Newswire

Smyre Captures Victory at Sumter in Carolina Sprint Tour Action

By Evan McCrory SUMTER, S.C. (Apr. 26, 2025) — A picture-perfect 76-degree evening set the stage for a thrilling night of Carolina Sprint Tour racing at Sumter Speedway on Saturday. Despite earlier rain showers, fans packed into the brand-new grandstands — and were rewarded with an unforgettable night of RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car action. Following a redraw of the top nine qualifiers, it was Greg Smyre and John Frutchey leading the 25-lap, $1,000-to-win feature event to green. After a false start, Frutchey quickly grabbed the lead and looked poised for his first career Carolina Sprint Tour victory. However, on lap 19, heartbreak struck as Frutchey slowed with engine issues, surrendering the lead to Smyre. Late-race drama ensued as a caution flew with one lap remaining when Derrek Treece spun and collected Richard Wisdo and Matthew Wall. On the ensuing green-white-checkered restart, Jeff Oliver mounted a daring charge for the lead but spun while attempting a pass on Smyre, forcing yet another two-lap dash to the finish. This time, Smyre left no doubt, driving to his first [Read More]

Morris Rockets to STIMS Season-Opening Win at Texana

By Ben Deatherage EDNA, Texas (Apr. 26, 2025) — Chris Morris launched the defense of his South Texas IMCA Modified Series title in dominant fashion Saturday night, picking up a $1,500 victory in the 20-lap season opener at Texana Raceway Park. Morris, the 2022 Cotton Bowl Speedway track champion from Thorndale, outdueled Cody Leonard at the drop of the green and took off like a rocket ship in clean air. A caution just past the midway point brought the field back together, but Morris executed a perfect restart and kept up the pace through multiple subsequent yellows. A final caution with four laps remaining couldn’t slow his momentum, and Morris powered away to secure his third career STIMS triumph—becoming the third different winner at Texana in as many tour events held at the ¼-mile oval. Morris also clocked the fastest lap of the race, earning an extra $750 bonus for his performance. Leonard finished second, with two-time I-37 Speedway champion Chad Doyon completing the podium in third.

Van Hoff Scores Breakthrough SportMod Win at Ocean

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Apr. 25, 2025) — For the second event in a row the Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMods put on an action filled 20-lap main feature. Chowchilla’s Emali Van Hoff brought home the Ocean Speedway title last year without winning a main event, while using extreme consistency. On Friday night she was determined to check off a main event win and had some tremendous battles with Trent Golden, K.C. Keller and others. The SportMods ran high and low on the well-prepared Watsonville bullring. Van Hoff led some before falling to second but regained the lead around the halfway point. She went on to claim the big triumph over Keller and previous feature winner Bo Crebs racing the no. 168 for car owner Jerry Movrich. It was the Lady Eagle racer’s first win of 2025. The event was streamed live on IMCA TV affiliate Stars On Dirt TV. Replays are available through the IMCA TV Replay Subscription for $24.99/month. Already subscribed? Be sure to check out Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming [Read More]

Wells Earns First Stock Car Win at CJ Speedway

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (Apr. 25, 2025) – 18-year-old Dana Wells of Wilton is only in his sophomore season in a race car, but the young man has shown that he will be a strong contender in the very tough Sunoco IMCA Stock Car class. Wells advanced from a third-row start and set his sights on race leader Austin Kemper. The two young drivers battled for several laps before Wells took control and raced on to win his career first in the division and the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Kemper was second, and eighth-starting Dustin Vis came through the pack to finish in the third spot. A couple of local hot shoes put on a good show in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Kurt Kile and Brandon Banks raced very hard for the win on Friday night, with Kile prevailing when the checkers flew. It was the first win of 2025 in the Razor Chassis North Central Region for the Nichols native. Banks settled for second ahead of Adam Shelman in the main [Read More]

Ware Thrills Hometown Fans With Stock Car Victory at US 30 Speedway Opener

By P.J. Pedersen COLUMBUS, Neb. (Apr. 17, 2025) — Jeff Ware picked up an exciting Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature win at Abe’s US 30 Speedway during the 2025 season opener, which marked the 39th year of racing at the Columbus speed plant. The Columbus native thrilled his hometown crowd with the victory, his first of the season in EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region competition. Dana Rasmussen started on the pin, but going into turn one, he was immediately under attack from Scott Smith and a host of others. By the halfway point, Smith had fallen back just a bit, but two new players had checked into the fight as ninth starting Austin Brauner and multi-time track champ Jeff Ware were now in the fray. But in the end, Ware and Brauner were too much. Ware would obtain the lead and would score the win. Brauner and Rasmussen were the rest of the podium finishers, in second and third. When the green flag dropped for the Sunoco IMCA Late Model main event, six-time National champ Cory [Read More]

