bentoncountyspeedway Archives

Five familiar faces find victory lane at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (July 25) – With the weekly points battles entering the final month of the season, drivers who’d already experienced success this season at Benton County Speedway made return trips to the winner’s circle Sunday night at The Bullring. Although it had been nearly two months since his most recent win on the quarter-mile, KISS Country 96.5 IMCA Modified driver Troy Cordes showed why he’s the point leader in the 20-lapper for that division. From a third row start, Cordes worked the top side into contention and past early race leader Jesse Belez prior to the midway point. He then set sail to drive to his fifth win of the season ahead of a charging Dylan Thornton. Jeff Aikey, Derrick Stewart and Mark Schulte completed the top five. Dallon Murty continued his mastery in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto Service. From a mid-pack start, Murty took just a few laps to race into the lead and build over a straight-away advantage in that 15-lapper. Meanwhile, Texas visitor Shelby Williams raced [Read More]

After scouting out fast line, Becerra banks biggest check at Benton County’s Urbana 5

VINTON, Iowa (July 11) – Watching the IMCA Modified feature from his vantage point in staging gave Austen Becerra a pretty good idea where the fast line would be for his own main event Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. The Carthage, Ill., visitor made his way around the high side of The Bullring, leading all 20 laps of the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature for a $2,200 Urbana 5 special payday. “Sitting in staging, I could see Cayden Carter running the top side and thought that was going to be the place to be,” said Becerra, winner of the 2018 Hogan Memorial in one of his earlier, rare visits to Vinton. “I had no idea how much we were ahead of everybody else. I just ran my own race, never felt any pressure and just got into my own rhythm.” Becerra had started outside the front row and led Californian Kaylin Lopez, defending race winner Brayton Carter and Logan Anderson to a lap nine caution. Carter took over second on the restart; another yellow [Read More]

Bigger payouts, good cause at Benton County Speedway’s Urbana 5 special

VINTON, Iowa – Drivers in five IMCA divisions hit the track for bigger payouts and a good cause at Benton County Speedway’s Sunday, July 11 Urbana 5 program. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods all race for $1,000 to win, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $400 and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $250. Features for the Modifieds and Stock Cars are qualifiers for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational and B & B Chassis All-Star Invitational, respectively. Additional money from sponsors, local businesses and donations will be paid throughout each field, with three luck of the draws paying $50 to random finishers in each feature. The Urbana 5 special is held to remember the five area youth killed in a 2015 traffic accident near Urbana, and to encourage people to become organ and tissue donors. An Iowa Donor Network representative will be located in a booth under the grandstand. The Urbana 5 group will also be raising money for families with children who need financial help for eye care assistance and will [Read More]

Tharp goes back-to-back, Zogg gets first at Benton County

VINTON, Iowa (July 4) – An impressive 120 race teams signed in to compete in the first weekly points races to be held on the Fourth of July in 22 years at Benton County Speedway. Draw/redraw points racing was held in all five weekly divisions that saw a first-time winner, a back-to-back winner and two drivers who made their respective fifth trips to victory lane this season at The Bullring. Brandon Tharp has made winning look easy lately in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Christie Door Company. Tharp, who earned his career first win in the division last month in Independence, drove to his first Vinton win just a few weeks ago. He backed up that victory with a return trip to the winner’s circle Sunday night. Tharp started the 15-lapper from the pole position with defending track champion Ben Chapman to his outside. Tharp powered ahead at the drop of the green with Chapman closely pursuing. Following an early restart, Tharp went to work on the top groove and was continually [Read More]

Festive July 4 set for Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa – With both attempts at holding the Benton County Fair races washed out, the focus now shifts to Sunday, July 4 at Benton County Speedway. And it’s going to be big. As part of “A Celebration at The Bullring” on the Independence Day holiday, the speedway will host weekly racing in all five divisions, plus the Lil’ Racer Car Club benefit raffle. A giant fireworks display will close out the holiday program following the races. Weekly racing will feature KISS Country 96.5 IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto Service, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by Kwik Star, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Christie Door Company and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts presented by Auto Crafters. All weekly divisions will be draw/redraw and all applicable IMCA points, including local track points, will be awarded. There is no entry fee. Sprint Invaders and Midwest Micro Sprints will complete Sunday’s program. Adult grandstand admission is $18, seniors and veterans $16, and ages 6-14 $5. Kids ages five and under are admitted [Read More]

