Ryan Clark

Common foe was childhood cancer as Shawano raced for a reason Saturday

SHAWANO, Wis. (Aug. 1) – On a Saturday night when drivers and fans united at the track to battle a common enemy, childhood cancer, Racing for a Reason again delivered a victory at Shawano Speedway. With donation baskets and silent auction items galore, more than $16,000 was raised while on the track, the action in one word … incredible! A caution on the initial start of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Feature was the only time the yellow flew as the action-packed class lived up to its Too Tough To Tame reputation. While Gary Kasparek took the early lead the racing behind him was what everyone comes to see. Chucky Forstner took the top spot with Jeremy Christians moving to second on lap seven. The two fought side-by-side for the next five laps until Christians grabbed the lead for good on lap 11. Christians drove away and picked up his 99th IMCA career win in the division. Forstner settled in second with Travis Van Straten third. The Karl Kustoms Northern Sport Mods hit the track with [Read More]

Burgtorf becomes first Drive For 5 repeat winner

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (Aug. 1) – Mark Burgtorf became the first two-time Shottenkirk Parts Express Drive For 5 IMCA Sunoco Late Model winner on a rare Saturday night of racing at Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Nick Marolf and Andy Eckrich drew front row starts for the $1,000 to win main event and Marolf grabbing the early lead over Burgtorf and the youngster C.J Horn. Burgtorf tried to work under Marolf over the next three laps, but Marolf was able to hold him off at the line each lap. Coming off turn four to complete lap five, Burgtorf was able to get under Marolf and edge him at the line by inches to take over the top spot. Just after the lap was scored complete, the first and only caution of the race slowed action. On the restart, Burgtorf jumped back out front with Marolf and Horn close behind. Burgtorf started to put some distance between himself and the battles going on behind him when he entered the back of the field on lap 20. [Read More]

Schmidt sweeps IMCA Modified action at Outagamie

By Edward Anschutz SEYMOUR, Wis. (July 31) – Night six of the season saw 120-plus cars on action and Jamie Schmidt proved to be the fastest of the 41 IMCA Modifieds entered. Mark Schuenemann shot to the lead of the Modified feature from the front row as Schmidt, Jason Czarapata and Benji LaCrosse gave chase. Schuenemann worked the outside groove with the competition hot on his heals running the same groove. A caution with three laps remaining changed everything. As the race resumed, Schuenemann went to the bottom groove, which allowed Schmidt to slip by up top. Schmidt pulled away to score the win and a clean sweep to boot. Lucas Lamberies made a late race charge to place second, Schuenemann was third, LaCrosse took fourth and Jason Czarapata completed the top five. After a rough start, the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature resumed with Tim Paitrick pacing the field before Eric Arneson stormed by for the top spot on lap five. Brandon Czarapata and Rod Snellenberger were in hot pursuit until a flat tire sent Snellenberger pitside. Meanwhile, Czarapata began applying heavy pressure to Arneson in the closing laps. In the [Read More]

Gullion gets RaceSaver Sprint win at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 1) – Adam Gullion became the ninth different IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car winner in as many events this season Saturday at Eagle Raceway. The fifth different leader Gullion saw his first pass for the front spot negated by a caution. He was not to be denied, however, and took the lead on the ensuing restart. Gene Ackland got past Jordan Grabouski two laps later and Jason Danley also passed him with three to go making the final top four in the evening’s finale Gullion, Ackland, Danley and Grabouski. After taking the lead with nine laps to go, Johnny Saathoff took the IMCA Modified feature win. Following a first-lap restart, Saathoff worked his way into the top four and set his sights on the front spot. Mike Densberger was the runner-up and Grabouski rallied from an early entanglement to end in third. Albert Kiihne collected the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock checkers, Adam Vrbka paced the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and Josh Young was the Mach-1 Sport Compact winner.

IMCA Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights start busy week at Clay County

SPENCER, Iowa – Three races over the course of four nights are next for IMCA Modifieds following the Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights Tour, starting Monday at Clay County Fair Speedway. The Aug. 3 show at Spencer boasts a $1,000 to win, 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying feature. Pit gates and the grandstand open at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. with racing to follow for the 97th event in the tour’s 10-plus seasons. Fairmont Raceway’s Aug. 5 Bob Shryock Memorial and Kossuth County Speedway’s Aug. 6 Denny Hovenga Memorial are headlined by $1,000 to win, All-Star ballot qualifiers as well. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts complete Monday, Wednesday and Thursday night cards. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and racing follows 7 p.m. hot laps at Fairmont. Algona opens the gates at 5:30 p.m. and also hot laps at 7 p.m. All Dirt Knights events are broadcast by Speed Shift TV. Point leader Ethan Braaksma of Newton won the first [Read More]

