak of second place finishes coming into the night,” said the Colville, Wash., hotshoe, who’d clinched the Wild West Shootout crown with runner-up showings at Willamette and at Sunset Speedway Park, then ran second behind Collen Winebarger at Sunset’s 50-lap, $5,000 to win show on July 16. “It felt good to be back in the top spot.” Berkeley’s first win on the season, at Coos Bay Speedway, paved the way to the Wild West Shootout crown. His second earned him a guaranteed starting spot in the B & B Racing [Read More]

In stride, Winebarger tops Shipwreck Beads Nationals

ELMA, Wash. (July 23, 2022) – Collen Winebarger is hitting his stride at just the right time. Just a week after topping the $5,000 to win special for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars at Sunset Speedway Park, the two division star from Corbett, Ore., scored another $5,000 checkers Saturday night at Grays Harbor Raceway’s Shipwreck Beads Nationals. The July 23 win was the richest in his Friesen Performance IMCA Modified career. “We had some DNFs and some other dumb stuff that happened earlier this season whenever it wasn’t raining,” said Winebarger, who’d gone winless in just 10 starts between April 2 and July 3 before sweeping the July 16 program at Sunset. “Now we’re hitting our stride and running well, and fortunately we’re doing it at races that pay well.” Already guaranteed to start the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational for Stock Cars, Winebarger’s second Modified win of 2022 also earned him Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility at the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “We traveled more the last [Read More]

IMCA Modified stars shine at Aug. 5, 6 Hancock County Speedway specials

BRITT, Iowa (July 26, 2022) – The stars of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified division get top billing at Hancock County Speedway specials on Aug. 5 and 6. The Friday Night of 1,000 Stars special at Britt pays $1,500 to win and $1,000 to second, third and fourth place finishers while Saturday’s Night of 10,000 Stars pays $2,000 to the winner and $1,000 to each driver finishing second through 10th. Both main events will start 30 cars three-wide with mandatory pit stops at half way of each 50-lapper. Drivers will be introduced on the front stretch both nights. Pre-entry is $150 for both nights in mailed before July 29 to PO Box 55 in Britt, Iowa, 50423, or $100 a night at the track. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks run for $1,000 to win and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts for $250 to win each night. There is no entry fee for any of those divisions. Modified winners become eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, Stock Car winners [Read More]