Ryan Clark

Sweet weekend for Gonzales with sweep of IMCA STARS Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals

CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 13) – A last-minute decision led to the biggest win of R.J. Gonzales’ career. Gonzales swept the IMCA STARS Mod Lite Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals weekend at Hendry County Motorsports Park, pocketing $850 on Friday and then outrunning everybody for the big $5,750 checkers on Saturday evening. “That was the biggest win of my career right there,” the Colona, Ill., driver said following his first-ever visit to the Florida oval. “It took a while for it to set in that I’d done it. We started driving home Sunday morning and probably talked about it for the first two hours.” Gonzales started the weekend at Clewiston with a second place showing in Thursday’s race of champions. He led the last 10 laps in winning on Friday, then drew the pole and led all 30 laps of the Saturday main event. “We ran really good in the feature on Friday night so I put the exact same setup on Saturday,” he said. “We had a late restart and Austin Martin was right there. I [Read More]

Four are new to Fast Shafts All-Star ballot

VINTON, Iowa – Their recent feature wins at three different Arizona race tracks have put four more IMCA Modified drivers on the 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Arizona Speedway was the site of both Collen Winebarger’s Wild Wing Shootout victory and Jake O’Neil’s two Superstition Showdown checkers. Lance Mari topped the Winter Nationals Hangover at Cocopah Speedway and Casey Skyberg bested a Winter Challenge Series show at Canyon Speedway AZ. Drivers already vote eligible winning qualifying events were Casey Arneson, Chaz Baca, Tanner Black, Ethan Dotson and Tripp Gaylord. The 86 drivers on the All-Star ballot now include: Jeff Aikey, Austin Arneson, Casey Arneson, Chaz Baca, Eric Barnes, Brandon Beckendorf, Eddie Belec, Chad Bennett, Tom Berry Jr., Tanner Black, Steven Bowers Jr., Ethan Braaksma, John Campos, Cayden Carter, Chris Carter, Kellen Chadwick and Ty Clemens. Nick DeCarlo, Casey Delp, Shane DeVolder, Spencer Diercks, Ethan Dotson, Tommy Dove, Chris Elliott, Shawn Fletcher, Troy Foulger, Tripp Gaylord, Mike Goodson, Jordan Grabouski, Matt Guillaume, Michael Hale, Chase Hansen, Kyle Heckman and Toby Herring. Ryan Heskett, Kollin Hibdon, [Read More]

Dotson hits paydirt in Superstition finale, Hollatz, Ryland also grab IMCA victories

By Ben Deatherage SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. (Feb. 14) – Ethan Dotson’s timing was perfect on the final night of Arizona Speedway’s Superstition Showdown. Dotson started third and surged to the front at the start of the $5,000 to win IMCA Modified feature. A pair of cautions waved on the sixth lap but after that, it was smooth sailing. The Bakersfield, Calif., chauffeur checked out on the final restart and the race remained green for the balance of the distance. Lapped traffic came into play the last five laps and Dotson slowed while navigating through the slower cars. Dotson maintained his lead but experienced a bit of a scare when his driveline spat out of his car coming to the checkers. “I was lucky it happened there,” Dotson said following his fourth and latest Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying feature win of the season. “A lot of things go into winning and not breaking earlier and drawing well are part of a package deal.” Tanner Black finished second with third going to Friday and Saturday winner [Read More]

Partain takes two on Night 2 at Superstition, O’Neil repeats IMCA Modified checkered run

By Ben Deatherage SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. (Feb. 13) – The second night of Arizona Speedway’s Superstition Showdown saw Bo Partain make two more visits to victory lane. The Casa Grande maestro repeated his winning ways from Friday in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event, then ended his evening by topping a Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod nailbiter. Partain quickly scooted his way from third starting to the front of the Stock Car feature field. Three cautions kept the field bunched up in the first half of the 20-lapper and while Partain felt some heat he managed to keep his cool and cruise to victory. Chanse Hollatz rallied from a deep 22nd starting position to end the race second. Arizona transplant Andrew Burg was third across the finish line. One of several double-duty drivers on the weekend, Partain put his Northern SportMod mount into the top spot on the opening start and then had his hands full for much of the 20-lap race with challenges coming high and low. Five stoppages were evenly spread out, making [Read More]

Latture prepares for third IMCA season while pending deployment with Nebraska National Guard

OMAHA, Neb. – While preparing for her third Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod season, Staff Sergeant Melissa Latture is preparing to do her job deploying with the Nebraska National Guard. Latture has served for eight years, five of them on active duty with the Guard. The human resources specialist will go as fast as she can as many nights as she can before beginning her first overseas deployment. “I am preparing to be prepared to do my job. I’m excited about it. I think it’s going to be a cool opportunity,” the Omaha driver said. “I joined the military knowing this was a possibility. I got married last April and found out about the deployment soon after. A lot of life-changing things happened all at once. It was a whirlwind.” The Wood River native grew up in a family that enjoyed building and restoring classic automobiles – one of her father’s projects was featured on the cover of Ol’ Skool Rodz magazine – and cheered on her favorite drivers as a fan at Doniphan’s Mid-Nebraska Raceway. Two of her [Read More]

