Ryan Clark

Abilene Speedway set for 23rd annual Southern Challenge

ABILENE, Texas – The 23rd annual Ryan Bard Memorial Southern Challenge sees four IMCA divisions in action Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13-14. IMCA Modifieds race for $2,000 to win their main event, a qualifier for the 2018 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods both run for $1,700 to win. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks run for $650. An open practice runs from 6-10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12. All four divisions can time trial as part of that evening’s Fast Lap Challenge, with the top two cars in each class receiving an optional provisional if they don’t qualify. Pit gates and the grandstand open at 3 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Grandstand admission is $12 for adults, $10 for military with ID, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $30. More information is available from promoter Rob Poor at 325 725-3849 or 325 692-8800, on Facebook and at the www.abilenespeedway.com website.

Unofficial 2017 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jason Wolla, Ray, N.D., 1,233; 2. Cory Sample, Winnemucca, Nev., 1,213; 3. Tyler Limoges, Redwood Falls, Minn., 1,204; 4. Steven Bowers Jr., Topeka, Kan., 1,202; 5. A.J. Ward, Ionia, Mich., 1,198; 6. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 1,197; 7. Tyler Frye, Belleville, Kan., 1,191; 8. Matt Guillaume, Haslet, Texas, and Clinton Luellen, Minburn, Iowa, both 1,178; 10. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 1,172; 11. Shawn Fletcher, Brainerd, Minn., 1,171; 12. Clint Hatlestad, Glencoe, Minn., 1,164; 13. Dean Abbey, Roanoke, Texas, 1,157; 14. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo., 1,156; 15. Drew Armstrong, Alexander, Ark., 1,152; 16. Travis Hagen, Williston, N.D., 1,150; 17. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,148; 18. Bryce Garnhart, Shannon, Ill., 1,142; 19. Jeff Hoegh, New Caney, Texas, 1,136; 20. Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice, Neb., 1,132. IMCA Late Models – 1. Justin Kay, Wheatland, Iowa, 809; 2. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, 806; 3. Todd Cooney, Des Moines, Iowa, 805; 4. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, Iowa, 789; 5. Rob Toland, Colona, Ill., 783; 6. Chad Holladay, Muscatine, Iowa, 780; 7. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, Iowa, 777; 8. Joe Zrostlik, Long [Read More]

Wolla’s IMCA Modified national championship is North Dakota first

VINTON, Iowa (Oct. 3) – The driver known as The Big Show is the big name in IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing this season. Jason Wolla raced to the national IMCA Modified championship. The 25-time feature winner, from Ray, is the first North Dakota driver to win a national crown in any IMCA division. “We didn’t have any expectations for this season. We just wanted to put some wins together,” said Wolla, also the first driver from North Dakota to win IMCA’s Side Biter Chassis North Central Regional title. “We had no intentions of running for the national title. We were just racing.” “About midway through the season we were coming home after winning at Minot, got to looking at the points and started to think maybe it was doable,” he continued. “That was when we made the commitment to run for the national championship.” Wolla was track champion at Nodak Speedway and Southwest Speedway and scored Allstar Performance North Dakota State honors as well. Other first-time national champions were Marcus Thomas of Corsicana, Texas, in the [Read More]

Kennedale Speedway Park reschedules Showdown special for this weekend

KENNEDALE, Texas – Rain might have had the upper hand on the original race date but IMCA drivers in four divisions will race for even bigger paydays at Kennedale Speedway Park’s rescheduled Summit Racing Equipment Showdown this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6 and 7. IMCA Modifieds are in the running for $2,500 to win their 2018 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier while IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods all vie for $1,500 top checks. All four IMCA features pay a minimum of $200 to start and Modified, Stock Car and SportMod drivers racing both days who do not qualify for the main event get $100. New sponsor money will also go to hard chargers. On Friday, gates open at 4 p.m. and Modified, Stock Car and SportMod qualifying starts at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and military, $5 for kids ages 6-11 and free for five and under. Gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday and racing is at 6 p.m. [Read More]

Keeton flies to first win in Virginia Sprint Series finale

By Jim Haines SHENANDOAH, Va. (Sept. 30) – Mike Keeton was fast at the front and stayed there all the way to his first win Saturday on the final night of the 20th annual Virginia Sprint Series. The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car checkers came Saturday at Shenandoah Speedway, ahead of Jerald Harris and Anthony Linkenhoker. The feature-only event rolled off with Bill Rice and Keeton on the front row. When the green flew, Keeton stayed high while Rice was on the bottom and hugging the line. Keeton got free on lap two and Harris came with him on the top side and went for the lead lap after lap while leaving Rice to deal with Linkenhoker. Pavement races really fly by and Harris was keeping close but not getting alongside while Linkenhoker made it to third. Keeton stayed smooth and steady up front, made some good moves in traffic in the final laps and raced to the checkered flag first. Feature results – 1. Mike Keeton; 2. Jerald Harris; 3. Anthony Linkenhoker;4. Bill Rice; 5. Chris Ware; [Read More]

