wakeeneyspeedway Archives

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]

WaKeeney opens with IMCA Blizzard Bash Dash

WaKEENEY, Kan. (April 9, 2024) – The green flag flies again this season at WaKeeney Speedway, with five IMCA divisions running at the Friday and Saturday, April 19 and 20 Buzzard Bash Dash. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $750 to win and both IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods for $600 to win each night. Modified winners become eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, Stock Car winners for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts run Friday only for $200 to win. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, Kansas State and track points will be awarded for both draw/redraw shows. Entry fee for the weekend is $100 for Modifieds, $75 for Stock Cars, $50 for SportMods and Hobby Stocks, and $20 for Sport Compacts. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. Friday. The grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the pits open [Read More]

WaKeeney adds to IMCA history with 2024 sanction

WaKEENEY, Kan. (March 13, 2024) – A Kansas track rich in IMCA racing history writes another new chapter beginning in 2024. WaKeeney Speedway hosts five dates for five sanctioned divisions this season, beginning with the April 19-20 Buzzard Bash Dash. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts all return to the 3/8-mile clay oval in northwest Kansas. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, state and track points are also to be awarded at June 6, July 11 and Sept. 14 shows. “A lot of IMCA national champions have come from this area and raced at WaKeeney,” observed promoter and former Stock Car driver B.J. Wagoner, citing David Murray Jr., John Fose and Doug Holzmeister. “A handful of special events have been held here in recent seasons, most recently last August, and the racing surface is in pretty good shape. More than anything, we’ve got some cleanup to do around the facility to be ready for opening night.” WaKeeney first [Read More]

URSS slated for Western Kansas doubleheader June 27, 28

COLBY, Kan. – The Mel Hambelton Ford Racing POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series is slated to take on a doubleheader weekend June 27 and 28. Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series drivers will head to Thomas County Speedway in Colby, Kan., on Saturday, June 27. Racing is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. General admission is $15 with kids 12 and under free. On Sunday, June 28, competitors will head east on I-70 to WaKeeney Speedway complete the doubleheader weekend. With the Sprint Cars will be IMCA Kansas Thunder Racing Series Modifieds, Sports Mods, Stock Cars, and Hobby Stocks. Racing will begin at 6 p.m.. General admission is $15 with kids 12 and under free. Both events pay $700 to win and $200 to start, and were originally scheduled for late-May, but restrictions in effect forced the postponement to a later date.

Johnson thrills in URSS return to WaKeeney

By David Smith, Jr., OKTidbits WaKEENEY, Kan. (Sept. 7) – J.D. Johnson made a daring move on the final lap to claim the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing championship feature Saturday at WaKeeney Speedway. Johnson and Scott Cochran started on the front row for the 25-lap feature with Johnson taking the lead as the green flag fell. Cochran, Nate Berry, Austin McLean and Ty Williams filled out the top five with Johnson claiming lap one. Cochran took the lead on lap two with Johnson now giving chase. Berry took over the runner-up position on lap six before Johnson reclaimed that position on lap eight. Cochran approached slower cars on lap nine while Berry took back second from Johnson on lap 11. At midway it was still Cochran controlling the lead while Berry, Johnson, Williams and McLean the top five. Johnson got a run Berry to move back into the runner up position and set his sights on the leader. Johnson applied pressure on Cochran and on lap 19, got past to take the lead [Read More]