Ryan Clark

Willamette Speedway opener is April 14

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. – With one test and tune session under their belt, IMCA Modifieds will open the 2018 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season at Willamette Speedway this Saturday, April 14. Pit gates open at 1 p.m. and the front gates open at 3:30 p.m. for the Cabin Fever lidlifter. Racing is at 6 p.m. “This season, there are so many great events throughout the year,” commented Race Director Jeremy Means. “Hopefully Mother Nature cooperates and we can get some racing in.” One big change is that two-day racing dates will be going from Saturday-Sunday to Friday-Saturday. Also, Fast Fridays will be coming to Willamette for the first time and will have a special $5 general admission price. Regular race night tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for seniors, military and juniors, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for five and under. A family pass (two adults and up to four youth) is $35. Season passes are discounted and include all races: Adults $390, seniors, military and juniors $275, youth [Read More]

IMCA rookie of the year awards are new from Ricochet

BRUSH, Colo. – Champions and top rookie drivers in two IMCA divisions are in line for Ricochet Race Components awards in 2018. The five-year IMCA sponsor gives sets of three shock guard covers to champions and rookies of the year in each of the five regions for Modifieds, and to the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod national champion and national rookie of the year. Owned by veteran IMCA Modified driver John Hansen, the Brush, Colo., company, gives the same awards package to feature winners and champions in the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Modified Tour and the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour, and to winners of 10 designated Modified specials. “It is an honor to come alongside IMCA racers to support their race program and protect their investment in shocks,” Hansen said. Feature winner awards will be presented in victory lane while all other Ricochet awards will be presented during the national IMCA banquet in November. “The program we have with John and Ricochet has been consistent for the past five seasons and as a result [Read More]

New promoter takes charge at hometown Buena Vista Raceway

ALTA, Iowa – Joey Ciechanowski takes over this season as promoter at his hometown track, Buena Vista Raceway. The 3/8-mile dirt oval at Alta has been in operation for more than half a century and dates its IMCA connection to 1987. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts return to the weekly likeup this season. “This track has been good for our community. It’s been open for 51 years and I want to see it keep going,” Ciechanowski said. “IMCA has been our bread and butter. When it comes to weekly racing, there’s not anything out there that’s better.” Ciechanowski was a race fan and crew member and now builds Modified and Northern SportMod Black Widow Chassis with partner Brian Rowland. He worked in the parts trailer that served drivers at Alta last year. New dirt was added to the racing surface last fall and that’s one of the projects Ciechanowski has at the top of his list. “We want to have a smooth [Read More]

IMCA national point leaders receive monthly recognition throughout 2018

VINTON, Iowa – Drivers leading national point standings at the end of the month throughout the IMCA point season will be getting something to hang on the wall or add to their trophy case. IMCA will recognize national point leaders in each division January through September, based on standings posted on the first Friday of the following month. August recipients won’t be determined until standings as of the second Friday of September because of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s; September recipients will be determined by point standings before track bonuses are applied. “Seventeen different drivers have been leading national point standings at the end of the month so far this season,” noted IMCA President Brett Root. “These awards give well-deserved recognition to early-season competitors.” All awards will be mailed from the IMCA home office. Chaz Baca is the only driver to lead national points in two months, topping January and March IMCA Modified standings. Hunter Marriott led the way in February. Monty Ferriera and Austin Mundie paced IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car [Read More]

Precise Racing Products gives cash awards, gift cards to IMCA RaceSaver Sprint drivers

BENNINGTON, Neb. – Cash bonuses of $500 and $50 gift cards go to IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car drivers this season, courtesy of Precise Racing Products. The Bennington, Neb., high performance parts supplier and Hoosier race tire distributor gives those hefty $500 cash prizes to both the national rookie of the year and the driver with the most 40-point feature wins a of Sept. 24. The eight-year IMCA sponsor also gives $50 gift cards to state and series champions in the division. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car drivers are required to display two Precise Racing Products decals on their race car to be eligible. “We are excited to extend our relationship with the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car division for another season and look forward to an outstanding 2018!” said Precise’s Chris Archer. More information about Precise products is available by calling 800 651-5164 and at the www.preciseracing.com website. National champion Marcus Thomas of Corsicana, Texas, collected the feature win bonus from Precise last season while national rookie of the year honors went to Grant Duinkerken of Riverdale, [Read More]

