Ryan Clark

Cranston tops Dodge City Sprint season opener

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (April 6) – Luke Cranston opened the 2019 season at Dodge City Raceway Park by racing to victory lane in the 25-lap Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars vs. United Rebel Sprint Series feature event atop the 3/8-mile clay oval. Cranston gridded the feature inside the third row as Brian Herbert and Koby Walters led the way to the green flag but it was fourth-starter Ty Williams battling into the early lead. Vying for his third DCRP opening night win in the last five years, Williams paced the opening eight rounds before looping it in turn three to hand the lead over to Walters with Cranston on his tailtank. Walters kept Cranston at bay for 10 rounds before Cranston finally found the opening he was looking for in traffic and battled into the lead on the 19th circuit. Cranston led the rest of the way, taking the checkered flag ahead of Walters with two-time track champion Taylor Velasquez racing to the third-place podium finish. Herbert crossed the stripe fourth with Jake [Read More]

Frostbuster finale brings 187 cars to Boone Speedway

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (April 6) – Boone Speedway hosted night two of the 2019 IMCA Frostbuster specials on Saturday night with a 187 race cars competing at Iowa’s Action Track. Ricky Thornton Jr. topped the IMCA Modified feature, while Tyler Thompson paced the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars. Other winners were Jay Schmidt in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Eric Stanton in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Brandon Schmitt in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. A stout field of 53 Modifieds vied for a Frostbuster crown. Their feature event had to be whittled down to a 24-car starting field for their “A” main. Jimmy Gustin leaped to the lead from his pole starting position, only to have it snatched away by Thornton on lap three. From there on, Thornton motored to the win and another Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying $1,000 prize. Gustin held on to finish second, defending IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion Jeff Aikey took third, Kyle Brown finished fourth and Josh Gilman was fifth. The RaceSaver Sprints [Read More]

Opening night Frostbuster entries total 173, Grabouski makes right moves for $1,000 win

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (April 5) – Jordan Grabouski paused during his post-race interview to wave to a fan who’d driven all the way from Beatrice to watch him win Friday’s Frostbuster feature for IMCA Modifieds at Marshalltown Speedway. Then he got back to answering questions about his competition and outrunning Ricky Thornton Jr. for the $1,000 checkers. “This field was good enough that this could have been a $5,000 or $10,000 to win race,” said Grabouski,” who led all 25 laps, first in front of Tim Ward and then the last 18 caution-free circuits ahead of Thornton. “We caught lapped traffic and I needed to make the right moves. Ricky is about as good as it gets. It was hairy,” continued Grabouski, also the Frostbuster winner at Marshalltown in 2009. Thornton, Ward, 10th starting Cayden Carter and 13th starting Joel Rust completed the top five behind Grabouski. Fan Cindy McCarthy also had a five-hour trip home and Grabouski was much impressed that she made the trip to Marshalltown. “I used to sit next to her when I went [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through April 4

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 455; 2. David Goode Jr., Copperas Cove, Texas, 417; 3. Zachary Madrid, Tucson, Ariz., 413; 4. Ricky Thornton Jr., Adel, Iowa, 395; 5. Jeff “Bubba” Stafford Jr., Wittmann, Ariz., 354; 6. Ryan Roath, Peoria, Ariz., 352; 7. Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz., and Don Gumke, Jamestown, N.D., both 349; 9. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo., 345; 10. Chris Morris, Taylor, Texas, 323; 11. Tyler Mecl, Queen Creek, Ariz., 317; 12. Chris Elliott, Abilene, Texas, 315; 13. Jason Noll, Peoria, Ariz., 311; 14. Matt Guillaume, Haslet, Texas, 310; 15. David Goode Sr., Copperas Cove, Texas, 298; 16. Jeffrey Hoegh, New Caney, Texas, 294; 17. Brent Schlafmann, Bismarck, N.D., 291; 18. Don Banker, Austin, Texas, 272; 19. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 266; 20. Guy Norton, Glendale, Ariz., 252. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars – 1. Rod Craddock, Alvin, Texas, 153; 2. Tyler Harris, Vidor, Texas, 115; 3. Kent Lewis Sr., Willis, Texas, 110; 4. Jacob Harris, Vidor, Texas, 109; 5. Caleb Padgett, Madisonville, Texas, 100; 6. Tommy Hall, Natchitoches, La., 91; 7. Travis “Blake” [Read More]

New to Stock Car decal program, Edelbrock continues IMCA claim engine driver support

