Newswire

Padilla is IMCA Mod Lite star at East Moline

By Rob Hinckley EAST MOLINE, Ill. (Aug. 21, 2022) – Accelerating through the dirt in the high groove of turns one and two and then maneuvering the low side of turns three and four is a common strategy around East Moline Speedway. Jon Padilla tried a different route Sunday evening and came out of a three-car battle for the 15-lap IMCA STARS Mod Lite Season Championship feature win. The Silvis, Ill. pilot won the night’s battle and the season-long war as he was unofficially crowned the 2022 track champion. Last year’s champ, Anthony Guss, did not win one feature en route to that title. Padilla finishes this season with a pair of victories. “Starting up front helped but I knew it wouldn’t be easy,” Padilla said in victory lane. “It worked great on the bottom (groove) and the car grabbed hold and got a good bite off the corner.” Padilla started on the pole and paced every lap beating Brandon Freeburg, R.J. Gonzales, Mike Morrow and Jacob Copley. The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks featured a [Read More]

“It was a pretty good night” – Mike Nichols’ 600th IMCA Stock Car win comes at hometown Shelby County Speedway

HARLAN, Iowa (Aug. 20, 2022) – Another win, another milestone. Mike Nichols, won for the 600th time in his incredible IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career, taking his latest checkers Saturday night at hometown Shelby County Speedway. “It was pretty cool,” said Nichols, the winningest driver in IMCA’s 108-year history. “Years and years ago, my first win was at Harlan and it was good to get this milestone win at the same track with so many friends, fans and sponsors here.” “The environment couldn’t have been any better,” he added. There was a good car count and the grandstand was packed. It was a pretty good night.” Nichols has enjoyed a lot of “pretty good nights” since first taking The Class Too Tough To Tame by storm in 2002. Now chasing an IMCA record extending 11th national crown, he’s averaged better than 28 wins a season over the course of his Stock Car career and leads all IMCA drivers with 44 career track titles. His resume also includes 10 EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region championships and the 2017 IMCA Speedway [Read More]

Cordes, Reynolds, Vanous, Rick sweep championship night honors at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 21, 2022) – Season championship racing brought the IMCA weekly racing season to a close Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. Champions were crowned in each of the six divisions and four of the titlists went out in impressive fashion by celebrating in victory lane. Troy Cordes needed to finish within one position of Dallon Murty to secure his career ninth track title at The Bullring in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. He led the 20-lapper in its entirety to earn the win and track championship honors. Cordes opened a big lead at the drop of the green while Grey Ferrando made his way into contention from a row four start. Ferrando worked into the runner-up spot just past midway then cut into the lead as Cordes manuevered through lapped traffic. Ferrando closed on the leader late, however Cordes was quicker through traffic and held on for victory in the caution-free event. Cody Laney finished third and Jerry Dedrick was fourth. Kaden Reynolds made his rookie year one to remember in the [Read More]

Zellner sets sails to $10,000 checkers at 141’s IMCA Captain of the Creek

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (Aug. 18, 2022) – The third time was the charm Thursday night for Jacob Zellner. Making his career third start at 141 Speedway’s Captain of the Creek special for Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, the 2021 track champion finally got the best of Dylon Waldvogel late in the 50-lapper at Francis Creek. The $10,000 checkers marked a career-best payday for Zellner, who’d run 21st and 17th in his two previous Captain of the Creek outings. “Up to this point, we had nothing but bad luck in the big shows, so this was a big win for us, for sure,” he said. “It felt kind of surreal. Usually I’m pretty calm but when the checkers flew it was like ‘Wow!’” “There are definitely expectations for a defending track champion at an event like this,” continued Zellner. “I’ve raced regularly with Dylon and we always race each other clean. I was glad to be racing at the front with him.” Seventy-three entries from seven states were on hand for the Aug. 17-18 special. Elijah Koenig, 24th starting [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Aug. 18, 2022

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb., 994; 2. A.J. Ward, Ionia, Mich., 984; 3. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 982; 4. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Mont., and Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., both 975; 6. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 964; 7. Matthew Day, Farmersville, Texas, and Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., both 962; 9. Jacob Poel, Nunica, Mich., 961; 10. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 958; 11. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 957; 12. Chris Morris, Taylor, Texas, and Jeff Reay, Portland, Mich., both 947; 14. Dallon Murty, Chelsea, Iowa, 946; 15. Jarrett Brown, Ainsworth, Iowa, 942; 16. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 935; 17. Mitchell Hunt, Lakeview, Mich., 933; 18. Chris Abelson, Sioux City, Iowa, 929; 19. Bobby Hogge, Salinas, Calif., 925; 20. Jim Thies, Mapleton, Iowa, 922. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 792; 2. Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, Iowa, 765; 3. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, 760; 4. Jacob Waterman, Colona, Ill., 759; 5. Chase Osborne, Norfolk, Neb., 727; 6. Dalton Simonsen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 724; 7. Alex Banks, Newman Grove, Neb., [Read More]

