Newswire

Duke is PASS king at Selinsgrove

By Frank Buhrman SELINSGROVE, Pa. (July 11) – This time a year ago, Ken Duke already had five Pennsylvania Sprint Series wins and 10 top-five finishes, on his way to becoming the PASS and IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car national champion. On Saturday night, the effort to make 2020 memorable for the right reasons took a big step forward when the hometown racer took the 20-lap PASS feature at Selinsgrove Speedway. Duke took advantage of starting on the pole and wired the field for his first win of the year, capping his comeback from a slow start – and two months with COVID-19 restrictions putting a stop to racing. “We blew up an engine the first week (of the season) and took a few weeks to get things sorted out,” Duke explained of his start, adding praise for his hard-working crew. “But two weeks ago we ran at BAPS and here and finished in the top three in both races and finally got things going in the right direction.” As for Saturday’s win, Duke kept it [Read More]

$250 Sunoco bonuses highlight features at three Nebraska venues this week

VINTON, Iowa – The paydays get even better this week for a trio of IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature winners. It begins Thursday evening at U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus as the IMCA Late Model winner pockets an extra $250 courtesy of Sunoco Race Fuels. Friday night the bonus moves to Boone County Raceway in Albion. The final bonus of the weekend will be presented Saturday night at Off Road Speedway in Norfolk. Sunoco bonuses are being presented at IMCA Late Model sanctioned weekly tracks this year. Drivers are eligible for only one bonus during the 2020 racing season. If the feature winner is a previous Sunoco winner, the bonus moves to the next eligible position. 2020 winners have been Jeff Aikey at Independence Motor Speedway, Matt Ryan at 34 Raceway, Joel Callahan at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway, Eric Pollard at 300 Raceway, Justin Kay at Davenport Speedway and Dalton Simonsen at Marshalltown. IMCA will announce mid-week before the dates bonuses are to be awarded at each track.

IMCA Modified, Stock, Northern SportMod drivers chase $7,000 in Fox Shocks awards

EL CAJON, Calif. (July 14) – Drivers in three IMCA divisions earn shares of the nearly $7,000 in product certificates to be awarded again this season by Fox Shocks. Top three eligible drivers in each of the five regions for IMCA Modifieds receive product certificates for $300, $250 and $200, respectively while certificates in the same increments go to top three eligible drivers in both IMCA Sunoco Stock Car regions and in national standings for Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. Drivers in all three divisions are required to display two Fox decals on their race car and compete with four Fox-manufactured shocks and return a completed contingency sign-up form to become eligible for those awards Fox is in its sixth year of IMCA sponsorship. Information about Fox high performance shocks is available at the www.ridefox.com website, on Facebook or by calling 800 369-7469. Fox dealers and distributors include Harris Auto Racing, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service and Shaw Race Cars. “The contingency sign-up forms are now available on the IMCA website and we encourage those Fox customers to continue [Read More]

Mike Hagen collects hometown win, O’Neil charges to Williston checkers

WILLISTON, N.D. (July 13) – A day after forgetting to go to tech after winning his ‘B’ main, Jake O’Neil started 14th in the Moritz Sport & Marine Dakota Classic IMCA Modified Tour presented by Bismarck Motor Company feature at Williston Basin Speedway. What ensued after that was a memorable contest for the Arizona racer. Collen Winebarger started on the pole and jumped out to the lead early. Robert Hellebust, made a move around the outside of Winebarger on lap eight but jumped the cushion, allow Hagen and O’Neil to drive under and set their sights on the leader. Hagen shot around the top side, officially taking the lead on lap 12. Hellebust followed as the top line became the preferred line. O’Neil drove around Hellebust, then ripped around the top lane, catching up to Hagen, who was catching the back of the field. On lap 27, O’Neil got spun by a lap car and got his spot back for the restart. The race ended green, white, checkered and O’Neil had a great restart, motoring [Read More]

Rookie rules IMCA Sport Compact feature at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 11) – Mach-1 Sport Compact rookie Brett McConnell was among the drivers making first appearances of the season in victory lane during Dan Grams Memorial Night Saturday at Arlington Raceway. McConnell led flag to flag. R.J. Esquedo worked through the field while racing side-by-side with Eric Stocker but had to settle for second. Neil Stevens was scored first every time around the track in the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature. Chad Schroeder was the third and final different IMCA Sunoco Stock Car leader and Eric Larson sailed to the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod checkers after gaining the lead on lap two. Clint Hatlestad and Cory Probst were repeat IMCA Modified and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock winners, respectively.

