Newswire

Win by Wittkopf comes on emotional night at 141

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (April 13, 2024) – Robert Wittkopf doesn’t believe there could be a better night to win at 141 Speedway than on opening night. Especially this year. After carrying the black flag remembering his father Rodney during pre-race ceremonies at Francis Creek, the Green Bay driver led the last 19 of 20 laps in winning the Saturday night Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main event. “We lost dad to cancer last November. He’d been with me from the start of my career and was my biggest supporter,” said Wittkopf, “whether working on the car or at the track. He was always there.” “There was an amazing amount of emotions from the start of the night to the end, to say the least. It kind of felt like he was still there with me,” Wittkopf added. “You couldn’t have asked for a better opening night.” The win was just his career second in the class and first-ever at 141. Forty-eight Northern SportMods were entered, with five heats and three ‘B’ features needed to fill [Read More]

Hogge, Kniss win IMCA openers at Ocean

By Steven Blakesley Blakesley Sports Media WATSONVILLE, Calif. (April 13, 2024) – Tenth starting Bobby Hogge IV put on a master class of passing, then dominated the rest of the way in winning Saturday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified nightcap at Ocean Speedway. Multiple track champions from across California were scattered throughout the main event field. Hogge charged from tenth to second in the first few laps, avoiding a crash involving Jacob Mallet Jr., Cody Burke and Robert Marsh. Hogge then drove up the inside of Andy Obertello on lap eight to take the lead, accumulating a 6.4 second advantage at the stripe followed by Obertello, Jim Pettit II, Andrew Peckham and Austin Burke. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod action saw Buddy Kniss fend off Fred Ryland in a classic 20-lap duel to start the season. The pair went side-by-side on lap 16 but Kniss held court once again. Kniss saw the checkered flag with a three car length advantage followed by Ryland, Mark Garner, Emali VanHoff and 2023 champion Chuck Golden.

Opening night checkers at Indee are record tying third for Cordes

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (April 13, 2024) – Troy Cordes was quick to put a tough 2023 season in the rearview. Cordes won the opening night feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds for the record-tying third time Saturday at Independence Motor Speedway. The checkers were also his career 143rd in the class dating back to 1996. “Last year we struggled pretty hard and only won once, at Columbus Junction,” said the Dunkerton driver. “Hopefully we’ll be back on track this season.” Cordes already had opening night trophies from 2000 and 2020 on his mantle. In addition to matching Vern Jackson’s mark with his third opening night Modified win, he also put an end to the streak of 19 different opening night winners in the division at Indee. “It’s a good way to start the year. Independence is 20 minutes from home and it’s where I grew up,” said Cordes, who leads all Modified drivers at Independence with seven career track titles and 53 feature wins. “We’ve been coming here every Saturday night since I started racing.” Modifieds have run [Read More]

Hendershot takes opener at Natural Bridge

By Jim Haines NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (April 13, 2024) – On a windy and sunny day, Donnie Hendershot flew like the to finish first in the season opening race for the Virginia Sprint Series at Natural Bridge Speedway. Hendershot and Jerald Harris paced the Saturday night IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field to green. Hendershot used the low line to gain the lead with Harris staying high while John Scarborough used the low line and was on Harris quickly. Scarborough made it to second as Hendershot continued out front and with the laps winding down, traffic was coming up and that allowed Scarborough to close in. With the white flag waving, Scarborough was within striking distance as he made the final push but Hendershot stayed strong streaking under the waving checkered flag. At the line it was Scarborough, Jerald Harris, Caleb Harris and Matthew Leach completing the top five behind Hendershot. On Saturday, April 20, the Virginia Sprint Series and Laurel Highlands Sprint Series will join up at Hagerstown Speedway for the second race of the [Read More]

Clay County Frost Buster win is IMCA Stock Car first for Fett

SPENCER, Iowa (April 15, 2024) – Just how exciting was the finish of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature Monday at Clay County Fair Speedway? Winner Colby Fett had watched the replay on IMCA.TV three times and was still searching for all the right words to describe it the next morning. “I had tested one of Kelly Shryock’s cars a couple years ago but this was my first official real go race, go for it night in a Stock Car,” said Fett. “We put some older stuff on (all four tires dated from last year) and went out to put on some laps. We wanted to finish in the top 10 and bring the car home in one piece.” Wheeling the B & B Skyrocket piloted last season by Troy Swearingen, Fett ran third in his heat and started the main event outside row four. “I had to get by some really good guys to get to the front. To pass Jeffrey Larson was a big deal. I have a lot of respect for all [Read More]

