bentoncountyspeedway Archives

Benton County Speedway race start time change

By Jerry Mackey VINTON, Iowa – Specialty Race Promotions, operators of Benton County Speedway, The Bullring, have made the decision to set the start time for the Sunday race programs back to 6 p.m. That change was made due to the difficulties of getting enough water into the track under the summer’s high sun, which has made for dusty conditions. The start time will be set back an hour which will not only allow better race conditions but will make for much more comfortable conditions for our loyal race fans. Effective this Sunday, July 12 the grandstands and pit gates will open at 4 p.m. with hot laps set to get underway at 6 p.m. with racing to follow.

Carter scores big win on Benton County Speedway’s Urbana 5 Race Night

By Jerry Mackey VINTON, Iowa (July 5) – One hundred and forty-seven drivers packed the pit area at the Benton County Speedway Bullring Sunday night for the Urbana 5 Memorial. The very special race night was run in memory of the five youngsters who perished in a tragic traffic accident in April of 2015; the kids were all avid race fans. The headliner of the night was the 25-lap Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature. With the lineup included past national and IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champions, the Urbana 5 committee bolstered the winner’s share of the purse to $1,800. The extra money brought a stout field of 30 SportMod drivers to The Bullring on Sunday night. Joe Docekal took the lead from his outside front row start and led for several laps before a series of yellow flags allowed some of the heavy hitters time to work toward the front from deep in the field. Brayton Carter had started 21st and steadily worked to the front, taking the lead from Docekal late in the race setting [Read More]

Schulte, Docekal dash to first wins of season at Benton County Speedway

By Jerry Mackey VINTON, Iowa (June 28) – Mark Schulte and Joe Docekal scored first local wins of the season on the night Benton County Speedway hosted the world’s largest candy dash. Mark Schulte took the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature win ahead of two of the most accomplished drivers to ever strap into a Modified. Greg Kastli had a great night with a heat win and a second place finish in the main. Troy Cordes followed Kastli under the checkers in third. Joe Docekal has been a frontrunner in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod division this season but the wins have eluded the Dysart driver. Docekal was not to be denied on Sunday night however as he took the lead from early leader Kyle Olson and went on to score the feature win ahead of Brady Hilmer and Jason Doyle. Damon Murty found the extreme high side to his liking on Sunday night in scoring the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win. Murty advanced from the third row and took the win over Shawn Ritter [Read More]

Urbana 5, Iowa Donor Network Night July 5 at Benton County

VINTON, Iowa – Four IMCA divisions take their turn on the track during Benton County Speedway’s Urbana 5 Memorial/Iowa Donor Network Night on Sunday, July 5. Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods run for $1,000 to win that evening. IMCA Modifieds chase a $700 top check while IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $400 to win and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $300. Additional sponsorship money and awards are to be announced. There will be prizes for fans and a bike giveaway for kids as well. There is no entry fee for any division. Pit gates at The Bullring open at 3 p.m. with racing at 5 p.m. Spectator admission is $14 for adults, $11 for seniors and students, and free for kids five and under. Pit passes are $25 for adults and $14 for 13 and under. The Urbana 5 Memorial/Iowa Donor network show will be broadcast by IMCA.TV.

Berry repeats, young Murty wins Family Feud at Benton County Speedway

By Jerry Mackey VINTON, Iowa (June 21) – Sunday night racing action was held at the Benton County Speedway despite afternoon showers that threatened the racing program. The rains stayed to the north allowing the racing to be held and a very fast program was held with the final checkered flag of the night waving at 7:52 pm. Tom Berry Jr. scored his second win of the season at The Bullring by topping a strong field of IMCA Modifieds in their 20-lap feature. Mark Schulte led the first half of the race until Berry was able to slide inside of him in turn four on lap 11. Berry cruised on to the win with Schulte holding off Ryan Duhme at the finish line. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature saw plenty of fireworks as the main event turned into a family battle between Dallon Murty and his dad Damon. The younger Murty took the lead near the halfway point of the race but was not able to shake several other contenders which included his dad. Damon got [Read More]

