Newswire

Noon start for Tuesday Super Nationals program

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 8) – Tuesday’s race program at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s begins at noon. IMCA and Boone Speedway officials moved the first green flag up due to weather concerns. Moving the program up two hours makes for the best opportunity to get the complete program in. Schedule of events, featuring the entire Sport Compact program and Hobby Stock and Northern SportMod qualifying, is to be announced.

Thornton repeats with opening night Late Model Super Nationals crown

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 7) – Ricky Thornton Jr. became a two-time champion at last year’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. He became a two-time Late Model champion on a windy opening night of the 2020 event. Thornton got the lead back from Jeff Aikey on the 32nd of 50 circuits, then led Richie Gustin through lapped traffic to the $3,000 checkers Monday night at Boone Speedway. “It was really hard this year, admitted Thornton. “I tried high, I tried low and I was finally able to move by him (Aikey) for the lead.” Thornton had started seventh, Gustin from sixth. Aikey, who was chasing his career eighth and seventh Late Model crown, ended in third while Andy Nezworski worked his way back into the top four with 11 laps left. Nebraskan Cory Dumpert had the fastest car at the start, building a half straightaway advantage over Nezworski before a lap eight caution. Thornton got up to second but could only watch as Aikey drove by to the front on lap 17. After Dumpert [Read More]

Jake Bubak became a first-time RaceSaver Nationals champion, leading the last six laps of the $2,500 to win main event Sunday night at Eagle Raceway. (Photo by Joe Orth)

Bubak sprints to IMCA RaceSaver Nationals crown

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 6) – A driver who’s been a contender became a champion Sunday night at Eagle Raceway. Jake Bubak led the last six laps in winning the eighth annual RaceSaver Nationals at America’s Home Track, after finishing third, third and fourth the last three years. Along with the $2,500 top prize, Bubak repeated in taking the $1,000 to win Jake Ita Memorial Race of Champions on Saturday night. Nearly 90 teams vied at the biggest IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car event of the season. Bubak’s win came from outside the second row of the three-wide start. “I didn’t mind starting in the second row, I just didn’t want to start in the middle,” he said. “But as I told another racer ‘It’s the same for everybody’ so we just go along with it. We moved up fairly quickly, and towards the end it was kind of attrition. Joey (Danley) ended up bouncing and then spinning out and then Ethan (Barrow) breaking that wheel center was really unfortunate.” “We had a great weekend for [Read More]

Mike Nichols moved to the top of IMCA’s all-time wins list with his career 558th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win on Sept. 3 at Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus, Neb. He is pictured in victory lane with wife Anita. (Photo courtesy of Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway)

Nichols hustles to IMCA record 558th career win

COLUMBUS, Neb. – Mike Nichols couldn’t recall many of the details of his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win.He’ll remember everything about his latest. Nichols won for the 558th time in his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career at Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus, Neb., becoming IMCA’s all-time wins leader with the Sept. 3 checkers. It was the latest accomplishment for the most decorated driver of the sanctioning body’s modern era.“Everything you do is special in its own way,” said Nichols, now running for his ninth national championship. “Everything is its own accomplishment. When I’m in a nursing home years from now, this is something I’ll be able to talk about.”From Harlan, Iowa, Nichols has averaged better than 29 wins a season since 2002, with an IMCA record-tying 54 in 2016. He also owns more than 40 career track championships, another IMCA-best total, with at least one track title to his credit every season except one in the past 19 years.”“To be consistent for such a long time is remarkable, especially in a Stock Car, which [Read More]

Jayden Schmidt

He’s got a career-best 14 feature wins and two track titles to his credit, long with a big lead in the state points race. But the cherry on top of Jayden Schmidt’s Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod season would be be qualifying for Saturday’s main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Seventeen years old and a senior at Seymour, Wis., High School, Schmidt got his first look at Boone Speedway when he pulled into town on Sunday. He was comfortable wheeling his way around Iowa’s Action Track and ready to get down to the serious business of winning Monday’s 16th heat. “I’ve driven on similar tracks so I’m used to corners like they have at Boone,” he said. “I know the competition here is very good. My goal is to make the show on Saturday, then I’ll be happy.” Sixth in current national standings and a contender for the Junior National Champion honors as well, Schmidt learned the racing basics in go karts before moving to the SportMod class. He’s got some time yet [Read More]

Jerry Hunt

A Michigan driver who made a long-awaited return to victory lane last weekend hopes to see his new streak continue this week at Boone Speedway. Jerry Hunt earned the IMCA Modified win at Thunderbird Raceway over the weekend, along with $1,000 and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth. He made the tow to Super Nationals with son Mitchell, a third generation driver who was elected to start the upcoming version of that race. Hunt was retired for more than three years before getting back on the track during the Fourth of July Weekend in a GRT by S & S Motorsports ride bought from Shawn Bearce. “My son is my best competition. The tables have turned and now I’m learning from him,” said Hunt, especially proud to see Mitchell race his way into the Big Dance two years ago. “I’m going to give it my best this week. I know we’re going to be up against the best of the best . We’re going to see what happens.”

