A.J. Ward’s 1,100-mile round trip to Outlaw Speedway paid off with the $1,000 IMCA Modified feature Spring Nationals feature win. (Photo by Greg Mesler)
By Paul Szmal and Kenny Shupp
DUNDEE, N.Y. (April 21) – Another long trip to New York ended with another IMCA Modified feature win for Michigan speedster A.J. Ward.
The two-time defending Dirt Works Eastern Region champion chalked up his sixth victory in seven New York State starts, and career 82nd win in the division, by passing Will Ward on the last of 20 laps at Outlaw Speedway’s Spring Nationals on Saturday.
A late restart helped open the door for A.J. Ward, who’d taken the initial green flag from fifth starting. He ran side-by-side with Will Ward before eking ahead to take the checkers by close to a couple car lengths.
Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, A.J. Ward earned $1,000 for the win. Will Ward, the defending state champion, was second and third went to Brandon Smith.
Feature results – 1. A.J. Ward; 2. Will Ward; 3. Brandon Smith; 4. Tyler Stoddard; 5. Kody Johnson; 6. Mark Griffin; 7. Gary Lamphere; 8. Keith Jack Lamphere; 9. Keith Lamphere; 10. Rodney Morgan; 11. Billy Ward; 12. Jake Maynard; 13. Phil Yaw; 14. Sparky Hills; 15. Todd Stone; 16. Gary Roberts.
By Paul Szmal DUNDEE, N.Y. (June 8) – Will Ward slid past Rich Karlnoski on the 10th circuit and cruised to his second straight Marion Decker Agency IMCA Modified feature win Friday at Outlaw Speedway. Karlnoski had taken the lead at the drop of the initial green. Brandon Smith and Rodney Morgan fought side-by-side over the finals laps for second, with Morgan getting the position at the checkers. Completing the top five were Smith, Phil Yaw and Karlnoski.
By Paul Szmal DUNDEE, N.Y. (May 25) – Will Ward was the late-night IMCA Modified winner Friday at Outlaw Speedway. The feature began with Rich Karlnoski jumping out to the lead while Ward sliced through the field to second. After a quick yellow, Ward grabbed the lead on the restart as Rodney Morgan began to advance, getting the runner-up position just past halfway. Morgan could not catch Ward, who took the checkers. Brad Smith overcame an early race spin to charge back to third, followed by Karlnoski and Phil Yaw. Sunrise Insulation Night at Dundee proved to be an interesting one for reasons other than racing. After completion of the heats, the track lights in turns three and four did not come on. Refusing to give up, the track crew, with assistance from driver Ray Hyer and others, worked for two hours to solve the problem … and finally the lights came back up and the feature events began.
By Paul Szmal DUNDEE, N.Y. (May 4) – Phil Yaw hung on for a big IMCA Modified win Friday on Little League Night at Outlaw Speedway. Phil Yaw got out ahead of Rodney Morgan. Will Ward passed Morgan for second and almost took the lead in traffic with two to go, but Yaw held on for the win, followed by Ward, Morgan, Shawn Bruce and Tony Harris.