Ryan Clark

Peterson races to Dirt Dominator win at River Cities

By Mike Spieker GRAND FORKS, N.D. (July 6) – The Dirt Dominator series continued Friday at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks. Tyler Peterson picked up a thrilling win in the finals to punch his ticket to the $10,000-to-win Dirt Dominator finale at Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco on Oct. 25. It was no easy drive to the finals for Peterson. The Hickson, N.D., driver was paired with Casey Arneson, who won the IMCA Modified feature earlier in the evening. After getting by Arneson, Peterson was paired with Marcus Tomlinson before facing weekly local foe Rob VanMil. Peterson snuck by VanMil to meet hometown hero Dustin Strand. Strand won the coin flip for lane choice and elected to start on the low groove. The duo picked up the pace out of turn two and were door to door exiting turn four to take the green flag. They made contact on the front stretch heading into turn one with Peterson holding a half car length advantage. Peterson opened up his lead to five car lengths as [Read More]

Hanna racks up third Davenport win

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 6) – Chuck Hanna picked up his third Petersen Plumbing & Heating IMCA Late Model feature win of the season Friday at Davenport Speedway. Hanna blasted from his second row starting spot to the lead on lap one. Hanna led all 25 laps and at one point had a half lap lead over the rest of the field. Matt Ryan finished second with Andy Nezworski third. Nathan Hall picked up his first ever Eriksen Chevrolet IMCA Modified feature. Hall started on the pole and led every lap en route to the win. A caution with three laps to go reset the field but Hall again pulled away to take the checkers. Bryce Garnhart finished second, ahead of Chris Zogg. Brandon Jewell avoided numerous cautions, survived the ensuing restarts and looked to be the winner of the Hawkeye Auto IMCA Northern SportMod feature. However, when he failed post-race inspection, the win went to Doug Burkhead. Dave Engelkens, in his first race at Davenport this year, was scored in second, followed by [Read More]

Marriott goes back-to-back with Nodak win, Zevenbergen rules Dakota Tour Stock Cars

By Mike Spieker MINOT, N.D. (July 8) – Hunter Marriott looks poised to back up last year’s Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic IMCA Modified Tour championship. The Brookfield, Mo., driver claimed the $2,454 IMCA Modified win Sunday at Nodak Speedway for his second win in as many nights. Things heated up at halfway as both Ricky Thornton Jr. and Marriott got a run on leader Michael Greseth down the backstretch, which made for a three-wide race for the lead into turn three. Marriott went from third to the point as Thornton drifted up out of turn four and caught the wall. Greseth returned the favor on Marriott with a big slide job in turns one and two, but Marriott was able to regain the lead down the backstretch. Once out front, Marriott checked out from the rest of the field. Behind him, a torrid battle for second continued. On lap 18, Tim Ward drove from fifth to second after getting a run off turn two. Greseth, Wolla and Thornton went three wide for third into turn three, [Read More]

Ward endorses winner’s check at Outlaw

By Paul Szmal DUNDEE, N.Y. (July 6) – Will Ward endorsed the winner’s check on Friday, Autography Night at Outlaw Speedway. Early leader Rich Karlnoski spun out of the lead on lap three of the Marion Decker Agency IMCA Modified feature, handing Brad Smith the top spot. Ward took the lead on the restart and Smith battled with him till they made contact on lap 11, sending Smith into a spin. Ward pulled away on the restart to take the victory over Rodney Morgan, with Shawn Bruce holding off Brandon Smith for fourth.

I-96 Friday the 13th special will be lucky for IMCA Modified winner

LAKE ODESSA, Mich. – The lucky winner of I-96 Speedway’s Friday the 13th July special goes home with $1,500. The Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying event pays $1,000 to the runner-up and a minimum of $165 to start. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Dirt Works Eastern Region and Michigan State, but not track points will be awarded. Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m., the front gate opens at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 8 p.m. on July 13. Spectator admission is $25 for adults, $ for kids ages 6-12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $35. The track website is www.I96speedway.com. More information is also available by calling 616 642-0555.

