News Archives

Strand Edges Dahl in Modified Main Before Rainstorm Rolls In

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (May 30, 2025) — In the final feature of the evening at Dacotah Speedway, it was not only a race for the win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, but a race against the weather as rain in the distance was starting to settle in. Pole sitter Caden Roberts led early before defending track champion Shawn Strand took the lead on lap two. Strand quickly distanced himself from the field but as the laps wound down, Mark Dahl started to cut into Strand’s lead. By lap 10, Dahl was challenging Strand for the lead. They raced side by side, door to door for several laps. However, lapped traffic made it an exciting race for the win as the leaders sliced and diced their way around the slower cars. Coming to the white flag, Dahl cleared Strand for the top position. However, as they raced back to the checkered flag, Shawn Strand just narrowly edged Mark Dahl for the win — his first of 2025 in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. [Read More]

Walt Prevails on Final SportMod Restart at WaKeeney For Late Race Win

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (May 30, 2025) — The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods had a busy night at WaKeeney Speedway, capped by an exciting feature that saw Blaine Walt emerge victorious after a late restart. Ryan Kirchoff stormed out to an early lead and looked unstoppable, leading the first sixteen laps before contact between a lapped car and Jack Kirchoff brought out the caution. That restart placed Walt on the inside of the front row. Kirchoff got a strong jump and led for a few more laps, but Walt slipped underneath to take the lead. Kirchoff made one last attempt, but Walt held on to claim his fourth win of the season and third at WaKeeney, adding to his sweep of the John Fose Memorial. Kirchoff settled for second, with Cody Gearhart completing the podium. Sproul Dominant in Mod Action Dakota Sproul led every lap of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature, commanding the race from start to finish. Late-race contact between Mike Bainter and Kyle Rohleder, who was nursing a soft right rear [Read More]

Conner Edges Heath for First Career Win in Maquoketa SportMod Thriller

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (May 31, 2025) — A beautiful night greeted race fans at Maquoketa Speedway, where the ¼-mile oval produced thrilling action across all five IMCA-sanctioned divisions — including tight finishes and a memorable first-time winner in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods. Patric Conner led early in what turned out to be the race of the night, but multiple challengers kept him in striking distance throughout the 17-car main event. The closing laps featured a three-way scrap with Levi Heath and Jarrett Franzen, building to a dramatic, near-dead heat at the white flag. Conner stuck to the high line, Heath rolled the bottom, and at the stripe it was Conner — by just .061 seconds — scoring his long-awaited first career feature win. Heath settled for a narrow second, with Franzen right behind in third. Graduation Day Glory for Late Model Pilot Bodin It was a day to remember for Jesse Bodin of Silvis, Illinois. After walking the stage for his high school graduation earlier in the day, Bodin led all 25 [Read More]

Braaten Banks $6,069 in SportMod Smackdown Win at Southern Oregon

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (May 31, 2025) — Central Point’s Jorddon Braaten showcased his prowess by leading all 69 laps of the rebranded SportMod Smackdown at Southern Oregon Speedway, securing a commanding victory and a $6,069 prize in one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier IMCA SportMod events. Formerly known as the Dwayne Melvin Clash, the 69-lap feature attracted top competitors, with Braaten — a four-time Oregon State and Southern Oregon Speedway track champion — asserting dominance from the outset. The race’s first half was marked by intermittent cautions, but as the event passed lap 31, Braaten encountered lapped traffic. Navigating through it masterfully, he extended his advantage and began to check out from the field. In the second half, 2022 Oregon State and 2021 track champion Matt Sanders tried to mount a high-side charge, but Braaten’s low-line rhythm and ability to work traffic kept him firmly in control. Around lap 50, Braaten sliced through another wave of traffic to create a sizable lead that he never surrendered. The race for second came down to the [Read More]

LaCrosse Doubles Down With Modified and Stock Wins at 141

By Joe Verdegan FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (May 31, 2025) — Casco veteran Benji LaCrosse once again showed why his name is often mentioned among the G.O.A.T.s of local and regional dirt track racing during Saturday night’s program at 141 Speedway. LaCrosse pulled double duty and emerged triumphant in both the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified and Sunoco IMCA Stock Car divisions, respectively. LaCrosse ran the IMCA Stock Car feature first, where he started 12th on the grid of the 25 lap contest. Lacrosse marched through the field, reaching second place by lap eight. LaCrosse slowly chopped away at Collin Skindzelewski’s lead. LaCrosse motored past Skindzelewski on the high side at the race’s halfway point. LaCrosse was never headed and led the rest of the way to earn the win — his second in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region this season and first at 141 Speedway in 2025. The Stock Car feature provided plenty of side-by-side racing and passing was plentiful on the clay oval, with Kyle Resch claiming second. Former track champion Josh Mroczkowski rounded out the [Read More]

