Ryan Clark

Southern SportMod Super Nationals conclude with $5,000 checkers at KSP

KENNEDALE, Texas (July 31, 2024) – You can almost predict what he’ll say, when you ask Kennedale Speedway Park promoter James Lopez about the upcoming IMCA Southern SportMod Super Nationals powered by Smiley’s Racing Products. The third annual event, scheduled Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 5-7, promises Lopez, will be super. The $5,000 to win, minimum $500 to start 30-lap main event on Saturday night is a shoo-in to feature the best drivers competing weekly in the division in Texas and Oklahoma. Total purse for the Big Dance is more than $20,000 with another $4,000-plus paid to drivers in Friday’s All-Star race. “Our qualifying format will be very similar to last year,” Lopez said. “One thing that we’re doing differently is a fan vote to add one driver to the All-Star race and a different driver will be elected to start at the back in the $5,000 to win main event.” Pre-registration for drivers to be vote eligible is required by Aug. 14: Voting will be conducted on MyRacePass and starts Aug. 16 for the All-Star [Read More]

Big Wings, Big Excitement, Big Money: $12,000 is record payday for IMCA RaceSaver Nationals winner

EAGLE, Neb. (July 31, 2024) – The team at Eagle Raceway could add to the Big Wings, Big Excitement slogan used to promote the IMCA RaceSaver Nationals. The new slogan for the 12th annual event, scheduled Aug. 29-Sept. 1 at the Nebraska speed factory, would better be Big Wings, Big Excitement, Big Money. A record $12,000 will be paid to the winner of the Sunday night main event for IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, courtesy of RaceSaver and IMCA. The big dance now pays a minimum of $1,600 to start with numerous contingency awards to be given as well. “This is the biggest event for the biggest class of Sprint Cars in the country and those numbers more than justify a $12,000 winner’s share and record-setting purse like this,” stated track operator and co-promoter Racine Hadan, noting that early entries are already in hand from more than 70 drivers coming everywhere from California to North Carolina. Qualifying heats for the BlueMax Pay-sponsored Race of Champions is on Thursday with that $1,000 to win, $300 to start race on Friday. Nine cars advance [Read More]

Monte Lundy Memorial for IMCA Modifieds is Aug. 18 at Nodak

MINOT, N.D. (July 31, 2024) – Nodak Speedway remembers one of its own on Sunday, Aug. 18, hosting the inaugural Monte Lundy Memorial. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $3,014 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility that evening. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Razor Chassis North Central Region and North Dakota State points will be awarded. There is no entry fee. Pit gates will open early for parking, the pit window opens at 3 p.m. and the drivers’ meeting is at 5 p.m. The grandstand opens at 6 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Driver of the number 14 IMCA Modified, Lundy was rookie of the year at Nodak in 1993 and the first-ever track champion in that division at Estevan Motor Speedway, in 2000. He finished fifth in the main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s the same year. Lundy passed away last Aug. 19 at the age of 53 after battling Huntington’s Disease.

Improvements, updates continuing at Boone ahead of 42nd annual IMCA Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa (July 31, 2024) – Finish one project, check it off the list. Start another project, add it to the list. That list, as IMCA President Brett Root notes, is everything that has been done, is getting done or will be done before the start of the 42nd annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “There are non-stop improvements and updates at Boone Speedway which bring their own set of challenges ahead of the Sept. 2-7 Super Nationals,” said Root. “Getting ready for Super Nationals is like farming for a living in that there’s always something to be done.” A new-look infield victory lane incorporating popular jumbotrons is currently in the works, as is an updated scale pad and additional VIP pit stalls to accommodate large trailers. “Those are the most visible projects if you’re driving through Boone on Highway 30,” notes Root. “We’re also well underway with numerous other behind the scenes projects, like designing and ordering Super Nationals apparel and souvenirs, the Boone Bound social media promotion and everything the IMCA.TV crew needs [Read More]

North Carolina rookie has Saturday racing goal at IMCA Super Nationals

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (July 31, 2024) – His latest racing vacation to Iowa started with the Salute to Veterans. Griffin Taylor’s next visit to the Hawkeye State will bring him back to Boone Speedway and the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified rookie, a senior to be at A.L. Brown High School in his hometown of Kannapolis, N.C., got his on-track introduction to the class and the competition during the early-season Clash on the Coast Series in Florida. Taylor then ventured to early April Frostbusters at Stuart, Marshalltown and Boone, returning for four more Iowa outings last month. “Tracks back home are more of a sandy red clay. They’re a black dirt or brown clay here,” said Taylor, who wheels a 2019 Harris Chassis. “The biggest thing I’ve learned so far is you don’t get to get away with mistakes racing with the best. The competition is tough. I’m trying to learn the tracks and get better as a driver.” He’s a third generation driver, following grandfather Thomas and [Read More]

