Newswire

Rebels race Saturday at Lincoln County

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – After nearly one month hiatus, the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing gets back into race action this Saturday, May 4 as they head to Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte for the fourth annual IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car Ron Williams/Dick Snoose Myers Memorial. It will be the only appearance of the 2019 season at the speedway and will pay $1,500 to win while just starting the 20-car feature finale pays $200. Also, the driver who sets fast time during each heat race will receive an extra $50, courtesy of Herbst Towing. Tyler Knight is the defending race winner while Darren Berry (2017) and Zach Blurton (2016) have also posted victories atop the Lincoln County Raceway dirt oval during the running of this event. Pit gates will open at 5 p.m. with race action slated for a 7 p.m. start time. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults; kids ages 6-12 are $5. All pit passes are $30. The Rebels opened their 14th consecutive season on April 5 [Read More]

Bartz is best at Shawano

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (April 27) – Jordan Bartz raced her way to victory lane on opening night Saturday at Shawano Speedway. Cole Magnin led the first two laps of the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature before losing the handle and bringing out the caution flag. Magnin restarted at the tail of the field. Teagan Wudstrack and Bartz swapped the lead back and forth multiple times over the next two laps before Bartz ultimately established herself in the point position. Bartz led the rest of the way for the victory. Bryce Clements raced his way to second, while Magnin battled back from the tail of the field to finish the race in third. Benji LaCrosse led every lap of the IMCA Modified feature while Jeremy Christians regained the lead late in the race to win the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event.

Szecsodi tops opener at Tri-City

By Roger M. Williams AUBURN, Mich. (April 26) – Inches made the difference between first and second as Matt Szecsodi raced to opening night Allstar Performance IMCA Modified honors at Tri-City Motor Speedway. A field of 20 Modifieds, led by Toby Steele and Todd Matheson, took the green flag for their 20-lap penultimate race of the evening. Matheson took full advantage of his front row starting position to pull ahead of Steele and lead the initial 13 circuits before 2015 champion Myron DeYoung took his turn at the front. He was in the midst of a hard-fought multi-driver duel that included Nate Jones, Szecsodi, Jacob Flickinger and Craig Vance. DeYoung found a rut in turn three that upset the handling of his machine which narrowed the lead battle to between Jones and Szecsodi. The duel would not disappoint as both drivers swapped the lead over the final two laps with Szecsodi stealing the win by inches over Jones at the finish. Behind Jones came Matheson, Vance, and Flickinger.

Seidler, Reed race to Dacotah Speedway checkers

MANDAN, N.D. (April 26) – Opening night checkers flew Friday night at Dacotah Speedway for Marlyn Seidler. Seidler and Tyler Peterson had led the IMCA Modified field to green, then pulled away as Quentin Kinzley and Jason Wolla raced for third while Tom Berry lurked in fifth. It was a three-car battle until Wolla shuffled into third postion, bringing Berry with him. It didn’t take long for Seidler to catch lapped traffic, which allowed Peterson to cut into this large lead. A caution with eight laps to go erased Seidler’s lead and on the restart, Wolla passed Peterson for second. Wolla, going for more, dove low under Seidler but slipped up the track and into the leader. Seidler held onto the lead as Wolla cut a tire, ending his night early. Seidler pulled away as Peterson, Berry and Kinzley raced three-wide for second. Seidler dominated to win the feature as Peterson held off Berry and Kinzley for second. Travis Peery rounded out the top five. Andy Reed was the winner in a nailbiter finish for [Read More]

Roberts is latest IMCA Modified winner at Lee County

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (April 26) – Bill Roberts Jr. became the third different IMCA Modified winner at Lee County Speedway this season Friday night. In and out of the lead in the 20-lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, Roberts saw John Oliver Jr. use his high side momentum coming off turn four to edge ahead coming to the white flag. The two raced through turns one and two and down the backstretch side-by-side. Oliver drifted a little high coming off turn four to get the checkers, which allowed Roberts to go under him for his first win of the season at the track. Jeremy Pundt was the Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car winner and Daniel Fellows was first in the Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMod main. Brandon reu topped the Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compact feature.

