News Archives

Van Straten’s 100th IMCA Stock Car career win proves just as exciting as his first one

HORTONVILLE, Wis. – Travis Van Straten remembered the excitement that surrounded his first feature win as an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car rookie in 2001. It was just as exciting to return to Shawano Speedway to get his career 100th victory in the division on July 29. “I knew going into the class that it would be tough to win one, let alone 100 features,” he said. “I was very excited and surprised when I won the first time. My oldest son was just three months old when I won my first feature and I remember the trophy was bigger than he was.” Thirty-four of his feature wins came during Van Straten’s national championship season in 2015. He averaged 25 wins a season while compiling seven track and two Allstar Performance State titles from 2014 to 2016. “I feel very blessed have to have accomplished everything I’ve been able to. I’ve had good cars and a lot of good people helping me,” he added. “I am very thankful for all the help I’ve gotten along the way, [Read More]

Arnold Motor Supply Hawkeye Dirt Tour checkers fly at Clay County for Marriott

SPENCER, Iowa (Aug. 7) – Hunter Marriott has to have Clay County Fair Speedway on his list of favorite tracks. So does Kelly Shryock. Marriott led the last half of Monday’s Arnold Motor Supply Hawkeye Dirt Tour main event, earning $2,000 along with the IMCA Modified checkers. He’d also won the tour event at Spencer last year and now owns four career series victories. Shryock raced all the way back to finish second after exiting for the pits following an early caution and restarting at the back of the field. He’ll take a 12-point advantage over Joel Rust into the tour finale Wednesday at Buena Vista Raceway. Ryan Ruter, Mike Jergens and Tom Berry Jr. completed the top five. Ten states and Canada were represented by the Modified entries. Ruter drew the pole and led the first of 30 laps. Nick Meyer, making the quick transition from a Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod, was alongside and just ahead of Ruter when the second circuit was scored. A long green flag run finally ended with a caution [Read More]

Goedert scores win at Dubuque

By Jerry Mackey DUBUQUE, Iowa (Aug. 6) – Weekly racing resumed Sunday at the Dubuque Speedway with a swift program run under threatening skies. The program was completed with the final checkered flag falling at 8:45 p.m. Luke Goedert has been on a recent hot streak in the Out-Pace Racing Products IMCA Late Model division. Goedert followed up a Dubuque County Fair victory with a win on Sunday night. Goedert took the top spot away from Luke Merfeld just past the halfway mark of the 25 lapper and went on to score the win ahead of Justin Kay and Merfeld. The Merfeld Brothers IMCA Modified feature win was hard-earned for Matt Gansen, who held off a fast-closing Tyler Madigan at the checkers. The GSI Collision Specialists IMCA Northern SportMod feature saw Tim Current lead flag-to-flag in taking the checkers just ahead of K.C. Ansel and Tyler Soppe.

Barkholtz repeats at Shawano

SHAWANO, Wis. (Aug. 5) – While storms passed north and south of Shawano Speedway, the track once again showed how the racing community is one big family. Hunter Doughty, a teenager from the New London area who has fought back from severe medical issues, was the first to visit victory lane. Along with his family, Hunter was presented with a trophy, feature winner hat, sticker and a photo of his favorite driver by the Shawano Speedway. Jordan Barkholtz knew he had work to do if a second straight Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod was in the cards. He worked his way up from eight starting to the lead on lap 13 and won ahead of Kevin Bethke. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car division proved not only is it the greatest show on dirt but that the cream rises to the top. Travis Van Straten powered past Justin Jacobson on lap 19 and ride off to his third win in seven days at the speedway. Dan Michonski snuck past Jacobson on the final lap to take second. [Read More]

Saturday win is fifth of season for Menasco

By Rob Nugent POCOLA, Okla. (Aug. 5) – The 12th points race of the season Tri-State Speedway was a night of repeat winners with young Kayden Menasco becoming the first to reach the five-win mark on the season. Menasco notched his fifth local IMCA Modified win of the season over Jason Peyton and Michael Hines.

Allen captures Crystal checkers

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Aug. 5) – Chance Allen of Alma picked up the win in the Lane Automotive IMCA Modified feature Saturday at Crystal Motor Speedway. Mitchell Hunt was second and Myron DeYoung took third.

Waterman, Oliver, Lennox cash big checks at Summerfest

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (Aug. 4) – Jeff Waterman, John Oliver Jr. and Brandon Lennox cashed the big checks following their IMCA features wins Friday, on night two of Lee County Speedway’s Summerfest special. Waterman regained the lead on the 23rd circuit to earn the $1,000 IMCA Modified checkers and 2018 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth. Oliver led all but the opening circuit to take the $1,000 IMCA Sunoco Stock Car checkers ahead of Jeff Mueller and David Brandies. Twenty-four Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods took the green flag in their main event and Lennox took the $1,000 win by half a car length over the 18th starting Tony Dunker. Brandon Reu paced a caution-free Mach-1 Sport Compact main event.

URSS Bullring Nationals go to Gullion

LaCROSSE, Kan. (Aug. 4) – A cloud of dust is how Adam Gullion ended his night. But it came in celebration, not disappointment. Gullion did multiple donuts in celebration Friday night after winning the United Rebel Sprint Series Bullring Nationals at Rush County Speedway, in his first trip to the quarter-mile track. “It’s been a really good trip,” said Gullion. “There’s nothing better than winning. It definitely makes the ride home a lot more enjoyable.” If it hadn’t been for an earlier phone call from Zach Blurton, Gullion might have been racing elsewhere Friday night – or not at all. Instead, he made the long trek to LaCrosse on the urging of Blurton, a fellow competitor who races with Gullion when he travels to Nebraska. “It’s good having him down here,” Blurton said. “I enjoy having his company. They’re like family to us. They’re our home when we go to Nebraska, so we’re more than glad to have them. And it’s good to see them have success when they came down here.” The success might [Read More]

Two in a row for Ward, Murty and Anderson

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Aug. 4) – Three drivers matched last week’s trip to victory lane Friday at Marshalltown Speedway. Johnathon Logue returned to the winner’s circle in the IMCA Northern SportMod class. He started 12th in the line up, and was running a distant second to Adam Shelman, when a yellow with three laps remaining became the game changer. When the race restarted, Logue saw his chance and was able to move under Shelman and take the lead. The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks came to the track next for their feature event, and it was a familiar face back in victory lane as Shannon Anderson took the win. Anderson started 10th and had to battle by stiff competitors to get to the front. Damon Murty three-peated in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, sailing home to a comfortable win as he circled the rim of the track. Donavon Smith rebounded from a trip to the pits and having to tag the field, to finish in second place. Tim Ward went back-to-back in the IMCA Modified feature as he held [Read More]

Roberts races to Friday checkers at Stuart

By Josh Reynolds STUART, Iowa (Aug. 4) – Nick Roberts mastered the IMCA Modified main event Friday at Stuart Speedway. Scott Bash and Cory Sauerman led the field to green next with Sauerman ahead of Todd VanEaton early on. The top two stayed in formation until Roberts passed VanEaton on lap nine. One lap later, Roberts took over the lead and slowly checked out to take the win. Sauerman finished second with Jeff James third. Lapped traffic helped Marcus Fagan’s cause as he caught Scott Bailey for the lead and eventual IMCA Sunoco Stock Car victory. Austin Luellen led the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature from the seventh lap to the checkers. A three-way fight to the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock checkers went to Gregg Anderson. Curtis Miller blasted into the lead on lap two and checked out on the rest of the field to take the Mach-1 Sport Compact feature win.