Articles by Ryan Clark

Sponsors

Bilstein’s 21st IMCA award program focuses on five divisions

POWAY, Calif. – Drivers in five IMCA divisions chase contingency awards from Bilstein Shocks.  In its 21st season of sponsorship, the Poway, Calif., manufacturer gives nearly $8,000 worth of product certifi­cates to IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod competitors. The top eligible drivers in each of the five Modified regions receive $350 certificates while runners-up get $250 and third-place finishers $200; top three eligible drivers in both Stock Car regions receive certificates good for $350, $250 and $150, respectively.  And top three drivers in both Hobby Stock regions and in national Northern Sport­Mod and Southern SportMod point standings receive product certificates valued at $300, $200 and $100. In addition to competing with four Bilstein shocks, drivers in all five divi­sions must display two Bilstein decals on their race car and return a sign-up form to the IMCA home office by Aug. 1. Bilstein awards will be pre­sented at the national banquet in November or mailed beginning the next week from the IMCA [Read More]

Feature

Kirchoff adds his name to Arizona Mod Tour win list

By Jackson Braun  CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 11) – There’s a new sheriff in town and his name is Eddie.  Gillette, Wy.’s Eddie Kirchoff, a weekly contender back at home, grabbed the $1,500 Monday win at Central Arizona Speedway to become the 12th driver to win an Arizona Modified Tour feature in the IMCA Modified division. He held off a hard-charging Ricky Thornton Jr. in lapped traffic to earn his victory, as it has been no small feat to fend off the 20RT machine this week.  Travis Olheiser and Kirchoff set the pace for the field coming to green. Kirchoff was fast off the start, but his advantage was erased by an early caution.  Kirchoff led Drew Armstrong and Olheiser back to the green. Racing was close throughout the pack early on as drivers fought for every position they could get. The previous two features had gone without a yellow so these drivers knew the contest could very well go without another caution.  All the lead cars were hooked up around the high side as [Read More]

Feature

Dominant Thornton scores 2nd Arizona Mod Tour win

By Jackson Braun CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 10) – While day racing at the Central Arizona Speedway brought a completely different dynamic to the plate, the driver in victory lane following Sunday’s Arizona Mod Tour main event was celebrating a second straight victory. A familiar face returned to the winner’s circle as Ricky Thornton Jr. grabbed his fourth career tour win, tying him with Hunter Marriott for the most overall wins in the third running of the tour.  Also the $1,500 winner Saturday at Arizona Speedway and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier six times over, Thornton used his outside starting spot to grab the lead early. Clint Reichenbach, who had faced struggles at Queen Creek, used his fourth place spot on the starting grid to catapult himself into 2nd early on.  Jake O’Neil worked his way past Reichenbach and set his sights on Thornton. Thornton had a comfortable cushion once he reached lapped traffic and once again was able to maneuver very efficiently. For the second night in a row, the Modified feature [Read More]

Sponsors

IMCA’s eight national champions earn awards from Kirkey Racing Fabrication

ST. ANDREWS WEST, Ont. – National champions in all eight IMCA divisions receive Kirkey Racing Fabrica­tion awards again in 2019.  The St. Andrews West, Ont., manu­facturer and retailer, a 13-year IMCA sponsor, gives an 88 Series layback containment seat to the IMCA Modified national champion and an 89 Series containment seat to the IMCA Rac­eSaver Sprint Car national champ.  The IMCA Late Model, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod, Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod and Mach-1 Sport Compact national champions all get $250 product certificates. “Kirkey Racing is proud to continue our sponsorship of these outstanding racers,” owner Steve Kirkey said. “The dedication to the sport and attention to detail that is continually shown from the IMCA team are second-to-none and we are honored to continue this partnership for the upcoming season.”  Awards will be presented during IMCA’s national banquet in November. Information about Kirkey-manufac­tured aluminum seats and accessories is available by calling 800 363-4885, at the www.kirkeyracing.com web­site and on Face­book. “Kirkey has been the only racing seat manufacturer that [Read More]

Feature

Thornton slices, dices through traffic for night two Arizona IMCA Modified Tour win

