SalinaSpeedway Archives

Cale Lagroon: Following Dad’s Tire Tracks, One Lap at a Time

By Ben Deatherage SALINA, Kan. (May 15, 2025) — At 15 years old, Cale Lagroon is just starting to make a name for himself. But the Lagroon name? That’s already a staple in Kansas racing circles. Currently wrapping up his sophomore year at Salina South High School, Cale is diving headfirst into the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds—a daunting move for any young driver, but especially for one with a legacy to uphold. His father, Corey Lagroon, was a force to be reckoned with—a three-time Kansas State champion with four track titles at WaKeeney Speedway, three at RPM Speedway in Hays, two at Minneapolis Raceway, and a 2004 crown at Salina Speedway. Now, it’s Cale’s turn to take up the family torch, and he’s doing it in the unforgiving world of IMCA Modifieds. Cale Lagroon (right) and his father Corey watch the on-track action from the fence. (Photo by Gary Cornelison) But don’t mistake his youth for inexperience. Cale’s been chasing checkered flags since he was five years old, starting in go-karts around Salina and WaKeeney and [Read More]

Friday is another good night for Nightingale at Salina

SALINA, Kan. (Sept. 27, 2024) – The track where Jake Nightingale says he’s “always had some pretty good luck” was the site of more of the same Friday night. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified heavyweight from Hutchinson took the lead right after midway in the championship night main event, earning $2,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. “It was a pretty hammer down deal with lots of moisture. We were wide open all the time,” Nightingale said following his third win and 10th top three finish in as many Salina starts this season. “We ran a lane and a half off the top all the way around.” He started fourth and passed Austen Huehl for the front spot on the 11th of 20 circuits. Restarts kept the field close but Nightingale would build an advantage of three seconds when green flag racing prevailed. Tenth starting Tyler Sutton and Huehl completed the top three. Nightingale heads to Sherman County Speedway in Goodland on Saturday for night two of the Flatlander special in his defense of the Jet [Read More]

Late life adventure brings Fairchild back as promoter at Salina

SALINA, Kan. (March 19, 2024) – A “late life adventure” brings Chuck Fairchild back to Salina Speedway. Five IMCA divisions and Johnny Cash and his Ring of Fire classic are coming back, too. Fairchild, who bought the 3/8-mile clay oval midway through his first stint promoting the central Kansas track from 1997-2008, returns to the helm at Salina this season. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts are on Friday night cards from May 3 to Sept. 27. “Call it a late life adventure,” explained Fairchild, who answered his cell phone while doing mid-morning laps on a grader. “I’d been retired to Florida the last six years but this came up and my wife Lisa told me I could go back and run the track. We’ll lock the house up and live here eight months of the year.” Fairchild grew up at Salina, where his dad owned cars, and raced a sprint car before promoting and then buying the track. He promised [Read More]

Salina reschedules Mid-America Clash to Oct. 14-15

SALINA, Kan. (September 23, 2022) – With wet weather the winner this weekend, Salina Speedway’s 10th annual Mid-America Clash has been rescheduled to Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14 and 15. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds will race for $1,500 to win along with Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $1,000 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility both nights,. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks race for $750 to win, Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts for $325 to win both nights. Entry fee is $50 for Modifieds, $40 for Stock Cars, $30 for Northern SportMods and Hobby Stocks, and $25 for Sport Compacts. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. for the Thursday, Oct. 13 practice session that runs from 6-9 p.m. Pit passes are $20 and grandstand admission is free. Pits open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. and racing is at 7:30 p.m. Grandstand admission is $12 and kids ages 15 [Read More]

Money, Sherfick cash top checks at Mid-America Clash

SALINA, Kan. (Sept. 24-25) – Clay Money and Dylan Sherfick cashed the big checks at Salina Speedway’s Mid-America Clash. Both IMCA Modified winners pocketed $1,500, along with Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Money won the ‘B’ feature and the main event on Friday while Sherfick won Saturday’s 25-lapper from the pole. Money started the opening night show headliner from 13th. He was running third when the caution came out with 10 laps left and took the lead on the restart. “We like to go to Salina when we can. I kind of like that track when it slicks up. I know where to run it,” said Money, who took the checkers ahead of Sherfick, Brandon Conkwright, Marcus Tomlinson and Tim Watts. “I know where to run it.” Sherfick had started seventh and improved one position from his Friday finish the next night. He’d run at Salina one time before this season, DNF’ing five or six years ago. “We’ve had a pretty decent car. We changed a couple things for Saturday and that definitely helped [Read More]

