News Archives

Season opener is Sunday for Thomas County Speedway

By John Schmidt COLBY, Kan. – The long wait for the 2014 race season at Thomas County Speedway is just about over as action resumes this Sunday, May 11 at 7 p.m. Just like last season, several improvements have been made to the track as well as the grandstands. Another change is the return of the wild and crazy cruisers. With the help of Bernie Meyer at Murfin Drilling and several others, the table top in turns three and four has been removed. The wall was moved back a couple feet, then the track was graded the rest of the way to the wall. This widened turns three and four by about eight feet. Also, the wall was pointed down at an angle so it will help push the cars back on the track instead of creating a ramp. MD Auto Works of Colby is sponsoring an extra $100 to the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified purse each race. That means an extra $50 for first place, $30 for second, and $20 for third. One [Read More]

Lane lands career first IMCA Modified win at DCRP

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (May 3) – Joel Lane scored his first career IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature win Saturday at Dodge City Raceway Park. Lane took advantage of his pole starting position, outdueling Kevin Gray for the point in the early rounds and then holding off a late charge from Mike Petersilie over the closing rounds to secure the victory. Petersilie had battled through a pack of contenders before taking over second on the 14th round. He closed in on Lane and was nearly within striking distance as the white flag flew but Lane held strong on the final round for the victory. In IMCA SportMod action, Michael Shenberger made it two wins in as many DCRP visits this season by racing into the lead on the 10th round en route to victory lane in the 20-lapper. Shenberger reeled in Austin Walker and pounced on a lead he would never relinquish, ultimately taking the checkered flag ahead of defending track champion Jeff Kaup, who raced from 11th. Clay Money transferred from [Read More]

Smith flies fastest at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 3) – After starting mi-dpack, Dylan Smith finished first in Saturday’s Kaplan University IMCA Modified feature at Eagle Raceway. Smith passed Clint Homan for the lead with three laps to go and won pulling away. “I started 12th and to be honest, the bottom line looked ominous in the beginning but I tried it. When I got up to seventh or eighth, everyone else was running the bottom so I moved up top,” Smith said. “Heck, my right rear was bouncing off the wall in turn two! Then toward the end we caught a lapped car and that’s what helped me pass for the win.” Clint Benson worked his way to the front of the Mud in America IMCA Eagle Motorsports RaceSaver Sprint Car field, passing Shayle Bade on lap 14 and leading to the checkers. “This was a different track tonight but I was confident. We’re really starting the year off good,” he said from victory lane. “I could run where I wanted, but I decided to run [Read More]

Opening night brings 94 cars to Seymour

By Dave Panske SEYMOUR, Wis. (May 4) – On the best night for racing in the area so far this season, N.E.W. DIRT opened its 31st season at Seymour Speedway Sunday night. A field of 94 cars checked in and a hardy crowd witnessed a fast paced, competitive night of racing. Lucas Lamberies led the opening three circuits of the Karl Chevrolet SportMod main before Andy Kleczka took the outside line to front. On lap seven, Jeremy Cota moved into second. Kleczka stayed in the high groove with Cota running low. Over the final five laps, Cota kept inching alongside Kleczka. Kleczka was half a car length ahead with two to go and the pair crossed the line even under the white. Cota got a better jump off turn two on the final lap and was able to hold off Klecka to pick up the win. Bill Kelsey set the pace for the first six laps of the Coors Light IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main. On lap seven, Mike Coel inched into the top spot [Read More]

New title sponsor Friesen Chevrolet boosts point fund for IMCA’s Empire State Series

SUTTON, Neb. (May 6) – IMCA’s Empire State Series has a new title sponsor and a bigger point fund this season. Friesen Chevrolet of Sutton, Neb., will furnish a portion of the $3,000 to be paid to top 10 drivers in point standings for the 13th annual IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified tour. Ten dates at tracks in New York are on the 2014 series schedule, the next of them this Friday, May 9 at Brewerton Speedway. “We got involved with the GM 604 crate engine last year and sponsoring this series is one way we can give back to drivers,” said Al Walters, performance sales manager for Friesen’s. “It’s also a good way for us to expand our market. We have a lot of IMCA customers in the Central and Western regions. This is an opportunity for us to go east with IMCA.” Empire State Series drivers can send in a copy of the letter they received from IMCA regarding the Friesen Chevrolet sponsorship and get free shipping on their next 604 crate purchase. [Read More]

