News Archives

Eastern Region contenders Ward, Cole split wins at Outlaw’s IMCA Fall Nationals

DUNDEE, N.Y. (Sept. 23-24) – The top two drivers in the Dirt Works Eastern Region were both winners at Outlaw Speedway’s season-ending Fall Nationals. A.J. Ward made another long tow from Michigan to win the Friday opener and $1,000 at Dundee. Matt Cole topped the Saturday show, which doubled as an Atomicwraps.com Empire State Series event, and $1,500. Their victories put both drivers on the ballot for next September’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Ward won for the third time in as many New York starts on Friday. He took the green flag outside Jake Maynard on the front row and led all 25 laps on a track he found challenging due to its configuration. He was leading by close to a straightaway before a lap nine yellow; further cautions kept lapped traffic from becoming a factor and Ward stuck to the middle to higher line, getting the win ahead of Cole, Beau Ballard, Keith Lamphere and Tim Sebring. “I just tried to stay smooth and hit my marks, and was able to pull away,” Ward said following [Read More]

First visit to Siskiyou worth $3,000 to Rod Restad Memorial winner Hogge

YREKA, Calif. (Sept. 24) – Win number 13 on the season was worth $3,000 for Bobby Hogge IV. Hogge ventured to Siskiyou Motor Speedway for Saturday’s Rod Restad Memorial and led all 30 laps in the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified feature. A rash of early cautions slowed the main event but the race ended with 20-plus green flag circuits. Alex Stanford was second and Ryan McDaniel ended in third. “This was the first time I’d even seen the track,” said Hogge, who drew the pole start. “I ran the lower line and Alex and Ryan were pretty close behind.” “When I got to lapped traffic, I just made sure I knew where they were going,” he added. “I figured with those two behind me, I didn’t have a lot of room to make any mistakes.” Second place paid $2,000 and third paid $1,000. Jeremy Richey and Mark Wauge completed the top five. Hogge was already on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. The Restad Memorial was already his fourth qualifying event victory [Read More]

Hansen returns to Goodland for another big check at Flatlander

GOODLAND, Kan. (Sept. 24) – Another visit to Sherman County Speedway ended with another stop in victory lane for John Hansen. Hansen passed Jeremy Frenier early in Saturday’s main event for Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds at Goodland, survived contact with a slower car near midway and led to the end of the 30-lapper. The Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying win paid $3,500. “The Flatlander has been very good to us,” said Hansen, who now has three wins at the annual special to his credit. “We usually only race at Goodland once a year and we always look forward to going back.” Frenier drew the pole and set the pace in the early circuits. Outside front row starter Hansen made his pass for the lead on the inside line. Eddie Belec finished second as the race stayed green the final 15 circuits. Frenier, Ryan Gaylord and Brendon Gemmill rounded out the top five. Nick Tubbs, a Flatlander winner every year but one since 2010, also started out row one and topped the IMCA Sunoco Stock [Read More]

Lawson leads last half to Eastside Sprint win

By Jim Haines WAYNESBORO, Va. (Sept. 24) – Jerald Harris looked strong for the first half of Saturday’s Virginia Sprint Series feature at Eastside Speedway but Brian Lawson took over at midway to get the win. Bill Rice and Chris Ware led the field to green with Rice out first. Harris swept around the top to get to the front on the second circuit and tried to run away from the field. Lawson got by Mike Leraas for second, then used a restart to his advantage to catch Harris. Tom Humphries was third. Feature results – 1. Brian Lawson; 2. Jerald Harris; 3. Tom Humphries; 4. Mike Leraas; 5. Glenn Worrell; 6. Daren Bolac; 7. Anthony Linkenhoker; 8. Bill Rice; 9. Ed Mesaros; 10. Chris Ware; 11. French Grimes; 12. Ron Moyers; 13. Josh Perreault.

Mundie holds on in Sprint Series of Oklahoma finale

By David Smith Jr. ADA, Okla. (Sept. 24) – After rain washed out many tracks in the North Texas area, Austin Mundie made the trip up from his Tyler, Texas home worthwhile, capturing Sprint Series of Oklahoma IMCA Racesaver season finale at Oklahoma Sports Park Saturday night. Joe Wood Jr., who won his only series feature at Ada in June, stretched his early advantage to five car lengths before reaching slower cars on lap seven. This allowed Mundie to close in and the two swapped the lead before Mundie settled in up front. Following the final restart on lap 13, Mundie opened an eight-car length lead over Andy Shouse and kept that advantage until Shouse narrowed the gap with four laps to go. Shouse got another good run on the last lap but Mundie held on and took the checkered flag just a car length over Shouse. He also became the 10th winner in the last 10 events. Wood settled for third while Chad Koch and Gary Owens rounded out the top five. Feature results [Read More]

