Ryan Clark

Kinderknecht passing IMCA STARS Mod Lite tests

SALINA, Kan. – Justin Kinderknecht made the decision last year that when racing resumed full swing, he’d travel more often to test his on-track skills against more drivers from more parts of the country. The IMCA STARS Mod Lite driver from Salina, Kan., has passed every test so far, starting in Florida and most recently during a quick midweek trip to Iowa. “You can’t get better racing the same guys at the same tracks,” Kinderknecht reasoned. “I made it a goal last season to travel more and see how I stacked up. Any time you can run top five at somebody else’s track it’s a good night.” He won the race of champions and posted a pair of top four finishes in Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals starts at Hendry County Motorsports Park in February before racing closer to home at Valley Speedway and Salina Speedway. Kinderknecht then racked up three straight checkers, at 81 Speedway before venturing to Iowa and on back-to-back nights May 5 at Stuart Speedway’s Bill Davis Sr. Memorial and May 6 [Read More]

Shute dominates IMCA Modifieds at Stuart’s Durbin Memorial

By Josh Reynolds STUART, Iowa (May 12) – A dominating run ended with Todd Shute standing in victory lane at Stuart Speedway’s Jake Durbin Memorial. Shute and Josh Gilman made up the front row of the IMCA Modified headliner, and Shute led Gilman and Matthew Meinecke early with the rest of the field two- and three-wide behind. Chase Rudolf made it to third on lap eight, but it was all Shute on this night as he drove to the caution-free win, worth $1,000. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Shute won ahead of Gilman in second with Rudolf third. One hundred and thirty-four cars rolled into town for the Wednesday night show. Other IMCA winners were Damon Murty, Josh May, Brandon Cox, Hunter Longnecker and Craig Furstenau. Michael Jeannette and Bob Daniels led the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars to the green flag next with Jeannette leading early. Damon Murty and Dallon Murty were picking them off throughout the 20 lap event and on the final restart it was Damon using the top side [Read More]

Young rookies rule El Paso County Raceway

By Anna Spinuzzi CALHAN, Colo. (May 8) – Last Saturday was a night full of action-packed IMCA dirt racing and a night full of firsts at El Paso County Raceway. After a brief rain delay fans were treated to a night full of upsets when four IMCA racing divisions saw first-time track winners, including three young first-time feature winners, which was a first for the track itself. In a night full of surprises, the night’s youngest winner was 14-year-old Hunter Smith in his 10th career start as he drove away with the checkered flag in the competitive IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock division. Smith is making an impressive run at being the 2021 rookie of the year with 50 shows planned. Smith’s run was at risk after ripping off the rear suspension while racing the night before in Colby, Kan. His crew pulled it off and got him on track for his first feature win Saturday at El Paso and on track for the rookie title. Another young surprise in the Mach-1 Sport Compact division was from a [Read More]

Brewerton, Fulton are first NY tracks to sanction IMCA STARS Mod Lites

BREWERTON, N.Y. – The newest IMCA division is new to race programs at two New York speedplants. Brewerton Speedway hosts 15 Friday night dates for the STARS Mod Lites beginning May 14 through Sept. 3. Fulton Speedway, half an hour to the west, features the class as part of May 22, June 12, July 24 and Aug. 21 Saturday shows. The STARS Mod Lite sanctions are the first in the state announced by IMCA. “Our drivers asked us to sanction with IMCA so they could run for points,” explained Cory Reed, promoter at both tracks, located in the north central New York. “Some of our teams had traveled to out-of-state races to chase STARS points last year.” Mod Lites had run 20-plus years on the 1/3-mile clay oval at Brewerton and at specials on the 3/8-mile clay at Fulton. Reed likes both the unique appearance and economics of the division and hopes the combination of IMCA sanctioning can boost car count numbers for both weekly and special events. “These cars have a different look than [Read More]

Bloom scores huge win at Cottage Grove

By Stephanie Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (May 8) – Cottage Grove Speedway had the second round of Mother’s Day Weekend racing on Saturday, May 8 and the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods boasted a massive 27 cars in the pit area. The main event was a relatively caution-free affair of the 20-lap feature. Aaron Bloom secured the top place position on opening start and began to take off from the rest of the contingent. Two stoppages occurred through the course of the main event. The first yellow was on lap two, with the second and final one taking place on lap 11. The final caution bunched the field up close together and brought some challengers that threatened Bloom’s reign. After the restart, David Schmidt tried to overtake Bloom but could not wholly perform the pass. Schmidt eventually had his hands full with a charging Jorddon Braaten. Braaten passed Schmidt and was on the attack against Bloom with a few circuits remaining. Braaten briefly went side by side with Bloom for the top place position. But despite [Read More]