Former Modified champion Murray comes back to Boone with high Stock Car hopes

OBERLIN, Kan. (July 31, 2024) – Twenty years after winning dirt track racing’s ultimate championship, David Murray Jr. returns to the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in pursuit of new glory in a new division. The 2004 Modified champion and an 11-time qualifier for Saturday night’s Big Dance, Murray will be back at Boone Speedway for the first time in a dozen years. And this time, it’ll be in a Stock Car, a 2016 B & B ride he describes as “a pretty good car” that has taken him to victory lane twice in just four starts so far this season. “I’ve never driven a Stock Car there and I’ve been racing one a little bit again this year,” said Murray, 56 years old and from Oberlin, Kan. “Every time Super Nationals rolled around in September, we either raced it or watched it from some place and I’ve always felt disappointed when I wasn’t there.” “There are a lot of good people at Super Nationals, friends from years ago, and it will [Read More]

Lahr aces Arlington Sport Compact feature

ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 27, 2024) – There was plenty of action on the track for Minnesota Farmfest Night Saturday at Arlington Raceway After an early stoppage, there was a three-way battle for the lead in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature. Taylor Manderfield led until Chad Volk took over the race. He was holding off Cory Probst and Blake Luinenburg, who had started side-by-side in the fifth row. Volk felt the pressure and on lap seven Probst got around him to take over the lead. Luinenburg followed on the next lap. A yellow came out when Manderfield hit an infield tire in turn two, putting him to the back. When the race restarted Probst held onto the lead and took the win ahead of Luinenburg and Volk. Two yellow flags occurred on the first lap of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature. Dale Gatton took the early lead but Gary Schumacher was able to get around him to take over the lead and led until Alan Lahr got under him in turn four and took [Read More]

Weaver, Harris sprint to wins at Winchester

By Jim Haines WINCHESTER, Va. (July 27, 2024) – Winchester Speedway hosted a unique event in that with 40 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars signing in, the field would be split into two groups and for the field. Heat races kicked off the night with Reed Thompson and Landon Priced headed to feature one and Kolby Weaver and Zach Rhodes headed to feature two. Onto feature one with Kasey Weaver and Ken Duke Jr. pacing the field to green with Weaver out first and Duke right behind. The 20-lap feature was going by fast and even after a couple quick yellows for spinners, Weaver stayed steady and in control even with charges from Duke, who was holding off Austin Reed. With one to go the front of the field was nose to tail but Weaver would not waver and flashed under the checkered flag first. At the line it was Weaver, Duke, Reed and Brad Mellot making up the top five. Onto the second feature with Dale Schweikart and Caleb Harris at the front as the [Read More]

Ward, Murty, Gustin, Knutson find victory lane at DeFrance Memorial

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (July 26, 2024) – A large crowd was on hand for the annual running of the Dale DeFrance Memorial Friday at Marshalltown Speedway. One hundred sixty cars in five classes packed the pits for the prestigious race. Extra money was also on the line in all classes that saw the night celebrate the patriarch of the DeFrance Family, Dale DeFrance, as well as the entire DeFrance racing family. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature ran first. Jenae Gustin wasted no time in taking her ride from the fourth starting spot to the front by lap two. She was challenged at times early by pole sitter Eddie Ingram and late in the race Brayton Carter threw his hat into the ring in an attempt to catch Gustin. It was to no avail however, as Gustin had her sights set on winning her grandpa Dale’s memorial race and would take the checkers to the delight of the crowd, an emotional win. Carter took the runner-up spot with 16th place starter Cam Reimers [Read More]

Season enters home stretch at Off Road

By Randy Pospishil sports@norfolkdailynews.com NORFOLK, Neb. (July 27, 2024) – Following Saturday’s regular program, the racing season at Off Road Speedway is now ready to enter the home stretch. Just four events are scheduled during the month of August, including a pair of memorial specials honoring Bob Haase and Lynn Langenburg, as well as championship night where unofficial points winners will be determined across the track’s five divisions. On Saturday, Cory Dumpert and Anthony Roth started side-by-side in the fourth row of the IMCA Sunoco Late Model field, then established a two-car chase well ahead of the rest of the pack before finishing first and second, respectively. Dumpert broke away following a caution four laps into the race with Roth in pursuit but unable to find an opening, even when the two cars caught up to lapped traffic with 10 laps left. Joey Haase was third, coming out on top of a near photo finish with Beau Johnson as the two reached the flag stand. Feature winner in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks was Dakota [Read More]