boonespeedway Archives

Skylar Pruitt: From the Horn of Africa to Victory Lane at Stuart

By Ben Deatherage STUART, Iowa (Jun. 13, 2025) — In a town of just 1,700 nestled along Interstate 80, Skylar Pruitt’s story is one of grit, devotion, and second chances. Born and raised in Stuart, Pruitt now races Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks at Stuart International Speedway — the same track his family has been tied to since the late 1970s. But the road that brought him back to the driver’s seat wasn’t a straight one. Racing Blood and a Restart “My family has lived in Stuart or the area our whole lives,” Pruitt said. “They started racing I don’t know when — late ‘70s, early ‘80s — and the bloodline just stayed with me.” He grew up going to the track with his dad Curtis and grandfather Ted. His first taste of speed came on two wheels, not four. “My dad bought me my first dirt bike when I was three. We ran them for a while and then got out of that. I had a full ride with a company, but they went out of [Read More]

Padilla Claims Second Career Cornbelt Clash Crown

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 28, 2025) — Jon Padilla returned to the top of the podium in Cornbelt Clash competition, capturing his second career championship in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites tour following three action-packed nights of racing across central Iowa. The Silvis, Illinois, racer showed consistency and resilience across the May mini-series. He started the week with a sixth-place run at Marshalltown Speedway, surged to victory in round two at Boone Speedway, and sealed the title with a runner-up finish in the finale at Stuart Speedway. The strong results earned Padilla the most points across the three-night swing and another Cornbelt Clash trophy to add to his resume. Austin Gray of Story City, Iowa gave chase throughout the week and finished second in the standings. Gray finished fourth at the opener, ran second to Padilla at Boone, and came home fifth at Stuart. Adel, Iowa’s Colby Oberembt claimed third in the overall standings. He opened the week with a strong third-place finish at MoTown, slipped to eighth at Boone, but rebounded [Read More]

Harris Clash Returns to Boone Speedway for 34th Running on June 24

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (May 27, 2025) — A tradition unlike any other in IMCA racing makes its long-awaited return to Boone Speedway as the 34th annual Harris Clash presented by Wehr’s Machine & Racing Products is set for Tuesday, June 24. This marks the first time the event has been held at Boone since 1994 and its first appearance in Iowa since 2017. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods will once again headline the single-day showcase, with the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars making their much-anticipated debut on the Clash card. The prestigious event holds the distinction of being IMCA’s longest-running single-day special, first contested in 1992. “We’ve really put together a number of changes,” said event founder Bob Harris. “Deer Creek Speedway was an awesome facility, but we took a look at moving the event back to Central Iowa. Boone was the right fit. We were there in 1994 and, as everyone knows, it puts on some pretty darn good racing and runs a fast show.” One of the [Read More]

Laney 2-for-2 in 2025 Modified Anniversary Races

By Coty Mallicoat BOONE, Iowa (May 24, 2025) — The 46th Anniversary $2,000-to-win Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at ‘Iowa’s Action Track’ Boone Speedway doubled as a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifier, and Cody Laney wasted no time putting on a clinic. The Torrance, Calif., driver powered past Jeremy Mills at the drop of the green and once again attacked the cushion with precision to keep his No. 5 machine in command. The Friday winner at Marshalltown, Laney made it back-to-back wins in the Razor Chassis North Central Region and added his name to the eligibility list to try and qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the 2025 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Mills followed in second while Jake McBirnie rallied from 10th to grab third. Smith Scores Career Win No. 199 in Stock Car Thriller Veteran racer Kevin Opheim set the tone early in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, ripping the lip to establish a commanding lead. But it didn’t stay that way for long. Lake City’s [Read More]