Winebarger, Braaten collect Cottage Grove openers

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (April 26) – Collen Winebarger and Jorddon Braaten took opening night IMCA checkers Friday at Cottage Grove Speedway. Despite early stoppages, Curtis Towns put his machine out in front of the IMCA Modified pack. Towns stayed there before eventually losing the coveted top spot on lap seven, shortly after a restart, to Winebarger. It was no stroll through the park for Winebarger as he had to deal with several lapped cars as well a number of restarts. When it was all said and done, Winebarger crossed the wire in first for his first win of 2019. Towns held on to be the runner-up while Aaron Sheelar was third. The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods had a good race as Braaten returned to his prime form after winning the track and state titles last season. Braaten obtained the lead on the opening lap. But just like Winebarger, Braaten had to deal with similar factors including restarts, traffic, and a couple of challengers but all in all he managed to maintain his position and win [Read More]

Patient Clancy prevails at US 36

By Jacob Blair OSBORN, Mo. (April 26) – Patience paid off Friday night at US 36 Raceway for Steven Clancy. Nicholas Carpenter took the lead at the drop of the green flag for the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod 15-lapper and paced the first half of the race. During that time, Clancy began to slowly work his way through the field. After starting 10th, Clancy had to pick and choose where to make his passes. A late caution allowed him to close on Carpenter and in turn three Clancy made his move to the point with a few laps remaining. Clancy then opened up a couple car length lead and made his second trip to Westfall GMC Victory Lane this season. Tim Eaton also had an impressive run, moving up 10 spots to finish second. Carpenter had a moment on the final lap in turn three but was able to make the save and finish third. Last week’s feature winner, Chris Wright, finished fourth and Jeffrey Sears rounded out the top five.

EngineQuest IMCA program includes return to Stock Car regional title sponsorship roles

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – EngineQuest returns this season to a familiar and much appreciated role as title sponsor of Northern and Southern regions for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. The Las Vegas, Nev., cylinder head and engine component manufacturer again provides a portion of $3,750 point funds to be paid to top 10 drivers in each region. The EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region includes tracks in eastern Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming; the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region is comprised of tracks in Arizona, California, western Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. Drivers must display two EngineQuest decals on their race car to be eligible for point fund shares, which will be distributed during the national awards banquet in November or mailed from the IMCA home office beginning the following week. Now in its 14th year as an IMCA sponsor, EngineQuest also continues a contingency program that includes cash bonuses, product certificates and product awards. “EngineQuest’s long partnership with IMCA has been very beneficial [Read More]

Thornton doubles up at Marshalltown

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (April 26) – Ricky Thornton Jr. bested both the IMCA Modified and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car features Friday at Marshalltown Speedway. Tony Hofbauer took the lead in the Modified main and kept hold of it until Joel Rust ran him down at halfway. Rust was looking strong but soon had Tim Ward and then Thornton bearing down on him. Thornton slipped into second and set his sights on the leader. He then made a slide job work with four laps left in the contest to nab the lead. Thornton sailed home to the win, Rust took second and Ward was third. Jarred Daggett led the Stock Car troops in the opening laps only to have Jeff Mueller dig his way to the lead on the bottom at lap three. There was a fierce battle going on behind Mueller as tenth place starter Thornton was now fending off Jeff Wollam, Daggett and Jay Schmidt. Thornton began reeling in Mueller, setting sail on the top of the track, while Mueller held firm [Read More]

Gemmill becomes three-time Stampede king with latest Dodge City IMCA Modified victory

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (April 27) – Brendon Gemmill pocketed $1,000 by racing to victory lane in Saturday night’s seventh annual IMCA Modified Stampede atop the 3/8-mile Dodge City Raceway Park. Gemmill fought off a late bid from Tanner Black to win the 25-lapper and earn a spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Gemmill had briefly surrendered the point to Black on the 17th round before slipping away in the final circuits for his career third Modified Stampede triumph. Starting from the front row outside, Gemmill outgunned pole starter Nick Link with Black making his way from fourth into second after a lap three caution. Following the race’s second and final caution with eight laps in the books, Black tried to keep pace with Gemmill in the ensuing rounds. With Gemmill railing the topside, Black worked the low side and closed in to challenge as traffic came into play. Black slid into the lead on the 17th round, only to have Gemmill surge back to the front and open up an eight-car length car [Read More]