Newswire

A win for the Super Nationals record book as Thornton ends week with Modified crown

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 13) – Ricky Thornton Jr.’s race to the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s record book began on Monday and ended Sunday, with another visit to victory lane in between. Thornton became the first driver in the 38-year history of dirt track racing’s biggest event to win two championships at the same Super Nationals, the Late Model feature on Labor Day and the Modified feature on Sunday at Boone Speedway. He passed Cody Laney in lapped traffic on the 24th of 40 laps, then checked out on the way to the $7,000 win in the final event of the week. “This track really suits my driving style and we’ve been very successful here. We work hard and our equipment is always well prepared,” said Thornton, also winner of Saturday’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “I flipped in my (Wednesday) Stock Car heat and that was really the only bad luck we had all week.” Defending champion Ethan Dotson led the first two laps before giving way to fellow Californian Laney. The only [Read More]

First-time champion Ballard impressive in Super Nationals Hobby Stock title run

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 13) – Nathan Ballard was impressed by the competition when he won his qualifying feature to make the Hobby Stock main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Then he impressed everyone at Boone Speedway by leading all 30 laps of Sunday’s $2,000 to win main event. The Super Nationals crown was Ballard’s career first and came after a season that had seen him make just 18 weekly starts. “It’s kind of hard to believe. To win an ‘A’ main and get into the dance, you have to race against so many good drivers,” he said, pointing out that the competition got even better in the main event. Ballard was chased early by defending champion Dylan Nelson. The green flag stayed out the last 24 of 30 laps and Ballard eased away from all challengers, leaving Nelson, two-time champ Jason Wilkinson and Jeff Ware to fight for second behind him The three ran in that order before Ware eked ahead for third on the last lap. “I wanted [Read More]

Improbable, unlikely, incredible! Donavon Smith is Stock Car king

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 13) – Donavon Smith had the best seat in the house to watch as the improbable became the incredible Sunday afternoon at Boone Speedway. A last-chance qualifier earlier in the day, Smith raced from 25th starting to take the lead with two laps left in the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Stock Car main event. When those two laps were complete, Smith had a career-best $5,000 payday and career third Super Nationals championship to show for his day’s work behind the wheel. “We had showed up Sunday morning just hoping to make the main event. I had a streak going (a division record 13 consecutive Super Nationals starts) and that was really our only goal. It really weighed heavy on us,” Smith said. “After the last chance race, I was probably as laid back as I ever was.” After a Super Nationals record 207 cars vied for the 30 starting spots, Jared Siefert led much of the way, chased by Jesse Sobbing while Jeff Mueller and Ricky Thornton Jr. duked [Read More]

2020 Super Nationals in history book after extended run; record 207 Stock Cars at 38th annual event

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 13) – Ricky Thornton Jr. raced to wins at the beginning and the end of a history-making week, Donavon Smith and Johnathon Logue became three-time champions while Nathan Ballard motored to his first title at the 2020 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. In all, 834 cars – including 245 Modifieds and an event record 207 Stock Cars – saw action during a socially distanced week at Boone Speedway that also saw more than its share of rain and rescheduled race programs. The Sunday conclusion for what is always the biggest event on the IMCA schedule was the first for the Modifieds since 1996 and first-ever for the Stock Cars, Northern SportMods and Hobby Stocks. Thornton earned $3,000 when he repeated as Late Model champion on Labor Day, qualified for the Stock Car feature, won the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational on Friday and then became the first driver to win two championships at the same Super Nationals by running away from the rest of the field after midway of the [Read More]

