𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭

Well, I seem to find myself making many trips to the Stuart Speedway so far this season; the only night I have missed so far was the Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duel. The decision to make the 184-mile round trip this week came on Tuesday; I mean, just look at this past Saturday. I made the extremely last-minute decision to drive down to Gardner Automotive Repair in Windsor Heights and hitch a ride to the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan. I remembered my camera but left my clipboard to keep notes at home, but I do want to thank Michael Gardner and Cheyenne Starr for letting me tag along to Harlan. If you have not been to Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, you need to make the trip over there sometime; who knows, maybe I will make another trip sometime this year. Okay, let's move on to talking about the racing action at Stuart Speedway.

Wednesday night at the Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Speedway, it was Fan Appreciation Night, sponsored by Elmquist Towing and Excel (Residential and Commercial) Floor Covering. All spectators ages 11 and up got in for five dollars in the grandstands. Kids had some fun at intermission with foot races in the infield.

There may have been only eighty-one cars checked in to tame the bullring, but the racing action was hot and intense all night long, with several finishes coming down to the checkered flag. The races wrapped up at 9:31 pm. Collen Winebarger from Corbett, Oregon, was in the house to hot lap his late model in preparation for the High Bank Heist presented by Malvern Bank at Eagle Raceway.

Great job by Mike Van Genderen, Rowdee, and the rest of the amazing track prep team. Thanks for the shout-outs, Tony Paris; as always, it was nice to see my busy racing buddy Dustin Jarrett, as he is in the area for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Nebraska. Yes, DJ, I like you more than Ben Shelton since, well, we see you more often. However, I am excited to work with you guys in August during the FloRacing Night in America in Motown.

The first feature of the night was the Southern Hills Spill Response Crown Vic's 12-lap feature event. Greg Dollens grabbed the early lead as Matthew McAtee and Jake Waters battled for second. Waters took second on lap two and raced into the lead on lap three. The caution came out shortly after Joseph Edler spun in Turn Two. Waters held off Dollens and McAtee on the restart, but McAtee made the right move and took the race lead away on lap five. Waters had his race come to an end when he spun in turn two on lap six with a flat tire. McAtee hung on to capture the feature win; in victory lane, McAtee said that car once was his daily driver to work. Dollens was second, Edler was third, and Waters took fourth.

Before a single lap got scored in the Hawkeye Auto Salvage IMCA Sport Compacts 15-lap feature, the caution came out when Joseph Carolus slowed in turn one. Craig Furstenau led the first four laps before Michael Gardner took the lead. Gardner's lead was short-lived as Tyler Fiebelkorn worked his way from eighth to take the race lead on lap six. Gardner tried to get back by, but Fiebelkorn was too strong and went on to take the win. Gardner captured second; Furstenau took third. Beatrice, Nebraska's Johnny Thomas worked his way from tenth to finish fourth, and Levi Volkert was fifth.

Next up was the Diversified Towing & Recovery IMCA Stock Cars 20-lap feature event. The caution came out shortly after the initial drop of the green as Rowdee Van Genderen spun in turn two. Chris Pruitt grabbed the top spot early and looked strong, but as the race was getting close to the halfway point, Hunter Smith, originally from Fort Morgan, Colorado, began to reel in Pruitt. The caution came out again on lap 12 when Miciah Hidlebaugh spun in turn one. Pruitt was determined to come home with the win, but Smith also had the same determination. Smith took the lead away on lap 17 and went on to capture his first win of 2026. Buck Schafroth got by Pruitt to take second, putting Pruitt in third. Mike "Wahoo" Albertsen was fourth, and Hidlebaugh came back to take fifth.