Cain collects Raceway Park checkers

By Bob Coney JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 4) – Raceway Park kicked off its IMCA championship series Sunday with action in five divisions. Three-time defending champion John Cain raced to victory in the Motorparts Central IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Behind Cain, Jake McClure held off a hard-charging Dave Riley for the runner-up spot. Karl Brewer continues to hold the hot hand in the Skyline Bar and Casino IMCA SportMods. Brewer scored his 20th victory on the high banks, topping defending champion Todd Boulware while Kirk Beatty rounded out the top three. Four-time defending champion Jason Ward held off a strong challenge in the late laps from Todd Gereau to win the Casey’s General Stores IMCA Stock Car feature. Behind the top duo, Casey Jones finished out the top three. The KISS 107.1 IMCA Sport Compacts saw Ramsey Meyer run to the front in the early laps and cruise to an easy victory. Gabe Barclay finished second, while Cody Thompson completed a run from the final row to the third spot at the finish. The final feature [Read More]

Oliver, Anders, Becerra capture Quincy checkers

By Jack Walbring QUINCY, Ill. (May 4) – John Oliver Jr., Bobby Anders Jr. and Austen Becerra all picked up feature event wins in the Casey’s General Stores Racing Series at Quincy Raceways on Sunday. The Powder Coat Plus IMCA Stock Cars were racing for $500 to Win with Oliver taking home the big check. Oliver battled with Jim Lynch the entire 25 laps and held on to take the win over Lynch in second and Abe Huls in third. Anders held off a hard-charging Tony Dunker to score the feature event win in the Summy Tire and Auto Center IMCA Northern SportMod main event. Anders grabbed the lead from Tanner Klingele on the seventh lap and kept Dunker at bay over the last few laps to score the feature event win. Becerra continued his hot streak in the Mach-1 Sport Compact division as he survived the war with Pat Dunker in the feature event. Becerra and Dunker traded paint over the final laps as both took turns leading but Becerra managed to take the [Read More]

Late pass puts Foulger back on podium at Antioch

ANTIOCH, Calif. (May 3) – Troy Foulger is the driver to beat at Antioch Speedway and Aaron Crowell almost did that in Saturday’s thrilling IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified main event. Crowell, who built a large lead in the 20-lapper, saw that advantage disappear in seconds when he encountered traffic with three laps to go. In a daring second-turn move, Foulger dove underneath Crowell and the driver he was about to lap. “All of a sudden, there he was,” Crowell said of Foulger after the race. “My car was awesome tonight. We made some changes that made the world of difference. I thought we had it won.” Never count Foulger out. “That is why we call him ‘Tricky’ Troy,” Crowell continued. “Sometimes, that is the way it goes in racing. It takes one move. I’m actually happy with second. If I’m going to be beaten by anyone, I’d rather it be Troy.” Crowell didn’t let Foulger take the win easily. He got back along side him and passed him on the white-flag lap. Foulger came [Read More]

Thompson tops nailbiter in Dawson County opener

By Kelly Ninas LEXINGTON, Neb. (May 4) – Getting their 2014 season at Dawson County Raceway started off right with Sunday trips to the winner’s circle were Colton Osborn, Jamey Kennicutt, Mike Nichols and Dillon Thompson. In the closest finish of the night, Thompson was the victor by the slimmest of margins over Kyle Bond in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature. Thompson led the first 13 laps and then led the lap that matters the most by less than the width of a fender. Bond led the white flag lap and for many laps prior had turned circuits with Thompson in his crosshairs. Osborn led the final ten laps of the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature to cruise to the victory. Osborn started in the inside of row four and showed great patience and prospered with a car that handled quite well from the top to the bottom of the track. In a very competitive race, Kennicutt was able to stay near the front throughout the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main and led [Read More]

Tubbs, Gottschalk repeat at Wakeeney Speedway

By Mike Hughes WaKEENEY, Kan. (May 4) – Daniel Gottschalk and Jeff Tubbs made repeat appearances in the Jason Oil Winner’s Circle at WaKeeney Speedway Sunday evening, May 4. Gottschalk only led one lap to win his second straight Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature but it was the one that counted. Brian Conness took the early lead, followed by C.J. Pfannenstiel and Dakota Sproul. The caution-plagued race kept the field close but each time Conness was up to the challenge.Gottschalk worked his way to second on the last caution on lap 13, then on the last lap, got under Conness in turn three and held on to the Crawford Supply flagstand for the win. Tubbs won his third IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature in a row at the 3/8-mile oval but it was anything but easy. After a multi-car crash on the opening lap, Jason Davis took the top spot on the opening lap before Tubbs took over the top spot. Tubbs continued to lead at the halfway mark of the 20-lap event with Davis [Read More]