RPM Speedway fans give back during Community Giveback Night

HAYS, Kan. (April 13, 2024) – Planning that began last fall came to fruition Saturday night at RPM Speedway. Fans attending the first race of the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season at the Hays, Kan., track donated enough non-perishable food items to fill five grocery carts and part of a sixth to the Ellis County Community Assistance Center. Those Community Giveback Night donations will be distributed to those in need served by the center, located in Hays. “Almost everybody has been in the position where they needed a little help,” said RPM promoter Chris Sutton. “It was very, very encouraging to be able to give back like this to the community that supports us.” Sutton had helped with similar projects while announcing for Paul Dutton at Hutchinson Raceway Park. A proponent of making every race night “an event,” and came up with Community Giveback Night while penciling out his 2024 schedule. Fans donating four cans of food got in for $5 while those donating eight cans got in at no additional cost. “Our fans really stepped up [Read More]

License eligibility spelled out in IMCA general, divisional rules

VINTON, Iowa (April 15, 2024) – IMCA drivers will still be allowed to compete in specified, multiple divisions this season. What they won’t be doing, however, is changing divisions multiple times, especially when it comes time to racing in high-paying specials. Both general rules and divisional rules posted on the IMCA website now specify which divisions drivers can compete in when purchasing licenses in two or more classes; what’s spelled out in black and white is the time they’ll have to wait when switching between restricted divisions. “For example, if a driver with a Modified license switches to a Northern or Southern SportMod, they have to stay in the new division for 12 calendar months from the date they changed divisions,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “What we’ve seen primarily is drivers making that switch to race in higher-paying specials held prior to or after the end of the point season. In no way is it fair for SportMod drivers who support their weekly tracks during the season to race against Modified or Late Model [Read More]

Alvarado claims season opener at Boone

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (April 13, 2024) – Boone Speedway began its regular weekly series of racing on Saturday, marking the 57th consecutive year at Iowa’s Action Track. Out-of-state drivers claimed two of the opening points night victories, Colorado’s Ricky Alvarado in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Riley Clem, who hails from California, in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. A veteran racer in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Kevin Opheim found victory lane as did Cam Reimers in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods while Mike Smith continues to amaze in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. One hundred and fifty-two racers checked in for the fun filled night of racing. Things kicked off with the Mod Lites and their 15-lap main event. As the race went green, it was Josh May holding down the top spot but that didn’t last long as Clem took over at lap three. From there on, it was Clem’s race as he raced home to the checkers with hardly a challenge. There was a lot of action going on [Read More]

Lemke, Larson, Franzen, LaMar are All Star Night winners

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (April 13, 2024) – The Darkside Promotions All Star Night welcomed over 100 race cars on a warm Mid-April evening on Saturday night. The race hungry fans were treated to an exciting night of racing. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds saw Illinois un-retired driver Scotte Lemke pick up the win. Lemke was a fixture at Tri-State tracks in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s before sitting out for 16 years. The veteran showed he still is to be reckoned with as he led all 30 laps in route to the win. Jeff Larson applied pressure in the early going and it appeared the friends were going to provide a thrilling race but Larson was sidelined with tire failure as the race passed midway. Dan Roedl and Drew Janssen applied the heat to Lemke in the latter half of the main. At the checkers it was Lemke scoring the win ahead of Roedl and Janssen. Larson was given the opportunity to drive Lee Kinsella’s IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and gave the 21 [Read More]

RPM opens with Community Giveback Night lidlifter

By Sheldon Wickwar HAYS, KAN. (April 13, 2024) – Seventy-nine race teams checked into the legendary RPM Speedway for opening night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season. Visiting victory lane were Dakota Sproul in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Troy Burkhart in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Morgan Olmstead in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Hunter Smith in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Gage Porter in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Sport Compacts started the show off with Connor Schwien grabbing the early lead in their 15-lap feature. Kiowa Higdon got to second by lap two while Kevin Tremblay and Porter battled side-by-side for third. Schwien lost the lead to Gage Porter behind a slowing car and Porter brought the field back to a restart with seven laps to go. The top five battled nose-to-tail for the next few laps. Schwien regained the race lead with two laps to go, but Porter battled back on the last lap and regained the lead out of turn four as Schwien went rolling [Read More]