bentoncountyspeedway Archives

Tuttle, Reynolds, Ballard are best in rain-shortened Urbana 5

VINTON, Iowa (July 14, 2024) – Nolan Tuttle checked a must-win race off his bucket list while Kaden Reynolds and Nathan Ballard both raced to career-third Urbana 5 Memorial feature wins Sunday at Benton County Speedway. A cousin of three of the youth remembered during the 10th annual event, hometown driver Tuttle led the distance of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature, running just ahead or alongside Lukas Rick much of the 12-lapper. “This is everything I’ve ever wanted. Winning that race is something I’ve wanted to do since I was 14,” Tuttle said following the $400 victory, his second of the season at The Bullring. “I got out of my car and the first thing I could do was grab my mom and give her the biggest hug I could. I cried a little bit. It just means the world to me.” “I feel like I’m living our dream that they couldn’t do.” Cristin Grady ended a distant third. Jeff Crabill was fourth and another cousin, Stephen Randall, rounded out the top five despite an ailing [Read More]

Big payouts, great cause this Sunday at Benton County Speedway’s 10th Urbana 5

VINTON, Iowa (July 10, 2024) – Benton County Speedway marks a milestone event this Sunday, hosting the 10th annual Urbana 5 Memorial. Five IMCA sanctioned divisions are on the card for the July 14 special, held to remember the five area youth killed in a 2015 traffic accident near Urbana, and to encourage people to become organ and tissue donors. An Iowa Donor Network representative will be located in a booth under the grandstand at The Bullring that evening. Kids can enter one of two drawings, for a bicycle or for another prize, while adults can purchase tickets for $2 each or three for $5 for a chance to win a Blackstone grill and accessories. Fan prizes and a 50/50 raffle are also planned. Top check for the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods is $1,500 while Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars both race for $1,400 to win, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $1,000 to win and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $400. Modified and Stock Car winners become eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts [Read More]

Mix of new, repeat winners highlight action at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (June 30, 2024) – A pair of first-time winners were joined by four return visitors to victory lane Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. Nearly 130 cars signed in to compete on a full night of racing at The Bullring. Ethan Braaksma earned his first Vinton win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main. From a fourth row start, Braaksma ran the high side into the lead at around midway of the Wright Way Trailers 20-lapper. He then survived a couple late stoppages and pressure from Troy Cordes and Owen Barnhill to score the win. Braaksma, who won a SportMod feature in Vinton in 2017, became the 98th Modified winner in track history. Briar Kriegel earned his first win of the season in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio. From his outside front row start, Kriegel took command at the drop of the green and held off late charges from Shane Richardson and Matt Brown to secure the victory. John Oliver Jr. became a four-time winner in the IMCA Sunoco Stock [Read More]

Racing resumes this Sunday at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (June 25, 2024) – After a week off for the Benton County Fair, the IMCA Weekly Racing program will be back in action this Sunday, June 30 at Benton County Speedway. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wright Way Trailers, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Christie Door Company, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio, Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts and INEX Legends presented by Legends.Direct will resume their weekly points battles Sunday evening. The annual nickel dash for the kids in attendance will take place on the front stretch during intermission. Entering the final weekend of June, Ben Chapman is the point leader in the Modified division, John Oliver Jr. leads the Stock Cars, Brady Hilmer tops the SportMods, Nathan Ballard leads the Hobby Stocks, and Lukas Rick and Cristian Grady are tied atop the Sport Compact standings at The Bullring. Michael Weber holds a one point lead in the Legends. Pit gates and grandstand open at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, with hot laps slated for 5:30 [Read More]

Mallicoat motors to IMCA Modified checkers at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (June 16, 2024) – Izac Mallicoat’s first Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win came at the Clash on the Coast in Florida back in March. His second came a little closer to home. The second-year Modified driver started 10th, but quickly found his way into contention and eventually victory lane Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. Luke Bird raced into the early lead of the Wright Way Trailers 20-lapper. He paced the field while a host of drivers gave chase. Mallicoat, running both high and low, worked into contention prior to the midway point, then took over the top spot and held off a hard-charging Ben Chapman, who started alongside Mallicoat in row five. Mark Schulte and Bird completed the top four. John Oliver Jr. raced from the fourth row to take top honors in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Christie Door Company. After a terrific battle with Braden Richards, Miciah Hidlebaugh and Kaden Reynolds, Oliver assumed command and then held off a late surge from Hidlebaugh to secure his third win [Read More]

