kennedalespeedwaypark Archives

All-Star Shootout Returns with Bigger Payouts, New Promoter for 2025

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 16, 2025) — Bigger paydays and a fresh face at the helm highlight the 5th Annual All-Star Shootout, which returns May 21–24 with four consecutive nights of racing across Texas and Oklahoma. The tour kicks off Wednesday, May 21 at Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, followed by Grayson County Speedway on Thursday, Heart O’ Texas Speedway on Friday, and Kennedale Speedway Park on Saturday. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods will headline the card each night, with boosted payouts across the board. Modifieds will race for $1,250 to win each night, Stock Cars for $1,000 to win, and SportMods for $750 to win. Markiss Harcrow steps into his new role as promoter of the Shootout and is eager to build on the momentum of the series. “For anyone taking over a promotion, it’s an exciting venture—and this is no different,” said Harcrow. “This tour has some history behind it that we hope to continue and grow.” Harcrow leads the way in [Read More]

Carney Cashes in with $5,000 Melton Memorial Sprint Car Win at Kennedale

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (May 10, 2025) — The second annual Mike Melton Memorial at Kennedale Speedway Park drew a packed house as Mike’s daughter, Michelle Parson, led a four-wide salute before the 30-lap, $5,000-to-win RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car main event. When the green flag dropped, Taco Casa Racing teammates John Carney II and Jeb Sessums shared the front row, with Carney taking the early lead in the no. J2 entry. Sessums pressured Carney throughout the first half of the race, briefly slipping ahead on lap 14 before the two-time Texas State and KSP track champion pulled to the infield with mechanical issues. As Carney navigated through lapped traffic, Ryder LaPlante and Marcus Thomas waged a fierce battle for second. A red flag on lap 19 briefly slowed the action, but Carney remained firmly in control, extending his lead after each restart. Thomas, a four-time Texas State and 2017 National champion, finally secured second from LaPlante with three laps to go, but Carney was untouchable, cruising to his first win of the season. The 2015 [Read More]

$5000 to Win Second Annual Mike Melton Memorial Set for May 9-10 at Kennedale Speedway Park

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (Apr. 29, 2025) — A heartfelt tribute to one of the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car community’s most beloved figures is set for Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, as Kennedale Speedway Park hosts the 2nd Annual Mike Melton Memorial. A $5,000 payday awaits Saturday night’s winner, with $500 to start the feature. Friday’s preliminary night offers $1,000 to win and $150 to start. Drivers will also chase a $500 bonus for fast time and another $500 prize for winning the pole dash. The top eight finishers from Friday night will be locked into Saturday’s feature. Drivers are encouraged to pre-register on My Race Pass to save time and secure their spot. Mike Melton was a fixture in the racing community for more than 40 years, remembered for his generosity, passion for the sport, and deep-rooted commitment to helping others. Away from the track, Mike shared a wonderful life with his wife Margaret, to whom he was married for over 35 years. He passed away in November 2023, leaving behind a powerful legacy [Read More]

Cook Claims Stock Car Thriller

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (Apr. 12, 2025) — Cameron Cook powered to his second win of the season in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Kennedale Speedway Park, holding off late challenges in a 20-lap barnburner. Christian Miller took the early lead before Damon Hammond slipped under him to lead lap 3. Cook, however, surged down the backstretch and used the top groove to edge past Hammond and take command the next time around the ¼-mile oval. Hammond, the defending KSP title winner, and Cook, the 2022 Texas State champion, both looked strong before cautions on laps eight and ten reset the field. That opened the door for Brett McMillin and Jerrett Bransom to take charge of podium positions. Bransom, a three-time KSP Stock Car champ, made a series of bids to pass Cook using the bottom groove. Each time, Cook’s momentum off the top held strong. On the final lap, Bransom tried one last move, but Cook again held firm. The 24-year-old from Mansfield picked up his second win of the season in [Read More]

Graham Rockets to SportMod Win at Kennedale

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (Mar. 29, 2025) — Josh Graham was on a mission Saturday night at Kennedale Speedway Park, putting on a blistering charge from 10th to the front in the 20-lap Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod main event. The Carrollton racer, pulling double duty on the night, showed unmatched speed and determination as he sliced through the field to earn his first win of the 2025 season. Gary Fox led early after outdueling Billy Burt, while Graham and Demetrius Carter traded shots for second. Graham made a bold move for the lead on lap eight, powering off turn four to edge ahead, only for a caution to negate the pass and reset the order. On the restart, Graham wasted no time reclaiming his momentum, diving under Fox on lap nine to officially take over the top spot. Once out front, he quickly checked out on the field. A late caution bunched up the pack, but Graham was flawless on the restart. Fox and Carter battled fiercely for second behind him, but nobody [Read More]

