Newswire

John Shoptaw: The Flight Medic’s Racing Comeback at 65

By Ben Deatherage MENA, Ark. (Sept. 19, 2025) — The Ouachita Mountains rise green and rugged around Mena, a town shaped by timber, trains, and resilience. It’s here that 65-year-old John Shoptaw calls home — a critical care paramedic by profession, and a racer by passion. His journey has carried him from Carthage, Missouri, to firehouses across Arkansas, and back behind the wheel of a Modified long after many thought his driving days were over. On July 30, 2017, at Diamond Park Speedway, Shoptaw’s career nearly ended. “I had a horrendous wreck,” he said. “Broke my lower back, my coccyx, my collarbone, and suffered a concussion so bad you wouldn’t think I’d ever climb back in a car.” With help from a friend, he patched together a car for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s that fall. But it never came around, and by week’s end, he sold it off. For years, he stayed away entirely. “I didn’t watch, didn’t go, didn’t want anything to do with racing,” he admitted. Golf became his [Read More]

Elmer Saathoff Classic Headlines Octoberfest at Beatrice Speedway Oct. 9–11

By Ben Deatherage BEATRICE, Neb. (Sept. 21, 2025) — The seasons are changing, and so is the 2025 campaign at Beatrice Speedway, where the annual Octoberfest will run Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 9–11, capped by the prestigious Elmer Saathoff Classic on Saturday night. The weekend begins Thursday, Oct. 9, with an open practice session for all divisions from 6:00–9:00 p.m. Any class of cars is welcome, pit passes are $20, and admission to the grandstands is free. Friday, Oct. 10, will feature a complete program for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Modifieds headline with $1,000 to win and $130 to start, while Stock Cars, SportMods, and Hobby Stocks will also race for $1,000 to win. Sport Compacts join the card with a $600-to-win program. Pit gates open at 3:00 p.m., grandstands at 6:00, the drivers meeting and draw close at 6:30, opening ceremonies are at 6:55, and racing begins at 7:00. Saturday, Oct. 11, kicks off early with breakfast [Read More]

Rick Smith: From the Operating Room to the Winner’s Circle

By Ben Deatherage MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (Sept. 19, 2025) — The Skagit Valley stretches north of Seattle, where the Skagit River bends through farmland and tulip fields before emptying into Puget Sound. Along its banks sits Mount Vernon, a city first carved out by loggers in the 1870s and toughened by floods, fires, and the grit of rebuilding. Just beyond town, the mist of the North Cascades rolls down into fields of color each spring, while at night the roar of Skagit Speedway turns the valley into a dirt-slinging cathedral. For Rick Smith, it’s more than a backdrop — it’s home, and the stage where three generations of his family have chased speed. That stage nearly slipped away in December 2024, when Smith suffered a heart attack and underwent open-heart surgery. But eight months later — on Aug. 2, his 35th year in the sport — he was back in victory lane at Skagit Speedway in his Friesen Performance IMCA Modified. Rick Smith celebrates in victory lane at Skagit Speedway on Aug. 2, marking his 35th [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through September 18, 2025

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Michigan, and Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, both 981; 3. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 979; 4. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, 970; 5. Logan Anderson, Eddyville, Iowa, 964; 6. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 958; 7. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, 956; 8. Ethan Killingsworth, Yreka, Calif., 955; 9. Kevin Williamson, Eugene, Oregon, 951; 10. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 950; 11. Shawn Harker, Nebraska City, Neb., 949; 12. Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, 948; 13. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 947; 14. Kinzer McCord, Molt, Montana, 946; 15. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, and Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Michigan, both 944; 17. Kyle Anton, Gillette, Wyoming, 942; 18. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 939; 19. Steven Pfeifer, Bowbells, N.D., 938; 20. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, 937. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 996; 2. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 992; 3. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 973; 4. Justin Luinenburg, Reading, Minn., and Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn., both 969; 6. Kodey Miles, Bernard, Iowa, 947; 7. Braden Richards, Madrid, [Read More]

Bryan Compart: Keeping Racers on Track with Stealth Racing

By Ben Deatherage MADRID, Iowa — Madrid sits just northwest of Des Moines, a town with roots that run deep. First settled by Swedes in the 1840s and later shaped by coal mining and farming, it carries the grit of generations who worked the land and the mines. It’s the kind of place where hard work is expected, and pride comes from what you build with your own hands. For Bryan Compart, that backdrop shaped his own story. Racing didn’t begin in the driver’s seat. It started with late nights in the shop, helping friends, and spotting opportunities others overlooked. What began as lending a hand soon grew into a passion — and eventually, a business that would change his life and leave its own mark on the Mod Lite world. “I ended up getting started in racing by helping people out,” he said. “I was helping Jimmy and Josh May since 2014 when I first met them. I noticed things they needed that you couldn’t just buy at a race shop. You either had to [Read More]

