Pilot Raceway News

Gustin tops JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour at Decorah

By Jeff Werderman

DECORAH, Iowa (July 29) – Richie Gustin Jr. was first to the checkered flag in Thursday’s JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour main event for IMCA Modifieds at Upper Iowa Speedway.

Despite two late race cautions, Gustin held off Mark Schulte and Vern Jackson for the $1,000 win, his second of the series.
Full Story

VanderBeek puts Victory Junction mount in victory lane at Casino Speedway

WATERTOWN, S.D. (July 29) – What a difference a day makes.

After starting on the front row Wednesday night at the Red River Valley Speedway, a broken shock early in the race sent Zack VanderBeek sliding backwards to a ninth-place finish by the end of the main event.
Full Story

Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series traveling to Kopellah, Arlington

ST. CROIX FALLS, Wis. (July 29) – Another weekend doubleheader is in the works for the Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series.

The UMSS travels to Kopellah Speedway in St. Croix Falls, Wis., for a Friday, July 30 show, then to Arlington, Minn., Raceway on Saturday, July 31.
Full Story

Schrader finds USMTS success in Fargo

W. FARGO, N.D. (July 28) – On Saturday night, Ken Schrader will be celebrating the 22nd anniversary of his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory on July 31, 1988, at the Talladega Superspeedway.

But the only thing on Schrader’s mind today is rejoicing with family, crewmembers and a cheering throng of race fans after winning his first United States Modified Touring Series main event on Wednesday night at the Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D.
Full Story

Gustin charges to USMTS glory at Park Jefferson

JEFFERSON, S.D. (July 27) – Ryan Gustin remained perfect in the Dart Great Plains Region presented by Allstar Performance with an impressive victory Tuesday night when the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour invaded the Park Jefferson Speedway for the 6th Annual All-Star Challenge and the first night of the five-race “modFURY.com Chaos in the Dakotas.”
Full Story

Ron Luitjens season comes to an end at Murray County Speedway

It's never over, until it's over. Or in the case of Friday night at the race track in Slayton, it's never over, until the power goes out. With the threat of rain looming, the program was moved around a little to accomodate the sanctioned classes or races cars, especially the Street Stock class last Friday evening. It was their special for the season with $500 on the line to the winner.
Full Story

“modFURY.com Chaos in the Dakotas” kicks off six straight days for USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour

JEFFERSON, S.D. (July 26) – With less than three weeks until The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship begins on Aug. 12, the clock is ticking and the Countdown to The Hunt heats up this week with six of the final ten events before the quest for the 2010 crown begins.
Full Story

Scotty Thiel Scoots to First UMSS Win at North Central Speedway
Brainerd, MN
By: Greg Parent (7-24-10)

Making a nearly eight hour tow from Sheboygan, WI to North Central Speedway near Brainerd to race in two feature events, young Scotty Thiel put an end to Brad Barickman's three race winning streak when he trounced the field to the win the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) second event of the evening on July 24. Following the conclusion of the 18th Annual Kouba Memorial, a full UMSS sprint car program was run on the 1/3 mile North Central oval.
Full Story

16 More Drivers Commit to Knoxville's 'Alphabet Soup Line-Up'

Friday, January 01, 2010 - The National Sprint Car Museum in Knoxville, Iowa, is pleased to announce that sixteen more sprint car drivers, each of whom has won a championship main event on the final day of the Knoxville Nationals, have accepted invitations to participate in the “Nationals Soup Line-Up: Honoring the Winners of the ‘Alphabet Soup’ Championship Features at the Knoxville Nationals, 1961 – 2009” special reception to be held on Friday, August 13.
Full Story

A great night during the 1st Annual Mascot night at "THE CREEK"

We really have some great sponsors/fans at the speedway and they showed up in force tonight.

Early in the day Randy and Patti Eastvold from Hanson Tire called and said they were going to add $100 to each winning drivers check.

As the night started we had Mascot night at the speedway. Each school that had their mascot on hand was to be given a $50.00 check. All fans who wore the colors for those schools got in for $5.00. Invites were sent out early in the year and we received responses from 5 schools but only four showed up last night.
Full Story

Cody Thompson gets win #1 at Park Jefferson Speedway

July 24, 2010
Jefferson, SD
LeRoy Beck

Cody Thompson has been so close so many times, but Thompson would be an excited first time feature winner as Casey General Stores presented the NASCAR Whelen All American Series at Park Jefferson Speedway. On a beautiful Saturday night great racing would bring Harvey VandeWeerd, Jason Ward, Paul Menard, Dan VanBruggen, and Anthony Boulware and Brady Wenzlaff to Victory Lane.
Full Story

