Newswire

Berry impresses with Benton County checkers

VINTON, Iowa (April 24) – Tom Berry Jr. was impressed by the quality of drivers he raced with each and every night out this season, in his first 11 Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified starts in Nebraska and Iowa. On Sunday, the Medford, Ore., native impressed with his first Hawkeye State win at Benton County Speedway. After starting second, Berry worked his way out front of a star-filled field and took the checkers with J.D. Auringer, Scott Hogan, Ronn Lauritzen, Patrick Flannagan and Darin Duffy scored in that order behind him. “The car got better and we hit our marks,” said Berry, who found the best bite on the higher line in turns three and four. “We built a new car and once we get this thing figured out, it’s going to be a rocket ship.” He chatted with Auringer, a former track champion, for half an hour in the pits at Vinton after the races. “I was really impressed with how he drove. It was about the best I’d ever seen,” Berry said. “There are [Read More]

Van Genderen victorious at Boone

BOONE, Iowa (April 23) – It was night number two of IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly points racing at Boone Speedway on Saturday. Close racing, and exciting finishes gave the fans their money’s worth. In the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified division, Mike Van Genderen took the win from his eighth place starting position. He ran down Josh Truman after several laps of tormenting him high and then low, and finally taking command at lap 10. Truman kept Van Genderen within striking distance but to no avail and had to settle for the runner-up spot. Russ Dickerson charged through the field from starting 10th to take third place. Veteran Denny Pittman was fourth and Jimmy Gustin finished fifth from starting 12th. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win went to Wayne Gifford. Gifford had the lead at lap two, and never relinquished it the rest of the way. Jay Schmidt had him in his sights for most of the 18-lap event but was never able to make the pass, and had to be content with second. [Read More]

Hughes, Struck capture CJ Speedway opening night wins

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (April 22) – The 2016 racing season at CJ Speedway kicked off Friday with the action sponsored by the Louisa County Fair Association. Feature winners included Mike Hughes in the Kauffman Electric IMCA Stock Cars and Steven Struck in the Louisa Communications IMCA Sport Compacts. Adam Bell and Tad Payne led the field to green in the 20-lap Stock Car feature, with Bell jumping out front on lap one over Payne and Blaine Dopler. Bell held the top spot until lap four when Payne slipped by for the lead. The 11th starting Hughes took the top spot away from Payne on lap six and then pulled away to the win. Rod Staats was second, Dopler was third, Payne was fourth with Kirk Kinsley rounding out the top 5. Shane Wright and Bill Whalen Jr. paced the Sport Compact field to green. Whalen took advantage of his front row start to grab the lead over Brendon Schultheis and Jake Benischek. Mechanical troubles on lap 10 forced Whale to pull in and handed the lead over [Read More]

Abelson flies fastest at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (April 23) – Defending national champion Chris Abelson was back in the winner’s circle Saturday at Eagle Raceway. Abelson held off Shane Hiatt for top honors in the Kaplan University IMCA Modified headliner. Roger Hadan and Bob Zoubek rounded out the top four. “It’s always easier when you start on the front row,” acknowledged Abelson. “It was a little rough in spots tonight because of the rain but there were different lines you could run to avoid them.” A total of 180 cars were in the pits. Jason Martin also parlayed a good starting spot into a run to the checkers, winning the IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Car feature ahead of Tyler Drueke and Shayle Bade. “I’ll say the same thing that Trevor said last week: It’s easier to win when you start on the front row,” Martin said. “We felt we had the car to win last week so we kept the same set-up. Next week it won’t be so easy when the handicap starts up. But that just [Read More]

Nusser nabs Saturday win at Dodge City

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (April 23) – William Nusser made a late move around race-long leader Trent Gray to capture his first career feature win in the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified 20-lapper Saturday at Dodge City Raceway Park. Gray broke into the early lead from the pole starting position with Nusser and Clay Sellard turning up the pressure as the race progressed. Nusser kept looking to Gray’s inside with Sellard nipping at the heels of both. Nusser finally squeezed under and raced into the lead exiting turn four on the 17th lap. Nusser held the point over the final rounds to take the victory ahead of Gray and Sellard with Jack Kirchoff and Cody Gearhart rounding out the top five. Nick Link held down fifth with the white flag in sight only to fall deep into the field with a flat right front tire on the final lap. Michael Pepper worked past Chris Oliver on the fourth round and never looked back in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car 15-lapper, ultimately taking the checkered flag [Read More]

