Newswire

Rookie reigns in Oshkosh Modified main

OSHKOSH, Wis. (Aug. 21) – Rookie Konnor Wilinski won for the first time in his brief Automotive Supply Company IMCA Modified career Friday at Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway. Shawn Frelich led the first two laps before Wilinski took over. Wilinski pulled away from the field while Eddie Muenster made a dash through traffic and into the runner-up spot on lap 12 as the white flag appeared with the time limit expiring. On the final lap, a caution appeared and ended the race. Muenster took the runner-up spot with Frelich third. Steve Schneider worked from the back of the field for fourth. A final five-lap sprint saw David Hoerning hold the Total Power Sales IMCA Stock Car lead with Jerry Winkler, Joe White, Travis Van Straten and Tom Brumlic doubled up behind. Van Straten took to the outside and was able to move into the runner-up spot by lap 18. Van Straten moved behind Hoerning and found a gap inside turn four for the white flag. Out of turn two, Van Straten completed the pass and drove to the checkered [Read More]

Sherfick, Bencken double up at RPM

By Mike Hughes HAYS, Kan. (Aug. 22) – It was a big night of racing action at RPM Speedway Saturday, with four make-up features from the rained out Aug. 8 races first up on the card, followed by a regular racing program with all five regular divisions. Dylan Sherfick doubled up on the night, winning both S & W Supply IMCA Modified features. Brady Bencken also scored a double on the night by going to the winner’s circle twice in the Golden Plains Trucking IMCA Hobby Stocks. Nolan Remus won the crash-filled Advantage Glass Plus IMCA Stock Car make-up feature. In the regular feature, Nick Tubbs put his new car in victory lane. In the Golden B Hydra Drilling IMCA Northern SportMod make-up main event, Blaine Walt charged to the lead on lap 17 to notch his first win at Hays. In the regular feature, Clay Money took the lead on lap nine and held on the final 11 laps for his fourth win at RPM Speedway this season.

Services are Wednesday for Sean Lias

WESTFIELD, Pa. – Funeral services for long-time IMCA Modified driver Sean Lias are at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26 at the Olney Funeral Home in Ulysses, Pa. Lias, 49, of Westfield, died Saturday, Aug. 22. One of the most successful drivers in IMCA history, Lias was tied for third on the Modified career wins list with 231. He was an eight-time regional champion from 1998-2006, won 11 track championships, two Empire State Series titles and four state crowns, two in New York and two in Pennsylvania. “Sean was an important part of the racing community,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “We send our condolences to his family and will remember him in our prayers.” Friends may call from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Ulysses Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Spalding Foundation for injured race car drivers at www.spaldingfoundation.org. Survivors include his wife Billiejo; parents Ronald and Patricia; a sister, Lori Murray; two uncles, two aunts and numerous cousins.

Cleveland takes first win of 2015 at Salina

By Dusty Wiegert SALINA, Kan. (Aug. 21) –Jason Cleveland took home his first trophy of the season Friday at Salina Speedway. It’s been a long road for the Budweiser IMCA Hobby Stock feature winner. Cleveland was the 2014 rookie of the year but missed the last half of the season due to an accident that left him hospitalized and recovering the rest of the year. This season he quickly got faster and has become a factor for the win on many nights, leading until the last lap only a few events prior. This time he got it done, leading the way early and holding off a late surge from Aaron McBride. Danny Morrison picked up a big feature win in the 1st Class Chassis IMCA Modified division. Beau Davis set the pace early and was on a rail until a caution grouped things up. On the restart Morrison slipped by and away and held off a late run by Brian Knoell for the checkers.

Clymens is class of the field Saturday at Antioch

ANTIOCH, Calif. (Aug. 22) – Trevor Clymens, a rookie in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod division, won his first race in the class Saturday as he outran Anthony Giuliani at Antioch Speedway. “There were plenty of heart breakers this season,” Clymens said. “It’s our seventh race – we’ve led, we’ve run in the top three, but we couldn’t pull off a win until tonight.” Clymens, a standout Hobby Stock driver 12 years ago, returned to Antioch this season with the SportMod. “The car was set up for no failures,” he said. “And it’s the best it’s been all season.” Clymens maneuvered through traffic as Giuliani, a three-time winner in the division, gained ground. “I just needed a caution flag to have a chance to race Trevor side-by side,” Giuliani said. “I was hung up in traffic at the beginning of the race and never could catch up after that.” Merced Speedway standout Rick Diaz was third, edging Fred Ryland. K.C. Keller completed the top five.

