News Archives

Tour records shattered at Mandan, Grimes is first-time Dakota Classic Modified winner

MANDAN, N.D. (July 9) – Jason Grimes became the fifth different Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified winner on another record-shattering night Thursday for the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Tour. An all-time tour best 98 Modifieds saw action at Dacotah Speedway, five more than the previous mark set on opening night Sunday at Minot. One hundred and twenty-two of the best drivers in the division have converged on the tour thus far, two more than the previous record set in 2010 and equaled last year. Grimes drew the pole at Mandan but Jett Big Eagle rocketed into the lead from his outside row one start. Seven circuits into the 30-lapper, Grimes was in front and found himself in a back-and-forth, slice-and-dice tussle with Mike Hansen. “I’m not sure who was first every lap but I led the one that counted most,” said Grimes, $2,100 richer and new to the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. “Lapped traffic hurt me originally but I was able to use it to my advantage at the end.” Lucas Schott worked his [Read More]

Familiar faces return to Southern Iowa Speedway victory lane

By Jeremy Fox OSKALOOSA, Iowa (July 8) – Familiar faces were back in a familiar place – victory lane – Wednesday at Southern Iowa Speedway. Scott Dickey outran Colt Mather and Andrew Schroeder for Musco Lighting IMCA Modified win number two. Cayden Carter’s Budweiser IMCA Stock Car checkers were his fourth locally in 2015. Curtis VanDerWal held off persistent Logan Anderson for his seventh KBOE Radio IMCA Northern SportMod checkers. Dustin Griffiths bested the Pepsi Cola IMCA Hobby Stocks for the fifth time. Danny Thrasher ruled as king of the hill in the class. Bill Whalen Jr. won for the third time this season at Osky in the Mach-1 Sport Compacts.

Home state IMCA Modified hero Wolla prevails in Dakota Classic Tour at Southwest Speedway

DICKINSON, N.D. (July 8) – The best of the best Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified drivers converged at Southwest Speedway Wednesday night and this time a home state driver prevailed. Jason Wolla ran second for most of the 30-lap Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Modified Tour main event. He passed Spencer Wilson with seven circuits to go and held point leader Ricky Thornton Jr. and defending series champion Jeff Taylor at bay in a furious fight to the finish. “This has to be my biggest win ever. The talent in this series is just so good.” Wolla said following the relatively close-to-home $2,100 checkers, his tour career first. “This is kind of a home track. All the fans packing the stands made it special for us.” “It takes a good car, a good setup, everything down to the right draw,” he added. “All the things we needed to have happen fell into place.” Rounding out the top five were Strand, despite engine issues, and Aaron Turnbull, the 2013 tour champ. The first four tour events have [Read More]

Determined Kay runs away with Independence Deery

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (July 8) – Justin Kay came to Independence Motor Speedway with a chip on his shoulder Wednesday night. He left town with his fourth Deery Brothers Summer Series feature win of the season, a check for $3,000 and sole possession of first place in point standings for the IMCA Late Model tour. “I was a little disappointed after last night,” understated Kay, clearly on a mission after running an oh-so-close second to Brian Harris in the Tuesday Deery feature at West Liberty. “I pushed as hard as I could. When you have Jeff Aikey and Ryan Dolan behind you, you have to do that.” Aikey was the runner-up, two lapped cars and half a straightaway off Kay’s torrid pace. Dolan led most of the first half of the 40-lapper before ending in third, while Rick Wendling and Scott Fitzpatrick completed the top five. Brian Hunter drew the pole start and led the first three laps. Dolan was scored just ahead at the line the next time around. Meanwhile, Kay had raced from outside [Read More]

Mid-Summer Classic this Saturday at Canyon

By Lonnie Wheatley PEORIA, Ariz. – The mud will be flying Saturday night at Canyon Speedway Park as the 1/3-mile clay oval near Phoenix hosts the Mid-Summer Classic. Following an open practice on Friday from 6-9 p.m., Saturday’s Mid-Summer Classic will go green at 7 p.m. The 9th World Vapor IMCA Modifieds headline the Mid-Summer Classic with the Arizona Differential Pure Stocks, Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive Renegades, Micro Sprints, AMA Mod Lites and Dwarf Cars in action as well on Saturday. While Ricky Thornton Jr., is the reigning Mid-Summer Classic champion in the 9th World Vapor IMCA Modified ranks, Garrett Funk and Shawn Zelenka are knotted atop the point charts in the track championship battle. Funk topped the most recent CSP outing on June 20 to move into a tie for the points lead with Zelenka, with George Fronsman 14 points off the lead pace in third. Thornton topped the most recent pair of events prior to Funk’s victory. Tickets are $16, with a $3 discount for military, seniors and students. Children ages 7-12 are $6, with six [Read More]

