maquoketaspeedway Archives

Morris back to Maquoketa victory lane

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (Aug. 18) – The jubilation was apparent as Jake Morris slammed his open hand repeatedly on top of his car. The long season became worth it after his 15-lap B&D Pit Stop IMCA Northern SportMod feature win on Back to School Night at Maquoketa Speedway Saturday evening. “Wow, it has been such a long year so this makes it worth it,” Morris said in victory lane. “Our luck has been bad and I can’t say enough about my sponsors and crew for hanging in there.” Morris ran in the top three the entire race, taking the lead for good on lap eight and beating Gage Neal, Jason Bahrs, Austin Heacock and Tyler Soppe to the checkered flag. The race went nonstop until a caution flew after the white flag and the race was called complete. A record total of 129 race teams jammed into the pits and racing was completed just after 10 p.m. Matt Ryan always studies the IMCA Modified feature before his Andover Meat IMCA Late Model 25-lap [Read More]

Nezworski scores Maquoketa Late Model win

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (August 11) – The focus was driving to the front. Andy Nezworski put all the national implications in the back of his mind Saturday evening at Maquoketa Speedway. He slid by Jeremiah Hurst and then Terry Neal to win the 25-lap Andover Meat IMCA Late Model feature. “We’re pretty much out of the national thing,” Nezworski said in victory lane. “We’re a ways back in the points and you have to win a track championship, which we won’t. So we just come out to win races. We’ve had some bad luck recently so this really feels good.” Neal took the top spot from Marty Scheckel early before Hurst passed following a restart about halfway through. Nezworski then made his charge to the front for his third victory on the 3/8-mile, high-banked dirt oval. Matt Ryan passed Hurst late for second. Neal and Doug Nigh rounded out the top five. IMCA national point leader Ryan started eighth, but spun early to cause a caution. He restarted at the rear and maneuvered [Read More]

Ryan ‘finally’ scores Maquoketa fair win

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (July 26) – “Yeah!” That shout rang out and probably could be heard over the carnival rides behind the grandstand and the cheers of the appreciative crowd occupying the grandstand and bleacher seats. The exclamation came from Matt Ryan as he pulled off the racing gloves and other driver safety equipment, then he climbed from his Andover Meat IMCA Late Model following the 25-lap win during the Jackson County Fair at Maquoketa Speedway. A win during fair week is special. “I tried a long time,” the Davenport ace and 2017 track champion said in victory lane. “Last year I led this whole race and then Justin Kay passed me on the last lap. I didn’t forget.” Ryan passed a handful of competitors and chased down early leader Joe Zrostlik. “I watched that Modified race and those guys were going around there (high groove) pretty good,” Ryan said. “But I thought sooner or later that’s going to burn off and I needed to get by Joe and then get down. I [Read More]

Freiburger celebrates birthday with Maquoketa checkers

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (July 21) – The smile lit up a dark infield. The cheer of his fan base could be heard over the race cars on the cool down lap. Saturday evening was quite a birthday celebration for Jed Freiburger. The Dubuque ace turned 35 and turned it into a QCJeeps.com IMCA Modified 20-lap feature win at Maquoketa Speedway. “This is a great way to celebrate it,” Freiburger said. “(Crew chief) Ron Barker made all the right calls and changes so it worked out well.” Freiburger started 10th and quickly raced to the top five. Following a couple early restarts and leader Jake Bowman retiring, Freiburger blew up to second behind Timmy Current at the halfway point, then made the pass. The lead stretched, evaporated due to a late caution, but reopened as he cruised to the win. Freiburger shook off noticeable noises from the car. “I think it was just rocks or clods hitting the car. It was rough out there after the rain, but had plenty of car.” Bryce Garnhart started a [Read More]

Current finds victory lane at Maquoketa

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (July 14) – The crowd probably could feel Tim Current’s sigh of relief as he exited turn four. Current crossed by the checkered flag first and won the 15-lap Ueland Auto IMCA Stock Car feature Saturday evening at Maquoketa Speedway. “This was a long time coming,” Current said and then laughed. “I had to use a GPS to find victory lane.” Current had come close several times in three different racing classes, including leading two features in the same night earlier in the season. Both came to an end early with mechanical issues. This night he would not be denied. “Winning here is great. The track was really racy. I was able to run low and glad (car owner) Scott Fjelstul lets me drive this thing,” he said. Terry Neal charged to the Andover Meat IMCA Late Model victory, his first of the season. Bryce Garnhart swept the QCJeeps.com IMCA Modified show, winning his heat and the 20-lap feature. Jerry Miles is another driver who flirted with victory earlier in the season. [Read More]

