Crystal checkers fly for Ward

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Sept. 16) – The ninth time was a charm Sunday for A.J. Ward. Ward won the Great Lakes Nationals in his career ninth start at Crystal Motor Speedway’s season-ending special for IMCA Modifieds. The victory was accompanied by a check for $3,000 and a very tall trophy. “I knew we were good at the end but I didn’t know if anyone behind me was saving their tires,” Ward said, after checking the last big IMCA Modified special in Michigan off his must-win list. “We’ve been trying to win this race for a long time. It feels good to finally be able to do it.” Brenten DeYoung ended the 50-lapper in second and five-time Great Lakes Nationals king Myron DeYoung was third. Twentieth starting Joey Burch and Chad Wernette completed the top five. Ward made his way patiently from eighth starting, finally catching leader Matt Szecsodi in lapped traffic. “I concentrated on saving my tires and picked ‘em off one at a time,” said Ward, runner-up in the 2013 event and third last year. [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage CRYSTAL, Mich. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Austin Harnick continued his red-hot start to the season Saturday night at Crystal Motor Speedway, charging from 12th to score his second consecutive Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win at the track and fourth overall in the DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region. Don Proctor Jr. and Chad Spencer dueled for the lead early, with Spencer leading the opening lap and building a small cushion. Two-time track champion Austin Wonch worked past Proctor for second after an early restart, then set his sights on the leader. The turning point came on a lap 10 restart when Harnick, the reigning Merritt Speedway champion and Great Lakes Nationals winner, powered underneath Spencer to take the lead. A late caution bunched the field again, but the 22-year-old driver from Clare was unfazed, pulling away for a commanding victory. Nathan Patrick finished second, with Casey Smith rounding out the podium. The 20-lap feature served as a qualifier for the 2025 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by [Read More]

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Sept. 9, 2024) – IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars make their first appearance while Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds return to the program for Crystal Motor Speedway’s 32nd annual Great Lakes Nationals Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13 and 14. Modifieds run for $5,000 to win in their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying event while Stock Cars run for $2,000 to win and  B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Eastern Region and EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, and Michigan State points will be awarded as well. “We decided back in April to add the Stock Cars to Great Lakes Nationals,” said promoter Brian LeBaron. “We are seeing more and more Street Stocks here and the cars have a very similar rules package to the IMCA Stock Cars. The chassis that we’re seeing when we go to Boone, the Harris’ and the B & B’s, are the chassis that we’re seeing show up in our classes.” Corner Market and Deer Processing sponsors the 50-lap Modified feature. Stock [Read More]