parkjeffersonspeedway Archives

Barker Banks $5,000 RTI Nationals Win at Park Jefferson

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON, S.D. (Jun. 15, 2025) — The Sunday night RTI Nationals brought a packed house to Park Jefferson International Speedway with a whopping $5,000 payday on the line for the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. And it was two-time South Dakota State champion Travis Barker who cashed in. Barker, who started seventh, muscled his way through a hard-fought 35-lap main event. Early on, Brady Wenzlaff controlled the race while three-time Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod winner, Johnathon Logue, and Devin Tripp waged a three-wide battle for the top spot. Tripp edged ahead on lap four and began to stretch his lead, but Barker closed fast. A lap 13 caution reset the field, and on lap 16, Barker nipped Tripp at the line to take over the top spot. Tripp countered by moving to the high side, only for another yellow to wave. That opened the door for 2015 IMCA Hobby Stock national champion Justin Luinenburg, who slotted into second. Luinenburg and Tripp fought hard to the [Read More]

Zeitner Doubles Up at Park Jefferson with Sweep of IMCA Late Model Features

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON, S.D. (June 6, 2025) — Zach Zeitner made it a perfect night in Sunoco IMCA Late Model action at Park Jefferson International Speedway, sweeping both features on a special Friday doubleheader. The Bellevue, Nebraska, driver claimed the regularly scheduled $1,000-to-win 25-lap feature and the rescheduled main event from the rained-out April 18 opener. In the evening’s headliner, Zeitner jumped to the lead early and was smooth and steady out front despite a couple of caution flags, including a key restart on lap 19. Kale Kosiski, the 2023 Crawford County Speedway track champion, managed to reel Zeitner in and pulled alongside with two laps to go. But Zeitner kept his composure, running the middle lane to perfection and holding off Kosiski at the finish. Eric Faber completed the podium in third. The win was Zeitner’s fourth of the season, and he also collected the Sunoco Race Fuels Bonus, which included a commemorative door panel, fuel jug, hat, and a $300 prize. Zach Zeitner (left) is joined by Sunoco IMCA Late Model division director [Read More]

$5,000-To-Win Stock Car Showcase Headlines RTI Nationals at Park Jefferson

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON, S.D. (Jun. 7, 2025) — A new era begins at Park Jefferson International Speedway as the RTI Nationals shifts its spotlight to the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, which headline this year’s program with a lucrative $5,000-to-win and $250-to-start main event on Sunday, June 15. “The RTI Nationals has historically been a SportMod show, and they’re still a big part of the program going for good money,” said Park Jefferson promoter Wayne Becker. “But this year we wanted to try something different and give the Stock Cars a major spotlight. We’ve never had a big Stock Car show since I’ve owned the place, and we want to make it great.” Other divisions also enjoy strong payouts, with Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Late Models, and SportMods each racing for $1,000 to win. The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts will also be in action, competing for a $500 winner’s share. All divisions except Stock Cars will use the draw/redraw format. The Stock Car class will feature a single set of heat races with lineups [Read More]

Bonus Bucks Up for Grabs During 2025 Sunoco IMCA Late Model Bonus Money Nights

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 29, 2025) — Drivers competing in the IMCA Sunoco Late Model division will have more than just points to race for this season, with a series of special events offering bonus money at select tracks across Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Illinois. The 2025 Sunoco Late Model Bonus Money Nights schedule features 13 designated events at premier Midwest ovals, rewarding competitors with added cash and heightened prestige throughout the summer. The program began on May 24 at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, where Kale Kosiski took home the first bonus of the year. The tour continues Friday, June 6 at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, South Dakota, followed by a Sunday stop at Dubuque Speedway in Iowa on June 8. Mid-June sees back-to-back Iowa dates at Davenport Speedway on June 13 and Maquoketa Speedway on June 14, while July includes high-profile stops at 34 Raceway in Burlington on the 19th and three consecutive Nebraska events: US 30 Speedway in Columbus on July 24, Boone County Raceway in Albion on [Read More]

Midwest Madness Tour Returns for 7th Annual Run Through the Heartland

By Ben Deatherage WORTHINGTON, Minn. (May 22, 2025) — The summer racing calendar heats up once again as the 7th Annual Midwest Madness Tour storms back into action, bringing five consecutive nights of thrilling IMCA competition to tracks across Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota from June 29 through July 3. The tour kicks off on Sunday, June 29 at Worthington Speedway, followed by a stop at Clay County Fair Speedway on Monday, June 30. On Tuesday, July 1, the action heads west to Park Jefferson Speedway in South Dakota. Buena Vista Raceway hosts night four on Wednesday, July 2, and the tour concludes at Stuart Speedway on Thursday, July 3. Free pre-registration is now open through MyRacePass. Links can be found on the Midwest Madness Tour Facebook page. “I’m really looking forward to a really busy week of racing at some amazing facilities,” said tour organizer Tim Skaren. “We’re looking to build this up bigger and better each year.” Each event features a full IMCA-sanctioned program for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, [Read More]

