Newswire

Melair dominates IMCA RaceSaver Sprints at Hagerstown

By Jim Haines HAGERSTOWN, Md. (June 19) – Nobody watching Mike Melair would ever have known this would become his first win in an IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car victory Saturday at Hagerstown Speedway. Thirty cars vied in the event co-sanctioned by the Virginia Sprint Series, Pennsylvania Sprint Series and Laurel Highland Sprint Series and Melair tuned up for the main event with a dominating heat win. Melair and Jason Roush then paced the feature field to green with Melair out front up top and Mikell McGee falling in behind before a car got a little too sideways causing a few cars to get together. Once back to green, Melair was off again followed by McGee and soon Ryan Lynn was chasing them down in third. Lap after lap, Melair stayed smooth, never putting a wheel wrong even as traffic came up. Melair’s brother Domenic came through the field and was soon on Lynn for third and using the brother’s high line to do it. With laps winding down, Mike Melair and McGee were still staying [Read More]

Shawano Hall of Fame welcomes two more

By Dave Buss SHAWANO, Wis. (June 19) – Last week it was the future in the spotlight, this week it was the past as two new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame at Shawano Speedway. George Giesen and Ed Bertram were honored for their past accomplishments at the speedway and in racing. With friends and family along with numerous current and former drivers who have benefited from the new Hall of Famers’ contributions to the racing world in attendance, the two were honored in a ceremony at intermission. IMCA Modifieds hit the track with numerous drivers who got their start in go carts at the GSR Raceway run by Bertram. It didn’t take long until the yellow slowed the action with Jeff Bodendorfer leading the way. Green flew again and it was Bodendorfer building a lead as Lance Arneson ran second and Konnor Wilinski third. Bodendorfer built a lead of nearly a second. Arneson began to make his way forward and grab the top spot for lap 17 but Bodendorfer fought right back the [Read More]

Zehm, Braaksma post first Boone wins of the season

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (June 19) – A pair of new faces visited victory lane Saturday as Boone Speedway continued its weekly racing series. Bryan Zehm went home the victor in the 15-lap IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Zehm led all but the opening lap on his way to victory. Mike Kennedy gave it a good try, but it was too little, too late in his attempt to catch the leader, and he had to be content with the runner up position. Joel Huggins was third. This was Zehm’s first win at the track in 2021. Johnathon Logue made it three wins in a row in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main. Kaylin Lopez came from 14th to finish as the runner up and Dusty Masolini was third. Up next was 20 laps of IMCA Modified feature racing. After the initial start was called back, the race would go caution free to the checkers with Ethan Braaksma in command the entire time. Heavy lapped traffic was no issue for Braaksma as he sailed home to the comfortable win. Tim Ward started [Read More]

Kid With a Cause Aiden Wagner races to promote suicide awareness, anti-bullying

MINOT, N.D. – While he’s racing to win, Aiden Wagner is also racing toward an even more important goal. The IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compact driver captains the Kid With A Cause team, donating his race winnings and sponsorship funds to the Sources of Strength suicide awareness and anti-bullying peer leader group at his hometown Minot High School. “I wanted to do something that would help some of my friends and classmates,” said the soon to be 16-year-old, noting the extra impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on teenagers. “A lot of people have come down to the pits to thank me. It impacts a lot of people.” He started Kid With a Cause during his short rookie season and raised $700. The $1,000 he’s already donated this year includes the $310 bounty he took home for snapping Ken Sandberg’s 10-race winning streak during the Ironman special at Dacotah Speedway. “I wanted to try and double what I raised last year and we’re well on the way to doing that,” said Wagner, noting that any monetary [Read More]

Keller conquers IMCA Modified feature at Dacotah

By Rebecca Rattei MANDAN, N.D. (June 18) – What began as three-car battle ended with a fourth driver back in victory lane Friday at Dacotah Speedway. Scott Gartner, Zach Frederick and Mark Dahl tussled early. Frederick shuffled into the lead as Jeremy Keller quickly worked his way into the top five and then passed Dahl for second. Using the high line around the track, Keller reeled in Frederick and they briefly raced for the lead. Keller took the lead on lap five and pulled away from the field. Frederick then lost positions to Quentin Kinzley, Dahl and Spencer Wilson. When the checkered flag waved, Keller picked up the feature win. Dahl held off Wilson for second place. Kinzley finished fourth while Frederick finished fifth. Shad Pederson and Lane Doll started on the front row of the Mach-1 Sport Compact feature. They raced door-to-door for the lead, allowing Stan Thompson and Ken Sandberg to make it a four-car battle. Contact among the leaders allowed Sandberg to slip by and pull away from the field. Stan [Read More]

