Ryan Clark

Opening night for United Rebel Sprint Series is less than a month away

OBERLIN, Kan. – The Kansas-based United Rebel Sprint Series’ 14th consecutive season is set to kick off in less than a month, with a two-night IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car twinbill at two different tracks in Kansas. It will all kick off on Friday, April 5, as the tour makes the first of three scheduled appearances at 81 Speedway in Park City for the track’s ninth annual Park City Cup/Air Capital Shootout. The series is excited to become a part of this annual event and with a huge thank you to Precise Racing Products, this event will pay the URSS Friday night winner $800. Then on Saturday, April 6, the tour will head southwest to the beautiful Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City to battle the local Precise Racing DCRP Sprints for their first of six events atop promoter Tommie Estes Jr.’s palace. This event will pay $700 to win. As race season is fast approaching, keep track of all-things-happening with URSS by accessing their official website www.unitedrebelsprintseries.com and their official Facebook page: United Rebel Sprint Series (URSS). Questions can also be answered by calling 785 475-7010.

Edge in experience, win at Thunder Valley go to Lewis

GLENMORA, La. (March 9) – Kent Lewis Sr. won for the first time in 1968, at the beginning of a racing career that now spans six decades. His most recent checkers came Saturday night, when the Southern United Sprints traveled to Thunder Valley Speedway. “I went shopping around and found the sweet spot. My car was superb right in the middle,” said the 71-year-old Lewis, who started sixth and took the lead following a restart just before halfway. “It seemed like everybody else was running high or low.” Rod Craddock ended as the runner-up and Tyler Harris completed the top three in the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car headliner at Glenmora. “Winning (tonight) was super special. When I saw the white flag I was able to take a breath. The hardest thing to do in a race is lead,” Lewis said. “Most of the guys I’m racing with, I raced with their dads. It’s been a while since I won a feature but I still have fun going to the races every Saturday night, whether it’s [Read More]

Hughes tops two IMCA Modified features, Thornton collects final Stampede checkers

ARDMORE, Okla. (March 7-9) – Jason Hughes was a double winner before Ricky Thornton Jr. made his way to victory lane at Southern Oklahoma Speedway’s Southern Stampede special. New Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational candidate Hughes was the $2,000 IMCA Modified winner on Thursday and the $1,000 winner on Friday. Thornton paced Saturday’s $3,000 to win event. The IMCA car count for the second annual Stampede topped 100 and included 51 Modifieds. Hughes had to reel in Jared Hoefelman for the opening night lead, then won ahead of Thornton and defending IMCA Red River Tour champion Chris Elliott. The Sooner State speedster led every circuit on Friday. Thornton repeated as runner-up while Rodney Sanders rounded out the podium finishers. “I’m happy with the weekend. Everything went pretty well,” said Hughes. “We didn’t tear anything up and we made some money.” Thornton had worked his way up from 10th starting on Thursday and from 12th starting Friday. He drew the pole for the Saturday show at Ardmore and led start to finish of the caution-free contest. “It’s awesome to [Read More]

Tire Demon by Love Tap gives IMCA special events awards

KELLEY, Iowa – Special events awards from Tire Demon by Love Tap are at stake again this season for competitors in four IMCA divisions. The Kelley, Iowa, manufacturer will give $500 certificates to designated place finishers at 30 specials for IMCA Modifieds and at 15 designated specials for both IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and for Karl Chevrolet Northern and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods. Certificates are to be applied toward the purchase of a tire prep stand and will be mailed after official race results are received at the IMCA home office. The 2019 season is the second in a two-year agreement with Tire Demon, owned by former SportMod driver Tim Love. “We are super proud to be a part of IMCA again this year and being able to support their wonderful organization. Each year that we have been a part of their program, we have seen an explosion in the popularity of our Tire Demon and matching accessories,” said Love. “We look forward to a successful 2019 racing season and want to wish all [Read More]

