He ended it as the newest member of IMCA’s 100 career win club.

Smith accomplished the feat Thursday night, winning for the 100th time in his IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock career at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Spencer.

“I tried to go into the night like it was just another race. I kept the tires under the car and once I got to the front, I did my best to stay there,” said Smith, from Lake City, Iowa, and the defending national champion in the class. “It was nice that we won the next night (at Fairmont), too.”

Older brothers David and Dustin also own 100-plus sanctioned wins, David in a Stock Car and Dustin in a Hobby Stock.

“I watched my brothers do it, but it never occurred to me that I’d get a hundred wins,” admitted Smith, now just a single victory behind Dustin on the all-time wins list for the Hobbies. “I’ve had two pretty good years the last two years. Hopefully we can make it three this season.”

Smith has won more races each season since his rookie campaign in 2007. A 26-time winner and national runner-up in 2010, he collected 39 checkers last year, when he joined brothers David, Donavon and Dustin as having earned an IMCA national championship.

The atmosphere in their shop is businesslike but in a laid back sort of way.

“It’s really pretty mellow,” Smith said. “Even if we win, we’re all trying to get better so we work on the cars almost every day.”

He’s considered making the move to a Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod but has decided to leave that class to another brother, Doug.

“I had the intention of moving up to a Stock Car after last year but I really like the crate engine rule for the Hobby Stocks,” he said. “You can go to as many different tracks as you want and come home with an engine because you can’t be claimed. Plus, there’s hardly any maintenance.”

“SportMods are out for me,” he added. “If I move up, it’ll be to a Stock Car.”

The win at Spencer was Smith’s third of 2012. He’s also won seven track titles over the course of his Hobby Stock career.

Chico McNeil followed him there two weeks later.

Both won the first IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock features in their respective states, Stoddard at Summit Raceway in Nevada, McNeil at Gillette Thunder Speedway in Wyoming on May 12.

“We decided to sanction mostly because of the rules. The IMCA rules are all there in black and white and that was the biggest reason,” explained Tracy Greenwood, treasurer of the Elko County Auto Racers’ Association in Summit. “The class has been very well received here.”

The number of drivers who built new cars for an existing class at Summit this season necessitated a three-year transition period for the class.

Gillette will complete the switch in 2014.

“We had a great night and a good night for our opener. I’m hopeful that this IMCA Hobby Stock deal is going to work out for us,” promoter Ed Kirchoff said. “We need structure and I think IMCA can pull the tracks in this area together.”

The opener at Gillette brought drivers from Montana and South Dakota, as well as Wyoming to town.

Summit will join the Stephenville Starter Southern Region; Gillette is new to the Stephenville Starter Northern Region.

Sanctioned Hobby Stocks join the IMCA Modifieds at both tracks.

“Much the same way our Modified division has since 1979, the Hobby Stocks add an exciting element to local weekly race programs,” IMCA Director of Track Relations Jim Stannard noted. “Our rules and their economy give the Hobby Stocks considerable potential for growth in new areas of the country like Nevada and Wyoming.”

They’ll also have the opportunity to help continue raising funds for the Dominick Bruns Memorial Foundation and awareness about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Memorial events will be held at Jackson Speedway, Murray County Speedway in Slayton and Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls.

Funds raised through the sale of T-shirts and sweatshirts throughout the series will again be used to purchase halo sleep sacks for newborns at area hospitals and to provide educational programs for their parents.

IMCA driver Shaun Bruns and his wife Becky of Danube founded the Dominick Bruns Memorial Foundation in 2008 after losing their son to SIDS.

The Bruns Memorial Challenge Cup Chase opens with a $1,000 to win, minimum $100 to start event on Saturday, June 30 at Jackson Speedway.

Murray County Speedway at Slayton hosts the $1,000 to win, minimum $125 to start show on Friday, July 6.

The 2012 series ends with the fifth annual Bruns Memorial event at Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls on Sunday, Aug. 5. That feature pays $1,250 to win and a minimum of $100 to start.

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Mallory Northern Region, Allstar Performance Minnesota State and local track points, as well as special series points, will be given all three nights.

The point fund is provided by the foundation and area sponsors, among them Gerry’s South Side Auto Body Shop in Redwood Falls.

The champion earns $1,000 and, like 2011 title winner Ken Tietz, gets his name on the back of the T-shirt sold during next year’s tour. The runner-up gets $600, the third-place finisher $400.

Gates at Jackson open at 4:30 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 7 p.m. and racing follows.

Murray County opens the pits at 5 p.m. and the grandstand at 6 p.m. Racing follows 7:15 p.m. hot laps.

At Redwood Falls, pit gates open at 3:30 p.m., the grandstand opens at 4:30 p.m. and hot laps are at 5:15 p.m. with racing to follow.

