Newswire

Looft keeps plugging for career best payday at IMCA MaxYield Seed SportMod Nationals

BRITT, Iowa (June 22) – The driver with the most Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature wins plugged his way to his biggest win Tuesday night at Hancock County Speedway. Matt Looft led all 30 laps of the MaxYield Seed SportMod Nationals from his outside row one start, outrunning Colby Fett following a late restart to take the $2,500 checkers. “That was the highest paying win I’ve ever had so that was pretty cool,” Looft said following career win number 175 in the division. “I finally got a good draw. I wasn’t quite sure where I needed to be but I kept plugging along in the same line.” Running the top line in the first set of turns and the bottom groove in the second, Looft stayed in front following a couple key early restarts, first denying Jake Sachau then keeping Jared Boumeester in check. Fett passed four cars in making a big move to third and got to second on the restart with five laps left. He challenged the rest of the way but could [Read More]

IMCA amends G-60 tire rule effective June 23

VINTON, Iowa – Due to nation-wide supply shortages, officials at the International Motor Contest Association have announced they will amend existing tire rules in all divisions mandating use of the IMCA stamped Hoosier G-60 tire. Effective Wednesday, June 23, drivers in those divisions will be allowed to groove Hoosier G-60 tires for use at all IMCA sanctioned events. “Product shortages across the racing industry are widespread,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “This situation is well outside of IMCA’s control. We want to provide our racers every opportunity to do what they feel is necessary to reduce consumption or extend the life of their tires. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly.” At this time, the tire amendment does not apply to any division where use of the stamped G-60 is not required. Root also noted that any decision on tire rules for the Sprint Cars would be made at the discretion of RaceSaver’s Roger Hadan.

Good night for Knight ends with URSS checkers at 81

PARK CITY, Kan. (June 19) – The Drive to Zero POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series Presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing took to 81 Speedway on Saturday night and it was Tyler Knight cashing in the victor. Chad Salem and Jon Freeman set the pace for the 25-lap IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature. Tyler Knight took off with the early lead with Jordan Knight and Ty Williams following. Zach Blurton began his march forward within the first five laps advancing position on J.D. Johnson and Jon Freeman to move into fourth. The top three cars put some distance between one another until lapped traffic became a factor. Johnson and Freeman challenged each other for fifth, but it was Johnson pulling ahead. Jordan Knight and Williams gained ground however Tyler Knight continued as the race leader. Tyler Knight went on the claim victory with the Drive to Zero United Rebel Sprint Series, with Jordan Knight and Williams rounding out the podium. Hard charger Blurton and Johnson completed the top five finishers. The Drive to Zero United Rebel Sprint Series will [Read More]

Richards rules IMCA Stock Cars at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (June 19) – Damon Richards’ last Eagle Raceway feature win came in 2016 in an IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock. His latest came Saturday in an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car. The outside third row starter outran Shane Stutzman, Kyle Vanover and Nick Beckman to the checkers on the night before Father’s Day show. “I think I got to the lead with 15 to go. Then we had a caution that set everything up really well for me. That track was a blast tonight!” he said. “We always second guess Roger (promoter Hadan) when he goes out there even though it was beautiful after the heat races. Then he goes out there ripping it up, but I trust him. Whatever he’s got figured out it seems crazy, but it works.” Shane Hiatt was the IMCA Modified winner and Stu Snyder was fast from the get-go in collecting the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car checkers. Jeff Ware topped the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Tyler Nerud ruled the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. This coming [Read More]

Melair dominates IMCA RaceSaver Sprints at Hagerstown

By Jim Haines HAGERSTOWN, Md. (June 19) – Nobody watching Mike Melair would ever have known this would become his first win in an IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car victory Saturday at Hagerstown Speedway. Thirty cars vied in the event co-sanctioned by the Virginia Sprint Series, Pennsylvania Sprint Series and Laurel Highland Sprint Series and Melair tuned up for the main event with a dominating heat win. Melair and Jason Roush then paced the feature field to green with Melair out front up top and Mikell McGee falling in behind before a car got a little too sideways causing a few cars to get together. Once back to green, Melair was off again followed by McGee and soon Ryan Lynn was chasing them down in third. Lap after lap, Melair stayed smooth, never putting a wheel wrong even as traffic came up. Melair’s brother Domenic came through the field and was soon on Lynn for third and using the brother’s high line to do it. With laps winding down, Mike Melair and McGee were still staying [Read More]

