Newswire

Funeral services set for Sean Vardell

Sean Darrel Vardell, age 38, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Catawba County. He was born on Tuesday, February 4, 1986, in Wood County, Wis. Sean was known for his passion for engineering and mechanical skills, his love for racing outlaw carts and sprint cars, his enjoyment of riding motorcycles, and being a farmer with a huge heart for animals, especially donkeys, horses, cows, and goats. His affection extended to his beloved pets as well. Sean graduated from NASCAR Tech in 2007 and was a dedicated engineer with Burnett Promotions and finished his career as foreman. He was of the Christian faith. He was preceded in death by his father, Steve Vardell. Sean’s memory will forever be cherished by his surviving family and friends. He is survived by his wife Terra Gedeon Vardell, daughter Vayda Quinn Vardell, stepdaughter Raina Fox, mother Belinda Vardell, brother Corey Vardell, sister Bailee Vardell, nieces Zooey Vardell and Skylar Walker. Additionally, Sean leaves behind friends like brothers, Mark Goin, Erick Harps and Jeremy Burnett. Sean Darrel Vardell will be [Read More]

Hancock County SportMod Nationals win is Anderson’s for third time

By Chad Meyer BRITT, Iowa (May 13, 2024) – Eddyville’s Logan Anderson has been to Hancock County Speedway in Britt exactly three times, each during the tracks annual Gold-Eagle Cooperative IMCA Spring Fling SportMod Nationals. On Monday night, he ran down leader Colby Fett in the closing laps to score his third Spring Fling Nationals victory in as many tries. Jared Boumeester led the first few circuits of the $2,000 to win main event before Justin Klynsma and Jake Sachau took over first and second, respectively. Contact between the two resulted in a caution with both drivers retiring from the event. In the late stages Colby Fett built a sizable lead before Anderson ran him down for the win. Alec Fett finished third, Cam Reimers raced from 12th to fourth and Matt Looft completed the top five. In the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Drew Janssen was in control until his engine expired and the resulting oil on the track necessitated a caution. When the race resumed, Kyle Heckman was the leader and he survived a couple [Read More]

Williams, Porter, Olmstead Smith shine in Colby on opening night

By Sheldon Wickwar COLBY, Kan. (May 10, 2024) – Morgan Olmstead, Gage Porter and Ty Williams all were among visitors to victory lane during the season opener Friday at Thomas County Speedway. Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts led off the feature portion of the program with a 12-lap feature starting with a front row of Brock Leibhart and Grant Logue. Leibhart gained an early lead but by lap five Porter was heavily contending for the front spt. Porter had control of the race by lap eight and went on to the win ahead of Leibhart and Logue. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks were second next and that 15-lap feature started with a front row of Trent Matson and Travis Branum. Olmstead got to the lead and despite a couple of cautions, no one could touch him as he dominated the feature wire-to-wire. Bingston Rogers was able to run a clean race and get to second place late in the event but did not have enough time to track down Olmstead. Third was Trent Matson. The United Rebel Sprint [Read More]

RPM hosts 13th annual Cody Younger Memorial

By Sheldon Wickwar HAYS, Kan. (May 11, 2024) – Seventy-one teams checked into RPM Speedway Saturday for the 13th annual Cody Younger Memorial Race Night. Connor Schwien was the show as Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts started the program with a 15-lap feature. Schwien grabbed the early race lead, led by five car lengths just five laps in and went on to the checkers ahead of Rileigh Flohrs and Jakob Schwien. The 20-lapper for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks saw brothers Zach and Morgan Olmstead battle before finishing 1-2. Third was Tyler Heath. Another big field of Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods was on hand and Tyler Watts grabbed the early lead while Brianna Maughlin, Ryan Kirchoff and Blaine Walt were moving to the front. Walt got to second and Kirchoff to third after getting by Maughlin on a restart. The field singled out by halfway: Lap 13 saw Tyler Watts enter lapped traffic but the caution came out the next time around. Watts defended slide jobs from Walt and finally started to pull away. He held on [Read More]

Matt Jenner wins Battle at the Border at Banks

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (May 11, 2024) – Sunset Speedway Park got its 2024 opening night in the books on Saturday with Friesen Performance IMCA Modified entries from Oregon and Washington duking it out at the Banks Bullring. Veteran Don Jenner took off on the initial start. The Vancouver, Wash., native maintained a significant lead during a 13-lap green flag run. However, the race took a dramatic turn on the 15th circuit. As he approached lapped traffic, a slower car collided with Jenner, sending both to the infield. Fortunately, Jenner was able to drive away, but the incident significantly altered the course of the race as Jenner was piloting a wounded chariot. On the ensuing restart, he was eventually overtaken by another Jenner family member, Matt. Also from Vancouver, Wash., Matt Jenner dealt with several cautions and challenges from potentially overtaking him. Jenner led the rest of the distance to win the Battle of the Border for his native state of Washington. Chaz Wilder made the trip from Elma, Wash., well worth it as he managed to [Read More]

