2023 Prelude to the Super Nationals

IMCA Super Nationals entries at record 1,022

BOONE, Iowa  (Aug. 30, 2023) – Chandler Fullenkamp and Chuck Ledbetter have assured themselves places in event history nearly a week before the start of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Fullenkamp, a Sport Compact driver from West Point, Iowa, became the 1,000th driver to pre-register for the 41st annual Super Nationals, slated Sept. 4-9 at Boone Speedway. Minutes later Tuesday afternoon, Hobby Stock driver Chuck Ledbetter of Loomis, Neb., became the record-breaking 1,005th to do so. A record 1,000 drivers competed at Super Nationals in 2022; 1,004, another all-time Super Nationals best, had pre-entered. Thirty states, another record, and three Canadian provinces are represented by Boone Bound drivers and pre-entries had reached 1,022 as of 9 a.m. Wednesday. “Super Nationals continues to be a snapshot of our weekly racing program and reflects the strength of these weekly divisions across the country,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “We are working very hard to host the best possible event for IMCA drivers,” he continued. “A lot of different things over the course of the season lead up [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Season champions crowned at Kossuth County

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (Aug. 24, 2023) – In the final evening of dirt track racing at the Kossuth County Speedway in 2023, five IMCA champions were crowned on Thursday to highlight a night of exciting racing. The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks saw Chris Krug take a narrow early lead over Joe Doran and Tim Sidles with Brandon Nielsen, Josh Sidles and Mike Smith joining that group battling for the lead. Krug led the first three laps before Nielsen took over the top spot. Nielsen continued to hold the lead with those other drivers keeping the heat on. Only the yellow flag with two laps to go delayed Brandon’s fourth trip into victory lane this season at Algona. Krug won a hard-fought battle for the runner-up spot as Josh Sidles was third with Smith taking fourth and Tim Sidles rounded out the top five. Smith was the season champion. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature was almost a carbon copy each night out this season and it went as scripted before on Thursday [Read More]

Results

Melair steers to Selinsgrove PASS win

By Frank Buhrman SELINSGROVE, Pa. (Aug. 26, 2023) – Whether fighting for the early lead, flying on a clear track, or cutting through traffic, Mike Melair had the edge Saturday night, taking home the victory in an exciting, non-stop River Valley Builders Pennsylvania Sprint Series 20-lap feature at Selinsgrove Speedway. The Warrington driver took the no. 36 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car across the finish line .466 seconds ahead of Nick Sweigart to score his first win since June of 2021 at Hagerstown. He appeared to win a race later that year at Lincoln, but in his excitement forgot to go straight to the scales after the race and was disqualified. This year he was leading at the white flag at Path Valley Speedway but came home second, and he had another runner-up finish at Port Royal Speedway. Unfortunately, he also had an unwelcome amount of bad luck and bad pill draws for starting position. Saturday, the feature start re-draw was kind, giving Melair the pole position after a runner-up finish in his heat. From there [Read More]

Feature

Focus turns to track prep for Sept. 7-9 Southern SportMod Super Nationals

KENNEDALE, Texas (Aug. 29, 2023) – Sponsorships and contingency awards have been finalized. Early registration is winding down, and new Hall of Famers have practiced their thank you’s. The focus, then, on the IMCA Southern SportMod Super Nationals powered by Smiley’s Racing Products is getting Kennedale Speedway Park in the best shape it can be in for the second annual spectacular Sept. 7-9. Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods race for $5,000 to win and a minimum of $500 to start their Saturday night main event, a 30-lapper with a purse that totals more than $20,000. While keeping up with weekly racing and with all that money on the line, promoter James Lopez and his crew have turned their focus 24/7 to getting the quarter-mile dirt oval as close to perfect as possible. “The biggest thing we have been doing for the last six weeks or so now is track preparation,” stated Lopez. “We are lucky to have one of the most knowledgeable and winningest racers to ever put on a helmet, with over 50 years [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Rust wraps up track title in victory lane at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (Aug 27, 2023) – Season and track champions were crowned Sunday night in the final night of IMCA Weekly Racing for the 2023 season at Benton County Speedway. And Joel Rust earned a double celebration at The Bullring. Rust, who entered the night with a 15 point lead in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Beaty Excavating, simply needed to take the green flag in the main event to lock up the title. He did that and more by earning his fourth win in weekly racing on the fast, smooth, quarter-mile. Chase Weimer held the early lead while Troy Cordes worked the top side into the lead from a third row start a few laps into the 20-lapper. From row four, Rust raced through traffic and challenged the low side of Cordes just past midway. He then pulled away to lock up the title with the season championship victory. Cordes, Brennen Chipp and Patrick Flannagan completed the top four. Leah Wroten needed a top-three finish to secure her first track title in [Read More]

