Newswire

Armstrong ends long absence from victory lane

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (July 19) – Roy Armstrong’s dry spell ended Saturday night at Eagle Raceway. Armstrong took the lead three laps into the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stock main event and stayed in front to the finish for his first checkered flag of 2014. “It’s been a long time. We’ve had a long dry spell,” the four-time and defending track champion admitted from victory lane. “Lots of bad luck and a few driver mistakes in there … I broke a shock with 2 to go and thought I had a flat, so I slowed down a little to be sure I could finish.” Johnny Saathoff was the Kaplan University IMCA Modified winner and Jason Martin was first across the finish line in the Mud In America Racesaver IMCA Sprint Car main. Benji Legg was best in the NAPA IMCA Northern SportMod feature. Justin Olsen prevailed in the Sam’s Club IMCA Sport Compact main.

Lamberies repeats at Shawano

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (July 19) – Lucas Lamberies repeated his winning ways in Saturday’s Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature at Shawano Speedway. Lamberies shot from his sixth place starting spot into the lead on lap one. Wyatt Block, Tracy Wassenberg and Joey Taycher chased Lamberies for the lead until a lap 14 caution slowed the field. On the ensuing restart, Block got too high in turns one and two and hit the wall, ending his night and bringing out another yellow flag. On lap 15, Taycher raced past Wassenberg for second. Over the final five laps, Taycher pressured Lamberies for the lead. The pair ran side-by-side with Lamberies expertly following the outside line to his second consecutive victory. Taycher had to settle for second. Picking up their first local wins of the season were Mark Weisnicht in the IMCA Modifieds and Brandon Czarapata in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Next week is Shawano Speedway Hall Of Fame night. Jerry “Medina” Smith and Cubbly Lamberies will be honored. Racing begins at 6:30 p.m.

McGee tops 34 Modified main event

By Dana Royer WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 19) – Dean McGee picked up his first Ryner Transportation IMCA Modified feature of the season at 34 Raceway on Saturday night. Darrow Lillie and Dustan Fenton sat on the front row but it was McGee taking the lead on the first lap of the 20-lap race. McGee led the entire race, first holding off Mitch Morris, then Jeff Waterman. The yellow flag came out with one lap to go. With Bill Roberts in the third spot behind McGee and Waterman, the yellow worked to his advantage as he moved into the second spot and challenged McGee on the final lap. The two crossed the finish line bumper to bumper with McGee holding off Roberts for the win. The Pepsi IMCA Stock Cars capped off the night with a thriller. Jake Wenig took the lead from Randy Wachter on lap four of the 15-lap contest. Tom Bowling moved into the second spot and it was a battle from there on with the two racing bumper-to-bumper and side-by-side. Bowling [Read More]

Havel swipes Thunderhill victory from Suckocki

By Edward Anschutz STURGEON BAY, Wis. (July 19) – Shawn Havel hustled around Jamie Suchocki late in the going to earn his third feature win of the season Saturday at Thunderhill Raceway in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car division. When the green flag dropped it was veteran Ford racer Tony Bouche leading the field and riding the top groove. Suchocki sprinted from row three and into second where he put the pressure on Bouche down low. Suchocki grabbed the top spot on lap five but Bouche wasn’t letting go as he raced door to door for the lead. Lap after lap, Suchocki led by a fender at the line. Title contender Shawn Havel was able to work his way to third and then set his sights on the lead duo. Just as Havel caught the leaders Bouche slid high off of turn three, costing him a good finish. Havel went to the high line, passing Suchocki for the lead with a handful of laps remaining. Havel went unchallenged in the caution free event. Suchocki had [Read More]

Wild finishes cap off race night at 141

By Greg Aregoni FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (July 19) – For four weeks in a row at 141 Speedway, lapped traffic played a factor in the outcome of a feature event. This week it was the turn of the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified division. Jeremy Jacobs led from the drop of the green flag and worked his lead to half a straightaway by halfway. Brad Lautenbach found a fast groove, however, and reeled in the leader on lap 15. The duo entered lapped traffic on the next lap. Jacobs found himself with a lapped car coming down on him off turn four. Contact gave Lautenbach the lead with five laps remaining. Jacobs came back immediately and tried a slide job on Lautenbach causing contact between the duo. Enter Benji LaCrosse. With all the commotion up front, LaCrosse was able to run up front and into the lead with a three-wide pass with two laps remaining. LaCrosse led the final two circuits with lapped cars to his outside. A final corner Talladega tangle allowed Lautenbach to [Read More]

