Newswire

Three IMCA national rookies of the year earn Friesen Performance crate engines

SUTTON, Neb. – Fifth-year sponsor Friesen Performance rewards national rookies of the year in three IMCA divisions this season. The national Modified rookie of the year earns a 604 crate engine while Northern SportMod and Hobby Stock rookies of the year both receive 602 crate engines courtesy of the Sutton, Neb., dealership. “Friesen Performance is excited to enter into our fifth year of supporting IMCA,” said Al Walters. “The weekly racer is the backbone of this sport and giving back to them is something we take great pride in doing.” Rookie drivers in all three divisions must display two Friesen Performance decals on their race car to be eligible. Engine awards will be presented during the IMCA national banquet in November. 2017 crate engine recipients were Clint Luellen, Modified; Lance Mielke, Hobby Stock; and Jacob Olmstead, Northern SportMod. Friesen also gives a 602 crate to a Hobby Stock or Northern SportMod driver experiencing engine failure during the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway Sept. 3-8. Friesen sells and ships [Read More]

Sunday win at I-37 goes to Minten

By J.M. Hallas PLEASANTON, Texas (April 22) – Talon Minten outlasted the field to take home Sunday’s IMCA Modified main event at I-37 Speedway. Minten got the lead from early point man Chris Morris, who drives with only hand controls, then outpaced the remaining field for the win. “We had a good car,” said Minten. “With the wrecks and cautions I’m glad I started up front and stayed clear of it all. The track wasn’t too bad for our feature, I felt like the top line was dominant so whoever got up there first would likely stay out front.” Dillon Tindall was second and Morris ended his night in third. The scheduled Saturday show at Pleasanton was rescheduled because of inclement weather and wet pit conditions.

Farley, Dubuque set to go green this weekend

By Jerry Mackey FARLEY, Iowa – The racing season is set to see the first green flags of 2018 at the popular Northeast Iowa tracks under the direction of Farley Speedway Promotions. Farley Speedway, located on the southwest corner of Farley, Iowa, is set to entertain a full program of weekly racing that includes IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods on Friday, April 27 with hot laps taking to the 3/8 mile dirt track at 7 p.m. On Sunday, April 29, the Dubuque County Fairgrounds Speedway will open the 2018 campaign with sanctioned Modifieds and Northern SportMods on the card. Sunday’s start time has been moved up to 5 p.m. for the upcoming season. The earlier start time will allow fans and competitors alike an opportunity to get home much earlier and get a good night’s rest to prepare for the week ahead. To see complete track schedules or for more information, log on to the speedways’ official website at www.farleyspeedwaypromotions.com

April 27, 28 Spring Roundup starts season at Electric City

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A pair of $500 to win IMCA Modified features are on season-opening Spring Roundup programs Friday and Saturday, April 27 and 28 at Electric City Speedway. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, Montana State and track points will be awarded both nights. Pit gates at Great Falls are open all day; the grandstand opens at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. both evenings. There is no entry fee and pit passes are $30. Spectator admission is $11 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and over and students ages 12-17, and free for 11 and under. Adult tickets are $9 when purchased online. More information is available from promoter Dan Mann at 406 727-4884.

Hobscheidt rules Dirt Dominator field at Eagle

By Mike Spieker EAGLE, Neb. (April 19) – After rounds four and five were canceled due to weather, the Dirt Dominator continued with round six of 16 at Eagle Raceway. In his first-ever trip to Eagle, Jacob Hobscheidt of Plattsmouth picked up the $1,000 Dirt Dominator payday. Hobscheidt began by besting Eddie Belec in the Sweet 16. That wasn’t the only upset of the opening round as early favorites Hunter Marriott, Kelly Shryock and Tim Ward were all handed defeat. Hobscheidt continued to the quarter finals where he faced the defending IMCA Modified track champion Shane Hiatt. Hobscheidt used the preferred high side to grab the advantage on the opening lap of the two lap dash and take the win. Hobscheidt just about saw his hopes of advancing to the finals vanish as he nearly spun out at drop of the green flag during the semi finals against Clint Homan. However, the yellow was displayed because of an uneven start, which gave Hobscheidt new life. On the restart, Hobscheidt immediately opened up a comfortable advantage [Read More]

