Newswire

Night of firsts precedes 100th event for IMCA Wild West Modified Tour

AZTEC, N.M. – After a night of firsts, IMCA’s Wild West Modified Tour celebrates a milestone 100th event on night two of its season-opening doubleheader at Aztec Speedway. First-ever tour events for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods along with the first tour event for Modifieds since 2014 will be held Friday, May 3. The same three divisions are on the Saturday, May 4 card. That evening’s Modified feature will be the 100th in the history of the tour, which debuted in 2007 for its initial eight-year run. Car counts will determine nightly purses, with Modifieds racing for a minimum of $1,000 to win and as much as $2,500 to win their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifiers. Stock Cars and Northern SportMods both run for top checks of at least $750 and as much as $1,600. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, E3 Spark Plugs State and track points will be awarded. Entry fee each night is $100 for Modifieds and $75 for Stock Cars and Northern SportMods; non-qualifier pay in those [Read More]

Sweigart blasts past PASS foes at Port Royal Speedway

PORT ROYAL, Pa. (April 27) – In a performance worthy of his nickname, “Nitro” Nick Sweigart blasted the Pennsylvania Sprint Series field to earn his first victory since 2017 in the 20-lap feature Saturday at Port Royal Speedway. Flying past competitors on the outside from his 10th starting position, Sweigart took the lead from Jaremi Hanson on lap seven and never looked back, scoring the win by a 1.448-second margin over Jonathan Jones, who passed Hanson in the fourth turn of the final lap. Zach Newlin finished fourth, with Ryan Lynn taking fifth. Sweigart raced to seven top five finishes last year, including two runner-ups, but he hadn’t visited victory lane since August of 2017 at BAPS Motor Speedway. He had added two more top fives this season and had finished in the top 10 in all five previous PASS IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car events. A stellar field of 39 cars was in the pits and with the large field, Port Royal lead promoter Steve O’Neal added two starting positions to enable 26 cars to [Read More]

Deery Series at Independence rescheduled to June 19

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa – Saturday’s Deery Brothers Summer Series event at Independence Motor Speedway has been rescheduled for Wednesday, June 19. As has been the case numerous times this spring, rain and generally cold temperatures get the blame for the postponement of the IMCA Late Model tour program. Other divisions on the June 19 card are to be announced. Sunday’s Deery at Dubuque was another inclement weather casualty. There is no reschedule date for that event.

Keeton collects Shenandoah Virginia Sprint Series victory

By Jim Haines SHENANDOAH, Va. (April 27) – The Norfolk Southern Railroad across the street from Shenandoah Speedway rumbles and roars when it rolls by, but on Saturday night Mike Keeton made his own noise and looked to be on rails as he sped to the Virginia Sprint Series feature win. The feature-only IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car event rolled to green with Josh Perreault and Chris Ware on the front with the two staying side by side until lap two the Ware edging out front. Bill Rice came up to challenge Ware but his night ended early with a flat right front tire in the infield. On the restart, Ware jumped out but Keeton took over the top spot and sped away. Jerald Harris and Glenn Worrell got by Ware but chasing down Keeton was not going happen without a caution as he powered to the win. The next race will be the first Fast Friday event of the year at Dixieland Speedway on Friday, May 10. Feature results – 1. Mike Keeton; 2. Jerald Harris; [Read More]

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]