Results

Oregon pilot Williamson prepped for Arizona Modified Tour

By Ben Deatherage EUGENE, Ore. – Opening night of Winter Nationals is this evening (Friday) at Cocopah Speedway. It will also be the first round of the eight-race inaugural IMCA Arizona Modified Tour and Jesse Williamson, from Eugene, Ore., is among the 160-plus drivers pre-entered in the inaugural event. Williamson will debut a brand new 2017 Rage Chassis, sponsored by Furniture Options, Team SDMF, Custom Powder Works, Raceprint.com and Schram Brothers Excavating. “This is a pretty cool deal that they’ve put together with the Mod Tour,” said Williamson. “We’re going to do a lot of racing in a short amount of time.” Williamson knows what it’s like to stand on the top step of a tour podium, with three IMCA Wild West Modified Shootout crowns to his credit. The third-generation driver and grandson of Oregon legend Don Wilson won three times last season at Cottage Grove Speedway and once at Willamette Speedway. He’s eager to get on track with the new Rage. “I’m really excited to try something new with this chassis,” he said. “They’re really doing [Read More]

Results

Marshalltown spices up Friday races with IMCA Late Models

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – IMCA Late Models will return to weekly race programs in a “Late Model town.” The division joins Friday night shows at Marshalltown Speedway April 28 through Aug. 25. “There’s a ton of buzz going on around here about them. It seems like everybody you talk to says ‘Hey, I hear you’re bringing the Late Models back,” said Promoter Toby Kruse. “We already have a strong weekly IMCA program here but it’s always good to spice things up a bit when you can and this is definitely a Late Model town.” Sanctioned Late Models were on the card at Marshalltown from 1987-1990. Rumours Sports Bar and Grill, owned by former track promoter Steve Priske, will sponsor the division locally and dash races will be held each week with a ‘super dash’ at the end of the point season. The Deery Brothers Summer Series also returns with a mid-week event in June. Todd Cooney, Darrel DeFrance and Luke Goedert were IMCA Late Model feature winners at Marshalltown last season. “As long as I’ve been [Read More]

Results

Tri-City Motor Speedway announces blood drive partnership

AUBURN, Mich. ­– Tri-City Motor Speedway is partnering with area businesses and non-profit groups that are hosting blood drives with the American Red Cross or Michigan Blood to help increase donor participation during the summer months. Tri-City is seeking local blood drives held during May, June or July throughout the surrounding communities including, but not limited to: Auburn, Bay City, Beaverton, Gladwin, Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Pinconning and Saginaw. Each participating blood drive will receive one adult grandstand race ticket valued at $14 to give out to all donors who attempt to give blood. The race tickets will be valid for one of three different race nights following the date of the blood drive. In addition to partnering with area blood drives, Tri-City will host a blood drive on June 2. “We want to give back to our community. Partnering with blood drives helps raise awareness of a need that is easy to overlook and it’s something that any of us could be the recipient of at any time,” said Erika Puvalowski, Tri-City marketing and business [Read More]

Results

Kruse renews promotional contract at Marshalltown Speedway for 10 years

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – The Central Iowa Fair Board and race promoter Toby Kruse have signed an agreement to continue their relationship for another 10 years. Kruse has been pro­moter of the Marshalltown Speedway since 2006. Central Iowa Fair President Tyler Wollam indicated that the new agreement will be beneficial for everyone. “Toby has long been one of the most sought-after race promoters in the entire country. We have been thrilled with the work he has done over the last decade as well as the improvement projects we have been able to collaborate on,” he said. “I am confident that under his continued leader­ship, Marshalltown Speedway will remain a destination location for race teams and spectators from all over the country for many years to come.” The new contract became effective on Jan. 1 of this year, and will run through the 2026 racing season. Fans of the speedway will be happy to know that there will be more improvements on the hori­zon for the historic dirt track. “Both Toby and the fair board have been [Read More]

Results

Malcom looks to continue Idaho IMCA success in return to Modified division

SHELLEY, Idaho – A driver with track and state championships to his credit last year can already give you an approximate date for the highlight of his 2017 season. Cody Malcom won seven Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod features on the way to capturing Atomic Motor Raceway track and Allstar Performance Idaho State titles in 2016. From Shelly, he’ll return to the IMCA Modified division this spring, racing regularly at Atomic and Idaho Falls Raceway and when his schedule allows at Wyoming’s Sweetwater Speedway. More of the specifics will take shape in May, after Malcom and girlfriend Ashley Grass become parents of a son, who joins Jayden, almost five, Abyree, three, and Rylan, two years old. “It’s exciting,” said Malcom. “It will be a whole new adventure.” Malcom’s on-track adventures last season came over the course of 21 starts, all at Idaho Falls and Atomic. He won five of his last eight outings while sealing the Atomic track and Idaho state titles. “I had taken a couple years off before I started racing again in 2014, [Read More]