Hiatt hauls home opening night hardware, Grabouski gets two Saturday wins at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (April 20-21) – Defending track champion Shane Hiatt raced his way to victory lane on opening night of Eagle Raceway’s Ice Breaker Challenge. Former track champion Jordan Grabouski accomplished the feat twice on night two. Hiatt earned $1,000 and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth along with Friday’s IMCA Modified main event. Grabouski, already on the ballot, was best in Saturday’s $2,000 to win headliner and pocketed another $500 for winning the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. The leader from the drop of the Friday night green, Hiatt ran ahead of Mike Densberger much of the distance before his challenger pulled into the infield with five circuits left. After a couple late restarts, Hunter Marriott wrestled the second spot from Grabouski. Dylan Smith and Eddie Belec completed the top five. Saturday featured another field filled with heavy hitters as Grabouski had to take the front spot away from Marriott and hold on. The laps 12 laps saw Marriott try both high and low grooves but to no avail. Ricky [Read More]

Another long tow to New York ends with another IMCA Modified win for A.J. Ward

By Paul Szmal and Kenny Shupp DUNDEE, N.Y. (April 21) – Another long trip to New York ended with another IMCA Modified feature win for Michigan speedster A.J. Ward. The two-time defending Dirt Works Eastern Region champion chalked up his sixth victory in seven New York State starts, and career 82nd win in the division, by passing Will Ward on the last of 20 laps at Outlaw Speedway’s Spring Nationals on Saturday. A late restart helped open the door for A.J. Ward, who’d taken the initial green flag from fifth starting. He ran side-by-side with Will Ward before eking ahead to take the checkers by close to a couple car lengths. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, A.J. Ward earned $1,000 for the win. Will Ward, the defending state champion, was second and third went to Brandon Smith. Feature results – 1. A.J. Ward; 2. Will Ward; 3. Brandon Smith; 4. Tyler Stoddard; 5. Kody Johnson; 6. Mark Griffin; 7. Gary Lamphere; 8. Keith Jack Lamphere; 9. Keith Lamphere; 10. Rodney Morgan; 11. [Read More]

Twin Highbanks Hustle this Thursday, Friday at Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – A pair of $1,000 to win Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying features for IMCA Modifieds are on Twin Highbanks Hustle cards this Thursday and Friday, April 26 and 27. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods run for $500 to win, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $300 to win both nights. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and Iowa State points will be given each night with track points at stake as well on Friday. IMCA Late Models vie for a top check of $750, plus IMCA national, state and track points, on Friday. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m., with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing to follow both days.

Leraas spins, wins at Shenandoah

By Jim Haines SHENANDOAH, Va. (April 21) – After an early spin, Mike Leraas raced to the front of the field to take his first Virginia Sprint Series win of the season Saturday at Shenandoah Speedway. Chris Ware and Bill Rice pacing the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field to green and stayed side-by-side before an early yellow flew. Rice got the lead on the restart with Tony Harris all over him and Ware in third. Harris worked his way to the front on lap seven but Leraas was gaining speed on the bottom and closing in after passing Rice for second. As the laps wound down Leraas, used a low line to take the lead just as Ware got by Rice for third. Leraas was fastest on the bottom as he flashed under the checkered flag with a five car length cushion over Harris. Ware was third. The next race scheduled is a return to Natural Bridge Speedway on Saturday, May 12.

IMCA Modifieds are new at Crowley’s Ridge Raceway

PARAGOULD, Ark. – The race track that’s been featured on the big screen and small screens all across the country will feature IMCA Modifieds beginning this season. Crowley’s Ridge Raceway opens Saturday, April 28. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Jet Racing Central Region, Arkansas State and track points will be awarded through Sept. 29. “My dad raced and when I came back to Arkansas in 1986, I decided to build a track,” explained Trent Francis, who now operates the quarter-mile red clay oval with his wife Brenda and daughters Paige and Peggy. “I went to the Race For Hope (at Batesville Motor Speedway) last fall and met with IMCA about sanctioning.” “We average 100 cars and have a capacity crowd every night,” continued Francis, who talks racing regularly with I-30 Speedway promoter Tracey Clay. “We have been a Modified track for 16 years but basically in the last five years guys have gotten crazy with big engines racing for $400 to win. I got tired of handing the check to the guy who spent [Read More]