Ryan Clark joins IMCA as new executive secretary

VINTON, Iowa – Ryan Clark has found yet another way to be involved in his favorite sport.

Clark is the new executive secretary for IMCA. He’ll have regular Monday through Friday responsibili­ties at the home office while attending and working at weekly, series and special race events as needed.

“I grew up around the race track. My dad, Dwayne Burkey, raced and then worked at the track for many years,” said Clark, a Vinton native. “I’ve always enjoyed the family aspect of racing, which you have to if you’re involved in it at any level. I’ve always been a numbers and statistics guy and that’s probably part of what drew me to the sport, too.”

A former editor of Hawkeye Racing News, Clark announced at Independence Motor Speedway for six of the 15 years he worked at that track and penned the popular In Staging blog.

Clark had worked part-time in the points and membership and public relations office at IMCA for the past year and a half.

Part of the announcer team for the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, he also co-emceed the national awards banquet last month in Lincoln, Neb.

“Ryan knows the ins and outs of racing and the ins and outs of IMCA,” said Brett Root, vice presi­dent of operations for the sanctioning body. “He’s capable of doing a lot of different things, in the office and at sanctioned events. That’s a rare combination.”

While handling scheduling, correspondence and website chores from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. during the work week, Clark will add to his voluminous record keeping of race results from both Independ­ence and Vinton.

Rick Haefner retired from the executive secretary’s post in November, after a 25-year career with IMCA.