Weekly Archives

Princeton and North Central Speedways to race under IMCA banner in 2015

VINTON, Iowa – IMCA will administer all six of the current divisions running at Minnesota race tracks Princeton Speedway in Princeton and North Central Speedway in Brainerd this season. IMCA will tabulate points and pay out point funds, and all classes will use IMCA procedures at regular weekly programs. “We want all of the racers at these two historic Minnesota tracks to know that they will be competing with a national sanctioning body behind them in the upcoming season,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “We are excited about working with owner Cliff Sasker and general managers K.T. Torbart and Mary Beth Cripe in 2015,” continued Root. “They have shown that they are committed to the racers and fans in the region and we are honored to play a role in their long term plans.” Princeton runs on Fridays and North Central on Saturdays.

Bloomington brings IMCA RaceSaver Sprints to Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Jan. 22) – The 2015 season will be the first for IMCA and RaceSaver at a track with an already long and distinguished Sprint Car history. Bloomington Speedway features the IMCA Eagle Motor Sports RaceSaver Sprint Car division on Friday programs beginning April 17. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Allstar Performance State and local track points will be awarded through season championship night on Aug. 21. Weekly features will pay $600 to win and a minimum of $150 to start. “I like the total package of IMCA and RaceSaver,” explained third-year General Manager Kris Kirchner. “I come from the 410 (sprint car) world and know that people who want to get into that have to spend a lot of money.” “I’ve heard more and more about RaceSaver and know that a guy can get into the class, race and not be broke at the end of the day,” he added. Dan Roberts, a co-owner of the ¼-mile, high-banked clay oval located in south central Indiana, suggested track officials look into RaceSaver. “The [Read More]

No changes in IMCA procedures, points, regional boundaries for 2015

VINTON, Iowa – You’ll have to look pretty hard to find differences between 2014 and 2015 IMCA procedures. Aside from some wording in the engine claim process, there isn’t any. Both the point system and how bonus points are awarded will be the same this season as last. IMCA President Brett Root also noted there won’t be any change in regional boundaries for Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks. “We announced in December there was a possibility of realigning those borders and creating regions for the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods,” he said. “After much discussion, we determined that changing the borders for Stock Car and Hobby Stocks was feasible but at this time, not necessary.” “There definitely will be regions, likely east and west, for the Northern SportMods in 2016,” Root added. “They are now our second largest division in terms of members and regions would make perfect sense.” The areas of the country represented in top national Modified standings last season dispelled any notions to make bonus point changes. “Everyone has an idea on how [Read More]

Forsberg teaches Sport Compact lessons, returns to classroom to focus on own studies

SLAYTON, Minn. – After teaching her competition a thing or two, Stephanie Forsberg is going to concentrate on the classroom. Forsberg raced to her third consecutive Mach-1 Sport Compact track championship at hometown Murray County Speedway in 2014. She was a nine-time winner at Slayton, capturing her final victory of the season and career 26th checkers on the day after her 20th birthday. “I just like this class and the people I race with,” said Forsberg, who had started racing in a non-sanctioned 4-cylinder hornet class at the tender age of 13. “I took some lumps and nearly totaled my first car before we sold it.” She was 15 when she came home and announced that not only was she ready to get back on the track, she’d already bought a car. Forsberg returned with a pink ride in honor of her grandmother Maddy, who’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. “I always had a passion for racing. I grew up around the track and I missed it,” she said. Forsberg enjoyed a career-type season in [Read More]

Buhr races into IMCA Modified history book with third straight crown at American Valley

LAKE ALMANOR, Calif. – Her place in the IMCA history book secure, Erica Buhr will race for a fourth straight IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified crown this season at American Valley Speedway. Boosted by a string of consistent finishes through early August, Buhr won her third straight title at Quincy, an hour to the southeast of her Lake Almanor, Calif., home, in 2014. She became the first female driver to win three consecutive titles at the same track in the division’s 36-year history. Minnesota competitor Stephanie Forsberg accomplished the same 2012-2014 feat in the Mach-1 Sport Compact division. “You win championships in the shop,” said Buhr, who owns At Your Service Auto Repair and does all the non-engine work on her car. “I don’t win a lot of features but I’m consistent. I don’t keep track of points. I race my race, do the best I can and lately I’ve been coming out on top, which is awesome.” Buhr had raced for four years, three seasons in a local stock car class and another in [Read More]