The Stephenville business is the new title sponsor for the Northern region while returning as title sponsor for the Southern region for a fourth consecutive year, and will provide a portion of point funds to be paid to top five drivers in each.

Drivers in both regions are required to display two Stephenville Starter decals on their race car to be eligible for point fund shares.

Stephenville Starter had previously been title sponsor for the Southern Region for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.

Information about high performance as well as industrial and agricultural products from Stephenville Starter is available by calling 254 965-7890.

The Stephenville Starter Southern Region includes tracks in Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah. Stephenville Starter Northern Region tracks are in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

“Having Stephenville Starter as the regional partner with both regions provides the uniformity we were looking for with the Hobby Stock division and allowed us to provide the same with the Stock Cars,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder said. “They have been a great supporter since we began working with them and this will help increase the support of their northern customers.”

The largest retailer of new and pre-driven cars, trucks and vans in Iowa is now in its 21st season as title sponsor of the Deery Brothers Summer Series and will provide a portion of the $20,400 in point fund money for top 15 drivers in final tour point standings.

Fifteen race dates remain on the schedule, the next two shows are May 22 at Marshalltown Speedway and Memorial Day May 28 at Boone Speedway.

Top paying events are the $5,000 to win Pepsi USA Nationals feature at 34 Raceway on Sept. 1 and the $7,500 to win feature on Sept. 15 during the Yankee Dirt Track Classic at Farley Speedway.

All drivers are required to display two Deery Brothers decals on their race car to be eligible for point fund shares.

Mike Murphy Jr. has won two of the first five events and is the current series point leader. Andy Eckrich, two-time defending champion Ray Guss Jr. and Darrel DeFrance have each won once.

DeFrance has competed at all 389 events in series history, winning 13 times. Jeff Aikey leads all Deery drivers with six career tour championships and 55 feature wins.

Deery Brothers has more than 4,400 new and pre-driven vehicles at outlet and service centers in West Burlington, Cedar Falls, Iowa City, Maquoketa, Pella, Pleasant Hill and Waterloo. Collision centers are located in Burlington, Cedar Falls and Pleasant Hill.

The Deery Brothers website is www.DeeryConnect.com.

“The Deery Brothers Automotive Group has really increased their activity surrounding individual race dates over the past few seasons and we look forward to helping them increase their brand throughout the Midwest again in 2012,” said Kevin Yoder, marketing director for IMCA as well as director of the tour. “This partnership continues to be successful and we encourage fans to not only support the Deery Brothers Summer Series but also each participating dealership as well.”

JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 13) – It was hammer down, hang a left and hold on as five drivers hit victory lane Sunday evening at Raceway Park.

In the IMCA Modified feature, Bob Moore was hooked up on the tight, inside line and led the opening laps with Jim Cole riding the outside rim in pursuit. By midway, Cole got his line wired in, charging past Moore into a lead he would hold to the checkers.

Behind the lead duo, Chris Mills and Jim Thies rounded out the top four.

Jason Ward topped Ryan Harris to take the win and the point lead in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car division. Jeremy Smith held off a hard charging Mitch Dowhower for third.

The Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature saw the closest finish of the night as Karl Brewer made a wild charge from fourth with two to go, passing race-long leader Keith Sanders out of the final turn for the victory.

Behind Brewer and Sanders, Geoff Olson and Jonah Chin took third and fourth, respectively.

The win in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature went to Bill Woehler over Jim Hall and John Cain.

Steven Pierce took his second win of the year in the Mach-1 Sport Compact division over Tracy Dalton, Mark Dorcey and Elmer Rolfes.

Action resumes Sunday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Josh Foster, Matt Greiner and Jim Gillenwater took top honors on DOC360/Pepsi Next Night at the track.

The first feature to take to the track was the 20-lap IMCA Modifieds, with Rich Smith and Brandon Savage on the front row. Smith took advantage of his front row start to jump out into the lead on the drop of the green flag.

Foster started seventh but was soon in the mix for second. What proved to be the final caution came on lap four. On the restart, Smith moved back out front with Foster and Todd Hansen following close behind.

Foster tried for the next nine laps to get around Smith as Hansen followed in third, ready to pounce should either make a mistake. Foster got the break he needed on lap 13, as Smith jumped the cushion in turn four to allow Foster to get under him going into turn one.

Foster exited turn two with the lead on lap 14 and held on over the final six laps to pick up the win. Smith settled for second, Hansen was third, Tyler Cale was fourth with Jeff Waterman charging from his 16th place starting spot to round out the top five.

Greiner and Cale Samberg led the field to the drop of the green in the 15-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main, with Greiner jumping out front to lead lap one over Jeff Mueller.

Mueller tried to work under Greiner over the next five laps, only to have Greiner edge him at the line each time to hold the top spot. Disaster struck for Mueller on lap six as he slowed in turn three with a right rear flat.