Speedway Illustrated, Croell Inc. Night this Sunday at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (June 12, 2024) – There will be a little of something for everyone this Sunday, June 16 at Benton County Speedway during Speedway Illustrated, Croell Inc. Night at The Bullring. Speedway Illustrated publisher Karl Fredrickson will be on-hand to gather photos and information for an upcoming article and will also be handling flagman duties for the evening’s program. A full night of action on the quarter-mile will showcase the IMCA Weekly Racing program sponsored by Croell Inc. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wright Way Trailers, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Christie Door Company, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts will continue their weekly points battles. INEX Legends presented by Legends.Direct and two-man outlaw cruisers will join the weekly divisions in action Sunday night. Kids’ power wheels races will be held during intermission, and the evening will offer a number of prize giveaways, including a 50/50 raffle. As always, the Lil’ Racer Car Club will be in attendance for young [Read More]

Fitz, Fisher fast in victories at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (June 1, 2024) – Some nights you’re just fast. Trevor Fitz and Joren Fisher proved that Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. Fitz dominated much of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wright Way Trailers and Fisher wasted little time making it to the front of the main event for IMCA Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio. In the Modified 20-lapper, Fitz pulled away at the drop of the green and built a lead in excess of four seconds before the caution flag waved just shy of midway. On a couple ensuing restarts, Fitz again assumed command and fought off brief challenges from Cody Laney to score the victory. It was his first at The Bullring. Laney, Troy Cordes and Troy Morris III, who all started mid-pack, completed the top four. Fisher started outside of row four in the Hobby Stock headliner, but was challenging for the lead within the first circuit of that 15-lapper. He assumed command a short time later after a battle with Michael Kimm, and then drove away [Read More]

Weekly racing, candy dash on tap this Sunday at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (May 29, 2024) – Race night will be a little sweeter this Sunday at Benton County Speedway. Along with the IMCA Weekly Racing program, the annual candy dash will be held on the front stretch during intermission Sunday, June 2. The candy dash, which established a new Guinness World Record just a couple years ago, is always popular for the younger race fans in attendance. Racing action will include Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. In addition to the weekly divisions, the INEX Legends will be in action for the first time this season at The Bullring. The grandstand and pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, with hot laps at 5:30 and racing at 6. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and veterans, and $5 for ages 6-12. Kids five and under will be admitted free if accompanying a paid adult. Pit passes are $30. For the latest speedway news and current [Read More]

Aikey takes top honors at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (May 19, 2024) – Rain may have caused a delay, but it didn’t put a damper on Sunday’s racing program at Benton County Speedway. A rain shower that started as the first heat of the night hit the track forced a delay of more than an hour. When the skies cleared, it was business as usual at The Bullring. Jeff Aikey found success in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. From his pole position start, Aikey powered away from the field in the Wright Way Trailers 20-lapper and then withstood challenges on a couple restarts to race to victory. Chris Zogg, Brennen Chipp and Troy Morris III completed the top four. Tony Olson made a dazzling move following a caution midway through the 15-lapper for Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods to score his second win of the season. Running fourth at the time racing resumed, Olson found on opening on the low side of the speedway in turn two and had the lead by the time he hit the back stretch. From there, he [Read More]

45 years of the IMCA Modified celebrated May 24-26 at Marshalltown, Boone, Vinton

VINTON, Iowa (May 17, 2024) – It’s a three-night event 45 years in the making and it plays out at three of the tracks where IMCA has been part of weekly racing programs for decades. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds are the spotlight division in $2,000 to win 45th Anniversary events Friday, May 24 at Marshalltown Speedway and Saturday, May 25 at Boone Speedway, then chase a top check on $4,500 and $400 to start in the Sunday, May 26 show at Benton County Speedway. The first-ever IMCA Modified feature was held in Vinton on June 2, 1979; the division crowned its first track champion at Boone in 1983 and at Marshalltown in 1984. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods race for $1,000 to win at Marshalltown and Boone, and for $1,900 to win and $190 to start at Benton County. That class has run at Vinton and Boone since 2005 and at Marshalltown since 2006. All three Modified feature winners become Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks also run [Read More]