Ryan Clark

IMCA wins at Off Road go to Mielke, Landauer, Meyer

By Randy Pospishil sports@norfolkdaylynews.com NORFOLK, Neb. (June 1, 2024) – His early surge from the third row ended up taking Tejay Mielke all the way to victory lane Saturday at Off Road Speedway. Mielke broke through a cluster of four IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, including the rides of polesitter Nate Desive, Ron Pettitt, Jeremy Hoskinson and Derek Sehi, all of whom were contending for the lead. Once the hometown racer got to the front, however, those drivers, joined by Cameron Wilkinson, spent the remainder of the 15-lap feature racing for second place behind Mielke. Wilkinson closed the gap and, with five laps remaining, settled in on Hoskinson’s rear bumper. As the two cars entered turn three, Wilkinson used the high side of the track to make the pass coming out of turn four to edge Hoskinson at the flag stand with Wilkinson taking second while Hoskinson was third. In a similarly close finish, Travis Landauer won his first-ever IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature at Off Road Speedway. Landauer, whose starting position in the 16-car field [Read More]

Konst hits Hobby Stock pay dirt at Black Hills

By Ben Deatherage RAPID CITY, S.D. (May 31, 2024) – Black Hills Speedway returned to action Friday, featuring Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. The Hobby Stock finale fired off with Tracy Konst leading the first lap, only for Sean Weber to take over on the following circuit. However, a caution came out before the whole field could cross the wire, which meant the pass was negated and the race was reset with Konst back in the top spot. She tried to build a lead, but Weber again threaded the needle on the inside line on the back straightaway. Weber then engaged in a drag race with Brett Konst out of the fourth turn, with Weber barely edging his challenger out. Another yellow flag gave Tracy Konst the lead back but when the race resumed, Weber again overtook the frontrunner, finally officially leading a lap. However, Brett Konst had other plans and made a daring move around the outside line, beating Weber to the line on the following circuit. John Garrigan Jr., a [Read More]

Fitz, Fisher fast in victories at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (June 1, 2024) – Some nights you’re just fast. Trevor Fitz and Joren Fisher proved that Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. Fitz dominated much of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wright Way Trailers and Fisher wasted little time making it to the front of the main event for IMCA Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio. In the Modified 20-lapper, Fitz pulled away at the drop of the green and built a lead in excess of four seconds before the caution flag waved just shy of midway. On a couple ensuing restarts, Fitz again assumed command and fought off brief challenges from Cody Laney to score the victory. It was his first at The Bullring. Laney, Troy Cordes and Troy Morris III, who all started mid-pack, completed the top four. Fisher started outside of row four in the Hobby Stock headliner, but was challenging for the lead within the first circuit of that 15-lapper. He assumed command a short time later after a battle with Michael Kimm, and then drove away [Read More]

Valley victory is career 100th for IMCA Mod Lite star Raffurty

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 1, 2024) – Score his latest win at Valley Speedway as yet another first for Dillon Raffurty. The Saturday night checkers were the 100th for the Kansas City speedster, the first driver to reach the triple digit win mark for Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. “It’s pretty cool, especially for as many firsts there’s been since the class has been sanctioned that I’ve been lucky to have my name be next to,” said Raffurty, the three-time defending national champion and winner of 2021 and 2022 IMCA Speedway Motors fueled by Casey’s titles. “Just like every other driver, I always go out and try to win every time I can. There wasn’t any added pressure Saturday night, I just took it as if it was another race.” Also cool: IMCA win number 100 care in the same car Raffurty got his start in the IMCA class with. “I’ve been having a few motor issues. This car had been sitting here collecting dust so until I get that figured out, I’ll happily run [Read More]

Iron Man 100 marathon ends with Beckendorf’s 200th IMCA Modified win

DANUBE, Minn. (May 31, 2024) – Make no mistake, the money was nice. But Brandon Beckendorf is enjoying the prestige of getting his career 200th Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win at Dacotah Speedway’s Iron Man 100 even more. The Danube, Minn., hotshoe took the lead following the mandatory pit stop at halfway and led to the finish of the 100-lapper Friday night at Mandan, N.D. “Everything just lined up perfectly,” said Beckendorf, 32 years old and already in his 17th season in the class. “Right now, this is our biggest win. It wasn’t a local night of racing, it was $5,000 to win and it was 100 laps, which is very rare. Racing against these guys and winning is really cool.” “Getting my 200th win at the Iron Man was the best thing that could happen. Everything lined up. You couldn’t ask for anything better.” Beckendorf is the 20th IMCA driver, and the eighth IMCA Modified driver to reach the 200 career wins mark. His first win in the division came in 2008. Beckendorf had a single-season best 27 [Read More]

