5/4/2026
Park Jefferson International Speedway
Ankrum Fends Off Malasek in Wild Hobby Stock Finish on May Day Madness
Zach Ankrum celebrates in victory lane after scoring a hard-fought Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock win at Park Jefferson Speedway on May 1. The Sioux City driver earned his second B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the 2026 season. (Photo by Purdy Photography)
By Chance Riley
JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 1, 2026) — It was a chilly one Friday, but the racing action was hot at Park Jefferson Speedway, where the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks put on a show in their 16-lap A main.
Ninth-starting Zach Ankrum of Sioux City charged to his second win of the year at the track and in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region, but not without a fight. Birthday boy Cody Malasek, who turned 15, stormed back from the rear after an early incident and threw a last-lap slide job in a bid for the win, coming up just short. Wyatt Johnson charged from 14th to finish third, while Ben Schneiders and Steven Taylor rounded out the top five.
The Tri-State Late Models invaded Park Jefferson for there first race of the year. Justin Zeitner would go on to pick up the $1,500 victory. Trevor Anderson charged from 13th to 2nd, JT Wasmund 3rd, Cory Dumpert from 20th to 4th, Corey Zeitner rounded out the Top 5. The Tri-State Series returns to Park Jefferson on Friday, May 29th.
Sioux City’s Tyler Thompson made it back-to-back wins in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Starting eighth, Thompson grabbed the lead on lap four and never looked back. Levi Volkert finished second, followed by Gilbert Aldape, Auston Honeycutt, and Mike Vogt.
Jason Schneiders led most of the 20-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature with Bob Moore applying pressure late. However, R.J. Merchant made a decisive late-race pass to capture his second win of the year at Park Jefferson and in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. The South Sioux City, Nebraska driver was followed by Izac Mallicoat, who charged from 10th to second, Ricky “The Racer” Stephan, Schneiders, and Colby Fett.
In the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Sioux City’s Greg Peck also charged forward from the fifth row to score his second consecutive win in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Peck made a late pass on Wyatt Luke, who finished second. Ryan Harris, Travis Barker, and Todd Gereau completed the top five.
Kirk Beatty crossed the line first in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods after leading every lap of the A main, but a post-race inspection revealed a wheelbase infraction, dropping him two positions. That handed the win to Geoff Olson. Matt Morrow finished second, followed by Beatty, Willy Kirk, and Jake Newsom.
Racing returns to Park Jefferson Speedway Friday, May 8th at 7:00 P.M for Full Throttle Frenzy and Ladies' Night! All weekly IMCA Classes in action expect for Late Models.
Article Credit: Chance Riley