Holley renews awards for five IMCA divisions, Deery Series

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – For an 18th season, IMCA drivers will be in the running for contingency awards from Holley Performance. The Bowling Green, Ky., company is manufacturer of the official carburetor of IMCA and returns to the decal program for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars; drivers in that division must display two Holley decals to be eligible for national and regional point fund shares. Holley again awards 750 cfm gas or alcohol HP carburetors to top eligible drivers in each of the five Xtreme Motor Sports Modified regions. Product certificates valued at $350, $250, $100 and $100 go to the next four drivers. Top three drivers in both Northern and Southern Stock Car regions earn 350 or 500 cfm carburetors. Fourth and fifth place drivers receive $100 product certificates and sixth through 10th place finishers each get $50 certificates. Top eligible drivers based on national Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod standings determine claim engine recipients of 500 cfm carburetors or crate engine recipients of 650 cfm carburetors. Runners-up receive $175 certificates, with [Read More]

Frederick conquers Stock Cars at 141 opener

By Greg Aregoni FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (April 16) – Kyle Frederick exited the pit area following opening night at 141 Speedway as the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car point leader. Frederick used all the tack in the track to put his no. 50F ride solidly up front in a feature that ran caution-free. Frederick put his racer on cruise control early as a great battle ensued behind him for second. Shawn Havel flew to the front of pack to challenge the leader. The duo ran side by side early but Havel could not maintain the pace. Frederick ran down lapped traffic and took his time getting through. Frederick picked up the win in comfortable fashion. John Heinz ran down Havel and finished second later in the contest. Defending champion Brett Wenzel finished fourth with Troy Muench fifth. On the first lap of the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature, Robby Thiel flipped his car in turn three. Track officials decided to call the rest of the evening’s events for drivers’ safety. Saturday nIght, April 30 will be the Red, White and Blue [Read More]

Deery Series heads to Quad City Speedway for Sunday show

EAST MOLINE, Ill. – The Deery Brothers Summer Series looks for its fourth winner in as many 30th season shows this Sunday, when touring IMCA Late Models travel to Quad City Speedway. The May 1 main event at East Moline pays $2,000 to win and a minimum of $300 to start. It’s also the first time in the series’ 454-race history that an event has been held on May Day. While Denny Eckrich, Curt Martin and Scott Fitzpatrick own feature wins so far, it’s seven-time series champion Jeff Aikey who will take the Deery point lead to East Moline. Aikey and eventual rookie of the year Tyler Droste were tour winners at Quad City Speedway last season. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. Sunday while the grandstand opens at 3:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 5 p.m. with racing to follow. Box seating is $18. Other spectator admission is $15 for adults, $8 for kids ages 6-12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $30. Also running will be Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds [Read More]

Ward prevails in Tri-City lidlifter

AUBURN, Mich. (April 22) – Two-time track champion A.J. Ward started his 2016 campaign with the Friday night checkers at Tri-City Motor Speedway. Toby Steele and 2015 regional and track rookie of the year Mitchell Hunt took the field of 20 to the green flag in the Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified main event. Hunt paced the group the first five laps before Heath Grizzle led a pair of laps. Ward maneuvered his way from his ninth place starting position to make the pass on Grizzle for the lead. It looked like Ward was going to cruise to an easy win but with just three laps to go Ward would be caught in traffic that allowed Grizzle to challenge for the win. Ward, however, was able to score the win by a car length at the stripe. Grizzle had to settle for second. He was followed by Matt Szecsodi, Kody Johnson and Hunt. Nearly 100 competitors saw action in the lidlifer at Auburn.

Ellerman prevails in PASS headliner at Path Valley

DRY RUN, Pa. (April 23) – Scott Ellerman picked up the Pennsylvania Sprint Series win at Path Valley Speedway Saturday night by holding off a late charge from Zach Newlin. The defending IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Car tour champion pulled close to the leader as he navigated lapped traffic but was unable to deny Ellerman his second win of the season. He’s now the second repeat winner of the year. Dale Schweikart had another top five finish with Darren Miller and Kyle Lloyd next across the stripe. Feature results – 1. Scott Ellerman; 2. Zack Newlin; 3. Dale Schweikart; 4. Darren Miller; 5. Kyle Lloyd; 6. Jeff Taylor; 7. Drew Ritchey; 8. Scott Lutz; 9. Stephanie Dodson; 10. Cody Hackenberry; 11. Kyle Ganoe; 12. Andrew Hake; 13. Seth Kearchner; 14. Jack Thornton; 15. Brad Mellott; 16. Kirsten Hess; 17. Dave Grube; 18. Jim Kennedy; 19. Cale Reigle; 20. Quintin Hankla.