shelbycountyspeedway Archives

Skylar Pruitt: From the Horn of Africa to Victory Lane at Stuart

By Ben Deatherage STUART, Iowa (Jun. 13, 2025) — In a town of just 1,700 nestled along Interstate 80, Skylar Pruitt’s story is one of grit, devotion, and second chances. Born and raised in Stuart, Pruitt now races Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks at Stuart International Speedway — the same track his family has been tied to since the late 1970s. But the road that brought him back to the driver’s seat wasn’t a straight one. Racing Blood and a Restart “My family has lived in Stuart or the area our whole lives,” Pruitt said. “They started racing I don’t know when — late ‘70s, early ‘80s — and the bloodline just stayed with me.” He grew up going to the track with his dad Curtis and grandfather Ted. His first taste of speed came on two wheels, not four. “My dad bought me my first dirt bike when I was three. We ran them for a while and then got out of that. I had a full ride with a company, but they went out of [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]

Christensen Claims First-Ever Stock Car Win in Wild Shelby County Feature

By Don Hawkins HARLAN, Iowa (May 3, 2025) — Riley Christensen thrilled the Shelby County Speedway crowd with a dramatic breakthrough victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, leading the final laps of a wild feature that included multiple lead changes, a tangle between frontrunners, and a green-white-checkered finish. Christensen, of Audubon, grabbed the point on lap 1 but was reeled in by Mike Vondrak and Larry Robinson Jr. midway through the race. Vondrak snuck underneath to lead lap 10, but a caution changed everything. Robinson made a move on the restart and got around Vondrak in turn three, but the two made contact, bringing out another caution. Vondrak came to a stop, handing the lead back to Christensen. In the final laps, Christensen held off intense pressure from Dustin Reeh to claim his first-ever Stock Car feature win — a milestone that also marked his first career victory in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Reeh made a strong bid but had to settle for second at the finish, followed by Bryan Snell in third. [Read More]

Hearty wins two races on emotional Saturday night at Shelby County

HARLAN, Iowa (Sept. 21, 2024) – Jack Hearty won two races on Saturday night at Shelby County Speedway. The first was just to get his IMCA Sunoco Late Model on the track. The second was to win the Tiny Lund Memorial and Brandon Saltzman Showdown main event. Hearty, just 22 and from Omaha, won his career-first IMCA Late Model feature and $3,098 on a night dedicated to both the hometown hero and 1963 Daytona 500 champion and to the late 2021 track champion. “There have been a couple races where I’ve led late and had a tire blow out, or lost the lead after a late caution,” said Hearty, who got up at sunrise Sunday, walked from his camper and sat at the track, letting everything from the night before set in. “We had a caution with four to go and I knew Cory Dumpert was right behind me. I just told myself ‘Let’s go do what we know we can’ and it all worked out.” Dumpert, the five-time defending national champion, and Sterling Perkins [Read More]

Tiny Lund Memorial, Saltzman Showdown set for Sept. 20-21

HARLAN, Iowa (Sept. 13, 2024) – Five IMCA divisions fill the Friday night program and will be joined by a sixth of Saturday for Shelby County Speedway’s 32nd annual Tiny Lund Memorial and Brandon Saltzman Showdown Sept. 20 and 21. On Friday, IMCA Sunoco Late Models run for $1,998 to win and $200 to start, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $1,250 to win and $150 to start, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods for $1,000 to win and $125 to start, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $750 to win and $100 to start, and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $250 to win and $55 to start. And on Saturday, Late Models run for $3,098 to win and $225 to start, Stock Cars for $2,500 to win and $200 to start, SportMods for $2,000 to win and $150 to start, Hobby Stocks for $2,000 to win and $140 to start and Sport Compacts for $650 to win and $75 to start. The $250 Sunoco Race Fuels bonus will be awarded in conjunction with Friday’s Late Model feature. Both Stock [Read More]

Mahlberg does plenty of passing to get IMCA wins 99 and 100

DUNLAP, Iowa (Aug. 17, 2024) – Caine Mahlberg was plenty fast on both pavement and the dirt over the weekend. As a result, the Dunlap driver passed a total of 23 cars – that’s counting only those on the track and not the highway – in winning career 99th and 100th Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact features, at Crawford County Speedway on Friday and at Shelby County Speedway on Saturday. “Both nights I had car issues so I didn’t even know I was going to make it. I broke some studs, didn’t have any more and had to run home and get them off another car,” Mahlberg said. “I came late for both nights, didn’t run my heat and had to start in the back.” “I made it back just in time for the feature both nights.” Mahlberg hauled from ninth starting at Denison and from 16th at Harlan. “I was kind of thinking ‘Let’s just win tomorrow night and get it over with’ after Friday, but there were a lot of good cars there,” he said. “I really [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]

Shelby County Speedway hosts six IMCA divisions at Tiny Lund Memorial, Brandon Saltzman Showdown

HARLAN, Iowa (Sept. 19, 2023) – The 31st annual Tiny Lund Memorial and inaugural Brandon Saltzman Showdown bring six IMCA divisions to Shelby County Speedway this weekend, Sept. 22 and 23. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars race for $1,250 to win on Friday and for a top check of $4,000 on Saturday, with both winners earning B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility as well. Saturday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified winner earns $1,255 and becomes eligible for the 2024 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. IMCA Sunoco Late Models run for $998 to win plus the Sunoco Race Fuels bonus of $250 on opening night, and for $1,998 to win on Saturday. Winner’s checks for Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods are $855 on Friday and $1,555 on Saturday, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks run for $755 to win on Friday and $1,255 on Saturday, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts for $255 to win on Friday and $555 on Saturday. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and state points will be awarded both nights. Hot laps are at [Read More]

IMCA Late Models chase Sunoco bonuses at Denison, Harlan

DENISON, Iowa (May 16, 2023) – IMCA Late Model drivers have two shots at winning a Sunoco Race Fuels bonus this weekend. The divisional title sponsor awards $250 bonuses to feature winners on Friday, May 19 at Crawford County Speedway in Denison and Saturday, May 20 at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan. Drivers can get the bonus one time in a season; the $250 will be awarded to the top finishing non-winning driver any night the winner has previously received the bonus. Late Models will be first on the track for their heats and main event Friday night, joining IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts on the Friday card. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m. Drivers must draw, or have someone draw for them, before the drivers’ meeting starts at 6:45 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. with racing to follow; pit passes are $30. That night’s program will be broadcast by [Read More]

“It was a pretty good night” – Mike Nichols’ 600th IMCA Stock Car win comes at hometown Shelby County Speedway

HARLAN, Iowa (Aug. 20, 2022) – Another win, another milestone. Mike Nichols, won for the 600th time in his incredible IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career, taking his latest checkers Saturday night at hometown Shelby County Speedway. “It was pretty cool,” said Nichols, the winningest driver in IMCA’s 108-year history. “Years and years ago, my first win was at Harlan and it was good to get this milestone win at the same track with so many friends, fans and sponsors here.” “The environment couldn’t have been any better,” he added. There was a good car count and the grandstand was packed. It was a pretty good night.” Nichols has enjoyed a lot of “pretty good nights” since first taking The Class Too Tough To Tame by storm in 2002. Now chasing an IMCA record extending 11th national crown, he’s averaged better than 28 wins a season over the course of his Stock Car career and leads all IMCA drivers with 44 career track titles. His resume also includes 10 EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region championships and the 2017 IMCA Speedway [Read More]