Defending champ finds success at Grayson County

By Derrike Pennington BELLS, Texas (May 8) – Logan Scherb broke his cold streak and returned to 2020 form Saturday night, taking home his first Texas Sprint Series win of the season at Grayson County Speedway. Scherb charged to the front of the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field after starting sixth, weaving through traffic wherever he could find an opening. Early in the race, front row starters Michael Day and Jeff Emerson thrilled fans racing wheel-to-wheel. Unfortunately, they got a little too close toward the end while chasing Scherb and brought out a late-race caution which sent Emerson to the rear. Chance McCrary and Michelle Parson each brought home their season best finishes with McCrary holding strong up front all race and coming home in second and a plus-five charge from Parson putting her in third. The hard charger went to Corby Scherb after starting 20th and finishing seventh. Feature results – 1. Logan Scherb; 2. Chance McCrary; 3. Michelle Parson; 4. Michael Day; 5. Merle Scherb; 6. Jerrad Warhurst; 7. Corby Scherb; 8. Christian Kinnison; 9. [Read More]

Olson aces opener at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 8) – Opening night at Arlington Raceway saw 128 cars in action and Matt Olson in victory lane after the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock lidlifter. Mason Goettl led the first few laps from his front row starting spot before defending national and track champion Cory Probst, who had started 12th, came calling. Olson had been picking off cars and got around Probst following a restart to take over the lead and led the remaining laps to win the race. Probst took second and Goettl took third. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature did not disappoint. Jeff Larson started in the third row and going into turn two got around five cars to take the lead. He and Brent Uecker then raced side-by-side for several laps. Larson maintained his spot out front while he led the field around the track but defending and 11-time track champion Dan Mackenthun, who had started 11th, was seeing the front clearly and wanted the win. He made a last-lap pass and got around Uecker but couldn’t get [Read More]

Kevko rewards national rookies of the year, 80+ state champions in IMCA five divisions

FAIRMONT, Minn. – Top rookie drivers and state champions in five IMCA divisions earn Kevko awards again in 2021. IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod national rookies of the year all receive crate or claim engine oil pans from the Fairmont, Minn., manufacturer while the more than 80 state champions crowned in the same divisions all get $50 product certificates. “With a challenging year behind us in 2020, we are thankful that IMCA Racing remained strong and our loyal customers continued to patronize Kevko Oil Pans and Components,” said Kevko’s Josh Ruby. “We are again excited to give back to the racers as we look forward to a great year to come!” Kevko is in its 11th sponsorship season. Rookie and state championship awards will be presented during the national IMCA banquet this fall or mailed beginning the following week from the home office. Kevko awards to be presented at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s include a pair [Read More]

IMCA Stock Cars join Modifieds on four Eastern Allstar dates in Michigan

VESTABURG, Mich. – A state that’s already a hotbed for IMCA Modifieds hosts its first-ever IMCA Sunoco Stock Car dates on four Wednesday night race programs this season. Eastern IMCA Allstar shows see the Modifieds and Stock Cars at Crystal Motor Speedway on May 12, at Thunderbird Raceway in Muskegon on June 23, at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa on July 28 and at Winston Speedway in Rothbury on Aug. 25. Allstar Director Bradley Bowser, tech inspector at Thunderbird and Winston, sees the Stock Cars as a complement to the well established Modified division in Michigan as well as an affordable option for drivers looking to move up in the full-bodied class ranks. “We have street stock, pro stock and pro truck classes with different motor rules,” he explained. “The IMCA Stock Cars would level the playing field. It’s a division drivers can move up to without having to get into a more expensive class.” “Plus,” said Bowser, who’s watched The Class Too Tough To Tame at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, “they [Read More]

Sewell becomes first Oil Capital repeat winner

By John Rittenoure SALINA, Okla. (May 8) – Alex Sewell took the early lead away from pole sitter Whit Gastineau and became the season’s first repeat AmeriFlex/Oil Capital Racing Series IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature winner Saturday at Salina Highbanks Speedway. The 2018 series champion led most of the way around the high banked 3/8’s mile oval while a battle raged behind him for second. Casey Wills, Gastineau, Ty Williams were battling before a red flag waved after 11 laps. That changed the complexion of the race. Steven Shebester worked his way into second with Gastineau holding on to third. Jase Randolph finished fourth and Jake Martens ended up where he started with fifth place. Feature results – 1. Alex Sewell; 2. Steven Shebester; 3. Whit Gastineau; 4. Jase Randolph; 5. Jake Martens; 6. Danny Smith; 7. Joe Bob Lee; 8. Danny Wood; 9. Casey Wills; 10. Terry Easum; 11. Fred Mattox; 12. Dean Drake Jr.; 13. Alison Slaton; 14. Frank Taft; 15. Cody Whitworth; 16. James Shoun; 17. Ty Williams; 18. Kyle Clark; 19. Josh [Read More]