Ryan Clark

Schmitt’s Super Nationals goal is to be competitive in Saturday night Modified, Stock Car main events

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. (Aug. 12, 2024) – Brandon Schmitt isn’t coming to Boone with a goal of making the Saturday night show. He’ll make the trip to the Sept. 2-7 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s looking to qualify for both Modified and Stock Car main events and, most importantly, being competitive in each. “I’ve made it in the show before and that was cool,” said the Sun Prairie, Wis., speedster, 21st in the Modified Big Dance two years ago. “Obviously, everybody wants to get in the main event but I want to make both big shows, be competitive and run in the top five or top 10.” “To get into an All-Star race would be special, too, because of the amount of talent. To get in those races would be special.” Schmitt is one of a handful of drivers eligible to qualify for both the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational events, doing so on back-to-back nights July 19 and 20 at home track Beaver Dam Raceway. [Read More]

Rich Marshalltown checkers to Inman, Nielsen, Padilla

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Aug. 9, 2024) – It was a beautiful night for racing at Marshalltown Speedway on Friday when it was VESSCO/BHE/RBF Electric night at the track. Those sponsors added extra money to the SportMod, Hobby Stock and Mod Lite classes, all paying $1000 to win. Visiting driver in the IMCA Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods Tyler Inman took the checkers in that division. It was another visitor on the night, Brandon Nielsen, taking the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock win, and Jon Padilla was back in victory lane in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites Tripp Gaylord matched his opening night win when he took the checkers in the IMCA Friesen Performance Modifieds, Michael Jaennette was the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car winner and Michael Gardner won the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compact feature. The Northern SportMod 16-lap feature ran first. Inman, a hired gun for the evening, redrew the outside front row starting spot and from there on out, never looked back on his run to the checkers and the win. Cory Van Zante [Read More]

Ferrando shines at Sunset Speedway’s Mod Frenzy

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (Aug. 10, 2024) – The event at Sunset Speedway Park on Saturday, Aug. 10, was significant, attracting a large field of Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds for the third running of the Whisler Construction Mod Frenzy, with a cool $3,000 on the line. The 40-lap finale for Modifieds was a thrilling spectacle. Multi-time defending track champion Craig Cassell immediately seized the top spot, setting the stage for an intense battle. Cassell had to put up a hard fight on the initial start when he went three-wide with Grey Ferrando and Bricen James. As Cassell secured the lead, Ferrando held off James for second before concentrating his efforts on running down the leader. Ferrando, determined to secure the lead, worked the inside line on the fifth circuit as Cassell kept his faith on the top shelf. The two dueled for quite some time with no clear advantage to either party, showcasing their unwavering determination and skill. Things would take a twist when lapped traffic entered the mix on lap 18. Using [Read More]

Belec dominates 1,000 Stars finale for IMCA career best payday

By Chad Meyer BRITT, Iowa (Aug. 10, 2024) – Eddie Belec had a DNQ and a rainout to show for his first visit to Hancock County Speedway. He has a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified career-best $5,000 payday to show for his second. The Colorado speedster led all 40 laps of Saturday’s Night of 1,000 Stars main event at Britt, the final event of IMCA Speed Week. “This is huge. We’re lucky enough that we get to race with these guys a few times a year. I get to watch them a lot and see them win a lot of races,” he said from victory lane. “When you can come out and line up with them and win, it feels pretty good, for sure.” “I had a few notes from last year and we did make some changes from Friday,” added Belec, who had run third in the opening night qualifier. “I knew we could make the car a little bit better because I knew the track was going to be a little bit different because [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Aug. 8, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 999; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 981; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 974; 4. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, 965; 5. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 961; 6. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, 959; 7. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 955; 8. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 954; 9. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 953; 10. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 944; 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 940; 12. Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., 939; 13. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 933; 14. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 925; 15. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 924; 16. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 922; 17. Ben Chapman, Clarence, Iowa, 920; 18. Jacob Mallet Jr., Oakley, Calif., 908; 19. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., and Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, both 907. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 786; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 771; 3. Evan Miller, Silvis, Ill., 765; 4. Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, Iowa, 750; 5. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 731; 6. Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill., 728; 7. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, [Read More]

