Ryan Clark

Shawn Natenstedt: A Century of Wins Forged in the Nevada Desert

By Ben Deatherage FERNLEY, Nev. (Oct. 6, 2025) — The desert around Fernley stretches wide and golden, framed by the distant Sierra Nevadas and stitched with the old irrigation canals that turned sagebrush into farmland more than a century ago. Freight trains roll past the cement plant, the hum of Highway 80 in the distance, and every so often, the bark of a race engine echoes from a nearby shop. For Shawn Natenstedt, that sound is home — the rhythm of long nights, late drives, and the relentless pursuit of one more win. That pursuit reached a milestone this summer when he captured his 100th IMCA-sanctioned victory on Aug. 2 at Lovelock Speedway, earning his place among the prestigious Century Club. That milestone also put Natenstedt in rare company — only four other Nevada drivers have ever reached the 100-win plateau in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified division. “It was a hard feat, but we finally made it happen,” he said. “It didn’t come as soon as I wanted, but when it did, it meant a [Read More]

Ashton Thompson: Turning Laps for a Cause

By Ben Deatherage SALEM, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2025) — In the rolling hills of southern Indiana, where small towns dot the countryside and history runs deep, sits Salem. It has become a crossroads town with a courthouse square at its heart and strengthened by generations who rebuilt after every setback. Today, its brick streets and quiet neighborhoods still reflect that heritage of resilience. From this backdrop rises Ashton Thompson’s story — a third-generation racer who has carried her family’s tradition further than ever, chasing speed across the Midwest and now carving her path in the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car division with the Huntley’s Hoosier Winged Sprint Series. A Family Affair “I’m a third-generation racer,” Thompson said with a grin. “My dad told me I had to play a sport when I was six, and I chose racing. We kept it in the family.” Her father, Tyson, and grandfather, Gerald, both ran Mini Sprints on the local scene. Ashton went further, climbing from quarter midgets into Micro Sprints, Midgets, and even developmental series on pavement and road [Read More]

Braxton Yeager Wins Modified Thriller and Claims Clash Crown at Desert Thunder

By Ben Deatherage PRICE, Utah (Sept. 27, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds closed out the Castle County Clash at Desert Thunder Raceway with a barnburner. Waylon Hale led the opening lap before a lap-two caution reset the field. On the restart, Kade Dimick — a two-time Utah State and Desert Thunder Raceway Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod champion — powered into the lead. Dimick controlled the race through another caution on lap seven, setting the pace as Hale kept close. With only a handful of laps left, the leaders entered lapped traffic, and Hale slipped underneath to challenge. Just as the duel heated up, Braxton Yeager joined the mix. Running the high line to perfection, Yeager beat both Dimick and Hale back to the stripe for the dramatic win. Yeager, the 2022 Sweetwater Speedway track champion from Green River, Wyoming, was driving for the Hislop family and clinched the overall Clash crown with the victory. Dimick held on for second, Hale ran third, while Yeager’s father Justen, 2009 Shaw Race Cars Western Region champion, [Read More]

Pavlicek Finally Breaks Through in SportMods at Dacotah’s Oktoberfest

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (Sept. 27, 2025) — Casselton’s Rich Pavlicek quickly pulled away in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMod feature on the final night of Oktoberfest at Dacotah Speedway. The real battle was for second as Keenan Glasser, Troy Speten and Nathan Speten fought it out. A series of mid-race cautions regrouped the field, with Nathan Speten slipping past Glasser for second. Glasser rallied, however, and retook the spot with six laps remaining. After coming up short the past two years, Pavlicek finally broke through and parked in Dacotah Speedway victory lane. Glasser held off Nathan Speten for second, with Chris VanMil fourth and Jayden Pavlicek rounding out the top five. Satran Survives Caution-Filled Hobby Stock Main When the green flag waved in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, it was an early duel between Diezel Raynard and Kyler Satran. Satran grabbed the lead before a caution reset the field, the first of several that slowed the pace. The restarts worked to the advantage of former Oktoberfest champion Brandon Beeter, who sliced his way [Read More]

Inaugural Duel at Mohave Boasts $7,777.77 to Win for IMCA Modifieds November 13–15

By Ben Deatherage BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (Oct. 2, 2025) — The inaugural Duel at Mohave is set to make a big splash at Mohave Valley Raceway Nov. 13–15, with IMCA Modifieds headlining the three-day spectacular at $7,777.77 to win on championship night. IMCA Stock Cars and Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods will also be racing for big money in the desert showcase. The weekend begins with an open practice on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 6–10 p.m. before three straight nights of racing action. Each evening will feature cash-paying programs, capped by Saturday night main events that also serve as 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s qualifying races for both the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational. Modifieds will race for $500 to win on both Thursday and Friday before chasing the $7,777.77 top prize on Saturday, which also pays $2,750 for second, $2,000 for third, $1,500 for fourth, and $1,250 for fifth. Stock Cars will battle for $500 on Thursday and Friday before racing for [Read More]

