Ryan Clark

Dodge City Modified checkers fly for Gray

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (May 5) – Kevin Gray battled into the lead on the fifth circuit then held off Arizona’s R.C. Whitwell over the closing rounds to post his first local IMCA Modified win since August of 2015 on opening night Saturday at Dodge City Raceway Park. Gray gridded the feature outside the front row, but it was pole starter Ryan Heger gunning into the lead at the drop of the green flag. Gray kept the heat on and raced back into the lead on the fifth lap. While Gray slipped away, Whitwell worked his way into second just past the midway point and closed in to challenge over the final circuits. Whitwell poked his nose under Gray in turns three and four on the white flag lap and then took a shot on the high side on the final round, but Gray held steady to post the win. Recently back in the seat after a layoff of more than 15 years, Troy Burkhart wired the field to take the win in the 20-lap [Read More]

Whitman tops season opener at Shawano

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (May 5) – One hundred forty-three racers were on hand to open the 2018 season at the Shawano Speedway on Saturday and Johnny Whitman won the IMCA Modified lidlifter for the second year in a row. Joey Taycher kicked off the Modified feature by grabbing the lead on lap one. Whitman took the top spot on lap two and instantly began to pull away while Mike Mullen and Marcus Yarie began working their way through the pack. By mid-race, Whitman had built up nearly a full straight away lead as Mullen moved to second on the track after a pass on Taycher. Lap after lap Whitman led as Mullen inched closer. As the white flag flew, Mullen had cut Whitman’s lead to a few car lengths. As the leaders dealt with lapped traffic over the final circuit, Mullen was glued to Whitman’s rear bumper entering turn three. Whitman was not to be denied, though, as he beat Mullen to the checkered flag for the win. Yarie, Taycher, and Jason Czarapata completed the top five in [Read More]

Osborn wires IMCA Modified foes at Lincoln County

By Kelly Ninas NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (May 5) –Taking off like a rocket from the onset, Colton Osborn was a man on a mission as he led every lap of the IMCA Modified feature to record the Saturday victory at Lincoln County Raceway. Osborn worked through lap traffic with no issues at all. Coming to the podium from his fourth row starting position, Cole Hodges earned runner-up accolades. Taking advantage of an outside second row starting position, Zach Schultz rode the cushion into the lead on the fourth lap and never looked back in winning the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main. There were four different leaders in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Coming from the sixth row, Mikey Dancer gained the lead at the halfway point and drove away with the victory, his second in as many weeks. Jacob Hagan led the final eight laps of the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature to record the victory after a second place finish on opening weekend. Grabbing the lead in the early going, Daryl Cauffman punched [Read More]

Wauge wins Southern Oregon Speedway opener

By Don Martin II WHITE CITY, Ore. (May 5) – Taking the lead from Nick Trenchard, Mark Wauge went on to score the victory in the 25-lap IMCA Modified feature Saturday at Southern Oregon Speedway. The win paid Wauge $500 while Trenchard settled for a second place finish behind the multi-time track champion. Dave Duste Jr. made his first appearance in two seasons and led the first three laps ahead of James Welshonse. A low pass in on the fifth lap gained Welshonse the lead as Jeremy Ohlde followed him into second. Trenchard moved into third on lap eight. Welshonse’s great run up front ended as he pitted off the back stretch on lap nine. Ohlde had the lead at that point ahead of Trenchard and Wauge. An inside move down the front stretch of the 12th circuit put Trenchard into the lead and Wauge raced past Ohlde for second a lap later. Ohlde’s run ended as he pitted, putting Duste back into third. The battle was on between Trenchard and Wauge, but Wauge made [Read More]

Two in a row for Minten at I-37

By J.M. Hallas PLEASANTON, Texas (May 5) – Talon Minten made it two in a row scoring his second IMCA Modified win of the season Saturday at I-37 Speedway, but it wasn’t easy. Minten took over the lead from Derek Scott Jr. on lap six but was reeled in by Chris Morris. Morris, who drives with hand controls, kept the pressure on Minten the final five laps. At the checkers, Minten was able to keep Morris a couple car lengths away for the win. “Finding the high line was key tonight,” explained Minten. “Staying consistent, hitting my marks. I saw Chris (Morris) stick the nose inside. I knew if I just held my line and hit my marks I’d be all right. I’ve raced with Chris almost every race this year. He’s always run me clean. I’m pretty comfortable racing with him.’

