Sports : Ward wins IMCA Anniversary Prelude at Benton County Speedway

It took him a few laps to get to the lead, but once he did it was smooth sailing for Friesen Performance IMCA Modified driver Tim Ward.

Ward worked past Justin O'Brien mid-way through the Beaty Excavating 25-lapper, then took the checkers by six seconds ahead of the field in Sunday's Prelude to Monday's IMCA Modified Anniversary Event.

O'Brien led early while Drew Janssen pressured the leader running the low side of the fast quarter-mile oval. Meanwhile, Ward navigated the high side and pestered the lead pair before making what would be the winning pass.

Janssen raced to a second place finish ahead of O'Brien and last year's Prelude winner Joel Rust.

Ben Chapman repeated last year's Prelude performance with an impressive win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Houdek Auto Center.

From a fifth row start, Chapman worked around a trio of competitors early in that 20-lapper, then chased down race leader Joe Docekal. The lead pair battled for a couple laps before Chapman settled into the top spot en route to victory.

Docekal finished second ahead of Sam Wieben and Jarett Franzen.

John Oliver Jr. earned the 100th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win of his career Friday night in Donnellson. By the end of Sunday's program, he was standing in victory lane for the 102nd time in his career.

Also the winner Saturday night in Burlington, Oliver raced the low side from row three and past Shaun Bistline to secure the lead midway through that Christie Door Company 15-lapper.

Oliver then protected the bottom of the speedway while Kaden Reynolds raced from the fourth row and into contention midway through the event.

Despite numerous attempts to unseat the leader, Oliver maintained the point to secure the win. Reynolds ran second ahead of Bistline and Leah Wroten.

Matt Brown won for the first time this season and the 16th time in his Benton County Speedway career in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by Vermedahl Trucking.

Brown snuck beneath Michael Kimm midway through that 15-lapper and then held off a late charge from Bradly Graham to score the win. Graham, Kimm and Briar Kriegel completed the top four.

Lukas Rick became the first division driver in track history to win the first two events of a single season in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts presented by iHeart Radio. 

From row five, Rick powered to the front and then held off Logan Clausen to take the win. Matt Miller and Nolan Tuttle completed the top four.

Third row starter Jordan Miklas quickly found his way into contention in the 15-lapper for the INEX Legends presented by Legends.Direct.

Miklas won an early three car battle and then drove away to his first win of the season - and eighth of his career - at The Bullring. Jackson Lewis made an impressive run from the fifth row to finish second ahead of Michael Weber and Robby Morrison.

Action resumed on Memorial Day, for the 44th IMCA Modified Anniversary Event, which pays $4,400 to the winner. Joining the Mods will be SportMods in an $1,800-to-win affair recognizing their 18 years of competition. Sport Compacts will complete the card for the Memorial Day special.

More information is available at BCSBullRing.com or @BCSBullRing on Facebook.

The race was broadcast live on IMCA.tv.