dirtknightstour Archives

Marriott makes it two wins in three nights with BVR Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights checkers

ALTA, Iowa (July 25) – Wednesday’s night’s Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour rubber match went to Hunter Marriott. Marriott led every lap from the pole in winning the IMCA Modified main event at Buena Vista Raceway. The $2,000 tour victory was his second in three days, the first coming Monday at Park Jefferson Speedway. Kyle Strickler, winner of the Tuesday tour event at Hancock County Speedway, was a distant second. “It seems like we had gone on a dry streak there for a while, then we got a couple wins on the Dakota Tour so we knew we could still do it,” said Marriott, who’d put his name on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot Monday. “We’ve won three of five career starts at Alta and a couple Dirt Knights features now, and that always feels good.” Strickler fell back as far as fifth before working his way back to the runner-up spot. Joel Rust, defending BVR race winner Chris Abelson and Kyle Brown finished third through fifth, respectively, in the 25-lapper. Marriott may [Read More]

Strickler is best at Britt for IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour win

BRITT, Iowa (July 24) – There’s something about Hancock County Speedway that brings out the best in Kyle Strickler. Strickler led every lap in winning Tuesday’s Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour feature for IMCA Modifieds, earning $2,000 along with a spot on the 2019 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Hunter Marriott followed his Monday night victory at Park Jefferson Speedway with a runner-up finish. He pressured Strickler throughout the first half of the race and was joined by Ryan Ruter in hot pursuit the last half. Strickler, however, was able to lengthen his lead on the rest of the field before taking the checkers. The victory was Strickler’s Dirt Knights Tour career third and all have been at Britt. Strickler won the show that doubled as Night of 1,000 Stars in 2013 and the Salute to Veterans Night event in 2015. He also counts the 2014 Night of 10,000 Stars and last year’s Shryock Memorial All-Star among his checkered flag runs at Hancock County. Rounding out the top five were Ethan Dotson and ‘B’ [Read More]

Marriott prevails in Park Jefferson IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights feature

JEFFERSON, S.D. (July 23) – A driver from Missouri was first to the checkers when the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour for IMCA Modifieds made its first-ever visit to South Dakota. Hunter Marriott topped the $2,000 to win main event Monday night at Park Jefferson Speedway, putting his name on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot for 2019 with his career fifth tour victory. Ricky Thornton Jr.’s record streak of three straight tour wins came to an end with a second-place finish. Kyle Strickler, Joel Rust and Chris Abelson rounded out the top five. Forty-three touring Modifieds from 11 states vied in front of a big crowd at Jefferson, on hand for just the second tour event held outside Iowa. Joel Rust was the very early leader before 2016 tour champion Abelson took charge. A mid-race caution that caught up Jason Wolla and Jay Noteboom put Marriott on Abelson’s back bumper for the ensuing restart. Marriott worked the low side of the track to take the lead while Abelson stayed higher up on the [Read More]

Three events in three nights are next for IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour

JEFFERSON, S.D. (July 20) – Another out-of-state date kicks off three events in as many nights for the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour. The series for IMCA Modifieds is at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D., on Monday, July 23, before returning to familiar Iowa venues Hancock County Speedway in Britt on Tuesday, July 24 and Buena Vista Raceway in Alta on Wednesday, July 25. All three features pay $2,000 to win and are qualifying events for the 2019 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. The Park Jefferson show will be the first held in South Dakota in the series’ eight-plus year history; 141 Speedway in Wisconsin had hosted the first Dirt Knights Tour event outside Iowa in June. Pit gates and the grandstand open at 5 p.m. at Jefferson. Hot laps are at 6:20 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $18 for adults, $10 for seniors 70-plus, $5 for students ages 6-16 and free for kids ages five and under. Also running are IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco [Read More]

Thornton is fastest at Knoxville for another IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour win

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 19) – Ricky Thornton Jr. added another career highlight-type IMCA Modified feature win to a resume that’s already full of them Thursday night. Thornton led start to finish of the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour main event at Knoxville Raceway, earning $2,000 for his series record third straight victory. “This win is huge,” the Arizona transplant said. “Growing up, we all watched the Knoxville Nationals and to win in only my third race here is just great.” Thornton had gotten caught in a wreck while running near the front in last year’s tour event at Knoxville. Traffic wasn’t an issue in Thursday’s Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duel as Thornton took charge from outside the front row. Cayden Carter was close behind but a caution with six circuits left in the 25-lapper cleared the track ahead of the leader. Carter, Richie Gustin, Jacob Murray and 2017 race winner Chris Abelson rounded out the top five. “The biggest thing was that I was able to set my own pace,” said Thornton, qualified multiple times [Read More]

Knoxville hosts next IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour date

KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Many of the best IMCA Modified drivers in the Midwest put their on-track skills to the test at the Sprint Car Capital of the World next Thursday, July 19. Knoxville Raceway hosts the third installment of the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour. IMCA Modifieds run for $2,000 to win and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot nod while Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods complete the Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duel program. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 6 p.m. on race day. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students ages 13-19, and free for kids 12 and under. Senior and military rates will also be available; pit passes are $30. More information is available at the www.knoxvilleraceway.com website. Arizona native Ricky Thornton Jr. is racing out of Clive this season and has won the first two tour events, at Benton County Speedway in Vinton and at 141 Speedway in Wisconsin. The 141 Speedway event [Read More]

Thornton dominates $10,000 to win IMCA Clash at the Creek

By Mike Spieker FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (June 21) – Ricky Thornton Jr. dominated Thursday’s IMCA Modified Clash at the Creek at 141 Speedway to earn the $10,000 payday. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Thornton led all 50 trips around the smooth and slick 1/3-mile dirt oval. The Clash did double duty as an Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour event, the first such held outside Iowa. Eighty-two Modifieds were entered and seven states were represented in the main event. Thornton grabbed the lead from the pole on the opening lap as Mike Mullen filed into second. A gaggle of cars, including Hunter Marriott, Joel Rust, Kyle Stickler and Benji LaCrosse, raced for the final positions inside the top five. Thornton immediately checked out from the field, establishing a one second lead over Mullen in the first five laps. Like Thornton, the rest of the drivers inside the top five ran the low side of the speedway until Strickler countered that trend. Strickler went to the top side and quickly began picking off cars, [Read More]

Memorial Day opener for Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour

VINTON, Iowa – A familiar tour for IMCA Modifieds totes higher payouts at each of its eight race dates and a bigger point fund when the 2018 season is complete. The Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour opens on Monday, May 28 at Benton County Speedway. A minimum of $2,000 will be paid to win and $200 to start each tour feature, with the champion earning a $1,500 share of the nearly $10,000 point fund. “This will be the seventh time we’ve started the tour at Vinton. The Prelude special the day before also pays $2,000 to win so it’s possible for a driver to enjoy a $4,000 Memorial Weekend at Benton County Speedway,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “There’s a lot to be excited about the upcoming tour. We’ve increased the payout and point fund, a passing points format will be new and the Dirt Knights will be featured on MAVTV.” “Plus,” he added, “contingency awards will be given at each event and at the conclusion of the tour.” From Vinton, the tour travels [Read More]