Ryan Clark

Thornton is $20,000 richer after Race For Hope 74 victory

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 30) – Ricky Thornton Jr. captured the inaugural Race For Hope 74 title Saturday night at Batesville Motor Speedway. Thornton took the lead on lap 28 of 74 before going on to score the $20,000 IMCA Modified payday. “This one is definitely at the top of my list of races I’ve ever won, honestly,” said Thornton in victory lane following the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. “It’s definitely the most money I’ve ever won. It’s pretty cool to get it done in Larry Shaw’s backyard.” Preliminary night feature winners Kyle Strickler, Justin Kay, and Jordan Grabouski led the 27-car field to the green for the three-wide start. Strickler grabbed the lead on the opening lap while Grabouski settled into second. Kay and Thornton both moved by Grabouski on the low side on lap four to take second and third, respectively. By halfway of the first 40-lap segment, Kay remained within five car lengths of Strickler, as the lead duo distanced themselves from the rest of the field. Thornton found [Read More]

Grabouski grabs Race For Hope 74 qualifier Win

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 29) – Jordan Grabouski captured the third and final Race For Hope 74 qualifying night feature Friday at Batesville Motor Speedway. Grabouski started fourth on the 30-car starting grid before taking the lead on lap eight. “Sometimes when you struggle, you need to do your homework. We did our homework tonight and made a few changes on the car. The thing was a rocketship tonight,” said Grabouski in victory lane. Travis Dickson took the lead on the opening lap from the outside front row starting spot. Meanwhile, Grabouski moved by Chad Andersen and Brian Hartwick to claim the runner-up spot at the completion of lap one. Seventh starting Jason Wilkey charged his way into third by lap three after driving around Anderson. The caution waved on lap five after Hartwick spun in turn four. Jacob Murray had nowhere to go and made heavy contact with Hartwick. Both drivers were OK. On the restart, Dickson pushed into turn one, which allowed Grabouski to easily take the lead exiting turn two. Tyler [Read More]

Photos needed for post-season certificates, cash

VINTON, Iowa – Sending a photo of their car to IMCA is guaranteed to get eligible drivers a $50 gift certificate. Doing so will may also be worth $500 in cash. Drivers in all IMCA divisions displaying 10 or more Karl Performance heat win decals on their car are eligible to receive a $50 gift certificate from the high performance parts supplier. In addition, Dirt Defender and Stephenville Starter each give $250 to a driver selected at random from the IMCA Modified, Stock Car, Southern SportMod and Northern SportMod ranks who wins 10 or more weekly heat races and submits a photo of their car displaying use of two Dirt Defender mud covers. That driver also receives a free Stephenville Starter-manufactured starter. All awards will be presented during the IMCA national banquet in November. Car photos should be sent to Marketing Director Kevin Yoder at the IMCA home office by Monday, Nov. 13. His email address is kyoder@imca.com.

Kay captures Thursday Race For Hope 74 IMCA Modified qualifier at Batesville

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 28) – Justin Kay captured night two of the inaugural Race For Hope 74 IMCA Modified special at Batesville Motor Speedway Thursday evening. Kay led 21 of the 25 laps en route to the victory, which locked him into the front row for Saturday’s $20,000 to win main event. “I’ve never been here before. What an awesome race track,” said Kay in victory lane. “I knew what line I needed to run and I just had to hit my marks. Ricky (Thornton Jr.) has been so good lately and Kelly (Shryock) has been doing this a long time … this is just awesome. I’m so excited.” The race got underway with Kay, Dennie Gieber and Jason Wilkey on the front row for the three-wide start. The green flag was quickly replaced with the caution on the opening lap as Tyler Droste and Tyler Stevens got together exiting turn four. Droste was able to rejoin the field while Stevens was done for the night. On the complete restart, Wilkey raced his [Read More]

Strickler dominates opening feature at the Race For Hope 74

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 27) – Kyle Strickler backed up his overall quick time qualifying run on Tuesday with a dominating performance in Wednesday night’s Race For Hope 74 IMCA Modified preliminary feature. The Mooresville, N.C., driver started in the middle of the front row for the three-wide start, which ran 10 rows deep. Strickler jumped out to the lead on the opening lap as Wendell Wallace and Steven Bowers Jr. settled into second and third, respectively. Strickler quickly opened up a full straightaway lead by lap five, while Wallace and Bowers fought for the runner-up position. As Strickler approached lapped traffic at the midway point of the 25-lap event, he didn’t waste any time getting around slower cars. The two-time IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion made a three-wide pass around two lapped cars that were battling for position as he continued to stretch out his lead over Wallace. Strickler was still battling heavy lapped traffic as the race advanced to the closing stage but he held a steady [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds chase $1,500 checks at Salina’s Sept. 29, 30 Mid-America Clash

