Ryan Clark

Duffy exceeds expectations after late arrival for Modified Madness

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 14) – The driver who almost didn’t get to the track in time to qualify for Davenport Speedway’s IMCA Modified Madness 50 on Friday ended up winning it. Darin Duffy almost missed the event when eastbound traffic was slowed and then rerouted due to an accident on Interstate 80. After following the detour on a county road and through a couple towns, he arrived just in time to start last in the final “B” feature. “I was so close to turning around,” Duffy admitted. “When we finally got to the track, my guys got my car out of the trailer and I got my suit on quick. After I qualified, I thought if I could get up to fifth or so I’d be doing really good.” Starting 22nd in a field of 24, Duffy was all the way up to fourth when the caution flag flew on lap 25. 2015 race winner Tyler Droste took the lead from Jason Pershy on lap 28. Running the high side, Duffy worked his [Read More]

Freedom 40 win worth $1,000 to Wood

By David Smith Jr. MEEKER, Okla. (July 14) – After surviving a mid-race battle for the lead, Joe Wood Jr. worked lapped traffic to perfection in the latter portion of the race to claim the Freedom 40 Sprint Series of Oklahoma feature at Red Dirt Raceway. Jake Martens opened a five-car length lead with 15 laps to go. Two laps later, Wood got a run coming out of turn four to take the front spot away on lap 27. Not even encountering slower cars on lap 32 could slow Wood’s pace as he went on to claim the half-stretch $1,000 victory, his second on the season and third career with the Smiley’s Racing Products-presented series. Martens held off Andy Shouse for the runner-up position while rookie Steven Shebester had his best performance of the season in fourth. Blake Dacus was fifth. Sheldon Barksdale led the first nine circuits and ended in sixth. Wood was scored first on a couple laps at midway before Martens regained the lead, then returned the favor for the $1,000 payday. [Read More]

Gustin and Gustin dominate at Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (July 14) – The Central Iowa Fair provided the background for blue ribbon outings Friday night for Jenae Gustin and Richie Gustin. Jesse Belez led the first 10 laps of the IMCA Modified main as Jenae Gustin began reeling him in. Gustin made the move to first on lap 11 and then distanced herself from the rest of the field, taking the checkers by a comfortable margin. The 20 lap IMCA Late Model feature was dominated by Richie Gustin. Gustin started seventh, and was leading when lap one was scored. The only caution of the race came at lap two when Joe Zrostlik and Curtis Glover tangled on the front stretch, closing out their night and mangling a couple of infield sponsor signs. When the race restarted, Gustin rocketed off, racing around the rim of the track and was never seriously challenged. Sam Wieben made it to victory lane for the first time this season at Marshalltown by winning the 18-lap Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature. Wieben started 10th, passed last week’s winner Shawn Cooney [Read More]

127 IMCA Modified drivers now on ballot for Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational

BOONE, Iowa (July 15) – With nine days to go before the first round of voting, 127 IMCA Modified drivers are on the current ballot for the upcoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Twenty-eight of the 30 starters in the Sept. 8 race at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway will be elected in a pair of polling sessions. The final qualifying event is the July 20 Arnold Motor Supply Hawkeye Dirt Tour show at Knoxville Raceway. Three drivers from each of the five regions for IMCA Modifieds will be elected during polling from July 24-27; 13 more will be elected from an at-large pool of the next 25 top vote recipients between July 31 and Aug. 3. All voting will be conducted through the IMCA Facebook page. Completing the starting grid for the 30-lapper will be All-Star candidates with the top national point total and the most 40-point feature wins as of Aug. 31 competing at Super Nationals. By home region, the 127 drivers qualified for the 2017 Fast [Read More]

Southern Iowa Speedway, Knoxville dates next for IMCA Arnold Motor Supply Hawkeye Dirt Tour

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – Still looking for a repeat winner, the Arnold Motor Supply Hawkeye Dirt Tour next takes traveling IMCA Modifieds to Southern Iowa Speedway and Knoxville Raceway for a pair of midweek shows. The Wednesday, July 19 feature at Oskaloosa pays $1,000 to win while the Thursday, July 20 Dynamic Drivelines Dirt Duel event at Knoxville totes a $1,500 top prize. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Side Biter Chassis North Central Region and Allstar Performance State points, as well as special series points, will be awarded both nights. The Knoxville show will be the final qualifying event for the 2017 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. While Jimmy Gustin, Todd Shute, Justin Kay and Tyler Droste own feature wins thus far, consistent Kelly Shryock sits atop the point standings heading to Osky. Shryock has posted top five finishes in each of the first four Hawkeye Dirt Tour features this season. Joel Rust has been almost as good and is just two points out of a tie for the series lead. Pit gates open at [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through July 12

