Feature Archives

Sanders wins $15,000 IMCA Western SportMod Nationals at Yreka

By Ben Deatherage YREKA, Calif. (July 13, 2024) – Matt Sanders would be the first driver to the stripe of the 40-lap finale for the $15,000 to win Finley Farms Western SportMod Nationals at Yreka Speedway on Saturday, July 13. The Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds assembled some of the country’s best Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod pilots to the 1/4-mile clay over the weekend. When the main event began, Friday night prelim winner Joe Docekal led the opening stanza after a brief battle with Ethan Killingsworth. Docekal tried to pull away from the runner-up as Tyler Bannister settled into third. After eight laps were completed, things slowed down due to a chain reaction crash on the front stretch. When the green returned, Docekal had his hands full with Bannister overtaking Killingworth shortly followed by a claymaker toward Docekal for the lead in turn three. Docekal countered with a bit better run off the bottom of the fourth corner, retaining the position. Sanders came to call on the ninth circuit with a move under Killingsworth to procure [Read More]

Registration opens July 15 for IMCA Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa (July 12, 2024) – Go ahead and set your alarm for 9 a.m. CST Monday, July 15. That’s the time drivers in seven divisions can begin pre-entering for the 42nd annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Links to driver registration, pit stall reservations and camping forms are posted at www.imcasupernationals.com. Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod, Sport Compact, Late Model and Mod Lite drivers must register online for the Sept. 2-7 Super Nationals at Boone Speedway. Drivers have to have a valid 2024 IMCA license and are required to register for Super Nationals before reserving a pit stall or stalls. Registration fees of $50 for Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Northern SportMods and Mod Lites, and $25 for Sport Compacts include entry fees for the Aug. 31-Sept. 1 Prelude. Late Model entry fee is also $50. “The level of anticipation is as high as ever,” noted IMCA President Brett Root. “Super Nationals is by far the biggest dirt track event in the country, one that IMCA drivers want to be part of year [Read More]

Win at Mandan is record-setter for Berry, Braaksma clinches IMCA Dakota Tour title

MANDAN, N.D. (July 11, 2024) – Tom Berry Jr.’s second win of the week was one for the record book. Ethan Braaksma’s third runner-up finish was good for a championship. Berry led every lap of Thursday’s Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric main event at Dacotah Speedway, his career 10th Friesen Performance IMCA Modified victory breaking the previous record held by Ricky Thornton Jr. and dating from 2006, when IMCA resumed sanctioning the tour. “It’s pretty incredible, to know what Ricky has done in his career and to pass a record like that,” Berry said. “I know he holds a lot of ‘em and we’re trying to break them. I’m kind of like his little brother, I guess. We’re just trying to do the best we can and make it somewhere in life.” Also first to the checkers Monday at Estevan and the only repeat winner in either division following the tour, Berry led Braaksma the first four times around the track before the only caution of the night – just the second in [Read More]

IMCA Dakota Tour checkers at Dickinson are first for Braaksma

DICKINSON, N.D. (July 10, 2024) – That great big sigh of relief you heard in victory lane at Southwest Speedway Wednesday night came from Ethan Braaksma. The Newton, Iowa pilot chased Kyle Strickler the first 20 laps, finally found his way to the front and led the last 10 times around the 3/8-mile clay oval at Dickinson for his career first Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric feature win. “It definitely takes a lot of weight off my shoulders,” said Braaksma, who had run second, second and then third in the three previous Friesen Performance IMCA Modified tour outings. “We’ve been itching to get this win. We finally got it and now we’re ready to get another one.” Strickler had won the Tuesday night main event with a last-lap pass at Williston Basin Speedway and looked like he had the car to go back-to-back with, leading Travis Hagen and then Braaksma through a fast-paced opening 12 circuits. Braaksma peeked inside a couple times before the front pair encountered a five-car pack running at [Read More]

IMCA Dakota Tour win at Williston as good as it gets for Strickler

WILLISTON, N.D. (July 9, 2024) – He’s won a lot of big races in his career and Kyle Strickler has to rank his first Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric victory among them. Strickler stalked and caught up with long-time leader Kollin Hibdon, finally making the pass to the front on the 30th and final lap in winning Tuesday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Williston Basin Speedway. “This is about as good as it gets,” Strickler said after taking the $2,000 checkers six tenths of a second ahead of Hibdon, who’d won the opening night show Sunday at Nodak Speedway. “Kollin is really, really good on the top. He showed everybody that on night one,” he continued. “I tried being as patient as possible and actually rolled right through the middle. Some crumbs were getting thrown there and that helped me out. I could put right up next to him.” Ninth starting Ethan Braaksma, Brady Bjella and Cody Laney completed the top five. Strickler was already eligible to qualify for the Fast [Read More]

