Northern SportMod Archives

Berry continues Marshalltown mastery in IMCA Frostbuster

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (April 5, 2024) – Hard to believe, but there was a time when Tom Berry Jr. didn’t think he’d ever get a win at Marshalltown Speedway. Now he’s being told he could probably drive around the place with his eyes shut and do it. Berry raced to his latest win at the Highbanks on Friday night, dominating the Frostbuster feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds in a borrowed car. “This track had been my nemesis. We raced here the first time around 2015 and it was maybe 2019 before we ever won,” said Berry, who would be both the Marshalltown track champion and IMCA national champion the following season. “When I started to win here, something just clicked for us.” Now in the middle of moving to Marshalltown, he piloted a Tim Current-owned 2023 Rage to the checkers, for his IMCA second and career 73rd win in the class. “I just kind of hopped in and drove it,” said Berry, who answered with a quick yes when Current asked if he’d [Read More]

Braaksma Express rolls on with IMCA Frostbuster win at Stuart

STUART, Iowa (April 4, 2024) – The Ethan Braaksma Express kept on rolling Thursday, opening night of the IMCA Frostbuster Tour at Stuart Speedway. Braaksma raced to his fifth Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win of the season, taking the $1,000 checkers ahead of Dylan Thornton, Dallon Murty, Jerry Flippo and Todd Shute. He’d won twice in Arizona before sweeping Southern Iowa Frost Out features at Bloomfield last weekend; the continued early season success is especially gratifying as he’d gone winless in both 2022 and 2023. “It’s only April and I never thought we would have that many wins already. We just had a couple years where we struggled but now everything is falling into place,” Braaksma said. “I couldn’t be more grateful for everything I have and everyone I have around me.” The 2021 Frostbuster champion and already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, Braaksma would lead every lap from the pole, weathering multiple cautions and finding the smoothest line around the oval. “I knew I’d be good if I hit my marks. I could [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through April 3, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 944; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 857; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 5. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 490; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 407; 7. Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., 389; 8. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 9. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 361; 10. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 11. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 334; 12. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 311; 13. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 297; 14. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 296; 15. Ethan Braaksma, Des Moines, Iowa, 290; 16. Mike Dimond, Rapid City, S.D., 278; 17. Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo., 267; 18. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 265; 19. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wy., 254; 20. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev., 242. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars – 1. Chad Wilson, North Richland Hills, Texas, 139; 2. Corby Scherb, Decatur, Texas, 128; 3. Cody Price, Princeton, Texas, 111; 4. Daniel “D.J.” Estes Jr., Fort Worth, Texas, 104; 5. Rod Craddock, Alvin, Texas, 96; 6. Robert [Read More]

Cedar County canceled this weekend

TIPTON, Iowa (April 4, 2024) – Point the finger at wet weather and resulting wet grounds, following cancellation of the scheduled April 5 and 6 Spring Fling at Cedar County Raceway. Instead, three IMCA divisions visit Tipton for the first time this season on Thursday, April 18, running with the MLRA at the Darkside Promotions’ Hawkeye Land 40. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds vie for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars chase $750 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods run for $500 to win. Entry fees are $30 for Modifieds, $25 for Stock Cars and $20 for SportMods. Pit passes are $35 for adults and $20 for kids ages 12 and under. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and Iowa State points will be awarded. The pits open at 3 p.m. and the grandstands open at 5 p.m. with racing to follow 6:30 p.m. hot laps. Spectator admission is $25 for adults, $10 for kids [Read More]

Racing returns to Antioch after two straight rainouts

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (April 3, 2024) – The weather has not been kind to Antioch Speedway thus far in 2024. After two consecutive practices were rained out, the speedway has lost three of its first four races due to inclement weather. Making matters worse is the fact that it only rained a little bit on Friday night for the past couple of weeks, but that was enough to soak the pits and make racing impossible for the weekend. However, there’s good news. This Saturday, April 6 will see exciting racing on the 3/8 mile clay oval at the Contra Costa County Event Center in the form of the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. When it comes to the MVP divisions on the Antioch Speedway roster, it’s hard to find a division with a bigger impact in recent years than the IMCA Northern SportMods. At the opener, Kenny Shrader of Pacheco showed why he is the reigning champion after winning a battle with last season’s point runner-up, Jason Ryan Jr. of Oakley. While that [Read More]

