Ryan Clark

Dotson, Thompson are IMCA Harris Clash winners on record-setting night at Deer Creek

SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (Aug. 4) – Ethan Dotson had raced his way into the record book with his first Harris Clash victory. He joined a select group of IMCA Modified drivers with his second on Tuesday night at Deer Creek Speedway. With total entries at a record 155 for the 29th annual Clash, Dotson became just the sixth driver to win one of IMCA’s most prestigious events twice, leading all 30 laps and holding off defending race winner Austin Arneson in the process. “I don’t know what else is more fun,” said Dotson, chased much of the distance by Jeff Aikey and 2018 Clash winner Cayden Carter. “It was an awesome track and we got lucky starting where we did.” The Californian drew the pole and set a blistering pace over the first half of the race, halted by the first caution on lap 17. Dotson continued to make the most of the fast higher line in the race to the checkers as Aikey and then Carter ran in second. Arneson had started ninth and moved [Read More]

Front Row Challenge features $2,000 to win IMCA RaceSaver main event

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car driver up to the challenge at the Aug. 10 Front Row Challenge will take home $2,000. Country Builders Construction of Livermore, Calif., has matched the $1,000 paid by event sponsor Badger Steel USA to make the RaceSaver main event $2,000 to win next Monday at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa. A minimum of $100 will be paid to start that feature, with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and KMJ Performance State points to be awarded. There is no entry or draw fee. Pit passes are $40. The pits and infield party pass area both open at 3 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. with racing to follow. Spectator admission is $30 for adults and $15 for kids ages 12 and under; infield passes are $25 for adults and $5 for kids. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars will run on the same program as Outlaw 410 Sprints and are the only division not required to have mufflers. For more information [Read More]

Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights return to Fairmont for another Minnesota show

FAIRMONT, Minn. – A Minnesota track that made Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights Tour history last summer welcomes traveling IMCA Modifieds back on Wednesday night. Fairmont Raceway became the first speedplant in the North Star State to host the IMCA tour in August of 2019. The Dirt Knights will be back in town on Aug. 5, running for $1,000 to win the Bob Shryock Memorial headliner. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. with racing to follow for the 98th event in the tour’s 10-plus seasons. One thousand dollars is also the top prize when the tour is at Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, Iowa, for the Thursday, Aug. 6 Denny Hovenga Memorial Pit gates and the grandstand open at 5:30 p.m., with 7 p.m. hot laps to precede racing. Six previous Dirt Knights events have been held at Algona since 2011. Modified features at Fairmont and Algona are qualifying events for the 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Also running each night are [Read More]

Health care heroes nominations sought for honorary starters of last-chance features

BOONE, Iowa – Fans and drivers will get the opportunity to applaud three health care heroes Saturday during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Anyone currently working on the frontline of health care can be nominated to be an honorary starter for each of the Modified last-chance features on the Sept. 12 race program. “This is one more way we can recognize and thank individuals who have provided care and encouragement to so many of us in recent months,” noted IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder. “There is no better time or place to do so than on Saturday night during Super Nationals at Boone Speedway.” Letters or emails of nomination should be 500 words or less and tell about the nominee and how they have gone above and beyond in providing care during the pandemic. Nominations should be directed to Yoder at the IMCA home office or kyoder@imca.com.

Bassett is best in Arlington SportMod main

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 1) – After making his move on the 10th time around the track, Eric Bassett made his first trip this season to victory lane at Arlington Raceway. Bassett caught Tim Bergerson for the lead in the Saturday night main event for Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and led to the checkers. Vince Corbin completed a late drive to second. Dalton Magers led the IMCA Modified feature from start to finish. Clint Hatlestad was able to get around Josh Ruby following a restart but could not catch Magers and settled for second. After working his way steadily to the front of the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field, Bill Johnson had the lead when lap nine was scored and set sail the rest of the way. Dan Mackenthun caught pole starter Jeff McCollum and won the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Once again, Cory Probst had the car to beat in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature as he took the front spot on the second lap and was chased across the stripe by Matt Olsen. [Read More]