Abelson rakes in top IMCA Modified cash at September Fest

BEATRICE, Neb. (Sept. 23) – Chris Abelson wrapped up his 2016 Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified campaign with his 31st victory of the season Friday at Beatrice Speedway’s September Fest. The checkers were worth $1,500 and came ahead of Jordan Grabouski and Dylan Smith as drivers with national championships on their resumes finished 1-2-3. Travis Hatcher and Jordy Nelson completed the top five. Abelson had started sixth and made his way to the front in the first handful of laps. “When we went out before the race it felt like the track was taking rubber from the middle on up, so that’s where I ran,” Abelson said. “I figured everybody else would run the bottom.” Grabouski was able to pull ahead on several occasions in the later laps but Abelson was scored first every time around. “We’ve had a pretty good season,” said Abelson, already on the ballot for next year’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “Our goal this year was to follow the Hawkeye Dirt Tour and we won that. We won the Tiny Lund, then [Read More]

Moriarty masters Mr. Excitement 40

By Lonnie Wheatley PEORIA, Ariz. (Sept. 24) – Joey Moriarty picked an ideal time to shine by racing to victory lane in Saturday night’s Arizona Differential IMCA Modified feature event at Canyon Speedway Park’s Mr. Excitement 40 Tribute to Terry Belcher. Racing from the second row outside, Moriarty charged to the checkered flag to become the eighth different winner in the last nine Arizona Differential IMCA Modified feature events ahead of Jay Foster, with Jason Noll, 12th-starter Chaz Baca Jr., and Austin Kuehl rounding out the top five. Feature results – 1. Joey Moriarty; 2. Jay Foster; 3. Jason Noll; 4. Chaz Baca Jr.; 5. Austin Kuehl; 6. Zack Madrid; 7. Guy Norton; 8. Brian Schultz; 9. Cody Center; 10. Don Hagan; 11. Steve Stultz; 12. Nate Warren; 13. Kenny Gill; 14. Phil Baille; 15. Mike Strobl; 16. Terry Belcher Sr.; 17. Jim Perkins; 18. Jinger Kesler; 19. John Parmeley; 20. Danny Curry.

Holladay wins first Deery Series feature, Bruening clinches tour crown at West Liberty

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (Sept. 24) – Chad Holladay won his first Deery Brothers Summer Series feature while Tyler Bruening became a first-time IMCA Late Model tour champion Saturday night at West Liberty Raceway. Holladay raced from the 15th starting spot to win the 50-lap finale for the 30th annual series, leading the last 28 circuits en route to the $2,500 Ideal Ready Mix Liberty 100 payday. “We had a good car, obviously. I was able to run the cushion where no one else was and found some bite on (turn) four. The cautions helped and we had a little bit of luck. It was a little bit of everything tonight,” he said. “A Deery Series win is something we’ve always wanted and we’ve come close a couple times. We’re hoping to pick up at the same place we left off next year.” Bruening made his charge toward the front from 21st starting and finished sixth. He’d gone into the day just a single point ahead of Jeff Aikey in the race for the series crown but the anticipated [Read More]

Persistence pays off for Thomas with first career Sprint Series of Oklahoma victory

By David Smith Jr. ARDMORE, Okla. (Sept. 23) – Marcus Thomas finally made a slider stick in lapped traffic and captured his first career Sprint Series of Oklahoma IMCA Racesaver Sprint Car Series feature Friday at Southern Oklahoma Speedway. Thomas began utilizing sliders through each turn on lap five and each time fellow front row starter Dacus edged out front at the completion of each lap. The torrid pace up front stayed that way as the leaders began approaching slower cars on lap seven and that’s when Thomas appeared to have taken the lead exiting turn two but the feature’s first caution fell, nullifying the pass. On the restart, Dacus again motored ahead with Thomas right there on his rear bumper, once again pulling sliders in each turn, only to come up short. Lap sixteen is when the outcome of the race came into play as the leaders began entering slower cars once again. Using the top of the three-eighths mile oval as he had all race long, Dacus got hung up in lapped traffic [Read More]

IMCA competition director elected to Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame

LINCOLN, Neb. – IMCA Competition Director Tom Gutowski is about to add to his racing resume. He’ll be a Hall of Famer. Gutowski, from Omaha, is one of seven new members of the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Induction ceremonies will be Friday, Oct. 14 in Lincoln. “I was pleasantly surprised. I figured it wouldn’t happen the first time around,” Gutowski said of his hall of fame nomination. “I was voted in as a racing official. It certainly wasn’t for my skill as a participant.” Driver of the first IMCA Modified registered in Nebraska, Gutowski promoted at Crawford County Speedway, Shelby County Speedway, Buena Vista Raceway in Iowa and I-80 Speedway before taking the post with IMCA in November of 2006. Gutowski estimates that he’s made an average of 50 track visits a year, for weekly or multi-day specials in more than 20 states. He’s overseen pre- and post-race tech inspection at two of the biggest events in all of dirt track racing, the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s and the [Read More]