boonespeedway Archives

Braaksma Blasts to First Harris Clash Crown in Modifieds

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 5, 2025) — Ethan Braaksma added another prestigious crown jewel to his growing list of accolades by winning the Harris Clash presented by Wehr’s Machine & Racing Products for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds Tuesday night at Boone Speedway. The 34th annual edition paid $4,000 to the winner and marked the first time the Harris Clash had been held at Iowa’s Action Track since 1994 and the first Iowa-hosted Clash since 2017. The Newton standout drove to his first career Harris Clash victory. The race began with a thrilling three-wide start, and it wasn’t long before Braaksma stormed to the front aboard the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned No. 111 machine. The 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champ and two-time reigning Dakota Classic Modified Tour titleholder slipped away from the field early before a lap 10 caution bunched everyone back up. Tim Ward, the 2023 Harris Clash, Dakota Tour, and Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion, kept the pressure on while fending off 2007 Super Nationals winner Todd [Read More]

Gage Raines: Racing with Angels and Dancing in the Dirt

By Ben Deatherage SEARCY, Ark. (Aug. 4, 2025) — Gage Raines has always known two things—family and racing. And in his world, they’ve never been separate. The pilot of the No. 31 Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite has made a name for himself across Arkansas and beyond, especially at Boone Speedway — home of the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Now 34, Raines has qualified for the Big Dance three years in a row, with a career-best sixth-place finish last year after runs of 20th and 16th the two years prior. He’ll be back again in 2025, looking to climb even higher. “Last year was an up-and-down ride,” Raines said. “We didn’t start the week strong, but we finished strong — and that gave us something to be proud of. It’s a one-shot-a-year kind of deal. The field keeps getting deeper, the cars keep getting better. Every time we go back, we know we’ve got to bring our best.” It’s a 9½-hour haul from Searcy to Boone, and it’s not just about [Read More]

Thornton Keeps Back Hibdon at Boone for First Salute to Vets Modified Win

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (July 26, 2025) — Dylan Thornton outdueled Kollin Hibdon in the late stages of a thrilling Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event Saturday at Boone Speedway, earning his first career win on the Hunting with Heroes Salute to Veterans Tour powered by Performance Bodies & Parts. The reigning Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion in both the Modified and Late Model divisions, originally from California and now living in Belle Plaine, Iowa, scored his fourth overall win of 2025 in the Modifieds and second in the Razor Chassis North Central Region — both at Boone. Thornton got the jump from the drop of the green and quickly set the tone, but multiple cautions early on interrupted the flow. California transplant Trevor Fitz, the 2019 IMCA California State champion, and eight-time defending Hancock County Speedway track champion Jeremy Mills fought hard for second before Thornton began to check out. Hibdon, champion of the Ernie Mincy Early Thaw Series back in February at Central Arizona Raceway, made his move late [Read More]

Boone Bound Promotion Returns for 43rd Annual IMCA Super Nationals

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (July 22, 2025) — Are you Boone Bound for the 43rd annual Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s? Let the IMCA Racing Nation know by being part of the ever-popular Boone Bound promotion. All you need to do is email a high-quality, on-track photo of your car to boonebound@imca.com, along with your name, hometown, division, and the photographer’s name. Photos will be posted in the order they’re received on the official IMCA Facebook page, showcasing drivers who have pre-registered for this year’s Sept. 1–6 Super Nationals at Boone Speedway. Fans and followers across the country look forward to seeing the ever-growing photo lineup—and it’s a great way to build hype and show off your hard work before hitting the track. As a reminder drivers need to submit clear, watermark-free images and ensure all required information is completely filled out. So don’t wait—get your photo and details in, and let everyone know you’re headed to Boone!

Full Slate of Vendors Announced for 2025 Speedway Motors Manufacturer’s Row

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (July 25, 2025) — All 46 vendor spots for the 2025 Speedway Motors Manufacturer’s Row have officially been sold out, solidifying the full return of one of the most interactive and influential features of the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, scheduled for September 1–6 at Boone Speedway. Manufacturer’s Row opens Saturday, August 30, during the first night of Super Nationals competition and provides a unique opportunity for race teams, fans, and industry leaders to engage in person. Vendors will be in the northeast corner of the grounds, just outside the pit entrance, with additional displays set up inside the pit area near the tech tent. The booths outside the pit entrance gate directly in front of Motorsports Warehouse will include Engine Pro, Velocita Premium Fire Suits, Zamp Racing Helmets, Penske Racing Shocks, Speed Secrets, Melling Engine Parts, Wilwood Racing, Swift Springs, SCS Fabrication and Motorsports Warehouse, Eibach Springs, Sybesma Racing Graphics and Apparel, Performance Bodies, Max Papis Innovations Steering Wheels, Team Harris Auto Racing, Bassett Racing Wheels, Jerovitz [Read More]