Survive the 55 Offers $10,260 to Win and More at Skagit Speedway on Sept. 26–27

By Ben Deatherage ALGER, Wash. (Sept. 18, 2025) — One of the premier fall specials on the Speedway Motors IMCA calendar returns as the Survive the 55 brings two nights of Friesen Performance IMCA Modified racing to Skagit Speedway on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26–27. Drivers from across the Shaw Race Cars Western Region will chase a lucrative purse, with the 55-lap A Main paying $10,260 to win and $500 to start. In total, more than $30,000 will be awarded across A, B, C, and D features. Friday’s program will feature a two-heat format, with each driver competing in two eight-lap heats — the first lined straight up from pill draw, and the second fully inverted. Points from both heats will determine lineups, with the top 12 earning the option to run a fully inverted, 20-lap dash. Saturday’s finale locks the top 18 in accumulated heat race points into the Survive the 55 main event, with the top 8 redrawing for their starting positions. Drivers ranked 19–32 will line up for the 15-lap B Main, 33–46 [Read More]

Dirt Returns to Hawkeye Downs for Sept. 27 “Dirt at the Downs” IMCA Event

By Nicole Schroeder CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Sept. 18, 2025) — Hawkeye Downs Speedway has officially begun transforming its legendary quarter-mile asphalt track into dirt in preparation for Dirt at the Downs, a historic series of events honoring 100 years of racing in Eastern Iowa. Trucks began hauling in tons of dirt this week to cover the racing surface, bringing the track back to its roots for the first time since the mid-1980s. From its founding in 1925, Hawkeye Downs was home to dirt track racing for more than 60 years before transitioning to asphalt. This fall, fans will have the rare opportunity to experience racing as it began a century ago. Hawkeye Downs is partnering with Benton County Speedway to present an unforgettable lineup of events, beginning Sept. 27 with a full program of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing. The card will feature Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. “We’re not just talking about history anymore, we’re driving on it,” said Hawkeye Downs [Read More]

19th Annual Fall Nationals Set for Oct. 2–4 at RPM Speedway

By Ben Deatherage HAYS, Kan. (Sept. 18, 2025) — The 19th Annual Fall Nationals are set to take center stage at RPM Speedway in Hays, Kansas, on Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 2–4, 2025, bringing three days of racing action to close out the season in style. The event kicks off Thursday, Oct. 2, with a test and tune for all classes. Friday, Oct. 3, features heats and qualifiers for all divisions, while Saturday, Oct. 4, will be headlined by last chance races and championship features. No hot laps are scheduled on Saturday, with the green flag waving at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday and at 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Five Speedway Motors IMCA-sanctioned divisions will be in action: Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. The Modified main event pays $5,000 to win, with $2,500 going to second and $1,500 for third. The Stock Car finale will award $3,000 to the winner, while the Northern SportMods chase a $2,000 top prize. [Read More]

Batesville Motor Speedway to Host 30th Annual Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship Sept. 25–27

By Ben Deatherage LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Sept. 18, 2025) — The 30th Annual Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship returns to Batesville Motor Speedway on Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 25–27, 2025, with three nights of Sunoco IMCA Stock Car racing action and a $20,000-to-win, $1,000-to-start main event. The 3-day event kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 25, with practice at 7:00 p.m. and is followed by racing at 7:30. Drivers will compete each night with double heats and draw for positions on Thursday and Friday nights. Drivers will accumulate points and will run a nightly feature as well. On Friday, Sept. 26, we will follow the same format with drivers drawing for positions with double heats and a nightly feature to accumulate points. Hot Laps at 7:00 p.m. with racing to follow at 7:30. Saturday will again see hot laps at 7:00 p.m. and racing at 7:30. The Top 16 in points will advance to the 50-lap Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship main event paying $20,000 to win on Saturday night, September 27. The [Read More]

“Kruz Missile” Kepner Hits Target with PASS Victory at Selinsgrove

By Frank Buhrman & Stephanie Dodson SELINSGROVE, Pa. (Sept. 13, 2025) — Kruz Kepner doesn’t have much time to think about anything during the 10-minute ride from his home in Kreamer, Pa., to Selinsgrove Speedway, but he had a full week to think about being wrecked twice on the opening lap last weekend and wanting to erase the memory of that awful pair of races. His thinking — and his driving — did the job. Kepner scored his second Selinsgrove win of the season and fourth overall in River Valley Builders PA Sprint Series competition Saturday night, extending his lead in both the season’s PASS points standings and those for the track. Kepner started the feature in seventh and actually slipped back on the opening lap, but he quickly began to recover. He might not have gotten all the way to the front, though, had misfortune not struck veteran John Braim. Braim, who raced and won with PASS more than a decade ago before taking an extended break, had claimed a Laurel Highlands Sprint Series victory [Read More]