Newswire

Opportunistic LaCrosse tops IMCA Modified feature at 141

By Greg Aregoni FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (April 20, 2024) – On a cold night with hot racing, Benji LaCrosse used some misfortune of the leader to take home the checkered flag at 141 Speedway. Rob Charapata put himself up front right off the bat in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature while LaCrosse and Brandon Schmitt made their respective ways toward the front from mid-pack starting spots, with Schmitt getting to the leader first. Schmitt made quick work of Charapata and set sail with LaCrosse making his way to second. Schmitt seemed to be destined for the checkered flag even after he entered lapped traffic but made contact with another car and bent up his front suspension. He was able to maintain the lead until LaCrosse came storming past. A caution before the final flag set up a dash to the finish. Cole Czarneski used the final restart to his advantage and stay with LaCrosse for the lead. The two would put on a great battle over the final two laps with LaCrosse edging Czarneski. Johnny Whitman ran out [Read More]

Ice Breaker Challenge checkers are first for Andersen

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (April 19, 2024) – Eagle Raceway got the first night of its Ice Breaker Challenge in for the first time since 2019 and Chad Andersen won for the first time at the special that starts the season at America’s Home Track on Friday night. The defending track champion scored the $1,000 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified victory in the final event of the evening, outrunning Jordan Grabouski, Ryan Jenkins and Drew Janssen. “We’ve come to the Ice Breaker Challenge ever since I started racing a Modified and we’ve been close, but we‘d get a third or a second and never seemed to have enough to lead the final lap,” said Andersen, newly eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “We came up with a game plan after the heat race because we felt really good. I just wasn’t quite as comfortable as I wanted to be in the heat so we made a couple of changes for the feature and it felt like the car came to life.” “Hopefully, that means [Read More]

Sherfick defends home turf in Friday Buzzard Bash Dash

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (April 19, 2024) – Dylan Sherfick defended his home turf Friday night at WaKeeney Speedway, earning $1,000 and becoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible while doing so. The hometown hotshoe counts the 2015 crown at WaKeeney among his eight career Friesen Performance IMCA Modified track titles and clearly had the fastest car from the drop of the green in the Buzzard Bash Dash main event. The 20-lap feature started with a front row of Sherfick and John Burrow, and once the field got going Sherfick made like he was shot out of a cannon and built a huge lead right off the bat. Once he entered lapped traffic Sherfick did not slow down and not even an always fast Jeremy Frenier could reel him in. Frenier, Brett Berry, Daniel Gottschalk and Dakota Sproul would complete the top five. Eighty-four race teams contended Friday night with Troy Burkhart topping the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Morgan Olmstead leading the way to the checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Blaine Walt [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through April 18, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 965; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 883; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 564; 5. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 407; 7. Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., 389; 8. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 9. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 361; 10. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., 353; 11. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 12. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 336; 13. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 334; 14. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 311; 15. Chuck Grohnke, Mesa, Ariz., 298; 16. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 297; 17. Ethan Braaksma, Des Moines, Iowa, 290; 18. Mike Dimond, Rapid City, S.D., 278; 19. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev., 268; 20. Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo., 267. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Tom Svoboda, David City, Neb., 78; 2. Dylan Schmer, Aurora, Neb., 77; 3. Austin Svoboda, David City, Neb., 76; 4. Christopher Lawrence, Colona, Ill., 75; 5. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, and Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill., both 73; [Read More]

Car counts, racing, even T-shirt sales good at start of South Texas IMCA Modified Series

HUFFMAN, Texas (April 19, 2024) – It’s four races into the inaugural South Texas IMCA Modified Series and Promoter Jacob Hortch has already seen a lot that he likes. The inaugural series is averaging better than 20 Modified entries, with competitive racing every night and just one repeat winner so far. Even the T-shirt sales have been pretty good. “We’re definitely proud of the car counts we’re bringing. These drivers are definitely putting on good shows,” Hortch said after watching Logan Dinsmore race from ninth to win the latest STIMS event, at Cotton Bowl Speedway. “We’ve seen a lot of different cars every night. I think drivers like the level of competition and the fans have been happy to see competitive IMCA Modified racing.” “I think the tracks are happy, too.” Logan Dinsmore tells all about his ninth to first run in the April 13 South Texas IMCA Modified Series main event at Cotton Bowl Speedway. (Photo by Rachel Plant) Chris Morris was the winner of features at I-37 Speedway and Jared Maupin topped the [Read More]

