Stock Car Archives

Bannister rallies at Bakersfield, completes sweep of IMCA Central California Clash

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 7, 2023) – He was the defending tour champion but Tyler Bannister admittedly went into opening night of the IMCA Central California Clash with low expectations. Four wins – the last of them best described as improbable – in as many races later, the Bakersfield driver was a repeat champion in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod portion of the tour. “Our goal had been to show up and turn laps,” said Bannister, forced into father Jason’s 2019 Victory Circle ride after totaling his own mount late last month. “I’d finished second in my only other start in that car but we struggled to do that and there were a lot of things we had to change.” “We ended up having a pretty good week,” he continued, “and to get our first wins of the season in our home state was great.” Getting his fourth win of the week, and first of 2023 at his hometown track was even better. Feature wins at Antioch Speedway, Kings Speedway and Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway … [Read More]

Junior Fan Club Night crowd cheers Wade’s Eagle win

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 6, 2023) – Youngsters vied in the Sam’s Club Kid’s Money Grab at intermission, then cheered Michael Wade onto his career first IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature win during Saturday’s Junior Fan Club Night program at Eagle Raceway. Wade, a direct descendant of local racing legend Smokin’ Joe Wade, who graced local tracks for many years, took the lead on lap two and outran Adam Wasserman and Kyle Gannon to the checkers. “I have to thank Adam for racing me cleanly. He always does. I think everybody had an amazing night,” Wade stated. “The track has been really good, as always. I like what they did to it this winter. The weather was great tonight. Thank you to all of the track crew, the safety crew and all of the competitors. Thank you to everybody who helps me out; you know who you are.” Gary Saathoff made a much anticipated return to the winner’s circle after leading every lap of the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod headliner. “It’s been [Read More]

Afrank aces Off Road IMCA Northern SportMod finish

By Randy Pospishil sports@norfolkdailynews.com NORFOLK, Neb. (May 6, 2023) – Feature winners during Saturday night racing at Off Road Speedway typically came from a group of cars that broke away from the field early, then dealt successfully with challengers down the stretch. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, for example, saw a group of four cars, led by Terry Kester, pull away. As drivers maneuvered on both the high and low side of the track, seeking the best line, Tyler Afrank threatened to pass Kester while Cameron Meyer and Colby Langenberg competed for third place behind them. With five laps remaining, Afrank used the low side of the track to pressure Kester as Langenberg threatened Meyer on the high side. Both Afrank and Langenberg were briefly able to pass, but neither were able to hold position. On the final lap, Afrank edged Kester at the finish line in the battle for first and second, and Meyer pulled ahead of Langenberg to take third. In the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature, the breakout group established itself following [Read More]

First win for Fye on opening night at Boone

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (May 6, 2023) – After suffering three straight weeks of rain outs, the Boone Speedway finally got its regular season of track points racing underway on Saturday night and Danny Fye became a first-time Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature winner. Fye led all 20 laps, holding back the advances of Cole Fenske in the closing circuits in capturing the victory. Following second place Fenske was hard charger and 15th place starter Braden Richards in third. Randy Bryan had a bit of luck on his side with his win in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite contest. He had passed early leader Ben George on lap four to take over the number one spot, but was docked two spots for a jump on the start. He pulled away from the field and though running out front, was scored in third spot. Luckily for him, a yellow flew at lap seven which realigned him in third spot for the restart, running behind George in first place and Bryan Zehm in second. He immediately [Read More]

Becerra wins IMCA Modified thriller at Lee County

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (May 5, 2023) – His last-lap momentum made the difference for Austen Becerra in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Lee County Speedway. Bill Roberts Jr. moved to the outside of the front row after Levi Smith was unable to answer the call and took advantage to grab the initial lead over Jadin Fuller and Dennis LaVeine. Three early yellows slowed action but once back to green Roberts, Mark Burgtorf and Becerra put on the early candidate for race of the year as the three raced two- and even three-wide at times for the top spot, with Roberts holding them off at the line to be scored the leader. Coming to the white flag, Becerra went to the bottom to show Roberts his nose. Going into turn three to get the checkered, Roberts came off the top to block Becerra, only to have Becerra use the momentum off the top of four to grab the checkered flag. Burgtorf then edged Roberts at the line for second. CJ Horn was the [Read More]

