Ryan Clark

Freedom Race Lifts Named Official Race Car Lift of IMCA

By Ben Deatherage LAKE CITY, Minn. (June 3, 2026) — Freedom Race Lifts is proud to announce its designation as the Official Race Car Lift of IMCA, bringing its award winning battery-operated lift technology to the nation’s oldest active racing sanctioning body in the country. “It is a great honor to be affiliated with a series who put racers first,” said owner Josh Rodewald. “It’s the heart of what we do at Freedom Race Lifts, and we are thrilled to be able to contribute to the future of the sport.” Owned by engineer and former racer Josh Rodewald, Freedom Race Lifts has fast become nationally recognized for establishing the first truly portable wireless-operated vehicle lifts and jacks designed specifically for race teams. That success was fueled by first hand experience; facing the everyday risk of working under vehicles— whether in the shop or at the track. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports more than 4,800 people are injured each year in the U.S. while working on vehicles, due to automotive jack failures. Rodewald believes those numbers [Read More]

Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial Returns June 6 at Jamestown Speedway

By Ben Deatherage JAMESTOWN, N.D. (June 3, 2026) — Jamestown Speedway will honor one of the most influential figures in its history when the 7th Annual Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial takes center stage on Saturday, June 6. Presented by Wilhelm’s and North Star Buick & GMC Dealers and I-29 Trailer Sales, the special event will feature Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds racing for a $2,222 top prize in memory of Don Gumke and his iconic No. 2* Modified. The event will also serve as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, giving the winner an opportunity to earn eligibility for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Gumke, who passed away in January of 2020 at the age of 66, left a lasting impact on the racing community throughout North Dakota and beyond. A fierce competitor behind the wheel, he later helped transform Jamestown Speedway into one of the region’s premier dirt track facilities. Alongside his partner Joanne and Keith Veil, Gumke helped build the speedway’s reputation as a destination for both racers and [Read More]

Feature

Simpson Family Enjoys Memorable Night at Kossuth County Speedway

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (May 28, 2026) — It was a night the Simpson family won’t soon forget at Kossuth County Speedway. Thirteen-year-old Ryan Simpson celebrated his first career feature victory in one of the track’s local divisions, and later in the evening father Jake added a Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature win to complete a memorable family double. With Ryan already in victory lane, the spotlight shifted to Jake in the Northern SportMod feature. The Algona driver answered the challenge in impressive fashion. Drew Fett led the opening laps before cautions on consecutive circuits slowed the action. Following the second restart, Simpson powered past Fett and took command. Starting third, Simpson maintained the lead over the final eight laps to score his second victory of the season, with both wins coming at Kossuth County Speedway. Josh Appel finished second while Grant Kramer completed the podium in third. Charlie Stevens charged from ninth to fourth and Alec Fett rallied from 11th to fifth. Swearingen Wins Stock Car Thriller for Second Straight Week The Sunoco [Read More]

Olsen Charges Late for Shelby County SportMod Victory

By Don Hawkins HARLAN, Iowa (May 30, 2026) — Thirty-three Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods signed in at Shelby County Speedway and the feature lived up to expectations. Josalyn Elmquist jumped out to the early lead before defending track champion Hayden Hillgartner worked his way to the front. As the laps wound down, Red Oak’s Cody Olsen charged through the field from the eighth starting position and made a late-race move to steal the victory. The win was Olsen’s second of the season and came at his second different track in 2026. Hillgartner settled for second while Corey Madden completed the podium in third. Elmquist finished fourth and Brayden Shepherd rounded out the top five. Meiners Scores First Stock Car Win of Season The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars closed out the evening with Austin Meiners putting together an impressive drive from the eighth starting position. The Polk City driver worked his way through traffic and eventually overtook Larry Robinson Jr. to score his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season. Robinson finished second [Read More]

Sunoco Bonus Bucks Program Rewards IMCA Late Model Racers During Busy Month of May

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (June 2, 2026) — The 2026 Sunoco Bonus Bucks program for Sunoco IMCA Late Models got underway in May, recognizing feature winners and contingency award recipients at four events across Iowa and Illinois. The month began May 8 at Highway 39 Speedway, where Omaha, Nebraska’s Corey Zeitner scored the feature victory and collected the Sunoco Bonus Bucks award. Defending Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National champion Zach Zeitner finished second, while Drew Baker advanced from eighth to third. Mike Collins and Robbie Jorgensen completed the top five. Baker’s charge through the field earned him the Justice Brothers Hard Charger Award, while Charlie Peck collected the PEM Racing award as the 10th-place finisher. One night later at Shelby County Speedway, Zach Zeitner put together an impressive drive from 10th starting position to capture both the feature win and Sunoco Bonus Bucks honors. Aidan Mohr finished second, followed by Allan Hopp, Sterling Perkins, and Cooper Tilley. Zeitner’s drive through the field also earned him the Justice Brothers Hard Charger Award. The May 15 [Read More]

