Dan Engledow

Thornton repeats with opening night Late Model Super Nationals crown

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 7) – Ricky Thornton Jr. became a two-time champion at last year’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. He became a two-time Late Model champion on a windy opening night of the 2020 event. Thornton got the lead back from Jeff Aikey on the 32nd of 50 circuits, then led Richie Gustin through lapped traffic to the $3,000 checkers Monday night at Boone Speedway. “It was really hard this year, admitted Thornton. “I tried high, I tried low and I was finally able to move by him (Aikey) for the lead.” Thornton had started seventh, Gustin from sixth. Aikey, who was chasing his career eighth and seventh Late Model crown, ended in third while Andy Nezworski worked his way back into the top four with 11 laps left. Nebraskan Cory Dumpert had the fastest car at the start, building a half straightaway advantage over Nezworski before a lap eight caution. Thornton got up to second but could only watch as Aikey drove by to the front on lap 17. After Dumpert [Read More]

Jake Bubak became a first-time RaceSaver Nationals champion, leading the last six laps of the $2,500 to win main event Sunday night at Eagle Raceway. (Photo by Joe Orth)

Bubak sprints to IMCA RaceSaver Nationals crown

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 6) – A driver who’s been a contender became a champion Sunday night at Eagle Raceway. Jake Bubak led the last six laps in winning the eighth annual RaceSaver Nationals at America’s Home Track, after finishing third, third and fourth the last three years. Along with the $2,500 top prize, Bubak repeated in taking the $1,000 to win Jake Ita Memorial Race of Champions on Saturday night. Nearly 90 teams vied at the biggest IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car event of the season. Bubak’s win came from outside the second row of the three-wide start. “I didn’t mind starting in the second row, I just didn’t want to start in the middle,” he said. “But as I told another racer ‘It’s the same for everybody’ so we just go along with it. We moved up fairly quickly, and towards the end it was kind of attrition. Joey (Danley) ended up bouncing and then spinning out and then Ethan (Barrow) breaking that wheel center was really unfortunate.” “We had a great weekend for [Read More]

Mike Nichols moved to the top of IMCA’s all-time wins list with his career 558th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win on Sept. 3 at Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus, Neb. He is pictured in victory lane with wife Anita. (Photo courtesy of Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway)

Nichols hustles to IMCA record 558th career win

COLUMBUS, Neb. – Mike Nichols couldn’t recall many of the details of his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win.He’ll remember everything about his latest. Nichols won for the 558th time in his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career at Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus, Neb., becoming IMCA’s all-time wins leader with the Sept. 3 checkers. It was the latest accomplishment for the most decorated driver of the sanctioning body’s modern era.“Everything you do is special in its own way,” said Nichols, now running for his ninth national championship. “Everything is its own accomplishment. When I’m in a nursing home years from now, this is something I’ll be able to talk about.”From Harlan, Iowa, Nichols has averaged better than 29 wins a season since 2002, with an IMCA record-tying 54 in 2016. He also owns more than 40 career track championships, another IMCA-best total, with at least one track title to his credit every season except one in the past 19 years.”“To be consistent for such a long time is remarkable, especially in a Stock Car, which [Read More]

Jayden Schmidt

He’s got a career-best 14 feature wins and two track titles to his credit, long with a big lead in the state points race. But the cherry on top of Jayden Schmidt’s Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod season would be be qualifying for Saturday’s main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Seventeen years old and a senior at Seymour, Wis., High School, Schmidt got his first look at Boone Speedway when he pulled into town on Sunday. He was comfortable wheeling his way around Iowa’s Action Track and ready to get down to the serious business of winning Monday’s 16th heat. “I’ve driven on similar tracks so I’m used to corners like they have at Boone,” he said. “I know the competition here is very good. My goal is to make the show on Saturday, then I’ll be happy.” Sixth in current national standings and a contender for the Junior National Champion honors as well, Schmidt learned the racing basics in go karts before moving to the SportMod class. He’s got some time yet [Read More]

Jerry Hunt

A Michigan driver who made a long-awaited return to victory lane last weekend hopes to see his new streak continue this week at Boone Speedway. Jerry Hunt earned the IMCA Modified win at Thunderbird Raceway over the weekend, along with $1,000 and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth. He made the tow to Super Nationals with son Mitchell, a third generation driver who was elected to start the upcoming version of that race. Hunt was retired for more than three years before getting back on the track during the Fourth of July Weekend in a GRT by S & S Motorsports ride bought from Shawn Bearce. “My son is my best competition. The tables have turned and now I’m learning from him,” said Hunt, especially proud to see Mitchell race his way into the Big Dance two years ago. “I’m going to give it my best this week. I know we’re going to be up against the best of the best . We’re going to see what happens.”

