maquoketaspeedway Archives

Paris towers over Maquoketa foes

By Anthony Ainslie & Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (May 25, 2024) – With 31 drivers signed in for the night, making the starting field for Saturday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main event at Maquoketa Speedway was a challenge. Shane Paris proved up to that challenge with another impressive run to the checkers on the fast quarter-mile oval. Paris advanced to the front quickly all the way from his 12th place staring position and went on to record the win ahead of Jarrett Franzen, who advanced nine positions. Josh Starr rounded out the top three. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature saw drivers race every inch of the track as three- and four-wide battles were witnessed throughout the 20-lap main event. Charlie Mohr advanced from a fourth row start to take the win ahead of Brandon Jewell and Tim Current. Andrew Burk scored the feature win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, holding off Tanner Allen and Jarett Franzen. The no. 27 Z normally driven by Chase Zaruba was driven by Franzen on Saturday night. Allen [Read More]

Vis scores win as 105 teams enter Maquoketa Speedway

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (May 11, 2024) – Mother Nature provided a beautiful night for racing as Maquoketa Speedway hosted Tub O’ Towels Night at the races on Saturday. One hundred and five race teams took part in night number two of the 2024 racing season at the quarter-mile speedway. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars provided another exciting feature event and a first-time visitor to the Maquoketa Speedway victory lane. Dustin Vis hit his marks lap after lap and was able to hold off a very pesky Tanner Allen for the feature win. “I knew Tanner would race me clean and he did for the entire race, I felt him applying pressure and it was a fun race and really good for this old dog to finally get a win here,” said Vis. Allen finished second ahead of a fast-closing Gage Neal. Jeff Larson captured another win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified division. Larson threaded the needle on the initial green flag and got to the front quickly from his sixth position start. Larson then [Read More]

139 race teams pack Maquoketa Speedway for season opener

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (May 4, 2024) – The 2024 racing got underway Saturday at the Maquoketa Speedway quarter-mile dirt track located on the Jackson County Fairgrounds. A whopping 139 teams took part. The IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature was the headliner of the night. Local standout … and four-time national champion … Justin Kay started on the pole and led the main event flag to flag. Defending track champion Andy Nezworski kept Kay in his sights but was unable to mount a serious challenge in taking second ahead of third place finisher Travis Denning who had started 10th. Defending Friesen Performance IMCA Modified track champion Jeff Larson scored the opening night win, his second in as many nights after pacing the Friday show at Lafayette County Speedway. Larson started fourth and took the lead early, wrestling the point position away from Jake Morris. Larson went on to race under the checkers ahead of Mitch Way and Jason Schueller. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars saw an outstanding field of 23 drivers sign in. The Class [Read More]

Maquoketa Speedway falls to severe storm threats

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (April 27, 2024) – The 2024 Maquoketa Speedway season opener scheduled for April 27 was postponed due to impending severe weather slated to move into the Jackson County area late on Saturday afternoon. Maquoketa Speedway will now be slated to see the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season opener on Saturday, May 4. IMCA Sunoco Late Models will headline the racing program which will also include Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Also in action will be the 4 Cylinders and the INEX Legend Cars. Maquoketa Speedway will see hot laps get underway at 6 p.m. with racing to follow on Saturday.

Maquoketa Speedway falls to weather, season opener postponed to April 27

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (April 23, 2024) – The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season opener at Maquoketa Speedway scheduled for Saturday, April 20 fell victim to wet grounds and cold temperatures. The 2024 season will now be set to get underway on Saturday, April 27. The racing program will include sanctioned races in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Late Model, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod divisions, along with INEX Legends and the 4-cylinder compact class. Hot laps take to the quarter-mile Maquoketa Speedway, located on the Jackson County Fairgrounds at 6 p.m. with hot laps and racing will follow this Saturday.