Final week for 2020 IMCA Fast Shafts All-Star qualifying

VINTON, Iowa – The race for IMCA Modified drivers to get their names on the 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot heads into the final week. Winners of sanctioned events held through Aug. 6 that pay $1,000 or more to win become vote eligible. Super Tuesday voting will be Aug. 11 to elect 28 of the 30 drivers who will start the All-Star Invitational on Friday, Sept. 11 during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway. Super Tuesday voting will be conducted through the IMCA Facebook page, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST. The top three vote recipients from each of the five IMCA Modified regions become All-Stars, with their region of candidacy determined by where they made the majority of their sanctioned starts. The next 13 drivers with the highest vote totals, regardless of region, join the All-Star field. The final two All-Stars will be drivers with the top national point total and the most 40-point wins as of Aug. 28 competing at Super Nationals. Most recent additions to the [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through July 30

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Tom Berry, Des Moines, Iowa, 789; 2. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 788; 3. Jeff Larson (B1), Freeport, Ill., and Steven Bowers Jr., Topeka, Kan., both 785; 5. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 781; 6. Dakota Sproul, Hays, Kan., 766; 7. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 762; 8. Jeremy Mills, Britt, Iowa, 761; 9. Jesse Rogotzke, Sanborn, Minn., 760; 10. Jim Thies, Mapleton, Iowa, and Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., both 756; 12. Tony Leiker, Gillette, Wy., 755; 13. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 754; 14. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 746; 15. Aaron Johnson, Brainerd, Minn., 744; 16. Matt Guillaume, Haslet, Texas, 740; 17. Jon White Jr., Red Oak, Texas, 737; 18. Bart Taylor, Sheridan, Wy., 732; 19. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, 729; 20. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb., 724. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, 773; 2. Logan Duffy, Independence, Iowa, 746; 3. Dalton Simonsen, Fairfax, Iowa, 669; 4. Cory Dumpert, York, Neb., 623; 5. Mitch Manternach, Dyersville, Iowa, 596; 6. Colton Leal, Dubuque, Iowa, 591; 7. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Iowa, 590; 8. Eric [Read More]

IMCA expands RoC qualifications for 2020 Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa – IMCA officials have announced that more drivers will be eligible to qualify for the race of champions in their respective divisions at the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. 2019 track champions, as well as 2020 champions or current point leaders, along with former RoC winners, Super Nationals, national and regional champions, will be eligible to qualify. “There was a need to adjust eligibility because of the situation a number of tracks have experienced in 2020,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “We expanded eligibility to include these deserving drivers due to the restricted schedules at these facilities resulting from the pandemic.” The Harris Auto Racing Race of Champions for Modifieds, Sunoco Race Fuels Race of Champions for Stock Cars, Stephenville Starter Race of Champions for Hobby Stocks and BSB Manufacturing Race of Champions for Northern SportMods will be held Saturday, Sept. 12 at Boone Speedway. Twelve cars will qualify for and run 12 laps in each of those events. The list of 2020 track champions and point leaders will [Read More]

Rain forces cancellation of Friday racing at U.S. 36

OSBORN, Mo. – Due to steady rain over the last two days and with more forecasted to come, US 36 Raceway officials have made the decision cancel racing action for Friday, July 31. Up next at US 36 Raceway is another edition of the Weekly Racing Series on Friday, August 7, featuring the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. As part of the night, six IMCA Stock Car drivers will compete in the Shocker Chassis Six Pack Shootout at the end of the night in a bracket style special event. Voting for the Shootout will begin Sunday at 3 p.m., with a link on the US 36 Facebook page.

Carter continues hot streak at Stuart

By Josh Reynolds STUART, Iowa (July 29) – Brayton Carter was back in victory lane Wednesday night at Stuart Speedway. Dusty Masolini set the pace for the first half of the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature. Carter had to work for it and on lap 12 he cashed in to take the lead and go on to the win. Masolini held on for second. Zack Rawlins led the first couple laps of the IMCA Modified main until Tom Berry Jr. blasted his way from 10th to the lead on lap four. A caution on lap 14 gave the rest of the field a chance, but there was no catching the 11X car as Berry went on to the win. Dallon Murty made it interesting on the top side but Todd VanEaton was too strong on the bottom and went on to the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win. Murty finished second with Daniels third, Bob Daniels fourth and Derry fifth. Dylan Nelson sliced and diced from his sixth starting spot to take over the IMCA Sunoco [Read More]