Ryan Clark

Back on track, Hurst races to national Late Model title

DUBUQUE, Iowa – A driver who was just glad to be back on the track earned his career first IMCA Late Model national championship this year. Jeremiah Hurst won both starts on the final weekend of the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season, then clinched the national title with a seventh place run in the Deery Brothers Summer Series finale in September. The conclusion of his 2018 campaign was a far cry from Hurst’s 2017 season, which came to an abrupt end after he suffered a heart attack in late July. “I wanted to go back and race the next night. I couldn’t wait to get back and race this year and the doctors said there was no reason not to,” the Dubuque, Iowa, driver explained. “I changed my lifestyle dramatically. I changed my diet and quit smoking. This is the best I’ve felt in years.” A contender for the 2017 national crown, Hurst ended up seventh in the points chase despite missing the final month-plus following his heart attack. Changes in track sanctions [Read More]

Grabouski’s third title comes at end of bittersweet season

BEATRICE, Neb. – A season that saw the highest of highs and the lowest of lows ended with Jordan Grabouski winning a career third IMCA Modified national championship. Grabouski, from Beatrice, Neb., topped 30 features in adding to a trophy collection that already included hardware from 2011 and 2016. The joy of his latest achievement was more than offset by the passing of son Jagger shortly after his birth on July 4. “It was a bittersweet season,” Grabouski said. “It was definitely a roller coaster season for us. We were glad to have won the national championship but there were nights when it wasn’t easy for us to race.” “My wife Whitney and I are extremely thankful and incredibly blessed to have an amazing support group of family and friends,” he continued. “We could never thank everyone enough for all the love and prayers that have followed the loss of our son.” Along with the Jet Racing Central Region prize, Grabouski earned track titles at Beatrice Speedway and Eagle Raceway, as well as his career-first [Read More]

Best of the best honored at IMCA national awards banquet

LINCOLN, Neb. (Nov. 24) – Champions and top rookie drivers of 2018 were honored at the IMCA national awards banquet Saturday in Lincoln. National champions recognized during the evening were Jordan Grabouski, IMCA Modifieds; Jeremiah Hurst, IMCA Late Models; Kevin Ramey, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars; Mike Nichols, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars; Shannon Anderson, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks; Gabe Tucker, Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods; Matthew Looft, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods; and Ramsey Meyer, Mach-1 Sport Compacts. Regional Modified kings were Grabouski in the Jet Racing Central, A.J. Ward in the Dirt Works Eastern, Brandon Beckendorf in the Side Biter Chassis North Central, Josh McGaha in the Razor Chassis South Central and Zane DeVilbiss in the Larry Shaw Race Cars Western. Nichols reigned in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, Westin Abbey in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Stock Car Region. Anderson led the way in the Big Daddy Race Cars Northern Region and Dennis Spencer sped to the Big Daddy Race Cars Southern Region Hobby Stock championship. Earning national rookie of the year awards were [Read More]

604 Chevy Performance engine option new for Late Models in 2019 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly point season

VINTON, Iowa – A 604 Chevrolet Performance engine option will be new for Late Model drivers in the 2019 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season. “The Chevy Performance engine is the biggest issue addressed in Late Model rules for next season and will be the same as enforced in our Modified division,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “Drivers who choose to run the 604 Chevy Performance engine can use gasoline or E85 to reduce fuel costs.” Drivers with spec engines must use maximum 8,000 rpm rev limiters, those with 604 Chevy Performance engines maximum 6,800 rpm rev limiters. All cars must weigh a minimum of 2,300 pounds with the driver when they roll across the scales after racing. Bump stops and progressive springs will again be legal for use in the division and a maximum 16 inch free standing height for all springs will be enforced, with a half-inch tolerance. Door plates will also be required, which Root notes is in line with industry standards for the division. “These rules will be enforced at [Read More]

IMCA releases 2019 rules for six of eight divisions

VINTON, Iowa – The 2019 rules for six of IMCA’s eight divisions have been announced. “While minimal, the changes or clarifications we’ve made in rules for 2019 are an effort to head off the direction some of our divisions are headed,” explained IMCA President Brett Root, “such as suspension or aerodynamics.” Maximum and minimum free-standing spring heights are specified for front and rear suspensions for Modifieds and both SportMod divisions, and the nose piece must be the same width from front to back. “We want to keep the open wheeled look of all these divisions,” Root explained. “We have done that with the nose rules.” Maximum and minimum roof dimensions will include the sides when Modifieds, Northern SportMods and Southern SportMods are measured in tech. No bends or breaks will be allowed in sail panels for any of those divisions. Modified and Northern SportMod roofs must be mounted within half an inch of the rear roll cage. And Modified drivers competing with a 604 crate engine must use one of two carburetor spacers, the Speedway [Read More]

