The Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Speedway was kicking off their 65th season of racing at the quarter-mile bullring located on the northwest corner of Stuart. Track opened in 1962 by Gail Miller and was featured in the movie Fever Heat that released in May of 1968. It has seen many different owners over the 65 years, but racing has always continued.
A total of one hundred and twenty-six cars signed in on Wednesday night, including six Crown Vics making their debut. The racing action was exciting and intense all night; the surface even left the drivers guessing what it was going to do.
Mike Van Genderen and the crew did an amazing job with the racing surface despite the moisture deciding to come up. Belinda Davis was fantastic on getting everybody parked, Jeff Kropf looked good on the sticks, and Tony Paris did a nice job on the microphone all night. There were even some thrills and spills on the night; the first racing green flag waved around 7:15p, and the final checkered flag came out at 10:19p. Meaning I was back home around 12:15a.
The first feature of the night saw the debut of the Southern Hills Spill Response Crown Vics for their 12-lap feature event. Tate Haffner led the first lap before Marty Pelzer took the lead away. The only race caution came out on lap six when Haffner spun in turn two. Pelzer held off challenges from Justin Bissell and Andrew Mills throughout the race before going on and capturing the first-ever Crown Vics feature. Bissell came home second, Nick Sawdy from Fort Dodge was third, Greg Dollens took fourth, and Mills was fifth.
In the Karl Chevrolet of Stuart IMCA Northern Sport Mods 20-lap feature event, Mike Smith from Lake City showed his strength after fending off Devyn Peterson and Cam Reimers; he pulled away to a big lead. Smith's lead faded away as he encountered the heavy lap traffic, as Jake Sachau grabbed the second spot and began to reel down Smith. Sachau got right up to Smith just as the only race caution was a red flag; it came out on lap 14 when Jeremiah Reed rolled exiting turn two, battling with Gage Hilgenberg. Smith now had to deal with Sachau and eleventh-place starter Dylan VanWyk on the restart. Smith was determined to not be denied the feature win but had to fend off VanWyk for it. VanWyk captured second; Colton Livezey, third; Sachau fell to fourth; and Peterson, fifth.
Damon Murty, known as the Chelsea Charger, jumped out to the early lead in the Diversified Towing & Recovery IMCA Stock Cars 20-lap feature event. However, that lead would be short-lived, as just before completing lap three, Murty caught the right rear on the racing surface, sending him for a tumble in turn four, resulting in the red flag coming out. That handed the lead over to "Wahoo" Mike Albertsen. Albertsen fends off Rowdee Van Genderen and Brad Derry on the restart. Van Genderen refused to go away and made several attempts to get by Albertsen but came up short as Wahoo went on to take the feature win. Van Genderen, thirteenth-place starter Buck Schafroth, Thor Anderson, and Larry Robinson Jr. rounded out the top five.
Next up was the Rick's Towing & Transport IMCA Hobby Stocks 15-lap feature event. Braden Gifford and Briar Kriegel led the field to the green; Kreigel would snatch the race lead early. Shortly after the leaders completed lap two, the red flag came out when Seth Butler's car caught the racing surface, sending him for a wild roll in turn one. Butler claimed from the car that he was okay, but the car was heavily damaged. Gifford took the race lead away from Kreigel on the restart and led the way until lap ten when he cut a right rear tire. Joey Young took over the race lead and hung on to capture his first-ever IMCA-sanctioned win. Tom Killen Jr. finished second, Stanton was third, Kreigel fell back to fourth, and nineteenth-place starter Eric Knutson took fifth.
In the Giza Ag Service Outlaw Mini Mods feature event, the question would be, could anybody beat the Daniels boys? The answer is no, as Chase Daniels led all but the lap that pays the most, the last one, as Lucas Daniels captured the win on the last lap pass. Chase finished second, Cameron Burkman captured third, Hayden Glover was in fourth, and Braxton James was in fifth.
Beatrice, Nebraska's Johnny Thomas outwrestled Tyler Fiebelkorn and Michael Gardner for the race lead in the early moments of the Hawkeye Auto IMCA Sport Compacts 14-lap feature event. The only caution came out when the ambulance had to go over to the concession stand for a situation; racing was able to continue since the ambulance was on the grounds. Thomas again held off Fiebelkorn and Gardner and went on to capture the feature win. Fiebelkorn settled for second; Gardner exited with a flat tire, pushing him to fourteenth. Gilbert Aldape captured third, Corbin Funke was fourth, and Daniel Clayton was in fifth.
