sweetwaterspeedway Archives

Al Buschelman: A Life Remembered

By Ben Deatherage GREEN RIVER, Wyo. (Mar. 10, 2026) — Dirt-track racing in southwestern Wyoming didn’t simply appear overnight. Tracks were carved from open ground, racecars were built in home garages, and entire racing programs grew from the efforts of volunteers who believed in the sport. Few individuals embodied that spirit more than Allen “Al” Buschelman — racer, builder, community servant, and longtime IMCA official whose influence helped shape generations of racing across the region. Buschelman passed away Sunday, March 8, at age 88 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. For decades he was a familiar figure at Wyoming racetracks, whether behind the wheel of a racecar, operating heavy equipment, or helping guide the sport as an IMCA regional director. Those who knew him remember a man who loved fast cars, valued hard work, and cared deeply about the people around him. From Nebraska Roots to a Life in Wyoming Al Buschelman was born in Crofton, Nebraska. He attended high school in Crofton and grew up in a rural environment that emphasized hard work and [Read More]

Yeager Brothers Go 1-2 in Modified Feature at Sweetwater Speedway

By Kara Beech ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. (Jul. 5, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds delivered the most electric action of the night at Sweetwater Speedway on July 5, with 29 cars packing the pit area for a high-stakes showdown. In the end, it was Green River’s Bryson Yeager charging from ninth on the grid to park it in victory lane for his sixth win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region and second at Sweetwater in 2025. Brother Braxton Yeager followed him across the line for a memorable 1-2 family finish, while Casey Delp completed the podium. Valdez Goes Back-to-Back With First Sweetwater Win of 2025 After picking up a victory last weekend at Diamond Mountain Speedway, William Valdez of Rock Springs made it back-to-back wins by capturing Saturday’s Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod main event at Sweetwater Speedway. It was his first triumph of the season at his home track and second overall win in 2025. Colorado’s Waylon Hale, a first-time visitor to Sweetwater, impressed with a 12th-to-2nd charge, earning hard [Read More]

Rock Springs checkers are sweet for Ungaro

By Ben Deatherage ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. (Aug. 16, 2024) – The Friday night checkers were sweet for Brian Ungaro, as the Green River racer outran Wyatt Howard in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified sprint to the finish at Sweetwater Speedway. Ungaro had a sensational night in the All-Star Modified Special presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports earning $1,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility for that win. Starting from the pole, Ungaro took off and ran away with the lead at the drop of the green flag. As things settled down, with Ungaro pacing the field and Braxton Yeager in tow, the race for third was intense between Casey Delp and Tucker Hislop. Delp secured the position just before the first caution of the feature came out. He then captured second after Yeager tried to challenge for the lead. Ungaro constructed a big advantage that was eliminated when second-running Delp had mechanical problems on lap 15. Yeager inherited second, putting Howard among the potential podium finishers in third. Unfortunately, Yeager had problems himself, which ended [Read More]

A Memorable Weekend of Racing at Sweetwater

By Jayson KlepperWWCC Student Intern ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. (May 31, 2022) – Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28 marked the first two races of the season at Sweetwater Speedway and they did not disappoint. The track was as fast as ever even with the rainy weather leading into the races both nights. The crowd was also treated to an impressive car count of over 114 cars with many being first-time racers at the track. With this many racers it was bound to be a special opening weekend, but this was only the beginning of what became some of the best nights of racing this county has ever seen. This weekend of racing was particularly special because it was also the Paul Trent/Rudy Yeager Memorial Race. Paul Trent and Rudy Yeager were essential to Sweetwater Speedway and without all their hard work and dedication, many believe we would not have racing in the county or this great facility. Trent was instrumental in promoting the races throughout the years and drew a lot of attention to [Read More]

