Ryan Clark

Hiatt hauls home opening night hardware, Grabouski gets two Saturday wins at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (April 20-21) – Defending track champion Shane Hiatt raced his way to victory lane on opening night of Eagle Raceway’s Ice Breaker Challenge. Former track champion Jordan Grabouski accomplished the feat twice on night two. Hiatt earned $1,000 and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth along with Friday’s IMCA Modified main event. Grabouski, already on the ballot, was best in Saturday’s $2,000 to win headliner and pocketed another $500 for winning the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. The leader from the drop of the Friday night green, Hiatt ran ahead of Mike Densberger much of the distance before his challenger pulled into the infield with five circuits left. After a couple late restarts, Hunter Marriott wrestled the second spot from Grabouski. Dylan Smith and Eddie Belec completed the top five. Saturday featured another field filled with heavy hitters as Grabouski had to take the front spot away from Marriott and hold on. The laps 12 laps saw Marriott try both high and low grooves but to no avail. Ricky [Read More]

Another long tow to New York ends with another IMCA Modified win for A.J. Ward

By Paul Szmal and Kenny Shupp DUNDEE, N.Y. (April 21) – Another long trip to New York ended with another IMCA Modified feature win for Michigan speedster A.J. Ward. The two-time defending Dirt Works Eastern Region champion chalked up his sixth victory in seven New York State starts, and career 82nd win in the division, by passing Will Ward on the last of 20 laps at Outlaw Speedway’s Spring Nationals on Saturday. A late restart helped open the door for A.J. Ward, who’d taken the initial green flag from fifth starting. He ran side-by-side with Will Ward before eking ahead to take the checkers by close to a couple car lengths. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, A.J. Ward earned $1,000 for the win. Will Ward, the defending state champion, was second and third went to Brandon Smith. Feature results – 1. A.J. Ward; 2. Will Ward; 3. Brandon Smith; 4. Tyler Stoddard; 5. Kody Johnson; 6. Mark Griffin; 7. Gary Lamphere; 8. Keith Jack Lamphere; 9. Keith Lamphere; 10. Rodney Morgan; 11. [Read More]

Twin Highbanks Hustle this Thursday, Friday at Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – A pair of $1,000 to win Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying features for IMCA Modifieds are on Twin Highbanks Hustle cards this Thursday and Friday, April 26 and 27. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods run for $500 to win, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $300 to win both nights. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and Iowa State points will be given each night with track points at stake as well on Friday. IMCA Late Models vie for a top check of $750, plus IMCA national, state and track points, on Friday. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m., with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing to follow both days.

Leraas spins, wins at Shenandoah

By Jim Haines SHENANDOAH, Va. (April 21) – After an early spin, Mike Leraas raced to the front of the field to take his first Virginia Sprint Series win of the season Saturday at Shenandoah Speedway. Chris Ware and Bill Rice pacing the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field to green and stayed side-by-side before an early yellow flew. Rice got the lead on the restart with Tony Harris all over him and Ware in third. Harris worked his way to the front on lap seven but Leraas was gaining speed on the bottom and closing in after passing Rice for second. As the laps wound down Leraas, used a low line to take the lead just as Ware got by Rice for third. Leraas was fastest on the bottom as he flashed under the checkered flag with a five car length cushion over Harris. Ware was third. The next race scheduled is a return to Natural Bridge Speedway on Saturday, May 12.

IMCA Modifieds are new at Crowley’s Ridge Raceway

PARAGOULD, Ark. – The race track that’s been featured on the big screen and small screens all across the country will feature IMCA Modifieds beginning this season. Crowley’s Ridge Raceway opens Saturday, April 28. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Jet Racing Central Region, Arkansas State and track points will be awarded through Sept. 29. “My dad raced and when I came back to Arkansas in 1986, I decided to build a track,” explained Trent Francis, who now operates the quarter-mile red clay oval with his wife Brenda and daughters Paige and Peggy. “I went to the Race For Hope (at Batesville Motor Speedway) last fall and met with IMCA about sanctioning.” “We average 100 cars and have a capacity crowd every night,” continued Francis, who talks racing regularly with I-30 Speedway promoter Tracey Clay. “We have been a Modified track for 16 years but basically in the last five years guys have gotten crazy with big engines racing for $400 to win. I got tired of handing the check to the guy who spent [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds return to Sycamore Speedway in Illinois this weekend