The final feature of the night was the Diversified Sales & Service IMCA Modifieds 20-lap feature event. Jeremy Mills outdueled Trevor Fitz for the race lead and looked to be the guy to beat. Todd Shute took second away from Fitz and tried to get by Mills but was unable to. Meanwhile, Tom Berry Jr. worked his way from eighth to second on lap six and set his sights on the race lead. Berry took the race lead away from Mills and pulled away to take the feature win. Mills finished second; Shute, Owen Barnhill, and Fitz rounded out the top five.
Wednesday April 8th, 2026
The first feature of the night saw the debut of the Southern Hills Spill Response Crown Vics for their 12-lap feature event. Tate Haffner led the first lap before Marty Pelzer took the lead away. The only race caution came out on lap six when Haffner spun in turn two. Pelzer held off challenges from Justin Bissell and Andrew Mills throughout the race before going on and capturing the first-ever Crown Vics feature. Bissell came home second, Nick Sawdy from Fort Dodge was third, Greg Dollens took fourth, and Mills was fifth.
In the Karl Chevrolet of Stuart IMCA Northern Sport Mods 20-lap feature event, Mike Smith from Lake City showed his strength after fending off Devyn Peterson and Cam Reimers; he pulled away to a big lead. Smith's lead faded away as he encountered the heavy lap traffic, as Jake Sachau grabbed the second spot and began to reel down Smith. Sachau got right up to Smith just as the only race caution was a red flag; it came out on lap 14 when Jeremiah Reed rolled exiting turn two, battling with Gage Hilgenberg. Smith now had to deal with Sachau and eleventh-place starter Dylan VanWyk on the restart. Smith was determined to not be denied the feature win but had to fend off VanWyk for it. VanWyk captured second; Colton Livezey, third; Sachau fell to fourth; and Peterson, fifth.
Damon Murty, known as the Chelsea Charger, jumped out to the early lead in the Diversified Towing & Recovery IMCA Stock Cars 20-lap feature event. However, that lead would be short-lived, as just before completing lap three, Murty caught the right rear on the racing surface, sending him for a tumble in turn four, resulting in the red flag coming out. That handed the lead over to "Wahoo" Mike Albertsen. Albertsen fends off Rowdee Van Genderen and Brad Derry on the restart. Van Genderen refused to go away and made several attempts to get by Albertsen but came up short as Wahoo went on to take the feature win. Van Genderen, thirteenth-place starter Buck Schafroth, Thor Anderson, and Larry Robinson Jr. rounded out the top five.
Next up was the Rick's Towing & Transport IMCA Hobby Stocks 15-lap feature event. Braden Gifford and Briar Kriegel led the field to the green; Kreigel would snatch the race lead early. Shortly after the leaders completed lap two, the red flag came out when Seth Butler's car caught the racing surface, sending him for a wild roll in turn one. Butler claimed from the car that he was okay, but the car was heavily damaged. Gifford took the race lead away from Kreigel on the restart and led the way until lap ten when he cut a right rear tire. Joey Young took over the race lead and hung on to capture his first-ever IMCA-sanctioned win. Tom Killen Jr. finished second, Stanton was third, Kreigel fell back to fourth, and nineteenth-place starter Eric Knutson took fifth.
In the Giza Ag Service Outlaw Mini Mods feature event, the question would be, could anybody beat the Daniels boys? The answer is no, as Chase Daniels led all but the lap that pays the most, the last one, as Lucas Daniels captured the win on the last lap pass. Chase finished second, Cameron Burkman captured third, Hayden Glover was in fourth, and Braxton James was in fifth.
Beatrice, Nebraska's Johnny Thomas outwrestled Tyler Fiebelkorn and Michael Gardner for the race lead in the early moments of the Hawkeye Auto IMCA Sport Compacts 14-lap feature event. The only caution came out when the ambulance had to go over to the concession stand for a situation; racing was able to continue since the ambulance was on the grounds. Thomas again held off Fiebelkorn and Gardner and went on to capture the feature win. Fiebelkorn settled for second; Gardner exited with a flat tire, pushing him to fourteenth. Gilbert Aldape captured third, Corbin Funke was fourth, and Daniel Clayton was in fifth.