Results

Wernette wins drawing for 2017 IMCA license

BOONE, Iowa – IMCA Modified and Super Nationals veteran Chad Wernette was the winner of a drawing for a complimentary 2017 competitor’s license. The Sheridan, Mich., driver’s name was drawn from among those returning a survey following the 2016 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “What we enjoy most about Super Nationals is the people,” said Wernette, elected to the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational field in 2010. “We keep trying to get better every year.” He’ll be a regular at Crystal Motor Speedway again this season and plans occasional starts at I-96 Speedway and Tri-City Motor Speedway as well.

Results

Faster Pastor race set, seeking pastors 

AUBURN, Mich. – Tri-City Motor Speedway has released the date for the annual Faster Pastor race, to be held on July 14. The Faster Pastor Race is an annual fundraiser for area churches. Pastors affirm this is a unique team building opportunity that allows them to connect with people in their congregation in ways they have not been able to in the past. Pastors may self-nominate to participate through April 30. Eight pastors will be selected to race for a charity of their choice. All charities will receive the amount of money each pastor raises and the winner of the race will receive bragging rights and a six-foot trophy for the year. In 2016, seven churches raised a combined total of $19,285 which was an increase over the $14,823 raised by eight churches in 2015. “The Faster Pastor race is one of our favorite events to host. You can smell the adrenaline in the air between all of the excited fans and church members cheering on their pastor,” said Erika Puvalowski, Tri-City Motor Speedway marketing & [Read More]

Results

Rookie Welshonse finishes close second at Southern Oregon

By Ben Deatherage MEDFORD, Ore. – The IMCA Modified division is considered one of the toughest classes to compete in no matter what the track is. For James Welshonse, he would make his debut in 2016 in this stacked group of drivers at White City’s Southern Oregon Speedway. The nearby Medford native had limited experience prior to the campaign including a handful of SportMod starts and a couple of years in both the street stock and mini stock ranks. The year would feature an unbelievable amount of success beyond Welshonse’s dreams. “It was a really good experience and we had a blast,” commented Welshonse, “it was really just a learning year for me and trying to figure out how these cars work.” The year would see four top-five finishes at White City had just only one finish outside of the top 10, an 11th place result. Without a doubt, Welshonse’s greatest achievement was his main event victory on Sept. 17 to cap the 2016 race season off. In addition to his main event performances, he [Read More]

Results

34 Raceway banquet honors drivers 

By Dana Royer WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (Jan. 7) – 34 Raceway held its 2016 season awards banquet in Burling­ton Saturday evening, Jan. 7. The evening included a banquet meal, recognition of top 10 drivers, sponsors and a number of special award recipients. 34 Raceway completed another successful year and track officials are looking forward to another great season in 2017 with some familiar and new events on the upcoming schedule. Drivers who finished in the top ten and were eligible for money and awards were recognized as well as the 2016 track champions. In order to receive recognition and point money, each driver had to participate in a minimum of 75 percent of 34 Raceway’s point events in 2016. In 2016, 34 Raceway paid out just over $500,000 to racers during the six-month season. In seven divisions, 50 drivers were eligible to receive money and awards. More than $12,000 was paid out. Jeff Waterman of Quincy, Ill., was the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified track champion while John Oliver, Jr. of Danville won both IMCA [Read More]

Results

141 Speedway promoters back on ballot for RPM award 

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. ­(Jan. 9) – 141 Speedway promoters Toby Kruse, Dan Ratajczak and Scott Ratajczak are back on the ballot for the Auto Racing Promoter of the Year award given by Racing Promotion Monthly. They were nominated from RPM’s Northern Region for the second consecutive year. A Saturday night venue, 141 sanctions its Modified, Stock Car, North­ern SportMod and Sport Compact divisions with IMCA. “It’s almost overwhelming because your peers nominate you for this award. You take a minute to reflect and realize how fortunate you are,” Kruse said. “Being nominated is pretty darn exciting. It makes all the miles and hours worth it.” “We averaged 141 cars a week in 2016. That’s a real testament to our goal of making this track bigger and better every year,” added Kruse, “and we’re not done, that’s for sure.” Dan Ratajczak was a long-time IMCA Modified driver and Scott was his crew chief. This is their second ARPY nomination and the third for Kruse, who also pro­motes Marshalltown Speedway. The Ratajczaks have promoted 141 with Kruse since 2014. Their [Read More]