Victory Visit to Shriners Children’s Hospital made by Willamette, Cottage Grove Speedway drivers

By Ben Deatherage PORTLAND, Ore. – Drivers and track officials from Cottage Grove Speedway and Willamette Speedway were part of a special event on Wednesday, April 4th to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Portland. They visited with children who were patients at the hospital as part of an event was dubbed the Victory Visit. It was a perfect opportunity for kids to meet race drivers face to face. “Last year we had drivers from just Willamette Speedway come up,” commented event organizer Buzz Mitchell, a long-time race fan and sponsor at the Lebanon 1/3-mile facility. “This winter I ended up to talking to (general manager) Heather Boyce down at Cottage Grove and wanted to include her, too. I have a lot of friends from down there and I wanted to make sure they were involved.” In addition to meeting with patients, the visitors were also given a full tour of the facility. After everything was said and done, all parties involved would end the day with smiles on their faces. It proves just how wonderful and caring [Read More]

Moores, Xtreme Motorsports team donate $6,000 toward pediatric cancer research

By Ben Deatherage SCIO, Ore. – Wednesday, April 4 was a special day for Steve and Andrea Moore at the 2018 Victory Visit. Their race team, Xtreme Motorsports, donated approximately $6,000.00 to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Portland towards pediatric cancer research. The money was raised by selling Racing For Life window ribbon stickers throughout the course of the 2017 race season. “Andrea and I wanted it to go to anything they do involving childhood cancer research,” commented Steve Moore. “We’re so glad that we can help these kids out. Unfortunately, I was ill but I was glad that Andrea could make it and be a part of the Victory Visit.” “I want to send out a huge shout out to my wife Andrea who was such a big part of handling all of the sales at the track. Also, this would not be possible with all of the help from Loren and Val Kruesi as well as the entire Xtreme Motorsports crew,” he added. “In addition, I want to thank all the racers and fans [Read More]

Mohave Valley celebrates 25th with IMCA Modified special

MOHAVE VALLEY, Ariz. – Mohave Valley Raceway celebrates its 25th anniversary on Saturday, April 14 with a $1,500 to win IMCA Modified special. The main event pays a minimum of $100 to start and the entry fee of $100 includes car and driver. Total purse for the feature is $6,000. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region and Arizona State, but no track points will be awarded. Pit gates open at 4 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. More information is available by calling 928 346-3000 and at the track website, www.mohavevalleyraceway.com.

Deery Brothers Summer Series opens Friday with Rebel 5K at Davenport

DAVENPORT, Iowa – The longest running Late Model Series in the Midwest is back in action and a top prize of $5,000 is on the line when Davenport Speedway hosts opening night for the Deery Brothers Summer Series this Friday, April 13. The Rebel 5K is the first of 13 dates for the 32nd annual IMCA Late Model tour and pays a minimum of $300 to start. Along with the big check, the winner goes home with the top spot in national, state and special series standings. Pit gates at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 5:45 p.m. with racing to follow. Spectator admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students, and free for kids ages 12 and under. Pit passes are $35 Just one of the previous 23 series races held at Davenport was an opening night event. Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls has collected six of his series career-best 68 Deery wins at Davenport; the most recent winner [Read More]

Long tow to I-37 pays off for Andersen

By J.M. Hallas PLEASANTON, Texas (April 7) – It wasn’t the trip he had planned, but Chad Andersen of Fort Calhoun, Neb., made the 13-hour drive pay off with a win in the IMCA Modified feature Saturday at I-37 Speedway. Starting toward the back with no point average, Andersen hung out letting the field sort itself, then began his march to the front. Andersen caught Rick Green, Jamie Campbell and Dillon Tindall near halfway making a four-car fight for the lead. Andersen grabbed the point on lap 13, then survived a couple late restarts to pick up the victory. “The win made the long trip worth it. We had intended to go to a two-day show in Iowa and took vacation time. That got canceled, everything else around us got canceled and the closest IMCA stuff was here in Texas,” Andersen said. “After our original plan, Waco and Kennedale rained out, we looked for another IMCA track and three hours south, here we are. It seemed to pan out for us. We had some bad [Read More]