SALINA, Kan. – A pair of $1,500 to win features for IMCA Modified top Friday and Saturday, Sept. 29 and 30 Mid-America Clash programs at Salina Speedway. Both Modified features are qualifying events for the 2018 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot and pay a minimum of $125 to start. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $1,000 to win both nights, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods for $750 to win and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $500 to win. Top prize on Saturday for the Mach-1 Sport Compacts is $300. There are no entry fees and the purse is guaranteed. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 and practice runs from 6-9 p.m. Pit passes are $20 and grandstand admission is free. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. on Friday. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, pit gates open at 3 p.m., the grandstand opens at 4 p.m., hot laps are at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 6 [Read More]

Strickler paces IMCA Modifieds during Race For Hope 74 time trials

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 26) – A stout field of 91 IMCA Modifieds checked in at Batesville Motor Speedway for the first of five nights of action during the Race For Hope 74. Tuesday began with practice for all competitors and concluded with time trials, which set heat race lineups for the remainder of the week. Kyle Strickler of Mooresville, N.C., set the overall quick time with a lap of 16.913 seconds, averaging 79.82 mph around the high-banked, 3/8-mile clay oval. Strickler was the only driver to run a lap in the 16-second bracket. Chris Abelson of Sioux City, Iowa, was second quick with a time of 17.068. Both drivers have locked themselves into Saturday night’s $20,000 to win, minimum $2,000 to start main event by virtue of their top-two qualifying efforts. Wednesday through Friday’s program will feature 15 qualifying heat races with a nightly feature, where the top eight finishers will automatically transfer into Saturday’s main event. On Saturday, the night will be highlighted by the 74-lap, Race For Hope 74 feature. [Read More]

Practice, time trials start tonight at Batesville’s Race For Hope

BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 26) – Practice and time trials get underway tonight (Tuesday) before IMCA Modified drivers from across the United States and Canada get down to the business of qualifying for the inaugural Race For Hope 74 at Batesville Motor Speedway. The Sept. 26-30 Mark and Arlene Martin Hope For Arkansas Foundation Race For Hope 74 calls attention to the needs of others while paying the biggest main event purse in division history. The winner of Saturday’s main event earn a $20,000 share of the $150,000 main event purse. Pre-entered drivers now include: Chad Andersen, Fort Calhoun, Neb.; Drew Armstrong, Alexander; Robby Arnold, Paragould; Chadd Avey, Judsonia; Jason Beaulieu, Campbell River, B.C.; Mikey Bell, Quitman; Wayne Brooks, Bald Knob; Aaron Carr, Judsonia; Chris Carter, Redfield; Timmy Culp, Prattsville; Robert Davis, Searcy; Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich.; Travis Dickson, Gallipolis, Ohio; Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.; Tyler Droste, Waterloo, Iowa; and Tommy Fain, Abilene, Texas. Casey Findley, Bryant; Scott Fitzpatrick, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Neal Flowers, Hobbs, N.M.; Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz.; Bill Frye, Greenbrier; Joey Gee, Judsonia; [Read More]

Luinenburg gets 100th Hobby Stock win at Arlington’s season championship night

READING, Minn. – Justin Luinenburg would have liked to have gotten his career 100th IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature win before his final race of the season, but he’s happy things worked out the way they did. Luinenburg collected the landmark checkers Saturday at Arlington Raceway, when the Sept. 23 season championship program doubled as a night to honor the late Scott Schoknecht. “It was nice to get my 100th win on that night,” said Luinenburg, from Reading, Minn. “I knew Scotty pretty good so it was special to win at his memorial race.” The victory was Luinenburg’s 23rd of the season and 71st in the last three years. He’d also won 23 times during his 2015 national championship campaign and followed up with a career-best 25 wins in 2016. “Winning 100 features and winning a national championship are neat accomplishments. Very few drivers have done them both,” Luinenburg said. “The national title is pretty great because it’s neat to be the top dog, but you have to have a heck of a season to be able to do [Read More]

Hatlestad, Zevenbergen take top checks, Luinenburg, Porter get big Arlington wins

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 23) – While Clint Hatlestad and Elijah Zevenbergen took $1,500 victories, Justin Luinenburg and Kyren Porter were history-making winners Saturday at Arlington Raceway. More than 200 cars were in the pits for the season championship night program, held in honor of the late Scotty Schoknecht. Hatlestad topped the IMCA Modified main, earning a spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, while Zevenbergen was fastest in an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car field pared from 42 entries. Luinenburg earned his career 100th victory in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature and Porter became the first driver to win an Arlington Raceway track title in the Mach-1 Sport Compact division. Curt Lund led the first 11 laps in the Modified main before Hatlestad drove by. Brandon Beckendorf came from 15th starting to take over second with hard charger Tyler Limoges passing 15 cars on his way to finishing third. Matt Schauer ran up front early in the Stock Car feature before Zevenbergen weaved his way from ninth starting into the front spot. Dustin Larson followed him [Read More]