Zeigler returns to winner’s circle at Crystal

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Aug. 22) – Rusty Zeigler made his first trip to the winner’s circle at Crystal Motor Speedway in several years Saturday night, outrunning the rest of the Allstar Performance IMCA Modified field. Zeigler and Cliff Denman fought for two laps before Zeigler took the point. Jim Hale Jr. worked his way to second and began to work the leader but had a momentary bobble, allowing Zeigler to stretch his lead. He was never headed and took his first feature event in several years. Hale came home second, followed by Gary VanderMark and Austin Wonch.

DeYoung makes most of Tri-City opportunity

AUBURN, Mich. (Aug. 21) – After an early crash took point leader A.J. Ward out of the running, Myron DeYoung got the Friday win and the top spot in Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified point standings at Tri-City Motor Speedway. Last week’s runner-up Matt Szecsodi found some room on the bottom coming out of turn two and led lap one. Szecsodi built a good lead until trouble struck as point leader A.J. Ward was involved in a four-car crash. Ward took his car to the pit area but his crew could not get it fixed in time and he was out of the race, finishing 17th. Szecsodi continued to lead until lap 12, when Todd Matheson drove by. His turn up front last until lap 17, when DeYoung snuck by. Matheson fought his way back to the front on the following circuit but DeYoung regained the lead for good on lap 19. The victory was his fourth this season at Tri-City and gave him a nine-point edge over Ward in the standings with [Read More]

Block scores third Shawano win of season

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (Aug. 22) – Wyatt Block racked up Shawano Speedway win number three on the season in the Saturday main event for Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods. Block took advantage when race-long leader and previous week’s winner Brandon Nygaard got just a bit too high in the second set of turns on lap 16. Jason Jach and Tracy Wassenberg advanced late in the race to take second and third. Nygaard finished fourth. Unlike the Late Models, the IMCA Modified feature was plagued by numerous cautions. Beetle Bailey led lap one of the race before Jerry Wilinski took the top spot on lap two and led the rest of the time-shortened race for the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified win, his fourth straight and sixth locally in 2015. Travis Van Straten won his 13th local IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Trent Nolan had his best finish of the year in second.

Five IMCA divisions run at Shelby County’s Tiny Lund Memorial

HARLAN, Iowa – Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Late Models both race for $1,000 to win at Shelby County Speedway’s Saturday, Aug. 29 Tiny Lund Memorial. The Modified feature is a qualifying event for the 2016 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Also on the card are IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks chasing top checks of $600, $500 and $400, respectively. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly National and Allstar Performance State points will be awarded in all divisions. Regional points will be given to Modified, Stock Car and Hobby Stock drivers. Entry fees are $50 for Modifieds and Late Models, $30 for Stocks and SportMods, and $20 for Hobbies. Entry fees can be mailed to the track office at 1003 Road M56 in Harlan, 51537. Pit gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps are at 5 p.m. and the mandatory pit meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Racing starts at 6 p.m. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students and free for five and under. No [Read More]

Burbridge, Pippert score first wins of the season at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 23) – A pair of veteran drivers earned their first wins of the season Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. Scott Pippert held off Damon Murty for top honors in the Ron-Da-Voo Lounge & Deli IMCA Stock Car division while Mike Burbridge raced to victory in the Cassill Motors IMCA Modifieds. From the third row, Pippert chased front row starter Mike Galli for one circuit before stealing the lead on lap two. Damon Murty followed Pippert on the top side into second as the lead pair pulled away from the field. Murty made numerous attempts to sneak beneath Pippert, however he was denied each time as Pippert raced to victory in the 16-lapper. Point leader Norman Chesmore finished third. It took four laps for Mike Burbridge to find his way past pole-sitter Brandon Maitland when the 20-lap Modified feature went green. Burbridge ran the low groove past Maitland with Joe Docekal on his heels. The lead duo ran in that order until a pair of late restarts slowed action. When racing resumed [Read More]