Burke Charges Top Shelf for First Boone Win Since 2023

By Coty Mallicoat BOONE, Iowa (May 17, 2025) — The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods delivered the most thrilling battle of the night at Boone Speedway. California’s Braden Claborn jumped to the early advantage, steadily working the bottom of the track while leading the field. But the spotlight shifted to Altoona’s Chris Burke, who rim-rode the cushion and reeled Claborn in after starting five spots back. With a handful of laps left, Burke powered around the outside and into the lead. A late caution bunched the pack, but Burke was flawless on the restart to grab his first win at Boone since 2023. Cory Pestotnik got by Claborn for second, while Claborn settled for third. Schmidt Storms from 12th to Capture Stock Car Win The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main saw veteran Jay Schmidt rebound from a rough Friday night flip to claim his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of 2025. Schmidt, who started 12th, made quick work of the field and moved into the top three in short order. He then powered past [Read More]

Three-Night Corn Belt Clash Brings Big Payouts for Mod Lites Across Iowa

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 15, 2025) — The Corn Belt Clash returns with three straight nights of intense Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite action, kicking off on Friday, May 23 at Marshalltown Speedway, continuing Saturday at Boone Speedway, and wrapping up Sunday at Stuart Speedway. “This event has become a staple for Mod Lites,” said Jimmy May, Mod Lite Director. “It’s the fifth year under IMCA, and it’s a great opportunity for drivers to compete at multiple tracks over one weekend while chasing a solid point fund.” Drivers will battle for $500 to win each night with $100 to start. In addition, the Top 20 in overall Clash points will each receive $350, thanks to the generous support of Vessco, Superior Race Cars, and several anonymous sponsors. Peak Decals will provide the big checks for each night’s winners, while Weekend Performance will give $30 cash to every heat race winner. “This point fund is a big motivator for teams to come out and run the entire weekend,” May added. “With three nights of [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]

Sabin Sails to First Hobby Stock Win of 2025 at Boone

By Coty Mallicoat BOONE, Iowa (May 10, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks were the final race of the night at Boone Speedway, and it would be a wild one at “Iowa’s Action Track.” From early on, it appeared that John Watson and Joe Doran had the fastest cars on the track. However, as the race was sorted out, they both could see the leaders out front, but several caution flags continued to reset their momentum. Watson, who started 12th, and Doran, who started 18th, failed to get to the lead before the race’s end. Meanwhile, Kolby Sabin and Cory VanderWilt worked up from their fourth row starting positions to the front. When the checkers flew, it was Sabin earning his first B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region win of the season, followed by VanderWilt and Justin Frederick. Smith Charges to Stock Car Victory Alan Van Gorp and Robert Stofer led the field early in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car finale, with the pack racing three and four wide behind them. Kevin Opheim remained in the [Read More]

Logue Tops Smith Brothers in Boone Stock Car Thriller

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Apr. 19, 2025) — An exciting 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event saw Jonathon Logue edge out David Smith in a dramatic finish to claim his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season at Boone Speedway. Doug Smith, the 2020 National champion and 2016 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, blitzed to the point on the opening lap after starting fourth. After an early caution, David Smith moved into second on the restart, but Logue began working the low side and passed him for the runner-up spot on lap five before another yellow slowed the action. David Smith, a four-time Super Nationals champion and the 2008 National champ, briefly regained the lead on a restart before Logue, from Logansport, nosed ahead at the line on lap 11. Logue, a three-time Boone SportMod champion and three-time Super Nationals winner in the division, held the top spot as the Smith brothers battled for second. A late caution with four [Read More]

Season 2 of Boone Docuseries Released on IMCA TV

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Apr. 16, 2025) – Buckle up for an unforgettable ride as Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries premieres live on IMCA TV. Expanded to six cinematic episodes and produced by Dirt Collective, this new season dives even deeper into the drama, excitement, and emotion of the 2024 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at “Iowa’s Action Track,” Boone Speedway. With jaw-dropping visuals and immersive storytelling, fans will experience the thrill of side-by-side racing, the intensity of late-race passes, and the overwhelming emotion of the moment drivers realize they’ve won their dances. Go behind the scenes like never before—including exclusive chats with the FPV drone pilots who capture some of the most breathtaking footage from above. From the frontstretch to the campgrounds, from new faces to returning legends, this season delivers the full Boone experience. It’s not just a race. It’s a week that lives in your soul long after the checkered flag flies. Whether it’s your first time watching or your fortieth time attending, this is the docuseries that will make you [Read More]