DirtonDirt Dispatches

Dispatches: Pospisil tames speedy Lakeside

September 24, 2025, 12:50 pm

From series, staff, track and other reports

Tad Pospisil on his way to victory. (Todd Boyd)

Among the latest notes and quotes from around Dirt Late Model racing during the last weekend in September (look for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series coverage from Brownstown Speedway’s Jackson 100 weekend elsewhere). Also find a listing of live-streaming video from specials around the country:

Feeling at home

Something about Lakeside Speedway just suits Tad Pospisil.

“Yeah, I don’t know what it is,” Pospisil said after capturing Friday night’s 25-lap Malvern Bank West Series feature at the half-mile oval in Kansas City, Kan. “I love this place. I’m super thankful that (tour director) Joe (Kosiski) put this on for us tonight, so big shout out to him.”

The 37-year-old driver from Norfolk, Neb., wouldn’t have minded, however, a less demanding version of the half-mile oval. The surface was heavy for the duration of the program, adding a degree of difficulty to his $3,000 triumph.

“This track was lightning fast,” said Pospisil, who recorded his fourth career Malvern Bank win at Lakeside, adding to score last year and a sweep of two events in 2021. “This may have been some of the fastest racing surfaces that we have seen here at Lakeside. It was really wet. I think they watered just a little bit too late.”

The speedy conditions played into Pospisil’s winning move. He knew passing would be at a premium, so when the race’s fourth starter saw an early opportunity to overtake polesitter Jacob Hobscheidt of Plattsmouth, Neb., he seized it. Some paint-trading between the pair ensued as Pospisil assumed command for good on lap two.

“I mean, I was beside him going into three and four and he just kind of squeezed me down on the tires,” Pospisil said. “When the track’s (wet) like this you gotta make a move when you can, and that’s what we did because it would’ve been tough to get around him.”

The victory was Pospisil’s third of 2025 in Malvern Bank West competition following back-to-back checkers on Aug. 2 and 8 at his hometown track, Off Road Speedway, and Thayer County Speedway in Deshler, Neb. It was also his 43rd career win on the tour — second all-time to Kyle Berck’s record 99 — but he’s running out of time in his pursuit of a fifth career series championship as he trails Jesse Sobbing of Malvern, Iowa, who finished seventh, by 72 points with only Saturday’s event at U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo., and Oct. 4’s stop at Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, remaining on the schedule. — Series and staff reports

Familiar terrain

World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series rookie Jake Timm of Winona, Minn., has competed at plenty of first-time tracks this season, but that changes the first weekend in October with the national tour traveling to Kansas for races at Humboldt Speedway and Park City’s 81 Speedway.

During his United States Modified Touring Series career, the 28-year-old Timm has competed at the Kansas tracks several times, scoring a USMTS victory last season at Humboldt and posting five career podium finishes at 81.

Timm’s 2024 victory at Humboldt came from the 14th starting spot after struggling in prelims.

“Things just kept falling our way,” Timm said. “We had a really good car and I was able to march my way up through there in the heat and the feature. The last few laps were just really fun. I had to chase down the leader a ways, and then I caught him and passed him, but then the third-place car ended up going around both of us. Slid him on the last corner for the win. It was fun. It was pretty exciting. I think I only had the lead for that one lap.”

Timm has made seven modified starts at 81 Speedway, and while he hasn’t won, he’s finished second or third on five occasions at the track that years ago was the de facto home track for Late Models on the National Championship Racing Association.

“That place can be tricky,” Timm said. “I feel like it’s been a pretty different track almost every time I’ve been there. It generally gets a little bit of character to it, which can make it tricky and really changes the lines from one night to another. It seems like it’s not super-consistent, so every night is kind of its own.

“Obviously, there’s lines that work better than others usually, but some character and stuff can kind of get in the way sometimes. I’m excited to go there for sure, because I’ve got quite a few laps around it compared to most running the tour.”

Timm, 13th in WoO points, has four top-10 finishes and is still laying the foundation for his Late Model future.

“It’s discouraging at times, that’s for sure,” Timm said. “The guys are so good, if you’re off just a touch, it looks like a lot. We’ve just been trying to build our notebook and learn as much as we can, so when we go back next year, we give ourselves a better chance. It’s definitely frustrating at times, but when you have a decent run, it makes it feel that much better. It’s a balancing act, and we’re just out here trying to get better each and every race.” — Spence Smithback