Meyer goes flag to flag at Maquoketa

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (July 6) – The brakes were applied in the turn, rear part of the car kicked slightly to the right and then Kory Meyer was back on the gas. The Olin ace did that to perfection Saturday evening at Maquoketa Speedway during Kids Night, racing to a good advantage and hanging on in lapped traffic to win the 20-lap QCJeeps.com IMCA Modified feature. “I was hoping they weren’t going to be able to get around me,” Meyer said. “I was sticking to the bottom and letting the race run out.” Meyer took Doug Haack’s green flag from the pole and led every circuit despite the 3/8-mile, dirt oval blackened surface not the ideal track for his car. “It slows everything down a bit and we’ve struggled with our car on that. It’s been better when there’s traction, but we got it figured out tonight.” Nathan Hall was looking for his second win in two nights and held the runner up spot most of the race. Justin Kay weaved through traffic and dispensed [Read More]

Ryan storms to Maquoketa win

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (June 23) – There was a lot of dodging raindrops Saturday evening at Maquoketa Speedway. Matt Ryan just wiped his visor and barely had to dodge any traffic. Ryan stormed by Kelly Pestka on lap three and cruised to the Andover Meat IMCA Late Model feature win on QCJeeps.com Night. The winner did not hit lapped traffic until past the halfway point of the 25-lapper. “I was searching around looking to maybe find another way around and thought, man, maybe I better get back down where I was at. I figured the 7 (Andy Nezworski) and 58 (Jeremiah Hurst) were right on me.” The 2017 track champion was exactly right. Nezworski and Hurst were next in line. Pestka and Don Pataska rounded out the top five. It was Ryan’s second straight win at the track and fifth in less than a month overall. Jeff Larson and Bryce Garnhart had combined for all six QCJeeps.com IMCA Modified wins – until this night. Justin Kay broke that streak with an impressive 20-lap win, leading just [Read More]

Streaks continue during Heister Memorial

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (June 16) – The checkbooks may come out soon as many are seeing bounties on the horizon for a handful of drivers at Maquoketa Speedway. Daniel Wauters outran the hot weather and the competition to make it four straight checkered flags in the IMCA Hobby Sunoco Stocks Saturday evening during the Donna Heister Memorial. “What a night at Maquoketa Speedway,” Wauters said on Facebook. “Kids got plenty of ice cream from the Little Racers Car Club, got to ride around in the Batmobile, then we got our fourth straight feature win there. Track was once again excellent and there was some exciting racing.” Jeff Larson took his third consecutive QCJeeps.com IMCA Modified 20-lap main. The Freeport, Ill. ace continued his three-state hot streak with the win and topped a stellar, 26-car field. Joe Bonney pulled away from Mike McGarry for his second straight Ueland Auto IMCA Stock Car win. Last year’s champion Matt Ryan has made the inside groove work at all the tracks he competes. Saturday was no exception picking up [Read More]

Rain takes out Maquoketa, Donna Heister Memorial is next

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (June 11) – The weather was all that knew its way around Maquoketa Speedway Saturday. Heavy rain Friday evening lasting into Saturday morning was all that was needed to call off action at the quick 3/8-mile dirt oval. Action continues this Saturday with the fifth annual Donna Heister Memorial and racing in all regular classes, the Andover Meat IMCA Late Models, QCJeeps.com IMCA Modifieds, B&D Pit Stop IMCA Northern SportMods, Ueland Auto IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Hobby Stocks and Obie’s Bar and Restaurant/B&D Liquors 4 Cylinders. “Again this year we will be selling raffle tickets for various items which will include a meat bundle, a new barbeque grill, a filled Yeti cooler, many other cash and gift certificate prizes,” Tom Heister said. “Any and all proceeds from the raffle will be donated to Hospice of Jackson County in memory of Donna.” Tickets are on sale now at Obie’s, 3610 173rd Avenue in Maquoketa. You do not have to be present to win. The majority of the items are from local businesses and the [Read More]

Poll rides to Maquoketa IMCA Late Model checkers

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (June 2) – He glanced at the green light each time he drove down the back stretch and front stretch. Jon Poll did not want that green to change to yellow. He got his wish and the Bellevue driver rolled to the Andover Meat IMCA Late Model 25-lap feature win Saturday evening at Maquoketa Speedway. “Just hoping there wasn’t a caution for me,” Poll said. “I did one final adjustment before I climbed in and it paid off.” Poll started on the pole, dodged a few raindrops late and held off veteran Joe Ross, who stayed there the entire race. Eyes were on Andy Nezworski, who had the previous two wins. He started deep in the field and hit the top five by lap three. He jumped two spots on laps 12 and 13, but could climb no further. Jeff Larsen started again on the front row and again led all 20 laps to win his second straight QCJeeps.com IMCA Modified finale. Jarrett Franzen made a late-race pass of Timmy Current and [Read More]