2019 Harris Clash date announced

AMES, Iowa – Bob Harris, owner of Bob Harris Enterprises and promoter of the Harris Clash, has announced the date of the 2019 Harris Clash. The IMCA special, which headed to Deer Creek Speedway last year for the first time in its history, will be returning to the Spring Valley, Minn., track on Aug. 6, 2019. Harris is excited about the future of the event. “There is a certain hype around the announcement of the (Harris) Clash date for 2019. The 2018 race was one of the best yet. The fans and everyone involved in organizing and promoting the race are excited to see that energy continue into next year,” he said. “We cannot wait to see everyone at Deer Creek Speedway on Aug. 6 for the 2019 Harris Clash.” The 2018 event featured $3,000 to win IMCA Modifieds and $1,000 to win Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods, yielding a field of 151 cars from 17 states and Canada, the highest car count in Harris Clash history. Top check for the Northern SportMods has been increased to [Read More]

22 candidates added to ballot for Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational

VINTON, Iowa – A regional champion and 20 of the 25 newly-named IMCA Modified state champions are new to the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Josh McGaha’s title in the Razor Chassis South Central Region made him vote eligible for the 2019 event. Recently crowned state champions joining him will be Jeffrey Abbey in Oklahoma, Drew Armstrong in Arkansas, Chaz Baca in Arizona, Jerry Bailey in Idaho, Eric Barnes in Illinois, Brandon Conkwright in Kansas, Brian Cross in Colorado, Colin Deming in New Mexico, Shane DeVolder in California, Zach Dockter in North Dakota, Bricen James in Oregon, Brekken Kleinschmidt in Wisconsin, Rodney Morgan in New York, Joey Price in Montana, James Roete in Florida, Kelly Shryock in Iowa, Rob Slott in Texas, Kelly Smith in Utah, Andy Strait in Nevada and Shadren Turner in Missouri. Already on the ballot were Side Biter Chassis North Central Region and Minnesota State champion Brandon Beckendorf; Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region and Wyoming State champion Zane DeVilbiss; Jet Racing Central Region and Nebraska State champion Jordan Grabouski; Dirt [Read More]

Canyon hosts IMCA Harvest Hustle over Thanksgiving Weekend

PEORIA, Ariz. – IMCA Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods are on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 23 and 24 Harvest Hustle cards at Canyon Speedway Park. Modifieds race for $750 to win on Friday and for $1,500 to win in their Saturday Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying main event. SportMods chase top checks of $500 on Friday and $1,000 on Saturday. Entry fees for both divisions are $25 each night. Pit passes are $35 for adults, $20 for kids ages 7-11 and free for six and under. All minors must have a signed and notarized release form on file to get into the pit area. Spectator admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors 60 and over and military, and free for kids 11 and under. Pits will be cleared at 4 p.m. and the grandstands open at 5 p.m. both days. Drivers’ meetings are at 5:30 p.m. Friday and at 6 p.m. Saturday with wheel packing and hot laps to follow. Racing starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at 7 p.m. Saturday. More [Read More]

IMCA room rate available until Nov. 15

LINCOLN, Neb. – The IMCA room rate for those attending the Nov. 24 national awards banquet at the Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Neb., will be available until Thursday, Nov. 15. Banquet goers who want to stay overnight at the Cornhusker can reserve a room with king or double queen beds for $84. That rate will not be available as of Nov. 16. Reservations can be made through the www.imca.com/banquet site or by calling 866 706-7706.

Entries top 300 for 21st annual Duel as Hughes, Sachau get LVMS Dirt Track wins

By Mike Spieker LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 10) – Entries numbered more than 300 and Jason Hughes backed up his opening night qualifying feature victory by winning Saturday’s IMCA Modified Duel in the Desert main event and taking home a $7,777 check. More than 20 states were represented at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track and drivers from 13 of them qualified for the Modified main event while a record 97 Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods took the green. Hughes had earned the Modified pole by virtue of his Thursday victory and started the 40-lap main event with Friday’s qualifying feature winner, Ricky Thornton Jr. to his outside. At the drop of the green, Hughes powered to the lead and brought third-place starter Ricky Alvarado with him. Hughes quickly opened up a 10 car length lead in the first lap as all the drivers inside the top five rode around the low side of the speedway. Thornton challenged Alvarado for the runner-up position on a restart with 23 circuits remaining. That allowed Hughes to pull away [Read More]