News Archives

Arneson makes like lightning in bolt to Legendary IMCA Modified checkers

MANDAN, N.D. (July 12) – Austin Arneson was almost as fast as the lightning on the horizon Friday night at Dacotah Speedway. Arneson led all 40 laps of the fourth Corral Sales Legendary main event, earning a career-best $10,004 payday, a $500 bonus as the leader at midway and a berth on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. He’ll join younger brother Casey, runner-up in both the Legendary and Thursday’s Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Tour finale at Mandan, on the All-Star ballot. “I’ve raced all over the country with the biggest names in the Modified division,” said Arneson, who took the checkers in front of a number of those drivers. “Winning the race was pretty exciting, but what was even more exciting was running 1-2 with my brother.” Ricky Thornton Jr., Hunter Marriott and Lucas Schott rounded out the top five. Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion Tom Berry ran second most of the way before breaking late. After the initial green flag was delayed by a light rain shower and work on the racing surface, [Read More]

Walp wins second PASS feature of season

By Frank Buhrman HANOVER, Pa. (July 12) – John Walp became the Pennsylvania Sprint Series’ third multiple feature winner of 2019 on Friday night with a wire-to-wire victory in the 25-lap feature at Trail-Way Speedway. The tour rookie of the year in 2017, Walp took advantage of a single-file start that followed three unsuccessful double-file attempts, and held off a determined charge by Tom Carberry to put his no. 5 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car in victory lane for the second time this year. Jake Frye closed the gap on Walp over the last five laps of the race but settled for second, the second runner-up finish in the last three races for the Lewisberry high school student. Dylan Shatzer finished third, making a successful return to competition following a highway accident earlier this year, and giving the top three positions to drivers under age 21. Jaremi Hanson finished fourth and Tom Carberry was fifth. Walp and Carberry had started ferocious battles for the lead on each start attempt but when the fourth try went single-file, [Read More]

Van Straten wins third straight at Shawano

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (July 13) – Halloween at the Half Mile had no tricks, just treats for Travis Van Streten, Konnor Wilinski and Jordan Bartz. Van Straten outdueled Dan Michonski for his third straight Shawano Speedway IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win while Wilinski scored his first IMCA Modified feature of the season and Bartz got Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod win number three. The Stock Car feature saw Kurt Olson lead the opening two laps before Michonski snuck past. On lap five, Van Straten got around Olson and into second. As has consistently been the case lately, Michonski and Van Straten began a duel for the lead. Van Straten took the lead on lap seven working the lowest line on the track. Michonski took the lead back on lap eight running the highest line. They continued to battle door-to-door on lap nine with Van Straten holding the lead on the lap. Over the next 11 laps, Van Straten had his hands full as Michonski worked high and low trying to a find a way back to [Read More]

Top side leads LaCrosse to Outagamie victory lane

By Edward Anschutz SEYMOUR, Wis. (July 12) – Benji LaCrosse took the top line to victory lane in IMCA Modified action Friday at Outagamie Speedway. Marcus Yarie had built up a straightaway advantage over Johnny Whitman but a caution on lap nine halted his progress. On the restart, Yarie collected an infield tire sending it onto that track that caused another caution. Yarie was sent to the tail of the field, handing the lead over to Whitman. With Whitman running the tires LaCrosse worked the top groove and was able to slip by Whitman on lap 12. LaCrosse put it on cruise control all the way to victory lane with his second feature win of the season. Whitman had a solid points night with second, rookie Cody Schroeder continued to impress by taking third place, Justin Ritchie came through the last chance race to take fourth and Josh Long completed the top five in his first visit of the season. An opening lap crash in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature saw point leader Josh Mroczkowski head pit side with damage. As the [Read More]

