wakeeneyspeedway Archives

Gruber Grabs Late SportMod Win as Walt Takes Title

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (Sept. 20, 2025) — The 20-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod main event at WaKeeney Speedway started with Trevin Frye and Blaine Walt on the front row. Walt quickly took command and began clicking off laps with confidence. A couple of cautions slowed the pace but didn’t shake the leader, as Kamren Gruber, Adam Weber, Josh Barnhart and Brianna Maughlin all chased hard. With four laps to go, Walt looked poised to cruise to victory and lock up the championship when heartbreak struck — his car slowed down the frontstretch, bringing out a caution and ending his shot at the win. Walt and Gearhart tied in the final standings, but his earlier consistency secured him the track championship. The restart put Gruber out front, and the LaCrosse driver fired off strong, holding off Weber and Barnhart to the checkered flag. He celebrated with dirt-flying donuts on the frontstretch, delighting the crowd. It was Gruber’s second win of the season, his first coming at the Rush County Fairgrounds Bullring. Weber finished second, [Read More]

Tathan Burkhart Grabs Stock Car Victory at WaKeeney

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (Aug. 15, 2025) — Kyle Pfeifer and Drew Miller led the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car field to the green for their 20-lap main event at WaKeeney Speedway. Pfeifer jumped out early, but Tathan and Troy Burkhart quickly worked past Miller to join the fight at the front. The battle shifted when Pfeifer spun in turns one and two, collecting Troy Burkhart in the process, forcing both to pull off early. Modified driver Dylan Sherfick also exited the race. Once in clean air, Tathan Burkhart was untouchable. He set the pace for the remainder of the feature and collected his seventh win of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Doug Holzmeister crossed the line second, with Trey Zorn completing the podium in third. Morgan Olmstead Holds Off Brother Zach in Hobby Action The 15-lap Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock main event rolled off with Nick Sherfick and Morgan Olmstead on the front row. Morgan fired to the lead early, but a caution flew when young Sherfick spun in the opening [Read More]

Pfeifer Holds Rogers off at Line in Stock Car Thriller at WaKeeney

By Sheldon Warwick WaKEENEY, Kan. (Jul. 10, 2025) — Kyle Pfeifer earned his third EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature win of the season at WaKeeney Speedway in thrilling fashion, edging Jason Rogers at the line in a dramatic finish. Pfeifer, who previously won at Colby and Hays, worked the bottom groove to perfection as he and Rogers went side-by-side in the closing laps of the 20-lap main. Troy Burkhart led early until slipping high and falling from contention. Rogers and Brett Berry swapped the lead before Berry encountered issues. Pfeifer pounced, powered low, and beat Rogers by inches. Finishing behind Pfeifer and Rogers was Tathan Burkhart. Connor Schwien Holds Off Compact Field Connor Schwien put on a clinic in the 12-lap Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact main, leading every lap for his fourth win of the year. He got the jump from the pole and never looked back as attrition thinned the field behind him. Kyle Mortensen finished second, followed by Kaishen Brack—who gained two positions for hard charger honors. Barnhart Collects SportMod Win [Read More]

Olmstead Strong in Hobby Stock Action at WaKeeney

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (Jun. 27, 2025) — Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks headlined Friday night at the historic WaKeeney Speedway. The front row of the main event featured Blake Holmes and Zach Olmstead. Olmstead charged to the early lead but was quickly challenged by Brady Wulf and Holmes. Staying smooth and composed throughout the feature, Olmstead fended off every advance and claimed his 12th win of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. Brady Bencken made a huge run through the field to finish second, with Eric Cross crossing the line third. Higdon Grabs Sport Compact Win The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact main event rolled off with Mitch Conner and Kiowa Higdon on the front row. Higdon jumped out to the early lead and soon found himself under fire from Connor Schwien and Kyle Mortensen. Higdon and Schwien battled closely throughout, with Schwien better in the corners while Higdon maintained the advantage down the straightaways. In the end, it was Kiowa Higdon scoring his first win of the season. Schwien was second, with [Read More]

Walt Prevails on Final SportMod Restart at WaKeeney For Late Race Win

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (May 30, 2025) — The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods had a busy night at WaKeeney Speedway, capped by an exciting feature that saw Blaine Walt emerge victorious after a late restart. Ryan Kirchoff stormed out to an early lead and looked unstoppable, leading the first sixteen laps before contact between a lapped car and Jack Kirchoff brought out the caution. That restart placed Walt on the inside of the front row. Kirchoff got a strong jump and led for a few more laps, but Walt slipped underneath to take the lead. Kirchoff made one last attempt, but Walt held on to claim his fourth win of the season and third at WaKeeney, adding to his sweep of the John Fose Memorial. Kirchoff settled for second, with Cody Gearhart completing the podium. Sproul Dominant in Mod Action Dakota Sproul led every lap of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature, commanding the race from start to finish. Late-race contact between Mike Bainter and Kyle Rohleder, who was nursing a soft right rear [Read More]

