Ryan Clark

Dodge City’s SportMod Mayhem ends with Kenny winning dramatic race to checkers

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (Aug. 22) – Brandon Kenny took advantage of Luke Stallbaumer’s misfortune, then edged Mike Roach in a thrilling drag race to the checkers to take the $1,500-winner’s share in Dodge City Raceway Park’s seventh annual IMCA SportMod Mayhem North vs. South Duel. Following a pair of cautions with one lap in the books, pole starter Stallbaumer slipped away from the field under an extended green flag run as Roach held down second with Jeff Kaup in third. After starting sixth, Kenny held steady until he began climbing through the pack after 10 laps. Gaining momentum, Kenny made his way past Kaup for third on the 17th lap and then reeled in Roach by the 23rd lap as Stallbaumer cruised out front with nearly a straightaway advantage. Misfortune struck Stallbaumer at that point as his right rear tire went low and the duo of Roach and Kenny quickly reeled him in and made quick work of the slowing machine on lap 26. Stallbaumer’s tire finally shredded a lap later, setting up a three-lap [Read More]

$250 Sunoco bonus at Junction Motor Speedway this weekend

VINTON, Iowa – The payday gets even better this week for the IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature winner at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb. The final opportunity in the Midwest to earn a $250 Sunoco bonus is on the line this Saturday night. Sunoco bonuses are being presented at IMCA Late Model sanctioned weekly tracks this year. Drivers are eligible for only one bonus during the 2020 racing season. If the feature winner is a previous Sunoco winner, the bonus moves to the next eligible position. 2020 winners have been Jeff Aikey at Independence Motor Speedway, Matt Ryan at 34 Raceway, Joel Callahan at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway, Eric Pollard at 300 Raceway, Justin Kay at Davenport Speedway and Dalton Simonsen at Marshalltown Speedway. Ben Sukup, Cory Dumpert and Jim Johnson claimed the bonus money with successive wins at US 30 Speedway, Boone County Raceway and Off Road Speedway respectively. Dustin Griffin garnered the win at Pepsi Lee County Speedway, Don Beckstrom at Shelby County Speedway, and most recently Andy Nezworski at the Bullring [Read More]

Johnson, Schroeder win green to checkered features at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 22) – Both the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature and the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature ran green to checkered Saturday at Arlington Raceway. Bill Johnson reeled in leader Jeremy Schultz en route to the Sprint checkers while Jason Schroeder raced from the third row at the start in winning his first Northern SportMod main of 2020. The IMCA Modified feature saw three different leaders with Chad Porter and Clint Hatlestad running up front before Brandon Beckendorf made his move on the white flag lap, edging past Hatlestad to take the lead and the win. Brett McConnell took the lead on the second circuit and stay in front to the finish of the Mach-1 Sport Compact main event. Jeff Larson had the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car no one could catch while Cory Probst made his move to the front of the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock field the last time around the track.

Sweigart rides high for Port Royal PASS win

By Frank Buhrman PORT ROYAL, Pa. (Aug. 22) – “Nitro” Nick Sweigart has made some heroic charges from the back of the field to good finishes this season, but he got a good starting position Saturday and made the most of it, wiring the field for his second Pennsylvana Sprint Series feature win of the season at Port Royal Speedway. Sweigart drew the pole for the 20-lap IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature, outdueled outside front row starter Kirsten Hess for the lead and then held off charges from Doug Dodson and Garrett Bard. Dodson made his most determined challenge in the race’s only restart, on lap four. Dodson went for an inside pass but couldn’t pull it off. Sweigart, Dodson and Bard then pulled away from the field, with all three cars running an extreme high line. With the race remaining green the rest of the way, that battle continued in traffic, but Sweigart handled the lapped cars and never allowed another serious challenge. On lap 14, Bard slipped past Dodson for second, and three [Read More]

Connie Jewett Memorial Championship show Sunday at Dawson County Raceway

LEXINGTON, Neb. – Dawson County Raceway’s fifth annual Connie Jewett Memorial Championship Night this Sunday features $1,000 to win main events for both IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Ken Schrader joins the Modified field for the Aug. 30 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. Money has been added to the purse in all divisions. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods both race for $750 to win, Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $250 at the draw/redraw show. There is no registration fee. Pit gates open at 3 p.m., the draw closes at 5:30 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Prizes to be given away during the evening include three flat screen TVs. The Dawson County Cattlemen will give away 150 all-beef hot dogs and complimentary Coca Colas. Pit meeting prizes will be given and there’s a candy toss for kids as well.

