Ryan Clark

Thornton crosses Night of 10,000 Stars off IMCA Modified must-win list, earns $8,000

BRITT, Iowa (Aug. 10) – Ricky Thornton Jr. crossed another race off his must-win list Friday at Hancock County Speedway. Thornton started on the pole and led all 50 laps of the Night of 10,000 Stars main event for IMCA Modifieds. His $8,000 share of the purse included a $1,000 bonus for leading at halfway. “This is the first time I’ve ever won at Britt,” the new 2019 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier said. “If you’re going to win your first race at a track, you should do it on a big night like tonight.” Hunter Marriott, winner of Thursday’s Night of 1,000 Stars, raced from 14th starting to finish second. The first half of the race ran caution free. Thornton had five car lengths on the rest of the field when the race was halted for the mandatory pit stop and opted against making any changes to his car during the break. Two yellows came out early in the second half. Thornton stayed in front, primarily relying on the fast middle line. “That [Read More]

Marriott shines at Hancock County’s Night of 1,000 Stars

BRITT, Iowa (Aug. 9) – Hunter Marriott starred on a different night Thursday at Hancock County Speedway. Marriott battled Cayden Carter and Kyle Strickler before taking charge late in Thursday’s 24th annual Night of 1,000 Stars main event at Britt, earning $3,500 for the 50-lap IMCA Modified victory. “I was patient and when I had opportunities I took advantage of them,” Marriott said following his latest Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot-qualifying win. “I got to second right away after the break and passed for the lead with about eight laps to go.” Last year’s event runner-up as well as the two-time defending Night of 10,000 Stars winner, Marriott had worked his way toward the front from the 12th starting spot as early leader Strickler gave way to Carter following a restart. Carter was dominant to the mandatory pit stop on lap 25, pocketing $1,000 for leading at halfway. Marriott was up to third at that point and soon in pursuit of Strickler after the race went back to green. The last 25 laps ran caution-free [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through Aug. 9

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb., 1,192; 2. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 1,172; 3. Cory Sample, Winnemucca, Nev., 1,171; 4. Drew Armstrong, Alexander, Ark., 1,145; 5. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 1,144; 6. A.J. Ward, Ionia, Mich., 1,143; 7. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,139; 8. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb., 1,130; 9. Jay Noteboom, Hinton, Iowa, 1,121; 10. Jeffrey Abbey, Comanche, Texas, 1,117; 11. Bricen James, Albany, Ore., and Matt Szecsodi, Clio, Mich., both 1,113; 13. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, 1,111; 14. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 1,109; 15. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 1,100; 16. Bryce Garnhart, Shannon, Ill., 1,094; 17. Matt Guillaume, Haslet, Texas, and Nick Meyer, Whittemore, Iowa, both 1,090; 19. Joel Rust, Grundy Center, Iowa, 1,086; 20. Tyler Limoges, Redwood Falls, Minn., 1,081. IMCA Late Models – 1. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, 783; 2. Todd Cooney, Pleasant Hill, Iowa, 782; 3. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, Iowa, 781; 4. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Iowa, 772; 5. Rob Toland, Colona, Ill., 754; 6. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa, 749; 7. Chuck Hanna, Port Byron, Ill., 714; 8. Darrel [Read More]

Into the championship stretch at Dodge City Raceway Park

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. – With another successful Lewis Automotive Group Driver Appreciation Night in the books at Dodge City Raceway Park, another pair of events are on the docket for this month at the state-of-the-art facility in southwest Kansas as the final portion of the 2018 season kicks into gear. The most recent card atop the 3/8-mile clay oval on July 27, played out before a packed grandstand with Brendon Gemmill coming up just two positions short in the “Back to the Front Challenge” that would have awarded a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu to a lucky race fan. Had he pulled off the win from the 20th starting position, some lucky race fan would have driven home with the new car. However, a caution-free 25-lapper didn’t allow Gemmill enough rounds to get to the front of the IMCA Modified feature as defending track champion Clay Sellard reeled off his third consecutive win. Other Driver Appreciation Night winners included Mike Roach in the IMCA SportMods, Dusty Witthuhn in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Lyle Russell [Read More]

Renner Wraps rewards go to IMCA Modified, SportMod rookies of year

NORFOLK, Neb. – Rookie drivers in three IMCA divisions earn awards again this season from Renner Wraps. The Norfolk, Neb., graphics and promotional products supplier gives complete race car wraps to national IMCA Modified, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod rookies of the year. Three hundred dollar gift certificates, applicable toward the purchase of a wrap, go to each of the other four Modified regional rookies of the year. Renner Wraps also antes up $500 in cash to be paid to the lap leader(s) in the upcoming BSB Manufacturing SportMod Race of Champions at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. More information is available at the www.rennerwrapsandgraphics.com website or by calling 402 860-1147. Renner Wraps is in its third season of IMCA sponsorship. “The more drivers we can recognize for outstanding accomplishments early in their career the better, and Renner Wraps is in step with congratulating rookies of the year in 2018,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder said. “We are pleased to have their support of this program.”

