bentoncountyspeedway Archives

Festive July 4 set for Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa – With both attempts at holding the Benton County Fair races washed out, the focus now shifts to Sunday, July 4 at Benton County Speedway. And it’s going to be big. As part of “A Celebration at The Bullring” on the Independence Day holiday, the speedway will host weekly racing in all five divisions, plus the Lil’ Racer Car Club benefit raffle. A giant fireworks display will close out the holiday program following the races. Weekly racing will feature KISS Country 96.5 IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto Service, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by Kwik Star, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Christie Door Company and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts presented by Auto Crafters. All weekly divisions will be draw/redraw and all applicable IMCA points, including local track points, will be awarded. There is no entry fee. Sprint Invaders and Midwest Micro Sprints will complete Sunday’s program. Adult grandstand admission is $18, seniors and veterans $16, and ages 6-14 $5. Kids ages five and under are admitted [Read More]

Benton County Fair races postponed to Sunday

VINTON, Iowa (June 24) – Rainy weather has forced the postponement of the 2021 Benton County Fair races. Originally scheduled for Thursday, June 24, the annual fair races at The Bullring have been rescheduled for Sunday, June 27, pending an improved weather forecast for county fair events. While the race date has changed, increased prize money for the fair race remains up-for-grabs Sunday for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto Service, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Christie Door Company, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by Kwik Star and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts presented by Auto Crafters. SportMods will compete for a $750 winner’s share and $100 to start on Sunday, Stock Cars $500 to win and $100 to start, Hobby Stocks $400 and $75, and Sport Compacts $250 and $75. The show will also feature a special appearance by the American Iron Racing Series (A.I.R.S.). IMCA state, regional and national points will be awarded in the draw/redraw event. Track points will not be awarded and IMCA Modifieds are not scheduled to [Read More]

Bullring rained out Sunday, Benton County Fair races set for Thursday

VINTON, Iowa (June 20) – Much needed rainfall has forced the cancellation of the June 20 racing program at Benton County Speedway. Over half an inch of rain fell Sunday morning with more expected throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Next up at the speedway will be the annual Benton County Fair races this Thursday, June 24. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto Service, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Christie Door Company, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by Kwik Star and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts presented by Auto Crafters will compete for increased prize money during the Thursday fair special at the Bullring. Stock Cars compete for a $500 winner’s share, SportMods $750, Hobby Stocks $400 and Sport Compacts $250 in a draw/redraw event that will award state, regional and national IMCA points. There is no entry fee. The American Iron Racing Series (A.I.R.S.) will also compete Thursday night. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $13 for veterans and seniors, and $5 for children ages 6-14. Kids five and under will [Read More]

Tharp, Siems score first Bullring wins

VINTON, Iowa (June 13) – Brandon Tharp waited five years for his first feature win. It took him only another eight days to earn his second. Tharp, whose career first win came June 5 in Independence, earned his first Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod presented by Christie Door Company victory in front of his hometown crowd Sunday night at the Benton County Speedway Bullring. Eric Alexander led at the drop of the green and was pursued by Brady Hilmer throughout the 15-lapper. While that pair battled for the top spot, Tharp was working through the pack from a fourth row start. A pair of late cautions bunched the field and allowed Tharp the opportunity to strike. On the first of those two restarts, Hilmer miscued in turns one and two to bring out the caution, leaving Alexander with the lead and Tharp in the second row. When racing resumed a final time, Tharp slid beneath the race leader entering turn one and escaped with the top spot upon exiting turn two. He then drove to [Read More]

Wroten recovers, wins IMCA Stock Car thriller at the Bullring

VINTON, Iowa (June 6) – When Damon Murty takes the lead of an event at Benton County Speedway, the race is typically for second. Someone failed to mention that to Leah Wroten. Wroten, who led throughout the 15-lapper for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto, lost the lead late to Murty, then took advantage of a caution with two laps to go to drive to her first division win on the Vinton quarter-mile. From her second row start, Wroten quickly raced past front row starters Shaun Bistline and Riley Hanson while the field gave chase. Damon Murty, Jeff Mueller, Dallon Murty and Miciah Hidlebaugh kept pace as the pack of five remained in tight formation with Wroten leading the way. Just prior to a caution with three laps remaining, Damon Murty inched around the outside of Wroten to assume command. On the restart, Wroten quickly went back to work on the bottom groove, making her way past Murty and back into the top spot. She held off a late surge from Mueller to [Read More]