Sproul Wins Modified Thriller At WaKeeney

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (May 17, 2025) — WaKeeney Speedway brought the curtain down on the John Fose Memorial/Wall of Fame Weekend with a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature that lived up to the occasion. Jeremy Frenier took command early, storming to the lead as the field settled in behind him. But Daniel Gottschalk soon reeled him in, making the pass after a few circuits to take over the top spot. As the race reached the midway point, a four-car shootout began to take shape with Gottschalk, Frenier, Kyle Rohleder, and Dakota Sproul all in the mix. Gottschalk’s time out front was cut short when Rohleder powered to the lead, but Sproul was just hitting his stride. Methodically working the track, Sproul closed in and made a dramatic last lap pass on Rohleder to secure his second Jet Racing Central Region victory of the season. Rohleder settled for second with Frenier rounding out the podium. Walt Steals the Spotlight in SportMod Thriller The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature at WaKeeney Speedway was packed with drama [Read More]

Berry Scores First Career Stock Car Win at WaKeeney

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (May 16, 2025) — The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature on night one of the John Fose Memorial and Wall of Fame Weekend at WaKeeney Speedway delivered a memorable performance to honor one of Kansas racing’s most beloved figures. With a front row led by Bill Brack and Garrett Hager, the 20-lap main event quickly came to life when Brett Berry powered his way through a three-wide opening corner to seize the early lead. From there, the veteran driver from Kinsley held a steady pace despite persistent pressure from rising stars Tathan Burkhart and Kyle Pfeifer. Berry, who has already built a decorated IMCA career with wins in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, added another division to his list with his first career Stock Car victory in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Burkhart stormed through the field from deep in the lineup to finish second and earned hard charger honors by gaining nine spots, while Pfeifer settled into third after a [Read More]

Gottschalk Wins Modified Opener At WaKeeney

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (Apr. 18, 2025) — Daniel Gottschalk made the most of his 2025 debut, outdueling Greg Gustus in a spirited Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature Friday night at WaKeeney Speedway to earn his first score of the year in the Jet Racing Central Region. The race started off with a front row of Greg Gustus and Gottschalk, who battled closely throughout the feature, as each took turns leading at different points. Late in the race, Gottschalk solidified the lead and ran away from Gustus en route to the victoyu. Second was Gustus, while third was Clay Money. Hardcharger in the main event was Brett Berry, who gained seven spots. Burkhart Beats Holzmeister and Pfeifer to Win Stock Car Main The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car finale touched off with a front row of Troy Burkhart and Doug Holzmeister, the duo ran closely throughout the feature until the closing stages, when Holzmeister fell off slightly. Kyle Pfeifer got by Holzmeister late but could not quite make a winning pass on Burkhart. Troy Burkhart grabbed [Read More]

Gottschalk finds fastest line at Fose Memorial

WaKEENEY, Kan. (Sept. 14, 2024) – After starting 11th, Daniel Gottschalk admitted he didn’t think he’d be a contender at WaKeeney Speedway’s inaugural John Fose Memorial. After being involved in an early-race scuffle and restarting in the back row of the 20-car Friesen Performance IMCA Modified field, he was even more skeptical. Then he found the fast line. Gottschalk raced to the first of what would become two weekend feature wins – he’d also top Sunday’s season championship night show at RPM Speedway – and earn $1,527 along with Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility with the Saturday checkers. “To be honest, with Dylan (Sherfick) starting out front, I didn’t know if anyone had a shot at catching him,” said Gottschalk. “But it all worked out.” Gottschalk found his speed on the lower line while Kyle Rohleder, who’d also been involved in that early incident and restarted at the back, took a higher line in his own charge toward the front. Wheeling the 2021 VanderBuilt Chassis that had taken him to a top three finish [Read More]

Sherfick defends home turf in Friday Buzzard Bash Dash

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (April 19, 2024) – Dylan Sherfick defended his home turf Friday night at WaKeeney Speedway, earning $1,000 and becoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible while doing so. The hometown hotshoe counts the 2015 crown at WaKeeney among his eight career Friesen Performance IMCA Modified track titles and clearly had the fastest car from the drop of the green in the Buzzard Bash Dash main event. The 20-lap feature started with a front row of Sherfick and John Burrow, and once the field got going Sherfick made like he was shot out of a cannon and built a huge lead right off the bat. Once he entered lapped traffic Sherfick did not slow down and not even an always fast Jeremy Frenier could reel him in. Frenier, Brett Berry, Daniel Gottschalk and Dakota Sproul would complete the top five. Eighty-four race teams contended Friday night with Troy Burkhart topping the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Morgan Olmstead leading the way to the checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Blaine Walt [Read More]