Ryan Clark

Sweigart scores first PASS win

By Brad Vores YORK HAVEN, Pa. (Aug. 20) – Nick Sweigart wired the field to post the win in the Sunday 20-lap Pennsylvania Sprint Series feature at Susquehanna Speedway. Sweigart’s first-ever win for car owner Randy Kaylor made him the 15th different winner in 29 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car series races this season. Starting on the pole, Sweigart dominated while two late race cautions kept things interesting at the front. Kyle Smith, Darren Miller, Austin Bishop and Kassidy Kreitz rounded out the top five. Thirty-seven RaceSaver entries were entered. Feature results – 1. Nick Sweigart; 2. Kyle Smith; 3. Darren Miller; 4. Austin Bishop; 5. Kassidy Kreitz; 6. Dave Brown; 7. Eddie Wagner; 8. Zach Newlin; 9. Ken Duke Jr.; 10. John Scarborough; 11. Scott Ellerman; 12. Brendan Poff; 13. Kyle Ganoe; 14. Jay Krout; 15. John Walp; 16. Greg Dobrosky; 17. Ian Detweiler; 18. Jaremi Handon; 19. George Riden; 20. Samantha Lieberman; 21. Drew Ritchy; 22. Joe Kay; 23. Dylan Shatzer; 24. Dave Grube.

Bubak is best in URSS Bob Salem Memorial finale

By David Smith Jr. OBERLIN, Kan. (Aug. 20) – Colorado’s Jake Bubak took the lead with two laps remaining to claim the United Rebel Sprint Series checkers on the final night of the annual Bob Salem Memorial Sunday at Oberlin Speedway. Bubak passed Zach Blurton for the runner-up position with five laps to go then caught the rear bumper of leader Taylor Velasquez with three laps remaining. One lap later, Bubak completed a slide job in turn one and led the last two times around the track to capture a $1,022 payday and his second URSS victory of the season. Velasquez settled for second while Nick Haygood came home third. Jed Werner came home fourth and earned $1,500 bonus for being the two-day point champion. Ty Williams rounded out the top five while Blurton rebounded from an earlier excursion off the top of the track to finish sixth. Nate Berry came from his 19th starting position to finish seventh and claim the overall Keizer Aluminum Wheels hard charger award for the two-day event and an [Read More]

Casey’s wristbands can be redeemed for fountain drink

BOONE, Iowa – Both week-long and Saturday-only Casey’s General Store pit admission wristbands can be redeemed for a 32 ounce fountain drink on the way home from the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The offer is good at any participating Casey’s between Sept. 10-16. Casey’s is the official convenience store of IMCA and presenting sponsor of Super Nationals.

Tailgate party, concert on tap for Sunday before Super Nationals at Boone Speedway

BOONE, Iowa – The fun starts on Sunday, the day before cars start taking serious laps at the 35th annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Complimentary chili and beverages will be served in the pit area after tech inspection and an open practice session on Sept. 3. A repeat performance by country western artist Cody Hicks follows the tailgate party and brings the night before the Nationals to a close. “The chili feed and concert are a great way to start what is obviously a hectic week,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “Cody Hicks is extremely popular and we had a lot of people ask about getting him back to Boone Speedway again this September.” The tech inspection process in place since 2014 will be continued: Beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod drivers are encouraged to go to the lineup board behind the pitside grandstand and get their inspection sheets and hard cards as soon as they arrive with their race car. Drivers will be called over the [Read More]

13 states now represented by Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational

BOONE, Iowa – Every driver who will start the upcoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational brings a wealth of IMCA Modified accomplishments to the Sept. 8 event at Boone Speedway. And every one of those drivers wants to add one more accomplishment to their resume by winning the 30-lap feature Friday night during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Thirteen states are now represented in the 14th annual Invitational field. Joining two-time defending winner Jimmy Gustin on the grid are five other drivers with Fast Shafts crowns on their mantle: Jay Noteboom (2005 and 2008), Chris Abelson (2011), Jordan Grabouski (2012), Todd Shute (2013) and Kyle Strickler (2014). Five drivers take the green flag in the first All-Star feature of their careers. They are Steven Bowers Jr. of Topeka, Kan., Matt Guillaume of Haslet, Texas, Clay Money of Penokee, Kan., Jeremy Payne of Buckeye, Ariz., and Johnny Scott of Cameron, Mo. Two-time All-Stars are Kyle Brown of Madrid, Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif., Darin Duffy of Urbana, Mike Jergens of Plover and Will Ward [Read More]

