independencemotorspeedway Archives

Sunoco bonuses awarded at Independence, Dubuque this weekend

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (June 1, 2023) – Sunoco Race Fuels bonuses will be awarded when IMCA Late Models hit the track for big events this weekend at Independence Motor Speedway and at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway. The divisional title sponsor awards $250 bonuses to feature winners on Saturday, June 3 during the Hall of Fame Night show at Indee and Sunday, June 4 on Fan Appreciation Night at Dubuque. Drivers can get the bonus one time in a season; the $250 will be awarded to the top finishing non-winning driver any night the winner has previously received the bonus. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow Saturday at Independence, where pit passes are $30 for adults, $15 for kids ages 6-14 and free for five and under. Spectator admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students ages 13-17. Grandstand admission is free for Dubuque’s Fan Appreciation, with pit passes $30 for adults and $15 for kids ages 7-13. Kids can enjoy the bounce house that evening. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock [Read More]

IMCA Late Models chase season’s first Sunoco bonus at Independence

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (May 11, 2023) – The track that’s crowned the most IMCA Sunoco Late Model champions awards the first Sunoco Race Fuels Bonus of the season this Saturday night. The May 13 Late Model winner at Independence Motor Speedway earns a $250 bonus from their divisional title sponsor. The Saturday show is the first of the season for the Late Models at Indee, where an all-IMCA lineup also features Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 6 p.m. with racing to follow. Pit passes are $30. Saturday’s race program at Independence will be broadcast by IMCA.TV affiliate DONE RIGHT. TV. 2023 marks the 35th season Independence has sanctioned its Late Model division with IMCA.

Van Genderen, Benning break non-partnership vows to promote Independence Motor Speedway

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (Feb. 1, 2023) – Two guys who had promised themselves they’d never promote a race track with a partner will do just that this season at Independence Motor Speedway. Mike Van Genderen and Dana Benning make up the Greater Iowa Promotions team that takes charge at Indee, which adds a sixth IMCA division and four Monday Night Madness programs to its Speedway Motors Weekly Race slate in 2023. Van Genderen also owns and promotes IMCA venue Stuart Speedway while Benning returns for a third turn at the Independence helm, following 2000-2002 and 2015-2017 stints. “This partnership just makes sense. Dana is good at things and I am good at other things,” said Van Genderen, who met Benning 20-plus years ago when buying out his father Merlin’s Modified program. “We’ve known each other for years and became good friends when we were both working at Benton County Speedway.” “Independence has a great racing history,” he continued. “We want to continue that.” Van Genderen’s jobs in particular will be track prep and race night director. Benning will [Read More]

Olson stays hot on Iowa Donor Network Night at Indee

By Jeremy Fox INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (July 30, 2022) – Tony Olson made it six straight Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod wins at Independence Motor Speedway on Iowa Donor Network Racing to Save Lives Night. Brandon Tharp and Will Wolf led the field to the green flag but neither led the first lap as Olson grabbed the top spot early and stayed in charge following multiple restarts and earn $750. Tharp finished second and Wolf was third. Kaden Reynolds was able to sneak by Cole Mather for the lead seven laps into the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main. Already B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligible, Reynolds caught lapped traffic but was not to be denied as he went on to take his third win, this one good for $750, of the season in Indee. Mather and Jarod Weepie were next to the checkers. Troy Cordes fended off challenges from Fryer, Milo Veloz and 12th place starter Drew Janssen to take his third local Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win of the season. Janssen came home second and Veloz was [Read More]

Aikey has a night to remember at Indee’s Greg Hunter Memorial

By Jeremy Fox INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (July 16, 2022) – Jeff Aikey had a night to remember on the night Independence Motor Speedway remembered Hall of Famer Greg Hunter. Aikey led start to finish of Saturday’s 25-lap IMCA Sunoco Late Model main event, earning $2,777 and promptly giving the trophy to Hunter’s sons Nick and Andy after the last of victory lane photos were taken. “I met Greg probably 42 years ago when I started. He was a pretty good friend,” Aikey said of fellow Late Model driver and Indee track champion Hunter, who passed away July 9 at the age of 64. “We raced together at a lot of Iowa tracks, here, Marshalltown, West Union, Vinton, Webster City, Dubuque. Greg was usually where I was. We did a lot of racing together.” “I won the first Denny Osborn Memorial and that was big. It was pretty special to win the inaugural Greg Hunter Memorial too,” he continued. “I’m not a spring chicken any more so every win means a lot, but this one was really special. It [Read More]