The Diversified Sales & Service IMCA Modifieds 20-lap feature went green with Scott Bash and Garrett Nelson, but it was Colton Nelson battling his brother Garrett for the race lead. Garrett led the first lap, but Colton took the lead away on lap two. Colton Nelson then held off challenges from Owen Barnhill; meanwhile, Todd Shute was working his way from ninth. Shute worked his way into second on lap 11, and two laps later, on lap 13, when Colton Nelson slipped up, the race lead. Shute led the remaining laps to capture win number two in Stuart this year. Barnhill, tenth-place starter Ethan Braaksma, Izac Mallicoat, and Tyler Inman rounded out the top five as the Nelson Brothers faded back to sixth and eighth.

Bobby Daniels grabbed the lead early in the Giza Ag Service Outlaw Mini Mods 15-lap feature. Bobby fended off Cameron Burkman, Chase Daniels, and Lucas Daniels initially, but the caution came out on lap two when Burkman spun in turn one. Bobby Daniels remained strong out front until he went on a spin cycle in turn two on lap ten, exiting to the infield shortly after. That gave the race lead over to Ben Kraus, who had worked his way into second. Kraus hung on to the win despite a caution on lap 13 for Braxton James in turn four. With Kraus in first, Lucas Daniels took second, and James finished third. Peyton Solum, racing his first race, captured fourth, and Bobby Daniels got fifth. 

Rick's Towing and Transport IMCA Hobby Stocks 16-lap feature saw Zach Day lead the first three laps. The caution came out shortly after lap 3 was scored when Nathan DeRagon from Peoria, Arizona, spun in turns one and two. Kale Hemsley got by Day on the restart to take over the race lead and appeared to pull away. Hemsley looked to be heading on to victory until tenth-place starter Tom Killen Jr. reeled him in. Hemsley and Killen battled it out; Killen captured the race lead coming to the white flag and went on to take the feature win by . 267 seconds over Hemsley. Braden Gifford and Derrick Rohe finished third and fourth, and Bentley Long captured his best finish of his first season in the hobby stocks with a fifth place.

The final feature of the night was the Karl Chevrolet of Stuart IMCA Northern Sport Mods 20-lap feature, and this feature was the best one of the night with a photo finish. Mike Dullard led the first lap, but shortly after, the caution came out when Mitchell Morris spun in turn one. On the restart, Cam Reimers took the top spot away as the battle for positions behind them heated up. The final caution came out on lap eight when Brayden Fahrni came to a stop in turn one. Reimers remained strong despite having Chris Burke, Matt Avila, Gage Hilgenberg, and Jake Sachau trying to apply pressure. Reimers held them all off initially, but as the laps were winding down and the lap traffic getting heavy, Avila was able to reel in Reimers and begin to apply pressure. Reimers and Avila battled it out to the checkered flag, which in the end saw Reimers win by .003 seconds at the line over Avila; you can watch that exciting finish on IMCATV replay or even on the Doom Scroll. Tenth-place starter Sachau was third, Burke finished fourth, and Morris came back to take fifth.

The next race at the Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Speedway is Sunday, May 24th, for the 6th Annual Whole Hog 50 presented by Van Eaton Pork and the final night of the Stealth Racing Corn Belt Clash for IMCA Mod Lites. IMCA-sanctioned Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts, and Mod Lites are on the card. Keep your eye on the Stuart Speedway Facebook page for more event information. 

Next Wednesday night's race at Stuart will be on Wednesday, June 10th, for the Bill Davis Memorial Race.

For more information about the Stuart Speedway check out StuartSpeedway.net or check out the Stuart Speedway Facebook Page or call Mike Van Genderen at (641) 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.

