Ryan Clark

Champion of inaugural IMCA Lone Star Stock Car Tour earns $5K

ABILENE, Texas – They do everything big in Texas and the Lone Star IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Tour will be big. Very big. The champion of the inaugural tour, sponsored by Sniper Speed, takes home a $5,000 share of the nearly $15,000 in point fund money to be paid out following the Feb. 16-24 tour. The runner-up earns $2,500, with $2,000 paid for third, $1,500 for fourth, $1,000 for fifth, $500 for sixth, $400 for seventh, $300 for eighth, $250 for ninth and $150 for 10th. In addition, drivers finishing 11th on back with perfect attendance will be eligible for a $1,000 cash drawing. Eight $750 to win events are on the tour schedule, starting with Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16 and 17 features during Abilene Speedway’s traditional season-opening Ice Breaker special. The tour is at 281 Speedway in Stephenville on Sunday and Monday, Feb. 18 and 19 and Boyd Raceway hosts Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 20 and 21 shows. Wrapping up the tour is the Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23 and 24 twinbill during [Read More]

AFCO marks sponsorship milestone in 25th season of IMCA support

BOONVILLE, Ind. – AFCO joins even more exclusive company in 2018, its 25th consecutive season as an IMCA sponsor. The Boonville, Ind., manufacturer becomes just the fifth company to reach the quarter-century mark of sponsorship with IMCA, continuing a generous slate of awards for IMCA Modified, IMCA Late Model, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and IMCA Southern SportMod drivers. “AFCO is thrilled to mark its 25th year supporting IMCA racing. We value our longstanding tradition of being involved with this great organization,” said AFCO Performance Group Marketing Director Kerri Hart. “We look forward to awarding IMCA racers with GM replacement frame kits and many various contingency awards. We’re gearing up for an exciting racing season!” The Modified national champion and rookie of the year, as well as the first hard luck driver to get upside down during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, all receive GM frame replacement kits. Top three eligible drivers in each of the five Modified regions receive product certificates worth $250, [Read More]

URSS concentrates on quality, payout in 2018

OBERLIN, Kan. – The Myers Engines sponsored United Rebel Sprint Series will go into its 13th season in 2018 with a tentative schedule paying more money than any other season in the past. “We’ve tried to concentrate more on quality shows this year with most races paying a minimum of $1,000 to win,” said founder Rick Salem. Salem also said additional races are still in the works and as soon as verified will be added to the schedule. One highlight will be the Dodge City, Kan., Raceway Park 305 Nationals on June 15 and 16 with the winner taking home a cool $3,000 and a minimum of $600 paid to start the Saturday night main event. RPM Speedway in Hays, Kan., will host the 10th annual Wheatshocker Nationals on July 14 and 15, which will pay $2,000 to win. Lance Pittmann will again provide a custom smoker/pellet grill courtesy of S&W Supply/Federated Auto Parts out of Hays to the overall point leader for the two-day event. The Rebels will visit Thayer County Speedway in Deshler, [Read More]

Thornton adds Arizona IMCA Modified Tour win to resume

By Mike Spieker CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 12) – He already has wins at many of IMCA’s biggest events on his resume. Ricky Thornton Jr. added another when he took the $1,500 Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour checkers Monday night at Central Arizona Speedway. Thornton started outside of row two and quickly made his way to the front. By lap four of 25 circuits, Thornton had reeled in leader Ryan Gaylord. Thornton executed a perfect slide job in turns three and four to take the lead while Casey Arneson ran within striking distance in third. Once out front, Thornton set sail and checked out from the field throughout the remainder of the caution-free main event. Further back in the top five, Arneson and Hunter Marriott, battled for third. The door opened for Marriott when Arneson pushed up the track in turn two. Marriott took the position and set his sights on Gaylord for the runner-up spot. Marriott quickly erased Gaylord’s advantage but had trouble maneuvering by the no. 7R in lapped traffic. With six to [Read More]

CPT morphs into new sponsorship role with IMCA

SONOMA, Calif. – A company that got its start with a grinder, a torch and high hopes is the newest sponsor for IMCA Modified and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod special events. CPT Racing Manufacturing, owned by veteran Modified driver Chris Compton, awards $50 gift certificates to a designated top five finisher at 45 specials for those two divisions. The CPT product line includes birdcages and a wide variety of other dirt track specialty products, among them pullbars and polyurethane biscuits. “I smashed a birdcage at Petaluma in 2012 and started making them myself,” said Compton, who recently ordered a CNC lathe for his growing business. “I figured I should make five and sell the other four. They sold and I’ve been making them ever since.” Compton has also purchased a new parts trailer to serve area race tracks. “I can’t believe it’s morphed into this. I’ve always listened to my customers, made improvement to my products and hopefully provided better customer service,” he said. “I guess I inherited the smarts from my dad Ira, an [Read More]