Iowa Speedweek Returns in Full Force in 2025 with Six Nights of Premier Action

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (July 24, 2025) — One of the most iconic stretches of the Speedway Motors IMCA calendar is back and bigger than ever as Iowa Speedweek returns to full strength in 2025. Running Monday, August 4 through Saturday, August 9, the week features six straight nights of high-stakes racing at five premier tracks, showcasing the depth and tradition of IMCA competition across the entire state. The Speedweek opener takes place on Monday, August 4th at Buena Vista Raceway in Alta with the Battle at the Beaver. This event kicks things off with a powerful lineup with the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $2,000 to win and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars for $1,000. Also on the bill are the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Tuesday, August 5 marks a major historical moment as the Harris Clash returns to the state of Iowa for the first time since 2017 — and to Boone Speedway for the first time since 1994. As IMCA’s oldest single-night [Read More]

McBirnie Takes Home $1,000 on Eve of Destruction Friday Night at Boone

By Coty Mallicoat BOONE, Iowa (Jul. 4, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars took center stage at Boone Speedway on Independence Day and Boone’s own Jake McBirnie continued his dominant form from the previous weekend. McBirnie, who doubled up on feature wins the week before, worked the high side to perfection and passed Jimmy Gustin for the lead. From there, he began to check out, but Gustin didn’t go quietly. In the final two circuits, Gustin reeled McBirnie back in but couldn’t make the move. McBirnie held on to score the win and the $1,000 payday, his third win this year in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Gustin finished second, followed by Kevin Opheim. Sachau Capitalizes Late to Win SportMod Feature The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods were the first division on track for their main event. Rookie Mike Smith jumped to the early race lead from the front row. Smith, already the Hawkeye Challenge overall champion, looked poised to grab the win after leading most of the race. But with just a few [Read More]

Salute To Veterans Tour Returns for 2025 with Three July Stops in Iowa

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Jun. 27, 2025) — One of IMCA’s most meaningful racing traditions returns for 2025 as the Hunting with Heroes Salute to Veterans Tour powered by Performance Bodies & Parts makes its way through three Iowa tracks this July. Now in its fifth year visiting multiple venues and originally launched in 2017, this year’s tour heads to Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer on Wednesday, July 23; Kossuth County Speedway in Algona on Thursday, July 24; and Boone Speedway on Saturday, July 26. Each night will showcase Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern Sport Mods, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. Twelve cars—three in each division—will be wrapped in tribute themes that range from honoring military branches to highlighting specific conflicts and events. All 12 wraps will be unveiled through on the Hunting with Heroes Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/huntingwithheroes) on Wednesday, July 23rd, and can be seen before each night’s program in the fan zones where fans can interact with drivers and Veterans alike. “We are always hyper [Read More]

Gustin Grabs Three Wins in One Night at Boone

By Coty Mallicoat BOONE, Iowa (Jun. 21, 2025) — Boone Speedway delivered a jam-packed doubleheader with 188 racecars in the pits for Farley Tire Smackdown and Hawkeye Challenge night. Rain had postponed the June 14 Smackdown program, setting up a rare two-show Saturday — and Jimmy Gustin stole the spotlight with a sweep of three feature victories across two classes. In the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified makeup feature, Gustin jumped from the second row and never looked back. The veteran driver fended off strong runs by Greg Elliott and Trevor Fitz. It was Gustin’s first Modified win of 2025 in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. Switching machines in the infield, Gustin returned for the makeup Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main and wheeled from seventh to the lead. Doug Smith and Devin Smith challenged lap after lap, but Gustin stood tall. The Stock Car finale might have been the race of the night. Jeff Mueller led early with Jay Schmidt in pursuit, but Gustin charged from 12th to the lead as the laps wound down. Jake [Read More]

Harris Clash Postponed to August 5 Due to Weather Forecast

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Jun. 23, 2025 ) — Due to a gloomy weather forecast, officials have announced that the Harris Clash, originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, at Boone Speedway, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, August 5. Bob Harris, Boone Speedway staff, and IMCA officials made the decision to help teams save money by avoiding unnecessary travel. The early announcement gives teams time to adjust their plans and refocus for the new date. In light of the schedule change, IMCA officials have also begun working on the return of Iowa Speedweek, with further details on dates and participating tracks to be announced soon.