Newswire

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]

Blood Clinches First Grays Harbor Checkers of 2025

By Shaun Hulbert ELMA, Wash. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Tyson Blood proved unstoppable Saturday night at Grays Harbor Raceway, charging from sixth to score a dominant win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. The Tumwater driver, a three-time defending track champion and four-time reigning Washington State titleholder, took the lead on a lap two restart and never looked back, surviving a green-white-checkered finish to secure his first Shaw Race Cars Western Region win of the season. Kevin Smith led the opening circuit of the 25-lap main event before Blood powered around him on a restart after an early caution. Smith then engaged in a fierce battle for second with Craig Moore and Brenton Schnitzer, but slipped out of shape on lap 10, triggering a caution and moving Moore into the runner-up spot. Blood showed no signs of slowing down, handling multiple restarts with precision and maintaining his advantage throughout. The final restart set up a green-white-checkered shootout, but Blood was flawless to the finish. Jeff Hunt made some key late moves and took second, while [Read More]

Ryland Outduels Ryan in Sensational SportMod Photo Finish at Antioch

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Brentwood’s Fred Ryland won the 20-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod main event in a near photo finish victory over Jason Ryan Jr at Antioch Speedway. This was the 40th career SportMod win for the three-time track champion, but first of 2025. Ryland led the field to the green flag ahead of Al Johnson and Jeff Bentancourt. A yellow flag waved after three laps for Scott Savell. Ryland continued to lead Johnson on the restart with Danny Wagner settling into third. An inside pass on the front stretch of the sixth lap put Danny Wagner into second with Kenny Shrader settling into third. Ryland had a big lead erased when Alfred Johnson spun in turn three for a lap 10 yellow flag. Ryland led Wagner on the restart with Ryan moving into third, but a multi-car tangle in turn four brought out another yellow flag on lap 11. When it was all sorted out, Ryland continued to lead Wagner and Ryan. Ryan slipped past Wagner for second [Read More]

Childress Cashes In With Mohave Valley Modified Win

By Ben Deatherage BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Ricky Childress Jr. bolted to the front on the opening stanza of the 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Mohave Valley Raceway and never looked back. Wheeling the Pike Racing No. 16, the 2016 Bakersfield Speedway champion masterfully navigated the 3/8-mile oval, fending off Dann Perry III through a flurry of early restarts. Once the race settled into rhythm, Childress built a strong lead until pressure mounted from teammate Jake Pike, who took over second on lap 13. Pike narrowed the gap in lapped traffic, but a late yellow set up a green-white-checkered finish. Pike pulled into the pit area under caution, and Childress powered to the $1,750 victory—his first in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region this season. Adam Hommerding and Noah Geer rounded out the podium. Morris Motors to First SportMod Victory of 2025 In the 20-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature, Nick Coffman paced the opening laps before facing a challenge from Jake Snowden and eventual winner Hudson Morris. Morris, a [Read More]

Logue Tops Smith Brothers in Boone Stock Car Thriller

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Apr. 19, 2025) — An exciting 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event saw Jonathon Logue edge out David Smith in a dramatic finish to claim his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season at Boone Speedway. Doug Smith, the 2020 National champion and 2016 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, blitzed to the point on the opening lap after starting fourth. After an early caution, David Smith moved into second on the restart, but Logue began working the low side and passed him for the runner-up spot on lap five before another yellow slowed the action. David Smith, a four-time Super Nationals champion and the 2008 National champ, briefly regained the lead on a restart before Logue, from Logansport, nosed ahead at the line on lap 11. Logue, a three-time Boone SportMod champion and three-time Super Nationals winner in the division, held the top spot as the Smith brothers battled for second. A late caution with four [Read More]

Nerud Nets Bonus Cash With Last-Lap Pass at Eagle’s Ice Breaker Challenge

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Tyler Nerud had his work cut out for him if he hoped to double up at Eagle Raceway’s Ice Breaker Challenge and collect the extra $1,000 bonus offered for a repeat win in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, as he was starting deeper in the field from inside the sixth row. The first official lap saw Adam Vrbka showing the way. Vrbka continued to show the way, but Nerud effectively moved his way forward getting into third after a triple overtake on lap 7 and got into second around the midway mark. Nerud closed the gap steadily until he flew high and wide through turns 3 and 4 on the final lap and passed Vrbka just before the flag stand. Despite having to begin the race eleventh it did not deter the Dorchester driver’s path to the winner’s circle for his second feature win of 2025. Vrbka was second while Cole Wayman finished third. Vanover Fends Off Grabouski in Intense Stock Car Feature In the main [Read More]

Shatzer Storms to Win at Hagerstown

By Jim Haines HAGERSTOWN, MD (Apr. 19, 2025) — Starting out as a warm spring race night, Dylan Shatzer took Al Moser’s sprinter to the top spot and stayed there in the 25-lap RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature at Hagerstown Speedway. The co-sanctioned event between the Virginia Sprint Series and Laurel Highlands Sprint Series marked the 2025 season opener for the Virginia tour and showcased Shatzer’s dominance on the historic Maryland half-mile. As storms were on the way the feature started with Kolby Weaver and Colton Hindershot pacing the field to green, Weaver stayed high as Shatzer dove to the inside rail and was already going for the lead off turn four as he crossed the line just in front of Weaver and Donnie Hendershot. Shatzer really had the bottom line working as Ken Duke made his way to second with Weaver and Donnie Hendershot in tow. At the halfway mark it was still Shatzer with Duke and now John Scarborough making up the top three. Nobody was giving up the bottom line up front [Read More]