The final feature of the night was the Diversified Sales & Service IMCA Modifieds 20-lap feature event. Jeremy Mills outdueled Trevor Fitz for the race lead and looked to be the guy to beat. Todd Shute took second away from Fitz and tried to get by Mills but was unable to. Meanwhile, Tom Berry Jr. worked his way from eighth to second on lap six and set his sights on the race lead. Berry took the race lead away from Mills and pulled away to take the feature win. Mills finished second; Shute, Owen Barnhill, and Fitz rounded out the top five.
Next week, Wednesday, April 15th, at the Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Speedway is the Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duel. IMCA-sanctioned Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, and Sport Compacts take to the quarter mile, plus the Outlaw Mini Mods and Crown Vics. Gates open at 5p, hot laps at 6:45p, racing to follow. Grandstands are $15 for ages 17 & up, kids (11-16) $5, and 10 & under free. Pit Pass is $35 for ages 14 & up, kids (6-13) $20, and 5 & under free.
Then on Sunday, April 19th, the ASCS Midwest Region 360 Sprints take on the Sprint Invaders 360 Sprints with IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Outlaw Mini Mods. Gates open at 3p, hot laps at 5:30p, racing to follow.
For more information about the Stuart Speedway check out the StuartSpeedway.net or check out the Stuart Speedway Facebook Page or call Mike Van Genderen at (515) 521-0330.
Also, don't forget to check out the other racetracks Mike Van Genderen promotes or is the track manager for. Highway 39 Speedway in Denison, Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, and Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. I promise you want to because there are a lot of big events coming up at those race tracks as well that you want to attend.
Also, don't forget to check out the other racetracks Mike Van Genderen promotes or is the track manager for. Highway 39 Speedway in Denison, Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway, and Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. I promise you want to because there are a lot of big events coming up at those race tracks as well that you want to attend.
Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Speedway
Stuart, Iowa
65th Season Opener
Wednesday April 8th, 2026
IMCA MODIFIEDS
presented by Diversified Sales & Service
A Feature (20 Laps) : 1. 11X Tom Berry Jr. (Marshalltown); 2. 10 Jeremy Mills (Clear Lake); 3. 5 Todd Shute (Norwalk); 4. B24 Owen Barnhill (Milton, Fla.); 5. 29 Trevor Fitz (Camarillo, Calif.); 6. 11 Izac Mallicoat (Boone); 7. 70 Jesse Dennis (Corning); 8. 16K Kaylin Lopez (Marshalltown); 9. 26J Jace Whitt (Hamilton, Mo.); 10. 36T Jeff Wiggins (Greenfield); 11. 14B Scott Bash (Windsor Heights); 12. 11F Colton Garside (Greenfield); 13. 95N Garrett Nelson (Osceola); 14. 141 Matt Bonine (Onawa); 15. 19S Chase Weimer (Eldora); 16. 93N Colton Nelson (Osceola); 17. 5T Tyler Inman (Altoona); DNS 57B Alexander Boes (Omaha, Neb.).
Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Mallicoat; 2. Mills; 3. Dennis; 4. Shute; 5. Wiggins; 6. Weimer; 7. Colton Nelson; 8. Garrett Nelson; 9. Garside.
Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Berry Jr.; 2. Inman; 3. Fitz; 4. Barnhill; 5. Whitt; 6. Bonine; 7. Lopez; 8. Bash; 9. Boes.
IMCA STOCK CARS
presented by Diversified Towing & Recovery
A Feature (20 Laps) : 1. 3 Mike Albertsen (Audubon); 2. 57VG Rowdee Van Genderen (Newton); 3. 92 Buck Schafroth (Orient); 4. 41 Thor Anderson (Monroe); 5. 53R Larry Robinson Jr (Underwood); 6. B24 Owen Barnhill (Milton, Fla.); 7. 93L Blake Lehman (Winterset); 8. V31 Todd Van Eaton (Orient); 9. 79RC Riley Christensen (Audubon); 10. 2G Bradly Graham (Victor); 11. 37D Brad Derry (Bedford); 12. 94 Dillon Solum (Winterset); 13. 27 Mike Van Utrecht (New Sharon); 14. 3H Ty Hill (Winterset); 15. 14 Blake Lund (Greenfield); 16. 3S Bryan Snell (Coon Rapids); 17. 72H Miciah Hidlebaugh (Menl0); 18. 22 Chris Pruitt (Stuart); 19. 99K Kyle Murty (Tama); 20. 99D Damon Murty (Chelsea); DNS 34N Thomas Nelson (Stuart).
Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Anderson; 2. Van Genderen; 3. Hidlebaugh; 4. Robinson Jr.; 5. Schafroth; 6. Van Utrecht; 7. Nelson.
Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Christensen; 2. Graham; 3. Albertsen; 4. Damon Murty; 5. Pruitt; 6. Lehman; 7. Van Eaton.
Heat 3 (8 Laps) : 1. Solum; 2. Derry; 3. Barnhill; 4. Hill; 5. Lund; 6. Kyle Murty; 7. Snell.
IMCA NORTHERN SPORT MODS
presented by Karl Chevrolet of Stuart
A Feature (20 Laps) : 1. 22 Mike Smith (Lake City); 2. 117 Dylan VanWyk (Oskaloosa); 3. 29 Colton Livezey (New Sharon); 4. 14 Jake Sachau (Manning); 5. 5D Devyn Peterson (Milford, Neb.); 6. 21 Cam Reimers (Kelley); 7. 01 Brayton Carter (Oskaloosa); 8. 57K Ryan King (Marshalltown); 9. 43 Brayden Shepherd (Altoona); 10. 7W Will Wolf (Lynnville); 11. 81 BJ Charlson (Indianola); 12. 0LD Bryan Morris (St Charles); 13. 18 Mitchell Morris (St Charles); 14. 22D Dayton Swatek (Cresco); 15. 86W Willy Kirk (Sloan); 16. 69K Kaden Rice (Mitchellville); 17. 193 Jessiah Taylor (Boone); 18. 131 Ryan Jenkins (Blair, Neb.); 19. 18J Josalyn Elmquist (Boone); 20. 9J Jeremiah Reed (Otho); 21. 4 Gage Hilgenberg (Waukee); 22. 21X Joe Doran (Paton); 23. 26 Mike Dullard (Winterset); 24. 3Z Randy Havlik (Ankeny).
B-Feature (10 Laps) : 1. Kirk; 2 Shepherd; 3. Havlik; 4. Mitchell Morris; 5. 18B Jackson Elmquist (Boone); 6. 13B Preston Bright (Indianola); 7. 55L Trevor Burnison (Elliot); 8. 18A Aaron Denney (Auburn); 9. 7 Brayden Fahrni (Marshalltown); DNS 26Z Dylan Zimmerman (Elk Horn).
Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. King; 2. Smith; 3. Reed; 4. Swatek; 5. Rice; 6. Kirk; 7. Mitchell Morris; 8. Bright.
Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Sachau; 2. Hilgenberg; 3. Reimers; 4. Doran; 5. Bryan Morris; 6. Fahrni; 7. Denney; 8. Zimmerman.
Heat 3 (8 Laps) : 1. Livezey; 2. Jenkins; 3. Josalyn Elmquist; 4. Wolf; 5. Carter; 6. Havlik; 7. Shepherd.
Heat 4 (8 Laps) : 1. Taylor; 2. Peterson; 3. VanWyk; 4. Dullard; 5. Charlson; 6. Burnison; 7. Jackson Elmquist.
IMCA HOBBY STOCKS
presented by Rick's Towing & Transport
A Feature (15 Laps) : 1. 72 Joey Young (Indianola); 2. 1K Tom Killen Jr. (Des Moines); 3. 7B Eric Stanton (Carlisle); 4. 17K Briar Kriegel (Brooklyn); 5. 12K Eric Knutson (Slater); 6. 55X Corey VanDerWilt (Lynnville); 7. 11B Solomon Bennett (Minburn); 8. 5D Anthony Davis (Essex); 9. 22G Brad Graham (Brooklyn); 10. 56J Jamie Coady (Colfax); 11. 88H Kale Hemsley (Sigourney); 12. 96 Austin Kemp (Vinton); 13. 00B Braelynn Long (Norwalk); 14. 38R Aaron Rudolph (Grand Junction); 15. 22K Kael Koch (Marshalltown); 16. 11 Macon Robinson (Boone); 17. 49 Kendal Madsen II (Grimes); 18. 84B Rusty Bates (Casey); 19. 22B Braden Gifford (Boone); 20. 6D Zach Day (Stuart); 21. 26 Justin Ahrenholtz (Irwin); 22. 37 Shane Butler (Glidden); 23. 35C Phil Castellano (Norwalk); 24. 22 Seth Butler (Glidden).
