boonecountyraceway Archives

Boone County to remember Tanner Pelster at fair special

ALBION, Neb. – A life well lived that ended too soon will be celebrated at the biggest event in Boone County Raceway history. The annual fair race on July 11 doubles as the inaugural Tanner Pelster Memorial, and will remember a young man who always had a smile, a contagious laugh and countless friends. Just 24, the fourth generation driver from Albion died as a result of a work accident early last month. The son of Boone County promoter Delmer Pelster and wife Dee grew up with four older sisters and at a race track just a few blocks from home. “We were proud of Tanner. He was special, and a lot of people thought that way,” his father said. “He could make anybody smile. Tanner had friends all over the place.” This would have been Tanner’s ninth season in IMCA. He started in a Hobby Stock, getting his first feature win at the age of 16, sweeping his heat, the dash and main event during a visit to Stuart before moving into a Stock [Read More]

$250 Sunoco bonuses highlight features at three Nebraska venues this week

VINTON, Iowa – The paydays get even better this week for a trio of IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature winners. It begins Thursday evening at U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus as the IMCA Late Model winner pockets an extra $250 courtesy of Sunoco Race Fuels. Friday night the bonus moves to Boone County Raceway in Albion. The final bonus of the weekend will be presented Saturday night at Off Road Speedway in Norfolk. Sunoco bonuses are being presented at IMCA Late Model sanctioned weekly tracks this year. Drivers are eligible for only one bonus during the 2020 racing season. If the feature winner is a previous Sunoco winner, the bonus moves to the next eligible position. 2020 winners have been Jeff Aikey at Independence Motor Speedway, Matt Ryan at 34 Raceway, Joel Callahan at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway, Eric Pollard at 300 Raceway, Justin Kay at Davenport Speedway and Dalton Simonsen at Marshalltown. IMCA will announce mid-week before the dates bonuses are to be awarded at each track.

IMCA Late Models return to weekly programs at Boone County Raceway

ALBION, Neb. (Feb. 6) – IMCA Late Models return to weekly programs at Boone County Raceway this season. The Friday night venue at Albion becomes the latest Nebraska venue to add the premier division in 2019. “Sanctioning Late Models was one of the best things we could do. The new sanctions will benefit all four tracks,” said promoter Mike Trollope, citing the addition of the class at Columbus, McCool Junction and Norfolk as well. “We really like the rules. Going with IMCA makes it easier for us to tech and more fair for the racer.” Boone County had run sanctioned Late Models during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. The division joins IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts on Albion’s 3/8-mile dirt oval. The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season opens on April 19 and runs through Aug. 16, with Aug. 23 designated as the rain date for season championship night. Track points will not be awarded at mid-week shows July 2, 10 and 17. [Read More]

Boone County bringing back IMCA Modifieds

ALBION, Neb. – The number of calls they got convinced Boone County Raceway track officials to bring IMCA’s premier division back to their weekly race program. IMCA Modifieds return to Albion following a two-year hiatus. They’ll be on regular Friday cards that also feature IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts. “We have quite a few locals who drive IMCA Modifieds and wanted to bring them back here,” explained promoter Mike Trollope. “We called ‘em on the phone and put it out on Facebook, and they started calling us back.” “We had 15 Modified drivers who confirmed that they would race with us so we made the decision to pull the trigger and bring them back,” he continued. “I raced a Modified myself. I like the division and I’m glad to have them back at Boone County.” Opening night for the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season is April 20. Thirteen more Friday night shows are scheduled through Aug. 17. All five weekly divisions are in [Read More]

Feature

Callahan Cruises to Second Dubuque Late Model Win, Takes Sunoco Bonus

By Ben Deatherage DUBUQUE, Iowa (Jun. 8, 2025) — Joel Callahan put on a clinic in the 25-lap, $1,000-to-win Sunoco IMCA Late Model main event at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway. The three-time track champion used the high line to power into the lead on the opening circuit and built a commanding advantage on the historic 3/8-mile oval. Despite persistent pressure from Clay Simpson, Callahan looked unshakable. Simpson’s challenge cooled as Ron Klein took over second and began to close in. But Klein’s charge ended with a spin in turn four on lap 22, setting up a three-lap sprint to the finish. Callahan executed a flawless restart to earn his second Dubuque win of the season and the coveted Sunoco Race Fuels Bonus, which included a commemorative door panel, fuel jug, hat, and $300 prize. Simpson held on for second over two-time defending track champion Eric Pollard. Joel Callahan celebrates in victory lane after scoring the $1,000 Sunoco IMCA Late Model win on June 8 at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway. The Dubuque, Iowa, veteran also earned the Sunoco Race [Read More]

News

Moyer Breaks Through at Selinsgrove with PA Sprint Series

By Frank Buhrman SELINSGROVE, Pa. (Jun. 4, 2025) — Paul Moyer, a hard-working guy who largely funds his own team and brings his car to the track on an open trailer, scored his first career win Wednesday night in the 20-lap River Valley Builders PA Sprint Series feature at Selinsgrove Speedway. A second-place finish in his heat race enabled Moyer to draw for his feature starting position, and he drew the pole. From there, the Beaver Springs resident out-dragged Christian Rumsey for the early lead and wired the field in a non-stop race that took less than seven minutes to complete. His margin of victory was 1.385 seconds. Rumsey, from Middletown, New York, fought off a challenge from Josh Spicer and held onto second.

Events

Stock Car Spotlight Shines on Worthington Speedway on June 14

By Ben Deatherage WORTHINGTON, Minn. (Jun. 12, 2025) — The stars of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will be out in full force this Saturday, June 14 at Worthington Speedway, with a $2,000 payday awaiting the winner of the special event. Stock Cars will run a draw/redraw format and compete for IMCA National, EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, Minnesota State, and track points. There is no entry fee for drivers, though a $35 pit pass is required. A free Hoosier Racing Tire will also be given away to one lucky competitor. A lucrative purse structure will reward top finishers, with $1,000 for second, $600 for third, $400 for fourth, and $300 for fifth. Sixth through 10th will pay $250, $240, $230, $220, and $210 respectively, with all other A-main starters earning $200. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts will also be part of the program, running under their normal weekly format. Grandstand admission is $18 for adults (18 and over), $10 for ages 13-17, [Read More]