Looft’s 300th Win Secures SportMod Nationals Crown at Britt

By Chad Meyer BRITT, Iowa (May 30, 2025) — Swea City, Iowa’s Mattew Looft started the 25-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod Nationals presented by Gold-Eagle Cooperative on the inside of the second row. Using the low side of the speedway, Looft was in command early until Cole Suckow snuck around the top to lead lap 15. Looft, determined not to let a chance at victory slip away, pressed on and ultimately moved his groove to the top and led the rest of the event. The win was Looft’s 300th victory in SportMod competition and his second SportMod Nationals crown, winning his first in 2021. For 2025, it is his fourth win at four different tracks. Jake Sachau’s tremendous late-race surge had him closing on Looft and earning second place, finishing ahead of Suckow. Meyer in Total Control of Modified Feature Nick Meyer started the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature on the pole and left little doubt he had enough speed to stay there. On the heels of a recent win at Kossuth County Speedway, Meyer [Read More]

Hamilton Tops Modified Feature at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 30, 2025) — A strong Friesen Performance IMCA Modified field put on a show Friday night at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway, where Harvick was on hand serving as Grand Marshal. The 30-lap main event featured wheel-to-wheel battles, heartbreak, and a breakthrough win for Eric Hamilton. Bakersfield’s Robby Sawyer opened the feature with a thrilling three-wide move to take the lead. Behind him, Eric Hamilton, in the Bob Lyon-owned no 44, fought off champions Brad Pounds and Gavyn Manning in a fierce chase. Sawyer, aiming for his second win of the season, was sidelined by mechanical issues in turn four on lap 12. Hamilton inherited the lead and opened up a solid advantage. Manning tracked him down but slowed with mechanical trouble of his own, drawing a caution with nine laps to go. Brad Pounds mounted several late-race challenges, but Hamilton stood his ground and held on for the $750 payday — his first win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Pounds was second, [Read More]

Bobby Hogge Tops All-Star Modified Race At Ocean

By Steven Blakesley WATSONVILLE, Calif. (May 30, 2025) – Salinas’ Bobby Hogge topped the second round of the All-Star Challenge in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at Ocean Speedway. It was his fifth win of 2025 in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Troy Foulger led the opening lap of the 25-lap IMCA Modified feature. Robert Marsh mounted a challenge on the high side to seize the lead on lap three. Foulger slid Marsh in turn four and the duo ran side-by-side on lap five. Hogge edged into the battling, looking to the inside of Foulger as well. The furious battling was halted when Todd Hermosillo spun in turn four. Marsh pitted with a flat left front tire as well. Hogge pounced on the restart, diving inside to lead lap eight over Foulger. Hogge accumulated a 4.2 second advantage that was nullified by Kyle Bryan stopping in turn four on lap 23. Hogge persevered over a green-white-checked finish to nab the victory, followed by Jim Pettit II and Foulger in second and third. Wagner Controls Ocean [Read More]

Garnhart Scores First Official 2025 Davenport Win

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 30, 2025) — Redemption was on the line for Bryce Garnhart Friday night at Davenport Speedway. The Lanark, Illinois driver had initially won the opening night feature, only to be disqualified when his car came up light at the scales. This time, there was no question. Garnhart took control early in the Sunoco IMCA Late Model feature, grabbing the lead from his front-row starting spot. Late in the race, Logan Veloz began closing in on the leader, but a caution with two laps to go changed everything. During the yellow, Veloz’s engine began overheating and he was forced to pit. On the restart, Garnhart pulled away unchallenged and captured his first official win of the season at Davenport. Dustin Smith capitalized on the restart to pass Andy Nezworski for second place. Diercks Drives to Third Davenport Modified Win In Friesen Performance IMCA Modified action, Spencer Diercks notched his third win at Davenport this season. Starting eighth, Diercks worked his way into the top five before a mid-race caution helped open the door. [Read More]

Paris Powers to First CJ Speedway Modified Win of Season

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (May 30, 2025) — Shane Paris of Muscatine scored his first victory of the season at CJ Speedway by topping the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. Paris established himself as the driver to beat early on, taking control from his front row starting spot and never looking back. He raced to the checkers ahead of Drew Janssen and Logan Anderson. The win marked Paris’ first in the Razor Chassis North Central Region in 2025. The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars feature saw West Burlington’s John Oliver Jr. return to victory lane, besting a strong field. The defending CJ Speedway Stock Car champion appears poised for another dominant season. While the win marked Oliver’s fourth of the year in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, it was his first triumph at Columbus Junction this season. He finished ahead of Trenton Whitt and Damon Murty. In the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod division, Dylan VanWyk of Oskaloosa continued his hot streak. Starting 10th on the grid, VanWyk methodically worked his way forward, overtaking [Read More]