B-Feature (10 Laps) : 1. Knutson; 2. Long; 3. Rudolph; 4. Koch; 5. Madsen; 6. Robinson; 7. 75KB Russell Kilsaris (Earlham); 8. 79 Charles Belew (Adel); 9. 3K Colten Kern (Redfield); 10. 14 Joe Grubbs (Saint Charles).
Heat 1 (7 Laps) : 1. Seth Butler; 2. VanDerWilt; 3. Young; 4. Gifford; 5. Coady; 6. Shane Butler; 7. Long; 8. Knutson; 9. Koch; 10. Kern.
Heat 2 (7 Laps) : 1. Stanton; 2. Kriegel; 3. Kemp; 4. Ahrenholtz; 5. Graham; 6. Bates; 7. Kilsaris; 8. Madsen II; 9. Grubbs.
Heat 3 (7 Laps) : 1. Castellano; 2. Bennett; 3. Davis; 4. Killen Jr.; 5. Day; 6. Hemsley; 7. Rudolph; 8. Robinson; 9. Belew.
IMCA SPORT COMPACTS
presented by Hawkeye Auto
A Feature (14 Laps) : 1. 45 Johnny Thomas (Beatrice, Neb.); 2. 61F Tyler Fiebelkorn (Stuart); 3. 7G Gilbert Aldape (Sioux City); 4. 41 Corbin Funke (Menlo); 5. 72 Daniel Clayton (Fontanelle); 6. 3H Rece Hayes (Guthrie Center); 7. 15 Zachary Cleghorn (Des Moines); 8. 12C Craig Furstenau (Earlham); 9. 22C Ryan Cheney (Deep River); 10. 3K Carson Hayes (Guthrie Center); 11. F12 Blake Fineran (Norwalk); 12. 54J Jeremy Williams (Oskaloosa); 13. M80 Mark Smith (Huxley); 14. 46 Michael Gardner (Des Moines); 15. 22AD Joseph Carolus (Des Moines); 16. 712 Levi Volkert (Correctionville); 17. 314 Cody Segebart (Defiance).
Heat 1 (6 Laps) : 1. Aldape; 2. Gardner; 3. Cleghorn; 4. Clayton; 5. Carson Hayes; 6. Fineran; 7. Williams; 8. Cheney; 9. Segebart.
Heat 2 (6 Laps) : 1. Thomas; 2. Funke; 3. Volkert; 4. Fiebelkorn; 5. Furstenau; 6. Smith; DNS Carolus; DNS Rece Hayes.
OUTLAW MINI MODS
presented by Giza Ag Service
A Feature (15 Laps) : 1. 25L Lucas Daniels (Des Moines); 2. 25C Chase Daniels (Carlisle); 3. 97 Cameron Burkman (Prairie City); 4. 30 Hayden Glover (Runnells); 5. 71 Braxton James (Stanton); 6. 25B Bobby Daniels (Des Moines).
Heat 1 (6 Laps) : 1. Bobby Daniels; 2. Glover; 3. Burkman; 4. Chase Daniels; 5. Lucas Daniels; 6. James.
CROWN VICS
presented by Southern Hills Spill Response
A Feature (12 Laps) : 1. 24 Marty Pelzer (Griswold); 2. 45 Justin Bissell (Corning); 3. 3S Nick Sawdy (Fort Dodge); 4. 10D Greg Dollens (Dallas Center); 5. 47 Andrew Mills (Kent); 6. 17 Tate Haffner (Corning).
Heat 1 (6 Laps) : 1. Mills; 2. Sawdy; 3. Pelzer; 4. Bissell; 5. Haffner; 6. Dollens.