On the ensuing restart, Greiner moved back out front with Samberg and Jason Cook, who started eighth, battling for second. Greiner then had to work to hold back Samberg, who was under challenge from Cook and Jim Redmann, over the next six laps.

After the final caution came out on lap 12, Greiner again grabbed the lead on the restart with Cook moving into second. Greiner went on to lead the final three laps to take the win ahead Cook finished second and Redmann third.

Jacob Smith and Levi Smith led the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod field to green. Levi Smith led to lap three, when Brandon Ruffcorn slipped under him to take the top spot.

As Ruffcorn worked to hold back Levi and Bobby Anders, Gillenwater, who started seventh, and Scott VanBuskirk, who started 10th, were working their way to the front.

Gillenwater got by Anders for second on the 10th circuit and following a restart, slipped under Ruffcorn to take over the top spot on lap 13 and led to the finish. Ruffcorn, VanBuskirk, Anders and Tony Dunker followed.

The Mach-1 Sport Compact feature had C.J. Loring and Austen Becerra on the front row. The red flag waved on lap two as Mike Hornung Jr. got into Loring, which caused him to roll in turn four.

Loring was OK as he fired his car and continued on, with Hornung going to the tail. On the restart, Becerra jumped back out front with Brandon Lambert, who started eighth, and Darin Smith close behind.

The battle up front was slowed for the final time on lap three for another caution. Becerra once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Lambert and Smith battling for second. The three car battle up front would become four on lap 10, as Seth Woodruff move in to set up a two-lap dash to the finish.

Becerra held off all challengers over the final laps to pick up the win.

Fans were treated to a free can of DOC306, diet DOC360 or Pepsi Next on their way out the gate, thanks to Memphis, Mo., Bottling Company.

Coming up Friday, May 18 at Lee County Speedway will be Health Source Night, with all those who ride a bike to the track getting in for $5. The battle for 2012 championships will continue in all four sanctioned divisions.

Pit gates open at 5 p.m., grandstands open at 5:30 p.m., hot laps are at 7 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m.

An additional $100 will be awarded to the top five feature finishers in each division, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Late Models, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, for the May 19 show.

This will expand the purse by $2,500 on Saturday.

May 19 is a weekly points night for all five divisions. Gates open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m. Grandstand admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for students 12-17. Kids 11 and under will be admitted free to the grandstands if accompanied by a paid adult. Pit passes are $25.

Other special events are also planned in the coming weeks. Saturday, May 26, is Maverick Powersports Night, followed by Relay for Life Cancer Awareness Pink Night on June 2. Remax Independence Realty Night is scheduled for Saturday, June 9.

The latest news and schedule information is available at the track website,  www.independencemotorspeedway.com, or by calling Ryan Clark at 319 361-3795. The race day number is 319 334-9287.

Hansen led all 25 laps of the Leary Racing Products Blood, Sweat and Tears West Series opener for IMCA Modifieds, getting a break from the caution that waved with eight circuits left.

Already running with lapped traffic, Hansen got to restart at the front of the field after the only yellow flag of the night came out.

Jeremy Frenier tried to challenge but came up short and had to settle for second. Conner Oullen, Eddie Belec and Brady Coen rounded out the top five.

“I was glad to see the caution come out when it did,” said Hansen, who could stay in his preferred lower line after the lapped cars were realigned. “I’d rather have them behind me than have to pass them on a higher line.”

The $1,000 victory was Hansen’s career fifth on the BST circuit. He was already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot as winner of the series event at Thomas County Speedway last July.

Saturday’s scheduled $2,000 to win show was lost to rain.

Next BST West Series events for Modifieds and for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars are July 4 at Phillips County Raceway.

The first BST South Series events for both divisions are June 8 and 9 at The Great American Dirt Track.

Feature results – 1. John Hansen; 2. Jeremy Frenier; 3. Conner Pullen; 4. Eddie Belec; 5. Brady Coen; 6. Justin Beakley; 7. Nick Nelson; 8. Darren DeLoach; 9. Corey Cox; 10. Adam Morris; 11. John Burrows; 12. Aaron Monie; 13. Greg Gustus; 14. Neal Debord; 15. Zach Hilzer; 16. Grant Florence; 17. Jason Haug; 18. Matt Morris; 19. Dave Lindsey; 20. Rick Saunders; 21. Keith Stegman; 22. Joe Mullins.

Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod driver Chris Budzban won the Sybesma Graphics-sponsored IMCA Face book Fan Favorite contest for May in the non-fendered category. *(Photo by Dan Lewis, (Photo by Dan Lewis, www.danlewisphoto.net)

LUXEMBURG, Wis. – Chris Budzban had zero dirt track racing experience before he seated up in a Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod three years ago.

