Weekly Archives

Riviera races proceed with ‘cautions’

By Randy Pospishil sports@norfolkdailynews.com NORFOLK, Neb. (May 10) – The yellow caution light was a determining factor throughout the four main events run Saturday night at Riviera Raceway as multiple restarts kept races up-for-grabs. Winning his first Riviera race ever was Karl Brewer, who took the lead with seven laps remaining in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod division and held off a late challenge from Cameron Meyer. “I was here a couple times last year but didn’t do very good,” Brewer said. “Those two guys got out in front of me quite a ways at the beginning, but I was able to reel them back in when they were fighting it out with each other and it worked out. I don’t know about skill, but it was maybe luck.” Brewer’s “luck” began with a third-row starting position but, following two restarts needed to get the race underway, he found himself five cars behind leader Neil Bruns, who soon became locked in a duel with Meyer. After slipping past Meyer during lap eight, Brewer went by [Read More]

Wanninger is the main man for Marshalltown Modifieds

By Jeremy Fox MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (May 9) – Luke Wanninger was the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified winner on UAW 893 Cliff Chambers Memorial Night at Marshalltown Speedway. Rookie Eric Elliott led to lap 14 before giving way to Wanninger, who started to pull away before a caution produced a four-lap shootout. Wanninger got a great restart and went on to take the win over 10th place starter Joel Rust. Persistent Donavon Smith stayed in the chase. Saw his opportunity with two laps to go and passed long-time leader Steve Meyer for the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car checkers. Austin Luellen held off late-race challenges from John Watson to win the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature. Brett Lowry was promoted to first when the apparent Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod winner was disqualified in post-race tech. John Gill made a much-anticipated return to victory lane following the Mach-1 Sport Compact main. Roger Ceilsiski was the Nostalgia Car winner. Charlie Brown topped the mod lite main. Next Friday night, all Scouts are asked to wear their uniforms as [Read More]

Absence ends in winner’s circle for Van Straten

By Dave Panske OSHKOSH, Wis. (May 9) – He’s been out of the sport for a while but Travis Van Straten hasn’t forgotten how to get to the winner’s circle. Van Straten picked up his first feature win ever at Oshkosh Speed Zone Raceway Friday, also his first Total Power Sales IMCA Stock Car victory in only four nights out since ending a 2½-year retirement this season. Larry Karcz Jr. took the lead for the first two laps before Van Straten moved in front. Jake Lunderby, John Heinz and Larry Parshen bunched up in a battle for second as Van Straten pulled away from the field. Van Straten held a quarter-lap lead at the mid-point of the race. Heinz was running second and was starting to close the gap with Karcz Parshen and Harley Simon behind. A lone caution on lap 12 bunched the field and Karcz retook the runner-up spot on the restart with Heinz, Simon and Parshen behind. Karcz Hounded Van Straten for a couple laps before a battle for second allowed Van [Read More]

Lautenbach, Czarapata, Long, Moede and collect opening night IMCA wins at Luxemburg

By Greg Aregoni LUXEMBURG, Wis. (May 9) – Five drivers put the first win tallies in the column for their respective divisions on opening night Friday at Luxemburg Speedway The race winner of the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature passed three cars on his way to victory. All three were on lap one when Brad Lautenbach shot like a cannon from fourth to first. Twenty caution-free laps later he found himself in victory lane for the first time in his career in the division at Luxemburg. Two-time defending champion Brandon Czarapata blew into the lead on the second lap of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event and led the rest of the way in another caution-free feature. Rod Snellenberger started 11th and was able to grab the runner-up spot but could not track down the winner. Brandon Long took the lead on lap eight and enjoyed a long run at the front en route to the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod checkers. Brotherly love was put aside to determine the finish of the IMCA [Read More]

141, Luxemburg announce Two Track Challenge Series

By Greg Aregoni LUXEMBURG, Wis. – Luxemburg Speedway and 141 Speedway are excited to announce a partnership with the Two Track Challenge Series. This championship will be based on the combined points of both tracks. The IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods will be the participating divisions. The 2014 series will be split into two sessions. The first session will end halfway through the season on June 14. The second session will end on Aug. 29. “We thought this would be a great way to help drivers who already race both tracks. This will give them a little extra to shoot for. This will be a great for fans to keep an eye on both track’s point standings,” said Gene Mathu, promoter at Luxemburg. All three divisions will pay the top 10 in the standings between the two tracks. The Modified winner will receive $200. Both the Stock Car and Northern SportMod winner get $150. “We are excited to jump on board with Luxemburg Speedway to show [Read More]