Grabouski checks Tanner Pelster Memorial off must-win list

ALBION, Neb. (July 8, 2024) – The one that got away last year didn’t get away Monday night. Jordan Grabouski led the last 11 laps of Boone County Raceway’s fourth annual Tanner Pelster Memorial, earning an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career-best $6,111 payday for his efforts. “This race has been on my mind for about a year,” said Grabouski, runner-up last July after losing the lead and the big payday to Mike Nichols on the final circuit. “This race was one that I’ve had on my list that I’ve really wanted to win and I finally got it done.” Forty-plus Stock Cars from across the Midwest were entered at Albion after inclement weather forced postponement of the event from Sunday to Monday. Jacob Anson and Grabouski drew front row starts with Anson setting the fast pace before giving way to Dallon Murty on lap four. Grabouski lurked in third, with Tyler Iverson fourth on the lower line, before catching Anson on lap eight. Murty held onto the front spot through the first of what would [Read More]

Estevan checkers complete Berry’s collection, he’ll race next for IMCA Dakota Tour record

ESTEVAN, Sask. (July 8, 2024) – Tom Berry Jr. completed his collection Monday night. Next, he’ll race for a Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric record. Berry led start to finish of a caution-free and quickly-paced 30-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Estevan Motor Speedway. The $2,000 checkers were his tour career ninth, matching the record set by Ricky Thornton Jr. since IMCA resumed sanctioning the tour in 2006. “I haven’t gotten a win here since like five years ago so it was nice to get this one,” Berry said from victory lane. “We didn’t race at Estevan the year I swept the tour (2022, when two events were held at Dacotah Speedway) so it was pretty cool to win here.” “Now I’ve got a win on every track on the Mod tour.” His latest win was never in doubt as Berry started outside the front row and pulled away from the start. Ethan Braaksma took over the second spot 10 laps in and started cutting into Berry’s big lead, but [Read More]

Nodak winner Hibdon dedicates Dakota Tour checkers to Deuce

MINOT, N.D. (July 7, 2024) – The driver they call Kid Smooth was smooth from start to finish Sunday night at Nodak Speedway. Kollin Hibdon, the Nevada native now racing out of Fargo led all 30 laps of the caution-free Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature that kicked off the Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Industrial Electric, dedicating the $2,000 win to late friend and fellow driver Casey Arneson. “This one means a lot more to me,” Hibdon said, following his career third tour victory. “A couple days ago marked two years since we lost Deuce. I should have done this two years ago right after he passed. I was leading and had the tire delam(inate). I’m just glad I could do it now.” “This one’s for him. All of ‘em are for him,” he continued. “This win means more than words can describe.” Already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Hibdon drew the outside front row starting spot and was chased the last 29 times around the track by Ethan Braaksma, who would get [Read More]

Clemens proves fastest In the Falls at Electric City

By Ben Deatherage GREAT FALLS, Mont. (July 4, 2024) – Fireworks on the track followed fireworks over Great Falls, and the rest of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified field followed Ty Clemens to the finish of the 40-lap Fastest In the Falls main event at Electric City Speedway. The Belgrade hotshoe, already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, banked $2,100 for the Fourth of July victory, which came ahead of hometown speedsters Joey Price, Kolby Hannah and David Davis. The main event had kicked off with Kody Kuglin seizing the lead in the first set of corners. The race for second heated up among Clemens, Michael Leach and Joey Price. Leach secured the position just before a lap two caution. Kuglin and Leach led the pack back to green, with Price holding onto third. Just when it seemed like the race was settling into a rhythm, another yellow flag waved. Then the race took another unexpected turn. Kuglin came to an unfortunate halt under yellow and Leach found himself in the lead. Leach set the [Read More]

It’s déjà vu as McGaha wins on same night as another son gets first career victory at Abilene

ABILENE, Texas (June 29, 2024) – He’s won a lot of championships and a lot of big races, but Josh McGaha says nothing beats winning the same night his sons got their career-first feature wins. And now he’s done it twice. McGaha had made his own visit to victory lane at hometown Abilene Speedway following the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature on May 18, then watched son Gavin Faulks top the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod main. Fast forward to June 29 at Abilene, when McGaha raced to IMCA Modified career win number 113 and cheered son Jaxon on to his first Southern SportMod checkers. “We could end the season right now and it would be on a high note. I got to win both nights both my boys got their first wins,” McGaha said. “I’ve qualified for the main event at Super Nationals, I’ve won a regional championship, I’ve won a lot (eight) of track championships and I’ve won a lot of big races,” he continued. “I’d trade all that to win on the [Read More]