Missouri duo credits tough competition back home after winning Super Nationals Cornhole Tournament

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 6) – Many a Super Nationals champion has credited the tough competition they face weekly in helping earn titles won at Boone Speedway. The latest to do so are Winston, Mo., brothers Jakub and Kristchon Hisel, aka Team Cornhub, champions of Sunday’s expanded Scorezit Cornhole Tournament. Late entries into the second annual tourney, the pair didn’t lose until the first championship round game, then came back to beat the Sioux City Baggerz duo of Keith Sanders and Byron Johnson 21-8 in the 115th and final game of the tournament. Cornhub took home a $603 top prize while the Baggerz earned $474. A Hobby Stock driver, Kristchon comes to Boone for the first time to race while Jakub helps crew. “We play quite a bit in our home town league,” said Jakub, noting that some of those Northwest Missouri Baggers are the pros you watch toss on ESPN. “We’re average around home.” The BSD team of Gregg Hamman and Tyler Smith finished third and took home $316 while fourth place and $158 went to [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through July 23

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Steven Bowers Jr., Topeka, Kan., and Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., both 781; 3. Tom Berry, Newburg, N.D., 779; 4. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 775; 5. Jeff Larson (B1), Freeport, Ill., 774; 6. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 756; 7. Tony Leiker, Gillette, Wy., and Dakota Sproul, Hays, Kan., both 752; 9. Jesse Rogotzke, Sanborn, Minn., 751; 10. Jim Thies, Mapleton, Iowa, 750; 11. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 740; 12. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 734; 13. Jon White Jr., Red Oak, Texas, 732; 14. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 728; 15. Bart Taylor, Sheridan, Wy., 722; 16. Alex Stanford, Chowchilla, Calif., 717; 17. Matt Guillaume, Haslet, Texas, 711; 18. Josh McGaha, Abilene, Texas, 710; 19. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, and Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., both 705. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, 769; 2. Logan Duffy, Independence, Iowa, 742; 3. Dalton Simonsen, Fairfax, Iowa, 630; 4. Mitch Manternach, Dyersville, Iowa, 561; 5. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Iowa, 553; 6. Cory Dumpert, York, Neb., 543; 7. Colton Leal, Dubuque, Iowa, 531; 8. Eric Pollard, [Read More]

IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars featured Friday at Heart O’ Texas

WACO, Texas – IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars join the Friday lineup, racing for $750 to win and $100 to start on opening night of Heart O’ Texas Speedway’s Quarantine Weekend. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and Texas State points will be awarded to the winged warriors as well on May 29, as they join IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods for the draw/redraw show at Waco. Gates open at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 8 p.m. There is no entry fee and pit passes are $35. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and military, $5 for students ages 6-12 and free for ages five and under. Drivers will be allowed up to six people in their pit area and social distancing guidelines will be followed on both sides of the track. Face masks are recommended and hand sanitizer stations will be located around the facility.

Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights finale, IMCA Modified tour title to Richie Gustin

VINTON, Iowa (Sept. 28) – Richie Gustin clinched the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour championship by taking the green flag Saturday night. He earned $1,500 by taking the IMCA Modified checkers 25 laps later at Benton County Speedway. Gustin passed long-time race leader Cayden Carter following a restart with six laps left en route to his record-extending fifth tour win of the season. He became the 10th different driver to win the championship in as many years the tour has been held. Carter was a lapped car ahead of Gustin before that yellow and still had the lead when the 20th circuit was scored. Gustin had a half car length advantage at the stripe the next two times around, however, then pulled ahead. Carter, early leader Tim Ward, Joel Rust and Jeff Larson completed the top five. Hard charger Al Hejna advanced a dozen spots from his original starting position. The all-time leader with 13 tour victories, Gustin had also won at the Vinton Bullring in 2014. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, he’ll [Read More]

Mission accomplished: Dotson is Modified champion at Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 7) – The goal Ethan Dotson set when he started coming to the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s was achieved Saturday night. Dotson led all 40 laps of the Modified main event at Boone Speedway, outrunning 2016 champion Ricky Thornton Jr. of Adel, Cody Laney of Torrance, Calif., and defending champion Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls in the race to what proved to be $5,800 checkers. From Bakersfield and the first Californian to win a Super Nationals crown in any division, Dotson weathered five cautions before midway, then a stoppage on the 22nd of 40 laps when intermittent rain brought about a quick track prep session. Thornton, looking for his second championship of the week after winning Monday’s Deery Brothers Summer Series Late Model main event, challenged but never made his bid for the lead stick. “We’ve been coming to Super Nationals for about six years now,” said Dotson, fourth in main events for the Northern SportMods in 2014 and for the Modifieds last year. “The first time we wanted [Read More]