Benton County duel goes to Cordes

By Jerry Mackey VINTON, Iowa (June 14) – Sunday’s IMCA Modified 20-lap feature saw long-time Benton County Speedway racer Troy Cordes outduel Dylan Thornton from California for the win. The two traded the lead several times before Cordes was able to take control late in the race. Thornton ran a close second ahead of last week’s winner Tom Berry Jr. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature belonged to Shawn Ritter. He ran the extreme low line the entire race and held back Damon Murty in getting to the checkers first. Outside front row starter Tony Olson put on a dominating performance in winning the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main. Olson ran the extreme high side the entire race in leading flag to flag. Dylan VanWyk made the bottom work well but not good enough to get by Olson in settling for second. Plenty of excitement was witnessed by the fans in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature. When the checkers flew it was Brett Vanous making his way to victory lane following a spirited battle [Read More]

Berry tops Sunday Modified main at Benton County

By Jerry Mackey VINTON, Iowa (June 7) – For the first time in 2020, fans were allowed to attend the racing action at Benton County Speedway. A good crowd attended the event that saw 121 race car drivers take part in the action on Sunday night. The headliner of the evening was the 20-lap IMCA Modified main event. Defending Side Biter Chassis North Central Region champion Tom Berry Jr. from North Dakota found The Bullring to his liking. Berry took the green flag from the seventh starting position and quickly shot into second and hounded the car of Troy Cordes. On the 13th lap, Cordes slid out of the groove in turn four and gave Berry the opening he was looking for. Berry shot into the lead and drove on to the win ahead of Joel Rust and Cordes. The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main feature belonged to Brayton Carter, who took the lead before one lap was completed and went on to lead the entire 20 laps. Ben Chapman advanced from his 10th position start to finish a strong [Read More]

Season opener with fans at Benton County Speedway Sunday, June 7

By Jerry Mackey VINTON, Iowa – The 2020 point racing season will take the green flag this Sunday, June 7 at the Benton County Speedway, The Bullring. Under the direction of the Dripps family, the Speedway located on the Benton County Fairgrounds has undergone many improvements and upgrades. The track is in excellent condition and with all the time and effort put into enhancing the surface, the track is going to be very conducive to extremely exciting racing. Sunday night’s racing under the IMCA sanction will see racing in the IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock divisions. “We are really excited to welcome the fans to The Bullring this Sunday,” stated Rick Dripps, “Our goal is to provide an exciting, fast-paced show that will be run in a timely fashion “ On Sunday, the warmup session will get underway at 4:30 p.m. with the first race scheduled to go green at 5 p.m.

Benton County Speedway holds open practice Sunday, May 31

By Jerry Mackey VINTON, Iowa – Sunday, May 31 will be an open practice session for all racers from 4-7 p.m. Pit gates will open at 3 p.m. at The Bullring located on the Benton County Fairgrounds in Vinton. The point racing season will open on June 7 with fans being allowed to attend the races. The racing action will get underway on June 7 with warmups slated to take to the track at 4:30 p.m. with racing to follow at 5 p.m.

Simpson captures Benton County opener, All-Star ballot nod

By Jerry Mackey VINTON, Iowa (May 24) – With fans watching on big and small screens, Chris Simpson held off Cayden Carter in winning the IMCA Modified feature on opening night Sunday at Benton County Speedway. The headliner of the night was the 25-lap IMCA Modified feature, which provided great racing on the perfectly prepared track and a battle to the checkered flag. Simpson, driving a Doug Cue-owned car, started on the pole position, led the race early and appeared to have control of the race until fourth starting Carter began to reel him. Carter raced to the white flag on the rear bumper of Simpson and set up a side-by-side drag race down the back chute as the checkered flag was about to be waved. Simpson shot off the high side of turn four and held off Carter at the finish line taking the win by half a car length. Ethan Braaksma followed across the stripe in third. Simpson’s victory paid $1,000 and put him on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star [Read More]