$5,000 is top IMCA Modified prize at RPM Fall Nationals

HAYS, Kan. – RPM Speedway wraps up 2017 with one of the richest post-season events on the IMCA schedule, the Fall Nationals fueled by Casey’s. IMCA Modifieds race for $5,000 to win and a minimum of $400 to start their main event at the 11th annual event, scheduled Oct. 5-7 at Hays. That feature is a qualifying event for the 2018 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Also on the card this weekend are IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars racing for $3,000 to win and $250 to start, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods for $2,000 and $175 to start, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $1,500 and $175 to start, and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $300 and $50 to start. Registration fee and non-qualifier pay is $150 for Modifieds, $100 for Stocks and $75 for SportMods and Hobby Stocks. Tow money for Sport Compacts is $25. A test and tune session for all divisions and the Sport Compact program are on Thursday, Oct. 5. Grandstand admission is free on Thursday. Adults pay $10 on Friday and $15 on Saturday; children [Read More]

Thornton is $20,000 richer after Race For Hope 74 victory

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 30) – Ricky Thornton Jr. captured the inaugural Race For Hope 74 title Saturday night at Batesville Motor Speedway. Thornton took the lead on lap 28 of 74 before going on to score the $20,000 IMCA Modified payday. “This one is definitely at the top of my list of races I’ve ever won, honestly,” said Thornton in victory lane following the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. “It’s definitely the most money I’ve ever won. It’s pretty cool to get it done in Larry Shaw’s backyard.” Preliminary night feature winners Kyle Strickler, Justin Kay, and Jordan Grabouski led the 27-car field to the green for the three-wide start. Strickler grabbed the lead on the opening lap while Grabouski settled into second. Kay and Thornton both moved by Grabouski on the low side on lap four to take second and third, respectively. By halfway of the first 40-lap segment, Kay remained within five car lengths of Strickler, as the lead duo distanced themselves from the rest of the field. Thornton found [Read More]

Grabouski grabs Race For Hope 74 qualifier Win

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 29) – Jordan Grabouski captured the third and final Race For Hope 74 qualifying night feature Friday at Batesville Motor Speedway. Grabouski started fourth on the 30-car starting grid before taking the lead on lap eight. “Sometimes when you struggle, you need to do your homework. We did our homework tonight and made a few changes on the car. The thing was a rocketship tonight,” said Grabouski in victory lane. Travis Dickson took the lead on the opening lap from the outside front row starting spot. Meanwhile, Grabouski moved by Chad Andersen and Brian Hartwick to claim the runner-up spot at the completion of lap one. Seventh starting Jason Wilkey charged his way into third by lap three after driving around Anderson. The caution waved on lap five after Hartwick spun in turn four. Jacob Murray had nowhere to go and made heavy contact with Hartwick. Both drivers were OK. On the restart, Dickson pushed into turn one, which allowed Grabouski to easily take the lead exiting turn two. Tyler [Read More]

Photos needed for post-season certificates, cash

VINTON, Iowa – Sending a photo of their car to IMCA is guaranteed to get eligible drivers a $50 gift certificate. Doing so will may also be worth $500 in cash. Drivers in all IMCA divisions displaying 10 or more Karl Performance heat win decals on their car are eligible to receive a $50 gift certificate from the high performance parts supplier. In addition, Dirt Defender and Stephenville Starter each give $250 to a driver selected at random from the IMCA Modified, Stock Car, Southern SportMod and Northern SportMod ranks who wins 10 or more weekly heat races and submits a photo of their car displaying use of two Dirt Defender mud covers. That driver also receives a free Stephenville Starter-manufactured starter. All awards will be presented during the IMCA national banquet in November. Car photos should be sent to Marketing Director Kevin Yoder at the IMCA home office by Monday, Nov. 13. His email address is kyoder@imca.com.

Kay captures Thursday Race For Hope 74 IMCA Modified qualifier at Batesville

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 28) – Justin Kay captured night two of the inaugural Race For Hope 74 IMCA Modified special at Batesville Motor Speedway Thursday evening. Kay led 21 of the 25 laps en route to the victory, which locked him into the front row for Saturday’s $20,000 to win main event. “I’ve never been here before. What an awesome race track,” said Kay in victory lane. “I knew what line I needed to run and I just had to hit my marks. Ricky (Thornton Jr.) has been so good lately and Kelly (Shryock) has been doing this a long time … this is just awesome. I’m so excited.” The race got underway with Kay, Dennie Gieber and Jason Wilkey on the front row for the three-wide start. The green flag was quickly replaced with the caution on the opening lap as Tyler Droste and Tyler Stevens got together exiting turn four. Droste was able to rejoin the field while Stevens was done for the night. On the complete restart, Wilkey raced his [Read More]