Weekly Archives

Sample is double winner in I-80 Challenge Series

BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. (May 30-31) – Cory Sample couldn’t have asked for a better opening weekend for the inaugural I-80 Challenge Series. Sample won both IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified features, picking up $1,000 for Friday and Saturday, May 30 and 31 victories during Battle Mountain Raceway’s Frank Iturriaga NAPA Memorial special. “I had pretty good luck drawing all weekend so that helped,” said the new Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot candidate. “I’ve won $1,000 to win races before but never two of them back to back.” “The weekend before I’d broken the gas pedal at a $1,000 to win show in California,” he added, “so this was a whole lot better weekend.” Sample started on the Friday pole but fell back to third behind Ward Amberson and Randy Artz. He got second back from Artz in a couple laps and then snuck under Amberson for the lead following a lap 10 restart. Lee Bosch, Shawn LaRocque and Reece Artz rounded out the top five. After drawing the outside pole start on Saturday, Sample led [Read More]

Cooney is lightning fast in shortened Stuart show

By Josh Reynolds STUART, Iowa (June 1) –Cody Cleghorn and Shannon Anderson won the make-up features from the Ron Little Memorial a week ago, and Todd Cooney won a shortened IMCA Late Model feature before the weather took over again Sunday at Stuart Speedway. Cleghorn led all the way to pick up the Mach-1 Sport win. Anderson took charge on lap six of the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock main and kept Austin Luellen at bay to the checkers. As the skies turned darker to the west and the heat races came to an end, the decision was made to move the IMCA Late Models up to the first feature with Randy Faux and Paul Conrad drawing the front row. Cooney flew into the lead on lap one with Faux and Conrad following in his tracks. Cooney led through two cautions, and as yet another one flew and lightning was in the western sky, the decision came to end the race, and the program, on lap 14. Cooney was declared the winner with Randy Foote second, [Read More]

Hand catches Ashley for Modified checkers at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (May 31) – Braedon Hand picked up his third local IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified victory of the season Saturday, in front of a packed house at Cottage Grove Speedway’s Marvin Smith Memorial Grove Classic. Ricky Ashley had the car to beat for much of the race until Hand finally caught up and led the rest of the distance. The win was also his second straight at Cottage Grove. Ashley was a respectable second followed by Tom Berry Jr. in third. Mark Wauge was fourth while fifth went to Troy McElroy.

Garst Memorial checkers fly for Grabouski

By Bill Grit MAYETTA, Kan. (May 31) – A regular visitor to victory lanes around the region took top honors at Thunder Hill Speedway’s 20th annual Don Garst Memorial Saturday night. Jordan Grabouski caught Justin Becker, then held off Clay Hale in lapped traffic to top a 20-lap feature for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds that ran without caution and paid $1,020 to win. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Grabouski was followed across the stripe by Hale, Matt Stallbaumer, Cory Wray and Danny Holt. Garst was the first flagman at Thunder Hill and the Modified feature was flagged by his grandson Tyler, using Don’s flags. Lance Brogman withstood a couple late restarts to win the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature, ahead of Matt Haid and Brian LaBonte. After negotiating lapped traffic in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature, Adam Armstrong was the winner with Jesse VanLaningham second and early leader Brian Stich third. Dusty Leonard became the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod winner after disqualification of the initial first-place car in post-race tech. [Read More]

Brumlic is tough on Stock Car foes at Thunderhill

By Edward Anschutz STURGEON BAY, Wis. (May 31) – Tom “Tuffy” Brumlic outdueled Dylan Heilmann to score his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win at Thunderhill Raceway Saturday night. Mike Wietor paced the opening laps of the headliner before Dylan Heilmann swept through using the low groove to take the lead. Heilmann distanced himself from the pack as Charlie Kroll and Brumlic worked through traffic. Brumlic worked to second using the high side to reel in the leader. With each driver running a different groove, the stage was set for a great battle. Brumlic pulled even with Heilmann as the duo raced door-to-door. Brumlic found a bit more speed running the cushion and grabbed the lead for good by the midway point. Brumlic set sail, going unchallenged the remainder of the caution-free contest. Heilmann edged out Kroll by a bumper for second while point leader Shawn Havel and Dave Bouche rallied late after starting deep in the field to finish in the top five. Other feature winners included Todd Dart in the IMCA Xtreme [Read More]

