Ryan Clark

Sybesma Graphics has new awards for IMCA state champions crowned in Midwest

SANBORN, Iowa – Sybesma Graphics is back on board this season with a broad IMCA sponsorship role that rewards state champions across the Midwest. The Sanborn, Iowa, company gives $100 gift certificates to state champions crowned in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. “We were looking for something that rewarded drivers for what they accomplished over the season,” explained owner Stefan Sybesma. “We talked about a couple different things and I loved this (program) right away because about 50 percent of what we do is shipped out around the country.” “These awards aren’t going to drivers at just one track,” he continued. “They’re going to drivers competing for a state-wide award. They can get more bang for the buck for all the traveling they do and if the drivers can save money, it’s great for both of us.” Sybesma certificates will be presented to Modified, Late Model, Sprint Car, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod and Sport Compact state champions from IMCA’s North Central Region during the national awards banquet, or mailed [Read More]

Thornton stars at Central Arizona

By Jeff McSpadden CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (May 19) – Jeremy Thornton was the IMCA Modified star Saturday at Central Arizona Speedway. Starting seventh in the sixteen car IMCA Modified field, Thornton quickly made his way into the fourth spot diving low on the speedway entering turns one and two after the drop of the green flag, sixth starting Trevor Miller also made a bold move into the second spot behind pole starter and early leader, Mike Strobl. Trevor Miller drove by Mike Strobl for the lead on lap two while Thornton was working his way up from seventh starting to third. Thornton made quick work of Strobl for the runner up position and set out after Miller. Taking advantage of a lap five restart, Thornton pulled even with Miller and edged ahead as the sixth lap was scored. Thornton got a great jump on the next restart and began to put some distance between himself and Miller, with Tyler Mecl climbing into the third position. Thornton’s advantage of better than a second held up until the caution waved again with two laps left. [Read More]

Jones repeats at Tri-City Motor Speedway

By Roger Williams AUBURN, Mich. (May 18) – Despite his 10th place start, Nate Jones was quickly in the lead and on his way to a second straight Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified victory Friday at Tri-City Motor Speedway. Twenty-two Modified drivers took the green flag for their 20-lap main event with Don Sautter leading the opening laps. It only took IMCA rookie and former pro stock champion Jones three laps to go from 10th to the lead. Once there, he checked out from the field as everyone else would fight for second. A late caution bunch the field for one last shot for hard-charging Chad Wernette to snatch away the lead and possibly the win. However, Wernette’s bid fell short as Jones picked up his second win in a row by two car lengths. Craig Vance had a stellar run marching from 13th to third. Toby Steele and Matt Szecsodi rounded out the top five. A regular season record of 129 cars poured into the pits Friday at Auburn.

IMCA Modifieds chase $1,200 Santa Maria Nationals checks

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – IMCA Modifieds run for $1,200 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot nods both nights of Santa Maria Raceway’s Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27 Nationals. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, California State and track points will be awarded each night. Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods race for $1,000 to win, plus national, state and track points on Sunday. The Modifieds typically have one of the biggest entry numbers for the Nationals and 35-40 cars are expected to be on hand for the upcoming Memorial Weekend event. Entry fee each night for the Modifieds is $50 and pit passes are $45. Non-qualifiers get their entry fee refunded. Pit gates open at 9 a.m., the pit booth opens at noon, grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 5 p.m. both days. Adult grandstand admission is $20 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday. Seniors, military and students get a $2 discount off those prices. Kids ages 6-12 are $6 and five and [Read More]

Stuart opens for 57th season

By Josh Reynolds STUART, Iowa (May 18) – The last couple circuits got interesting with lapped traffic, but Clint Luellen was able to hold on get the IMCA Modified feature win Friday, opening night for Stuart Speedway’s 57th season. Luellen passed Matthew Meinecke for the lead on the second lap. Josh Gilman finished second with Nick Roberts third, Meinecke fourth and Jeff James fifth. Marcus Fagan was the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car winner and Aaron Rudolph prevailed over a crowded field of IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Top honors in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main went to Austin Luellen and Curtis Miller was promoted to the Mach-1 Sport Compact victory.