Shute tops a wild one at Marshalltown

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (May 31, 2024) – Marshalltown Speedway was back in action again Friday night after the prior week’s rain out. But would it happen with the questionable weather? It did! And some great racing prevailed. Todd Shute won a “sparks flying” race at the checkers in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified features. It was Kaden Reynolds taking the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win. Brayton Carter saw victory in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. Nathan Ballard won easily in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. RJ Gonzales went to victory lane in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites and Cristian Grady took the checkers in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Feature racing kicked off with the 15-lap main event for the Mod Lites. Joe Glick was the early leader but soon had Josh May and Gonzales soon on his tail. The three ran nose-to-tail until coming to the flag on lap 13 when Glick suddenly exited the track. Gonzales got the lead and went home to the flying checkers and the victory. May was the runner up [Read More]

Mroczkowski makes it two straight at Outagamie

By Scott J. Owen SEYMOUR, Wis. (May 31, 2024) – Beautiful weather and a full pit area of 140 cars greeted fans Friday night at Outagamie Speedway. The night began as the track honored long-time track worker Bob Wanner who recently passed away. Feature winners on the night included Cory Kemkes, Johnny Whitman, and Tanner Pari who all scored their first local IMCA wins of the year, while Josh Mroczkowski made it two in a row. Taylor Sorenson took command of the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature at the start of the race. Nearing halfway, Sorenson was challenged by Max Oreskovich and Kemkes. On lap 13, Kemkes dove underneath Sorenson entering turn three to take the lead away. Sorenson continued in pursuit, but Kemkes would not be denied the victory. Kemkes scored the win followed by Sorenson and Jerry Vanderloop. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature saw Junior Karcz grab the lead early on as Trent Nolan and Mroczkowski quickly joined the battle for the top spot. Karcz, Nolan and Mroczkowski raced three-wide for the lead on multiple [Read More]

Kile, Heckart score first wins of season at CJ

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (May 31, 2024) – The 2024 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season continued Friday at CJ Speedway following a rain out of the previous week. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature saw Kyle Madden drive to the front in search of his second feature win in a row at the 4/10 mile dirt track. Madden was way out front when a restart bunched the field up with seven laps completed. Under caution a fuel issue developed in the no. 32 car sidelining Madden. When the race restarted, Kurt Kile took over the race lead and went on to score the win ahead of Kolton Osborn. The win was Kile’s first of the season at CJ Speedway. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars are always a great show at Columbus Junction and with a strong field of drivers taking the green for their main event fans were treated to another great race. Norman Bean took the lead early and appeared to be the man to beat. Bean was holding off the [Read More]

Burke, Mead top IMCA features at Ocean

Steven Blakesley Blakesley Sports Media WATSONVILLE, Calif. (May 31, 2024) – Ocean Speedway in Watsonville hosted a special Friday night show with Cody Burke and Jeff Mead earning exciting wins at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds dirt track. After a winless 2023 season, former track champion Burke prevailed for the second time in 2024 in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Robert Marsh jumped ahead of Burke to lead the opening lap of the 25-lap feature. Marsh built up a large lead before approaching lapped traffic. The caution flew for a spinning car in turn two. Burke marched towards Marsh on the restart and took the lead from car no. 22 on lap 22. Burke led the final three laps for victory followed by seventh-starting Bobby Hogge IV, Marsh, Austin Burke and Jim Pettit II. Jeff Mead led all 20 laps for the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod win. Emali VanHoff prevailed in a fast-paced race for second followed by 2023 track champion Chuck Golden, TJ Etchison and Brian Baggett.

IMCA Dakota Classic Tour history made in 35th season

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (May 31, 2024) – Byron Fichter and Aaron Turnbull have been part of the Dakota Classic Tour for maybe more years than they’d like to admit. This year, they’ll be in charge of it. The two are new co-directors of the tour for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, set to visit six tracks in North Dakota and Saskatchewan from July 6-11. “We have big shoes to fill,” Fichter said, acknowledging the efforts of founder and director John Gartner over the tour’s first 34 years. “People who come on the tour know the tracks in North Dakota and Canada are good hosts. We’re proud of our racing facilities and our racing communities.” “We have a lot of history, including 34 years of history as the best traveling series for Modifieds in North America.” The 35th annual tour opens Saturday, July 6 at Jamestown Speedway with following dates Sunday, July 7 at Nodak Speedway in Minot; Monday, July 8 at Estevan Motor Speedway; Tuesday, July 9 at Williston Basin Speedway; Wednesday, July [Read More]