Missouri duo credits tough competition back home after winning Super Nationals Cornhole Tournament

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 6) – Many a Super Nationals champion has credited the tough competition they face weekly in helping earn titles won at Boone Speedway. The latest to do so are Winston, Mo., brothers Jakub and Kristchon Hisel, aka Team Cornhub, champions of Sunday’s expanded Scorezit Cornhole Tournament. Late entries into the second annual tourney, the pair didn’t lose until the first championship round game, then came back to beat the Sioux City Baggerz duo of Keith Sanders and Byron Johnson 21-8 in the 115th and final game of the tournament. Cornhub took home a $603 top prize while the Baggerz earned $474. A Hobby Stock driver, Kristchon comes to Boone for the first time to race while Jakub helps crew. “We play quite a bit in our home town league,” said Jakub, noting that some of those Northwest Missouri Baggers are the pros you watch toss on ESPN. “We’re average around home.” The BSD team of Gregg Hamman and Tyler Smith finished third and took home $316 while fourth place and $158 went to [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Sept. 3

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Tom Berry, Des Moines, Iowa, and Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., both 800; 3. Jeff Larson (B1), Freeport, Ill., 798; 4. Steven Bowers Jr., Topeka, Kan., 796; 5. Dakota Sproul, Hays, Kan., 793; 6. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 787; 7. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb., 779; 8. William Gould, Calera, Okla., and Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb., both 778; 10. Tony Leiker, Gillette, Wy., 777; 11. Chris Abelson, Sioux City, Iowa, 774; 12. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 773; 13. Jim Thies, Mapleton, Iowa, 772; 14. Jeff A. Aikey, Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., both 771; 16. Jesse Rogotzke, Sanborn, Minn., 770; 17. Jeremy Mills, Britt, Iowa, and Matt Guillaume, Haslet, Texas, both 769; 19. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, and Cory Sample, Winnemucca, Nev., both 768. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, York, Neb., 799; 2. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, 787; 3. Logan Duffy, Independence, Iowa, 767; 4. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Iowa, 745; 5. Justin Kay, Wheatland, Iowa, 741; 6. Eric Pollard, Peosta, Iowa, 740; 7. Zachary Zentner, Cedar Rapids, Neb., 736; [Read More]

IMCA releases event plan for Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa – For the 33rd consecutive year, IMCA plans to successfully hold Super Nationals at Boone Speedway and intends to do so this year following all State of Iowa disaster proclamations in place at the time of the Sept. 6-12 event. Grandstand capacity will be reduced by 50 percent with every other row in the seated main grandstand marked off; the seated grandstand on the pit side will operate at a reduced capacity as well. All spectator traffic on the catwalks will be made one-way. Spectators will not be allowed to stand two-deep and race teams will be encouraged to watch only events involving their driver to reduce the number of people on the catwalks. In addition, it is recommended everyone on the catwalk wear a face covering; officials reserve the right to require access to the catwalks to those having a face cover. To further promote social distancing, a number of activities have been scaled back or eliminated entirely, including what would have been the 31st annual golf tournament. Also canceled were activities in the [Read More]

Race of Champions eligible drivers

BOONE, Iowa – The following drivers have pre-registered for the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s and will be eligible to qualify for their respective Race of Champions event. Drivers not listed will not be eligible to qualify … no exceptions. Drivers eligible for the Harris Auto Racing IMCA Modified Race of Champions: Chris Abelson, Jeff Aikey, Keaton Atkinson, Brandon Beckendorf, Tom Berry, Josh Blumer, Steven Bowers Jr., Ethan Braaksma, Kellen Chadwick, Chad Clancy, Beau Collins, Troy Cordes, Shane DeMey, Zane DeVilbiss, Brenten DeYoung, Ethan Dotson, P.J. Egbert, Grey Ferrando, Zach Fettinger, Kelsie Foley, Josh Gilman, David Goode Jr., Daniel Gottschalk, William Gould, Matt Guillaume, Jimmy Gustin, Richie Gustin, Clay Hale, Clint Hatlestad, Randy Havlik, Mitchell Hunt, Bricen James, Aaron Johnson, Lucas Lamberies, Jeff Larson, Ronn Lauritzen, Dennis LaVeine, Josh Long, Wade Lumsden, Ryan McDaniel, Zachary Madrid, Dan Menk, Nick Meyer, Chris Mills, Jeremy Mills, Clay Money, Bob Moore, Joe Mullins, Josh Munsen, Jay Noteboom, Chris Palsrok, Jesse Rogotzke, Anthony Roth, Joel Rust, Johnny Saathoff, Cory Sample, Clay Sellard, Kelly Shryock, Todd Shute, [Read More]