2023 Prelude to the Super Nationals

Entries on record pace, more money for IMCA Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa  (Aug. 28, 2023) – More of the pieces that make up the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s are falling into place. And just in time, with the 41st annual event coming up Sept. 4-9 at Boone Speedway. “It’s a challenge, sometimes frustrating but always satisfying, to keep up with everything that has to be finalized before Super Nationals starts,” admitted IMCA President Brett Root. “There’s always some tinkering that can be done to make the best event in dirt track racing even better.” Updated numbers see 970 cars, representing 29 states and three Canadian provinces, pre-entered. Two features are scheduled for divisions with 100 or more entries in the Wild Rose Casino Double Down Prelude Sept. 2-3 at Iowa’s Action Track. “There has been lap money, start money and hard charger awards added. The list of stuff, from sponsor money to contingencies, can be hard to keep track of,” Root said. “Carson (Becker-Gramm, IMCA marketing integration and sponsorship director) has done a very good job getting new awards for a lot of drivers [Read More]

Feature

Entries top 100 for IMCA RaceSaver Nationals at Eagle

EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 28, 2023) – The biggest Sprint Car event in the world plays out this weekend at Eagle Raceway and promoter Roger Hadan plans lots of new stuff and making old stuff even better. In return, he has a simple request for the 100-plus drivers competing in the 11th annual RaceSaver Nationals at the eastern Nebraska speedplant. “Make it easy on our tech guys,” he asks. “Show up with no fuel in your car.” Reason why, RaceSaver and distributor Leiting Motorsports are giving each driver 40 gallons of VP Race Fuel after they pass pre-race tech on Wednesday. “We’ve got 111 drivers pre-registered now, from 14 states, and I sure haven’t heard any complaints about the fuel deal,” said Hadan. “With these kind of entry numbers, RaceSaver is donating roughly $40,000 in fuel.” An open practice and race of champions heats are on the Thursday, Aug. 31 card at Eagle. Qualifying features Friday, Sept. 1 and Saturday, Sept. 2 pay $700 to win and $250 to start. Also on tap Saturday is the $1,000 [Read More]

Hobby Stock

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Aug. 24, 2023

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 994; 2. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 983; 3. Matthew Day, Farmersville, Texas, 982; 4. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 979; 5. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 977; 6. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, and Clint Hatlestad, Glencoe, Minn., both 976; 8. Joel Rust, Grundy Center, Iowa, 973; 9. Travis Hagen, McGregor, N.D., 968; 10. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 962; 11. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 960; 12. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 958; 13. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 957; 14. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 954; 15. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 952; 16. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, 946; 17. Kaleb Emerson, Weatherford, Texas, 943; 18. Collin Thirlby, Grawn, Mich., 942; 19. Brenten DeYoung, Carson City, Mich., 936; 20. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 932. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 795; 2. Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, Iowa, 782; 3. Cade Richards, Lincoln, Neb., 773; 4. Alex Banks, Newman Grove, Neb., 767; 5. Kale Kosiski, Omaha, Neb., and Chase Osborne, Norfolk, Neb., both 755; 7. Christopher [Read More]

2023 Super Nationals

Another seven drivers score B & B All-Star eligibility

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 24, 2023) – One driver is now guaranteed to start the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational while another seven are newly eligible qualify for the Stock Car special during the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Jordan Grabouski earned a spot on the starting grid with his $5,100 checkers at Thayer County Speedway’s Remington Elting Memorial. Fair night winners were Donavon Smith at Kossuth County Speedway and Chris Palsrok at Murray County Speedway. Monday Night Madness checkers flew at Independence Motor Speedway for Tom Schmitt. Heath Tulp topped Night of 10,000 Stars at Hancock County Speedway. Jeremy Christians was a weekly winner at Beaver Dam Raceway, David Smith was best at Boone Speedway’s Watermelon Classic and Randy Smith Jr. paced US 36’s Doyle Lance Memorial. Other winners already eligible included Tathan Burkhart, Tommy Fain, Grabouski, Damon Murty and Dylan Thornton. B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational eligible drivers are: Dean Abbey, Jeffrey Abbey, Mike Albertsen, D.J. Banks, Travis Barker, Jason Batt, Brandon Beckendorf, David Brandies, Randy Brands, Tathan Burkhart, Troy [Read More]

2023 Super Nationals

Five added to Fast Shafts All-Star eligible list

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 24, 2023) – Add another five Friesen Performance IMCA Modified drivers to the list of those eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Cayden Carter topped the Dale DeFrance Memorial at Marshalltown Speedway and Josh Rogotzke paced Murray County Speedway’s Fair Night show. Benji LaCrosse led the way to the checkers in the “Blue” race at 141 Speedway, Kade Ogle was a weekly winner at Abilene Speedway and Gavyn Manning motored to the Mike Moshier Classic checkers at Bakersfield Speedway. Winners of features paying $1,000 or more who were already qualifying eligible were Eddie Belec, Tom Berry Jr., Myron DeYoung, Drake Findley, Jerry Flippo, Jordan Grabouski, Austin Kiefer, Jeremy Mills, Joel Rust, Brandon Schmitt, Todd Stinehart, Tim Ward and Jesse Williamson. Drivers now eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational include: Chris Abelson, Timothy Allerdings, Ricky Alvarado, Chaz Baca, Owen Barnhill, Jordan Bartz, Austen Becerra, Brandon Beckendorf, Eddie Belec, Brett Berry, Tom Berry Jr., Brady Bjella, Tanner Black and Tyson Blood. Steven Bowers Jr., Zach Cail, Cayden Carter, [Read More]