Ryan Clark

Focus on track championship sees Morris earn IMCA Modified crown at Cotton Bowl Speedway

TAYLOR, Texas (Dec. 20, 2022) – Chris Morris put the focus on winning a track championship and having fun in his seventh Friesen Performance IMCA Modified season. He did both, racing to 11 feature wins in all and his career first track title, at Cotton Bowl Speedway. “We were focused on the Cotton Bowl championship and wherever we fell in the region was going to be good enough,” said Morris, from Taylor, Texas, and third in the GRT Race Cars South Central standings behind William Gould and national rookie of the year Matthew Day. “It turned out to be a pretty fun year.” After topping the opening night show at Texana Raceway Park, he’d park in victory lane eight times at Paige and twice at Heart O’ Texas Speedway. Morris had another 14 top five finishes in his 34 home region starts. “We’ve got a lot of laps at Cotton Bowl. It definitely fits my driving style and I went into every night knowing what I needed to do with the car,” he said. “I’ve [Read More]

IMCA drivers take cash awards to the bank

VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 20, 2022) – Cash awards were paid throughout the season and after 2022 point standings became official to drivers in all nine divisions sanctioned by IMCA. Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants paid $50 to each of the drivers winning the record 132 state championships awarded this season, including: Mike Albertsen, Shelby Alves, Jacey Archer, Chaz Baca, D.J. Banks, Kamden Barnett, Owen Barnhill, Katie Barthel, Codey Benoit, Kyle Berry, Adam Birck, Tyson Blood and Brandon Bombardo. Jerrett Bransom, J.D. Brown, Taylor Brown, Tathan Burkhart, Barry Cannon, Alec Childs, Justin Clark, Jimmy Cole, Danny Concelman, Cameron Cook, Nate Coopman, Cory Craver and Brian Cross. Paul Culp, Cole Czarneski, Thomas Daffern, Matthew Day, Travis Denning, Gary DeWitt, Kade Dimick, Jimmy Doescher, Jake Donnelly, Tommy Dove, Ken Duke, Cory Dumpert and Tim Eaton. Tyler Fiebelkorn, Drake Findley, Edward Finger, Kyle Frederick, Spencer Galaway, Todd Gereau, Adam Goff, Miley JoAnn Goldwich-Rhames, Robert Gonzales, Jesse Gonzalez, William Gould, Jordan Grabouski (2) and Ryan Greenwood. Michael Hale, Ty Hanten, B.J. Haslam, Payce Herrera, Ray Hoedebeck, Bobby Horton, Mike Houseman, Joel Huggins, Steven Johnson, Dave Kappel, Julie Keeler, Justin Kinderknecht [Read More]

Buzz about IMCA.TV Winter Nationals has 452 pre-entered at Cocopah

SOMERTON, Ariz. (Dec. 19, 2022) – Cocopah Speedway will be the place to be for IMCA drivers looking to get a fast start to their 2023 season. The proof is in the numbers. Four hundred and fifty-two drivers in five divisions are now pre-entered for January’s IMCA.TV Winter Nationals. The early entries make their way to Cocopah from more than 20 states and three provinces. “In my wildest dreams, I could imagine having this many pre-entries. In reality, no,” admitted promoter Brad Whitfield. “Racing has changed since the pandemic and more drivers just seem to want to be a part of special events.” “There’s a real buzz about Winter Nationals this year. For one thing, we’re looking at 70-74 degree temperatures in January while a lot of the country is looking at getting 14 inches of snow this weekend,” he added. “The nightly purses are very good and we have $40,-$45,000 in contingencies from a lot of different sponsors that we’ll add on top of that.” Friesen Performance IMCA Modified entries numbered 155, with 115 [Read More]

IMCA STARS Mod Lites chase sweet $7,500 top check at 4th Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals

CLEWISTON, Fla. (Dec. 19, 2022) – A sweet $7,500 awaits the winner of the IMCA STARS Mod Lite Sugar Bowl Winters Nationals. Hendry County Motorsports Park hosts the fourth annual special, presented by Sunoco Race Fuels, on Feb. 8-11, 2023. Saturday night’s main event pays a minimum of $500 to start with Yoshimura bonuses of $250, $150 and $100 to be awarded to the top three finishers. Full race programs are scheduled Thursday, Friday and Saturday Feb. 9-11 with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and Florida State points awarded each of those nights. Drivers can register now on MyRacePass for $100 or $250 after Jan. 1. Twin 25 features Thursday and Friday pay $500 to win $150 to start and $50 tow. Two provisionals will be awarded to fill the main event field and tow is $100 on Saturday. Wednesday’s pre-tech and practice will be followed by a $500 to win race of champions and $1,000 to win manufacturers’ race; both pay $100 to start. Gates open at 4 p.m. each day at Clewiston [Read More]

Estevan is back on schedule for 2023 IMCA Dakota Tour

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (Dec. 19, 2022) – History teacher turned tour director John Gartner channeled his inner Douglas MacArthur when he promised a return to Estevan Motor Speedway. And like the general who made good on his promise to return to the Philippines, Gartner and the IMCA Dakota Classic Modified Tour will return to the Saskatchewan track in 2023. “I’m a history major and always talked to kids about MacArthur’s promise,” he explained. “The tour hasn’t been to Canada since 2019, the year before COVID, and I told people we would go back as soon as we could.” “We made that promise and we’re going to keep it,” he continued. “We will be back in Estevan on July 10.” Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds run for $2,000 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $1,000 to win each night of the July 8-13 tour. Opening night is Saturday, July 8 at Jamestown Speedway. The tour is at Nodak Speedway in Minot on July 9 and Estevan the next night. Williston Basin Speedway hosts the July 11 show. [Read More]

