Newswire

Four drivers double up at RPM’s Sunflower Classic

By Mike Hughes HAYS, Kan. (March 25-26) – One-hundred and ninety race teams from eight states converged on RPM Speedway for the fourth annual Sunflower Classic and four drivers backed up their Friday night main event wins with another trip to the winner’s circle on Saturday. Jordan Grabouski topped both $1,000 to win, Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying features for Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds. Other two-time winners were Mike Nichols in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Dustin Daniels in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Scott Spellmeier in the Mach-1 Sport Compacts. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock victories went to Garrett Hager and Cody Williams. On Friday night, Dominic Ursetta jumped to the early lead in the 25-lap Modified feature. After a lap 13 caution, Jesse Sobbing took control and was followed by Ursetta and Grabouski. Grabouski took the lead on lap 22 and a late-race caution set up a green, white, checkered finish. Grabouski held on for the win over a hard-charging Tyler Frye. Sobbing was third. The Stock Car feature was close [Read More]

Hodges, Lathram, St. Jude’s are big winners at Cardinal’s opening weekend

EUNICE, N.M. (March 25-26) – Sam Hodges and Jordan Lathram were the big winners at Cardinal Speedway’s season-opening doubleheader. So was St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Hodges won Friday and Saturday night features for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. His $500 in winnings – $200 from opening night, $300 from night two – didn’t stay in the bank long as the former Cardinal promoter called St. Jude’s on Monday to donate the full amount toward children’s cancer research. “This is the time last year I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I raced opening night in a SportMod, then had surgery and spent the rest of the season as a spectator,” he explained. “I made a deal with the Lord that he saved me and I’d help save somebody else.” “I’m going to donate all the money I win this season,” continued Hodges. “I’ve been good for a year now. Every day is a bonus.” (The St. Jude’s website is www.stjude.org). Hodges won from fourth starting on Friday, ahead of Errick Rogers and Gerald Spalding Jr., and from [Read More]

Deery Series pole starters receive JB/Gillund awards

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Justice Brothers and Gillund Enterprises renews awards for pole starters in the Deery Brothers Summer Series in 2016, the company’s 20th as an IMCA sponsor. “We are honored to be a part of the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series again this year” said Paul Gillund general manager of Gillund Enterprises, “and we know that the Justice Brothers Products will help keep racers’ equipment in top shape.” The Eden Prairie, Minn., company gives car care packages to drivers starting from the pole in each of the 18 Late Model tour events. Opening night for the 30th annual series is Friday, April 8 at Davenport Speedway. “Starting on the pole doesn’t necessarily translate into a feature win but I know the excitement that drivers experience when they earn that spot and Gillund Enterprises continues to strengthen that accomplishment,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder said. “It is great to present a driver with a bag of JB products in front of a large crowd and wish them well.” Drivers must display two Justice Brothers decals on [Read More]

Foster ends absence from Lee County winner’s circle

DONNELLSON, Iowa (March 26) – The first IMCA sanctioned event in Iowa this season ended with Josh Foster in victory lane for the first time in three years. Foster battled with Hunter Marriott, then held off Kyle Brown in winning Saturday’s Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified feature at Lee County Speedway’s Spring Extravaganza. The $1,000 win put Foster on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Cayden Carter and Kelly Shryock rounded out the top five. “We raced weekly at Lee County back in the day and won four track championships (between 2006 and 2011). I live about 2-1/2 hours away now so it’s harder to get back there now. This was our first time back since 2013,” said Foster. “I really wanted to get back to Donnellson this year. We have a lot of laps at Lee County, and a lot of family, friends and sponsors there.” Foster started sixth and was in the lead 14 laps into the 20-lapper. He tussled with Marriott the next three times around the track. “We went [Read More]

Cole captures IMCA Modified checkers at Tri-State

By Rob Nugent POCOLA, Okla. (March 26) – Tate Cole took the top check in Saturday’s main event for Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds at Tri-State Speedway. Runner-up was Chuck Bumgarner and Jason Payton was third. Winner of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature was Mike Wiseman with Chuck Smith second and Keith Heaslet third. Leading the way to the IMCA SportMod checkers was Logan Ellis. Kayden Menasco and Aaron Scroggins completed the top three.