Cordes has record-breaking night at the Bullring

VINTON, Iowa (May 30) – Troy Cordes made a little history Sunday night at the Benton County Speedway Bullring. Not only did he score his third straight win and fourth in five weeks in the KISS Country 96.5 IMCA Modifieds, he became just the third driver in track history to earn 60 wins on the quarter-mile. From a fifth row start, Cordes worked the high groove to perfection and found himself in contention at the midway point. He made his way around leader Ryan Maitland and set sail on the way to his career first three-race winning streak at the Bullring. Seventeenth starting Chris Zogg made a terrific run through the field and made a bid for the lead following a late caution, but ran second at the finish. Brennen Chipp, Ronn Lauritzen and Maitland completed the top five. Just two weeks ago, Jason Doyle earned the first win of his career in Independence. Sunday night, he earned his second in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto. Doyle raced into the lead [Read More]

Murty’s mastery of the Bullring continues with $1,800 victory

VINTON, Iowa (May 23) – His nickname is the Game Changer, but the only thing changing lately is Dallon Murty’s win total. Murty scored his fourth consecutive feature win to open the season in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto at the Benton County Speedway Bullring. He picked up $1,800 for his efforts in the draw/redraw event and earned a qualifying berth for the inaugural B&B Chassis All-Star event at this year’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The 20-lapper went green with Richard Steadman and Cory Strothman on the front row. Steadman assumed command early while Murty quickly went to work from a third row start. Just a couple laps in, Murty slid in front of Strothman to take over third and then settled in to give chase to Steadman and Jeff Mueller. On a lap five restart, Mueller opted for the outside of row two, leaving Murty to his inside. When racing resumed, Murty pulled a successful slider on Steadman to steal the lead in turns one and [Read More]

Stock Cars vie for $1,250 winner’s share May 23 at Benton County

VINTON, Iowa – A payday of all-star proportions will be on the line Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. The quarter-mile Bullring will offer up $1,250 to the feature winner of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Albert Auto in an event that will also serve as a qualifier for the inaugural IMCA Stock Car All-Star Invitational at this year’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. There is no entry fee for the draw/redraw event, which also offers free pit entry to Stock Car drivers making their first visit to the Bullring this season. The main event pays $100 to start. Tow money is $75. State, Regional, National and local track points will be awarded. All other weekly divisions will also continue their weekly racing seasons Sunday night, including KISS Country 96.5 IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by Kwik Star, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Christie Door Company and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts presented by Auto Crafters. In addition to weekly racing, the A.I.R.S. cars will be making a [Read More]

Olson races to 50th Benton County win

VINTON, Iowa – Just three weeks shy of the 16th anniversary of his first feature win, Tony Olson celebrated another milestone at the Benton County Speedway Bullring. Olson, who earned his first win in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods presented by Christie Door Company on May 30, 2005, parked his #T23 in victory lane in Vinton for the 50th time Sunday night. Brandon Tharp assumed the early command from his second row start and paced the field throughout the 15-lapper. Meanwhile, Olson raced from the sixth row and into contention by midway. He restarted outside Kyle Olson in row two on a pair of restarts and quickly applied pressure to Tharp. Running the top groove, Tony Olson wrestled the lead away from Tharp and escaped with the win, leaving a handful of drivers to fight behind him for runner-up honors. Kyle Olson won that battle to finish second ahead of Tharp, Ben Chapman and Brett Thomas. The all-time leader in KISS Country 96.5 IMCA Modified wins at the speedway, Troy Cordes added to his career [Read More]

From four-wide to victory, Thornton gets first Bullring win

VINTON, Iowa – Dylan Thornton’s gutsy move paid off Sunday night at the Benton County Speedway Bullring. From a mid-pack start, Thornton made an impressive run on his way to capturing top honors in the KISS Country 96.5 IMCA Modified feature. From an eighth starting spot, Thornton worked into the top five shortly after the green flag waved, then made the move of the night entering turn one a lap later. With a three-wide battle for second in front of him, Thornton found just enough daylight to make it four-abreast entering the first corner. By the time he entered turn two, he held the runner-up spot and set his sights on race leader Jerry Dedrick. Thornton worked the top side around Dedrick and sailed to a five-and-a-half-second lead before a pair of late cautions slowed action. Thornton then held off Derrick Stewart and Troy Cordes to earn his first win on the quarter-mile. Dedrick and Jason Briese completed the top five. Tony Olson earned his first Bullring win of the season in the 15-lapper for [Read More]