Feature Archives

Ferrando banks $5,000 at Yreka’s Biehn Memorial

By Ben Deatherage YREKA, Calif. (June 14, 2024) – A threat to win wherever he tows, Grey Ferrando’s latest Friesen Performance IMCA Modified victory was good for $5,000 when Yreka Speedway hosted the inaugural Rich and Nicky Biehn Memorial Friday night. From Stayton, Ore., and newly eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, led from the end of lap seven to the checkers in the headline race at the event dedicated to honoring the legacy of two beloved racing enthusiasts and car owners. Kellen Chadwick initially took the lead and had a moment where he could have some breathing room as Ferrando was occupied with keeping back Collen Winebarger and Tyler Blankenship. Ferrando kept both in check, then went back on the offensive and poured more pressure on Chadwick. Ferrando overtook Chadwick at the wire as the seventh circuit was scored and led the rest of the distance in the caution-free main event to score his first win of the season at Yreka and his fourth victory in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. [Read More]

James, Ryland start IMCA Wild West Speedweek with wins at Yreka

By Ben Deatherage YREKA, Calif. (June 15, 2024) – Prospectors came to Yreka to strike in rich in the Gold Rush of the 1850s. Bricen James and Fred Ryland both struck gold of their own Saturday night at Yreka Speedway with feature wins on opening night of the IMCA Wild West Speedweek. James’ won the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature and $1,000 while two-car star Ryland ruled both IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main events. When the green flag came out for the Modifieds, Collen Winebarger beat the field to the line for the opening lap. The Corbett, Ore., chauffeur and 2021 Speedweek champion tried to get a big lead, but Tyler Blankenship kept it close for the first few laps. Winebarger got into a good rhythm and began to pull away from the rest of the pack, but before he could get too far ahead, the yellow flag came out with six laps down. Winebarger was masterclass on the restart as Blankenship and James, the 2022 Speedweek champion, battled [Read More]

Leonard lands $1,000 STIMS win at I-37

By JM Hallas PLEASANTON, Texas (June 15, 2024) – Cody Leonard landed a $1,000 punch when the South Texas IMCA Modifieds Series (STIMS) returned to do battle at I-37 Speedway on Saturday night. The series’ fourth trip to the track this season saw Leonard front on lap three and in charge the rest of the way en route to Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. “I’ll be honest. I did not feel good in the heat race. I really didn’t feel too good at the start of the feature even though we went forward,” he admitted afterwards. “This place was kind of low and slow which fits my driving style. We went back to some stuff we were doing in 2020 when we were really good, really quick. It’s sort of a hybrid now that we got the car redone.” “Going back to some old things helped us pick the speed back up.” As the 20-lap main event for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds roared to life, Chris Morris grabbed the point pursued by Leonard, Chris [Read More]

LaCrosse is IMCA Modified star on night 2 of Clash

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (June 12, 2024) – Two-car star Benji LaCrosse gave a hint of even bigger things to come, racing from 10th to win the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature and taking Friesen Performance IMCA Modified runner-up honors on opening night of 141 Speedway’s Clash on the Coast. On Wednesday, the Casco clipper motored all the way from 12th on the initial grid to earn the $10,000 top prize, plus qualifying eligibility for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, helping bring the flag down on two of the richest days of racing this season for IMCA Modifieds. LaCrosse, previously a two-time winner of 141’s King of the Creek special for Stock Cars, quickly became part of a five-car pack running at or toward the front in last night’s 50-lapper. He completed the pass for the lead on the 32nd circuit and ran in heavy lapped traffic before winning ahead of Jordan Grabouski, Josh Long, Dallon Murty and Cody Schroeder. Tuesday’s Stock Car win was the career 44th for LaCrosse in The Class Too Tough To Tame; his Wednesday win was [Read More]

Ward rewarded with $10,000 on opening night of Clash at the Creek

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (June 11, 2024) – A regular at 141 Speedway’s Clash at the Creek since 2018, Tim Ward could recall “hanging around for a while” before falling back and out of contention in his best prior outing in the Francis Creek. That changed Tuesday night as Ward took charge after midway of the 50-lapper for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, earning $10,000 and his career 99th victory in the class. “This is such a tough place to win,” Ward acknowledged, after matching career-best paydays from the 2021 Land of 10,000 Lakes Tour finale and last year’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s main event. “I was one of the favorites here last year, started 13th, got up to sixth and just ran out of time,” he said. “This time I had a really good race with Jake (McBirnie) the first half. It reminded me of Super Nationals – we raced really hard.” The one caution flew on lap 27. Ward beat Benji LaCrosse … winner of Tuesday’s IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature … [Read More]