Baumli adds his name to winners’ list at US 36

By Jacob Blair OSBORN, Mo. (July 12) – J.J. Baumli prevailed in what was arguably the best IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature of the season Friday at US 36 Raceway. Brad Whitney had jumped to the early lead but the field never gave him more than a few car lengths, as second through sixth swapped several times between multiple drivers. After all the moving around, Mich Ross and Baumli emerged as the two most able to challenge Whitney. Ross ran the top and Baumli worked the middle to bottom lane of the track. They both converged on Whitney and with the laps winding down, the three found themselves three-wide for the lead with two to go. With racing room hard to come by, Ross got too high in turn four and left the battle to Whitney and Baumli. Baumli cleared for the lead as the white flew and earned his first checkered flag of 2019. Whitney finished second. Blake Peeler ran a patient race as he took his time working through the field. After starting [Read More]

Sears outruns Bethany foes for first win

By Rick Staley BETHANY, Mo. (July 13) – Jeffrey Sears celebrated his first-ever Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature win Saturday at Bethany Speedway. Jason Nelson took the early lead with close racing in the pack behind him. Nelson continued to lead with Mitchell Morris close on his heels until Sears mounted his charge to the front, passing both for the top spot. Sears bobbled slightly in turn three, allowing the always-fast and defending track champion Josh Munsen to close in and challenge for the lead with the two racing side-by-side to the checkers. Battling wheel-to-wheel and door-to-door, they made slight contact coming to the checkers with Sears picking up his first feature win. As Sears celebrated in NAPA Auto Parts victory lane, Munsen settled for second with Colton Nelson coming to the line third.

Dialed in, Jones tops Tri-City Modified main

By Roger M. Williams AUBURN, Mich. (July 12) – Friday night was the last opportunity for Allstar Performance IMCA Modified drivers to dial in their rides before the big Greased Pig 9.0 special at Tri-City Motor Speedway on July 19. Defending champion Nate Jones has had a tough first half of the season. However, he may have figured out his issues as it took him only five laps to go from ninth place to take the lead from Will Small. Once Jones got to the front, he was long gone from the rest of the field taking the win easily over point leader Matt Szecsodi, Brenten DeYoung, “B” feature winner Kody Johnson and Mitchell Hunt.

Crystal checkers to Johnson

By Verwayne Greenhoe CRYSTAL, Mich. (July 13) – Kody Johnson walked a tight line to victory in the Lane Automotive IMCA Modifieds Saturday as he outdueled two veterans for the win at Crystal Motor Speedway. Chad Wernette and Myron DeYoung were continually nipping at Johnson’s bumper but fell just short of the win. The season points race is tight with Austin Wonch and Mitchell Hunt tied for the lead with Brenten DeYoung just seven points back.

Jones, Fett are grand winners at Kossuth County

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (July 11) – They did it in different fashion, but both had $1,000 paydays as Devin Jones and Colby Fett won features at the Kossuth County Speedway Thursday night. Jones led almost the whole way in the in the Bayer Crop Science Bumble Bee Nationals Mach-1 Sport Compact main event while Fett only led two laps, but they were the most important laps to take the rescheduled Wyffels Hybrids special for Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. A season-high car count of 100 was on hand, including 25 SportMods and 21 Sport Compacts. After a complete restart in the 4-cylinder event, Jones grabbed the early lead and held that advantage most of the race. With five laps to go, Nate Coopman took over as the new leader. Jones stayed right with Coopman and came across the finish line for the double checkered flags less than a car length ahead. Jarad Gross was third, Oliver Monson fourth and Matt Baker fifth. Hard charger Jade Lange started 19th and finished sixth. Pole starter Doug Cook [Read More]

Super heroes is theme for best appearing car contest at Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa – Dirt track racing heroes competing at Boone Speedway won’t be the only heroes in the pits and on the track at the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Modified and Northern SportMod drivers are encouraged to enter cars with the Super Heroes theme. Drivers of the winning cars in each division receive trophies. Speedway Motors gives $100 gift cards to all drivers entering the contest while Sweet Manufacturing gives a steering box to the Modified winner. “Super Nationals is all about heroes, so the tie in to super heroes is obvious,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder said. “There’s room for a lot of imagination with the contest and we look forward to seeing what folks come up with.” “While designs should be original, it’s important that drivers and their graphics designers remember that required decals must be incorporated,” he noted. Both winners will be announced during the week at Boone.