Dragoo collects first Sprint checkers

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 4) – Keith Dragoo’s first IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car win came Saturday night at Eagle Raceway. Clint Benson had passed Dragoo with just three laps left, but Dragoo returned the favor returned the favor on the last circuit to win a nail biter. “We’re the team who runs on used everything. We prove that it doesn’t take the best of everything to win a race,” he said. “We won this race on a set of used tires and a shock package from Jason Martin. One of his guys came over after the race and said, ‘Those seriously aren’t the tires that we gave you, are they?’ and I told him they sure were.’” Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Jordan Grabouski earned $1,000 for his sixth Runner Freight IMCA Modified victory of the season. Casey Moyer scored his second Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stock main event victory and Matthew Andrews raced from 16th starting to his first Hoosier Racing Tire IMCA Northern SportMod win of the season. Nathan [Read More]

Carter makes Harris Clash history on record-breaking night at Deer Creek

SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (Aug. 7) – A history-making night turned out to be a record-breaking night Tuesday at Deer Creek Speedway. Cayden Carter raced from 17th starting to win the IMCA Modified main event, and $3,000, at the Harris Clash, the first IMCA event held at Spring Valley. Ninth starting Jake McBirnie topped the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature and earned $1,000. Ninety-six Modifieds and 55 SportMods were entered with the total car count of 151 the highest in the 27-year history of the Clash, which played out before a very full grandstand. Seventeen states and Canada were represented. “To win the Harris Clash means a lot to me. I’ve never been able to get it done before,” Carter said. “To come to Deer Creek and win the first IMCA Modified event here is pretty amazing.” Carter had moved steadily through the field and into the top three with 10 circuits to go and was in the right spot at the right time when frontrunners Kyle Strickler and Richie Gustin, both two-time Clash winners, got [Read More]

Beckendorf outruns IMCA Modified foes at Kossuth County’s Gary Harken Memorial

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (Aug. 4) – The rest of the IMCA Modified field couldn’t catch Brandon Beckendorf, who raced to one of four $1,000 paydays at Kossuth County Speedway’s Gary Harken Memorial. Jesse Hoeft was the early leader before Beckendorf took over the top spot on the third lap. The Danube, Minn., driver did not give up that spot once out in clean air as just a single yellow, just before midway of the 20-lap feature slowed his trip into victory lane ahead of fast closing Tad Reutzel. The win put Beckendorf of the 2019 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Hard charger Jeremy went from 13th starting to third. Also taking home $1,000 checks from the Kossuth County Fair show were Chad Palmer in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Chanse Hollatz in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and George Nordman in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods. Derek Green and Elijah Zevenbergen were engaged in an entertaining battle until the final lap of the Stock Car main, when they got together coming out of [Read More]

Champ Pans designates awards for top 10 drivers in five IMCA divisions

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – A diverse group of IMCA drivers is in the running for awards from Champ Pans again in 2018. The Eau Claire, Wis., manufacturer again gives $50 product certificates to top 10 drivers in national point standings for the IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod divisions. “It has been a pleasure working with IMCA over the past six years and we are excited about our partnership to support fellow racers with our quality racing products,” said Champ Pans’ Jake Redetzke. “We have had a lot of positive feedback from the drivers that have received certificates. We are very excited to keep the relationship with IMCA and racers going into the future.” Champ Pan certificates will be presented during the national awards banquet in November or mailed beginning the next week from the IMCA home office. Certificates can be applied to purchases from Champ Pans or Champ Brackets, another JR Manufacturing Company. More information about Champ Pans and Champ [Read More]

Poessnecker makes long-awaited return to victory lane

By Randy Pospishil sports@norfolkdailynews.com NORFOLK, Neb. (Aug. 4) – It’s been a long time between wins for Dusty Poessnecker. So his excitement was no surprise after his win in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature Saturday at Off Road Speedway. A family-comes-first decision in 2013, to establish a local business in his hometown of Atkinson, put Poessnecker’s racing career on hold for four years until this season. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” he said. “But I needed to concentrate on my family and the business, a hometown body shop which I bought from my uncle.” So this rseason, with the business underway and with the help of Dale Bittner of Big Daddy Racing, Poessnecker – who began racing when he was 11 years old – is back on the racetrack. “I couldn’t have done it without Dale. He put me back in a racecar,” Poessnecker said. “I got back into racing this season in the Hobby Stocks (division), where I’ve had some success over the years, with four or five [Read More]