CJ Speedway season opener set for April 26

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (April 18, 2024) – The 2024 racing season at CJ Speedway, located on the Louisa County Fairgrounds in Columbus Junction is about to see the first official green flag of the season. Friday, April 26 will be the first night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season at the popular 4/10-mile dirt track. Racing that evening is sponsored by Oveson Refuse & Recycling and will see classes of IMCA sanctioned race cars in competition. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds headline the program and will be joined by IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. All drivers will be racing for valuable, track, state, regional and national points. The Louisa County Fair Board has hired Dan Keltner to be the track manager for the 2024 season. He brings a lengthy background in racing not only as a driver but also as a track official to the post. “I would like to thank the Louisa County Fair Board for this opportunity and I would [Read More]

PASS heads back to Port Royal this Saturday

By Frank Buhrman PORT ROYAL, Pa. (April 18, 2024) – The River Valley Builders Pennsylvania Sprint Series batting average has dropped to .333 after a second postponement in three 2024 tries, so it’s up to Port Royal Speedway to successfully negotiate with Mother Nature and get things back on track this Saturday night. PASSIMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car teams are set to join 410 sprints and super late models for a sure-to-be-wild, hope-to-be-dry show at Port Royal. This past Friday night’s Spring Sprint Spectacular at Williams Grove Speedway fell victim to soggy conditions and the likelihood of high winds. The PASS tour is scheduled to race at the Grove next on Friday, May 24. In the meantime, Port Royal looms large, with two programs in the next three weeks. On Saturday, May 4, the same program of 410 sprints, super lates and River Valley PASS IMCA RaceSavers will bring out the cars and drivers again. Both the upcoming Port shows already have 40 or more teams preregistered. Heading that list is Keystone RaceSaver Challenge winner Ken Duke, runner-up [Read More]

Stuart Speedway hosts May 1 Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duel

STUART, Iowa (April 18, 2024) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for potential All-Star berths at Stuart Speedway’s Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duel. The eighth annual event is Wednesday, May 1. Modifieds chase a $1,000 top check and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, Stock Cars a top prize of $750 and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Rounding out the sanctioned card are Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods in a $750 to win feature, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks in a $500 to win main and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, Iowa State and track points will be awarded at the draw/redraw show. Hot laps are at 6:45 p.m. with racing to follow. Pit passes are $30, $15 for non-competing children ages 6-13 and free for kids ages five and under; minor waivers must be filled out at the pit shack. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $5 for kids ages 11-16 and free for 10 and under. The Dirt Duel will [Read More]

Win by Wittkopf comes on emotional night at 141

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (April 13, 2024) – Robert Wittkopf doesn’t believe there could be a better night to win at 141 Speedway than on opening night. Especially this year. After carrying the black flag remembering his father Rodney during pre-race ceremonies at Francis Creek, the Green Bay driver led the last 19 of 20 laps in winning the Saturday night Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main event. “We lost dad to cancer last November. He’d been with me from the start of my career and was my biggest supporter,” said Wittkopf, “whether working on the car or at the track. He was always there.” “There was an amazing amount of emotions from the start of the night to the end, to say the least. It kind of felt like he was still there with me,” Wittkopf added. “You couldn’t have asked for a better opening night.” The win was just his career second in the class and first-ever at 141. Forty-eight Northern SportMods were entered, with five heats and three ‘B’ features needed to fill [Read More]

Hogge, Kniss win IMCA openers at Ocean

By Steven Blakesley Blakesley Sports Media WATSONVILLE, Calif. (April 13, 2024) – Tenth starting Bobby Hogge IV put on a master class of passing, then dominated the rest of the way in winning Saturday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified nightcap at Ocean Speedway. Multiple track champions from across California were scattered throughout the main event field. Hogge charged from tenth to second in the first few laps, avoiding a crash involving Jacob Mallet Jr., Cody Burke and Robert Marsh. Hogge then drove up the inside of Andy Obertello on lap eight to take the lead, accumulating a 6.4 second advantage at the stripe followed by Obertello, Jim Pettit II, Andrew Peckham and Austin Burke. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod action saw Buddy Kniss fend off Fred Ryland in a classic 20-lap duel to start the season. The pair went side-by-side on lap 16 but Kniss held court once again. Kniss saw the checkered flag with a three car length advantage followed by Ryland, Mark Garner, Emali VanHoff and 2023 champion Chuck Golden.