He’s hoping the two or three night school sessions he’ll get every week in 2012 turn into top five credits this season.

“We’re going to race Fridays at Luxemburg Speedway, which is my hometown track, Saturdays at 141 Speedway and some Sundays at Seymour Super Speedway,” Budzban explained. “Every night you learn something. We changed our shock program this year and went with a different package, for example. We’re already learning a lot of new things about setup.”

The winner of May voting in the non-fendered category for the Facebook Fan Favorite car contest, he’ll receive a mini-mod door from contest sponsor Sybesma Graphics.

“My first year in the division was not so successful but we got a newer Harris chassis in 2011 and won a couple heats and had a top five finish in a feature,” Budzban said. “We’re shooting for a couple top five’s this year and we’ll see if that happens.”

He keeps fans and friends up-to-date with race night reports at www.budzoracing.com. Weekly in-car videos are posted on www.youtube.com/budzoracing.

Budzban competed in a couple enduros on asphalt seven years before getting his first Northern SportMod.

“My dad Dave had raced IMCA off and on for 10 years, mostly in a Stock Car and then in a Northern SportMod in 2007,” Budzban said. “He told me it was a cost effective car and that you don’t have to spend as much time working on it as you do a Modified or Stock Car. We run a crate engine so there’s hardly any maintenance to do on that.”

Budzban and his father do all the work on the car. In addition to their Budzodesigns.com and Demon Race Engines business, both of Luxemburg, sponsors for the ‘X’ car include University Avenue Market, 1330 Wraps and Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, all of Green Bay; Kroll Racing Fabrication of New Franken; and Vlies Custom Race Car Bodies of Kewaunee.

A day after winning his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature of the season, Nathan Wood was named winner in the fendered category for the monthly Sybesma Graphics IMCA Facebook Fan Favorite contest. (Photo by Seeley Photography, www.seeleyphoto.com)

The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car driver from Sigourney, Iowa, ended a barrage of second place finishes with his first win of the season on May 9 at Southern Iowa Speedway.

The next day, he was named winner of the fendered half of the Sybesma Graphics IMCA Facebook Fan Favorite contest.

“It felt good to finally get that win,” said Wood, national and Northern Region rookie of the year in 2010. “Oskaloosa is my home track and I’ve raced there since 2002, so that was a good place to get it.”

The high school principal at Pekin of Packwood, he’ll display the mini-hood he receives from Sybesma in his office.

Wood hasn’t given any thought to where else he’d display any 2012 championship plaques.

“We’re going to take one night at a time,” said Wood, who will be a regular Wednesdays at Oskaloosa and Fridays at CJ Speedway, visit different tracks on Saturdays and catch some Sunday shows at Benton County Speedway. “We want to get as many good finishes as possible and see where we are when we get our 55 nights in.”

After years of running his own car and equipment, he’s now driving for Dennis Plain.

“I had pitted next to him at Webster City. We talked over the winter and worked out the details,” Wood said. “I’ve got a different chassis, a different everything.”

The new team also boasts plenty of familiarity in a veteran crew headed by Wood’s father Deke. His sons Brayden and Jackson, Ryan Humphrey, who owned two-time national IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock champion Kris Walker’s ride, Steve Seeley, Josh Williams, Mark Sheetz and Joe Winkler all help turn wrenches.

Along with Dennis Plain Motorsports and Mitchell Machine, also of Webster City, his sponsors include Sigourney Tractor & Implement, Seeley Photography, Sigourney Cleaners, Brubaker Trucking, Mark and Trudy Sheetz, Ag Plus Inc., Benny’s Feed, Herr Apartments, Sigourney Body Shop and Wood Farms, all of Sigourney; Osky Dental and Nutz Graphics, both of Oskaloosa; Roger Beinhart Trucking and Joe TeBockhorst and Dekalb Feeds, both of Harper; Harris Auto Racing of Boone; Midstate Machine of Des Moines; Aero Race Wheels of Estherville; Schroeder Racing Products of Iowa Falls; Van Dee Bins of Deep River; Axmear Fab of Keswick; The Roost Tap of Keota; Mike and Shelley Krumm of Webster; Ogden Oil Company of What Cheer; Champion Brands Oil of Clinton, Mo.; and Integra Shocks and Springs of Coopersville, Mich.

Wood’s regular fans in the stands include his mother Susie, sister Amanda and her twins Brody and Drake, and girlfriend April.

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (May 12) – Kewaunee’s “Flyin Brian” Bruechert brought the crowd to its feet in winning the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature Saturday evening at 141 Speedway.

Bruechert, who started 11th, charged through the pack, chasing down race leader Ryan LeMieux and passing him on the final lap to capture the win.

Lemieux took the runner-up spot, followed by last week’s feature winner Eric Mahlik, Brandon Long and Chad Vetting.