News Archives

Tonoli shows quickest way to Springfield checkers

By Ronnie Williams SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Aug. 10) – Veteran Chris Tonoli took advantage of track position and left the filed behind Saturday in The Bad Boy Mower IMCA Modified feature At The Quick-Quarter of Springfield Raceway in collecting his IMCA win in the Show-Me State. The California transplant, always a frontrunner in Modified and Street Stock racing in the area, converted his number 71 to the IMCA division as Springfield announced in the off season the move to the sanction. “We just felt for our program, this made sense with the cost and changes. It has put the fun back into local racing for us,” he said. Tonoli has had some strong runs this season and had a late charge to third the previous Saturday. He took off like a rocket ship on the green and led all 20 laps of the Aug. 10 feature with ease. The real battle was for the runner-up spot between last week’s winner Bobby Pearish and Trevor Drake, as Drake ran Pearish down late to secure second. Pearish, James Thompson [Read More]

Ryan capitalizes on late restart to win Quad City Deery

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (Aug. 11) – Matt Ryan didn’t lead the most laps, just the most important ones. Ryan passed Brandt Cole following a late restart and led the last two circuits in winning Sunday’s Deery Brothers Summer Series main event at Quad City Speedway. The $2,000 checkers were Ryan’s IMCA Late Model tour career third, and first since August of 2016. Cole took runner-up honors in his first career series start while point leader Andy Eckrich was third. Justin Kay, Brian Harris and Curt Martin also did stints at the front, with polesitter Kay holding off high side challenges from Tommy Elston and leading the first nine of 30 laps. Elston was forced to retire following a multi-car tangle on lap eight and Harris shot to the front before Kay drove to the infield. Harris was slowed by a flat tire and surrendered the lead to Martin on lap 20. Martin appeared to survive a rough restart on lap 21 but soon had a flat of his own, falling back as Cole, Eckrich and [Read More]

Berry is best at Britt’s Night of 10,000 Stars

BRITT, Iowa (Aug. 9) – Tom Berry Jr.’s string of second-place finishes ended with the win at Hancock County Speedway’s Night of 10,000 Stars. Berry passed Mike Mullen for the lead with nine laps left, then held on to the front spot after two late restarts in winning Friday’s IMCA Modified main event, and $7,000, at Britt. Berry had started eighth and chased Ethan Dotson most of the first half of the race. Mullen threatened to pull away from the pack following the mandatory pitstop at halfway but Berry made up ground as the two ran in lapped traffic. A single lapped car separated the two when lap 41 was scored. Berry rolled the dice and came up a winner with that nifty drive around the outside the next time around. “I didn’t know who was behind me or how much tire I had left,” admitted the 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. “All kinds of things were running through my head. This was the biggest race I’ve ever led. I can’t be more [Read More]

Aug. 9 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb., 1,192; 2. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb., and Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, both 1,160; 4. Joel Rust, Grundy Center, Iowa, 1,136; 5. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 1,125; 6. Shane DeMey, Denison, Iowa, 1,121; 7. Jeremy Mills, Britt, Iowa, 1,118; 8. Chris Morris, Taylor, Texas, 1,117; 9. Clay Money, Penokee, Kan., 1,109; 10. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 1,107; 11. David Goode Jr., Copperas Cove, Texas, 1,101; 12. Aaron Johnson, Brainerd, Minn., 1,094; 13. Kevin Green, Waco, Texas, 1,086; 14. Ricky Thornton Jr., Adel, Iowa, 1,083; 15. Thomas Berry, Newburg, N.D., 1,080; 16. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 1,077; 17. Bricen James, Albany, Ore., 1,062; 18. Jim Thies, Mapleton, Iowa, 1,061; 19. Jarett Franzen, Maquoketa, Iowa, 1,053; 20. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1,037. IMCA Late Models – 1. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, and Cory Dumpert, York, Neb., both 594; 3. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, Iowa, 589; 4. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 587; 5. Justin L. Kay, Wheatland, Iowa, 582; 6. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Iowa, 577; 7. Todd Malmstrom, Hampton, Ill., 553; 8. [Read More]

Thornton sets tone with Night of 1,000 Stars feature win

BRITT, Iowa (Aug. 8) – At halfway, Ricky Thornton Jr. had to be wondering if fuel issues were going to resurface and knock him out of the running. But at the end of Hancock County Speedway’s 25th annual IMT Transport Night of 1,000 Stars feature for IMCA Modifieds Thursday night, Thornton was standing in victory lane with another tall trophy and a check for $4,500. Thornton caught Benji LaCrosse for the front spot just five laps before the mandatory front stretch pitstop on lap 25. He maneuvered through traffic as the second half of the 50-lapper ran caution free, beating Tom Berry Jr. to the finish line by two-plus seconds. “Winning tonight was huge,” said Thornton, already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot and looking forward to Night of 10,000 Stars and Bob Shryock Memorial All Stars events at Britt. “When you run good tonight, it helps set the tone for the rest of the week.” 2011 race winner LaCrosse started third, had Thornton right behind for a couple early restarts and brought Thornton along [Read More]

