Ryan Clark

Biggest dirt track event on the planet has super-sized purse

BOONE, Iowa – A super-sized purse will be paid to competitors in the biggest dirt track event on the planet, the Sept. 4-9 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s The 900-plus drivers coming to Boone Speedway from coast to coast and border to border, as well as Canada, earn shares of a purse nearing $300,000. Another $60,000 or so in contingency awards is at stake so there is no question the 35th annual version of America’s Racin’ Vacation will continue to be the most prestigious, top-paying event for grassroots racers. “We have always had the goal of maintaining reasonable entry fees and admission prices while providing the best possible purse structure at Super Nationals,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “We have been able to accomplish that in conjunction with a lot of contingencies given by great IMCA sponsors.” The Saturday, Sept. 9 Modified main event boasts a potential $7,000 paycheck for the winner. That includes a guaranteed $2,000 plus a $100 bonus for each of as many as 50 sanctioned starts made during the season. Saturday’s [Read More]

Luxemburg crowns 2017 champions

By Edward Anschutz LUXEMBURG, Wis. (Aug. 25) – Todd Dart earned his first-ever Luxemburg Speedway IMCA Modified title on Friday while Devin Snellenberger put his name in the record books as he captured his first track championship in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car division. The Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods saw a repeat champ as Randy LeMieux Jr. took home top honors. Nick Everard came out on top in the Mach-1 Sport Compacts. A total of 119 cars checked in to do battle on season championship night. Dave Zeitler led every lap of the caution-free IMCA Modified feature and Kyle Frederick returned to victory lane in the Stocks. Kelsy Hayes regained the lead with a white flag lap pass of Tailar Ness to win the SportMod main and Shaun Bangart passed Mitch Mier with two laps remaining to win the Sport Compact feature.

Stewart scores $1,000 IMCA Modified win at 34

By Brian Neal WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (Aug. 26) – Steve Stewart’s first IMCA Modified win of the season at 34 Raceway came Saturday night, along with a check for $1,000 and a berth on the ballot for next year’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Stewart passed Jeff Waterman on the 16th of 20 circuits in the Victory Lane Suspensions IMCA Modified main, then pulled away from the field. Waterman ended in second and Rich Smith was third. Abe Huls also posted his first 34 Raceway win of the season in the Pepsi IMCA Stock Car headliner. Tom Bowling Jr. challenged the last three laps and ended a close second. Austen Becerra held off Brandon Lennox for his seventh local Casebine Credit Union IMCA Northern SportMod victory of 2017. Coming up Saturday, Sept. 2 at 34 will be the Pepsi Season Championship Night, along with $5 Fan Appreciation Night. Pit gates open at 4:30 p.m., the grandstands open at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m.

Open house is Wednesday at EMi

LINCOLN, Neb. – EMi hosts an open house from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 at its 300 Speedway Circle location in Lincoln. Race teams and fans attending the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Nationals are invited. Practice for fifth annual event is on Thursday, with racing on Sept. 1-2-3 programs. Tours and goody bags are in open house plans at Emi.

Ward takes care of IMCA Modified business at Crystal

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Aug. 26) – A.J. Ward was taking care of business as he assumed the early lead in the Lane Automotive IMCA Modified feature Saturday at Crystal Motor Speedway and was never headed. Myron DeYoung came in second, followed by Myron DeYoung, John DeYoung Jr., and Chad Wernette. The IMCA Modified title fight continues until the final event of 2017. Ward holds a 21 lead over Myron DeYoung with two more point races to go.