IMCA Trent/Yeager Memorial set May 27, 28 at Sweetwater

ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. (May 24, 2022) – Two of the pillars of dirt track racing in Wyoming will be remembered at Sweetwater Speedway’s Friday and Saturday, May 27 and 28 Trent/Yeager Memorial. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win, a minimum of $50 to start and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility both nights. Entry fee is $75. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars come to town as part of the Western Fender Series. They’ll race for $750 to win, a minimum of $40 to start and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility both nights. Entry fee is $60. And Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods run for $400 to win and a minimum of $40 to start both nights. Their entry fee is $60. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western and EQ Cylinder Heads Northern regional, KMJ Performance State and track points will be awarded Competition Carburetion fast lap awards of $100 will be paid in all three divisions on Saturday. Both nights will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. Pit [Read More]

Hansen, Tafoya rock Sweetwater foes for IMCA Modified Wild West Tour wins

ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. (June 18-19) – Chase Hansen found the secret to a good draw and Regan Tafoya finally found his way to victory lane when the IMCA Pitt Stop Motorsports Wild West Tour made its annual visit to Sweetwater Speedway. Hansen simply opted to take the last pill left and won Friday’s IMCA Modified feature after being rewarded with the pole start. Tafoya, whose recent Rock Springs luck has been sketchy at best, got the lead back following a restart with six laps to go in winning the Saturday feature. Both wins paid $1,200 and both drivers were already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot candidates. The tour ironman, Hansen’s fifth career checkers came in his 120th consecutive start. He led start to finish in a feature that started with a lap one caution and ended green, white, checkered. “I didn’t know how close they were behind me at the end,” said Hansen, 1.157 seconds faster than Cory Sample in the race to the checkers. “The car has been really good the last few weeks. Rock [Read More]

How sweet it is! IMCA Wild West Tour returns to Rock Springs for weekend shows

ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. – Frequent destination Sweetwater Speedway is next on the schedule for IMCA’s Pitt Stop Motorsports Wild West Tour. IMCA Modifieds race for a minimum of $1,000 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods both for at least $750 and also based on car count Friday, June 18 and Saturday, June 19. Both Modified features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events and Stock Car feature winners become eligible to qualify for the B & B Chassis All-Star Invitational. The tour has traveled to 16 different tracks in its 119-race history and to none more often than Sweetwater, which hosts its 22nd and 23rd Wild West events this weekend. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, KMJ Performance State and track points will be awarded both nights. Racing starts at 7 p.m. and both race programs will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $5 for seniors ages 60 and over, teens ages 13-17 and active duty military, veterans and National Guard, and free for kids 12 [Read More]

Rudy Yeager Memorial starts season at Sweetwater Speedway

ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. – Sweetwater Speedway’s Rudy Yeager Memorial brings three IMCA divisions to opening night at Rock Springs Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29. IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying features while IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod features pay $500 to win both nights. Kenny Wallace will drive a Mike Petersilie-owned Modified. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western and EQ Cylinder Heads Northern regional, KMJ Performance state and track points will be awarded. Both race night programs will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m. both days with hot laps at approximately 6:45 p.m. and racing to follow. Spectator admission is $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Pit passes are $25. More information about the Rudy Yeager Memorial is available at sweetwaterspeedway.com.

Gaylord, Hansen get IMCA Modified wins in first, 109th career Wild West Tour starts

ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. (June 19-20) – A driver making his first-ever tour start and a driver who’s never missed a tour event were weekend IMCA Modified winners at Sweetwater Speedway. Tripp Gaylord topped the Friday night 1st Class Chassis Wild West Tour feature, returning to Rock Springs to redress a runner-up finish on night two of May’s Rudy Yeager Memorial. Chase Hansen was the Saturday winner, collecting his career third checkers, and first since 2014, in his 109th tour start. Both drivers earned $1,200 and saw their names added to the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. After starting fifth, Gaylord found the middle line to his liking on Friday. He passed Ricky Alvarado and Braxton Yeager for the lead following a restart and stayed in front to the end of the 30-lapper. “It feels like it’s been years trying to get that big out-of-state win,” said Gaylord, who’d run second to Alvarado in the Yeager Memorial finale. “We knew there would be a lot of good cars there and it turned out to be a very good [Read More]