By Jackson Braun QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (Feb. 9) – Round 2 of the 2019 edition of the Arizona Modified Tour brought even more great racing to the table as the competitors battled it out to try and come out on top Saturday at Arizona Speedway.  Ricky Thornton Jr. was the night’s biggest titan of the 25 IMCA Modified starters in the feature action, as he drove through lapped traffic the most efficiently in the wire-to-wire contest and came away with his third career Arizona Modified Tour victory. Fargo, N.D., was represented well as hometown drivers Casey Arneson and Dylan Goplen led the field to the green flag in the Modified feature. Arneson got the jump but after one lap Thornton was already next to him and contending for that top spot.  Roaring around the high side of the speedway, Thornton officially took the race lead on lap six. He then cleared Arneson and started to run away from the field.  Arneson was then pressure by Jake O’Neil, who was able to take his momentum from [Read More]

Feature

Ward tops record-setting Arizona Mod Tour opener

By Jackson Braun  QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (Feb. 8) – An action-packed night of racing at the 1/3 mile Arizona Speedway speedplant was capped off by a first-time winner in Arizona Mod Tour action as Arizona native and Iowa transplant Tim Ward bested the field of 26 stout IMCA Modified drivers. A tour record 92 Modifieds and 37 IMCA Northern SportMods checked into the pit gate for opening night of the third annual tour. Ward’s victory paid $1,500 and put him on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.  Robert Hellebust and Joey Price led the field to green for 25 trips around the Arizona Speedway oval. Hellebust jumped out to an early lead, but a caution reset the field back to square one. Hellebust got the jump on the restart but Bobby Hogge IV challenged early on. After a few laps of battling, Hellebust started to pull away.  Ward started 11th on the field and had already made his way up into the top five within a few laps. He got past Hogge quickly [Read More]

Events

Ice Breaker starts season at Abilene Speedway this weekend

ABILENE, Texas – Abilene Speedway hosts its traditional season-opening Ice Breaker on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15 and 16. IMCA Modifieds run for $700 to win and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods for $600 each night. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $600 to win on Friday and for $750 to win their Lone Star Tour opener on Saturday. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Razor Chassis South Central and EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region, Texas State and track points will be awarded for both draw/redraw programs.  The pits open at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, pit gates open at 3 p.m. and racing gets underway at 7 p.m.  More information about the Ice Breaker, presented by Smiley’s Racing Products, Showtime Signs & Designs and NAPA Auto Parts, can be directed to promoter Rob Poor at 325 725-3849 or 325 692-8800.  Overnight accommodations, with racers’ rates, are available by calling the Whitten Inn at 325 672-8462.  Additional information is also posted on Facebook. 

Events

IMCA Modifieds chase $2K at Pahrump’s Stormin’ Mormon

PAHRUMP, Nev. – IMCA Modifeds race for $2,000 to win and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth at Pahrump Valley Speedway’s Saturday, March 2 Stormin’ Mormon Showdown.  The runner-up earns $1,000 with $750 paid for third and $500 for fourth, with a minimum of $200 paid to make the 20-car starting field. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region and Ne­vada State points will be awarded.  The draw and pre-tech run from 2-4 p.m. Wheel packing is at 4 p.m. and precedes hot laps. Racing starts at 5:10 p.m. The main event is 40 laps.  Car and driver is $45 and pit passes are $25. Grandstand ad­mission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 55 and over, $6 for kids ages 6-14 and free for ages five and under.  Questions can be directed to promoter Chad Broad­head at 702 328-8101, event coordinator Bryan Wulfen­stein at 775 209-3638 or Modified race director Leland Hibdon at 775 209-6896. The event is held in honor of Ray Wulfenstein, a long-time driver from [Read More]

Sponsors

Kevko continues award program for IMCA national rookies of the year, state champs

FAIRMONT, Minn. – Kevko rewards the accomplishments of IMCA rookies of the year and state champions in five divisions again this year.  The 2019 season is the second in a three-year agreement that sees the Fairmont, Minn., company give claim or crate engine oil pans to the IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod national rookies of the year.  Eighty-plus state champions crowned in the same divisions receive $50 product certificates.  “We are extremely excited to be partnered with IMCA again for 2019,” Kevko Manager Josh Ruby said. “Kevko Racing has been proudly producing Made in the USA products since 1986 and encourage racers to call us with any questions regarding oil pans, pickup tubes and evac systems for built and crate engines.” Kevko certificates will be presented during the national awards banquet in November or mailed beginning the following week from the IMCA office.  More information about Kevko oil pans and other high performance parts and accessories is availa­ble by calling 800 770-3557, [Read More]