Feature Stories

By Ben Deatherage RAMONA, Calif. (Jun. 21, 2025) — Steven Luecht continued his dominance in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods at the Summer Shootout, winning his ninth straight feature at Barona Speedway Park. After two-time track champion David Kilpela led early and several cautions slowed the action, Luecht grabbed the lead around lap six in the Mike Atkinson-owned no. 47. A lap 15 yellow set up a tense restart with Kilpela close behind, but the Chula Vista chauffeur held strong to win his fourth race of the 2025 season and extend a winning streak at the track that began last August. Kilpela finished second and Arizona’s Scott Francoeur was third. Hicks Hustles to Modified Victory Matthew Hicks made the most of the final night of the Summer Shootout, capturing the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win after an impressive drive from fifth. He took the lead by lap three and never looked back, surviving cautions on laps nine and 11 before holding strong through a green-white-checkered finish. The Lakeside driver, a three-time defending track champion, earned [Read More]

By Christine Rublack VINTON, Iowa (Jun. 22, 2025) — Brandon Tharp led the early laps of the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods feature at Benton County Speedway during Iowa Donor Night, held in remembrance of the Urbana 5, but Kyle Olson quickly reeled him in. Brady Hilmer moved into third as Olson turned up the pressure. By halfway, Olson powered into the lead while Hilmer worked the low groove to take over second. Lapped traffic brought the front-runners together again in the closing laps, with Brett Thomas joining the battle. Olson held off a hard-charging Hilmer for the win, his third of the season and second at “The Bullring” this year. Thomas finished third. Fisher Inches Ahead in Hobby Stock Close Finish Joren Fisher edged out the competition in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. He quickly moved into the lead with Dustin Filloon and Mike Kimm giving chase. Filloon later slipped into the top spot as lapped traffic began to play a role in the outcome. Leah Wroten advanced into third ahead of Justin Stander as [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Jun. 18, 2025) — With a rich history dating back to 1998, the Dakota Classic Modified Tour remains the longest running and largest IMCA-sanctioned tour in the nation. For 2025, the tour continues its exciting new chapter in its second year under the leadership of Saskatchewan Modified standout Aaron Turnbull and renowned motorsports photographer Byron Fichter, who took ownership of the series in 2024. The tour recently announced a new naming rights partnership as it becomes the Wolla Oilfield & Trucking Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric. This collaboration brings together two passionate entities with a shared commitment to growing the sport in North Dakota and the surrounding area. The 2025 edition will feature Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, traveling across North Dakota’s premier tracks. Originally launched as a three-race series at Dacotah Speedway, Jamestown Speedway, and Nodak Speedway, the tour founded by John Gartner, expanded in 1991. It has been consistently IMCA-sanctioned since 1998. While the Modifieds have been part of the event since [Read More]

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Jun. 24, 2025) – This Saturday June 28th, Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway honors a great racer and honors America with the 14th Annual Richie McGowan Memorial, featuring Bakersfield’s biggest fireworks show, plus racing for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Saturday’s event is the first time Kern Raceway at Enos Ln & I-5 will host the McGowan Memorial. Grandstand gates open at 4pm with hot laps at 5pm. On Track Autographs are scheduled by 5:30pm followed by opening ceremonies, heat races, and main events. Bakersfield’s Biggest Fireworks Show closes the show. General Admission tickets are on sale now at www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com. Adult general admission tickets are $25 with kids ages 6-12 admitted for $15 while kids five and under are free! Parking is free of charge. McGowan was an important figure at Bakersfield Speedway as a racer and fellow competitor, along with his daughter Tina. His memorial race has served as one of the most cherished events of the season throughout [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage LOVELAND, Colo. (Jun. 24, 2025) — For Josh Schweitzer, racing isn’t just a sport — it’s a continuation of rhythm, precision, and passion. A third-generation racer with deep family ties to Colorado dirt tracks, Schweitzer’s story winds through stock cars, symphonies, and stadiums, driven by a love of competition and connection. “My grandpa (Don Schweitzer Sr.) raced Stock Cars and owned a couple of Midget and Super Modified teams in the 70’s. My dad began racing in 1984,” Schweitzer said. “I started racing in high school but stepped away to focus on music and teaching. Eventually, I knew I had to get back in the car.” His car number — #ONE17S — is a nod to his roots. His father raced as 117S, later changing to 17S when rules restricted car numbers to two digits. When father and son raced together, Josh adopted “ONE17S” to preserve the family connection. His dad, Don Schweitzer Jr., handed down not just a car number but a legacy of racing. On his mother’s side, his grandfather Ronald [Read More]