Dye, Nichols deliver wins on the high banks of US 36

By Rick Staley OSBORN, Mo. (May 5, 2023) – IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars roared to the track Friday night and Jacob Dye roared to his first feature win of the season at US 36 Raceway. Jack Potter took the early lead, setting a blistering pace on the fast and smooth 3/8’s mile dirt oval with Jacob Dye in tow. Mike Houseman Jr. and Tyler Drueke battled and ran down the leaders as the race developed with Potter continuing to lead. Going caution-free, Dye made his move on the high side of turn four as the white flag waved, took the lead from Potter and picked up his first feature win of 2023. Potter placed second with Houseman third. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars saw a loaded field of talent tackle the track with Ricky Couch taking the lead on the opening laps while Mike Nichols and Mich Ross both started their march to the front. Nichols worked his way around the fast no. 2X of Couch only to see Ross following to challenge for the [Read More]

CJ Speedway races beat the rain Friday night

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (May 5, 2023) – With Mother Nature threatening to spoil the fun, CJ Speedway was able to complete the racing program at 9:45 p.m. on Friday night just before rain moved into the area. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds put on a spectacular race with the lead changing hands several times in the early going. Jerry King led before Troy Cordes, looking to become a repeat winner, took over. Jarrett Brown started in the fourth row and steadily made his way to the front, securing the lead following a lap 10 restart. Brown went on to capture the win at his home track ahead of late race challenger Ethan Braaksma. King took third ahead of Dakota Simmons. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars came to the green with Leah Wroten taking command from the pole position. Wroten built a comfortable lead before a caution brought the field to her rear bumper. Nathan Ballard took over the point on the restart and went on to record the win. It was a [Read More]

Third time hopefully a charm at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (May 7, 2023) – Already saturated grounds and a stormy Sunday forecast have forced officials at Benton County Speedway to postpone the season-opening Spring Thunder special a second time. The event was originally scheduled for April 30 and again on May 7, but both were pushed back due to weather. The new date to get the season started is next Sunday, May 14, which was originally scheduled as a night off for Mother’s Day. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds will race for $1,250-to-win and qualifying eligibility for this year’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. A $1,000 prize will be awarded to the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod winner. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars will compete for a $500 winner’s share, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks $400 to win and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts $250. IMCA state, regional and national points will be awarded, as applicable, in each sanctioned division. Track points are slated to begin Sunday, May 21. Entry fees May 14 are $40 for Modifieds, $30 for SportMods and $20 for Stock Cars. There are no [Read More]

Shryock is double winner on opening night at Kossuth County

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (May 4, 2023) – The force was with Kelly Shryock on Star Wars Day. Twice. Shryock won both IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main events Thursday at Algona while Matt Looft ruled in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Josh Sidles paced the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. The Stock Car feature saw Shryock grab the early lead and build a comfortable advantage. Derek Green slowly erased that advantage, however, and eased ahead a couple of times but Shryock continued to hold the lead at the flag stand. With just two laps left, Green got tangled up with a lapped car and damage to the right front of his car ended his night and Shryock went onto the win ahead of Chad Palmer and Devin Smith. The 20-lap Modified feature saw Brandon Beckendorf lead the first eight laps before getting tangled up with a lapped car on the back straightaway. Shryock then led the final 12 laps for the victory, his career 129th in the IMCA division. [Read More]

Big fields pay off for IMCA drivers at Eagle

EAGLE, Neb. (May 5, 2023) – As it was announced in the pit meeting on April 22, effective immediately, Eagle Raceway will start adding a minimum of $1,000 bonus spread throughout the field of a class of cars if there are 30 or more cars that show up and race at any single event in that class (includes non-qualifiers). This will be in effect from April 22, 2023 to May 27, 2023. If this works out, the track will continue to offer this bonus for the rest of 2023. “As most of you already know, we already offer a reward when ‘A’ features run caution free by giving those drivers a free pit pass the following week. Now we would like to start rewarding the drivers who are showing up and racing in classes against a large number of cars,” said Eagle’s Racine Hadan. “Take the SportMod class for example. They had 40 cars here last week on opening night. They deserve to have a reward. You guys are awesome!” “Thank you so much for showing [Read More]