bentoncountyspeedway Archives

Olson Takes Top SportMod Honors at Benton County Speedway

By Christine Rublack VINTON, Iowa (Jun. 22, 2025) — Brandon Tharp led the early laps of the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods feature at Benton County Speedway during Iowa Donor Night, held in remembrance of the Urbana 5, but Kyle Olson quickly reeled him in. Brady Hilmer moved into third as Olson turned up the pressure. By halfway, Olson powered into the lead while Hilmer worked the low groove to take over second. Lapped traffic brought the front-runners together again in the closing laps, with Brett Thomas joining the battle. Olson held off a hard-charging Hilmer for the win, his third of the season and second at “The Bullring” this year. Thomas finished third. Fisher Inches Ahead in Hobby Stock Close Finish Joren Fisher edged out the competition in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. He quickly moved into the lead with Dustin Filloon and Mike Kimm giving chase. Filloon later slipped into the top spot as lapped traffic began to play a role in the outcome. Leah Wroten advanced into third ahead of Justin Stander as [Read More]

Olson Makes It Three Straight with Stock Car Win at Vinton

By Christine Rublack VINTON, Iowa (Jun. 8, 2025) — Tony Olson took home his third straight Sunoco IMCA Stock Car victory. Olson, who had won the previous two weeks, took the top position early in the race with John Oliver Jr. and Dakoda Sellers in pursuit. The top two began to pull away from the field. Brett Vanous had his eyes set on Sellers as the laps began to wind down. Olson took the checkers first, with Vanous and Oliver following. The Cedar Rapids veteran now has seven wins this season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, with his current streak extending to three straight. Fitz Doubles Up in Modifieds at Benton County Back-to-back in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Trevor Fitz once again found victory lane. Owen Barnhill took control of the race early with Chris Snyder in tow. Fitz had moved into third with Ben Chapman Jr. in fourth. Using the high line, Fitz worked his way into the top spot just a few laps later. Barnhill now had Snyder and Chapman on his [Read More]

Olson Doubles Up in Stock Cars at Benton County

By Christine Rublack VINTON, Iowa (June 1, 2025) —Tony Olson went back-to-back at Benton County Speedway in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars by winning the 20-lap feature. Riley Hanson took an early lead in a three-car battle for second place between Austin Schuring, Olson, and Dakoda Sellers. Johnathan Logue had now found his way into the top three. Olson worked the high line and into the top position. It was Olson who crossed the checkers first, followed by Logue, Sellers, and Hanson. The Cedar Rapids racer started sixth and now has six wins in EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region action in 2025. Fitz Rockets to First Modified Region Win of 2025 The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds saw Trevor Fitz taking top honors. Patrick Flannagan and Fitz contended for the top spot early as Chris Zogg worked into third. Ethan Krall and Dennis Betzer had a battle for fourth. Fitz took over the top spot and began to pull away from the rest of the field as Zogg moved into second. By the halfway point, Krall [Read More]

Baca Blazes to $4,600 Anniversary Win at Vinton

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 25, 2025) — Benton County Speedway celebrated the 46th anniversary of the IMCA Modified division with a 46-lap, $4,600-to-win main event, and it was two-time and defending national champion Chaz Baca Jr. who cashed in. The Mesa, Arizona, standout sliced his way through the field from ninth to score his third Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifier win. He had already secured eligibility to try and qualify for the event at the 2025 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s with two victories during January’s IMCA.TV Winter Nationals. 2020 National champion Tom Berry Jr. paced the opening circuits until trouble on lap 13 handed the lead to Jerry Flippo. Flippo’s own mechanical issues forced him to the infield not long after a red flag on lap 16, giving the top spot to defending IMCA SportMod Super Nationals winner Logan Anderson. Anderson looked poised to go the distance, but Baca reeled him in by lap 29. The battle soon included Zachary Madrid, who stormed into second just before a lap 31 [Read More]

Feature

Anniversary Races Memorial Day Weekend At Three Iowa Tracks — Marshalltown, Boone, and Benton County

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 14, 2025) — Memorial Day weekend will be a special one in Iowa as three of some of the state’s most prestigious tracks host races to commemorate the 46th Anniversary of Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and the 20th Anniversary of the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods. The weekend kicks off on Friday, May 23 at Marshalltown Speedway, before moving west to Boone Speedway on Saturday night. The action wraps up Sunday at the birthplace of IMCA in Vinton, where Benton County Speedway will host the series finale. Both Friday and Saturday will feature $2,000.00 to win for the IMCA Modifieds and $1,000.00 to win for the IMCA Northern SportMods. On Sunday, the Modifieds will compete for $4,600.00 to win and $400.00 to start, while SportMods will battle for a $2,000.00 top prize and $190.00 to start. “It’s a great honor to keep this Memorial Day tradition going and to recognize the heritage that Benton County Speedway has with the IMCA Modifieds, dating all the way back to 1979,” said [Read More]