Nelson picks up first Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod win

By Josh Reynolds STUART, Iowa (July 5) – Colton Nelson picked up his first-ever win in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod division to end the holiday weekend at Stuart Speedway. Nelson took the early lead over Brett Vanderheiden and then Shawn Kralik, with Chase Rudolf and Arie Schouten third and fourth. A caution flew on lap 10 when Kendall Davis slammed into the front stretch wall. Davis was OK but his car was done for the night. When the green flag flew again, Clint Luellen took advantage and raced from fourth to second, but no one was catching Nelson on this night as he took his first-ever win in the class. Luellen settled for second with Kralik third, Rudolf fourth and Dusty Masolini fifth. Josh Gilman was the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified winner while Todd Cooney topped the IMCA Late Models. Mike Nichols and Shannon Anderson added to their all-time division leading win totals in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock divisions, respectively. Jacob Reiter took over on lap two [Read More]

California trip pays dividends for Thornton in IMCA Dakota Tour feature at Williston

WILLISTON, N.D. (July 7) – A trip to California earlier this season helped put first-time Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Tour contender Ricky Thornton Jr. in Williston Basin Speedway’s victory lane. Thornton made the most of the lower line and caught pole starter Kelly Shryock for the lead with six circuits left in Tuesday’s 30-lap Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified main event. After working his way around a lapped car, he collected the $2,100 checkers and took over the top spot in the tour point standings as the best of the best IMCA Modified drivers converged in North Dakota. “That was probably the biggest win of my career,” Thornton said following his 20th victory of the season. “The competition here is so good.” “Our goal coming in was to make the show every night and maybe make the top 10 in points,” he added. “It would be great if we could pull it off and win the tour championship.” The Arizona speedster had started seventh and ran a lower line than most of the rest of the [Read More]

Inaugural Thome Memorial is July 14 at Boone County Raceway

ALBION, Neb. – Boone County Raceway’s inaugural Shane Thome Memorial pays $2,000 to the winner of the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified main event. The Tuesday, July 14 special will be held during the Boone County Fair, is a qualifying event for the 2015 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational and pays a minimum of $100 to start. Additional money has been added to purses for other sanctioned divisions. Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods race for $400 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $350 to win, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $300 to win and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $180 to win. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Jet Racing Central Region and Allstar Performance State points, but not local track points, will be awarded. Non-sanctioned late models are also on the program. All divisions will be draw/redraw. Grandstand admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $25. More information is available on Facebook or by calling 308 940-2972 or 402 615-0226. A long-time IMCA driver [Read More]

Harris overcomes ailing engine, edges Kay for West Liberty Deery win

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (July 7) – Brian Harris overcame an ailing engine and beat Justin Kay to the checkers by less than half a car length to win the Deery Brothers Summer Series feature at West Liberty Raceway. The last two champions of the IMCA Late Model tour – Harris in 2013, Kay in 2014 – settled the Tuesday show with a drag race to the finish line. Harris had opened the door with a bobble in the final turn, but recovered in time to outrun Kay. The $3,000 victory was Harris’ career 11th and his third at West Liberty. Kay had won the last three, and four of the last five Deery events there. Kay and third place finisher Andy Nezworski are now tied for the lead in the point standings with nine of 18 series races in the book. Rob Moss and Tyler Droste complete the top five. Moss led the first three circuits from the pole before giving way to Harris. Three cautions waved before midway of the 40-lapper while Harris stayed in [Read More]

Nordman wins fourth feature at Hancock County

By Greg Grabianowski BRITT, Iowa (July 4) – George Nordman picked up his fourth local Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature win of the season Saturday at Hancock County Speedway. Nordman started on the inside of row three before piloting his No. 90 white rig into the winner’s circle. Levi Chipp was second with Cody Knecht placing third in the 18-car race. Kevin Stoa was the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified winner ahead of Jesse Hoeft and Josh Ruby. Point leader David Smith captured his third local feature win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, coming from inside the third row. Scott Dobel won his second feature this season at Britt in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Devin Jones was the Mach-1 Sport Compact winner.