Van Stratens run 1-2 in Oshkosh Stocks

OSHKOSH, Wis. (July 18) – Races don’t get much closer than this. Neither do the finishes. Justin Jacobsen grabbed the lead for the Total Power Sales IMCA Stock Car main Friday at Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway ahead of point leader John Heinz, Dylan Heilmann, Kevin Hebbe, Travis Van Straten and David Hoerning. Van Straten was hooked up and powered into the lead on lap seven. Contact with Heinz on the following lap brought out the caution with Heinz going to the back and Van Straten still the leader for the restart. Jacobsen, Barry Van Straten, Larry Karcz Jr. and Heilmann were now right behind. The Van Straten boys ran side-by-side for the lead with Travis inside and Barry outside for the rest of the race. Travis held the top spot for much of the way with Barry scored as the leader a couple times as they pulled away from the field. Karcz, Rod Snellenberger and Jacobsen ran together with Heinz coming from the back into contention again in fifth. A caution with three laps remaining bunched [Read More]

Brendon Gemmill takes Modified Stampede by the horns

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (July 19) – Brendon Gemmill picked off his second Dodge City Raceway Park triumph of the year by posting a $1,200 victory in Saturday night’s second annual IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified Stampede. Gemmill raced past his father Troy 13 rounds into the 30-lapper before holding off Eddie Belec over the closing circuits for his second consecutive DCRP score. “I really didn’t feel comfortable out there, it was the first time we’ve had this car out this year,” Gemmill commented from victory lane following the 2015 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. “Sometimes the fastest car doesn’t win. This is one of those times.” Troy Gemmill gunned into the lead at the outset of the main event from his front row outside starting position with Brendon Gemmill chasing from the third starting position. Brendon moved in to challenge after eight laps before finally slipping underneath Troy for the lead entering turn one on the 13th lap. With the father-son Gemmill duo out front, 11th-starter Belec and 10th-starter Scott Drake [Read More]

Carrell captures Wild West Speedweek Night 2 at Banks

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (July 20) – His first Wild West Modified Speedweek paid $1,000 to Mark Carrell. Travis Peery had looked to make it two IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified tour wins in a row at Sunset Speedway Park. He started on the front row and was dominant for much of the race. In the first 15 laps, five cautions would take place resulting in Peery having to deal with an open race track. Peery set a rapid pace and as the lap count dwindled he showed no signs of slowing down. But he used up too much of his tires and briefly got out of shape on lap 27, allowing Carrell to make the pass for the lead. Carrell led the remaining distance for the win and accompanying 2015 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth. Rounding out the top five were Peery, Jesse Williamson, Cory Sample and Alex Stanford. Twenty-eight entries from five states returned for the second of six Wild West Speedweek installments. Next up are Tuesday, July 22 and Wednesday, [Read More]

Aug. 1 is deadline for sign-up and rookie forms, car photos

VINTON, Iowa – Friday, Aug. 1 is the final date for submission of contingency sign-up forms, rookie of the year applications and car photos proving required decal placement. IMCA drivers who don’t meet that deadline are not eligible for post-season cash and product awards. The rookie application is published in the newsletter and is posted online. Sign-up forms were included in decal packets. Drivers who need sign-up forms or another set of decals can contact IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder at 319 472-2201 or kyoder@imca.com. Car photos can be emailed to the same address. “I prefer that photos show the entire car, not just the decals on the door panel,” Yoder said. “That way we can use photos for Sybesma Graphics Facebook Fan Favorite contest as well.”

XSAN Hawkeye Dirt Tour shares July 24 stage at Independence

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa – The XSAN Hawkeye Dirt Tour joins the World of Outlaws Late Models Series on the Thursday, July 24 card at Independence Motor Speedway. The 30-lap feature for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds pays $1,000 to win, a minimum of $150 to start and is a qualifying event for the 2015 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Five different drivers, point leader Mike Van Genderen of Newton, Tim Ward of Gilbert, Ariz., Andrew Schroeder of Keswick, Jimmy Gustin of Marshalltown and most recently Chris Abelson of Sioux City have prevailed in the five Dirt Tour events held so far this season. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Belleville Motorsports North Central Region, Allstar Performance State and special series points will be awarded at Independence. Grandstand admission is $30 for adults and free for kids 10 and under when accompanying a paid adult. Pit passes are $35; Modified drivers receive a free pit pass along with their $50 registration fee. Both the pit gates and the grandstand open at 4 p.m. Hot laps are scheduled [Read More]