Ryan Clark

Thornton makes winning dash to Boone checkers

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 8) – Dylan Thornton prevailed in a 20-lap IMCA Modified feature decided by inches in a mad dash to the finish line that had the crowd on its feet Saturday at Boone Speedway. Three drivers provided most of the action upfront for much of the race as Joel Bushore, in a new ride after his rollover last week, led the field as the race went green. Thornton was quick to join in and then 14th place starter Jimmy Gustin joined in to make it a trio of fun. The closing laps saw the three drivers go at it in a spectacular dash to the finish line. Thornton had just enough momentum coming out of the final corner as the checkers unfurled, taking the win by inches over Gustin. Bushore finished a close third. Thornton, who is from California, is spending the summer back here in Iowa and, ironically enough, staying with second place finisher Gustin. The victory marked the first time Thornton has visited the winner’s circle at the speedway. Donavon Smith [Read More]

Jordan scores first CJ Speedway IMCA Stock Car win

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (Aug. 7) – Friday night the CJ Speedway fans were treated to another outstanding night of racing under near perfect weather conditions. Fans have come accustomed to seeing the very best in IMCA Sunoco Stock Car racing and Friday night was another excellent race. Twenty of Eastern Iowa’s very best IMCA Stock Car drivers took the green for their 20-lap feature with veteran Tom Cannon leading the way in the early going. A lot of position shuffling was going on behind Cannon as the CJ Speedway hot shoes were making their way to the front. Scott Jordan took the lead as the race neared halfway but had his hands full with a pack of drivers hounding him, among them Shane Richardson, Dustin Griffiths, Adam Bell and Jason See Jordan held the pack at bay in scoring his first-ever CJ Speedway IMCA Stock feature win. Richardson and Griffiths raced under the checkered flag in second and third, respectively. The Mach-1 Sport Compact division saw Cody Staley stretch his winning streak [Read More]

Strassheim, Boles earn first Lee County wins of season

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (Aug. 7) – Matt Strassheim and Mitch Boles both raced to their first feature wins of the season Friday at Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Strassheim and Ron Boyse made up the front row for the IMCA Sunoco Late Model main. Strassheim took advantage of his starting spot by jumping out into the lead over Mark Burgtorf and Boyse. Burgtorf overtook Boyse for the runner-up spot and went to work on Strassheim. Burgtorf followed in Strassheim’s tire tracks but wasn’t able to mount a challenge for the lead. Tommy Elston was third, Denny Woodworth was fourth with Boyse rounding out the top five. Boles and Levi Smith led the IMCA Modified field to green with Boles taking the initial lead. On lap four, Daniel Fellows moved into the runner-up spot, and one lap later Michael Long, who started ninth, took over third. [Read More]

Dodge City checkers fly again for Sproul

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (Aug. 8) – Dakota Sproul made it two in a row in the IMCA Modified ranks Saturday at Dodge City Raceway Park. Sproul held off New Mexico’s Cory Davis after a late caution flag to post his third DCRP win of the season. After starting sixth, Sproul spent the early going working towards the front as Kevin Gray set the pace. Sproul made it to second by the fourth lap and then slipped underneath Gray in turns one and two on the sixth round to take command. With Sproul setting sail, Davis made his way forward from the ninth position to take over second at the midway point. And when a caution flew with just six laps to go that nixed Sproul’s advantage, Davis was there to mount a charge. Davis pulled alongside exiting turn four with three laps to go, but Sproul countered and slipped away to secure the victory. Davis settled for second with Odessa, Texas’ Philip Houston snaring the show position. Kaleb Roach notched his first Dodge [Read More]

Snellenberger survives late challenge

By Edward Anschutz SEYMOUR, Wis. (Aug. 7) – Rod Snellenberger held off a determined Jeremy Christians on the final lap to score his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win of the season Friday at Outagamie Speedway powered by EWSC. Harley Simon paced the opening laps until Snellenberger slipped by on lap eight. Logan Leary and Christians quickly worked to the back bumper of Snellenberger with all three drivers running the cushion. Christians went to the low side several times but couldn’t find the grip to get by early on. That battle allowed Snellenberger to distance himself from the field. With three laps remaining, Leary got loose, allowing Christians to slip into second. Christians quickly caught the leader and made a last-ditch effort on the final corner in his attempt to earn his 100th IMCA feature, diving to the inside as they came to the checkers. In the end it was Snellenberger first to the stripe by half a car over Christians. Larry Karcz Jr., Brandon Czarapata and Dan Michonski completed the top five. In IMCA Modified [Read More]