Speaking of big events at another track promoted by MVG, refer to the Independence Motor Speedway for the IMCA Summer Nationals, May 31st through June 3rd. Sunday, May 31st, will feature open practice and time trials with the top 4 locked into the redraw of Monday's Invitational feature event. On Monday, June 1st, Modifieds & Stock Cars are $5,000 to win; Sport Mods, $3,000 to win; Hobby Stocks, $2,000 to win; Sport Compacts, $1,000 to win. Tuesday, June 2nd: Modifieds & Stock Cars $3,000 to win; Sport Mods are $2,000 to win; Hobby Stocks $1,500 to win; Sport Compacts $750 to win. On Wednesday, June 3rd, Modifieds & Stock Cars are $5,000 to win; Sport Mods $3,000 to win; Hobby Stocks $2,000 to win; Sport Compacts $1,000 to win. Drivers looking to save money on entry fees: pre-entries must be in by Friday, May 15th. The Travis Smock IMCA Summer Nationals Prelude is on Saturday, May 30th.

Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Speedway

Stuart, Iowa

Fan Appreciation Night

presented by Elmquist Towing Co. & Excel Flooring Covering

Wednesday May 13th, 2026

IMCA MODIFIEDS

presented by Diversified Sales & Service

A Feature (20 Laps) : 1. 5 Todd Shute (Norwalk); 2. B24 Owen Barnhill (Milton, Fla.); 3. 111 Ethan Braaksma (Newton); 4. 11 Izac Mallicoat (Boone); 5. 5T Tyler Inman (Altoona); 6. 93N Colton Nelson (Osceola); 7. 28 Trevor Fitz (Camarillo, Calif.); 8. 95N Garrett Nelson (Osceola); 9. 14B Scott Bash (Windsor Heights); 10. 9B Larry Baldwin Jr. (Des Moines); DNS 19S Chase Weimer (Eldora). 

Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Barnhill; 2. Shute; 3. Fitz; 4. Bash; 5. Weimer; 6. Baldwin Jr.

Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Mallicoat; 2. Braaksma; 3. Colton Nelson; 4. Inman; 5. Garrett Nelson. 

IMCA STOCK CARS

presented by Diversified Towing & Recovery

A Feature (20 Laps) : 1. 1S Hunter Smith (Fort Morgan, Colo.); 2. 92 Buck Schafroth (Orient); 3. 22 Chris Pruitt (Stuart); 4. 3 Mike Albertsen (Audubon); 5. 72H Miciah Hidlebaugh (Menlo); 6. 37D Brad Derry (Bedford); 7. 94 Dillon Solum (Winterset); 8. 57VG Rowdee Van Genderen (Newton); 9. 34N Thomas Nelson (Stuart); 10. 3H Ty Hill (Winterset). 

Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Smith; 2. Van Genderen; 3. Albertsen; 4. Hidlebaugh; 5. Derry. 

Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Schafroth; 2. Pruitt; 3. Hill; 4. Nelson; DNS Solum. 

IMCA NORTHERN SPORT MODS

presented by Karl Chevrolet of Stuart

A Feature (20 Laps) : 1. 21 Cam Reimers (Kelley); 2. 2X Matt Avila (Boone); 3. 14 Jake Sachau (Manning); 4. CB25 Chris Burke (Altoona); 5. 18 Mitchell Morris (St Charles); 6. 4 Gage Hilgenberg (Waukee); 7. 0LD Bryan Morris (St Charles); 8. 99B Martin Bennett (Ankeny); 9. 81 BJ Charlson (Indianola); 10. 3J Cayden Jensen (Adair); 11. 18J Josalyn Elmquist (Boone); 12. 18B Jackson Elmquist (Boone); 13. 13B Preston Bright (Indianola); 14. 26 Mike Dullard (Winterset); 15 7 Brayden Fahrni (Marshalltown). 

Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Sachau; 2. Mitchell Morris; 3. Burke; 4. Dullard; 5. Hilgenberg; 6. Charlson; 7. Bright; 8. Fahrni.

Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Avila; 2. Reimers; 3. Bennett; 4. Jensen; 5. Bryan Morris; 6. Jackson Elmquist; 7. Josalyn Elmquist. 