Wehrs Machine renews IMCA special events awards

BANGOR, Wis. – Wehrs Machine and Racing Products has renewed a program of awards for IMCA special events competitors. The Bangor, Wis., high performance parts manufacturer gives $50 gift certificates to designated top five finishers in all Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Model events, as well as at specials for IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods. Wehrs is in its eighth year as an IMCA sponsor. Certificates will be mailed from the IMCA home office the week after official race results are received. “We are always proud to give back to our customers and look forward to another successful year with the group of IMCA racers,” company founder and president Chad Wehrs said. Information about the complete line of Wehrs products is available at the www.wehrsmachine.com website, by calling 877 460-7211 and on Facebook. “Wehrs Machine prides themselves on always staying on the cutting edge of new innovation to make IMCA racing programs more efficient and effective, and their support goes a long [Read More]

RaceSaver reiterates valve spring requirements

EAGLE, Neb. – RaceSaver officials are reminding IMCA Sprint Car drivers that rules for the division do not call for a specific brand or part number for valve springs. Drivers need to know that one manufacturer has changed its design but not the part number for a valve spring; the new design does not fall within wire diameter or outside diameter requirements and is not approved for use in sanctioned competition. Disqualification will result in the event a driver is found to be competing with an illegal spring. The previous spring design remains legal. RaceSaver is working with numerous companies that are willing to produce springs that meet the rules. For reference, go to the RaceSaver Facebook page and watch the video.

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through March 6

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Ricky Thornton Jr., Adel, Iowa, 395; 2. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo., 345; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 286; 4. Zachary Madrid, Tucson, Ariz., 261; 5. Drew Armstrong, Alexander, Ark., 231; 6. Jacob O’Neil, Tucson, Ariz., 223; 7. Jeff Taylor, Cave City, Ark., 215; 8. Don Gumke, Jamestown, N.D., 214; 9. D.J. Shannon, Merced, Calif., 213; 10. Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D., 203; 11. Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz., 201; 12. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 196; 13. Tyler Mecl, Queen Creek, Ariz., and Jason Noll, Peoria, Ariz., both 193; 15. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 190; 16. Justin Kay, Wheatland, Iowa, 187; 17. Clint Reichenbach, Santa Maria, Calif., 176; 18. Garth Dushanek, Red Deer, Alb., 172; 19. Joey Price, Great Falls, Mont., 166; 20. Ryan Roath, Peoria, Ariz., 165. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars – 1. Jacob Harris, Vidor, Texas, and Kyle Rasmussen, Clovis, Calif., both 40; 3. Tyler Harris, Vidor, Texas, and Mike Schott, Tulare, Calif., both 39; 5. Rod Craddock, Alvin, Texas, and Brooklyn Holland, Fresno, Calif., both 38; 7. Dustyn Welch, Bryan, Texas, 37; 8. [Read More]

Tri-City Motor Speedway launches online ticket fundraiser program

AUBURN, Mich. – Tri-City Motor Speedway officials have announced a new online ticket fundraiser program available as part of the track’s community outreach efforts to help give back to the community. Raising funds is a need for so many groups, not just non-profits, and we want to be able to use our business to allow people to do so in a unique and fun way. The online ticket fundraiser program offers participants an easy solution to raise money without incurring debt, adding risk or storing bulky items. Groups participating in the fundraiser will earn $5 per online adult grandstand ticket sold when selling over 100 tickets. Groups can easily share their fundraiser through social media or email and their supporters can purchase tickets online to participate in the fundraiser. Groups can sign-up to host a fundraiser on any regular race night May-August. Steve Puvalowski, owner and CEO, said “I am pleased to add the online ticket fundraiser to our community outreach efforts. It will allow smaller organizations the opportunity to raise funds to [Read More]

Harris rocks at Cleveland with Southern United Sprints win

CLEVELAND, Texas (March 2) – Shock and setup changes made in the off-season paid off in Saturday’s Southern United Sprints season opener for Jacob Harris. Harris roared back into the lead coming out of the final turn to beat younger brother Tyler to the checkers in Saturday’s series lidlifter for IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars at 105 Speedway. A light rain had started midway through the main event at Cleveland and Jacob Harris found his preferred line on the high side after the precipitation stopped and the track was rolled back in. He was running behind a lapped car with two circuits to go; Tyler went to a lower line on the white flag lap and was briefly in front, before Jacob rode the top back to the front and won by two car lengths. “It felt good to get the win. We made changes with our shock package and setup during the off-season. We’re going with setups similar to what dad (Mark) had during his 305 career,” said Harris, a three-time feature winner each of [Read More]

Articles by Ryan Clark