Dale DeFrance Memorial is May 10 at Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – The inaugural Dale DeFrance Memorial will be Thursday, May 10, with IMCA Late Models racing for $1,500 to win and a top prize of $1,000 at stake for IMCA Modifieds. The 44-lap Late Model feature pays $200 to start while the 25-lap Modified main event pays $140 to start, $100 tow and is a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod features both pay $500 to win and $100 to start while IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks run for $300 to win and $100 to start. Total purse for the night is $20,000 with another $3,000-plus in contingencies to be given. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, Iowa State and track points will be awarded at the draw/redraw show. There will be no racing at Marshalltown on Friday, May 11. Pit gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors [Read More]

Mielke leads every lap in Off Road win

By Randy Pospishil sports@norfolkdailynews.com NORFOLK, Neb. (May 5) – Tejay Mielke won the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature Saturday at Off Road Speedway, leading all 15 laps with second and third place finishers Tiffany Bittner and Chad Bruns maintaining those positions throughout the race as well. Ramsey Meyer won his second straight Mach-1 Sport Compact feature, needing just three laps to get to the front from a back row starting position. Tanner Uehling finished second with Jeremy Shell taking third. In the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Cameron Wilkinson led wire-to-wire from the pole position while several cars competed for second and third place behind him throughout the race. Ultimately, Sal Hernandez secured second place with Dusty Poessnecker in third. In the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature, Cameron Meyer took the lead five laps into the 20-lap event and held it until the final lap, with Wes Hochstein and James Roebuck in pursuit, when the trio caught up to several lapped cars. With no place to go coming out of turn two, Meyer found himself stymied, [Read More]

Another notable night for Noteboom at Park Jefferson

JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 5) – Jay Noteboom continued his assault on the record book on opening night at Park Jefferson Speedway. Noteboom picked up the Artwork Graphics IMC Modified feature win and $700. Noteboom came from the fourth row by working all lanes of the track to get the win over rookie Todd Boulware, who continues to impress. Jim Thies was third. The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars saw Nate Eakin pick up the victory ahead of Elliot Amdahl and Dusty Ballenger. The J&J Fitting IMCA Stock Cars continues to be a must-watch division, with Ryan Harris sticking his brand new chassis in victory lane. Ryan bested a stout field of 21 cars to win over the new Mr. Consistency Jason Ward and division sponsor Casey Jones with a top podium run. The Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods are becoming the personal playground of Cody Thompson. Thompson, who swept opening weekend as well as picking up feature wins in Kansas earlier, roared from row seven to win the main event. Jeff Brunssen and Kole Nordquist continue to [Read More]

Royal Flush Rush feature win pays Zoubek $1,000

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 5) – Bob Zoubek put his name on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot with a $1,000 IMCA Modified win Saturday at Eagle Raceway’s Royal Flush Rush. Zoubek had started 10th and took the checkers ahead of Jeff Schroyer. “The track was really racy. There were two lines and they were both fast,” he said. “We just kind of came through there nice and slow and stayed out of trouble. Jeff kind of had the better line for awhile there, but I finally got around him and drove away a little.” Nate Thompson, Schroyer, Jaxon Saathoff and Justin Wulf had led the field after the initial lap. Chad Andersen cracked the top four on lap two before moving up to third the next time around. Zoubek advanced to fourth following a spin by Andersen. Wulf grabbed second on the restart as Zoubek moved to third and Johnny Saathoff took fourth. Zoubek and Saathoff passed Wulf with 12 to go, moving to second and third, respectively. Two laps later, Zoubek [Read More]

Garnhart, Soppe score at Dubuque

By Jerry Mackey DUBUQUE, Iowa (May 6) – Sunday’s Merfeld Brothers Auto IMCA Modifieds feature at Dubuque Speedway was another nail biter as several drivers took their turns at the front. Bryce Garnhart battled with Austin Moyer for much of the 20-lap main event before crossing under the checkers ahead of Moyer. Last week’s winner Jason Schueller turned in another fine run in taking third. Defending IMCA national champion Tyler Soppe scored the feature win in the 18-lap GSI Collision Specialists Northern Sportmod main event. Soppe fought to the front from a fourth row start to score the win ahead of early leader Justin Becker. Scott Busch followed up last week’s win with a third place finish.