Marriott collects second Arizona IMCA Modified Tour checkers

By Mike Spieker CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 11) – Round three of the second annual Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour continued with a Sunday matinee at Central Arizona Speedway. Just as he did on opening night, Hunter Marriott picked up the $1,500 feature win. “I just had to keep hitting my marks. The checkered came out and I thought it was the yellow. I figured we had another 10 laps to go. I was just focused on keeping my speed up and not letting them get too close,” said Marriott in victory lane. Marriott, who started on the outside of the front row, grabbed the lead on the opening lap over pole sitter Chaz Baca. Casey Arneson moved into second and rode right on the rear bumper of Marriott in the early going of the 25-lap event. By lap 10, 19th starting Ricky Thornton Jr. moved into third with a pass of Russell Allen. With nine circuits remaining, Allen’s top five effort came to an end when he and Ethan Dotson were racing for the [Read More]

O’Neil rebounds for round 2 Arizona IMCA Modified Tour victory

By Mike Spieker QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (Feb. 10) – After a solid third place effort was negated the night before in post-race tech, Jake O’Neil cruised to the win on night two of the Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour at Arizona Speedway. O’Neil started on the pole for the 25-lap main event with Kody Scholpp to his outside. O’Neil led the opening circuit with Scholpp in tow. Meanwhile, Jason Wolla, Casey Arneson and Ethan Dotson raced three-wide for third. The race for third quickly became a battle for second as Dotson and Arneson reeled in Scholpp. Dotson, who was the lone driver in the top five riding the rim around the thin cushion, squeezed around Scholpp for second and brought Wolla with him. Wolla snuck by Dotson for second with 18 laps to go but O’Neil had already stretched his advantage to over two seconds. Lapped traffic slowed O’Neil’s pace significantly, which allowed Wolla to close the gap to just over a half second. Fortunately for O’Neil, the caution was displayed as Wolla was closing [Read More]

Marriott charges to opening night Arizona IMCA Modified Tour victory

By Mike Spieker QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (Feb. 9) – Defending champion Hunter Marriott was the $1,500 main event winner when the highly anticipated Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour got underway Friday at Arizona Speedway. Eighty-eight Modifieds checked in for battle on opening night of the second annual tour. Marriott powered from the eighth starting position to battle Jason Wolla for the lead with four laps to go. Marriott placed a bid for the lead entering turn one as he attempted a slide job on Wolla amongst lapped traffic. Contact was made between Marriott and Wolla, which sent Wolla into the outside retaining wall and Marriott over the thick cushion. “That happens on this kind of race track,” said Marriott of the pass for the lead on Wolla. “[Wolla] messed up exiting turn four and I had a run on him. I knew that would be a good shot to take the lead if I was going to win. We weren’t quite clear, but it was close, though. I wasn’t going to lift and I [Read More]

Abilene Speedway opens with IMCA Ice Breaker special

ABILENE, Texas – Abilene Speedway’s traditional season-opening Ice Breaker is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16 and 17, with four IMCA divisions on the program each evening. IMCA Modifieds run for $700 to win each night, IMCA Southern SportMods for $600 and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $250. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars vie for $750 to win in their Lone Star Tour features. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, state and track points will be awarded for both draw/redraw programs. The pits open at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, pit gates open at 3 p.m. and racing gets underway at 7 p.m. Overnight accommodations with racer’s rates are available at Motel 6, 325 672-8462, or the Whitten Inn, 800 588-5050. Gates open at 5 p.m. and an open practice runs from 6-10 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15. More information about the Ice Breaker, presented by Smiley’s Racing Products, Showtime Signs & Designs and NAPA Auto Parts, can be directed to promoter Rob Poor at 325 725-3849 or [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through Feb. 8

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 188; 2. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., 157; 3. Jason Wolla, Ray, N.D., 139; 4. Brent Schlafmann, Bismarck, N.D., 137; 5. Garth Dushanek, Avondale, Ariz., 116; 6. Cory Sample, Winnemucca, Nev., 115; 7. Kenny Gill, Peoria, Ariz., 110; 8. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 101; 9. Roy Poeling, Globe, Ariz., 100; 10. Brenda Kirby, Bullhead City, Ariz., 94; 11. Ross Statham, Redcliff, Alb., 80; 12. Bradley Pounds, Bakersfield, Calif., 79; 13. Steve Streeter, Madera, Calif., 78; 14. Bradley Morris, Romoland, Calif., and Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif., both 76; 16. Shawn Strand, Mandan, N.D., 72; 17. Andy Obertello, Hollister, Calif., 71; 18. Keith Altig, Imperial Beach, Calif., 68; 19. Mike Kirby, Bullhead City, Ariz., and Josh Combs, Sacramento, Calif., both 66. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Cody Center, Mesa, Ariz., 188; 2. Dennis Losing, Apache Junction, Ariz., 179; 3. Vance Honea, Phoenix, Ariz., 106; 4. Nicholas Langer, Glendale, Ariz., 101; 5. Joe Bellm, Broomfield, Colo., 78; 6. Thomas Daffern, Brawley, Calif., 69; 7. Mike Shea, Phoenix, Ariz., 68; [Read More]