Sport Compact Archives

Ferrando shines at Sunset Speedway’s Mod Frenzy

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (Aug. 10, 2024) – The event at Sunset Speedway Park on Saturday, Aug. 10, was significant, attracting a large field of Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds for the third running of the Whisler Construction Mod Frenzy, with a cool $3,000 on the line. The 40-lap finale for Modifieds was a thrilling spectacle. Multi-time defending track champion Craig Cassell immediately seized the top spot, setting the stage for an intense battle. Cassell had to put up a hard fight on the initial start when he went three-wide with Grey Ferrando and Bricen James. As Cassell secured the lead, Ferrando held off James for second before concentrating his efforts on running down the leader. Ferrando, determined to secure the lead, worked the inside line on the fifth circuit as Cassell kept his faith on the top shelf. The two dueled for quite some time with no clear advantage to either party, showcasing their unwavering determination and skill. Things would take a twist when lapped traffic entered the mix on lap 18. Using [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Aug. 8, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 999; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 981; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 974; 4. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, 965; 5. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 961; 6. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, 959; 7. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 955; 8. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 954; 9. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 953; 10. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 944; 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 940; 12. Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., 939; 13. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 933; 14. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 925; 15. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 924; 16. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 922; 17. Ben Chapman, Clarence, Iowa, 920; 18. Jacob Mallet Jr., Oakley, Calif., 908; 19. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., and Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, both 907. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 786; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 771; 3. Evan Miller, Silvis, Ill., 765; 4. Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, Iowa, 750; 5. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 731; 6. Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill., 728; 7. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, [Read More]

Rich checkers fly for Ward at Schattschneider Memorial

ALGONA, Iowa (Aug. 8, 2024) – Tim Ward didn’t quite have the track figured out, but he figured that no one would catch him if he didn’t change what he was doing. He was right about that, and $5,600 richer after the checkers flew Thursday night at Kossuth County Speedway’s Gene Schattschneider Memorial feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Ward swapped the lead with pole starter Zach Dockter on each on the first four circuits, then led to the end of the 25-lapper. Dockter stayed close right through the first 10 laps, then gave way to Joel Rust following a restart. Rust ran second the rest of the way. “It was fun racing with Zach, hats off to him for a good run,” Ward said of their lengthy side-by-side duel. “The track changed on me a bit and I wasn’t sure where to run, so we struggled just a bit,” he added. “I wasn’t sure exactly where to run but figured it would be hard for Joel to get around me if I kept doing [Read More]

Bald Tire Bash, Kids’ Backpack Night this Sunday at The Bullring

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 8, 2024) – In what has become an annual event for the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Christie Door Company, the Bald Tire Bash will highlight racing action this Sunday, Aug. 11 at Benton County Speedway. The draw/redraw special for the Stock Cars will boast a $2,000 winner’s share in a $200 to start main event at The Bullring. There is no entry fee. Maximum tire tread depth allowed for the division that evening is 1/8”. IMCA state, regional and national points only will be awarded for the Stock Cars. IMCA weekly points racing will continue Sunday for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wright Way Trailers, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. INEX Legends presented by Legends.Direct will also compete Sunday night. In addition to the racing program, Sunday is Kids’ Backpack Night for the youth in attendance. As of last Sunday, the Lil’ Racer Car Club collected nearly 140 backpacks full of school supplies for the giveaway. [Read More]

LaBatte banks Stock Car paydirt at Nodak

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (Aug. 4, 2024) – The North Dakota State Fairgrounds roared to life and Brendon LaBatte raced his way to B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility on Sunday. When the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car finale came to life, Kyle Scholpp took the lead and tried to run away from the rest of the field. However, fellow Saskatchewanian, LaBatte made a masterful run on the bottom trying to reel in the leader. At the same time, Scholpp was comfortable up high and had a slight advantage up there. Shawn Green and Mike Hagen put on a show for third place, with Hagen eventually securing the spot on the third circuit. While the race for third cooled down, the battle for the lead heated up. LaBatte submitted a challenge to the inside of Scholpp the sixth time past the flag stand. Scholpp did his best to keep LaBatte back, but LaBatte’s persistence paid big dividends when he got around the leader on lap seven. He started to pull away from [Read More]