Shawano Hall of Fame welcomes two more

By Dave Buss SHAWANO, Wis. (June 19) – Last week it was the future in the spotlight, this week it was the past as two new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame at Shawano Speedway. George Giesen and Ed Bertram were honored for their past accomplishments at the speedway and in racing. With friends and family along with numerous current and former drivers who have benefited from the new Hall of Famers’ contributions to the racing world in attendance, the two were honored in a ceremony at intermission. IMCA Modifieds hit the track with numerous drivers who got their start in go carts at the GSR Raceway run by Bertram. It didn’t take long until the yellow slowed the action with Jeff Bodendorfer leading the way. Green flew again and it was Bodendorfer building a lead as Lance Arneson ran second and Konnor Wilinski third. Bodendorfer built a lead of nearly a second. Arneson began to make his way forward and grab the top spot for lap 17 but Bodendorfer fought right back the [Read More]

Zehm, Braaksma post first Boone wins of the season

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (June 19) – A pair of new faces visited victory lane Saturday as Boone Speedway continued its weekly racing series. Bryan Zehm went home the victor in the 15-lap IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Zehm led all but the opening lap on his way to victory. Mike Kennedy gave it a good try, but it was too little, too late in his attempt to catch the leader, and he had to be content with the runner up position. Joel Huggins was third. This was Zehm’s first win at the track in 2021. Johnathon Logue made it three wins in a row in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main. Kaylin Lopez came from 14th to finish as the runner up and Dusty Masolini was third. Up next was 20 laps of IMCA Modified feature racing. After the initial start was called back, the race would go caution free to the checkers with Ethan Braaksma in command the entire time. Heavy lapped traffic was no issue for Braaksma as he sailed home to the comfortable win. Tim Ward started [Read More]

Kid With a Cause Aiden Wagner races to promote suicide awareness, anti-bullying

MINOT, N.D. – While he’s racing to win, Aiden Wagner is also racing toward an even more important goal. The IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compact driver captains the Kid With A Cause team, donating his race winnings and sponsorship funds to the Sources of Strength suicide awareness and anti-bullying peer leader group at his hometown Minot High School. “I wanted to do something that would help some of my friends and classmates,” said the soon to be 16-year-old, noting the extra impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on teenagers. “A lot of people have come down to the pits to thank me. It impacts a lot of people.” He started Kid With a Cause during his short rookie season and raised $700. The $1,000 he’s already donated this year includes the $310 bounty he took home for snapping Ken Sandberg’s 10-race winning streak during the Ironman special at Dacotah Speedway. “I wanted to try and double what I raised last year and we’re well on the way to doing that,” said Wagner, noting that any monetary [Read More]

Keller conquers IMCA Modified feature at Dacotah

By Rebecca Rattei MANDAN, N.D. (June 18) – What began as three-car battle ended with a fourth driver back in victory lane Friday at Dacotah Speedway. Scott Gartner, Zach Frederick and Mark Dahl tussled early. Frederick shuffled into the lead as Jeremy Keller quickly worked his way into the top five and then passed Dahl for second. Using the high line around the track, Keller reeled in Frederick and they briefly raced for the lead. Keller took the lead on lap five and pulled away from the field. Frederick then lost positions to Quentin Kinzley, Dahl and Spencer Wilson. When the checkered flag waved, Keller picked up the feature win. Dahl held off Wilson for second place. Kinzley finished fourth while Frederick finished fifth. Shad Pederson and Lane Doll started on the front row of the Mach-1 Sport Compact feature. They raced door-to-door for the lead, allowing Stan Thompson and Ken Sandberg to make it a four-car battle. Contact among the leaders allowed Sandberg to slip by and pull away from the field. Stan [Read More]

Jerovetz Shock Service rewards IMCA Modified, Northern SportMod special events drivers

SUAMICO, Wis. – Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service rewards IMCA Modified and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod drivers for their special events accomplishments again in 2021. Top five finishers at 30 designated specials for the Modifieds and at 15 designated specials for the Northern SportMods receive gift certificates good for two free shock rebuilds from the eight-year IMCA sponsor. Located in Suamico, Wis., the company Shocking the Competition, Absorbing the Wins is owned by IMCA Modified veteran Sean Jerovetz and Ryan Rosenow. “We are thrilled to again be part of all these special events while partnered with IMCA,” said Jerovetz, “and also look forward to get back to business as normal.” JMSS specializes in rebuilding and custom revalving of AFCO, Fox, Penske and QA1 shocks, carries complete lines of AFCO and QA1 products and is also a Wehrs Machine and Racing Products dealer. Information about JMSS shocks, shock services and high performance products is available by calling 920 265-2068 or 920 615-2508, at the www.jmshocks.com website and on Facebook. “The number of special events will increase with a return to a [Read More]