Stock Car Archives

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]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through March 27, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 884; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 795; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 5. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 422; 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. Cody Price, Princeton, Texas, 111; 2. Chad Wilson, North Richland Hills, Texas, 99; 3. Rod Craddock, Alvin, Texas, 96; 4. Corby Scherb, Decatur, Texas, 91; 5. Carson Bolden, Quinlan, Texas, 84; 6. Trey Schmidt, Conroe, Texas, [Read More]

Cedar County Raceway hosts April 5, 6 Spring Fling

By Jerry Mackey TIPTON, Iowa (March 28, 2024) – The 2024 racing season is set to get underway at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa. The popular quarter-mile dirt track located on the Cedar County Fairgrounds on the west edge of Tipton will see the first green flag of the season on Friday, April 5. Tim Current and Ryan Duhme of Darkside Promotions will once again be promoting the racing action, which promises to be outstanding again in 2024. Friday, April 5 will see hot laps take to the track at 6 p.m. with racing to follow. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds will headline the racing program and be joined by the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and 4 Stocks. Saturday, April 6 will see action get underway at 5:30 pm with the AIRS cars joining the 5 classes that raced on Friday night. Both nights will feature a complete racing program with exceptional purse money up for grabs. Darkside Promotions has signed an agreement with IMCA, the [Read More]

Four IMCA divisions headline five April Frostbuster dates

VINTON, Iowa (March 26, 2024) – It’s the spring version of Iowa Speedweek as four IMCA divisions travel to five different tracks for Wednesday-Sunday, April 3-7 Frostbuster specials. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $750 and both Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $500 to win each night beginning at Independence Motor Speedway, with dates at Stuart Speedway, Marshalltown Speedway and Boone Speedway leading up to the finale at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. Frostbuster champions earn the biggest share of $1,000 point funds and will be eligible for race of champions events at the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Modified and Stock Car feature winners become eligible to qualify for their respective All-Star Invitationals. Gates open at 5 p.m. with 6:30 p.m. hot laps and racing at 7 p.m. on April 3 at Independence and on April 4 at Stuart. Spectator admission is $20 for adults and $10 for students ages 11-17, with kids 10 and under free at [Read More]

Grabouski, Ward near IMCA Modified milestones, Ware sweeps Spring Nationals Stock Car features

BEATRICE, Neb. (March 22-23, 2024) – Jordan Grabouski and Tim Ward each took another step toward Friesen Performance IMCA Modified milestones with Spring Nationals feature wins. Jeff Ware, meanwhile, got the Beatrice Speedway monkey off his back with Friday and Saturday night victories at the 31st annual special. Grabouski’s 290th IMCA Modified win on opening night at his hometown track doubled as his Spring Nationals career 14th in the class dating to 2011. Ward’s Saturday checkers were his career 95th, his last win at Beatrice having come in IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing action in 2013. Both features paid $2,500 and both winners were already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Grabouski had taken advantage of the extra week after Spring Nationals was postponed to build a new car. He used lapped traffic and then a restart to his advantage in taking the lead with 10 laps to go on Friday and winning ahead of Ward and Troy Cordes. “That car was a bare frame on Monday. Friday was the first time that car saw dirt,” said Grabouski, [Read More]

Arlington puts wraps on 2023 season with annual awards banquet

MORTON, Minn. (March 16, 2024) – The 2023 Arlington Raceway Awards Banquet was held at Jackpot Junction on March 16. Perfect attendance awards were given out to drivers who participated in every event and the top 10 in each oval track division received awards sponsored by Hess Technology. Champions in each class honored were Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, Clint Hatlestad; IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car, Matt Johnson; IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, Dan Mackenthun; IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Cory Probst; Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod, Matt Looft; and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact, Alan Lahr. ‘Cause It’s Fun awards were given to Wayne Govig, Modified; Justin Allen, RaceSaver Sprint Car; A.J. Zimmerman, Stock Car; Nick McConnell, Hobby Stock; Broddy Enter, Northern SportMod; and David Marshall, Sport Compact. Rookie awards were given to J.J. Reimers, Modified; Jeremy Snow, RaceSaver Sprint Car; Patrick Schauer, Stock Car; Ben Davis, Hobby Stock; Joey Reimers, Northern SportMod; and Emily McConnell, Sport Compact. Most Improved awards were given to Clint Hatlestad, Modified; Brett Allen, RaceSaver Sprint Car; Brent Uecker, Stock Car; Dan Probst, Hobby Stock; [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through March 20, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 845; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 755; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 5. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 407; 6. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 400; 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. Jess Brekke, Devils Lake, N.D., 233. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars – 1. Trey Schmidt, Conroe, Texas, and Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D., both 40; 3. Trefer Waller, Oneill, Neb., 39; 4. Chase Schubert, Huffman, Texas, Lee Goos Jr., Hartford, S.D., and Cody Price, Princeton, Texas, each 38; 7. [Read More]

Wulf jumps at chance to promote Junction Motor Speedway

McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. (March 21, 2024) – Randy Wulf Jr. still remembers helping load up a race car for the first-ever opening night at Junction Motor Speedway years ago. He’ll remember the excitement surrounding the opening night show at McCool Junction this season from an entirely different perspective. Wulf is the new promoter at Junction, where IMCA Sunoco Late Models, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts fill Saturday night race cards. “Promoting a race track is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Wulf. “I have been taking to (Junction owner) Delmar Friesen and jumped at this chance.” Co-owner with brother Chad of Prowler Chassis, Wulf is “a dirt guy by trade” and will handle track prep for the 3/8-mile dirt oval personally. “I want to get the track as smooth as I can,” he said. “We’ve been trying to make sure the crew coordination is there and everyone knows their job, and make this a good place for lots of [Read More]