Ryan Clark

Thornton catches Cordes for opening night Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights checkers

VINTON, Iowa (May 28) – A rare visit to Benton County Speedway resulted in a frequent result for Ricky Thornton Jr. Thornton passed race-long leader Troy Cordes following a late restart and led the last four laps in winning Monday’s Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour feature for IMCA Modifieds. The checkers in the tour lidlifter were good for $2,000. “I had a really good run on the restart and was thinking I’d either win or finish last,” Thornton said of the roll-the-dice pass on the high side of the oval. “I had pretty good car and made a couple strong runs but might have to have settled for second without that restart.” Cordes led the first 26 circuits from his outside pole start. Jarrett Brown headed the pursuit through the first half of the race before Thornton made his way to second following a caution at midway. Hunter Marriott passed Thornton on lap 19 and challenged Cordes before going off the backstretch four laps later. That put Thornton back in second and in position [Read More]

Drake, DeVolder score IMCA Modified feature wins at Santa Maria Nationals

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 26-27) – Logan Drake raced back to victory lane on opening night while Shane DeVolder earned his career first IMCA Modified feature win on night two of Santa Maria Raceway’s Memorial Weekend Nationals. Drake, also a 2017 winner at Santa Maria, led the last 10 circuits in winning Saturday’s 25-lapper. DeVolder regained the lead with two turns around the track left in Sunday’s main, also 25 laps. Both events paid $1,200 and put the winners on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Robby Sawyer started on the Saturday pole flanked by Austin Burke and the first seven laps ran in that order. The third-starting Drake took over second on lap eight and moved to the extreme high groove to take the top spot from Sawyer on lap 15. The only caution of the event came on lap 20. Drake led the final five laps for his first feature win of year and was followed across the stripe by Sawyer, Clay Daly, D.J. Shannon and Cody Laney. “Santa Maria is only about [Read More]

IMCA Modified winners earn $1,500 at Classic Shootout

WINNEMUCCA, Nev. – An event that’s guaranteed to be a classic will see IMCA Modified drivers vie for top checks of $1,500 on both nights of Winnemucca Regional Raceway’s Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3 High Desert Classic Shootout. Both features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. A minimum of $100 will be paid to start and each main event purse totals $5,500. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, IMCA State and track points will be awarded for each show. Entry fee is $150 for both days or $100 a day at the gate for non-registered drivers. Racing starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday and follows 12:30 p.m. hot laps on Sunday. A pit party follows the Saturday race program at Model T Hotel and Casino, sponsor of the second annual event. Both shows are draw/redraw with an optional pill draw. Grandstand admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and free for kids ages 12 and under. Pit passes are $25. An open [Read More]

Allen races to Red River IMCA Modified Tour win at Kennedale

By Spieker Promotions KENNEDALE, Texas (May 26) – Chase Allen scored the opening night win of the inaugural Red River IMCA Modified Tour at Kennedale Speedway Park Saturday night. Allen claimed the lead on lap 11 of the 25-lap event before having to hold off Jeffrey Abbey in the closing stages. Eric Tomlinson started on the outside of the front row and led the field of 24 on the opening lap. Tomlinson pulled away in the early laps, building a six-car length lead as several cars raced for second. Abbey won the battle for second and set his sights on Tomlinson for the lead. Abbey closed the gap on lap eight and put heavy pressure on Tomlinson as the lead duo fought for position on the low side of the speedway. As the race for the lead was heating up, the caution was displayed for debris in turn four. On the ensuing restart, third place runner Allen drove around the outside of Abbey to take second. Allen stayed in the outside groove and pulled even with [Read More]

Ebert graduates to victory lane

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (May 26) – It was a day to remember for Jason Ebert. During the afternoon, Ebert walked across the stage as he graduated from Clintonville High School. In the evening, Ebert raced to victory lane in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature at Shawano Speedway, ending Lucas Lamberies’ three-race win streak. Bryce Clements took the early lead while being challenged by Ebert, who was able to make the pass for the lead on lap four. Through the remainder of the race, Ebert was pressured by Kyle Raddant and Lucas Lamberies. Ebert fended off all comers as he scored his first win of the year. Lamberies, Raddant, Jordan Barkholtz, and Jason Jach rounded out the top five. Kevin Feck won his first local IMCA Modified feature while Travis Van Straten was the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car victor.

