Ward rewarded for IMCA Modified efforts with $3,000 Southern Stampede checkers

Feature

Tim Ward started 12th and finished first in Thursday’s $3,000 to win IMCA Modified feature, on opening night of the Southern Stampede at Southern Oklahoma Speedway.

ARDMORE, Okla. (March 11) – The race Tim Ward has watched on TV is the race he won Thursday at Southern Oklahoma Speedway. 

Ward charged all the way from 12th starting to win the IMCA Modified main event and $3,000 on opening night of the Southern Stampede. The victory was the first in Oklahoma for the much-traveled Ward and the second of the season for the Arizona native.

Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, he was one of 53 Modified and 120 IMCA entries for the season-opening special.

“We guessed right on the car,” he said following a 30-lapper interrupted by a single caution. “We had watched this show the last couple years and it looked fun. I’m glad we’re here.”

Into the top three before midway, he’d passed the ninth starting Ethan Braaksma for the lead with 13 laps to go. That pair got into lapped traffic with five circuits left; early leader Jared Baird took third from Jimmy Day late in the contest.

Tommy Fain won a second straight IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Stampede title while Shelby Williams scored the Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod checkers, also good for $1,750. 

Fain also started deep in the field, motoring from 11th to the lead just eight laps in. He’d checked out on everybody long before lap 18 and 23 yellows, then out ran Jeffrey Abbey the last seven times around the track. 

“I was able to roll the bottom pretty good early. When the first caution came out, maybe it was a good thing because it gave me an open track,” Fain said. “The car was fast and luck just happened to be with me tonight.” 

Williams started from the pole and ran second to Dean Abbey much of the Southern SportMod distance before a late caution. Abbey was then sent to the back for getting into a lapped car and Williams impressed in beating Cullen Hill and Matthew Day to the checkers. 

All three divisions are on the Friday card at Ardmore for night two of the Southern Stampede, also broadcast by IMCA.TV.

Racing starts at 6 p.m. 

Related Articles

Feature

Sustaire is first in IMCA Red River Modified Tour finale

By Mike Spieker ARDMORE, Oklahoma (June 1) – Kevin Sustaire dominated Friday’s feature to close out the IMCA Red River Modified Tour at Southern Oklahoma Speedway. Already on the Fast Shafts Invitational ballot, he earned $1,500 for the victory while Chris Elliott was the best driver through six rounds and earned the inaugural tour championship. Thirty-one IMCA Modifieds rolled off three-wide to start the tour finale. Sustaire wasted no time moving to the front as he charged from the middle of row two to the lead on the opening lap. A caution on lap two regrouped the field. On the restart, Cory Davis and Matt Guillaume filed into second and third, respectively, as Sustaire showed the way. A few more cautions kept the field bunched up, but the second half of the race had a long green flag run. Sustaire checked out from the field in the closing stages as he became the sixth different win­ner in as many nights. Davis and Guillaume rounded out the podium as Chris Bragg prevailed in an incredible battle [Read More]

Events

Three IMCA divisions Stampede March 17-19 at Southern Oklahoma Speedway

ARDMORE, Okla. (March 7, 2022) – Southern Oklahoma Speedway’s Southern Stampede special sees three IMCA divisions in action March 17, 18 and 19. IMCA Modifieds run for $2,000 to win and $200 to start on Thurs­day, $1,000 to win and $100 to start on Friday and $3,000 to win and $300 to start Sat­urday evening at Ardmore, with each winner earning Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Thirty cars will start three-win on the final night. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Smiley’s Racing Products South­ern SportMods both run for $1,000 to win and $100 to start on Thursday, $750 to win and $75 to start on Fri­day and $1,250 to win and $125 to start Saturday. Stock Car winners become B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Each race night program will be available on IMCA.TV, which also returns as broadcast partner for weekly race programs at Southern Oklahoma Speedway this season. Pre-entry fee for the Modifieds is $75 for Thursday or Friday, $125 for Saturday or $175 for all three days. Stock [Read More]

Events

Southern Oklahoma adjusts Stampede schedule

ARDMORE, Okla. – With wet weather moving into the area Saturday, Southern Oklahoma Speedway will host Southern Stampede shows Thursday and Friday, March 11 and 12.      Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying features now see IMCA Modifieds run for $3,000 to win and $300 to start on Thurs­day and $1,000 to win and $100 to start on Friday. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Smiley’s Racing Products South­ern SportMods both run for $1,750 to win and $175 to start on Thursday and $750 to win and $75 to start on Fri­day.  With a 70-plus chance of an inch of rain in the forecast, Saturday’s program has been canceled.  IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing Na­tional and KMJ Performance Oklahoma State points will be awarded in all three divi­sions both nights. Modifieds also chase Razor Chassis South Central Region points and Stock Cars earn EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region points.  Pit gates open at 3 p.m. and racing starts at 6:30 p.m. both days. Pit passes are $35. Spectator admission is $20 for adults. General admission for [Read More]