More IMCA drivers earn more IMCA.TV replay bonus money

VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 19, 2022) – More drivers in more divisions earned more – a lot more – IMCA.TV bonus money in 2022. A total of 501 drivers in the nine divisions sanctioned by IMCA earned shares of more than $65,000 generated by replays of weekly and special events at 38 tracks broadcast by IMCA.TV or its affiliates. Modified, Late Model, Sprint Car and Stock Car drivers finishing in the top three in point standings at those tracks received checks for $225, $150 and $125; Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod checks were distributed in the amounts of $125, $115 and $100, Hobby Stock, STARS Mod Lite and Sport Compact checks in the amounts of $100, $80 and $70. Checks have been mailed from the IMCA home office. “This bonus program, the first of its kind, was developed by our streaming platform provider Riivet in 2021 and paid almost $28,000 to nearly 400 drivers in its first year,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “While still based on monthly replay subscription revenue, its structure was fine-tuned this [Read More]

Billy Ward Jr. services set for Saturday

CARLISLE, N.Y. (Dec. 6, 2022) – William “Billy” D. Ward, Jr., 65, of Ward Road died Sunday, December 4, 2022 at his residence following a brief illness. The former IMCA Modified driver was born April 5, 1957 in Cobleskill, the son of the late Roslyn (Walsh) and William D. Ward, Sr. He was a 1975 graduate of the former Cobleskill Central School and the successful, proud owner of WDW Trucking LLC, which he operated several years. His first love was his family, especially being with his grandchildren. His second priority in life were his trucks, then his race cars and most recently his new construction equipment and all the people he met and interacted with whether working or playing. Visitation is Friday, Dec. 9 from 5-7 p.m. at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Ward Residence, at 170 Ward Road in Carlisle. Survivors include his wife Debra (Madl) Ward, whom he married June 7, 1978; his children and [Read More]

As promised, consistency, minor clarifications in 2023 IMCA rules

VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 2, 2022) – You’ll find consistency and minor clarifications but as promised no major changes in 2023 rules announced today (Friday) for six IMCA divisions. 2023 rules for Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Northern SportMods, Southern SportMods and Sport Compacts have been posted on the IMCA website. “We have specified transponder location for those divisions as a matter of consistency,” noted IMCA President Brett Root, “while pretty much everything else we did was clarify already existing rules.” “Most drivers are not going to be affected by anything they see in red in the 2023 rules,” he continued. “Drivers who had a legal IMCA car in 2022 will most likely have a legal car when they show up on Jan. 3 for practice night for the IMCA.TV Winter Nationals at Cocopah Speedway.” In addition to designated transponder location, the 2023 rule clarifications include: *Minimum two inch, maximum four inch roof sides are allowed for Modifieds Northern SportMods and Southern SportMods, and a maximum three inch rear roof curve is allowed for Modifieds and [Read More]

IMCA honors best of the best at 2022 national awards banquet

LINCOLN, Neb. (Nov. 26, 2022) – The best of the best were honored Saturday night as IMCA returned to Lincoln for the 2022 national awards banquet. Nearly 600 people attended the event, held at the Cornhusker Marriott. National champions honored during the evening were Jordan Grabouski, Friesen Performance Modified; Cory Dumpert, IMCA Sunoco Late Model; Justin Clark, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car; Mike Nichols, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car; Dillon Richards, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock; Rodney White, Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod; Matthew Looft, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod; Dillon Raffurty, IMCA STARS Mod Lite; and Nate Coopman, Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact. The Junior National Champion was Mike Smith and Lady Eagle was Shelby Alves. Modified regional champions were Ty Clemens in the Shaw Race Cars Western; William Gould in the GRT Race Cars South Central; Grabouski in the Jet Racing Central; Travis Denning in the Razor Chassis North Central; and A.J. Ward in the Dirt Works Eastern. Stock Car regional kings were Nichols in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern and Blake Clark in the EQ [Read More]

Chevrolet Performance pays record $49,750 in bonuses to 2022 IMCA crate engine track champions

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 30, 2022) – Chevrolet Performance bonuses totaling a record $49,750 have been paid to IMCA drivers winning track championships while competing exclusively with crate engines in 2022. In all, 168 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod and IMCA Sunoco Late Model drivers received $250 checks for each of 199 track championships after indicating on their 2022 license application that they would run a crate engine. Chevrolet Performance introduced the original track championship bonus program in 2005 and has since paid more than $445,000 to IMCA drivers. “The numbers speak for themselves,” noted IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “Drivers competing with crate engines in these four divisions have literally been able to take their track championships to the bank.” IMCA Modified drivers who received bonuses for winning one or more track championships, with multiple track titles indicated in parenthesis, while competing with a crate engine included: Chris Abelson, Keaton Atkinson, Chaz Baca, Owen Barnhill (2), Jordan Bartz, Kenny Baumann, Austen Becerra (2), Cole [Read More]