laurelhighlandssprintseries Archives

Ellerman sprints to IMCA East Coast Nationals crown

By Jim Haines HAGERSTOWN, Md. (May 24-25) – Scott Ellerman used his outside front row starting spot to the best possible outcome Saturday night, staying smooth and never letting challengers move him off his line to the finish of the East Coast Nationals main event at Hagerstown Speedway. The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car checkers were good for $1,000. Ellerman, who admitted to not having much luck at the draw, had run third in the final heat and was left with the number two pill and outside pole start. “This win means a lot,” said Ellerman, who beat fellow Pennsylvania Sprint Series regular Ken Duke to the finish by maybe a car length. “We’ve had motor trouble and we’ve had car trouble. It’s been real frustrating. We definitely got our confidence back.” Christian Rumsey, Steven Kenawell and Jonathan Jones rounded out the top five in the holiday weekend special, co-sanctioned by PASS, the Laurel Highlands Sprint Series and the Virginia Sprint Series. Jacob Gomola and Ellerman paced the field to green, with Ellerman grabbing the lead [Read More]

Sprint foes at Hagerstown can’t keep up with Jones

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (April 20) – Jonathon Jones wasn’t sure he would make the trip to Hagerstown Speedway until Saturday morning, but he sure made it worthwhile by topping the field of 23 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars for the win that evening. Christian Rumsey challenged but ran out of laps and settled for second in the main event, co-sanctioned by the Virginia Sprint Series and Laurel Highland Sprint Series. Tyler Denochick and Jones paced the feature field to green. Jones stayed up high and that would be the magic line as he kept his car smooth and fast with Rumsey quickly challenging for second. Rumsey lost that spot to Drew Ritchey for a few laps before regaining the position and set off after Jones. Denochick and Ryan Lynn had a long-term battle for fourth as most other positions continued to change throughout the field. Rumsey reeled in Jones as the laps counted down but couldn’t catch up before the checkers flew. Ritchey was third with Denochick and Lynn rounding out the top five. Next, the [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Ware Thrills Hometown Fans With Stock Car Victory at US 30 Speedway Opener

By P.J. Pedersen COLUMBUS, Neb. (Apr. 17, 2025) — Jeff Ware picked up an exciting Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature win at Abe’s US 30 Speedway during the 2025 season opener, which marked the 39th year of racing at the Columbus speed plant. The Columbus native thrilled his hometown crowd with the victory, his first of the season in EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region competition. Dana Rasmussen started on the pin, but going into turn one, he was immediately under attack from Scott Smith and a host of others. By the halfway point, Smith had fallen back just a bit, but two new players had checked into the fight as ninth starting Austin Brauner and multi-time track champ Jeff Ware were now in the fray. But in the end, Ware and Brauner were too much. Ware would obtain the lead and would score the win. Brauner and Rasmussen were the rest of the podium finishers, in second and third. When the green flag dropped for the Sunoco IMCA Late Model main event, six-time National champ Cory [Read More]

News

Townsend Charges to Second Win of Season at 105 Motor Speedway

By Ben Deatherage CLEVELAND, Texas (Apr. 19, 2025) — Christopher Townsend outdueled a fierce field Saturday night at 105 Motor Speedway, charging to his second RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car victory of the season at the ¼-mile oval. Kent Lewis Jr. looked like he was shot out of a cannon at the start of the 20-lap feature, setting a quick pace in the early going. 2019 Southern United Sprint champ Tyler Harris reeled him in by lap 6 and began pressuring for the lead, bringing Townsend into the mix for a three-car battle at the front. Harris dove underneath Lewis to grab the lead momentarily, only to see the move negated by a red flag incident. On the restart, Lewis found new life on the high side while Harris and Townsend gave chase. Harris again seized the lead on lap 9, but the tenth starting Townsend quickly countered, muscling past a circuit later to take over the top spot for good. A late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish, but the Tarkington driver was unfazed, pulling away [Read More]

Modified

Harnick Hustles to Second Straight Crystal Win

By Ben Deatherage CRYSTAL, Mich. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Austin Harnick continued his red-hot start to the season Saturday night at Crystal Motor Speedway, charging from 12th to score his second consecutive Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win at the track and fourth overall in the DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region. Don Proctor Jr. and Chad Spencer dueled for the lead early, with Spencer leading the opening lap and building a small cushion. Two-time track champion Austin Wonch worked past Proctor for second after an early restart, then set his sights on the leader. The turning point came on a lap 10 restart when Harnick, the reigning Merritt Speedway champion and Great Lakes Nationals winner, powered underneath Spencer to take the lead. A late caution bunched the field again, but the 22-year-old driver from Clare was unfazed, pulling away for a commanding victory. Nathan Patrick finished second, with Casey Smith rounding out the podium. The 20-lap feature served as a qualifier for the 2025 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by [Read More]