Great racing, memories fill Hall of Fame Night at Independence

by Jeremy Fox INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (June 18, 2022) – Saturday Night Independence Motor Speedway inducted the 2022 Hall of Fame class, including Rick Wendling, Darin Burco and Duane Van Deest for drivers. Special contributors inducted were Burco and Jerry Blue. Burco was the first to be inducted as a driver and contributor. Following a hall of fame meet-and-greet and autograph session, over 100 race teams signed in to tame the 3/8 mile dirt oval on the Buchanan County Fairgrounds. The first feature of the night was the 15 lap Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod event. Robert Patava grabbed the top spot early, however Kip Siems stole the lead away from Patava on an early restart, Siems led until he slipped up on lap nine allowing Cole Suckow to take over the race lead. Suckow led until lap 13 when Tony Olson took advantage of Suckow leaving the door open. Olson held off Suckow and Siems to take his 35th career win in Independence, his fourth straight win at Indee. Suckow finished second, Siems was third, Brandon Tharp [Read More]

Mather remains perfect in Indee

By Jeremy Fox INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (May 28, 2022) – After losing last week’s races to the victim of mother nature, it was back to action at the Independence Motor Speedway on Saturday Night for Weekly Points Night. It was Michael Pittman Memorial Night, a night to remember a competitor who lost his life in a work related accident in February. It was a picture perfect night to wrap up the month of May, that saw 106 race cars sign into tame the 3/8 mile bank race track on the Buchanan County Fairgrounds. They were going two, three and a few times four wide during the night. The final checkered flag was displayed at 9:47 p.m. The first feature of the night was the 15-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod event. Nate Albrant got the jump on Vern Jackson and took the early lead. Albrant fended off Jackson but then Tony Olson entered the mix on lap three. Olson took the lead away on lap five just before the caution came out. Olson got a great restart and [Read More]

Wauters wins again on last lap at Indee

By Jeremy Fox INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (May 14, 2022) – Saturday was Night Two of the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing Season at Independence Motor Speedway and it was absolute beautiful night for racing on the 3/8 mile banked oval on the Buchanan County Fairgrounds. One hundred and three race cars signed in and the night wrapped up at 9:45 p.m. The first feature of the night was the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car 20-lapper. Cole Mather took the lead on lap two just before the first of four cautions over the next three laps. Mather held tough on the restarts and fended off Kaden Reynolds before pulling away. Mather went on to go back-to-back to start the season and take his 29th weekly win at Indee. Reynolds finished second and Dustin Vis came back from an early incident to finish third. Tony Olson started third but got by both front row starters Vern Jackson and Robert Patava to grab the early race lead in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod 15-lap feature. Tony Olson led all 15 laps in [Read More]

Independence races to save lives with Iowa Donor Network Night show

By Jeremy Fox INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (July 24) – Independence Motor Speedway raced to save lives on Saturday, hosting the Iowa Donor Network Night. Iowa Donor Network was on hand with info and for people to sign up as an organ donor. Drivers Prizes, Donation Honorees, Raffles, Prizes and Apparel for Sale plus the first 300 adults got a gift from Longhorn Steakhouse. A helmet and door signed by drivers auctioned off at Intermission along with a pass the helmet with all donations going to the Iowa Donor Network. The first feature of the night was the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. Kyle Olson and Nebraska’s Cameron Meyer led the field to the green flag with Olson taking the top spot early. Olson held off Brandon Tharp and Shane Paris until lap seven. Paris took the top spot away from Olson but Olson did not go away and took back the lead just before the caution on lap 10. Olson held off Paris and Brandon Tharp on the restart to go on take his first win of [Read More]

Buchanan County Fair IMCA wins to Simpson, Murty

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (July 6) – Chris Simpson and Dallon Murty kicked off the Buchanan County Fair with $1,000 IMCA feature wins Tuesday night. Simpson, already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, made it look easy in the 25-lapper for IMCA Modifieds at Independence Motor Speedway. From his pole position start, Simpson pulled away early and then survived a pair of cautions to score the win ahead of Mike Burbridge. Joel Rust came from a mid-pack start to finish third ahead of Troy Cordes and Derrick Stewart in the 26-car field. Murty took top honors in the 20-lap thriller for the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Johnny Spaw led that 23-car field to green and held the point throughout the first half of the event while closely pursued by Phil Holtz and Cole Mather. Murty made his way into the mix and slid past both Mather and Holtz on the eighth lap to secure second. He inched ahead of Spaw at the midway point to steal the lead, just prior to the lone caution of the [Read More]