Weekly Archives

Kruse renews promotional contract at Marshalltown Speedway for 10 years

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – The Central Iowa Fair Board and race promoter Toby Kruse have signed an agreement to continue their relationship for another 10 years. Kruse has been promoter of the Marshalltown Speedway since 2006. Central Iowa Fair President Tyler Wollam indicated that the new agreement will be beneficial for everyone. “Toby has long been one of the most sought-after race promoters in the entire country. We have been thrilled with the work he has done over the last decade as well as the improvement projects we have been able to collaborate on,” he said. “I am confident that under his continued leadership, Marshalltown Speedway will remain a destination location for race teams and spectators from all over the country for many years to come.” The new contract became effective on Jan. 1 of this year, and will run through the 2026 racing season. Fans of the speedway will be happy to know that there will be more improvements on the horizon for the historic dirt track. “Both Toby and the fair board have been [Read More]

IMCA Sprint Cars new to Saturday shows at Boone

BOONE, Iowa – IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars will be new to weekly race programs this season at Boone Speedway. The winged division last ran at Boone during the 2009 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “The timing to sanction Sprint Cars is right,” said Promoter Robert Lawton. “They are a good fit with the other IMCA divisions we run weekly.” IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods are all on the April 8 Frostbuster card at Boone, with the first local track points awarded on April 15. Fifteen weekly events are on the tentative schedule for the Sprint Cars, with track points given April 22 through Aug. 5. “Sprint Cars bring a whole different flavor to a race track,” Lawton said. “There’s nothing else like them. They are unlike any other division we are running now.” “Sprint Cars continue to be one of our fastest growing divisions and Boone Speedway is the perfect track to continue that growth,” observed IMCA Vice President of Operations Jim [Read More]

281 has new promoters for 20th IMCA season

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The 20th season for IMCA racing at 281 Speedway will be the first under the promotional guidance of Joe Spillman and Heather Combs. Their C&S Promotions partnership oversees Saturday night programs on the ¼-mile dirt oval beginning with opening night on March 4. The point season for IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts runs through Sept. 16. C&S has promoted a couple enduros, both held at Heart O’ Texas Speedway, and signed the lease at 281 in early December. New restroom facilities have already been built on the spectator side of the track and 1,500 yards of clay put back on the racing surface. “We want to see promoting done like a business and not like a hobby,” Spillman said. “I’ve traveled and raced a Modified and a Stock Car all across the country so I’ve got ideas about what works and what doesn’t.” Spillman started his own career in a Southern SportMod. He’s raced a Modified and a Stock Car at the IMCA [Read More]

Faster Pastor race set, seeking pastors

AUBURN, Mich. – Tri-City Motor Speedway has released the date for the annual Faster Pastor race, to be held on July 14. The Faster Pastor Race is an annual fundraiser for area churches. Pastors affirm this is a unique team building opportunity that allows them to connect with people in their congregation in ways they have not been able to in the past. Pastors may self-nominate to participate through April 30. Eight pastors will be selected to race for a charity of their choice. All charities will receive the amount of money each pastor raises and the winner of the race will receive bragging rights and a six-foot trophy for the year. In 2016, seven churches raised a combined total of $19,285 which was an increase over the $14,823 raised by eight churches in 2015. “The Faster Pastor race is one of our favorite events to host. You can smell the adrenaline in the air between all of the excited fans and church members cheering on their pastor,” said Erika Puvalowski, Tri-City Motor Speedway marketing & [Read More]

IMCA Stocks, Hobbies, Sport Compacts new at I-76

FORT MORGAN, Colo. (Jan. 10) – Three more IMCA sanctioned divisions join regular race programs at I-76 Speedway this season. New are the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Mach-1 Sport Compacts. The season opener for all three classes, as well as Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods at Fort Morgan is the Sunday, April 30 Ice Breaker. Eleven Saturday shows are scheduled through Sept. 16. All five divisions are also on the Monday, July 3 card. Promoter Butch Speicher anticipates sharing cars with Phillips County Raceway at Holyoke. “We ran four Stock Car shows last year and they put on a good show,” said Speicher, optimistic about building car count numbers in 2017. “Our existing econo class already had rules that were pretty close to the IMCA Hobby Stocks and our hornet class was pretty close to the Sport Compacts.” Stock Car points earned at I-76 apply in IMCA’s EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. I-76 is part of the Big Daddy Race Cars Northern Region for Hobby [Read More]

