Ryan Clark

Three Key City Challenge dates at Dubuque for IMCA Late Models

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Feb. 6, 2024) – IMCA Sunoco Late Models will have three opportunities to take home $2,500 this season in Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway’s Key City Challenge. Late Model features on Sundays, April 28, June 23 and Aug. 18 all tote big checks for drivers pre-registered by April 28. “This was an idea one of our Late Model drivers, Luke Merfeld, had. He wanted to help promote our track and the sport of racing. Luke contacted and recruited sponsors to make this series possible. It started with Late Models and the wheels just kept rolling,” explained Fairgrounds General Manager Kevin Kotz, noting $850 to win Challenge dates for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars on May 12 and July 14 and $600 to win Challenge features for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks on June 16 and Aug. 4 as well. “People asked if we could add Challenge races for other classes and just kept donating money.” Late Model drivers who pay a $500 Challenge entry fee by the deadline day also receive six free pit passes; those who [Read More]

Raffurty races to big money at Brick City Nationals

OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 2-3, 2024) – Most of Dillon Raffurty’s first visit to Ocala Speedway was spent as a spectator. Saturday night, he was the $4,000 Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature winner at the Florida speed plant’s Brick City Nationals. The Kansas City, Mo., hotshoe began his quest for a fourth consecutive IMCA national championship as runner-up to Tennessee star Ronnie Choate in Friday’s $1,000 to win main event at Ocala. He flipped the script the next night in topping the big money show, 1.2 seconds ahead of Choate following multiple cautions late in the 30-lapper. “We went back and forth Friday and I led early but caught lapped traffic at the wrong time and he got by me. I was able to make it close at the end but it was too little, too late,” said Raffurty. “Ronnie was fast early but I figured it out near midway,” he continued, after IMCA career win number 89 on Saturday. “Ocala is a very unique track. You can get creative there with the way [Read More]

Sheyenne Speedway adds four IMCA divisions for 2024

LISBON, N.D. (Feb. 2, 2024) – Four IMCA track champions will be crowned this season at Sheyenne Speedway. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks are on May 29, June 9, July 12 and July 28 programs at the quarter-mile dirt oval in Lisbon, N.D. Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks will be joined by Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods for the Ransom County Fair show on Aug. 22. New promoters for the 51st season of racing at Sheyenne Speedway are Jake and Sharnel Bitker, who also promote IMCA venues Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn., and Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, and Nick Skalicky. “The fair board has been very supportive – they’re good people – and the community has been very supportive. We look forward to working with them this year,” Jake Bitker said. “This new sanction will give drivers in the Fargo-Jamestown hub to race for IMCA points another four or five nights.” Dirt work began last fall and will be completed [Read More]

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Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Jan. 30, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 529; 2. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 412; 3. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 408; 4. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 402; 5. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 6. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 7. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 334; 8. Ethan Braaksma, Des Moines, Iowa, 290; 9. Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo., 267; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 265; 11. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 257; 12. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 256; 13. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 240; 14. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 236; 15. Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., 233; 16. Ricky Alvarado, Hotchkiss, Colo., and Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, both 207; 18. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wy., 198; 19. Jason Noll, Peoria, Ariz., 184; 20. Greg Gustus, Hudson, Colo., 183. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Bo Partain, Casa Grande, Ariz., 489; 2. Kevin Roberts, Gresham, Ore., 410; 3. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 328; 4. Larry Brigner, Apache Junction, Ariz., 281; 5. Kaden Woodie, Milaca, Minn., 280; 6. Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn., 268; 7. [Read More]

Keltner returns to CJ Speedway as new promoter

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (Jan. 30, 2024) – The track where Dan Keltner started his IMCA racing career is the same track he’ll start his promotional career. Keltner takes charge at CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction, where Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods will run on Friday nights. “Columbus Junction is my home track,” said Keltner, from nearby Grandview. “It’s where I went to my first race and it’s where I started racing. It went through an incredible transformation under (former promoter) Larry Richardson. He’ll be a tough act to follow but I want to continue what Larry accomplished here.” Opening night at the 4/10-mile dirt oval is April 26. Season championship night is Aug. 23. “IMCA has been around for so long and I like the consistency. I’ve raced in other classes that didn’t have the sanction and wished they did,” Keltner said. “There are not a lot of changes on our schedule from last year because we want to take care of [Read More]

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Morris finds setup solution, Beeter and Parker both end IMCA Early Thaw with first feature wins

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 27, 2024) – Just in time, Troy Morris III found the setup that took him to the winner’s circle at Central Arizona Raceway. The Californian had broken before completing a lap on opening night of the Ernie Mincy Early Thaw, then ran 10th in the next three Friesen Performance IMCA Modified features at CAR. Then the lightbulb came on and Morris was fourth in the Friday night show. Saving the best for last, he won the 25-lap finale … from 12th starting … and $1,250 on Saturday. “We have always struggled at Casa Grande because of the banking. It took us until the last two nights to figure out how to get the car to turn the way we wanted it to,” Morris said. “We finally found a base setup we could use before the heats on Friday.” He started on the outside row and followed the high line to the front the next night. “Starting that far back, I didn’t think I had anything to lose by trying it and literally drove [Read More]

130-plus IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars are Florida bound for Clash on the Coast

BAKER, Fla. (Jan. 29, 2024) – Just north of 130 drivers from across the United States and Canada are headed south for the Clash on the Coast presented by IMCA.TV. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds return to race night cards for the second annual speedweek, presented by IMCA.TV and will be joined by IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for first-ever appearances by The Class Too Tough To Tame at both Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker Feb. 26 and 27, and at Southern Raceway in Milton on March 1 and 2. Features for both divisions pay $1,000 to win and a minimum of $100 to start. Feature winners become eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational or the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. All four race programs will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. “It’s mind boggling that we have gotten this much support from the racing community. We’ve already got more than 80 Modified and more than 50 Stock Car entries, from 20 states and two Canadian provinces,” said speedweek promoter Peyton Taylor. “These being 100 percent [Read More]

IMCA 115th for Alvarado, firsts for Johnson and Schrader

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 26, 2024) – Ricky Alvarado raced to his 115th IMCA feature win on the same night Tyler Johnson raced to his IMCA first. Popular visitor Ken Schrader had the Central Arizona Raceway crowd on its feet as well on Friday, night five of the Ernie Mincy Early Thaw. Alvarado, from Hotchkiss, Colo., led every lap in topping the caution-free Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main, earning $1,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility while the 14-year-old rookie Johnson led the distance in the $750 to win feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. Schrader’s first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car checkers were good for $750 and made him eligible to qualify for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. “We raced here 11 years ago – it’s been a long time – and I ran second and third that weekend in one of Tommy Fain’s Modifieds,” recalled Alvarado, who pitted next to his Stock Car driving friend from Abilene, Texas, at Casa Grande. “This has been a good start to the year [Read More]