Chased, challenged, never caught, Thornton collects Clay County Clash checkers

SPENCER, Iowa (Aug. 7, 2024) – He was chased and he was challenged but Dylan Thornton was never caught. Thornton led every lap of Wednesday’s Clay County Fairgrounds Speedway Clash main event for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, keeping Tim Ward behind him the first 20 laps and holding Tom Berry Jr. at bay the last 10 times around the track. The IMCA Speed Week win was also Thornton’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying third and was good for $2,500. He parried a last-turn slider from Berry, winner of Tuesday’s Harris Clash, to secure that big check. “I saw his (Berry’s) nose so I knew he was close enough to slide me,” he said. “What you have to do coming down the backstretch is not make a mistake and not stuff it into the fence or something stupid, you have to be able to turn back down.” “We actually went home after last night, woke up this morning, decided we were too dumb to quit and decided to drive four hours back up this way,” said Thornton, who’d [Read More]

Dacotah Stock Car checkers are first for Gartner

By Becca Pelkey MANAN, N.D. (Aug. 2, 2024) – It was a super hot Friday night at Dacotah Speedway on Friday and the night kicked off with the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car make-up feature from June 28. Dylan Herner and Jason Meidinger led the field to the green flag. Meidinger took the early lead but Shawn Strand quickly worked his way to the front to challenge. They raced door-to-door for several laps before Strand slipped by on lap four. Meidinger then fell into the clutches of Hunter Domagala. As they raced hard for second, Shawn Volk made it a three-car battle. While racing for second, Domagala got loose and spun in front of the field with six laps to go. On the restart, Todd Carter passed Volk for second and was all over Strand’s rear bumper. When the checkered flag waved, Strand held off Carter for the victory. Volk finished a season-best third. When the green flag waved in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature, it was a three-car battle for the lead between Alex [Read More]

Mike Smith nabs 100th, Ward among other Saturday winners at Boone

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 3, 2024) – It was Elmquist Towing & Recovery night at the Boone Speedway on Saturday where six divisions took to the track for a full night of racing action. History was made at Iowa’s Action Track when Mike Smith found his way to victory lane, marking his 100th career win in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Tim Ward returned to the winner’s circle when he won the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature and Devin Smith got the win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Randy Havlik got his first win at Boone in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, Austin Gray repeated his win from last week in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites and visiting class on the night, the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts saw Cristian Grady take the win. The Mod Lite 15-lap feature was first on the track. William Nobles led the troops through the first three laps until Ben George snatched it away on lap four. Meanwhile, Gray had been making his way through the field [Read More]

Fair winners collects big trophies at Colby

By Sheldon Wickwar COLBY, Kan. (Aug. 2, 2024) – Every racer dreams of winning big races and taking home a big trophy and Eddie Belec, Kyle Pfeifer, Blaine Walt, Brady Bencken and Kyle Mortensen all did that Friday night at the Thomas County Fair. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods were up first with a 15-lap feature event paced by Monty Nordyke and Douglas Beaman. Nordyke gained the early advantage and pulled away from second-running Nick Hankins until a lap six caution. Walt took the lead off of the restart and duked it out with Nordyke until a lap nine yellow. Walt then pulled away by a big margin over Josh Barnhart, who charged up to second place late in the feature, to pick up win number four of the season. Second was Barnhart and third was Nordyke. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks were next and their 15-lap feature event started with a front row of Gordon French and Aiden Miller, but Bencken quickly gained the lead after making it three-wide on the initial start. Bencken led [Read More]

Gustin and Gustin go to victory lane at Marshalltown

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Aug 2, 2024) – It was EMW Trucking Military Memorial Night at the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday. Pre-race ceremonies honored those that gave the ultimate sacrifice as well as honoring those veterans in attendance, who were given free admission thanks to EMW. More money was also on the line for four of the divisions racing. Tom Berry, Jr. went away with the $2,000 IMCA Friesen Performance Modified win, Jimmy Gustin had the crowd on its feet on the final corner when he won the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car $1,000 feature, and sister Jenae Gustin won the $1,300 IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMods for the second week in a row. It was another close one at the line in the $600 to win IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks as Calvin Dhondt crossed the finish line first in a dash to the checkers. Jon Padilla won the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite main and it was Cristian Grady going to victory lane for the third time straight time in the Mach-1 IMCA [Read More]