IMCA Weekly Racing, rookie feature winners receive Speedway Motors support again in 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (Jan. 19) – America’s Oldest Speed Shop continues invaluable roles supporting drivers in all IMCA divisions this season. Speedway Motors returns to title sponsorship of IMCA Weekly Racing, a special awards program for rookie feature winners and of the biggest dirt track racing event in the nation in 2015, IMCA’s Centennial Season. “Speedway Motors is proud of its longstanding affiliation with IMCA and is excited to continue its tradition of support and sponsorship into the 2015 season and beyond,” said Speedway Motors President Clay Smith. “This relationship has been so strong for so long because Speedway Motors and IMCA share so many core values, namely keeping weekly dirt track racing accessible, affordable and safe for all racers. All of us at Speedway Motors are thrilled to further this mission.” Affiliated with IMCA since 1950 and recognized most recently with a length of sponsorship award during the 2014 national banquet, the Lincoln, Neb., high performance parts manufacturer, retailer and distributor maintains a high profile at all sanctioned tracks through its IMCA Weekly Racing program. [Read More]

Lee Meyer is back as boss at Buena Vista Raceway

ALTA, Iowa – Buena Vista Raceway celebrates an anniversary season in 2015 and Lee Meyer will be back in charge of weekly operations at the 3/8-mile dirt oval. Meyer promoted BVR from 2002-2007 and returns to that position, while taking on manager duties for the Buena Vista County Fair. Five IMCA divisions will be part of 18 Wednesday night programs beginning with opening night April 15. Season championship night is Aug. 12. “Racing is a passion for me. I’m totally blessed to have a second opportunity to do what I love,” Meyer said. “I love being around race people, being at the track and the smell of race fuel. It’s the best.” “Buena Vista Raceway celebrates its golden anniversary of racing this year and we’re working on some ideas, like 50-lap features for some of the divisions, to make this a special season,” he added. Weekly shows will again feature the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Mach-1 Sport Compact divisions. BVR first [Read More]

Feature

IMCA Sprints, Southern SportMods new to Friday shows at Red River Speedway

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Two IMCA divisions will race weekly on the red clay at Red River Speedway this season. Veteran promoter Richard Snider will oversee Friday programs featuring RaceSaver Sprint Cars, a division of IMCA and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Allstar Performance State and local track points will be awarded for both divisions beginning with the Feb. 13-14 Red River IMCA Invasion special through Sept. 25. Also on the card for the season-opening special at Red River, a former ¼-mile asphalt oval that ran a limited schedule in 2014, are IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. “We’re pleased to be IMCA sanctioned. It’s going to be a good deal for Sprint Car and Southern SportMod drivers and I know they’re excited about it,” Snider said. “I’m looking forward to this season, too. It’s going to be fun to get back into it again.” Snider began promoting in 1979. He was most lately the boss at Kennedale Speedway Park before retiring briefly from the [Read More]

Thunderhill Raceway drivers’ meeting is Friday, Dec. 19

By Edward Anschutz STURGEON BAY, Wis. – Thunderhill Raceway preps for the 2015 season and will hold its drivers meeting on Friday, Dec. 19 at The Draft Haus Sports Bar at 7 p.m. The Draft Haus is located at 901 Egg Harbor Road in Sturgeon Bay. Fresh off the $30,000 contingency awards banquet last month, promoter Woody Wodack feels the track gaining traction heading for the 2015 season. “We put together one of the best contingency packages any dirt track in northeastern Wisconsin has ever seen,” he said. “Every driver who ran the qualifying number of nights was rewarded greatly for their loyalty. This season, the plan is to build on last year’s success.” Pit spots must be paid for before or at the meeting. Any pit stalls that remain unpaid or open will then go to a lottery of drivers who want to purchase them. Memberships will also be available for purchase which allows for a few bucks off your pit pass throughout the season. Several other items will be addressed at the meeting [Read More]

Ganskow calls it a promotional career after 29 years at U.S. 30 Speedway

COLUMBUS, Neb. – One era has ended and another begun at U.S. 30 Speedway. Promoter Louise ‘Sam’ Ganskow called it a career following the 2014 race season after 29 years. She has sold the track to daughter Mari and son-in-law Ron Melcher. Mari and sisters Michelle Rosno and Debi Kleinheksel will continue to share race director duties. She and husband of 13 years Kenny have got plans to do some traveling, enjoy his vintage racing and help out when needed at the 1/3-mile clay oval. “People have been telling me I should stay one more year and promote U.S. 30 for 30 years,” Ganskow said. “I tell them 29 is my age. It’s the number of Kenny’s race cars and I’m totally satisfied with retiring after 29 years because that’s my number.” U.S. 30 was a family operation from the time the late Darrell Duane ‘Abe’ Lincoln built the track in what had been a soybean field in 1985. Abe, Sam, their children and grandchildren worked (and played) at the track, sanctioned by IMCA since [Read More]