MAPLE PARK, Ill. – A berth on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot is at stake when IMCA Modifieds return to Sycamore Speedway for a Saturday, April 28 show. The main event at the 3/8-mile clay oval at Maple Park, Ill., pays $1,200 to win and a minimum of $150 to start with up to 15 entries; the winner earns $1,500 if there are more than 16 entries. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Side Biter Chassis North Central Region and Illinois State points will be awarded. There is no entry fee and pit passes are $30. Grandstand admission is $12 for adults, $5 for kids ages 5-11 and free for four and under. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 6 p.m. The drivers’ meeting also starts at 6 p.m. with hot laps and racing to follow. More information is available from General Manager Tiffany Olson at 815 895-5454, on Facebook and Twitter. The track website is www.sycamorespeedway.com. A smartphone app can also be downloaded from the Apple App Store or [Read More]

Smith scores PASS win at Port Royal

PORT ROYAL, Pa. (April 21) – Kyle Smith was the winner when the Pennsylvania Sprint Series returned to Port Royal Speedway Saturday for Beer Hill Cup race number two of the season. Dylan Shatzer ran the middle groove while others ran the high side and led the first four laps. Christian Rumsey took over up front before Smith used a lap seven restart to gain the lead. Jeff Miller Jr. garnered a second place finish while hard-charging Darren Miller ran out of laps and settled for third. Unseasonable temperatures had officials expecting a car count in the mid-20s but a warmer than anticipated weekend helped put 40 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars in the pits for the Alan Kumpf benefit event. Kumpf ran the number 40 which matched the unexpected car count. Many PASS teams made their first start of the season and Western Pennsylvania racers eager to get started traveled to the Speed Palace. A total of $821 was raised for the family of Kumpf, who was a part-time racer for more than a decade [Read More]

Kay takes Deery Brothers cash at Tipton again

By Mike McGuire TIPTON, Iowa (April 21) – Justin Kay continued his winning streak at Cedar County Raceway in Saturday’s 2018 Deery Brothers Summer Series opener. However, Kay needed nearly all the 50 laps of the IMCA Late Model tour main event to get the job done. “This is probably one of the tracks in the area I have some of the most laps on. It’s 25 miles from our shop and where I started 15 years ago in a 4-cylinder,” he said. “I just love that place.” Ryan Dolan jumped out to the early lead from the pole. As Dolan pulled away, the third-starting Kay and Andy Eckrich became locked in a fierce battle for second. The pair swapped the position several times before Terry Neal used the very bottom groove to work his way into second. Unfortunately, Neal’s race ended several laps later as he coasted into the infield. Kay finally managed to shake Eckrich with 10 laps to go and started to chase down the leader. He drove around Dolan with five [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through April 19

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 929; 2. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo., 596; 3. Jeffrey Abbey, Comanche, Texas, 588; 4. Colin Deming, Hobbs, N.M., 581; 5. Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz., 563; 6. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 451; 7. Matt Guillaume, Haslet, Texas, 444; 8. Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif., 426; 9. Rob Slott, New Waverly, Texas, 417; 10. Marlyn Seidler, Underwood, N.D., 411; 11. Cory Sample, Winnemucca, Nev., 407; 12. Ricky Thornton Jr., Clive, Iowa, and Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas, both 404; 14. Chris Bragg, Springtown, Texas, 386; 15. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 382; 16. Brent Schlafmann, Bismarck, N.D., 373; 17. Jason Noll, Peoria, Ariz., 370; 18. Josh McGaha, Abilene, Texas, 368; 19. Brandon Hood, McGregor, Texas, 359; 20. Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas, 356. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars – 1. Austin Mundie, Carrollton, Texas, 148; 2. Marcus Thomas, Corsicana, Texas, 141; 3. Shane Gloeckler, Joshua, Texas, 140; 4. Blake Baccus, Crandall, Texas, 127; 5. Logan Scherb, Decatur, Texas, 122; 6. Grant Duinkerken, Riverdale, Calif., Trey Schmidt, Spring, Texas, and Mark Klis, Waxahachie, Texas, [Read More]

Inclement weather postpones Modified Stampede at Dodge City

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. – Mother Nature continues her domination of Dodge City Raceway Park in 2018 with Saturday’s scheduled event atop the 3/8-mile clay oval in southwest Kansas postponed due to inclement weather. With forecasts of excessive rain and frigid temperatures, Saturday’s sixth annual Modified Stampede has been rescheduled for Saturday night, May 19. The event will feature a $750 winner’s share for IMCA Modifieds with Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks in action as well. With the opener nixed for a third consecutive time, Dodge City Raceway Park will now kick off the 2018 season on Saturday, May 5, with a full card of championship chase action.