Repeat Stock Car win for Smith at Algona

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (May 3) – David Smith took the lead with three laps left and drove to his second straight IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win Saturday night at Algona Raceway. Pole starter David Wickman was the early leader before John Wiemann grabbed the lead on lap three. A four-car breakaway and door-to-door battle by David Smith, Kevin Opheim, Derek Green and Wiemann ensued until with three laps to go, Smith took the lead and went onto the victory for the second straight week. The 10th starting Green ended up second with Wiemann taking third, Opheim fourth and Devin Smith fifth. Clay Evans on the pole never gave up the top spot in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main. Jeremy Wegner was the fourth and final leader in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature, passing Austin Hauswirth on the final circuit. Mike Jergens got the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature victory after post-race disqualification of the apparent winner. Nate Coopman earned his second local feature win of the season after starting [Read More]

Championship chase continues Saturday at Dodge City

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. – Heated championship chase action continues Saturday, May 10 at Dodge City Raceway Park for the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Ryan Heger worked his way up to his second third-place finish in three events this past weekend to move atop the Modified point charts with a 24-point advantage over Cole Traugott. Kale Beavers, Mike Lunow and Kevin Gray round out the current top five in the championship points chase as three different drivers (Van Gemmill, Clay Sellard and Joel Lane) have reached victory lane in as many events thus far in 2014. Jeff Kaup posted his second runner-up finish this past weekend to go along with a win the previous time out, extending his SportMod points lead to 53 markers over Jason Lunow with Austin Walker, Toby Witthuhn and Randle McRoberts in the top five. Perry Misner topped the initial two Stock Car events of the year to open a 24-point advantage over Michael Pepper. Racing gets under way at 7:30 [Read More]

Clash at the Creek pre-entry is open

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. –Wednesday and Thursday, June 25 and 26 mark the dates of 141 Speedway’s sixth annual Clash at the Creek. With Kenny Wallace snagging the first pre-entry for this marquee event, IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified drivers from six states and Canada have already signed up for a shot at the $10,000 payday. “Although this is the sixth annual event, we are thrilled that it marks the first year being IMCA sanctioned,” said promoter Toby Kruse. “Being a sanctioned race, we look to expand the car counts and draw fans from across the nation.” Spectator gates open at 4 p.m. each day with racing starting at 6 p.m. Grandstand admission is just $15, with student and seniors $10 and kids 12 and under free. “The addition of IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods to the bill is going to take this event to the next level,” added owner Dan Ratajczak. “With both of these divisions running full $500 to win shows each night, fans are in for a treat.” Racers [Read More]

Can Austin Carter go 3-for-3 at Salina Speedway?

By Larry Lowrey Jr. SALINA, Kan. – For the first two weeks of the season everything has been going great at Salina Speedway … good crowds, a lot of competitors and great racing have highlighted the beginning of the season. The big question on everyone’s mind is can Austin Carter keep up his winning ways this Saturday night, May 9 in the M&H Motors IMCA Northern Sport Mod division? Carter has been on a roll since taking the win on opening night and that is an impressive feat considering the talent and competition he has to face on a nightly basis. This week’s race could determine whether the youngster is quickly becoming the next big thing or if another hotshoe in the class is ready to knock him off. The Northern Sport Mod division isn’t the only big race to watch this Friday night. Last week’s races displayed a little bit of everything in the world of racing. Late lap victories, lots of wheel to wheel action and even domination. The Belleville Motor Sports IMCA [Read More]

Sunset Speedway Park opens with The Iron Woman 50 and Ladies Night

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. – Sunset Speedway Park looks to get its first race of 2014 in the books this Saturday, May 10. Not only will it be the first race of the new campaign but it will be Ladies Night and all female spectators get into the races for only $5. Classes in action for that evening will include the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Dwarf Cars, and the Women’s division. It will also be a special event for the Women’s classification as they will participate in the Iron Woman 50. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., the front gates open at 3:30 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are adults $12, seniors, military and juniors (ages 13-17) $10, kids (ages 6-12) $5 and children five and under are free. A family pass for two adults and up to four youth is available for just $35. For more information log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.