Lemke, Larson, Franzen, LaMar are All Star Night winners

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (April 13, 2024) – The Darkside Promotions All Star Night welcomed over 100 race cars on a warm Mid-April evening on Saturday night. The race hungry fans were treated to an exciting night of racing. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds saw Illinois un-retired driver Scotte Lemke pick up the win. Lemke was a fixture at Tri-State tracks in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s before sitting out for 16 years. The veteran showed he still is to be reckoned with as he led all 30 laps in route to the win. Jeff Larson applied pressure in the early going and it appeared the friends were going to provide a thrilling race but Larson was sidelined with tire failure as the race passed midway. Dan Roedl and Drew Janssen applied the heat to Lemke in the latter half of the main. At the checkers it was Lemke scoring the win ahead of Roedl and Janssen. Larson was given the opportunity to drive Lee Kinsella’s IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and gave the 21 [Read More]

Maquoketa Speedway hosts All Star Night this Saturday

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (April 9, 2024) – Maquoketa Speedway is set to host a full day of festivities on Saturday, April 13. The quarter-mile dirt track located on the Jackson County Fairgrounds on the east edge of Maquoketa will begin a very busy day with a race car show beginning at noon. Fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet drivers and see the cars up close. The Maquoketa Speedway Kids Club will host an Easter Egg Hunt for kids under the age of 12 beginning at 1 p.m. More than 500 eggs will be distributed to the kids, eggs will have prizes and candy packed into the eggs. The car show will end at 2 p.m. and the attention will then turn to the track. Pit gates will open at 2 p.m. and the hot laps for the All Star Night presented by Darkside Promotions will get underway at 5:30 p.m. Racing in seven divisions will highlight the racing program. Four classes of cars, Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods and Hobby [Read More]

Diercks, Thornton nab Nippy 50 feature wins

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (March 29-30, 2024) – Two nights of Nippy 50 racing at Maquoketa Speedway yielded season-first Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature wins for Spencer Diercks and Dylan Thornton. Both drivers were in and out of the front spot before taking the checkers in their respective main events, Diercks in Friday’s $1,500 to win show and Thornton in the $2,500 to win headliner on Saturday. Already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, Diercks built up a two second advantage before a lap 15 caution slowed the opening night feature. He’d swap the lead with Jacob Hobscheidt from that point before finally nailing the spot down for good with two laps left. “It was a good way to start the season,” said Diercks. “Jacob is pretty good and he gave me a run for my money. He came on strong but we were good enough to hold on.” Hobscheidt, Jeff Larson, Jeremy Mills and Jacob Snyder ended second through fifth. Thornton had qualified from his ‘B’ race, started 20th and collected hard charger honors with his eighth [Read More]

IMCA drivers join Darkside for spring specials at Maquoketa, Cedar County

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (March 13, 2024) – IMCA drivers will race for big checks and All-Star Invitational eligibility at a pair of Darkside Promotions events this spring. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds are on the card both nights of the March 29 and 30 Nippy 50 Super Late Model show at Maquoketa Speedway, running for $1,500 to win on Friday and $2,500 to win on Saturday. Racing starts at 6 p.m. Friday when entry fee is $30, pit passes are $40 and grandstand admission is $25. And on Saturday, entry fee is $50, pit passes are $45 and spectator admission is $35. Racing starts at 5 p.m. April 5 and 6 Spring Fling shows bring the Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks to Cedar County Raceway at Tipton. Modifieds race for $1,200 to win on Friday and $2,000 to win on Saturday, Stock Cars and SportMods for $500 to win on Friday and $1,200 to win on Saturday, and Hobby Stocks for $350 to win both nights. Gates [Read More]

Muscatine Mall race car show set for March 16

By Jerry Mackey MUSCATINE, Iowa (March 7, 2024) – The Muscatine Mall will be the site of the second annual pre-season Race Car Show hosted by Levi Gaunt Racing. Last year’s show was very well attended with a good sized group of race cars on display. The 2024 show promises to be even bigger and offers a lot more to race enthusiasts. Doors to the Muscatine Mall will open to the public at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 16. Several special activities will be going on throughout the day starting with the 44G Levi Gaunt Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod having the 2024 graphics wrap being installed at 11 a.m. Fans will have an opportunity to witness the special talents of graphic work designed and applied by Capital Signs. This year, a vendor area has been added and at that time of this writing, 12 vendors have signed up to display a variety of items. Fans of all ages will have an opportunity to meet and greet their favorite drivers throughout the day plus a [Read More]