Benton County Fair races postponed to Sunday

VINTON, Iowa (June 24) – Rainy weather has forced the postponement of the 2021 Benton County Fair races. Originally scheduled for Thursday, June 24, the annual fair races at The Bullring have been rescheduled for Sunday, June 27, pending an improved weather forecast for county fair events. While the race date has changed, increased prize money for the fair race remains up-for-grabs Sunday for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto Service, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Christie Door Company, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by Kwik Star and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts presented by Auto Crafters. SportMods will compete for a $750 winner’s share and $100 to start on Sunday, Stock Cars $500 to win and $100 to start, Hobby Stocks $400 and $75, and Sport Compacts $250 and $75. The show will also feature a special appearance by the American Iron Racing Series (A.I.R.S.). IMCA state, regional and national points will be awarded in the draw/redraw event. Track points will not be awarded and IMCA Modifieds are not scheduled to [Read More]

Bullring rained out Sunday, Benton County Fair races set for Thursday

VINTON, Iowa (June 20) – Much needed rainfall has forced the cancellation of the June 20 racing program at Benton County Speedway. Over half an inch of rain fell Sunday morning with more expected throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Next up at the speedway will be the annual Benton County Fair races this Thursday, June 24. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto Service, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Christie Door Company, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by Kwik Star and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts presented by Auto Crafters will compete for increased prize money during the Thursday fair special at the Bullring. Stock Cars compete for a $500 winner’s share, SportMods $750, Hobby Stocks $400 and Sport Compacts $250 in a draw/redraw event that will award state, regional and national IMCA points. There is no entry fee. The American Iron Racing Series (A.I.R.S.) will also compete Thursday night. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $13 for veterans and seniors, and $5 for children ages 6-14. Kids five and under will [Read More]

Tharp, Siems score first Bullring wins

VINTON, Iowa (June 13) – Brandon Tharp waited five years for his first feature win. It took him only another eight days to earn his second. Tharp, whose career first win came June 5 in Independence, earned his first Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod presented by Christie Door Company victory in front of his hometown crowd Sunday night at the Benton County Speedway Bullring. Eric Alexander led at the drop of the green and was pursued by Brady Hilmer throughout the 15-lapper. While that pair battled for the top spot, Tharp was working through the pack from a fourth row start. A pair of late cautions bunched the field and allowed Tharp the opportunity to strike. On the first of those two restarts, Hilmer miscued in turns one and two to bring out the caution, leaving Alexander with the lead and Tharp in the second row. When racing resumed a final time, Tharp slid beneath the race leader entering turn one and escaped with the top spot upon exiting turn two. He then drove to [Read More]

Wroten recovers, wins IMCA Stock Car thriller at the Bullring

VINTON, Iowa (June 6) – When Damon Murty takes the lead of an event at Benton County Speedway, the race is typically for second. Someone failed to mention that to Leah Wroten. Wroten, who led throughout the 15-lapper for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto, lost the lead late to Murty, then took advantage of a caution with two laps to go to drive to her first division win on the Vinton quarter-mile. From her second row start, Wroten quickly raced past front row starters Shaun Bistline and Riley Hanson while the field gave chase. Damon Murty, Jeff Mueller, Dallon Murty and Miciah Hidlebaugh kept pace as the pack of five remained in tight formation with Wroten leading the way. Just prior to a caution with three laps remaining, Damon Murty inched around the outside of Wroten to assume command. On the restart, Wroten quickly went back to work on the bottom groove, making her way past Murty and back into the top spot. She held off a late surge from Mueller to [Read More]

Cordes has record-breaking night at the Bullring

VINTON, Iowa (May 30) – Troy Cordes made a little history Sunday night at the Benton County Speedway Bullring. Not only did he score his third straight win and fourth in five weeks in the KISS Country 96.5 IMCA Modifieds, he became just the third driver in track history to earn 60 wins on the quarter-mile. From a fifth row start, Cordes worked the high groove to perfection and found himself in contention at the midway point. He made his way around leader Ryan Maitland and set sail on the way to his career first three-race winning streak at the Bullring. Seventeenth starting Chris Zogg made a terrific run through the field and made a bid for the lead following a late caution, but ran second at the finish. Brennen Chipp, Ronn Lauritzen and Maitland completed the top five. Just two weeks ago, Jason Doyle earned the first win of his career in Independence. Sunday night, he earned his second in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto. Doyle raced into the lead [Read More]