Townsend Charges to Second Win of Season at 105 Motor Speedway

By Ben Deatherage CLEVELAND, Texas (Apr. 19, 2025) — Christopher Townsend outdueled a fierce field Saturday night at 105 Motor Speedway, charging to his second RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car victory of the season at the ¼-mile oval. Kent Lewis Jr. looked like he was shot out of a cannon at the start of the 20-lap feature, setting a quick pace in the early going. 2019 Southern United Sprint champ Tyler Harris reeled him in by lap 6 and began pressuring for the lead, bringing Townsend into the mix for a three-car battle at the front. Harris dove underneath Lewis to grab the lead momentarily, only to see the move negated by a red flag incident. On the restart, Lewis found new life on the high side while Harris and Townsend gave chase. Harris again seized the lead on lap 9, but the tenth starting Townsend quickly countered, muscling past a circuit later to take over the top spot for good. A late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish, but the Tarkington driver was unfazed, pulling away [Read More]

Harnick Hustles to Second Straight Crystal Win

By Ben Deatherage CRYSTAL, Mich. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Austin Harnick continued his red-hot start to the season Saturday night at Crystal Motor Speedway, charging from 12th to score his second consecutive Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win at the track and fourth overall in the DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region. Don Proctor Jr. and Chad Spencer dueled for the lead early, with Spencer leading the opening lap and building a small cushion. Two-time track champion Austin Wonch worked past Proctor for second after an early restart, then set his sights on the leader. The turning point came on a lap 10 restart when Harnick, the reigning Merritt Speedway champion and Great Lakes Nationals winner, powered underneath Spencer to take the lead. A late caution bunched the field again, but the 22-year-old driver from Clare was unfazed, pulling away for a commanding victory. Nathan Patrick finished second, with Casey Smith rounding out the podium. The 20-lap feature served as a qualifier for the 2025 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by [Read More]

Sweigart Dominates PASS Opener

By Frank Buhrman PORT ROYAL, Pa. (Apr. 19, 2025) — “Nitro Nick” Sweigart’s plan to focus on Port Royal Speedway in 2025 got off to a perfect start Saturday with a dominating victory in the 20-lap River Valley Builders PA Sprint Series feature at the “Speed Palace.” The veteran driver from Myerstown, already the leading career winner at Port Royal among active RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car competitors, officially won Saturday’s feature by 1.399 seconds over Logan Spahr, but he had given up multiple large leads when the race’s four yellow flags waved, only to quickly rebuild his margins at the next green. Despite the efforts of several challengers, none could compete with the Jon Williams-owned no. 89. The win was Sweigart’s 12th in a PASS career that dates to 2017, but it was his eighth at Port Royal, where he trails only Garrett Bard (13) and Jeff Miller (12) in career victories. He and Miller are the only two-time champions of the Keystone RaceSaver Challenge at Port Royal, and he will defend his champion title when the race takes place on [Read More]

Killingsworth Stuns in Modified Debut at Southern Oregon Opener

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (Apr. 19, 2025) – Ethan Killingsworth turned heads Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speedway, winning his Friesen Performance IMCA Modified debut in commanding fashion. The defending Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod track champion took the lead early and never looked back, capturing the $2,000 top prize in the 25-lap main event. Kevin Pendergrass led early before a lap one caution bunched up the field. Killingsworth then executed a textbook move to the front and dominated the top groove of the 3/8-mile oval. Eston Whisler battled with Pendergrass for second before pulling away to attempt a challenge on Killingsworth. A caution with 11 to go set up a restart, but the Yreka, California chauffeur remained smooth and composed up top, pulling away in the final laps for his first career Shaw Race Cars Western Region victory. Whisler finished second, while his 17-year-old brother Ian Whisler completed the podium. Braaten Bags First SportMod Win of 2025 in Dominant Run Four-time Oregon State champion Jorddon Braaten was untouchable in the 25-lap Karl Chevrolet [Read More]

Deatherage Named New IMCA Publicist

VINTON, Iowa — Ben Deatherage, a familiar face and voice to IMCA fans through IMCA.TV, has been named the new publicist for the International Motor Contest Association. He steps into the role following the retirement of longtime IMCA public relations director Bill Martin. Deatherage will be responsible for compiling race reports, press releases, and human-interest features on the drivers and events that comprise the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing program. He will also continue his work with IMCA.TV. “I’m excited to meet the challenges of this new opportunity,” said Deatherage. “Bill was such a major influence on me and an incredible help in my career. He left some big boots to fill.” A native of Cottage Grove, Oregon, Deatherage’s love for racing began early—he attended his first race at just seven days old. Since then, his passion for motorsports has continued to grow. “I’ve loved IMCA racing since I was a kid in the 1990s, watching drivers like David Gould, Robert Hand, Bruce Ray, and many others in the IMCA Modifieds race at Cottage Grove. It’s [Read More]