TORRANCE, Calif. – While new to the sanctioning body’s national decal program for Stock Cars, 22-year sponsor Edelbrock has renewed an awards program for drivers in five IMCA divisions competing with claim engines. In addition to IMCA Sunoco Stock Car competitors, eligible IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod drivers all are in the running for awards from the Torrance, Calif., company The highest finishing claim engine drivers in point standings for each of the five Modified regions earn 2975 Victor Jr. intakes while top drivers in the two Stock Car regions receive Edelbrock 2701, 7121 or 2176 intakes. Top eligible drivers in both Hobby Stock regions and in national Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod points have a choice between 2701, 7121 or 2176 intakes. Second through fifth place claim engine drivers in each Modified, Stock Car and Hobby Stock region, and in national Northern and Southern SportMod standings all receive $50 product certificates. Modified and Stock Car regional rookies of the year receive $25 product [Read More]

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Blanchard bests Western RaceSaver foes at Hanford

HANFORD, Calif. (March 29) – Zane Blanchard’s home track was the Friday night site of his first Western RaceSaver Sprint Series feature win of the season. Blanchard made the most of the top side of the Keller Auto Speedway oval in leading all 20 laps of the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car main event at Hanford. After running much of the way in lapped traffic, Blanchard was able to put some distance on the rest of the field following a restart with three circuits to go. “Hanford is my home track. I live about five minutes away,” he said. “We had a lot of family and a lot of friends there. It’s cool to be out there and win in front of that many people.” A three-time series winner in 2017, Blanchard took the checkers ahead of defending tour champion Grant Duinkerken and Grant Champlin. Champlin had started 11th. Monty Ferriera was fourth and 14th starting Mike Schott rounded out the top five. Feature results – 1. Zane Blanchard; 2. Grant Duinkerken; 3. Grant Champlin; 4. Monty Ferriera; [Read More]

Deery Series begins drive to 500th event with Davenport, Maquoketa, Dubuque dates

DAVENPORT, Iowa (April 4) – A rich weekend kicks off the Deery Brothers Summer Series’ history-making 33rd season. Opening night takes the IMCA Late Model tour to Davenport Speedway for the $5,000 to win Rebel 5K next Friday, April 12. Completing the tripleheader slate are $2,500 to win events Saturday, April 13 at Maquoketa Speedway and Sunday, April 14 at Dubuque Speedway. “You’d be hard-pressed to find another series in America that can boast about their 500th event in series history. We will achieve that incredible milestone this summer, in large part due to the unwavering backing of the Deery Brothers Automotive Group and support of some of the best and most loyal Late Model drivers in the country,” said Tour Director Kevin Yoder. “It’s entirely possible that a dozen drivers who competed in the series in 1987 could hit the track in 2019, which is truly remarkable.” The Deery Brothers Automotive Group begins its 28th consecutive year as title sponsor of the series. Justin Kay of Wheatland is the three-time and defending Deery Series champion [Read More]

Big month of April on tap at Dodge City Raceway Park

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. – The 2019 racing season at Dodge City Raceway Park gets underway in fashion with three big events atop 3/8-mile clay oval in southwest Kansas over the course of April. While the season gets under way this Saturday, April 6, ensuing April events include the seventh annual Modified Stampede on April 13 and then the third round of championship chase action on April 27. The high-speed month of racing action gets under way with the Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars squaring off with the United Rebel Sprint Series. The Sprint Car clash headlines the opening night of championship chase action that also includes IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Seven nights later, the IMCA Modifieds take center stage as contenders from throughout the region converge upon Dodge City for the Modified Stampede. All four other championship classes will be in action as well. Brendon Gemmill captured his second Modified Stampede triumph last year with a dramatic late-race move, joining Cole Traugott and David [Read More]

First doubleheader of season this weekend for PASS

PORT ROYAL, Pa. – The first two-race weekend of the season for the IMCA RaceSaver Pennsylvania Sprint Series should bring out the largest sprint car fields seen so far in 2019 in Central Pennsylvania. A 40-car field or even better is expected Saturday, April 6 when PASS is at Port Royal Speedway for that venue’s first night race of the season. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing is set to start at 6 p.m. at the historic Juniata County Fairgrounds track. Zach Newlin, last year’s point champion, is among those planning to be on hand, as are several other former Port Royal winners and a good selection of 2019’s large rookie field. On Sunday, BAPS Motor Speedway in York County, now 65 years since its opening, will feature an all-open wheel racing night. More than 30 pre-entries have been received for this show, which will begin at 5 p.m. Again, the field will include multiple former BAPS winners and members of this year’s rookie class. BAPS and Port Royal are the two speedways appearing [Read More]