Champions crowned at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 18, 2024) – Season championship feature racing was held Sunday night at Benton County Speedway and track champions were crowned in six divisions at The Bullring. The best finish of the night came in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Christie Door Company. John Oliver Jr. wrapped up the track title by taking the green flag in that 20-lapper, but he ran second for much of the event to Braden Richards. Richards protected the top side of the speedway while Oliver pressured throughout the entirety of the event. With Oliver inching closer in the low groove, Richards took the low side to deny his efforts in the final set of turns on the final lap. Richards drifted to the middle of the track exiting turn four, allowing Oliver to draw alongside the leader coming to the checkers. At the line, Richards held on by .018 of a second to earn his first win at The Bullring. Oliver ran second ahead of Kaden Reynolds and Kyle Olson. In the Friesen Performance IMCA [Read More]

Murty tops Bald Tire Bash, Snyder gets first win at The Bullring

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 11, 2024) – Dallon Murty was the $2,000 winner in the Bald Tire Bash Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. The event, which required a maximum tire tread depth of 1/8” in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car division, featured a 40-lap feature that Murty dominated once he got out front. Kyle Olson was the early leader in the Christie Door Company main event. He was pressured by Kaden Reynolds and Damon Murty while Dallon Murty was making his way through traffic from the fifth row. A terrific battle among the front-runners ensued before Dallon Murty made his way to the front around midway. He then built a lead of over four seconds while his pursuers jockeyed for position behind him. Despite lapped traffic slowing his progress late, Murty raced to the convincing win ahead of Reynolds. Buck Schafroth, who started 16th, ran third ahead of Damon Murty. Jacob Snyder’s weekly improvement in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds paid off Sunday night. He topped the Wright Way Trailers 20-lapper to earn the first [Read More]

Bald Tire Bash, Kids’ Backpack Night this Sunday at The Bullring

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 8, 2024) – In what has become an annual event for the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Christie Door Company, the Bald Tire Bash will highlight racing action this Sunday, Aug. 11 at Benton County Speedway. The draw/redraw special for the Stock Cars will boast a $2,000 winner’s share in a $200 to start main event at The Bullring. There is no entry fee. Maximum tire tread depth allowed for the division that evening is 1/8”. IMCA state, regional and national points only will be awarded for the Stock Cars. IMCA weekly points racing will continue Sunday for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wright Way Trailers, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. INEX Legends presented by Legends.Direct will also compete Sunday night. In addition to the racing program, Sunday is Kids’ Backpack Night for the youth in attendance. As of last Sunday, the Lil’ Racer Car Club collected nearly 140 backpacks full of school supplies for the giveaway. [Read More]

Wolf gets first win, Rundle repeats at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (July 28, 2024) – It was a memorable Sunday for Will Wolf at Benton County Speedway. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod driver raced to his career first win on the fast, smooth, quarter-mile Bullring. Robert Patava led the early stages of the 15-lapper while Wolf worked into contention from a second row start. He took command a handful of laps into the event while Kyle Olson and Tony Olson made their way through the pack. Wolf built a one second lead over the Olsons, who battled side-by-side behind the leader throughout much of the race. Wolf maintained his stay out front to drive to the milestone win ahead of Tony Olson, who inched ahead of Kyle Olson at the checkers. Rayce Mullen ran fourth. One week after his first career win, Robert Rundle made back-to-back trips to victory lane in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Rundle took charge at the drop of the green and built a sizable lead while Lukas Rick raced through the field from the third row. Rundle survived [Read More]

IMCA Weekly Racing, plus Legends, A.I.R.S. Sunday at The Bullring

VINTON, Iowa (July 24, 2024) – The IMCA Weekly Racing season rolls on this Sunday, July 28, for Mountain Dew Night at Benton County Speedway. All weekly classes will be in action on The Bullring, including the INEX Legends presented by Legends.Direct and the American Iron Racing Series (A.I.R.S.). Only a handful of events remain this season to determine track champions. Drivers in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wright Way Trailers, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Christie Door Company, Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts will all continue their pursuit of a championship July 28. Both pit gate and grandstand open at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, with hot laps slated for 5 and racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and veterans, and $5 for ages 6-12. Kids ages five and under will be admitted free if accompanying a paid adult. Pit passes are $30. There will be door prize giveaways and a 50/50 raffle will be [Read More]