Oliver scores Stock Car win at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 9) – The Benton County Speedway hosted 114 race teams on a warm and sultry night that saw a great crowd witness a wildly entertaining night of racing. John Oliver Jr. broke the stranglehold of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car field by the Murty family. Oliver held both Dallon and Damon Murty at bay in recording the win. Oliver took the lead when the green flag waved from his outside front row start and led flag to flag in recording the win ahead of Dallon and Damon Murty. The IMCA Modifieds saw 21 drivers take the initial green flag with Austin Kuehl from Cave Creek, Ariz., leading several laps before BCS regular Troy Cordes took over the top spot. Cordes’ lead was short lived as one of Iowa’s hottest Modified drivers took over the top spot. Tom Berry Jr. advanced from a ninth position start and took the lead just past the midway point and went on to score the a hard fought win over Cordes and Kuehl. Another 21 car starting [Read More]

I-30’s Scrapp Fox Memorial boasts $1,500 IMCA Modified payday

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – IMCA Modifieds race for $1,500 to win and a 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth at I-30 Speedway’s Saturday, Aug. 15 Scrapp Fox Memorial. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Jet Racing Central Region, Arkansas State and track points are also at stake at the 18th annual event. The $50 entry fee includes the driver’s pit pass if paid by Aug. 14. Pit passes are $30 on race day and spectator admission is $20 for adults, $1 for kids ages 6-12 when accompanied by a paid adult and free for ages five and under. Pits and the grandstand open at 4 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. and racing is at 7:30 p.m. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars are also on the evening’s card at Little Rock. More information is available by calling 501 455-4567 and on Facebook.

Thornton strikes IMCA Modified gold at Park Jefferson’s J & J Fitting Iron Cup

JEFFERSON, S.D. (Aug. 8) – Ricky Thornton Jr. added his name to the list of J & J Fitting Iron Cup champions on Saturday night as the Adel, Iowa, driver invaded Park Jefferson Speedway and left with the famed IMCA Modified Iron Cup along with a $7,000 top prize. The 35-lap feature went green with Cody Laney and Lance Mari making up the front row. The California-based Laney found the top groove to his liking and controlled the race through the mid-point. Thornton became the first driver to find the tacky bottom groove on turn four and passed slowly gained on Laney. A caution flag was all Thornton needed and he powered off the bottom of four to take the lead going into one. Meanwhile, Sioux City Excitement Chris Abelson was mounting a serious challenge and rolled into the second spot. One last caution was enough for Thornton and he pulled away for the 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying victory with Abelson second and Tripp Gaylord in third. A number of drivers had strong runs mid-pack [Read More]

IMCA Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational Super Tuesday voting is Aug. 11

VINTON, Iowa – The Election Day all of IMCA Nation has looked forward to is Aug. 11. Super Tuesday voting will determine 28 of the 30 drivers who start the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational during the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. All voting will be conducted that day 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. The 17th annual Fast Shafts Invitational will be Friday, Sept. 11 at Boone Speedway. Any driver(s) who believes they should be on the following list of candidates should contact IMCA as soon as possible so their All-Star status can be [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Aug. 6

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 794; 2. Jeff Larson (B1), Freeport, Ill., 793; 3. Tom Berry, Des Moines, Iowa, 792; 4. Steven Bowers Jr., Topeka, Kan., 788; 5. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 781; 6. Dakota Sproul, Hays, Kan., 778; 7. Jesse Rogotzke, Sanborn, Minn., and Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., both 770; 9. William Gould, Calera, Okla., and Jeremy Mills, Britt, Iowa, both 767; 11. Jim Thies, Mapleton, Iowa, and Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, both 764; 13. Aaron Johnson, Brainerd, Minn., 761; 14. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 759; 15. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb., 758; 16. Tony Leiker, Gillette, Wy., 755; 17. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, 746; 18. Jason Wolla, Ray, N.D., 745; 19. Matt Guillaume, Haslet, Texas, 744; 20. Nick Meyer, Whittemore, Iowa, 742. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, 776; 2. Logan Duffy, Independence, Iowa, 753; 3. Dalton Simonsen, Fairfax, Iowa, 708; 4. Cory Dumpert, York, Neb., 701; 5. Mitch Manternach, Dyersville, Iowa, 669; 6. Colton Leal, Dubuque, Iowa, 625; 7. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Iowa, 623; 8. Zachary Zentner, Cedar [Read More]