Gereau Edges Ten Napel in Stock Car Classic

By Ben Deathearge JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 2, 2025) — The 20-lap IMCA Stock Car main event capped the evening with a white-knuckle thriller that ended in a photo finish. Chad Ten Napel took the lead on lap 3 and looked strong through two early cautions. Two-time South Dakota State champion Todd Gereau, who started 12th, patiently carved through the field and entered the lead battle with just a few laps to go. Gereau made a daring move on lap 17, diving low to briefly grab the lead, only to drift wide and surrender the position. Undeterred, he switched to the high side and carried the momentum off the final corner to nip Ten Napel at the line by inches. It was Gereau’s first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the year. Justin Addison held off Ryan Harris to complete the top three. Ankrum Holds On in Hobby Stock Nail-Biter Zach Ankrum took the early lead from Lowell Janssen and built a solid advantage before a lap 10 caution bunched the field. Tyler Smith closed [Read More]

Mackenthun Masters Make-Up Main at Park Jefferson

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 2, 2025) — A thrilling Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature—rescheduled from April 18—unfolded Friday night at Park Jefferson Speedway, with Minnesota’s Dan Mackenthun emerging victorious in the 18-lap contest. Aaron Cain led early and built a strong advantage as Greg Peck and Devin Tripp waged war for second. A caution on lap 3 reset the field, and Tripp used the restart to charge the high side, pulling alongside Cain on the backstretch before taking the lead. A caution waved and Mackenthun momentarily took the lead on the next green, only for another yellow to erase the pass. On the ensuing restart, Tripp pushed too high, lost positions, but was rescued by yet another caution. Mackenthun kept the pressure on, and when Tripp bobbled in turn four on lap 8, the Hamburg, Minnesota veteran capitalized and never looked back. The 10-time reigning Minnesota State and 13-time Arlington Raceway track champion dominated the second half of the race to notch his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of 2025. Chad Ten [Read More]

Five dates for five IMCA divisions on Midwest Madness Tour

WORTHINGTON, Minn. (June 7, 2024) – Five events on five straight nights are on the Midwest Madness Tour schedule for five IMCA divisions. Opening night features Sunday, June 23 at Worthington Speedway see the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $1,500 to win and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $1,200 to win. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature pays $1,000 with $800 to win in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and $400 to win for the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. The tour continues Monday June 24 at Clay County Fair Speedway; Tuesday June 25 at Park Jefferson Speedway; Wednesday, June 26 at Buena Vista Raceway; and Thursday, June 27 at Stuart Speedway. Those events pay Modifieds a minimum of $1,000 to win and $150 to start, Stock Cars $1,000 to win and $125 to start, Northern SportMods $500 to win, Hobby Stocks $400 to win and Sport Compacts $200 to win. Modified winners become eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational while Stock Car winners become B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying [Read More]

Three $250 Sunoco bonuses at stake for IMCA Late Models

VINTON, Iowa (May 22, 2024) – Bonuses of $250 are on the line at each of three IMCA Sunoco Late Model events over the long Memorial holiday weekend. Feature winners of Late Model main events May 23 at Park Jefferson Speedway at Jefferson, S.D., May 24 at Crawford County Speedway in Denison and May 25 at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan receive bonuses and a five-gallon fuel jug from their divisional title sponsor. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m. for the $1,000 to win Titan Clash show at Park Jefferson, with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $12 for veterans and seniors, $12 for students 11-17, $5 for kids and free for five and under. Crawford County also opens the pits at 5 and the stands at 5:30. Racing follows 7:30 p.m. hot laps. Grandstand admission is $12 for adults, $7 for military and seniors and free for kids. And Shelby County opens the pit area at 4 [Read More]

Everything right for Wagner’s first IMCA win

JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 16, 2024) – The right track, the right car and the right driving style all combined to put Dan Wagner in Park Jefferson Speedway’s victory lane Thursday night. Wagner topped the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature for his career-first feature win in any class, holding off Matt Bonine in the final circuits. “It was very satisfying because of all the hard work we’ve put in,” said Wagner, who raced in 2001 and in 2007 before taking off 15 years to follow his five kids’ multitude of activities. “We have an old-style driving style in a modern era and that’s a little like oil and water.” Wagner ran a Harris car in his 2022 and 2023 Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod campaigns. He’s back on track in the 2021 Harris ride previously piloted by Cody Thompson with a self-designed rear suspension more accustomed to what he’s used to from back in the day. After starting outside the front row, he led Thursday’s 20-lapper from the first corner to the finish. “It was a [Read More]