Day Dials Up Late-Race Pass for IMCA Modified Victory at Kennedale

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (Mar. 22, 2025) — Matthew Day struck pay dirt at Kennedale Speedway Park, winning the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature after a thrilling late-race battle. The 2021 National IMCA Southern SportMod champion surged to the lead in the closing laps to collect his first victory of the 2025 campaign in the division’s first appearance at the ¼-mile oval. The 20-lap main event began with 2013 IMCA National Modified champion William Gould setting the pace. He held steady through two early cautions, but things changed quickly after a lap-nine restart. Jake Upchurch, a three-time KSP IMCA SportMod track champion, used the high side to rocket from fifth to second and began challenging Gould. Just as the action intensified, the 21-year-old Day entered the fray by hugging the low line. He worked his way into second, then mounted a charge on the leader. Day made the decisive move on lap 15, slipping under Gould for the lead. Gould fought back the next lap, but Day countered down the backstretch to reclaim the top [Read More]

Cogburn Battles to Victory Before Capacity Crowd at Kennedale

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (Mar. 15, 2025) — 19-year-old Trevor Cogburn capped off the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod main event with a statement victory in front of one of the largest crowds in Kennedale Speedway Park history. The Robinson teenager faced multiple challenges but held firm against all contenders. The feature saw an intense battle between Cogburn and Tyler Russell, with the two drivers trading positions in a side-by-side duel. Russell eventually gained the advantage, but Cogburn, the 2022 National Southern SportMod Rookie of the Year, fought back and reclaimed the lead on lap 6. Just as their battle reached its peak, a caution reset the field. On the restart, Cogburn pulled away, but four-time and defending KSP SportMod champion and three-time defending Texas State title winner Jerrett Bransom moved past Russell into second. Bransom quickly closed in on Cogburn, setting the stage for a showdown. However, another caution interrupted the action before that battle could unfold. Despite multiple stoppages, including a tense green-white-checkered finish, Cogburn remained composed and fended off Bransom to [Read More]

Sessums Opens Kennedale Season with Sprint Car Victory

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (Mar. 1, 2025) — Jeb Sessums kicked off the 2025 Kennedale Speedway Park campaign with a commanding victory in the $1,000-to-win RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car main event. Driving for Taco Casa Racing, the Burleson, Texas racer led all 25 laps, holding off some strong challenges from his teammate, John Carney II. Sessums wasted no time taking the lead at the drop of the green, with 2015 RaceSaver Nationals winner Carney staying close behind. As the leaders hit lapped traffic just before the halfway mark, Sessums expertly navigated the high side while keeping Carney at bay. Carney eventually made a bold move in turn three, diving to the inside, but Sessums held firm on the cushion and maintained his advantage. A caution soon after reset the field, creating a crucial restart. When racing resumed, Carney bobbled, briefly losing second place to 2019 Southern United Sprint champion Tyler Harris. As they battled, Sessums pulled away and cruised to his first victory of 2025. Carney recovered to finish second, while Harris rounded out the [Read More]

They’ll be smokin’ hot at the IMCA Southern SportMod Super Nationals

KENNEDALE, Texas (Aug. 28, 2024) – Call the fire department right now, James Lopez knows he’s going to have a barnburner on his hands. More than 60 drivers are already pre-registered for the third annual IMCA Southern SportMod Super Nationals powered by Smiley’s Racing Products, coming up Sept. 5-7 at Lopez’ Kennedale Speedway Park. Each and every one of those drivers comes to town aiming to take the $5,000 top check in the Saturday main event. “We’ve already got a packed field entered. There’s a bunch of guys coming who are way fast not just at their home track but wherever they race,” said Lopez. “There will be a lot of good cars out there.” An open practice on Thursday, Sept. 5 will be followed at about 8:30 p.m. by All-Star qualifying, open to any driver who has won at least one sanctioned feature this season, and then by a party in the pits sponsored by Generation Race Cars. All SportMods run two heats on Friday and lock in the top eight for the main event [Read More]

Southern SportMod Super Nationals conclude with $5,000 checkers at KSP

KENNEDALE, Texas (July 31, 2024) – You can almost predict what he’ll say, when you ask Kennedale Speedway Park promoter James Lopez about the upcoming IMCA Southern SportMod Super Nationals powered by Smiley’s Racing Products. The third annual event, scheduled Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 5-7, promises Lopez, will be super. The $5,000 to win, minimum $500 to start 30-lap main event on Saturday night is a shoo-in to feature the best drivers competing weekly in the division in Texas and Oklahoma. Total purse for the Big Dance is more than $20,000 with another $4,000-plus paid to drivers in Friday’s All-Star race. “Our qualifying format will be very similar to last year,” Lopez said. “One thing that we’re doing differently is a fan vote to add one driver to the All-Star race and a different driver will be elected to start at the back in the $5,000 to win main event.” Pre-registration for drivers to be vote eligible is required by Aug. 14: Voting will be conducted on MyRacePass and starts Aug. 16 for the All-Star [Read More]