Jerovetz Shock Service rewards IMCA Modified, Northern SportMod special events drivers

SUAMICO, Wis. – Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service rewards IMCA Modified and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod drivers for their special events accomplishments again in 2021. Top five finishers at 30 designated specials for the Modifieds and at 15 designated specials for the Northern SportMods receive gift certificates good for two free shock rebuilds from the eight-year IMCA sponsor. Located in Suamico, Wis., the company Shocking the Competition, Absorbing the Wins is owned by IMCA Modified veteran Sean Jerovetz and Ryan Rosenow. “We are thrilled to again be part of all these special events while partnered with IMCA,” said Jerovetz, “and also look forward to get back to business as normal.” JMSS specializes in rebuilding and custom revalving of AFCO, Fox, Penske and QA1 shocks, carries complete lines of AFCO and QA1 products and is also a Wehrs Machine and Racing Products dealer. Information about JMSS shocks, shock services and high performance products is available by calling 920 265-2068 or 920 615-2508, at the www.jmshocks.com website and on Facebook. “The number of special events will increase with a return to a [Read More]

Next Drive For Five qualifier is Friday at Lee County

DONNELLSON, Iowa – IMCA Sunoco Late Models and IMCA Modifieds both race for $1,000 to win in their next Drive For Five qualifier this Friday at Lee County Speedway. The June 25 feature is a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier for the Modifieds. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts are also on the card. Pit gates open at 5:30 p.m. and hot laps are at 7 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors 60 and over, $5 for students ages 11-17 and veterans, and free for kids 10 and under. Pit passes are $30, or $20 for kids ages 7-13, $10 for kids ages 4-6 and $5 for three and under. The Friday show at Donnellson will be broadcast by DoneRight.TV. The track website is www.leecountyspeedway.com.

Young is latest IMCA Modified winner at Cottage Grove

By Stephanie Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 18) – The first of two straight nights of action at Cottage Grove Speedway kicked off with IMCA Modifieds on the Friday card. Paul Rea pounced to the lead on the opening start. The Eugene veteran inhabited the position until lap three, when Derick Young made his way into first place. Young received some pressure just after the halfway mark. Jeffrey Hudson got around Derick Young on lap 14. Young kept his composure however and regained the coveted top spot on the 16th circuit. He remained there the balance of the distance to earn the victory. It is Young’s first win at Cottage Grove since April 27 of 2019. He is the sixth winner in nine shows and the newest name on the win chart in KMJ Performance Oregon State and Shaw Race Cars Western Region competition. Curtis Towns and Aaron Sheelar were second and third, respectively. Bricen James got fourth followed by Matthew Drager in fifth.

Mather Takes B & B Chassis All-Star Qualifier on Crawford Farms Night at Indee

By Jeremy Fox INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (June 19) – Cole Mather was the big IMCA Sunoco Stock Car winner on Crawford Farms Hall of Fame Night at Independence Motor Speedway. Adam Johnson led the opening lap of the 20-lap B & B Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifier, which featured a top prize of $750 courtesy of J&V NAPA Auto Parts. Mather took the top spot away on lap two, fending off Johnson and Dustin Vis. Mather pulled away only to have Vis reel him back in, Vis then seem to have mechanical issues coming down the front stretch forcing him to pull off. The caution came out on lap 18 when Kevin Rose spun in turn four forcing a two lap shootout. Mather held off Philip Holtz to take his third win of the season at Indee. Holtz was second, Jarod Weepie moved up seven spots to finish third. Jay Schmidt was fourth and Tom Schmitt was fifth. Troy Cordes held off Brennen Chipp to become the eighth different IMCA Modified feature winner this season in Indee. The win [Read More]

Strange Oval cash, product certificate awards go to top five drivers at IMCA Modified specials

MORTON GROVE, Ill. – Strange Oval continues a unique awards program that’s become both familiar and a favorite of IMCA Modified special events drivers. The Morton Grove, Ill., manufacturer of axles and drive plate gives $50 in cash and a $50 product certificate to a top five finisher at 30 designated specials this season. Awards will be mailed from the IMCA home office the week after official race results are received; product certificates are redeemable through Performance Bodies. Front row starters in the Modified main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s receive a pair of Strange Oval axles. “The IMCA provides a direct link to the competitors for us as company,” said Strange Oval President Jim Kontje. “We’ve found no other sanctioning body that includes the end user with rewards to the degree that our sponsorship does with IMCA. It’s simply a perfect fit for us.” Strange Oval is in its seventh year of IMCA sponsorship. Information about Strange Oval products is available at the www.strangeoval.com website, by calling 800 653-1099 and on [Read More]