Soderberg Memorial concludes season at Dodge City

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. – It has gone by in a flash it seems. And now the 2020 racing season at Dodge City Raceway Park concludes with Saturday night’s eighth annual Jerry Soderberg Championship Memorial atop the 3/8-mile clay oval in southwest Kansas. It has been a condensed season that didn’t get under way until June 20, more than two-and-a-half months after the originally scheduled April 4 season opener, due to COVID-19 concerns. And now, three quick months later since the green flag finally flew at DCRP, five racers will earn their championship crowns on Saturday night. The Hambelton Racing DCRP Sprint Cars square off with the United Rebel Sprint Series for the final time this season with the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks closing out their DCRP seasons as well. Saturday’s racing action will get under way at 7:30 p.m. Past Jerry Soderberg Memorial Championship Winners: 2019 – Zach Blurton (Sprint), Clay Sellard (Modified), Blaine Walt (SportMod), Chris Oliver (Stock Car), Tathan Burkhart (Hobby [Read More]

Springfield hosts Saturday Fast Shafts qualifier

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Quick Quarter of the Springfield Raceway will host a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier feature for IMCA Modifieds paying $1,066 to win and $100 to start this Saturday, Sept. 19. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., the grandstand opens at 4:30 p.m. and racing starts at 5:30 p.m. There will be no hot laps. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under. Pit passes are $40 for adults, $15 for kids ages 6-12 and free for five and under. Entry fee is $30. This is the second season the speedway has sanctioned its Modified division with IMCA and the Saturday show will feature a number of the top runners in the region. More information is available on Facebook.

IMCA Stock Cars get top billing at Clay County shows

SPENCER, Iowa – Clay County Fair Speedway opens the gates for a pair of rich midweek shows tonight and Wednesday, with $2,000 to win main events for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars atop both racing cards. One thousand dollars go to IMCA Modified, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock winners both nights. Modified features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifiers. Mach-1 Sport Compacts are in the running for $200. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points will be awarded at both draw/redraw shows. Pit gates open at 5 p.m., the grandstand opens at 6 p.m. and racing follows 7:15 p.m. hot laps. Pit passes are $30 a night. Spectator admission is $12 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under. Wednesday’s IMCA Blue Ribbon Showdown is presented by Casey’s General Store and Morton Building.

IMCA Stocks, Northern SportMods, Hobbies race Friday at River Cities

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Three IMCA divisions make first appearances on the final race program of the 2020 season Friday at River Cities Speedway. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks are on the Sept. 18 card on the high-banked clay oval at Grand Forks. At stake are IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at approximately 6:20-6:30 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Pit passes are $30. Grandstand admission is $20 or $17 when purchased in advance through MyRacePass or any ticket outlet.

IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars chase $1,200 check at U.S. 36

OSBORN, Mo. – Friday, Sept. 18, marks the penultimate points race at U.S. 36 Raceway for the 2020 championship season. Along with the continued points battles, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars are racing for $1,200 to win and $250 to start in a draw and redraw show. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods are also racing. Pits open at 4 p.m. The grandstands open at 6 p.m., with hot laps at 7:30 p.m. and racing at 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are $20 for general admission, $18 for senior and military and children 12 and younger are free. Pit passes are $35. The final two events at U.S. 36 Raceway are Championship Night on Friday, Sept. 25 and the second annual Missouri IMCA Nationals on Oct. 8-10. More information on the Missouri IMCA Nationals will be released later this week.

Five IMCA divisions battle this weekend at Buena Vista Raceway

ALTA, Iowa – Shares of a purse that totals more than $30,000 are at stake this weekend, when five IMCA divisions battle it out at Buena Vista Raceway’s inaugural Battle at the Beaver. The Sept. 18-19 special sees IMCA Modifieds race for $700 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $500, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks both for $400 and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $200 to win on opening night of the draw/redraw doubleheader. Modifieds run for a top prize of $1,000 plus a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth on Saturday; Stocks, SportMods and Hobby Stocks also run for $1,000 to win, Sport Compacts for $300. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points will be awarded both nights. Weekend entry fees are $25 for Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods and Hobby Stocks, $10 for Sport Compacts. Pit passes are $30 for adults, $15 for ages 6-10 and free for ages five and under. Pit gates and the grandstand open at 5 p.m., the drivers’ meeting is [Read More]