Brad Barickman Captures 18th Annual Kouba Memorial Victory at North Central
Brainerd, MN
By: Greg Parent (7-24-10)

Picking up where he left off the previous Saturday, Richfield's Brad Barickman continued his Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) winning streak when he raced to victory in the prestigious 18th Annual Earl & Ethel Kouba Memorial at North Central Speedway on Saturday night July 24. The event began back on June 5, but it was interrupted by rain following the Ultimate Sprint Heats.
Full Story

Tatnell Uses Late Race Heroics For Elko IRA Win
Elko Speedway, Elko, Minnesota
July 24, 2010

For nearly the entire 30 lap finale to the AMSOIL Dirt Nationals at Elko Speedway, it looked like Bill Balog was going to streak to victory lane, just like he did on Saturday night at the 2009 Dirt Nationals. Then, with a lap and a half remaining, Wayne Modjeski's overtaxed right rear tire finally let loose and a yellow flag came out. This put ninth-starting Brooke Tatnell right on the rear nerf bar of Balog.
Full Story

Missouri Driver Chris Koch Takes UMSS-Miniakota Micro Sprint Win at Elko Dirt Nationals
Elko, MN
By: Greg Parent (7-23-10)

A sunny and warm summer afternoon greeted drivers and fans for the third weekend of racing action at the AMSOIL Elko Dirt Nationals on Friday evening July 23. The inaugural appearance by the UMSS Micro Sprint League in conjunction with the Miniakota Micro Sprints saw a surprisingly strong turnout of 23 micro sprints. The UMSS Micro Sprint League is just in its very first year, and the support received exceeded initial expectations.
Full Story

McCarl Outduels Winters for Elko IRA Score
Elko Speedway, Elko, Minnesota
July 23, 2010

He started on the pole position but it wasn't a cake walk for Altoona, Iowa's Terry McCarl as he drove to his first IRA win of the 2010 season on Friday night at Elko Speedway. The first night of IRA action for the AMSOIL Dirt Nationals at Elko (normally a paved track just south of the Twin Cities metro area) saw McCarl snare the pole position alongside Brooke Tatnell for the 30-lap feature. Tatnell used the preferred high line in turn one to grab the lead and led McCarl and third starting Scott Winters through the first five laps.
Full Story

Upper Iowa Speedway to host July 29 JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour show

DECORAH, Iowa (July 23) – IMCA Modifieds return to the northeast corner of the state next Thursday, July 29, when Upper Iowa Speedway hosts the sixth event of the JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour.

The main event pays $1,000 to win and a minimum of $125 to start. Pit gates at Decorah open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:45 p.m. with racing to follow.
Full Story

Deery Series headed to Knoxville for rescheduled Harris Clash show

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 22) – Deery Brothers Summer Series drivers have some catching up to do, when they head to Knoxville Raceway for a $2,000 to win Wednesday, July 28 IMCA Late Model tour event.

What was to have been the second night of the Harris Clash special was postponed from July 7 because of rain and wet track conditions. No changes in times result from the rescheduling as pit gates will open at 2 p.m., the grandstand opens at 6 p.m., hot laps start at 6:30 p.m. and racing begins at 7:15 p.m.
Full Story

Suprise Ending at Murray County Speedway Sportsman Shootout

It's never over until it's over. That was certainly the case Friday night as Beverage Wholesalers of Marshall presented Miller Lite Nite at the Murray County Speeway. The feature race of the night was the Sportsman Shootout which was sponsored by HR Performance Products of Cottonwood. The sportsman class went last on the night and had a suprise ending (story below). Overall it was a quick night of racing as the cautions were limited and the program moved swiftly along.
Full Story

Country Inn & Suites, Quality Inn & Suites roll out red carpet for Watertown USMTS fans

WATERTOWN, S.D. (July 19) – The Country Inn & Suites and Quality Inn & Suites in Watertown, S.D., are the Official Host Hotels for the 6th Annual Team Elecronics Summer Slam when the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) visits the Casino Speedway in Watertown on Thursday, July 29, as part of the five-race “modFURY.com Chaos in the Dakotas.”
Full Story

SPEED SISTERS ONLINE RADIO SHOW RETURNS FOR 4TH SEASON

Speed Sisters, Shari Wollmuth and Stacey Manitz return to the local dirt tracks this season interviewing drivers, teams, promoters and fans for another year of Dirt Track'n with the Speed Sisters broadcasted on http://www.speedsistersonline.com. Half of the one hour online show covers local dirt tracks in the tri-state area with the other half of the show covering the World of Outlaws and the USMTS (United States Modified Touring Series). New shows posted every Monday night at 7pm central time, however listen to any past shows from wherever you are and whenever you want.