Rodgers scores impressive Silver Dollar Speedway win

By Ben Deatherage CHICO, Calif. (May 10, 2024) – Under the clear Friday night skies, Silver Dollar Speedway roared to life with the thunderous sound of Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. The 1/4-mile clay oval, steeped in history, was a sight to behold after nearly two months of anticipation, its surface glistening under the floodlights. Tyler Rodgers wasted no time, immediately taking the lead as the green flag dropped. The hometown hero was in a league of his own, building a substantial lead before being hotly pursued by fellow Chico driver Phil Marino. The battle for the lead was a thriller, halted by back-to-back red flags, including a six-car pile-up on lap seven on the front straightaway. When racing resumed, Rodgers was speedy, but as the race started to close, Ray Lindeman, from Rio Linda, mounted a late challenge. On multiple occasions, Lindeman caught Rodgers in lapped traffic. But once he got to the back of him, Rodgers slipped past the slower cars. On the final lap, Lindeman tossed the dice one last time. Unfortunately, [Read More]

Arlington Raceway lifts lid on 44th season

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 11, 2024) – The 44th season opener at Arlington Raceway brought out many race teams and fans in the stands that enjoyed seeing some great racing action and many new firsts. Blake Luinenburg took the lead from Ben Davis on the second lap and won the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock headliner. Cory Probst, chasing a third straight and ninth career track title, moved up five spots to take a close second with Brad Becker right behind him. Nick McConnell won the Best Appearing Car Contest and the wrapped helmet from Hess Technology. Brandon Hartmann from Fairmont led the entire Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature. Starting up front and holding off both Neil Forsberg and Justin Dose, he seemed to glide around the smooth track. Dale Gattton won the Best Appearing Car Contest and the wrapped helmet from Hess Technology. Brandon Hartmann returned to Arlington Raceway and motored to the opening night Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature victory. (Photo by Sarah Moriarty) Matt Looft was able to pick up the win in the Friesen [Read More]

Vis scores win as 105 teams enter Maquoketa Speedway

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (May 11, 2024) – Mother Nature provided a beautiful night for racing as Maquoketa Speedway hosted Tub O’ Towels Night at the races on Saturday. One hundred and five race teams took part in night number two of the 2024 racing season at the quarter-mile speedway. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars provided another exciting feature event and a first-time visitor to the Maquoketa Speedway victory lane. Dustin Vis hit his marks lap after lap and was able to hold off a very pesky Tanner Allen for the feature win. “I knew Tanner would race me clean and he did for the entire race, I felt him applying pressure and it was a fun race and really good for this old dog to finally get a win here,” said Vis. Allen finished second ahead of a fast-closing Gage Neal. Jeff Larson captured another win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified division. Larson threaded the needle on the initial green flag and got to the front quickly from his sixth position start. Larson then [Read More]

Regular racing season begins at Off Road Speedway

By Randy Pospishil sports@norfolkdailynews NORFOLK, Neb. (May 11, 2024) – The 2024 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season, and with it the chase for individual points championships, began Saturday night at Off Road Speedway. Among the feature winners in the sanctioned classes competing on a weekly basis were Anthony Roth in the IMCA Sunoco Late Models, Cameron Wilkinson in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Nic Kimmel in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and James Roebuck in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. Roth, a Columbus racer, started on the outside of row two in the Late Model feature and remained among the top five during the first half of the race while multi-time defending national champion Cory Dumpert held the lead. With 11 laps left in the 25-lap race, a caution created an opportunity for Roth to get to the front. Dumpert drifted high in turn two before diving back to the inside, attempting to occupy the space between Roth and Chase Osborne, but as the cars sped down the backstretch Roth had the lead. [Read More]

Wray is A-OK at Boone Speedway

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (May 11, 2024) – A beautiful night for racing greeted the 175 race cars checked in at the Boone Speedway on Saturday. First-time winner Cory Wray enjoyed his visit to victory lane in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Jake McBirnie took the win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and it was Cam Reimers with a thrilling finish at the line in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. Eric Knutson also took the checkers in the final moments in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Travis Stensland repeated his win from last week in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Mod Lites ran 15 laps kicking off the night’s feature racing. It didn’t take long for sixth place starter Stensland to get to the front, taking command on lap two. From there on he would lead every lap, pulling away at the end. He finished well ahead of second place Cory Sonner. Austin Gray came from 11th to finish third. Up next was 18 laps for the SportMods. Mike Munson led early [Read More]