Ryan Clark

Thornton starts Spring Nationals legacy, Grabouski wins career 10th Modified main

BEATRICE, Neb. (March 9-10) – Ricky Thornton started his Spring Nationals legacy while Jordan Grabouski added to his at Beatrice Speedway’s 25th annual event. Thornton topped the Friday feature for IMCA Modifieds and the Saturday main event for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Grabouski collected his record-extending career 10th Modified victory on night two. Both Modified features paid $2,500 to win. Both Thornton and Grabouski were already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. More than 220 race teams from a dozen states and Canada were at Beatrice from the traditional season lidlifter. While Beatrice is Grabouski’s hometown track, Arizona native Thornton had raced there just once previously with a mid-pack finish at a weekly event to show for his efforts. “Probably the biggest thing on Friday was that I didn’t win from the front row,” said Thornton, who worked his way up from 11th. “It took about 10 laps to get up to third. I passed Cayden Carter after a yellow around lap 15. Hunter Marriott and I raced hard and clean before I cleared [Read More]

Kelly, Wood stampede to checkers in Sprint Series of Oklahoma at Ardmore

By David Smith Jr. ARDMORE, Okla. (March 9 and 10) – Chris Kelly and Joe Wood Jr. followed different lines to the same destination when the Sprint Series of Oklahoma opened as part of Southern Oklahoma Speedway’s Southern Stampede special. Kelly found the bottom before all others as he took the lead near midway point and never looked back to claim the Friday feature and $700 in the IMCA RaceSaver series presented by Smiley’s Racing Products/Hoosier Racing Tires Southwest lidlifter. Wood took the lead early and cruised along the top side to Saturday’s $750 checkers. Running fourth on lap 10, Kelly quickly disposed of Blake Daccus for third and moved into the runner-up position by passing Gary Owens on lap 12. One lap later, Kelly powered past two-time defending series champion Andy Shouse. Not even a heavy dose of lapped traffic on lap seventeen could detour Kelly as he would go on to claim his second career SSO victory by eight car lengths over Shouse. Kevin Ramey settled for third while Owens came home fourth [Read More]

34 Raceway kicks off new ownership with annual car show

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – 34 Raceway will kick off the 2018 season with new owner Brad Stevens and his co-promoter Jessi Mynatt at the annual 34 Raceway Car Show on Sunday, March 18. This year’s show will be held at Deery Brothers in West Burlington from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and will take place rain or shine. More than 20 race cars and drivers from a variety of classes will be on hand to sign autographs and take photos with fans. There will be kids’ activities, food and beverage for purchase, and don’t forget to grab your 2018 schedule. This event is free to the public so come out and see what family friend, fast racing fun will look like at 34 Raceway this season.

Grayson County adds IMCA Stock Cars to Saturday programs

BELLS, Texas (March 9) – IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars return to weekly race programs at the longest IMCA-sanctioned track in Texas this season. The full-bodied class joins IMCA Modifieds and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods on Saturday nights at Grayson County Speedway. “We had the I-Stocks here for one race last season and the fans loved them. We made the announcement late last year that we would sanction the division this year,” said promoter Mark Weiss. “What I personally like best about the class is that they keep the competition fair. No one has an advantage other than skill set. That’s what makes it exciting for the fans and what keeps the drivers coming back.” A business president in the Dallas metroplex, Weiss got his introduction to dirt track racing as a spectator at Grayson County. He helped sponsor a race car, traveling to various events across the South, before buying the track in December of 2016. “Grayson County was the shortest quarter-mile track I’d seen,” said Weiss. “The first thing we did was make [Read More]

Sustaire captures Dirt Dominator win at Southern Oklahoma

By Mike Spieker ARDMORE, Okla. (March 8) – Kevin Sustaire of Emory, Texas won round three of the Dirt Dominator Thursday night at Southern Oklahoma Speedway and took home the $1,000 payday. Sustaire matched up against Nick Roberts of Des Moines, Iowa, in the final round of the head-to-head, two and a half lap dash bracket race. Roberts won the coin toss and was awarded lane choice. Roberts elected the preferred bottom lane but Sustaire powered around him on the outside through the first set of corners. From there Roberts had to play catch up. Sustaire opened his advantage to three car lengths coming to the white flag. As the duo headed into the final set of turns, Roberts drove his car deep into turns three and four, pulling right up to the rear bumper of Sustaire. However, Sustaire powered off the low side of turn four to take the checkers and lock himself into the $10,000 Dirt Dominator finale on Oct. 25 at Heart O’ Texas Speedway. Racing continues at Southern Oklahoma Speedway with the [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through March 8