Midstate Machine to replace engine claimed from Super Nationals Stock Car champion

BOONE, Iowa – Midstate Machine will add an engine to the prestige and the $5,000 that go with winning the Stock Car main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. IMCA and event sponsors will contribute parts. Midstate Machine, of Des Moines, will donate the labor to send the Saturday night champion home from Boone Speedway with a new powerplant. “We have a ton of Stock Car customers who race at Super Nationals,” said Midstate’s John Davis. “We wanted to donate our time and parts so the Super Nationals Stock Car winner gets an engine.” EQ contributes a set of heads, Champ Pans the oil pan, Edelbrock the intake manifold, JE Pistons a set of pistons, Manley a crankshaft, Comp Cams the camshaft, rocker arms and lifters, Kevko the valve covers and MSD the distributor. Midstate Machine furnishes the rest of the parts. “We have been working with John and his team at Midstate Machine for the past few weeks to ensure this was something we could present to the Stock [Read More]

Sport Compacts added to Sept. 5 Prelude at Boone

BOONE, Iowa – Mach-1 Sport Compact drivers will have another opportunity to race at Iowa’s Action Track before taking their turn on the big stage during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The division has been added to the card for the Saturday, Sept. 5 Wild Rose Casino Prelude at Boone Speedway, running for a top prize of $150 and a minimum of $25 to start. Non-qualifier pay will be $25. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods complete the card. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 3 p.m. Hot laps are at 4 p.m. with racing at 5 p.m.

SportMod Stampede at East Moline pays $2K to win

EAST MOLINE, Ill. – Two thousand dollars is the top prize at the inaugural SportMod Stampede this Sunday at The Bullring at Rock Island County Fairgrounds. The Aug. 30 headliner at East Moline pays a minimum of $100 to start with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and KMJ Performance Illinois State points at stake. There’s a $50 entry fee for the draw/redraw show. Rounding out the card are IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Late Models and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, running for national, regional, state and track points. Pit gates open at 2:30 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 3:30 p.m. Racing follows 5:30 p.m. hot laps. Spectator admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for kids ages 9-15. Pit passes are $30 or $15 for kids. More information is available on Facebook. The SportMod Stampede will be broadcast by Done Right TV.

IMCA Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights Tour makes history with 100th event Sunday at Benton County

VINTON, Iowa – Another chapter in IMCA Modified history will be written on Sunday, when the Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights Tour comes to Benton County Speedway. The 100th event in tour history will be held at Vinton, the track where the IMCA Modified division first raced more than 40 years ago. Winner of three of the first six Dirt Knights events this season, Ethan Braaksma is poised to become the 11th different champion in as many years the tour has been held. The Aug. 30 feature pays $1,000 to win and is a qualifying event for the 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and racing follows 6 p.m. hot laps. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods are also on the card, in $500 to win features. There are no entry fees for the draw/redraw show. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and ages 6-14, and free for five and under. Pit passes are $30 for adults and $15 for ages 14 [Read More]

Final Drive For 5 win goes to Woodworth

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (Aug. 21) – The race stayed green and after the checkers flew Denny Woodworth pocketed $1,000 for winning the fifth and final Shottenkirk Parts Express Drive For 5 qualifier for IMCA Sunoco Late Models at Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Ray Raker and Woodworth drew front row starts for the event, with Woodworth jumping out front to lead early over Sam Halstead and Raker. The fast pace Woodworth set up front allowed him to pull away from the multi-car battles behind him. Woodworth entered lapped traffic starting on lap 13, which allowed Halstead and Tommy Elston to close in. The top three clear lapped cars on lap 21 to set up a four-lap dash to the finish. Woodworth held off Halstead and Elston in a caution-free race to claim the $1,000 top prize. Mark Burgtorf came in fourth with Andy Nezworski rounding out the top five. Feature results – 1. Denny Woodworth; 2. Sam Halstead; 3. Tommy Elston; 4. Mark Burgtorf; 5. Andy Nezworski; 6. Nick Marolf; 7. Dustin Griffin; 8. Ron Boyse; [Read More]