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jason Wolla, Ray, N.D., 1,154; 2. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 1,151; 3. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 1,143; 4. Matt Guillaume, Haslet, Texas, 1,115; 5. Ricky Stephan, South Sioux City, Neb., 1,080; 6. Cory Sample, Winnemucca, Nev., 1,074; 7. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb., 1,055; 8. Bryce Garnhart, Shannon, Ill., 1,031; 9. Dean Abbey, Roanoke, Texas, 1,029; 10. Clinton Luellen, Minburn, Iowa, 1,024; 11. Brandon Hood, McGregor, Texas, 1,016; 12. Scott R. Smith, Davenport, Neb., 1,013; 13. Brian Schultz, Casa Grande, Ariz., 1,006; 14. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif., 988; 15. Tom Berry Jr., Medford, Ore., 983; 16. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 970; 17. Jesse Rogotzke, Sanborn, Minn., 944; 18. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo., 942; 19. Steven Bowers Jr., Topeka, Kan., 927; 20. Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz., 910. IMCA Late Models – 1. Todd Cooney, Des Moines, Iowa, 787; 2. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, Iowa, 775; 3. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, 773; 4. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, Iowa, 757; 5. Rob Toland, Colona, Ill., 739; 6. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove, Iowa, 715; 7. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Iowa, 686; [Read More]

Turnbull cruises in Modified finale at Mandan, Marriott repeats as IMCA Dakota Tour champ

MANDAN, N.D. (July 13) – Aaron Turnbull took the checkers while Hunter Marriott took the title in the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic IMCA Modified Tour finale at Dacotah Speedway. Turnbull, the 2013 tour champion, earned $2,300 and a spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot for his Thursday night heroics at Mandan, dominating from his front row start. Johnny Scott brought the point lead to town, but was relegated to a mid-pack finish after suffering a flat tire. That opened the door for Marriott, who clinched a second straight Dakota Classic crown with his runner-up showing. A handful of cautions gave both Marriott and Justin O’Brien shots at the leader but Turnbull kept the door closed on each occasion. Marriott closed the gap to just a few car lengths as the frontrunners entered lapped traffic late in the contest but Turnbull held on for the win. Jordan Grabouski, O’Brien and Jason Wolla made up the top five. Elijah Zevenbergen concluded another impressive week, scoring his third IMCA Sunoco Stock Car tour victory to cement [Read More]

IMCA Empire State Series returns to Thunder Mountain for Saturday show

CENTER LISLE, N.Y. – Round three of the Empire State Series for IMCA Modifieds brings the tour back to Thunder Mountain Speedway for a Saturday, July 15 event. The Farmer Insurance Night feature pays $750 to win with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Dirt Works Eastern Region, Allstar Performance State and track points at stake as well. Pit gates at Center Lisle open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow. There is no entry fee. Pit passes are $30 while spectator admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and free for kids ages 10 and under. More information is available by calling 607 725-1402 and at the www.thundermtnspeedway.net website. 2014 series champion James Cornell of Port Crane was the winner when the 16th annual tour opened at Thunder Mountain over the Memorial Weekend. IMCA Empire State Series top 20 point standings – 1. Richard Michael Jr., Ischua, 78; 2. Will Ward, Cobleskill, 69; 3. Brad Smith, Horseheads, 67; 4. Billy Ward, Cobleskill, and [Read More]

Southwest IMCA Dakota Tour checkers are third for Marriott

DICKINSON, N.D. (July 12) – Hunter Marriott raced to a couple firsts Wednesday night, en route to his third win of the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Tour for IMCA Modifieds. As a result, the defending champion is just three points out of the top spot in the point standings heading into the Thursday tour finale. Marriott caught Justin O’Brien for the lead, then withstood numerous challenges to the finish of the 30-lap main event at Southwest Speedway before picking up his latest $2,300 winner’s check. The ninth starting Marriott had raced three-wide with point leader Johnny Scott and O’Brien, following O’Brien into second and ultimately taking charge up front. He became the first driver since Jeff Taylor in 2014 to win back-to-back Dakota Tour Modified features, and the first since Taylor in 2012 to win three times in the same year. O’Brien finished second for the second straight night. Scott was third, Jordan Grabouski fourth and Jay Noteboom fifth. Joe Flory was the $800 IMCA Sunoco Stock Car winner after regaining the lead from fellow [Read More]

July 16 is deadline for 2017 point fund eligibility

VINTON, Iowa – All drivers competing at sanctioned events are required to purchase licenses to make themselves eligible for the benefits of IMCA membership. Those who have not yet purchased a 2017 license are affecting their eligibility to receive point fund shares. While licenses will be sold through the Duel In The Desert at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in November, drivers who fail to buy a license by Sunday, July 16 will not receive point fund money, or plaques and jackets should they be the top driver in state or track point standings. Licenses can be purchased by calling the IMCA home office at 319 472-2201.