Martin returns to RPM to top Wheatshocker finale

HAYS, Kansas (July 12) – After running second on opening night, Jason Martin was first to the checkers on night two of the Wheatshocker Nationals at RPM Speedway. Martin’s POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series Presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing Sunday payday was $2,000. The 30-lap feature event saw Shane Sundquist and Taylor Velasquez setting the pace. Velasquez took off with the early lead with Sundquist and Martin following. Lapped traffic came into play on lap 12. Martin was able to use that to his advantage and hammer around Sundquist. On lap 20, Martin pedaled around Velasquez to claim the top spot. Martin, Velasquez and Sundquist made up the top three finishers. Jeremy Huish was fourth and Saturday winner Ty Williams rounded out the top five. Up next for the Mel Hambelton Ford Racing POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series is the Hutchinson Nationals in Hutchinson, Kan., on Friday, July 17. Feature results – 1. Jason Martin; 2. Taylor Velasquez; 3. Shane Sundquist; 4. Jeremy Huish; 5. Ty Williams; 6. Koby Walters; 7. J.D. Johnson; 8. Jed Werner; 9. Zach [Read More]

Nodak show sees Thornton, Zevenbergen win again

MINOT, N.D. (July 12) – The battle was for second place on night three of the Dakota Classic Modified Tour. Ricky Thornton Jr. started on the pole and stayed in front every time around the Nodak Speedway oval, earning $2,400 for his latest IMCA Modified tour checkers. He was catching up with the back of the field just after midway when the caution came out and took traffic temporarily out of the equation. The top five pulled away after the ensuing restart and while Thornton was lapping cars the final five circuits, Austin Arneson, Jason Wolla, Eddie Belec and Spencer Wilson could not catch the leader and followed him across the stripe on that order. Elijah Zevenbergen ran his streak to three straight IMCA Sunoco Stock Car tour checkers. Chanse Hollatz and Dalton Flory took turns at the point before Zevenbergen gained the lead 10 laps in. Feature Results Modifieds – 1. Ricky Thornton Jr.; 2. Austin Arneson; 3. Jason Wolla; 4. Eddie Belec; 5. Spencer Wilson; 6. Robert Hellebust; 7. John Corell; 8. Billy Kendall [Read More]

Kendall chases O’Neill to Jamestown checkers

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (July 11) – Runner-up Billy Kendall III was the talk of the town Saturday night at Jamestown Speedway. Kendall raced from 10th starting and battled Jeff Taylor and Jacob Bleess before chasing Jake O’Neil to the checkers in round two of the Dakota Classic Tour for IMCA Modifieds. Wheeling a home-built car, Kendall swapped the second with, and then had the former tour champion close behind as he pursued O’Neill. Blees ended in fourth, Kelsie Foley fifth. A lap 16 restart opened the door for Elijah Zevenbergen to continue his winning ways in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car half of the tour. Zevenbergen caught Eric Mahlik on the way to collecting his second straight tour checkers of 2020. Matt Speckman would end in second, Mahlik in third. Feature Results Modifieds – 1. Jake O’Neil; 2. Billy Kendall III; 3. Jeff Taylor; 4. Jacob Bleess; 5. Kelsie Foley; 6. Jason Wolla; 7. Austin Arneson; 8. Alex Stanford; 9. Casey Arneson; 10. Tanner Black; 11. Ricky Thornton Jr.; 12. Collen Winebarger; 13. Eddie Belec; 14. Grey Ferrando; [Read More]

Former champs top Dakota Tour openers

WEST FARGO, N.D. (July 10) – Two former champions were feature winners for the Friday night lidlifter at Red River Valley Speedway. Ricky Thornton Jr., the 2015 Modified and defending Stock Car king, started ninth and motored to the $2,400 IMCA Modified checkers. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Thornton led Tyler Hall, Austin Arneson, Alex Stanford and Jake O’Neil to the finish. And Elijah Zevenbergen began adding to the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Tour legacy of his own as the five-time tour champion started from the pole and took that $1,000 win ahead of Eric Mahlik. Rob VanMil, Joe Flory and Travis Ulmer were next across the stripe. Feature Results Modifieds – 1. Ricky Thornton Jr.; 2. Tyler Hall; 3. Austin Arneson; 4. Alex Stanford; 5. Jake O’Neil; 6. Tripp Gaylord; 7. Grey Ferrando; 8. Casey Arneson; 9. Justin O’Brien; 10. Billy Kendall III; 11. Jason Wolla; 12. Brad Hartigan; 13. Tanner Black; 14. Allen Kent; 15. Dylan Goplen; 16. John Nord; 17. Cody Laney; 18. John Hansen; 19. Jesse Skalicky; 20. Eddie [Read More]

Hibdon wins second straight at Benton County

By Jerry Mackey VINTON, Iowa (July 12) – Fisher Towing & Recovery of Garrison sponsored the mid-season championships at Benton County Speedway on Sunday night on a near perfect weather night for racing. The Bullring provided everything the race fan could ask for. The IMCA Modifieds saw Kollin Hibdon charge to the front from his third row start and take command. Hibdon scored the win over one of the hottest drivers in the Midwest in Tom Berry Jr. Berry advanced from the eighth starting position but could not catch the strong running Hibdon in settling for second. Twenty-seven Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod drivers signed in and the feature saw plenty of action. Tony Olson quickly worked to the front from his fourth row start and set up a battle with his cousin Kyle Olson. The two Olsons dominated the main before Kyle jumped the turn one cushion late in the race and fell back to a fourth place finish. Tony Olson took the win over Dylan VanWyk and Joe Docekal. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars have become [Read More]