parkjeffersonspeedway Archives

Peck Pounces Late to Win Park Jefferson Stock Car Feature

By Chance Riley JEFFERSON, S.D. (Apr. 24, 2026) — Friday night racing at Park Jefferson Speedway saw the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars steal the show for the third straight week, and this time it was Sioux City, Iowa’s Greg Peck who made the winning move when it mattered most. Mike Vondrak paced much of the 18-lap main event, just as he had the week before, but was under constant pressure from a pack of drivers racing two- and three-wide behind him. Peck, who started sixth, methodically worked his way forward before making a late-race pass to score his first win of 2026 in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Vondrak settled for second, followed by Lowell Roeber in third. Travis Baker finished fourth, and Todd Gereau rounded out the top five. In the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sioux City’s Greg Taylor completed a clean sweep on the night, picking up his first win of the season in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. Jimmy Cole ran second, followed by R.J. Merchant, Shane DeMey, and Ricky Stephan. [Read More]

Merchant Storms from 16th to Capture Park Jefferson Modified Feature

By Chance Riley JEFFERSON, S.D. (Apr. 16, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds were the stars of the show Thursday night at Park Jefferson Speedway with a thrilling 20-lap main event. For most of the race, it was a two-car battle for the lead between Shane DeMey and Brian Mahlstedt. But on the white flag lap, charging down the front stretch, R.J. Merchant of South Sioux City, Nebraska stormed from his 16th starting position to steal the win—despite a bent suspension. It was Merchant’s first victory of the year in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. DeMey finished second ahead of Duke Erickson, while Mahlstedt and Ricky Stephan completed the top five. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods also delivered an exciting 18-lap feature. Braydon Ahlers controlled much of the race, but Willy Kirk, who restarted at the back following an early caution, made a last-lap pass on the front stretch during a green, white, checkered finish to take the win. The Salix, Iowa driver earned his first victory of the season. Ahlers settled for [Read More]

Sobbing Holds Off Late Charge for Thrilling IMCA Late Model Win at Park Jefferson

By Chance Riley JEFFERSON, S.D. (Apr. 10, 2026) — The Sunoco IMCA Late Models set the tone for the night at Park Jefferson Speedway, with Jesse Sobbing of Malvern, Iowa taking the early lead from Jordan Krug. Sobbing paced the field but had to withstand a last-lap slider attempt from Zach Zeitner, holding on at the line for his first Late Model win of the year and his second Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly victory of 2026, following a Sunoco IMCA Stock Car score during the Beatrice Spring Nationals. Zeitner finished second, followed by Krug, Landen Rojewski, and Cody Thompson. The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars delivered a strong run as Mike Vondrak led much of the feature before Dan Mackenthun went to work. Charging from 11th, Mackenthun methodically worked the bottom groove to take over and drive away to his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the season. The Hamburg, Minnesota driver piloted the Jared Fasching-owned no. 7X to victory. Travis Barker was second, Ryan Harris third, with Greg Peck and Jordan Rogotzke completing the [Read More]

12th Annual Iron Cup Headlines Two Nights at Park Jefferson Speedway

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON S.D. (Sept. 8, 2025) — The 12th annual Iron Cup returns to Park Jefferson Speedway on Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27, with two complete shows, IMCA TV coverage, and more than $60,000 in driver payouts on the line. Thursday, Sept. 25, will feature an open practice with $30 pit passes, before racing officially begins with Friday’s program. Opening night will see Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Late Models, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Saturday’s Iron Cup Championship Night raises the stakes with the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars each racing for $1,500. The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods compete for $1,250, with Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks at $1,000 and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts at $500. Racing starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, with the best drivers from across the region converging on Park Jefferson to battle for Iron Cup glory and a share of the purse. More [Read More]

Fajman Edges Brunssen in Photo Finish to Win Dave Riley Memorial At Park Jeff

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON, S.D. (July 20, 2025) — A stacked Sunday night card at Park Jefferson Speedway delivered high drama and thrilling finishes during the Dave Riley Memorial, highlighted by a green-white-checkered nailbiter in the $2,556-to-win Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature. The 28-lap Hobby Stock main event saw Albion, Nebraska’s Ryan Fajman steal the spotlight in dramatic fashion. Driving a special throwback tribute wrap honoring the late Dale Bittner, Fajman charged from seventh and edged defending South Dakota State and track champion Kalyb Brunssen by a razor-thin 0.026 of a second at the stripe. The victory marked Fajman’s first of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region and made him the fourth different winner in as many years at the Dave Riley Memorial. Palm Beach Gardens, Florida’s Joel Magee, a two-time South Dakota State champion and 2023 Park Jefferson track champ, ran up front early before slipping back in the final laps. Spencer, Iowa’s Brandon Nielsen, a five-time Hancock County Speedway track champion, mounted an impressive charge from 13th to finish third at [Read More]

Big Purses, Big Honors Await at 4th Annual Dave Riley Memorial Race at Park Jefferson

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON, S.D. (July 16, 2025) — Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock drivers from across the region will take center stage on Sunday, July 20, as Park Jefferson International Speedway hosts the 4th Annual Dave Riley Memorial Race. A $2,556 payday awaits the winner of the Hobby Stock main event, making it one of the most lucrative races of the season for the division. The race honors the memory of Dave Riley, a beloved racer and dedicated supporter of grassroots dirt track competition. In addition to the Hobby Stocks, Sunday’s card includes $1,156 to win Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, $1,056 to win Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Late Models, and Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, and $356 to win Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. The first green flag of the evening drops at 5:30 p.m. The Hobby Stock division has delivered memorable moments at each edition of the memorial. John Cain claimed the inaugural win in 2022, Kaylb Brunssen topped the 2023 event, and Mike Smith of Lake City, Iowa, triumphed in 2024. A full [Read More]

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]