Ryan Clark

Clough captures Lincoln County IMCA Modified feature

By Kelly Ninas NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (Aug. 29) – The racing action was fierce as all the chips were on the table for Championship Night at Lincoln County Raceway. Finishing their seasons by earning feature victories were Brandon Clough, Ty Rogers, Colton Osborn, Luke Wassom and Lonnie Lenser Jr. Clough weathered a series of cautions in the late laps to hold on for the IMCA Modified victory. Colton Osborn ran out of real estate and had to settle for runner-up accolades. Showing no rust from competing in North Platte, former regular Rogers, now of Yuma, Ariz., won his heat race and the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature. Second went to Paul Donovan. Leaving no doubt in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature was Osborn, who saw his first two passes to the front negated by cautions before taking over up front on lap four. Mikey Dancer worked through traffic to finish second. In one of the most exciting races of the evening, It was Wassom who won the final sprint to the finish line to [Read More]

Big paydays await all divisions at U.S. 36 Raceway this Friday

OSBORN, Mo. – Three points nights remain on the 2020 schedule at US 36 Raceway and this Friday, Sept. 4 is one of the biggest of the season, as all divisions will see an increased payout. IMCA Modifieds are racing for $1,000 to win and $100 to start their 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars have $500 to win and $100 to start on the line and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods will battle for $400 to win and $70 to start. All three divisions will run a draw/redraw format. U.S. 36 Raceway is also working with Bethany Speedway to provide a bonus to any driver who can sweep the weekend. Bethany Speedway is racing Saturday, Sept. 5 and any Modified driver who can win both races will receive a $200 bonus. If a Stock Car driver can sweep the weekend they will receive a $150 bonus and if a SportMod driver can complete the task, they will receive a $125 bonus. Tickets for the event at U.S. 36 on Friday [Read More]

Services will be Sept. 18 for Ronny Gould

CALERA, Okla. – The dirt track racing world mourns the loss of one of its most accomplished and certainly most personable and popular drivers with the passing of Ronny Gould. Gould, 57, died on Saturday. Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18 now at Grayson County Speedway in Bells, Texas. “Ronny always had a smile on his face. He loved his family and he loved racing,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “We send our sympathies to his family and many friends.” The long-time driver won more than 130 features and a regional championship in an IMCA Modified career that began in the 1980s, later finding success in both the sanctioned Stock Car and Southern SportMod classes. Winner of IMCA’s 20th anniversary Challenge Race in 1999 and the Texas IMCA Nationals at Royce City the following spring, Gould had also promoted the track at Ardmore and served as a tireless ambassador for the sport. The Bratcher Funeral Home in Denison, Texas, is in charge of arrangements.

Boone holds Season Championship night races

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 29) – Saturday was Season Championship night at Boone Speedway. The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods ran 23 laps in their championship feature. Johnathon Logue had the track title wrapped up before he started the main event but he would also go on to dominate the feature as well, leading the entire race and winning comfortably ahead of the rest of the field. Jake McBirnie sat alongside new brother-in-law Tim Ward for the start of the IMCA Modified main. Ward had the track title wrapped up before the race began but it was a battle between the two for much of the race with McBirnie holding the upper hand. Ward’s challenge for the lead disappeared when he slipped off the rim of the track, losing several positions. As the race continued on, McBirnie pulled away and take the checkers well ahead of the competition. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars went 25 laps for their feature. David Smith and brother Donavon Smith finished one-two in this contest. It was David Smith’s first [Read More]

Last-lap pass puts Esqueda in victory lane at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 29) – Last-lap drama played out in the Saturday night feature Mach-1 Sport Compacts at Arlington Raceway. Matthew Spiess had taken the early lead and stayed in front until after the white flag was displayed. R.J. Esqueda started 10th and worked his way up to second places with his sights on Spiess. Esqueda made the late pass for the checkers. Justin Dose followed Esqueda and ended in second. Winner of the green-to-checkered IMCA Modified feature was Dan Menk while Justin Allen aced the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car headliner and Matt Speckman paced the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Cory Probst raced from 11th starting to win the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature and Kris Zuhlsdorf made the most of back-to-back cautions early on to win the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main event.