Salina’s Mid-America Clash features five IMCA divisions Sept. 24, 25

SALINA, Kan. – Salina Speedway’s ninth annual Mid-America Clash sees five IMCA divisions in action Friday, Sept. 24 and Saturday, Sept. 25. Presented by Briney Motorsports, the Clash features IMCA Modifieds in $1,500 to win main events both nights while IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $1,000 to win, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks both for $750 to win and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $325 to win. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points will be given for each draw/redraw show. Minimum start money is $125 for the Modifieds, $100 for the Stock Cars, $75 for the SportMods and Hobbies and $60 for Sport Compacts. Entry fees are $50 for the Modifieds, $40 for Stocks, $30 for SportMods and Hobbies and $25 for Sport Compacts. Pit passes are $35. Spectator admission is $12 for adults and free for kids ages 15 and under. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. Friday, the grandstand opens at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 7 p.m. and racing is at [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods, fireworks featured at Salina’s Topless Challenge this Friday

SALINA, Kan. – The roofs come off and IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods for $500 to win at Salina Speedway’s 11th annual Topless Challenge this Friday, July 2. The Modified feature is a qualifying event for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, IMCA STARS Mod Lites and Mach-1 Sport Compacts complete the holiday weekend kickoff card. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, KMJ Performance State and track points will be awarded. Entry fees are $20 for Modifieds and $10 for Northern SportMods and pit passes are $30. Spectator admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, and free for active duty military personnel and veterans, and for kids ages 15 and under when accompanying a paid adult. Old Dude’s Fireworks stages the fireworks display that follows Friday night racing. More information is available on Facebook and at the track website.

IMCA STARS Mod Lites join opening night show at Salina

SALINA, Kan. (April 22) – IMCA STARS Mod Lites join the lineup just in time for opening night at Salina Speedway. The newly-sanctioned division joins IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts on the Friday, April 23 card at America’s Fast Track To Fun. “We’ve run Mod Lites for 10 years. The fans really like them and the drivers asked for the sanction,” promoter Tommy Hendrickson said. “They’re a good group that’s willing to travel. We get drivers from Iowa and the Kansas City area who come here.” STARS Mod Lites, he adds, are a good complement to the IMCA five divisions already running at Salina. A track champion will be crowned after April 23, May 28, June 11, July 2 and 30, Aug. 13, and Sept. 3 and 17 dates for the newly-sanctioned class.

Grabouski is 3-for-4 at Mid-America Clash

SALINA, Kan. (Sept. 25-26) – A driver who had a lot of good nights in 2019 had two more of them to end 2020. Jordan Grabouski swept Friday and Saturday IMCA Modified features at Salina Speedway’s Mid-America Clash, won the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature on Friday and then ran second to Elijah Zevenbergen in the Saturday show. The defending national champion in both divisions, Grabouski has followed a more limited schedule this year. Some tinkering before hitting the track helped bring back some of that last season’s magic. “We had a couple pretty good nights there with the Modified. I’ll take them,” Grabouski said following the $1,550 and $1,500 to win Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifiers. “We have struggled a little bit so we tried some different things setup wise. We were good when we unloaded and better on the track.” Clay Money and Shane Hiatt chased Grabouski across the stripe on Friday. Jordy Nelson was second and Josh Vogt third on Saturday. Grabouski also earned $1,550 for his opening night Stock Car [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars headline Mid-America Clash at Salina

SALINA, Kan. – IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $1,500 to win both nights of Salina Speedway’s eighth annual Mid-America Clash. Both Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26 Modified features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks race for $750 to win and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $325 to win both nights. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points will be given for each draw/redraw show. Minimum start money is $125 for the Modifieds and Stocks, $75 for the SportMods and Hobbies and $60 for Sport Compacts. Entry fees are $50 for the Modifieds and Stocks, $30 for SportMods and Hobbies and $25 for Sport Compacts. Pit passes are $35. Spectator admission is $12 for adults and free for kids ages 15 and under. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. Friday, the grandstand opens at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 7 p.m. and racing is at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, the pit area opens at [Read More]