Reutzel rules at Kossuth County

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (May 24) – Tad Reutzel, sporting a new design on his 5R rig, survived four yellow flags to lead the whole way and win Thursday’s IMCA Modified main event at Kossuth County Speedway. Reutzel held off challenges late from Austin Wolf and Jay Noteboom to earn his first local feature win of the season. Randy Brands dominated the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature, starting on the pole before running away and hiding from the rest of the field in a race that went green white checkered. Kyle Sidles jump out fast in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature and led most of the race before Daniel Smith came on late to take the lead with one lap remaining and went onto his first victory of the year at Algona. The Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature lead changed hands three times before Matt Looft took over for good following a lap eight restart. A dozen Mach-1 Sport Compacts took the green flag in a feature that ran caution-free. Oliver Monson took [Read More]

Jones makes it three straight at Tri-City

By Eric Young AUBURN, Mich. (May 25) – Nate Jones took home his third straight Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified feature win, in front of a packed house Friday night at Tri-City Motor Speedway. Jones battled through the field during the 20-lap main event from the eighth starting spot while A.J. Ward made his return to the Auburn track, methodically moving through the field and gaining 12 positions from his 14th place starting spot to finish second. Ward closed in on Jones with just a few laps to go but ran out of time before the checkered flag. Toby Steele came home in third place. With 27 cars on hand for the evening, the feature was set through the heat races and the ‘B’ main. Matt Szecsodi won the ‘B,’ then gained 12 positions in the feature to finish fourth. Craig Vance was fifth.

Allen captures Dirt Dominator at Heart O’ Texas

By Mike Spieker WACO, Texas (May 25) – Chase Allen of Midlothian punched his ticket into the IMCA Modified Dirt Dominator finale with his qualifying win Friday at Heart O’ Texas Speedway. Allen was paired with Abilene driver Chris Elliott in the final round. Allen took the lead at the drop of the green flag for the two and a half lap shootout. Elliott remained within striking distance while running patiently around the low side of the speedway as the white flag flew. Allen kept his no. 130 machine up on the high side around the smooth and slick high-banked quarter-mile dirt oval. Allen had little pressure entering the final set of corners as he cruised to the win and the $1,000 payday. With the win, Allen is now locked into the $10,000-to-win Dirt Dominator finale at Heart O’ Texas Speedway on Oct. 25. Sweet 16 Eric Tomlinson defeated Riley Simmons; Cory Davis defeated Chris Bragg; Justin McCoy defeated Garrett Higgins; Chris Elliott defeated Jeff Hoegh; Ryan Williams defeated Danny Turner; Clay Money defeated Colin Deming; [Read More]

Toland doubles up at Davenport

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 25) – Rob Toland made two trips to victory lane Friday night at Davenport Speedway. Toland captured both the IMCA Late Model and the IMCA Modified features. In the Petersen Plumbing & Heating IMCA Late Model main, Joe Beal led lap one. After that, it was all Toland. Late in the race, Matt Ryan made things interesting as he passed Chuck Hanna for second, but didn’t have enough laps left to make a serious bid for the lead. Following the lead duo were Hanna, Chad Holladay, and Nick Marolf, in that order. The Eriksen Chevrolet IMCA Modified feature had a similar story. Derek Wilson grabbed the early lead from the pole. Wilson survived the first restart, but the second on lap five saw Toland go to the front. Rob led the rest of the way to the checkers. Bruce Hanford settle for second over Matt Werner. Chris Zogg finished fourth with Bob Dominacki fifth. Hawkeye Auto IMCA SportMods started and ended the racing program. The make-up feature from last week [Read More]

Duffy prevails in Benton County IMCA Modified Prelude

VINTON, Iowa (May 27) – Darin Duffy didn’t remember any of the details of his last IMCA Modified feature win at Benton County Speedway. He left the pit area with 2,000 reasons to remember his Sunday night Albert Auto Night Prelude victory. Duffy led the last 11 circuits, outrunning Richie Gustin following restarts on lap 22 and then after a final caution that forced a green, white, checkered finish. He earned $2,000 along with a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth for his efforts. “I could see Richie on the restarts but I was comfortable with the line I was running. I thought somebody would have to drive through me to get the lead if I didn’t mess up,” Duffy said. “The car was good and I was confident.” Primarily a special events driver now, Duffy’s last points race win at Benton County came in August of 2001. Gustin ended the night in second and early leader Troy Cordes was third. Jeff Aikey and Joel Rust rounded out the top five. More than 140 cars [Read More]