Full house for Dawson County opener

By Kelly Ninas LEXINGTON, Neb. (Aug. 2) – Hitting the dirt running was an understatement when describing the outstanding show seen by the jam-packed house of avid racing fans at Dawson County Raceway Sunday evening. Getting their season started off on the right foot by punching their ticket to the Chesterman’s Coca-Cola Winners Circle were the quintet of Dakota Sproul, Robbie Thome, Mike Nichols, Zach Olmstead and Rileigh Flohrs. Showing his cards early paid off for Sproul as he scored the IMCA Modified victory. Sproul started the on the inside of the second row, made the move into the lead on the fourth lap and never looked back. Leading the laps that mattered the most, Thome was the victor in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature. Thome got to third early on and was up to second when leader Brett Berry slowed and relinquished the lead. Thome led the final laps to claim the victory. No stranger to the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car winner’s circle, Nichols was able to drive where the leaders weren’t for [Read More]

Baumli, Bowers continue to add Bethany wins

BETHANY, Mo. (Aug. 1) – Steven Bowers Jr. and J.J. Baumli both continued their winning ways at historic Bethany Speedway Saturday evening. Bowers has taken control of the IMCA Modified division locally as he chases the national championship, having won all but one feature at Bethany this year heading into the night. At the start, Mike Dotson took the point and battled Nicholas Carpenter while Bowers started 10th and was working through the pack, bringing Shayne Bailey with him. Out of turn two, Bowers and Carpenter split Dotson high and low and ran three wide all the way down the backstretch and into three. Bowers came out with the lead and went on to win with Carpenter in second and Dotson third. Carson Masoner led early in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main, then Blake Peeler took the lead and tried to get away from everybody. Baumli drove to the outside and to the front as Peeler stayed on the bottom. Baumli picked up win number three this year. Peeler had a strong run finishing [Read More]

Clay County Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights IMCA Modified checkers fly for Abelson

SPENCER, Iowa (Aug. 3) – The top side of the big Clay County Fair Speedway oval took Chris Abelson to victory lane in Monday’s Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights Tour IMCA Modified main event. Forty entries from nine different states vied in the fourth round of the 2020 tour and after Tanner Black led the first two laps, Abelson took charge on the high groove. Kelly Shryock made a charge of his own from 11th starting but ran out of laps and ended in second. “The cushion kept getting closer and closer to the wall. You had to negotiate it just right,” Abelson said. “He’s (Shryock) a tough competitor and always one to look for.” Abelson had started fourth and quickly drove past Brandon Beckendorf, Nick Meyer and Black to take over the front spot. Cautions on laps six and 10 brought the field back together briefly before Abelson was pulling away. Jesse Rogotzke worked his way to third late in the 25-lapper, Nick Meyer was fourth and tour point leader Ethan Braaksma was fifth. Meyer [Read More]

Brauner rides momentum to another Off Road win

By Randy Pospishil sports@norfolkdailynews.com NORFOLK, Neb. (Aug. 1) – Austin Brauner started in the seventh of nine rows and finished first in the Saturday night IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature at Off Road Speedway. “It’s kind of nerve wracking starting all the way back there, with a lot of tough cars to pass,” Brauner said. “You need a lot of patience when you start that far back.” The task for a driver navigating a journey through the field includes trying to pass experienced drivers and avoiding getting caught up in situations causing cautions which, for Brauner, meant catching up to John Hadcock, who led 14 straight laps until Brauner was able to make his way into the front three cars before eventually passing Jeremy Hoskinson with six laps remaining. Brauner then caught up to Hadcock and passed on the inside of turn two before establishing a solid lead during the final three laps for the win. Hadcock finished second, just ahead of Hoskinson. “This was two wins in a row, after winning Friday night in [Read More]

I-37 checkers fly for Carroll

By J.M. Hallas PLEASANTON, Texas (Aug. 1) – Chris Carroll captured the IMCA Modified checkers as I-37 Speedway got back in action Saturday night. Greg Dinsmore got to turn one first trailed by Robert Liese Jr., A.J. Wernette, Donald Banker and Chandler Fox. Behind them, Logan Dinsmore, Ryan Doyon and Robby Minten were three-wide for sixth. After a couple cautions, Carroll was on the move getting by Wernette for third and swapping second with Liese. Carroll finally secured the spot while Landon Bednarz and Banker ran side-by-side for fourth. Carroll got along side Greg Dinsmore on a restart and took the point. Three-wide battles continued with Tindall, Bednarz and Banker for third after Greg Dinsmore pulled off. Banker, Bednarz and Tidwell were next to go three abreast. Not to be outdone, Rich Green, Chris Swenson, Tindall and Bednarz tried four wide as the laps wound down. As the white flag waved Carroll had built a good lead on his way to the win.