100th IMCA Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights checkers fly at Benton County for Berry

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 30) – After taking the checkers, Tom Berry took time to appreciate his latest accomplishment at Benton County Speedway: Winning the Sunday night Speed Shift TV Dirt Knights tour feature. Berry, in the hunt for the IMCA Modified national championship, led all 30 laps in winning the 100th event in tour history. He became the 45th different winner in tour history by taking the 2020 finale checkers at Vinton. “It means a lot to us to win the 100th Dirt Knights event. It’s awesome to get this win tonight and our 20th win of the season.” Berry said following the convincing run to the checkers. “This is a bullring and the lapped traffic made it a little hairy, but this was a win we needed and it feels good to get it.” The $1,000 victory put Berry on the ballot for the 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. He’d won five times previously this season at The Bullring. Berry had drawn the outside pole start and had Troy Cordes and Jeff Aikey in tow when he caught [Read More]

Mighty Axe Nationals set Sept. 5, 6 at North Central Speedway

BRAINERD, Minn. – The Mighty Axe Nationals bring IMCA drivers in five divisions to North Central Speedway over the Labor Day Weekend. IMCA Modifieds run for $1,100 and a minimum of $100 to start their Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5 and 6 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifiers. Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods race for $500 to win, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $400 to win and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $300 to win both nights. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $650 to win on Sunday. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points will be awarded. There is no entry fee. Pit passes are $40 for one day or $75 for both days. Students ages 5-17 are $25 for one day or $40 for both. General admission for adults is $15 for one day or $25 for both; students get in for $10 for one day or $17 for both. Adult backstretch admission is $20 for one day or $35 for both while students get in for $15 for one [Read More]

Gillette’s East-West Clash features IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks

GILLETTE, Wy. – IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks run all three nights of Gillette Thunder Speedway’s annual East-West Clash special. All three Modified features are 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events, with $1,000 at stake Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4-6. Hobby Stocks run for $250 to win Friday and Saturday and for $350 to win on Sunday. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points will be awarded all three nights.Car entry fee for Modifieds is $50 on Friday, $75 on Saturday and $100 on Sunday; Hobby Stocks are $35 each night. Pit passes are $30. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 6 p.m. each night. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and military, and $5 for children above four feet tall. More information is available by calling 307 257-9589 and at the www.gillettespeedway.com website.

Five IMCA divisions head to High Banks for Showdown at MoTown

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – Drivers in five IMCA divisions battle it out on the High Banks of Marshalltown Speedway, at the Sept. 4 Showdown at MoTown. IMCA Modifieds chase a $1,000 top check in their 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods both race for $500 to win, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Mach-1 Sport Compacts – the 4-cylinder class is new to the card – both for $300 to win. There is no entry fee and pit passes are $30. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points will be awarded. Pit gates open at 5:15 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:55 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and free for kids ages 10 and under. More information about the Showdown at MoTown is available from promoter Toby Kruse at 515 231-5444.

CJ Speedway hosts Friday night finale of 2020

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (Aug. 28) – The weekly Friday night racing season at CJ Speedway came to a close with a great night of racing on the perfectly prepared multi-groove race track on the Louisa County Fairgrounds. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars put on their usual side-by-side thrilling racing with the winner in doubt until the checkers waved in the 20 lap main event. David Brandies scored a hard-fought win over track champion, Adam Bell. Brandies led the entire race but was hounded by Jason See and Bell and all three drivers had a shot at the win as they took the white flag in tightly bunched pack. Bell took to the outside in turn four coming to the checkers but came up less than half a car length short at the checkers with See in third right on Brandies bumper. Cody Staley had a season for the record books in the Mach-1 Sport Compacts. Staley took the win on Friday night, which was his eighth in a row at the [Read More]