Wilson repeats Mod Lites of Arkansas checkers at Mississippi’s Greenville oval

GREENVILLE, Miss. (Aug. 13, 2022) – Blake Wilson started on the pole and held off challenges from Bryce Vowan and Cameron Wagner in winning Saturday’s main event, when the Mod Lites of Arkansas made their sole IMCA STARS stop this season in Mississippi. Wilson took the lead on the opening lap beside Kevin Simkins and begin navigating the trick and tacky gumbo surface that Greenville is known for. Vowan came under challenges from Wagner and Gage Raines while chasing Wilson. As the leaders came upon lapped traffic and with both cars running different lines, Vowan made a pass for the lead, pulling up beside Wilson before a caution. After the ensuing restart, Wilson had clear track to work with and despite having some close calls running the fast groove along the wall, went on to take his eighth win of the season. “Greenville is a driver’s track. It’s tricky and challenging, being one of the fastest quarter mile tracks around. It just so happens the fastest way around is next to the wall. That groove [Read More]

Stealth Racing adds to STARS Mod Lite awards bounty at IMCA Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 19, 2022) – A season of growth continues for Stealth Racing, as the Madrid parts and tire supplier and machine shop gives new awards to STARS Mod Lite competitors during the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Nearly $2,500 in certificates will be given to Mod Lite drivers during the Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3-4 Prelude program at Boone Speedway. The winner of the main event, the first champion crowned at the 40th annual Super Nationals, gets a $500 certificate with $250 going to the runner-up and $100 to the third place finisher. Stealth Racing owner Bryan Compart is already more than familiar with the class. He met Jimmy May, now director of the division for IMCA, in 2014 and raced the number 14 Mod Lite at Marshalltown and at Boone for four years. Since purchasing Zrubek Racing of Salina, Kan., and relocating to Madrid, conveniently located in the dirt track racing hotbed of central Iowa, Compart has backed a number of Mod Lite drivers and sponsored race night events [Read More]

30 vendors on Manufacturers’ Row at Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 19, 2022) – Thirty vendors have confirmed plans to be on Manufacturers’ Row during the 40th annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. IMCA and event sponsors will offer a wide range of high performance products for use during the week of Sept. 5-10. They’ll also display a variety of new products for use in IMCA competition in 2023. Manufacturers’ Row will be located in the northeast corner of the Boone Speedway grounds and open from approximately 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. It will be accessible from the pit area through gates on the east end of Manufacturers’ Row. “I encourage all drivers and crew members to tour Manufacturers’ Row and meet with these outstanding sponsors,” said IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “They are committed to the success of IMCA and to individual drivers and race teams.” Sponsors confirmed for Manufacturers’ Row locations now include: Aero Race Wheels, AFCO, B & B Racing Chassis, Bassett, Bob Harris Enterprises, BSB Manufacturing, Dynamic Drivelines, Eibach, Fast Shafts and Finishline Racing [Read More]

40 years of memories, milestones celebrated at IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s

BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 18, 2022) – The green flag flies on Labor Day for a spectacular dirt track racing event four decades in the making. Boone Speedway is the setting for the 40th annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Sept. 5-10. A record 730 drivers from 26 states and four Canadian provinces are already among the pre-entered competitors. “We have come a long way from the first Super Nationals, at what is now the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, and have continued to see growth since Super Nationals moved to Boone in 1988,” observed IMCA President Brett Root. “The number of milestones achieved and celebrated over the years at Super Nationals has been incredible.” “And the memories we share from Super Nationals have to do with more than drivers winning races,” he continued. “Countless friendships have been made over the years and they’re renewed every September in the pits and in the grandstand at Boone.” The format for the week remains largely unchanged from previous Super Nationals, although Sport Compacts have been moved [Read More]

Tire supply secure, $10K money grab for fans announced at IMCA RaceSaver Nationals

EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 18, 2022) – It may be two weeks before opening night but IMCA Sprint Car drivers and race fans already have reason to cheer the 10th annual RaceSaver Nationals. As for drivers from a dozen states who have already made plans to compete at Eagle Raceway Sept. 1-4, promoter Roger Hadan has announced that he’s been in regular contact with Hoosier and tires will be available throughout the event. “We have communicated with Hoosier regularly and have received confirmation that there will a sufficient number of tires available for purchase throughout RaceSaver Nationals,” he explained. “This is one of the biggest Sprint Car events, not just in RaceSaver but in the entire country. Hoosier feels the quality is there and they’ll make sure we have tires.” And as far as fans go, a number of them will have the opportunity to grab shares of $10,000 that will be up in the air, literally, most likely during the RaceSaver Nationals Pit Parties after the races during the Friday, Sept. 2 or Saturday, Sept. 3rd race [Read More]