Ryan Clark

Champions crowned at Marshalltown

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Aug. 23) – It was the Larry Wollam Season Championship night on Friday at the Marshalltown Speedway where family, friends, and fans celebrated the man who was such an inspiration to the track and racing in general. It was the 20th anniversary of the passing of Wollam, who had been a racer, promoter, and big supporter of the speedway. Leah Wroten had the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock track title wrapped up before the race began, leading by 40 points. It also appeared that she won the 15-lap feature race, but that was not the case. Wroten led all laps but when she got into Kaden Reynolds as they approached the checkers, spinning him out, she was penalized for the contact and the victory was awarded to Jacob Floyd. This was Floyd’s first time ever to win at the Marshalltown Speedway. Jake McBirnie kept his point lead in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature, winning the track crown and also added to his quest in the hunt for the national title [Read More]

Soppe wins number 100 plus track title at Maquoketa

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (Aug. 24) – Again, no matter the obstacle, Tyler Soppe cranked the steering wheel one way and then back the other while at full speed. It was no surprise he was at the front of the 15-lap B&D Pit Stop IMCA Northern SportMod Season Championship feature Saturday evening at Maquoketa Speedway. Soppe had clinched the track championship before the green flag ever flew. “This is what we’re here for and the championship tops it off,” Soppe said. ““We like the track and what Nick (Promoter McCrady) has done with it. We’ll be back next year.” Soppe’s victory was the ninth at Maquoketa and 26th overall in 2019. It also was his 100th IMCA career victory in the division. “The car wasn’t really that good tonight,” Soppe added. “We tried the top early and were able to make it work when we got out front.” Jerry Miles, Bob Silaggi, Jacob Ellithorpe and Scott Williams rounded out the top five. Jeff Larson launched from midpack at the start and then to the [Read More]

James collects top check at Mark Howard Memorial

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (Aug. 24) – The top driver in Shaw Race Cars Western Region standings raced to the top payday of his IMCA Modified career Saturday at Cottage Grove Speedway. Bricen James got the best of 40-plus Mark Howard Memorial Modified Nationals foes from across the Pacific Northwest in earning the $2,600, 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying victory. Collen Winebarger ended in second after running down and challenging the leader for the vast majority of the event. James took advantage of the pole start and put his mount in front of the rest of the field to lead the first lap. He had some fast company behind him but numerous cautions over the first 26 circuits took lapped traffic out of the picture. The second half of the feature became an all-out battle for the top spot. James briefly lost the lead with a handful of laps remaining before reclaiming the position on the next corner. James held all challengers at bay to win his first career Mark [Read More]

NW Missouri State Fair races feature three IMCA divisions

BETHANY, Mo. – Three IMCA divisions headline Northwest Missouri State Fair Races at Bethany Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 1. IMCA Modifieds vie for $1,200 to win and a minimum of $150 to start their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. Modified heat winners earn $50 each. The hard charger in the feature will receive $100. Twenty-five laps in the feature will each pay $10 to the leader. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $800 to win and a minimum of $80 to start, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods for $750 to win and a minimum of $70 to start. Heat winners in those divisions earn $25, with $50 paid to the hard chargers. Lap money is $5 with 20 laps scheduled for the Stocks and 18 for the SportMods. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and E3 Spark Plugs Missouri State points will be awarded. Racing starts at approximately 8 p.m. Bethany Speedway re-opened last year under the direction of Jon Boller Jr. and ran Modified, Stock Cars and Northern SportMods during regular race programs [Read More]

Eckrich dominant in Deery Series win at West Liberty

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (Aug. 24) – He’s been consistent throughout the 33rd annual Deery Brothers Summer Series. On Saturday night, Andy Eckrich was dominant. After showing off his speed in winning his IMCA Late Model tour heat race, Eckrich started fifth in the main event at West Liberty Raceway, reeled in early leader Kyle Hinrichs on the ninth circuit and stayed in front to the finish of the 35-lapper. The $2,000 victory was the career ninth and first of the season for Eckrich, the current Deery point leader. “It was really special,” said Eckrich, a three-time runner-up this year. “I have a lot of family and local fans who were here to see me win. It was nice to win in front of everybody.” The caution flew four laps after Eckrich gained the point and while Hinrichs was able to gain ground in lapped traffic, he was never able to catch up. Now the seventh different winner in eight tour events this year, Eckrich’s victory was his first since June of 2018 at Marshalltown; Hinrichs’ second-place [Read More]