Rich checkers fly for Ward at Schattschneider Memorial

ALGONA, Iowa (Aug. 8, 2024) – Tim Ward didn’t quite have the track figured out, but he figured that no one would catch him if he didn’t change what he was doing. He was right about that, and $5,600 richer after the checkers flew Thursday night at Kossuth County Speedway’s Gene Schattschneider Memorial feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Ward swapped the lead with pole starter Zach Dockter on each on the first four circuits, then led to the end of the 25-lapper. Dockter stayed close right through the first 10 laps, then gave way to Joel Rust following a restart. Rust ran second the rest of the way. “It was fun racing with Zach, hats off to him for a good run,” Ward said of their lengthy side-by-side duel. “The track changed on me a bit and I wasn’t sure where to run, so we struggled just a bit,” he added. “I wasn’t sure exactly where to run but figured it would be hard for Joel to get around me if I kept doing [Read More]

Reed follows first feature win with first trip to IMCA Super Nationals

WOODLAND, Wash. (Aug. 9, 2024) – Devon Reed got into a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified so he could race more often and at more tracks. Coming off his career-first feature win in the division, the Woodland, Wash., hotshoe is finalizing plans for his first-ever trip to Boone Speedway and the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “It’s going to be a new experience for me,” said Reed, who will make the bulk of the 1,850 mile one-way trip to Iowa’s Action Track on Interstates 84 and 80. “I‘m looking forward to watching some good racing and hopefully being part of it.” “I don’t have super high expectations, given that this is my first trip and the level I’m at,” he added, “but I’m definitely going to give it a try. I’d like to win a heat and get into one of the qualifying features. I’d be pretty happy with that for my first time.” Forty-one years old and the owner of an auto repair shop, Reed followed grandfather Frank Manley, who raced midgets in the [Read More]

Bald Tire Bash, Kids’ Backpack Night this Sunday at The Bullring

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 8, 2024) – In what has become an annual event for the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars presented by Christie Door Company, the Bald Tire Bash will highlight racing action this Sunday, Aug. 11 at Benton County Speedway. The draw/redraw special for the Stock Cars will boast a $2,000 winner’s share in a $200 to start main event at The Bullring. There is no entry fee. Maximum tire tread depth allowed for the division that evening is 1/8”. IMCA state, regional and national points only will be awarded for the Stock Cars. IMCA weekly points racing will continue Sunday for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wright Way Trailers, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks presented by iHeart Radio and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. INEX Legends presented by Legends.Direct will also compete Sunday night. In addition to the racing program, Sunday is Kids’ Backpack Night for the youth in attendance. As of last Sunday, the Lil’ Racer Car Club collected nearly 140 backpacks full of school supplies for the giveaway. [Read More]

LaBatte banks Stock Car paydirt at Nodak

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (Aug. 4, 2024) – The North Dakota State Fairgrounds roared to life and Brendon LaBatte raced his way to B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility on Sunday. When the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car finale came to life, Kyle Scholpp took the lead and tried to run away from the rest of the field. However, fellow Saskatchewanian, LaBatte made a masterful run on the bottom trying to reel in the leader. At the same time, Scholpp was comfortable up high and had a slight advantage up there. Shawn Green and Mike Hagen put on a show for third place, with Hagen eventually securing the spot on the third circuit. While the race for third cooled down, the battle for the lead heated up. LaBatte submitted a challenge to the inside of Scholpp the sixth time past the flag stand. Scholpp did his best to keep LaBatte back, but LaBatte’s persistence paid big dividends when he got around the leader on lap seven. He started to pull away from [Read More]

Ficklin takes care of business at Marysville

By Ben Deatherage MARYSVILLE, Calif. (Aug. 3, 2024) – Marysville Raceway welcomed the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods to the historic 1/4-mile clay oval Saturday night. Shannon Barton took the marshal’s baton early in the main event. Despite a number of cautions in the first five laps, Barton was good on the restarts. After a stoppage on the fourth circuit, Scott Savell battled hard with Mike Ficklin Jr. Misfortune struck on lap eight when Savell came to a halt, bringing an early end to his evening. When the green flag reappeared, the race was back on. Ficklin overtook Barton for the lead and flew around the track while Barton was put on the defense as he tried to stay ahead of Mark Garner. Garner got around Barton, but the pass was negated due to the race’s last caution with four to go. Garner managed to get around Barton again on the restart, but no one had anything for Ficklin as he went on to win his first race in 2024. Garner was a strong [Read More]