Chapman rules URSS thriller on night one of Bob Salem Memorial

By David Smith Jr. OBERLIN, Kan. (Aug. 19) – Toby Chapman proved patience is a virtue as he passed race-long leader Jed Werner on the final circuit to claim the thrilling United Rebel Sprint Series feature on Saturday in front of a packed house at Oberlin Speedway on night one of the Bob Salem Memorial. It looked to be Werner’s night but Chapman had other ideas as the Nebraska veteran passed Tracey Hill for the runner-up position with three laps remaining and set his sights on the leader. On the last lap Chapman put a slide job on Werner in turn one with Werner crossing under and they went side-by-side down the backstretch. Werner drove hard into the bottom of turn three and slid up back into the lead with Chapman crossing under and nipping Werner at the line by a half car length. Eleventh starting and current series point leader Zach Blurton came through the field to finish third while Hill settled for fourth. Fourteenth starting and hard charger Nick Haygood rounded out the [Read More]

Honorary starters bring tradition of service, love of racing to flagstand at Boone

BOONE, Iowa – The three honorary starters for last-chance Modified features have varying backgrounds in the military but share a passion for dirt racing in general and IMCA racing in particular. John Wailes of Fort Dodge, Trevor Baker of Omaha, Neb., and Mark Berglund of Clarksville will all wave the green flag on Saturday, Sept. 9 during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Wailes, nominated by Curtis Lee of Hope For The Warriors, has served 15 years in the armed forces and currently serves with the Army Reserves. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operaton New Dawn in 2011. Baker, an IMCA Modified driver, has served for 12 years in the Nebraska Army National Guard. Baker and his mother Carrie were deployed together to Afghanistan during the Enduring Freedom campaign. Nominated by his mother, Baker’s father and two brothers have also served or are currently serving our country. Berglund served on five different ships and 20 different countries during his 20-year career in the U.S. Navy. Nominated by IMCA Modified driver [Read More]

Duffers National Tourney benefits Shop With a Cop

BOONE, Iowa – When they tee it up for the 28th annual Duffers National Tournament at Cedar Pointe Golf Course, golfers in town for the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s will help support the local Shop With A Cop. Tee time is 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 8 for the four-person best shot tournament. Cost is $40 per person, which includes nine holes of golf, a golf cart and lunch, and entries will be taken right up until tee time. Each team is required to have at least one Super Nationals participant. The winning foursome earns $200 with $100 paid to the second place team. Remaining proceeds go to Shop With A Cop, which sees youngsters accompanied local law enforcement officers to pick out Christmas presents at Wal-Mart. Entry forms for this year’s tournament are available in the Super Nationals section at www.imca.com or available by calling tournament director Rich Lange at 515 432-1679.

Harris Auto Racing begins second decade as Modified Race of Champions title sponsor

BOONE, Iowa – A company synonymous with IMCA and the Modified division begins its second decade as title sponsor of one of the sanctioning body’s most recognized events. Harris Auto Racing provides a portion of the purse for the Modified Race of Champions at the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, for the 11th consecutive season. The Boone, Iowa, chassis manufacturer and high performance parts retailer is owned by Modified driver Kyle Brown. Qualifying for the 12-car, 12-lap, $1,000 to win race is Friday, Sept. 8 and is open to top drivers in local track standings competing at Super Nationals, former national, regional and Super Nationals champions, and to previous race winners. The Harris RoC is part of the championship day program on Saturday, Sept. 9. Ricky Thornton Jr. is the defending race winner. “The Harris Auto Racing Race of Champions remains one of the marquee events of the IMCA Speedway Motor Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, and for some winning this race means just as much as winning the main event on [Read More]

IMCA Modified adjustment has Taylor looking forward to first Super Nationals

SPRING CREEK, Nev. – Their second racing vacation of the season will take the Taylor family of Spring Creek, Nev., to the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. IMCA Modified driver Wade Taylor will race at Boone Speedway for the first time. His wife Lisa is a licensed competitor in the same division but makes the upcoming trip in the dual role of crew member and mom to son Easton, not quite three, and daughter Blakely, eight months old. “We went to Oregon for the Wild West Shootout and the first couple nights it seemed like it was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time but we finally got the win at Willamette,” said Taylor, a chiropractor by profession. “We had hired a new associate so it was the first time in 14 years that my office stayed open while I was racing.” “We like the idea of a racing vacation and Lisa brought up the idea of going to Super Nationals,” he continued. “It’s something I’ve always [Read More]