IMCA HOBBY STOCKS

presented by Rick's Towing & Transport

A Feature (15 Laps) : 1. 1K Tom Killen Jr (Des Moines); 2. 88H Kale Hemsley (Sigourney); 3. 22B Braden Gifford (Boone); 4. 98 Derrick Rohe (Audubon); 5. 99B Bentley Long (Norwalk); 6. 17K Briar Kriegel (Brooklyn); 7. 11B Solomon Bennett (Minburn); 8. 19 Nathan DeRagon (Peoria, Ariz.); 9. 84B Rusty Bates (Casey); 10. 79 Charles Belew (Adel); 11. 49 Kendal Madsen II (Grimes); 12. 14 Joe Grubbs (Saint Charles); 13. 56J Jamie Coady (Colfax); 14. 6D Zach Day (Stuart); 15. 00B Braelynn Long (Norwalk); 16. 75KB Russell Kilsaris (Earlham); DNS 3K Colten Kern (Redfield); DNS 7B Eric Stanton (Carlisle).

Heat 1 (7 Laps) : 1. Hemsley; 2. Kriegel; 3. Day; 4. Braelynn Long; 5. Grubbs; 6. Stanton. 

Heat 2 (7 Laps) : 1. Bentley Long; 2. DeRagon; 3. Bennett; 4. Gifford; 5. Bates; 6. Belew. 

Heat 3 (7 Laps) : 1. Coady; 2. Killen Jr; 3. Rohe; 4. Madsen II; 5. Kern; 6. Kilsaris. 

IMCA SPORT COMPACTS

presented by Hawkeye Auto

A Feature (14 Laps) : 1. 61F Tyler Fiebelkorn (Stuart); 2. 46 Michael Gardner (Des Moines); 3. 12C Craig Furstenau (Earlham); 4. 45 Johnny Thomas (Beatrice, Neb.); 5. 712 Levi Volkert (Correctionville); 6. 3H Rece Hayes (Guthrie Center); 7. 41 Corbin Funke (Menlo); 8. F12 Blake Fineran (Norwalk); 9. 22C Ryan Cheney (Deep River); 10. 72 Daniel Clayton (Fontanelle); 11. 16 Drew Stanek (Buckingham); 12. 3K Carson Hayes (Guthrie Center); 13. 30E Evan Ewoldt (Dow City); 14. M80 Mark Smith (Huxley); 15. 16D Ashley Smith (Glenwood); 16. 22AD Joseph Carolus (Des Moines). 

Heat 1 (6 Laps) : 1. Volkert; 2. Fiebelkorn; 3. Carson Hayes; 4. Rece Hayes; 5. Thomas; 6. Mark Smith; 7. Ewoldt; 8. Ashley Smith. 

Heat 2 (6 Laps) : 1.Funke; 2. Gardner; 3. Clayton; 4. Fineran; 5. Furstenau; 6. Cheney; 7. Stanek; DNS Carolus. 

Heat 3 (6 Laps) : 1.

OUTLAW MINI MODS

presented by Giza Ag Service

A Feature (15 Laps) : 1. 9 Ben Kraus (Kanawha); 2. 25L Lucas Daniels (Des Moines); 3. 71 Braxton James (Stanton); 4. 15 Peyton Solum (Winterset); 5. 25B Bobby Daniels (Des Moines); 6. 25C Chase Daniels (Carlisle); 7. 97 Cameron Burkman (Prairie City). 

Heat 1 (6 Laps) : 1. Lucas Daniels; 2. Chase Daniels; 3. Burkman; 4. Bobby Daniels; 5. Kraus; 6. James; 7. Solum. 

CROWN VICS

presented by Southern Hills Spill Response

A Feature (12 Laps) : 1. 72 Matthew McAtee (Winterset); 2. 10D Greg Dollens (Dallas Center); 3. 5X Joseph Elder (Polk City); 4. 06 Jake Waters (Cumberland). 

Heat 1 (6 Laps) : 1. McAtee; 2. Dollens; 3. Waters; 4. Edler.