Garnhart speeds to IMCA Modified checkers at Maquoketa

By Rob Hinckley MAQUOKETA, Iowa (May 19) – Bryce Garnhart kept rolling Saturday night at Maquoketa Speedway, speeding to the QCJeeps.com IMCA Modified 35-lap special feature win and cashing the $1,000 check that went with it. The victory was Garnhart’s fourth straight to start the 2018 season at the Jackson County Fairgrounds speed plant. The new Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier held off a hard charging Ray Cox Jr., who was racing the top groove from deep in the field. “I knew he was coming,” Garnhart said. “I searched around there at one point with lapped traffic coming. I was like ‘the top ain’t too bad so I might run up there.’ It’s hard to give up the bottom when you got the lead.” Garnhart won his heat, picked number one on the redraw and led every lap. Cox, Tyler Madigan, Zach Less and David Brown rounded out the top five. Less came from 21st in the 26-car field. Andy Nezworski was patient and then put the late move on track champion Matt Ryan to win [Read More]

IMCA Modified Madness victory to Carter

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 18) – Cayden Carter took home the $2,000 check from Davenport Speedway’s IMCA Modified Madness special Friday night. Carter took the lead of the 50-lap main three times, including leading the last sixteen laps. Previously Carter’s best finish at Mod Madness came in 2016, with a ninth place result. The main event started with Eric Barnes taking the early lead. Barnes and Carter raced side-by-side for a couple laps, with Carter taking the lead after a lap nine restart. Lap 13 saw Justin Kay take the lead on the high side. In lapped traffic, Carter was able to regain the top spot, but a lap later, the yellow flag waved again. On the lap 27 restart, Kay again took the lead. After back-to-back cautions on lap thirty-one, the high groove seemed to go away. Carter reeled in Kay again and took the lead for good. Kay finished in second, while Kyle Brown had to hold off a charging Richie Gustin for third. Eric Barnes completed the first five. Andy [Read More]

Gemmill snares Dodge City IMCA Modified Stampede glory

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (May 19) – Brendon Gemmill made a dramatic, late move to take the $750 winner’s share in Saturday’s 25-lap IMCA Modified Stampede at Dodge City Raceway Park. Following a caution with five laps to go, Gemmill slipped under R.C. Whitwell on the 23rd round and held on to post his 14th IMCA Modified feature win at Dodge City Raceway Park since the 2012 season. “I really don’t know if I needed that caution or not, but it definitely played into our hands,” said Gemmill, who spent most of the 25-lapper chasing the duo of his father Troy Gemmill and Arizona’s Whitwell as they swapped the point three times along the way in an entertaining battle. Whitwell gunned into the lead from the pole position at the outset and paced the opening three rounds before Troy Gemmill raced into the lead while Brendon Gemmill needed just three laps to climb to third from his sixth starting position. With Brendon Gemmill pursuing the lead pair, Whitwell closed back in on Troy Gemmill at [Read More]

Noteboom repeats as Modified winner at Algona

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (May 17) – Jay Noteboom repeated as the IMCA Modified winner Thursday at Kossuth County Speedway. Noteboom started on the inside of row number four before moving to the front of the field to pick up his second win of the season at Algona and his fourth overall this spring. Kelly Shryock took second followed by Ethan Dotson, Austin Wolf and Cody Knecht. Dotson moved up seven positions during the final race of the evening as the hard charger. John Wiemann started on the outside pole and led almost the whole way only to see Heath Tulp edge him by a bumper at the flag stand to take the victory in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. The Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature saw Colby Fett pick up his first local victory of the season as he came from the outside of the second row to earn the win. Micah Lavrenz and Doug Wickman led 17 cars to flag stand to take the green flag for the IMCA Sunoco Hobby [Read More]

Memorial Day opener for Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour

VINTON, Iowa – A familiar tour for IMCA Modifieds totes higher payouts at each of its eight race dates and a bigger point fund when the 2018 season is complete. The Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour opens on Monday, May 28 at Benton County Speedway. A minimum of $2,000 will be paid to win and $200 to start each tour feature, with the champion earning a $1,500 share of the nearly $10,000 point fund. “This will be the seventh time we’ve started the tour at Vinton. The Prelude special the day before also pays $2,000 to win so it’s possible for a driver to enjoy a $4,000 Memorial Weekend at Benton County Speedway,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “There’s a lot to be excited about the upcoming tour. We’ve increased the payout and point fund, a passing points format will be new and the Dirt Knights will be featured on MAVTV.” “Plus,” he added, “contingency awards will be given at each event and at the conclusion of the tour.” From Vinton, the tour travels [Read More]