Wassenberg, Frederick, Yarie are winners at Shawano

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (May 31) – What had been a three-wide battle ended with Tracy Wassenberg standing alone in victory lane Saturday at Shawano Speedway. Lap 18 of the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature saw Joey Taycher, Wassenberg and Lucas Lamberies go side-by-side-by-side for the lead on the front stretch of the track. Entering turn three, Taycher got a bit too high and made contact with the wall, allowing Wassenberg and Lamberies to pass him in turn four. Wassenberg went on to hold off Lamberies for the win. Taycher recovered to finish third. Kyle Frederick stayed undefeated in four IMCA Sunoco Stock Car starts this season at Shawano, winning by an eyelash ahead of longtime leader Tom Riehl. Marcus Yarie was the third and final leader in the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified main.

Lockwood scores Sunset feature win

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (May 31) – Doug Lockwood was the driver no one could catch in Saturday’s IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature at Sunset Speedway Park. Diamonding the corners and developing a pretty good rhythm to build a respectable lead, Lockwood became the second different winner in as many events in the division this year at Banks. Jake Van Ortwick, Chris Quinn, Rob Ireland and Bubba Foster completed the top five.

Blue ribbon for Gallaher at Contra Costa County Fair feature

ANTIOCH, Calif. (May 31) – Robert Gallaher was so excited to win the Contra Costa County Fair main event Saturday night, he did a NASCAR-style “smoke show” at the finish line of Antioch Speedway, a sight rarely seen on a dirt track. Gallaher fought hard for the lead, racing side-by-side with Fred Ryland for most of the 20 lap Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main event. Ryland held off Gallaher’s challenges for five laps, when a spinning car brought out the caution flag with two to go. At the waving of the green flag, Gallaher made his move, and was able to get ahead of Ryland coming out of the second turn. It was Gallaher’s second win of the season. Gallaher had a special reason to celebrate in such style. His wife Elise was in the grandstands for the first time to witness his win. The second-year SportMod driver in on a quest to win the IMCA’s national title. “I had to earn this win – I started from the back of the field,” Gallaher said. [Read More]

Glass gets first career win at 34 Raceway

By Dana Royer WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (May 31) – Tyler Glass picked up his first career feature win in the Ryner Transportation IMCA Modified feature Saturday at 34 Raceway. A nice field of 15 cars took to the track with Collin Rothzen and Dugan Thye on the front row. Thye led the field for the first four laps of 20-lapper before Glass took over the number one spot on lap five. By mid-race Glass worked his way through lapped traffic and went on to get his first win. Todd Hanson, Bill Roberts, Jr., Levi Laymon and Dean McGee rounded out the top five. Brody Anders couldn’t contain his excitement after being taken to victory lane when his dad Bobby won the Casebine Credit Union IMCA Northern Sport Mod feature. The four-year-old was cheering all the way in excitement, running to his dad’s arms and raising the trophy to the fans in an excited celebration. Anders had picked up his third win this season at 34 after taking the lead from Brett Timmerman on lap 13 [Read More]

Three first-time IMCA winners at Davenport Speedway

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 30) – Three IMCA drivers made their first visits to victory lane this season at Davenport Speedway on Friday. Andy Nezworski took home the hardware in the Petersen Plumbing and Heating IMCA Late Model feature. He led lap one of the 25-lap race before yielding to Todd Malmstrom. Nezworski re-took the lead on lap eight and led the rest of the way to the checkers. Justin Kay was closing on the leader but had to settle for second. Malmstrom held on for third, with Brunson Behning and Ray Guss Jr. completing the top five. Brandon Durbin captured a wild Milan Heating and Air IMCA Modified main. The 20-lap race saw the entire field diving for the bottom lane of the track, resulting in numerous cautions. Bob Dominacki led the first 15 laps. Durbin was one of the first to try a slightly higher line and found the middle to his liking. Durbin led the final five laps en route to the victory. Dominacki finished second, with Doug Crampton third. [Read More]