SPI announces sale of Farley Speedway

By Jerry Mackey FARLEY, Iowa – Keith Simmons, owner/operator of the Farley Speedway located on the west edge of Farley, Iowa, announced he has sold the popular 3/8-mile dirt track along with all the assets of Simmons Promotions. The new ownership group is headlined by Dubuque businessman Joel Callahan, owner of Callahan Construction. Callahan is the majority investor of the new ownership group which also includes Farley businessmen Jason Rauen and Roger Simon. Simmons owned and operated the Farley Speedway for 16 seasons bringing the track national recognition by providing outstanding stock car racing action that included a wide variety of National sanctions and many different types of race cars. Simmons has agreed to remain on as an advisor and will continue to oversee all track preparation. “Selling the Farley Speedway was a very difficult decision for me to make but at the same time, I am very excited to see this group of owners come on board with a plan to keep racing alive and make several improvements to the Farley Speedway that I [Read More]

34 Raceway banquet honors drivers

By Dana Royer WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (Jan. 7) – 34 Raceway held its 2016 season awards banquet in Burlington Saturday evening, Jan. 7. The evening included a banquet meal, recognition of top 10 drivers, sponsors and a number of special award recipients. 34 Raceway completed another successful year and track officials are looking forward to another great season in 2017 with some familiar and new events on the upcoming schedule. Drivers who finished in the top ten and were eligible for money and awards were recognized as well as the 2016 track champions. In order to receive recognition and point money, each driver had to participate in a minimum of 75 percent of 34 Raceway’s point events in 2016. In 2016, 34 Raceway paid out just over $500,000 to racers during the six-month season. In seven divisions, 50 drivers were eligible to receive money and awards. More than $12,000 was paid out. Jeff Waterman of Quincy, Ill., was the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified track champion while John Oliver, Jr. of Danville won both IMCA [Read More]

IMCA Stock Cars find Wyoming home at Sweetwater

ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. (Jan. 9) – Sweetwater Speedway brings IMCA-sanctioned Stock Cars to Wyoming in 2017, debuting the new class during a three-day Memorial Weekend show. In all, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars will join Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds and IMCA SportMods at Rock Springs on 13 nights this season. The finale is set for Sept. 16. “We’ve used rules very similar to IMCA’s for our street stock class for a while and have averaged 15-20 cars a night the last couple years. We’ve had some great shows,” explained promoter Kara Beech, also noting that the proximity of Addiction Chassis had contributed to increased car counts. “The IMCA Modified and SportMod divisions have worked great for us so I thought what the heck, hopefully we can do the same with the Stock Cars.” Sweetwater will be part of the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. In addition to the May 26-28 dates, IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, Allstar Performance State and local track points will also be awarded at June 9, 10 and 30, [Read More]

141 Speedway promoters back on ballot for RPM award

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (Jan. 9) – 141 Speedway promoters Toby Kruse, Dan Ratajczak and Scott Ratajczak are back on the ballot for the Auto Racing Promoter of the Year award given by Racing Promotion Monthly. They were nominated from RPM’s Northern Region for the second consecutive year. A Saturday night venue, 141 sanctions its Modified, Stock Car, Northern SportMod and Sport Compact divisions with IMCA. “It’s almost overwhelming because your peers nominate you for this award. You take a minute to reflect and realize how fortunate you are,” Kruse said. “Being nominated is pretty darn exciting. It makes all the miles and hours worth it.” “We averaged 141 cars a week in 2016. That’s a real testament to our goal of making this track bigger and better every year,” added Kruse, “and we’re not done, that’s for sure.” Dan Ratajczak was a long-time IMCA Modified driver and Scott was his crew chief. This is their second ARPY nomination and the third for Kruse, who also promotes Marshalltown Speedway. The Ratajczaks have promoted 141 with Kruse since 2014. Their [Read More]

SPI set to host season championship races

By Jerry Mackey FARLEY, Iowa – Simmons Promotions of Farley, Iowa is set to host season championship racing events at the three Eastern Iowa speedways under the direction of the SPI promotions group. All three tracks will host special events on championship night, which will include twin 25-lap features in the IMCA Late Model division. IMCA points will only be given for the first of those races each evening. Friday, Aug. 26 will be championship night at Farley Speedway, which will also include Kids’ Back To School Night. Champions will be crowned in all classes at the 3/8-mile dirt track. Farley Speedway will see action with hot laps at 7 pm, racing will follow. On Saturday night, action will shift to the ½-mile West Liberty Raceway located on the Muscatine County Fairgrounds in West Liberty, Iowa. Again, two 25 lap events will be held in the IMCA Late Models and champions will be crowned in all classes. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with the first race scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday night the Dubuque [Read More]