Ryan, Dumpert are named IMCA Late Model national champs

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 26) – Veteran Matt Ryan and newcomer Cory Dumpert will reign as national champions in the IMCA Late Model division. Both finished the 2019 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season with 594 points and 10 40-point feature wins. “This was an extraordinary season in terms of growth of our Late Model division, both in the number of licensed drivers and the number of sanctioned race tracks,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “It is only fitting that the national title chase ends shared by drivers from areas with established tracks and with newly-sanctioned tracks.” “Both drivers,” he added, “deserve all the recognition they receive.” Ryan, from Davenport, Iowa, and Dumpert, from York, Neb., will both receive $5,000 shares of the national divisional point fund. Ryan has been runner-up in the national points race in three of the past four years. Now a three-time E3 Spark Plugs Illinois State champion, he has 57 wins over the course of his career, 16th on the all-time list for the division. The national rookie of the year, [Read More]

Aug. 23 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb., 1,196; 2. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb., 1,170; 3. Thomas Berry, Newburg, N.D., 1,162; 4. Joel Rust, Grundy Center, Iowa, and Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, both 1,160; 6. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 1,144; 7. Drew Armstrong, Benton, Ark., 1,140; 8. Jeremy Mills, Britt, Iowa, 1,136; 9. Chris Morris, Taylor, Texas, 1,130; 10. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 1,128; 11. Clay Money, Penokee, Kan., 1,126; 12. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1,123; 13. Shane DeMey, Denison, Iowa, 1,121; 14. Ricky Thornton Jr., Adel, Iowa, and Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., both 1,120; 16. Kevin Green, Waco, Texas, and Aaron Johnson, Brainerd, Minn., both 1,116; 18. Bricen James, Albany, Ore., 1,115; 19. David Goode Jr., Copperas Cove, Texas, 1,103; 20. Regan Tafoya, Farmington, N.M., 1,077. IMCA Late Models – 1. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, and Cory Dumpert, York, Neb., both 594; 3. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, Iowa, 589; 4. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 587; 5. Justin L. Kay, Wheatland, Iowa, 582; 6. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Iowa, 577; 7. Todd Malmstrom, Hampton, Ill., 553; 8. [Read More]

It’s a trifecta weekend for PASS

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Pennsylvania Sprint Series teams have one of their most demanding weekends Aug. 23-25 with three races scheduled across Central Pennsylvania. On Friday night, PASS/IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car drivers join their Laurel Highlands Sprint Series colleagues for a co-sanctioned event at Clinton County Motor Speedway. Then they head to two of their home tracks, racing Saturday at Port Royal Speedway and Sunday at BAPS Motor Speedway. Port Royal’s will be the sixth PASS event at Port Royal this year, with one rainout, and the last before the Keystone RaceSaver Challenge on Oct. 12. PASS veterans claimed the first three features with Ken Duke Jr. taking two and Nick Sweigart the other, but since then, youth has prevailed. Devin Adams claimed the June 8 feature just after graduating from high school, and Garrett Bard won on July 20 in just his fourth outing in the division and first at the Port. Port Royal has averaged the largest car turnout of all PASS tracks this year, so Saturday’s show should be memorable. On Sunday, [Read More]

Pre-entry open for inaugural Missouri IMCA Nationals

OSBORN, Mo. – Pre-entry for one of the most anticipated events of the US 36 Raceway season is now open. Drivers in the IMCA Modified, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods will battle to become the first winners in the inaugural Missouri IMCA Nationals. Practice for the event is on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Racing will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-12. Pre-entry for the event is available online at https://www.myracepass.com/register/?n=17636 or at http://www.us36racewaydirttrack.com/ and click on the driver registration button. Pre-entry for the event is $60 for Modifieds and Sprint Cars and $50 for Stock Cars and SportMods. The entry fee includes the driver pit pass on practice night. Drivers are highly encouraged to pre-enter for the event before Sept. 29 as after that date, the registration will be $100 for all classes. Thursday and Friday will see drivers compete in complete shows, including heats, “B” features and “A” features. The top six in the “A” feature from each night will lock into Saturday’s Main event. Saturdays racing action will include [Read More]

Stephenville Starter makes heat wins pay off, continues Hobby Stock RoC title sponsorship

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Winning 10 or more heat races will pay off for one IMCA driver again this season, courtesy of Stephenville Starter. The Texas manufacturer and 11-year sponsor awards a starter to one randomly selected driver who meets that heat race win requirement and submits a photo of their car displaying use of two Dirt Defender mud covers. Those photos should be mailed or emailed to Marketing Director Kevin Yoder at the IMCA home office. Stephenville Starter also returns as title sponsor and provides a portion of the point fund for the Hobby Stock Race of Champions, to be held Sept. 7 during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock and Northern SportMod race of champions winners at Super Nationals all receive starters. Information about Stephenville Starter-made products is available by calling 254 965-7890. “It takes a special program to achieve a decade of sponsorship. Stephenville Starter celebrated that milestone last season and shows no signs of slowing down,” commented IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder. “They’ve become [Read More]