stuartspeedway 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]

Padilla Claims Second Career Cornbelt Clash Crown

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 28, 2025) — Jon Padilla returned to the top of the podium in Cornbelt Clash competition, capturing his second career championship in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites tour following three action-packed nights of racing across central Iowa. The Silvis, Illinois, racer showed consistency and resilience across the May mini-series. He started the week with a sixth-place run at Marshalltown Speedway, surged to victory in round two at Boone Speedway, and sealed the title with a runner-up finish in the finale at Stuart Speedway. The strong results earned Padilla the most points across the three-night swing and another Cornbelt Clash trophy to add to his resume. Austin Gray of Story City, Iowa gave chase throughout the week and finished second in the standings. Gray finished fourth at the opener, ran second to Padilla at Boone, and came home fifth at Stuart. Adel, Iowa’s Colby Oberembt claimed third in the overall standings. He opened the week with a strong third-place finish at MoTown, slipped to eighth at Boone, but rebounded [Read More]

Carter Claims Whole Hog 50 Stock Car Victory at Stuart

By Ben Deatherage STUART, Iowa (May 25, 2025) — Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars headlined the Sunday night program at Stuart Speedway with the fifth running of the Whole Hog 50, and for the first time in event history, someone not named Dallon Murty was crowned king. Cayden Carter, piloting the Michael Peterson-owned no. 1X, claimed the 50-lap feature after taking the lead on a lap seven restart and never giving it up. The Oskaloosa driver dealt with multiple cautions and navigated thick traffic to build a comfortable lead en route to his third EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the year, each coming at a different track in Iowa. Carter started fourth and sealed the deal by kissing a real live hog in victory lane. Two-time defending track champion Buck Schafroth rallied into second and began to track down Carter during a long green-flag stretch around the race’s midpoint, but the lap 25 caution gave Carter clean air once again. Brad Derry, who led the first few laps before Carter took over, managed to hold [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]

Murty Survives Late Race Drama to Take Stock Car Dirt Duel

By Ben Deatherage STUART, Iowa (May 14, 2025) — Dallon Murty made the most of his father Damon’s ride Wednesday night at Stuart Speedway, capturing the $2,000 payday in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car portion of the Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duel. The Chelsea native surged past Dillon Solum for the lead on a lap seven restart after Solum and Buck Schafroth battled intensely for the top spot in the opening laps. Schafroth, the two-time defending track champion, fended off several slider attempts from Solum before the Oregon transplant finally found a way around him on the seventh circuit. Murty appeared to be in control until a lap 21 caution erased his sizable advantage. A brush with oil in turn three nearly cost him the win as the fluid brought out the yellow, setting up a green-white-checkered finish. Despite the scare, Murty nailed the restart and maintained his line to secure his fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season and third at Stuart. Behind Murty, Schafroth regrouped to finish second, narrowly holding off Mike [Read More]

Three-Night Corn Belt Clash Brings Big Payouts for Mod Lites Across Iowa

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 15, 2025) — The Corn Belt Clash returns with three straight nights of intense Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite action, kicking off on Friday, May 23 at Marshalltown Speedway, continuing Saturday at Boone Speedway, and wrapping up Sunday at Stuart Speedway. “This event has become a staple for Mod Lites,” said Jimmy May, Mod Lite Director. “It’s the fifth year under IMCA, and it’s a great opportunity for drivers to compete at multiple tracks over one weekend while chasing a solid point fund.” Drivers will battle for $500 to win each night with $100 to start. In addition, the Top 20 in overall Clash points will each receive $350, thanks to the generous support of Vessco, Superior Race Cars, and several anonymous sponsors. Peak Decals will provide the big checks for each night’s winners, while Weekend Performance will give $30 cash to every heat race winner. “This point fund is a big motivator for teams to come out and run the entire weekend,” May added. “With three nights of [Read More]

Shute Shines in Stuart Modified Season Opener

By Ben Deatherage STUART, Iowa (Apr. 13, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds headlined the 64th season opener at Stuart Speedway, and Norwalk’s Todd Shute powered to victory in the 20-lap feature. California transplant Trevor Fitz jumped out to the early lead and held back two-time defending national champion Chaz Baca Jr. of Arizona during the opening laps. A lap seven restart brought new challengers, as Shute and Tanner Black joined the fray. Shute, the 2007 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner and three-time defending Stuart track titlist, made a decisive move on lap 11 to edge out Fitz at the line. A couple of mid-race cautions couldn’t slow him down, and Shute dominated the closing circuits to collect his second Razor Chassis North Central Region win of the season. Fitz held on to finish second, while 2019 Arizona State champion Kelsie Black, wife of Tanner, completed the podium in third. Schafroth Scores First Stock Car Victory of 2025 Buck Schafroth wasted no time in taking command of the 20-lap Sunoco IMCA [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]

Stuart Speedway hosts May 1 Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duel

STUART, Iowa (April 18, 2024) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for potential All-Star berths at Stuart Speedway’s Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duel. The eighth annual event is Wednesday, May 1. Modifieds chase a $1,000 top check and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, Stock Cars a top prize of $750 and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Rounding out the sanctioned card are Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods in a $750 to win feature, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks in a $500 to win main and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, Iowa State and track points will be awarded at the draw/redraw show. Hot laps are at 6:45 p.m. with racing to follow. Pit passes are $30, $15 for non-competing children ages 6-13 and free for kids ages five and under; minor waivers must be filled out at the pit shack. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $5 for kids ages 11-16 and free for 10 and under. The Dirt Duel will [Read More]

Braaksma Express rolls on with IMCA Frostbuster win at Stuart

STUART, Iowa (April 4, 2024) – The Ethan Braaksma Express kept on rolling Thursday, opening night of the IMCA Frostbuster Tour at Stuart Speedway. Braaksma raced to his fifth Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win of the season, taking the $1,000 checkers ahead of Dylan Thornton, Dallon Murty, Jerry Flippo and Todd Shute. He’d won twice in Arizona before sweeping Southern Iowa Frost Out features at Bloomfield last weekend; the continued early season success is especially gratifying as he’d gone winless in both 2022 and 2023. “It’s only April and I never thought we would have that many wins already. We just had a couple years where we struggled but now everything is falling into place,” Braaksma said. “I couldn’t be more grateful for everything I have and everyone I have around me.” The 2021 Frostbuster champion and already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, Braaksma would lead every lap from the pole, weathering multiple cautions and finding the smoothest line around the oval. “I knew I’d be good if I hit my marks. I could [Read More]