Weekly Archives

SPI announces sale of Farley Speedway

By Jerry Mackey FARLEY, Iowa – Keith Simmons, owner/operator of the Farley Speedway located on the west edge of Farley, Iowa, announced he has sold the popular 3/8-mile dirt track along with all the assets of Simmons Promotions. The new ownership group is headlined by Dubuque businessman Joel Callahan, owner of Callahan Construction. Callahan is the majority investor of the new ownership group which also includes Farley businessmen Jason Rauen and Roger Simon. Simmons owned and operated the Farley Speedway for 16 seasons bringing the track national recognition by providing outstanding stock car racing action that included a wide variety of National sanctions and many different types of race cars. Simmons has agreed to remain on as an advisor and will continue to oversee all track preparation. “Selling the Farley Speedway was a very difficult decision for me to make but at the same time, I am very excited to see this group of owners come on board with a plan to keep racing alive and make several improvements to the Farley Speedway that I [Read More]

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]

IMCA Stock Cars find Wyoming home at Sweetwater

ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. (Jan. 9) – Sweetwater Speedway brings IMCA-sanctioned Stock Cars to Wyoming in 2017, debuting the new class during a three-day Memorial Weekend show. In all, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars will join Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds and IMCA SportMods at Rock Springs on 13 nights this season. The finale is set for Sept. 16. “We’ve used rules very similar to IMCA’s for our street stock class for a while and have averaged 15-20 cars a night the last couple years. We’ve had some great shows,” explained promoter Kara Beech, also noting that the proximity of Addiction Chassis had contributed to increased car counts. “The IMCA Modified and SportMod divisions have worked great for us so I thought what the heck, hopefully we can do the same with the Stock Cars.” Sweetwater will be part of the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. In addition to the May 26-28 dates, IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, Allstar Performance State and local track points will also be awarded at June 9, 10 and 30, [Read More]

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]

SPI set to host season championship races

By Jerry Mackey FARLEY, Iowa – Simmons Promotions of Farley, Iowa is set to host season championship racing events at the three Eastern Iowa speedways under the direction of the SPI promotions group. All three tracks will host special events on championship night, which will include twin 25-lap features in the IMCA Late Model division. IMCA points will only be given for the first of those races each evening. Friday, Aug. 26 will be championship night at Farley Speedway, which will also include Kids’ Back To School Night. Champions will be crowned in all classes at the 3/8-mile dirt track. Farley Speedway will see action with hot laps at 7 pm, racing will follow. On Saturday night, action will shift to the ½-mile West Liberty Raceway located on the Muscatine County Fairgrounds in West Liberty, Iowa. Again, two 25 lap events will be held in the IMCA Late Models and champions will be crowned in all classes. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with the first race scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday night the Dubuque [Read More]

Free Friday admission at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – Spectator admission is free and Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds are on the card Aug. 26 when Cottage Grove Speedway hosts the final Fast Friday program of 2016. Saturday, Aug. 27 is season championship night for both the Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods. Tickets are $13 for adults, $10 for juniors and seniors, $5 for youth ages 6-12 and free for five and under. Family passes are $30. As was the case all season in honor of the track’s 60th anniversary, the 60th fan through the front gate gets in free. Schedule for both nights is pit gates opening at 2 p.m., the front gates opening at 4 p.m. and racing is at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Dubuque Speedway IMCA Late Models gun for $1,500 clean sweep bonus

By Jerry Mackey DUBUQUE, Iowa –The 2016 season championship stock car races will be held this Sunday, Aug. 28 at the Dubuque Speedway. Season champions will be crowned in all classes plus the Out-Pace Racing Products IMCA Late Models will run two 25-lap main events, the first of them for IMCA points. Thanks to race event sponsors Seegy’s Race Products and Widmeier Flooring, Late Models will be racing for bonus money, with $1,500 paid to the driver who can make a clean sweep of the nights racing action. Dubuque Speedway will see hot laps at 6 p.m. with racing to follow at 6:30 p.m.

$1,000 to win for IMCA Modifieds at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. – Willamette Speedway returns to racing Saturday, Aug. 27 with Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds headlining the card with a $1,000.00 to win feature courtesy of Schram Brothers Excavating. The feature is a qualifying event for the 2017 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Grandstand admission is $14 for adults, $10 for juniors, seniors and military, $5 for youth and a family pass (two adults and up to four youth) is $35. Front gates open at 3:30 p.m. and racing kicks off at 6 p.m. For more information, log onto www.trophymotorsports.com.

SPI announces Late Model format for season-ending races

By Jerry Mackey FARLEY, Iowa – Simmons Promotions of Farley, owner/operators of the Farley Speedway and contract holders for racing events at the West Liberty Raceway and Dubuque Speedway, will be offering IMCA Late Model competitors an opportunity to earn record-setting prize money for a weekly racing program. SPI has long been the innovative trend setters in racing in Eastern Iowa, for example SPI was the first in Eastern Iowa to utilize the exciting double file restarts, since the introduction by SPI, double file restarts have become the standard in Iowa racing. SPI was also the first to establish the popular Tri-Track Challenge offering more money to Late Model competitors than any other tracks in the area. The next innovative move will be a double feature format for the IMCA Late Models with extra racing for the fans and extra money for the drivers with one trip to the track. Following heat races and the first Late Model feature being qualified for, the first of two 25-lap main events will be run. The winner in [Read More]

SPI announces free admission at West Liberty on Aug. 13

By Jerry Mackey WEST LIBERTY, Iowa – Keith Simmons of Simmons Promotions, operator of West Liberty Raceway, has scheduled a Saturday, Aug. 13 Driver/Fan Appreciation Night. A full night of racing is on the program that evening with free admission to the grandstand. Race fans are encouraged to contact their favorite driver to receive tickets, which will enter that driver in a contest for free pit admissions. Hot laps get underway at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow at 7 p.m.