Top drivers in four divisions featured in races of champions at Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa – A season’s worth of bragging rights are on the line Saturday, Sept. 9, when race of champions winners take their turn on stage at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The winner of the 29th annual Harris Auto Racing Modified Race of Champions earns $1,000 while $500 is the top prize in the 17th annual Sunoco Race Fuels Race of Champions for Stock Cars. Both the BSB Manufacturing Race of Champions for Northern SportMods and Stephenville Starter Race of Champions for Hobby Stocks pay $300 to win. Those events will be held for the eighth time. SportMod and Hobby Stock ROC qualifying will be Monday, Sept. 4. Modified and Stock Car ROC qualifying is Friday, Sept. 8. Drivers eligible to qualify for their respective events include former national and Super Nationals champions and race of champions winners, 2017 track champions/point leader or the second-place driver if the leader is not in attendance. Also eligible to qualify are former Modified (from 1993), Stock Car and Hobby Stock regional champions. A dozen Modifieds [Read More]

Lap money, cash bonuses, gift cards add more than $6,000 to Super Nationals purse

BOONE, Iowa – More than $6,000 in lap money and bonuses will be paid to drivers competing in the Sept. 4-9 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Both Modified qualifying feature winners each night Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Sept. 6, 7 and 8 earn $100 bonuses from Derr Farms. Malvern Bank pays $50 to each heat winner during Thursday’s Deery Brothers Summer Series program. Bilstein pays $25 to the leader of each of 30 laps of the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational Friday evening. Four race of champions events are on the Saturday, Sept. 9 card at Boone Speedway and additional money is at stake in each. One hundred dollars goes to the leader of each of the 12 laps in the Harris Auto Racing Race of Champions for Modifieds. From start to finish, the companies paying lap money to the leader are Golden Empire Towing, Intensitee, Cookie’s Sauce & Seasoning, Walmart, Fareway, Diamond Oil, Joe Busch Ag Repair, Ames Ford Lincoln, Saints Avenue Café, Baymont Inn & Suites, Dirt Modified Magazine and Derr Farms. [Read More]

Season titles decided at West Liberty

By Jerry Mackey WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (Aug. 26) – Season-long point races at West Liberty Raceway were decided on Saturday night with three of the racing divisions coming down to a scant two point margin going into the evening’s race program. The Out-Pace Racing Products IMCA Late Models took to the track with Chad Holladay holding a slight two point lead over Nick Marolf. Holladay immediately put his car on the top side of the track and proved he was definitely the car to catch, leading the 25-lapper from flag to flag. Tyler Bruening started 10th and charged toward the front, taking over second after a lap 11 caution. Marolf was third. The Performance Concepts IMCA Modifieds also took to the track with a two-point margin separating the top two in the standings. Chris Zogg took the green from the pole with Dakota Hayden to his outside just two points out of first. Hayden led flag to flag but Zogg finished at the runner-up to earn his second consecutive track championship. The Weikert Iron & Metal [Read More]

Lee County Speedway crowns 2017 kings

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (Aug. 25) – Darin Weisinger Jr. won his first Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compact feature on Friday during the season championship program at Lee County Speedway. Weisinger edged out Brandon Reu by a bumper. Reu settled for a close second, which was good enough to clinch the track championship, Jeff Waterman pulled away over the final 11 laps to cruise to his second Budweiser IMCA Modified win in a row and seventh overall at the track. Dennis LaVeine finished second and secured the track championship. Abe Huls held Jason Cook at the line to claim his third Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car win of the season. John Oliver Jr. came from seventh to finish fourth and also earned the track championship. Austen Becerra edged away from the pack over the final eight laps to pick up his sixth Shottenkirk Part Express IMCA Northern SportMod win of 2017. Champion Tony Dunker cam from 10th to finish fifth. Point standings for all IMCA divisions become official on Oct. 23.

DeFrance takes challenge, doubles his money at Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Aug. 25) – It was season championship night at Marshalltown Speedway on Friday and the nightcap was 20 laps of IMCA Late Model racing. Front row starters Todd Cooney and Darrel DeFrance both chose to go to the back of the field for a try at doubling their payoff for the night. Paul Nagle was then moved to the pole. He shot to the lead and continued his run at the front until he slowing on lap 12 and exiting to the pits. DeFrance then flew around Joe Zrostlik on lap 13 to become the new man in charge. DeFrance kept his competition at bay and went home to the flying checkers, the win, and double his payday. Track champion Cooney was third. Tim Ward ran all 25 laps of the IMCA Modified feature at the front of the field to score his third win at Marshalltown this year. Track champion Jake Strayer took the challenge to start at the tail to earn double his money to win but settled for fourth. Todd Reitzer took the lead [Read More]