Ryan Clark

16 more IMCA Modified drivers earn Fast Shafts eligibility

VINTON, Iowa (July 18, 2022) – Another 16 Friesen Performance Modified drivers have won feature events paying $1,000 or more in the past month, earning Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility along with those checkers. Eric Mass and Eddie Kirchoff were Gunslinger Tour winners and Dalton Magers topped Murray County Speedway’s Anderson/Muecke Memorial. Jeff Aikey led the way at Benton County Speedway’s Urbana 5 special. Out west, Ricky Alvarado was a Wild West Tour winner and Jesse Williamson picked up a pair of Wild West Shootout W’s. Jerry Flippo was first at Bakersfield Speedway’s Richie McGowan Memorial and Caleb Stone took the big money at Cardinal Motor Speedway’s Kelly Sheen Memorial. Denny Eckrich paced two Drive For Five features at Lee County Speedway while Lucas Lamberies won on the Midwest Madness Tour and Brad Sites topped a NY-Penn Series show. Winners of weekly races were Matthew Day, Nate Jones, Brian Mullen, Jake Nightingale and Cody Shoemaker. The 125 drivers now Fast Shafts eligible are: Chris Abelson, Mark Adams, Jeff Aikey, Ricky Alvarado, Austin Arneson, Keaton [Read More]

Hubbard roars at the Mountain

By Jim Haines SHENANDOAH, Va. (July 16, 2022) – Drivers had a hot and sunny day at Shenandoah Speedway and Billy Hubbard was the hottest as he went to the front and held off a charge from Matt Mullins for his first Virginia Sprint Series win of the year. It was a feature-only IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car Saturday event on the pavement and Chris Ware and Chris Humblet paced the field to green, with Humblet out first up high on the oval. Hubbard and Jerald Harris quickly joined the fight up front. Hubbard got by, leaving Humblet to Harris as the laps clicked by. Hubbard led as Harris made his way to second as last race winner Mullins made his way toward the front from 10th starting. Harris was closing as the leader caught the rear of the field but at the same time his handle seemed to be going away. Mullins got by Harris and could see Hubbard not far ahead, but Hubbard had saved enough to hold off a closing Mullins for the [Read More]

Hilmer, Kimm, Schmitz highlight night of firsts at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (July 17, 2022) – It was a memorable Sunday night for a trio of drivers at Benton County Speedway. Brady Hilmer, Michael Kimm and Steven Schmitz earned the first wins of their careers in their respective divisions at The Bullring. Hilmer took the lead at the drop of the green in the main event for the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. While Hilmer paced the field, Joe Docekal worked through traffic and settled into second a few laps into the 15-lapper. He then proceeded to pursue the leader around the top of the quick quarter-mile. Docekal tried numerous times to race the low side into the lead, however Hilmer proved too strong up top to earn the milestone victory. Docekal ran second ahead of Brandon Tharp and Justin Wacha. Kimm also led the distance in the 15-lapper for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Chased by Matt Brown throughout much of the event, Kimm maintained his lead on the top side of the speedway to score the memorable win. Brown ran second, Joren Fisher was [Read More]

Denning speeds to East Moline checkers

By Rob Hinckley EAST MOLINE, Ill. (July 17, 2022) – Travis Denning shot from the high groove to the low early, moved to the lead after starting sixth and won Sunday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified 20-lap feature at East Moline Speedway. Brandon Durbin started in the last row and wound up second ahead of B.J. Jackson, Mitch Morris and Mike Zemo. Logan Gustaf topped a record-tying IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock field for his first career 12-lap victory. First-time visitor Luke Phillips tried to catch Gustaf in traffic but settled for second. Randy Lamar, Brandon Schneider and Donnie Cole followed. The 2022 season continues July 20 with the Rock Island County Fair Championship races featuring the Tribute to Ron Gustaf for IMCA Sunoco Late Models plus Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA STARS Mod Lites.

