Nichols hustles to IMCA record 558th career win

(Story contributed by Bill Martin, IMCA Director of Public Relations)
 COLUMBUS, NEB. – Mike Nichols couldn’t recall many of the details of his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win.
 He’ll remember everything about his latest.
 Nichols won for the 558th time in his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career at Abe’s U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus, Neb., becoming IMCA’s all-time wins leader with the Sept. 3 checkers. It was the latest accomplishment for the most decorated driver of the sanctioning body’s modern era.
 “Everything you do is special in its own way,” said Nichols, now running for his ninth national championship. “Everything is its own accomplishment. When I’m in a nursing home years from now, this is something I’ll be able to talk about.”
 From Harlan, Iowa, Nichols has averaged better than 29 wins a season since 2002, with an IMCA record-tying 54 in 2016. He also owns more than 40 career track championships, another IMCA-best total, with at least one track title to his credit every season except one in the past 19 years.
 “To be consistent for such a long time is remarkable, especially in a Stock Car, which I consider to be IMCA’s most competitive division,” he said. “Racing is really a team sport. I think about all the people who have helped me and all the things that have gone right over the years. It’s crazy.”