Roberts wins second Stock Car series race at SSP

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (Aug. 3) – Kevin Roberts took care of business when the Big Sky Landscaping IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Series returned to Sunset Speedway Park on Saturday. The 40-lap main event started with Roberts seizing the top position from the get-go. Kevin had to fend off a handful of notable challenges but checked each of them. Roberts managed each restart and went on to his second career Big Sky Landscaping Stock Car Series victory. It is also the second occasion he has managed to triumph at Sunset this year with the tour. Sean Gentry was a close second over Jack Parshall. The Big Sky Landscaping Stock Car Series next heads to Willamette Speedway on Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31 for a doubleheader weekend.

Trenchard is 10th to top Cottage Grove Modified main

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (Aug. 3) – Nick Trenchard became the 10th different Mohawk Metal IMCA Modified winner of the season at Cottage Grove Speedway on Saturday night. Eston Whisler was ultra-quick at the start, pacing the first 10 circuits before being overtaken by Evan Britton. Britton was collected in a wreck in lapped traffic on the next trip around the track and that put Whilser back in front. He led until lap 16 when John Campos got around him. Campos had to battle for the lead after a restart with 17 circuits completed. Trenchard powered his way underneath Campos to take over the top spot. However, Campos was not going to go into the night quietly, dueling with Trenchard throughout the closing laps. Trenchard came out on top to win his first victory at CGS in 2019 and become the 10th different driver to best the competition at The Grove. Campos was second over third finishing Aaron Sheelar. Posting a fourth-place result was Whilser while Kevin Williamson ended his evening in fifth.

Sunday show at Quad City Speedway next for Deery Series

EAST MOLINE, Ill. – The first of back-to-back events in Illinois is this weekend for the Deery Brothers Summer Series. Quad City Speedway is next on the schedule for the IMCA Late Model tour, with a $2,000 check going to the winner of the Sunday, Aug. 11 main event. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 3:30 p.m. at East Moline. Hot laps are at 5:15 p.m. with racing to follow. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $8 for students ages 6-12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $35 Also on the Sunday card are IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods for national, regional, state and track points. More information about the Sunday show, the 22nd at East Moline and the 496th event in Deery Series history, is available by calling 309 792-5030. Jeff Aikey is the only driver with multiple tour wins so far this season, with his most recent and career 70th checkers coming on Aug. 2 at Lee County Speedway. Justin Kay, Joel Callahan and Eric Pollard [Read More]

Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights checkers are Minnesota first, Beckendorf is Fairmont winner

FAIRMONT, Minn. (Aug. 7) – The first Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour event in Minnesota ended with a home state driver getting his career first IMCA Modified tour victory. Brandon Beckendorf led all 25 laps of the Wednesday night feature at Fairmont Raceway, earning $1,500 along with a place on the 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot for his efforts. Forty-nine Modified drivers from 10 states and Canada vied in the Bob Shryock Memorial midweek show. “To win the first race held in Minnesota was pretty cool. It means a lot to me to be able to do it here,” said Beckendorf, the defending track champion and current point leader at Fairmont. The Danube driver started outside the front row and took charge from the get-go, with 2012 tour champion Jay Noteboom, Berry, tour point leader Richie Gustin and Kollin Hibdon his closest pursuit. His advantage was more than a half a straightaway before Beckendorf caught up with the back of the field. Noteboom had reeled in the leader before the only caution of [Read More]

Eagle checkers fly for Lovegrove

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 3) – IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car win number one on the season came Saturday at Eagle Raceway for Doug Lovegrove. Lovegrove started on the pole and was quickly out front. Mike Boston passed Chase Weiler for third on lap seven with Adam Gullion moving up to fourth. From there to the finish it was a tale of two different lines with Lovegrove hugging the bottom and Brandon Horton, Boston and Gullion pounding the cushion. Lovegrove moved through the lapped traffic and extended his lead at the end to a straightaway with Horton coming home second, Boston third and Gullion fourth. “It’s been way too long. We’ve been having motor problems all year. This is only the third race I’ve finished this season,” he said. “I’m pretty good around the bottom and it was a good track tonight. I think that’s why I was able to run away a little bit. I got lucky on some of the traffic. The guys decided to run a lane up when I got [Read More]