Saturday night Eagle win is first of season for Jackson

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (July 16, 2022) – A rough start led to a perfect ending for Tyler Jackson. Jackson won his first IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature of the season at Eagle Raceway Saturday night ahead of national points leader Dillon Richards. “I got kind of a rough start at the beginning of the feature. I got into another car. I didn’t mean to do it and I apologized to him a couple of times,” Jackson said post-race. “After that, the car was perfect, I just had to be sure I kept it perfect.” Ryan Gilland, Drew Barry and Michael Hansen completed the top five. Bob Zoubek hit his marks in winning the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. The victory was his career 35th and first since June of 2019. “Tonight it all came together. I run an open motor and Roger gave me a perfect track to my liking,” he said. “I started second row outside, moved to second on the start and grabbed the lead the next lap. All I had to [Read More]

Devin Smith takes Hawkeye Challenge, Cox is best in Boone Stock feature

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (July 16, 2022) – Boone Speedway held its Hawkeye Challenge race on Saturday night, an added attraction to the regular weekly series racing. Devin Smith in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car class captured that special win while Tony Cox won the main event for The Class Too Tough To Tame. A race unique to Boone Speedway that pits different divisions of cars all racing at the same time against each other, the Hawkeye Challenge was $1,000 to win the overall exhibition race with five classes of cars…the Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, Hobby Stocks and Mod Lites. The classes were staggered by lap count. Each class winner was also awarded $500. When the frenzied race was completed the final results showed that the Stock Car of Smith was the allover winner. The other class winners were Paul Nagle in the Modifieds, Jake Sachau in the Northern SportMods, John Watson in the Hobby Stocks and Randy Bryan in the Mod Lites. Cox hopped into a Stock Car Saturday night, making his first appearance of [Read More]

Sobiesczyk wins just in time

By Scott J. Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (July 16, 2022) – Halloween at the Half Mile Shawano Speedway brought the kids out in droves in search of candy and the racing was just as sweet. Looking to put a season of bad luck behind him with a heat win earlier in the night, A.J. Springborn grabbed the lead at the start of the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature. As he led, Tyler Sobiesczyk moved to second. Springborn’s bad luck continued, though, as he spun while leading on lap five to bring out a caution and send him to the rear of the field. Sobiesczyk inherited the lead on the restart and was immediately pressured by Jeffery Teske, until Teske spun on lap five. When the race went back green Sobiesczyk held serve the rest of the event. On the final lap, Sobiesczyk began to show smoke. As he took the checkered flag, his third of the season, the motor expired in a cloud of smoke. Travis Rhoades was able to advance from ninth to finish second. Max Oreskovich took third. Bryce Clements finished [Read More]

California Kid scores big win at CJ Speedway

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (July 15, 2022) – Racing action returned to the CJ Speedway on the Louisa County Fairgrounds in Columbus Junction following two consecutive rainouts. The wet conditions on the grounds made for a very high speed racing surface on Friday night. The fans were treated to a very nice Fireworks display courtesy of Patriot Fireworks following the racing action. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature ran as the headliner of the night with a strong field of 20 drivers taking the initial green flag for the main event. Matt Mayo from Bakersfield, Calif., is spending time in Southeast Iowa racing out of the Shane Paris shop in Muscatine. Mayo took the lead from Matt Lundry and went on to score his first victory since arriving in the Hawkeye State. The feature was only slowed for one minor caution after lap one was completed. The race then restarted with Mayo making the pass for the lead on lap four and Mayo went on to score a comfortable win ahead of [Read More]

Repeat winners highlight Lee County Speedway action

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (July 15, 2022) – For the past several weeks it has been a habit for Mother Nature to try and put a damper on the races scheduled at Lee County Speedway. That was no different on Friday as early morning showers were just enough to keep the track crew from watering the track all day long. The first feature to take to the track was the 18-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, with David Brandies and Josh Foster leading the field to green. Foster edged Brandies to grab the lead on lap one with Dustin Vis looking for a way around the front pair. Vis got by Brandies on lap five and then two laps later slipped past Foster for the top spot. Vis had pulled away before the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 17. Vis then held off John Oliver Jr. to become the first repeat winner in the class this year at Donnellson. Foster was third. Up next was the 18-lap Friesen Performance MCA Modified [Read More]

Peterson picks up first Marshalltown win of season

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (July 15, 2022) – Racing returned to Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night for the Minute Man Printing Presents the Central Iowa Fair Races. Dallon Murty returned to victory lane in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Michael Jeannette got his second win in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Travis Peterson saw his first winner’s circle visit in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Eric Knutson repeated in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Dillon Raffurty took first in the IMCA STARS Mod Lites, and Kolby Sabin won the MACH-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature. The Northern SportMods took to the track first for their 20-lap feature. Chris Burke held down the top spot from the drop of the green through lap 17. That’s when Peterson was able to find his way around Burke and had the lead with just two laps remaining. He was then able to hold on and score the victory, his first of the season at the High Banks. Burke held onto second place, Kaylin Lopez took third, [Read More]