O’Neil strikes first at Superstition Showdown

By Ben Deatherage SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. (Feb. 12) – Friday would be the opening leg of the three-night extravaganza of the inaugural Superstition Showdown at Arizona Speedway and 117 entries, including 56 IMCA Modifieds, filled the pit area for the evening. In the Modified feature, Cody Laney showed the way at the drop of the green. He has his hands full and several drivers shadowed his every move. A caution bunched the field up and on the ensuing restart Laney again was getting nipped at his heels. It turned out to be the final restart and as the long green flag run developed, Laney built a comfortable lead. With the race staying green for so long it brought lapped traffic into play. Jake O’Neil, who started sixth, managed to run down Laney and eventually made the pass. O’Neil went on to grab the checkers to score the $1,500 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying victory. Laney was second while 14th starting Ethan Dotson rounded out the podium. Cody Thompson placed fourth over fifth finishing Kellen Chadwick. Bo Partain took [Read More]

Fans ready to welcome IMCA STARS Mod Lites to Texana Raceway Park

EDNA, Texas – IMCA STARS Mod Lites can look forward to a warm welcome from fans at Texana Raceway Park. The division makes its debut on the 5/16-mile dirt oval at Edna and runs along with IMCA Modifieds on every weekly program beginning with opening night March 6. The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season championship night is scheduled for Sept. 25. “We had a local mod lite class with rules that were similar to STARS the last three or four years. We like the competition and entertainment value. These cars are extremely fast on this track and the car count is very good,” Promoter Owen Pittman said. “We jumped on sanctioning the division as soon as we saw the announcement by IMCA.” “I’m an IMCA fan. They have consistent rules and a consistent way of business,” he added. “You need that consistency to grow and not become stagnant, and I believe our Mod Lite class is going to continue to grow even more.” Their distinct appearance is part of the division’s appeal. “Mod Lites [Read More]

STARS Mod Lites new to AutoMeter IMCA awards program

SYCAMORE, Ill. – An awards program that’s already one of a kind expands this season to include the newest IMCA sanctioned division. AutoMeter gives new awards to STARS Mod Lite drivers while continuing a combination of special events and post-season awards for all other IMCA classes. “AutoMeter is proud to continue to support IMCA and appreciates the opportunity to award racers across the country,” said Director of Motorsports Mark Erickson. In its fourth sponsorship season, the Sycamore, Ill., competition instrument and accessories manufacturer gives $50 gift certificates to a top five finishing driver at each of 80 designated specials for IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Late Models, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, the IMCA STARS Mod Lites, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods. Runners-up in national point standings for Modifieds, Late Models, Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks earn mechanical 3-gauge panel sets while IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car, Mod Lite, both SportMod and the Mach-1 Sport Compact runners-up get 2-gauge panel sets. The same awards will be presented to runners-up [Read More]

IMCA STARS Mod Lites head to Hendry County for $5,000 to win Winter Nationals main event

CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 12) – IMCA STARS Mod Lites are Hendry County Motorsports Park bound and racing for $5,000 to win on the second night of their weekend Winter Nationals twinbill. Tonight’s feature at Clewiston pays $750 to win and $225 to start, with $50 tow while the Saturday, Feb. 13 main event, part of the Sugar Bowl program, pays $5,000 to win and a minimum of $250 to start. National special events sponsor Yoshimura adds another $500 in bonuses to eligible podium finishers on Saturday. Friday sees the drivers’ meeting at 7 p.m. and racing following 8 p.m. hot laps. On Saturday, racing follows the 6 p.m. drivers’ meeting and 7 p.m. hot laps. Both race programs will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. Cost is $24.99 each night or $39.99 for a two-day pass. Viewers can watch at IMCA.TV. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and KMJ Performance Florida State points will be given each night at The Southern-most dirt track in the United States. IMCA sponsors giving special events and/or post-season awards to Mod Lite drivers [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Feb. 11

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 470; 2. Tanner Black, Otis, Kan., 459; 3. Bricen James, Albany, Ore., 404; 4. Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D., 348; 5. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 341; 6. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif., 338; 7. Casey Skyberg, Rapid City, S.D., 299; 8. Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz., 290; 9. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 279; 10. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 262; 11. Russell Allen, Brawley, Calif., 259; 12. Brody Spangler, Dove Creek, Colo., 230; 13. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 222; 14. Bubba Stafford Jr., Wittmann, Ariz., 219; 15. Jerry Flippo, Bakersfield, Calif., 203; 16. Michael Thing Jr., Campo, Calif., 201; 17. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 196; 18. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., and William Miller, Yuma, Ariz., both 191; 20. Joey Price, Great Falls, Mont., 167. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Aaron Spangler, Dove Creek, Colo., 434; 2. D.J. Werkmeister, Mesa, Ariz., 331; 3. Tony Hill, Cortez, Colo., 275; 4. Blake Adams, Stacyville, Iowa, 259; 5. Nicholas Johnson, Bakersfield, Calif., 253; 6. Zachary Madrid, Phoenix, Ariz., 250; 7. Kyle Heckman, Bakersfield, Calif., 245; [Read More]