Brandies ends pretty awesome weekend with Frost Out feature win

BLOOMFIELD, Iowa (March 30, 2024) – Fast on the track, David Brandies was equally quick to point out the positives of the start to his IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season. Fourth in Friday’s Southern Iowa Frost Out lidlifter, the Wilton hotshoe led every lap of the Saturday feature for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars at Bloomfield Speedway, earning $1,250 and becoming eligible to qualify for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. “This was my first time ever racing at Bloomfield and Friday was just my second start in this car (a 2024 B & B). We made some changes to make it even faster Saturday,” Brandies said. “I hate drawing the pole because you’re like a sitting duck out there, but the weekend turned out pretty awesome,” he continued. “Last year we didn’t win at all until May or June, then again in July and that was it. I’m already halfway to (equaling) last year.” The Saturday checkers were Brandies’ career 74th in The Class Too Tough To Tame. Fifteenth starting Derrick Agee was second [Read More]

Too tight but Sproul makes things right with Sunflower checkers

HAYS, Kan. (March 30, 2024) – He didn’t get any points for guessing right but Dakota Sproul did get $1,000 for his Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win on night two of RPM Speedway’s Sunflower Classic. Despite missing on his Saturday night setup, Sproul took the lead from Jace Whitt just after midway in the 20-lapper and outran Jeremy Frenier & Co. the rest of the way. “We tightened the car for the feature and it seemed like I was fighting it the whole way,” said Sproul, nonetheless able to take advantage of a bobble by Whitt on a restart for the lead. “I was struggling before I passed Jace and Jeremy was right behind me. I didn’t know if I was going to be good enough to win but fortunately no one gave me trouble after I got to the lead.” Dylan Sherfick, Eddie Belec and Clay Sellard completed the top five. Sproul was already eligible to qualify for the upcoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “Every time we hit the track it was different. [Read More]

Gottschalk tops IMCA Modified main on night one of RPM’s Sunflower Classic

By Sheldon Wickwar HAYS, Kan. (March 29, 2024) – Nine years after winning his first Sunflower Classic main event, Daniel Gottschalk celebrated after winning his second. The Ellis charger got the best of Eddie Belec in the Friday night feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at RPM Speedway, earning $1,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility for his efforts. “It’s hard to find victory lane here. The competition is just so tough,” said Gottschalk, a Northern SportMod winner at the Sunflower Classic in 2015 and a three-time Modified track champion at RPM since. “I rolled under Eddie, then tried high and once I got to the front it was smooth sailing.” Gottschalk and Belec had raced side-by-side early on, with Gottschalk gaining the lead seven laps in. The 20-lapper ran green to checkered with Belec, Brett Berry, Greg Gustus and Dakota Sproul completing the top five. Mike Nichols’ IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career 628th win was also his Sunflower Classic career 10th while Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod win number 97 for Blaine Walt doubled as the [Read More]

Braaksma is best in Modified main as IMCA returns to Bloomfield

BLOOMFIELD, Iowa (March 29, 2024) – Ethan Braaksma was told Bloomfield Speedway was “a cool place to race.” After winning the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature on opening night of the season-opening Southern Iowa Frost Out at the Davis County Fairgrounds venue, he couldn’t have agreed more. “Bloomfield doesn’t exactly compare to anywhere else I’ve raced before,” Braaksma said after taking Friday’s $1,250 checkers. “One of my buddies, Drew Janssen, said it was a pretty cool place to race. Plus it’s close to home, only an hour and 20 minutes or so.” Braaksma started the 20-lapper from fourth and took advantage of an early caution before going to the top of the track and outrunning Cayden Carter and Chris Zogg for his home state win of 2024. “We had another restart with about five laps to go. I didn’t see anyone after that and just concentrated on hitting my marks,” said Braaksma, already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible after two January wins during Cocopah Speedway’s IMCA.TV Winter Nationals. “It was a lot of fun.” Bloomfield [Read More]

IMCA Central California Clash kicks off Saturday at Antioch Speedway

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (March 28, 2024) – Rain put a damper on the festivities last week, but the facility will dry off and the action will heat up at Antioch Speedway this Saturday night, March 30. This is the first big event of the season. The track is kicking off fifth annual IMCA Central California Clash. Featured divisions will include the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Joining them this Saturday night and in all six rounds of the series will be the West Coast Hobby Stocks. This is also the track’s annual Easter Extravaganza. During the intermission, there will be an Easter egg hunt in the infield along with kids bicycle and Easter basket giveaways. It’s all part of the family fun offered at the speedway. Merced Speedway Promoter Doug Lockwood created the California Speedweek in 2020. Drivers in all four IMCA divisions will be competing for increased purse money, including $1,000 to win for the Modifieds in their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying event [Read More]