McBirnie, Kuehl are roofless in runs to big money at Boone

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (June 8, 2024) – Fans at Iowa’s Action Track were treated to the annual topless racing spectacular Saturday night, as both Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods ran sans roofs. The Capital Signs Co. Dirty 30’s saw the roofs and sails removed from both divisions as they raced for $1,200 for the Modified victory and $1,000 for the SportMods. Jake McBirnie and Taylor Kuehl got the distinct honors of taking home those prizes. Johnathon Logue clawed his way to the front and took checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Braden Gifford got his first-ever win in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks in a wild and crazy race, and Charlie Brown got back to victory lane in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Feature racing kicked off with the 15-lapper for the Mod Lites. Brown, who returned to the racing scene this season after several years off, started on the pole and drove off from the rest of the field. He was still leading at lap seven when [Read More]

Single season goals lead up to 100th IMCA Northern SportMod win for Walt

COLLYER, Kan. (June 7, 2024) – A lot of single-season goals added up to a big career accomplishment for Blaine Walt. Walt won his career 100th Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature Friday night at Thomas County Speedway, a victory that had him searching for just the right words to describe. “I’m happy, excited, still in shock. You just never know if something like this is going to happen,” said Walt, from Collyer, Kan. “Getting 100 wins wasn’t ever the big goal. Every year we just wanted to get as many wins as we could, maybe 10 or 12, but we never really set a goal to get 100. It just happened to work out that way.” He’s the 10th driver in division history to reach the 100 win mark. Also of note, Walt is just the sixth Kansas driver with 100 IMCA wins in any division. “It feels really good to be part of that group of people. We haven’t had a lot of people from around here get 100 wins,” he said, citing the likes of [Read More]

Rust, Paris are sharp in topless shows at Marshalltown

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (June 7, 2024) – Marshalltown Speedway was host to the first of two Twin Topless Dirty 30 races Friday night. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Friesen Performance Northern SportMods both removed their tops for the unique race program. Mother Nature tried to stop the fun, but a few sprinkles during the SportMod feature, didn’t stop the show, and racing action returned quickly. Joel Rust won the exciting Modified feature and it was Shane Paris winning in the SportMods. Cayden Carter ran away and hid in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car event, Calvin Dhondt came from row six to take the checkers in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock division and Illinois racer, Jason Masengarb took top honors in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Feature racing kicked off with the running of the 15-lap event for the Mod Lites. Masengarb started on the pole and led all but a brief moment when Charlie Brown was scored the leader at lap three. That’s when action was halted for Tracen Glick after he went [Read More]

Valley victory is career 100th for IMCA Mod Lite star Raffurty

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 1, 2024) – Score his latest win at Valley Speedway as yet another first for Dillon Raffurty. The Saturday night checkers were the 100th for the Kansas City speedster, the first driver to reach the triple digit win mark for Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. “It’s pretty cool, especially for as many firsts there’s been since the class has been sanctioned that I’ve been lucky to have my name be next to,” said Raffurty, the three-time defending national champion and winner of 2021 and 2022 IMCA Speedway Motors fueled by Casey’s titles. “Just like every other driver, I always go out and try to win every time I can. There wasn’t any added pressure Saturday night, I just took it as if it was another race.” Also cool: IMCA win number 100 care in the same car Raffurty got his start in the IMCA class with. “I’ve been having a few motor issues. This car had been sitting here collecting dust so until I get that figured out, I’ll happily run [Read More]

Iron Man 100 marathon ends with Beckendorf’s 200th IMCA Modified win

DANUBE, Minn. (May 31, 2024) – Make no mistake, the money was nice. But Brandon Beckendorf is enjoying the prestige of getting his career 200th Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win at Dacotah Speedway’s Iron Man 100 even more. The Danube, Minn., hotshoe took the lead following the mandatory pit stop at halfway and led to the finish of the 100-lapper Friday night at Mandan, N.D. “Everything just lined up perfectly,” said Beckendorf, 32 years old and already in his 17th season in the class. “Right now, this is our biggest win. It wasn’t a local night of racing, it was $5,000 to win and it was 100 laps, which is very rare. Racing against these guys and winning is really cool.” “Getting my 200th win at the Iron Man was the best thing that could happen. Everything lined up. You couldn’t ask for anything better.” Beckendorf is the 20th IMCA driver, and the eighth IMCA Modified driver to reach the 200 career wins mark. His first win in the division came in 2008. Beckendorf had a single-season best 27 [Read More]