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 634; 2. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo., 596; 3. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., 404; 4. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 382; 5. Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif., 369; 6. Marlyn Seidler, Underwood, N.D., 341; 7. Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz., 337; 8. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 287; 9. Russell Allen, Brawley, Calif., 272; 10. Lance Mari, Imperial, Calif., 270; 11. Jason Wolla, Ray, N.D., 269; 12. Jeffrey Abbey, Comanche, Texas, 264; 13. Cory Sample, Winnemucca, Nev., and Colin Deming, Hobbs, N.M., both 261; 15. Garth Dushanek, Avondale, Ariz., 259; 16. Brent Schlafmann, Bismarck, N.D., 253; 17. Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D., 241; 18. Shawn Strand, Mandan, N.D., 240; 19. Ryan Gaylord, Lakewood, Colo., 239; 20. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif., 232. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars – 1. John Ricketts, Burleson, Texas, 40; 2. Chad Wilson, North Richland Hills, Texas, 39; 3. Michael Day, Greenville, Texas, 38; 4. Marcus Thomas, Corsicana, Texas, 36; 5. Channin Tankersley, Dayton, Texas, 35; 6. Monty Ferriera, Fresno, Calif., 33; 7. Chad Koch, Lakeside City, Texas, 32; 8. [Read More]

New promoter has high expectations for Maquoketa Speedway

MAQUOKETA, Iowa – There are high expectations this season at Maquoketa Speedway, where Nick McCrady takes over as promoter. The ¼-mile dirt oval opens on April 14 with Saturday night programs featuring five IMCA divisions scheduled through Aug. 25. “I see something here that has potential. I want to see how I can make this track even better for drivers and fans,” McCrady said. “We’re going to work very hard at building our weekly car counts and we’re very excited about having the Deery Brothers Summer Series here on May 5.” IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Late Models, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods are back on regular race programs at Maquoketa while IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars are newly-sanctioned. Late Models have been a weekly staple at Maquoketa for the past 17 years. Modifieds returned in 2009, Northern SportMods were new in 2012 and Hobby Stocks were added in 2015. Twenty point races will be held during the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season. “IMCA is really for the budget racer,” said McCrady, who raced in street stock and sportmod divisions before ending his [Read More]

Summit continues key role in national decal programs for IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks

TALLMADGE, Ohio – Summit Racing Equipment returns to national decal programs for two divisions this season, while again giving gift cards with a total value of $14,000 to IMCA drivers. The Tallmadge, Ohio high performance parts retailer and nine-year IMCA sponsor is part of the decal programs for IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Modified and Hobby Stock drivers are required to display two Summit decals on their race car to be eligible for point fund shares. Decals will be included in packets mailed to drivers beginning in March; the deadline for sending car photos to the IMCA home office proving decal placement is Aug. 1. National or regional standings in the eight IMCA divisions determine recipients of $100 gift cards. Gift cards will be awarded to top 10 finishers in each of the five Modified regions, both EQ Cylinder Heads Stock Car regions and both Big Daddy Race Cars Hobby Stock regions, and to top 10 drivers in national standings for IMCA Late Models, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods, Smiley’s [Read More]

IMCA RaceSaver Sprints are new at Marysville

MARYSVILLE, Calif. – IMCA’s fastest growing division has a new home in Sprint Car Country. Eight RaceSaver Sprint Car dates are on the schedule this season at Marysville Raceway, which becomes the first California venue to crown a track champion in the division since 1999. “Northern California is a Sprint Car area but like everywhere else in the United States, the cost has escalated so much that most weekend racers can’t afford it,” promoter Dennis Gage said. “We thought it was time to introduce the RaceSaver cars here.” Marysville has a local sprint class, which utilizes a crate engine, and Gage is optimistic that drivers in that class as well as those who have not raced in recent seasons because of costs will find that RaceSaver fits their budget. A number of local drivers have already told Gage they’d race in the IMCA class and others have purchased RaceSaver engines. “We have a lot of parked cars in this part of the state,” he said. “I know a lot of those people are looking at [Read More]

Sprint Series of Oklahoma opens at Ardmore

By David Smith Jr. ARDMORE, Okla. – Sprint Series of Oklahoma drivers and officials are gearing up for a double-header weekend at Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore this Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car drivers from across Oklahoma and north Texas have expressed their intentions on competing in one or both events that kick off the 2018 race season for the SSO. Friday’s feature will pay $700 to win while Saturday’s main event pays $750 to win. Both events are complete shows with no automatic transfers from Friday to Saturday; both nights pay a minimum of $250 to start the feature. Friday night grandstand admission prices are $15 for adults and $10 for kids ages 6-12. All pit passes are $30. Saturday spectator admission is $20 for adults and $15 for kids while pit passes are $35. Gates open both nights at 5:00 p.m. with race action slated for 7:30 p.m. Two-time and defending series champion Andy Shouse will be back and looking for a three-peat championship in 2018 Touring [Read More]