Opening night Dakota Tour feature wins at Jamestown go to Marriott, Rogers

By Mike Spieker JAMESTOWN, N.D. (July 7) – The 29th annual Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic IMCA Modified Tour got underway Saturday at Jamestown Speedway with a familiar name in victory lane as two-time and defending champion Hunter Marriott, picked up the opening night win in convincing fashion. Marriott took the point as the race resumed after an early restart with Mark Dahl and John Corell in tow. Several cautions plagued the opening circuits, but once the race endured a green flag stretch, Marriott checked out. Seventh starting R.C. Whitwell quickly moved into the second spot as Dahl and Corell continued to battle. Marriott reached lapped traffic at the halfway point, but by then he had already established a full straightaway lead over Whitwell. Seeming effortlessly, Marriott sliced through the dense traffic before increasing his advantage in the final stages. Marriott cruised to the win over Whitwell, while Jeff Taylor came from 12th to round out the podium. Dahl and Corell rounded out the top five. “The car felt really good tonight. I’ve never won here in [Read More]

Dolan leads all 50 laps of 50th Deery event at 34 Raceway

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 3) – It had been a few years since his last trip to West Burlington, so Ryan Dolan relied on Mapquest to get to town. Once he got to 34 Raceway and got some early evening brake issues figured out, he didn’t need any help getting around the track. Dolan led all 50 laps of the Tuesday night Deery Brothers Summer Series main event at 34. The feature ran green to checkered and Dolan pocketed $2,000 for his career third IMCA Late Model tour win. “It was a classic and a sweet victory for the Rick Dralle team,” Dolan said following the tour’s 50th visit to the West Burlington oval. “It was an exciting track to race on – it just suits my driving style. I ran the middle to the top, kept my momentum up and tried to stay out of trouble because there was quite a bit of lapped traffic.” Dolan started outside Darrel DeFrance on the front row. DeFrance led the field into the first turn but Dolan [Read More]

Brown is late-race hero at Hogan Memorial

VINTON, Iowa (July 3) – Kyle Brown had one win and a bunch of fourth-place finishes going into Tuesday’s Hogan Memorial. He had the most prestigious win of his IMCA Modified career when it was time to load up the trailer following the 24th annual special at Benton County Speedway. Brown pounced when leader Troy Cordes got out of line with seven circuits to go in the 50-lapper, charging to the front and outrunning defending race winner Hunter Marriott to the checkers. Forty Modified drivers from across three states were entered and Cordes, two-time Hogan winner Richie Gustin and Chris Simpson completed the top five in a main event that played out in front of a packed grandstand. Four different drivers took turns in the lead in a race interrupted by caution just once. “I don’t know what it paid to win,” said Brown, who had yet to look at the $2,683 amount written on the presentation check he received in victory lane, “but it feels real good to put up a win against this [Read More]

Shipley scores in photo finish at Sheyenne

By Tom Berg LISBON, N.D. (July 1) – Dave Shipley was the photo finish winner when IMCA Modifieds returned to Sheyenne Speedway as part of the track’s 45th anniversary night. John Nord led early but was soon overtaken by rookie Jesse Skalicky. Skalicky was fast on the high side and built a nice lead, but the car on the move was the ninth starting Shipley’s. He used an effective low line, steadily moved through the field and took over second, then started closing the gap on Skalicky. As the laps wound down, Shipley got closer and closer and eventually got beside Skalicky as the two ran side-by-side the final few laps. The two raced to the line, where Shipley won a thriller by just .049 of a second in a true photo finish. Nord had a nice run to finish third, followed by Randy Klein and Tyler Peterson.

Munoz is the main man at Dodge City

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (June 30) – After starting deep in the field, Angel Munoz motored to the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car checkers on mid-season championship night at Dodge City Raceway Park. Munoz became the first three-time winner of the season at Dodge City, ultimately fending off Troy Burkhart to take top honors in the 15-lap feature. Munoz gridded the feature ninth and waded through three and four-wide traffic to take command by the fifth lap. Burkhart charged into second after a lap nine caution and turned on the heat on Munoz to see which one would become the first three-time winner of the year. Burkhart edged ahead briefly on the 10th lap only to have Munoz counter and recapture the point for keeps. Munoz raced to the stripe ahead of Burkhart with Chris Oliver, Dusty Witthuhn and Greg Schell rounding out the top five. Clay Sellard was the IMCA Modified winner and Robert Elliott paced the IMCA SportMods. Tathan Burkhart topped the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock main.