Auctions and Contingencies Add Extra Excitement to Super Nationals; Ward and McBirnie Score Big Totals

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 26, 2025) — On Saturday night, Sept. 6, after all championship features had been decided at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, the annual auction in the NAPA Auto Parts Fan Zone took center stage. Engines, chassis, and more went across the block, adding to the excitement of championship night and boosting the haul for two of the week’s biggest winners. For two of those champions, the night got even bigger. Tim Ward’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified victory was worth $17,000 with his $10,000 winner’s purse and a Harris Modified chassis that sold for $7,000. Jake McBirnie’s Sunoco IMCA Stock Car championship totaled $26,600 thanks to his $7,500 payday plus Terminator and B&B Racing chassis that brought $10,200 and $8,900. Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks champion Dylan Nelson and Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods winner Jake Sachau also received brand new engines built by Midstate Machine with parts contributed by IMCA and Super Nationals sponsors. Their winning engines, along with Ward’s and McBirnie’s, were auctioned off with proceeds [Read More]

Preregistration Opens Oct. 1 for Fourth Annual IMCA TV Clash on the Coast; SportMods Added in 2026

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Sept. 30, 2025) — Preregistration for the much-anticipated Fourth Annual IMCA TV Clash on the Coast opens Wednesday, Oct. 1, on MyRacePass, with a major addition to the 2026 edition of the event. For the first time ever, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods will join Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars in the Gulf Coast’s premier early-season showcase. The 2026 Clash on the Coast runs Feb. 21–28 with six nights of racing split between Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker, Fla., and Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Ala. Practice sessions are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21, at Northwest Florida and Thursday, Feb. 26, at Deep South. Full race programs follow at Northwest Florida on Sunday, Feb. 22, and Monday, Feb. 23, before the tour shifts to Deep South for final shows on Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28. Feature winners in the Modified and Stock Car divisions at each event will earn eligibility to qualify for the 2026 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and the B&B Racing Chassis [Read More]

Abbey Charges Late to Mid-America Stock Car Championship Win at Batesville

By Ben Deatherage LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Sept. 27, 2025) — The $7,500-to-win Mid-America Stock Car Championship produced a thriller Saturday night at Batesville Motor Speedway, with Jeffrey Abbey of Rhome, Texas, charging late to capture his first-ever win in the marquee event. Abbey also pocketed a $500 bonus for displaying a Schoenfeld Headers logo on his car, bringing his total payday to $8,000. Peyton Taylor paced the opening circuits in the Brandon & Jodi Simon-owned no. 20PT, building a three-second advantage before a lap-16 caution erased his lead. Taylor pulled away again on the restart, but Iowa’s Dallon Murty, a two-time Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner, closed in from second. After another restart on lap 30, Murty worked the high side to take over the top spot on lap 33. Taylor refused to back down, and the pair traded the lead until Taylor nosed back ahead on lap 38 and began to build an edge. Meanwhile, Curtis Cook, piloting the Jayson and Tonya Hefley no. 82, pressured Murty for second, allowing Taylor [Read More]

Goos Sweeps 45th Anniversary Sprint Special at Arlington

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 27, 2025) — Lee Goos Jr. had a clean sweep in the 45th anniversary Sprint Car race at Arlington Raceway, winning the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars feature on Saturday night. Starting on the pole, he never looked back over the 25-lap distance to capture the $4,500 prize. A first-lap caution for Nate Thelen’s spin brought a quick restart. Zach Glaser passed Gunner Pike to run second until lapped traffic opened the door for Bill Johnson to take the spot, with Trevor Serbus in close pursuit. The top three sliced through traffic until lap 18, when Glaser spun off turn four and exited the race. Goos maintained command on the restart, with Serbus in second and Johnson in third. Another caution flew when Hannah Graf’s steering broke entering turn two, ending her night. On the final restart, Pike slipped past Johnson for third while Goos and Serbus pulled away in traffic. At the finish, Goos claimed the win, Serbus was second, Pike third, Johnson fourth, and Matt Johnson fifth. Brett Allen [Read More]

Cody Laney Leads the Way at Davenport’s Greg Durbin Memorial

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (Sept. 27, 2025) — The Greg Durbin Memorial was run Saturday at Davenport Speedway for the second straight night of racing at the historic facility. The featured class was the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, competing for a $3,000 top prize. That prize went home with Cody Laney. Starting from the pole, Laney was pressured early by Tony VonDresky and Zane DeVilbiss, then fended off a late challenge from Tim Ward. Laney led all 38 laps to take the win. DeVilbiss settled for second with Ward in third. Trevor Fitz charged from seventh to fourth in the final two laps, while Matt Werner came all the way from 20th to finish fifth. Hunter Longnecker made it back-to-back wins in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods. Kevin Goben chased Longnecker all 15 laps and had to settle for second. Levi Heath came from deep in the field to claim third, with Brandt Cole and Dakota Cole rounding out the top five. Bradly Graham also made it two in a row, topping the Sunoco [Read More]