Bittner Sweeps Weekend with Selinsgrove PASS Victory

By Frank Buhrman SELINSGROVE, Pa. (May 30, 2026) — Timmy Bittner’s summer is off to a pretty good start. The Beech Creek driver slipped past race-long leader Mike Alleman in lapped traffic with five laps remaining and held on to win Saturday night’s 20-lap River Valley Builders PA Sprint Series feature at Selinsgrove Speedway. The victory completed a weekend sweep for Bittner, who also captured Friday night’s RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature at Clinton County Speedway. The two wins further strengthened his position atop both the national and Pennsylvania RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car standings. Bittner won his heat race before quickly advancing from fourth to second in the feature. While he remained within striking distance of Alleman throughout the race, traffic proved to be the deciding factor. As Alleman negotiated slower cars, Bittner found an opening underneath and completed the winning pass with five laps to go. A caution on lap 17 gave Alleman one final opportunity, but Bittner executed two flawless restarts after the first attempt was called back and pulled away to secure the [Read More]

Mackenthun Capitalizes Late for Arlington Stock Car Victory

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 30, 2026) — Dan Mackenthun used a late restart to his advantage and charged from the 11th starting position to win the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Arlington Raceway. Ryan Bjerkeset led the majority of the race while drivers behind him battled two and three wide throughout the field. Dave Moriarty spent much of the event trying to track down the leader while Mackenthun steadily worked his way through traffic. A late caution changed everything when Garrett Uecker made contact with the retaining wall in turn three, ending his night and setting up a crucial restart. Mackenthun capitalized on the opportunity, taking over the lead and driving away for his fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season. The Hamburg veteran has now won at three different tracks in 2026 and scored his first Arlington Raceway triumph of the year. Matthew Looft advanced from ninth to finish second while Bjerkeset settled for third. Trent Loverude charged from 15th to fourth and Matt Speckman completed the top five. [Read More]

Bittner Becomes First Repeat RaceSaver Winner at Clinton County

MILL HALL, Pa. (May 29, 2026) — Timmy Bittner became the first repeat RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car winner at Clinton County Speedway this season, racing to victory Friday night at the Mill Hall oval. The Beech Creek driver earned his third overall victory of 2026 and second at Clinton County Speedway this year. After Cory Stabley led the field to the green flag, Bittner charged into the lead by the completion of the opening lap and never relinquished the top spot. Jeffrey Weaver settled into second early while Dale Schweikart held third as the leaders established their positions. By lap five, Bittner paced Weaver, Schweikart, Josh Beamer, and Stabley. From there, Bittner maintained control of the feature and kept the field at bay to secure the victory. Weaver crossed the stripe in second while Schweikart completed the podium in third. Beamer finished fourth and Stabley rounded out the top five.

Sullivan Charges from 12th to Claim Throwback Night Sprint Car Victory at I-90

HARTFORD, S.D. (May 30, 2026) — Throwback Night at I-90 Speedway produced a memorable performance in the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars as Andrew Sullivan stormed from the 12th starting position to score a dominant feature victory. The Arnold’s Park, Iowa driver wheeled his family’s No. 91 machine through traffic and took command on lap nine. Once out front, Sullivan quickly stretched his advantage and was never challenged, crossing the finish line 6.5 seconds ahead of the competition. Logan Kafka led much of the early portion of the feature before settling for second. Four-time track champion and current points leader Lee Goos Jr. earned hard charger honors after advancing 13 positions to finish third. Bayley Ballenger crossed the stripe fourth while Gavin Gregory completed the top five. One of the night’s notable stories belonged to Micah Schliemann, the all-time winningest sprint car driver in I-90 Speedway history. Making his first appearance at the track since 2014, Schliemann raced his way into the feature through a heat race transfer position and then charged from 13th to finish sixth [Read More]

Harris Goes Back-to-Back in Park Jefferson Stock Cars

By Chance Riley JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 29, 2026) — Ryan Harris continued his winning ways Friday night at Park Jefferson Speedway, racing from the 10th starting position to capture the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. The Homer, Nebraska driver earned his second EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season, with both wins coming at Park Jefferson Speedway. Lowell Roeber finished second while Dayton Mosher completed the podium in third. Jason Ward advanced from 14th to fourth. Wyatt Luke rounded out the top five, while Devin Tripp charged from 21st to sixth. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature belonged to South Sioux City’s R.J. Merchant. Starting third, Merchant worked his way to the front and held off a late challenge from Duke Erickson to secure his third Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season. All three wins have come at Park Jefferson Speedway. Erickson advanced from ninth to finish second while Bob Moore crossed the stripe third. Brian Mahlstedt rallied from eighth to fourth and Ricky Stephan completed the top five. Willy Kirk [Read More]