Nolan Wren Sprint Memorial is April 2 at Gator Motorplex

WILLIS, Texas – Southern United Sprints race for $1,000 to win and a minimum of $305 to start their Nolan Wren Memorial main event on Saturday, April 2 at Gator Motorplex. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Allstar Performance State, special series and local track points will be awarded for the IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Car event. There is no entry or registration fee and non-qualifier pay will be $100. Pit gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps are at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Admission to the pits is $35 for adults and $25 for kids 11 and under. More information is available by calling promoter Randy Waller at 936 537-5265 and at the www.gatormotorplex.net and www.southernunitedsprints.net websites.

National Late Model champion award new to QA1 contingency program with IMCA

LAKEVILLE, Minn. – QA1 has added to its contingency award program with IMCA, giving a carbon fiber driveshaft to the national Late Model champion. In all, the Lakeville, Minn., company rewards the accomplishments of drivers in six divisions, in its 18th season as an IMCA marketing partner. “We’re very excited to expand our contingency program with IMCA,” said Marshall Fegers, Circle Track Product Manager at QA1. “Our carbon fiber drive shafts have become very popular and we can’t wait to award the national Late Model champion with one.” Eligible Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod drivers earn shares of contingencies based on regional or national point standings. QA1 gives product certificates in increments of $350, $250, $200, $150 and $100 to top five eligible drivers in each of the five Modified regions. Top three finishers in both Stock Car regions, both Hobby Stock regions and in national standings for each SportMod division receive certificates in increments of $350, $250 [Read More]

Hake picks up first career win in PASS opener

SPRING RUN, Pa. (March 26) – Andrew Hake ran an excellent race Saturday night, picking up the Pennsylvania Sprint Series season opener at Path Valley Speedway Park in a 10-year-old car with a motor his dad built. It was Hake’s career first IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Car victory. Hake took the early lead and survived numerous caution flags, holding off some strong contenders. Mark Watkins, who has won numerous races at Path Valley, and Zach Newlin, the 2015 PASS champ were close behind. Watkins got a look under Hake on several occasions but Hake never faltered and Watkins was forced to settle for second. Dale Schweikart made it interesting with yet another good run at Path Valley closing in on the leaders in the final laps and pulling into contention in the final laps for third. Dave Brown came from deep in the field to finish fourth while Newlin held on for a fifth place finish. Twenty-one cars were on hand for the chilly season opener and the extensive work on the speedway over the [Read More]

West Liberty Raceway hosts April 2 test and tune

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa – Saturday, April 2 will see the first on track action of the 2016 racing season at the West Liberty Raceway, located on the Muscatine County Fairgrounds in West Liberty. The test and tune session will be open to all divisions of race cars. The pit gates will open at 11 a.m. with the track opening for practice at 1 p.m. All drivers will have plenty of opportunities for practice on the ½-mile clay track. Race fans are encouraged to come out to the grandstands free of charge and see many of the competitors expected to be on hand weekly at the West Liberty Raceway in 2016. The 2016 season will open with the Deery Brothers Summer Series Late Models headlining the racing program on Saturday, April 9. In addition to the Late Models, the Modifieds, SportMods, Stock Cars and Sport Compacts will all be in action that evening. For more information or to view the entire 2016 West Liberty Raceway schedule please log on to the Simmons Promotions Inc. website.

Drueke wins dash to Sprint Series of Nebraska opening night checkers

By Greg Soukup RISING CITY, Neb. (March 25) – The winner of last season’s Sprint Series of Nebraska finale now has an IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Car tour streak of two straight checkers. Tyler Drueke held off Joey Danley to top the 2016 SSN opener Friday at Butler County Speedway. The victory paid $700. After restarting third following a caution with seven circuits to go in the 25-lapper, Drueke passed Danley on the top side in the first set of turns, then drove by Jason Martin for the lead on the extreme lower line. The white flag was out when Danley got back alongside but Drueke took advantage of a lapped car in the final turn and won the dash to the finish line. Doug Lovegrove and then Terry Richards were the early leaders. Martin got the lead on lap nine but Clint Benson and Boyd Petersen looped it in turn three.  Martin grabbed the lead again on the restart. Drueke moved to third the next time around.  Danley cracked the top four on the [Read More]