Newswire

Nearly perfect, Munsen is best at Bethany

By Rick Staley BETHANY, Mo. (June 1) – Josh Munsen was nearly perfect Saturday night on his way to his first Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod victory of the season at Bethany Speedway. Jason Nelson used a front row starting position to take the early lead, only to see Munsen power by on the low line. Munsen held off the challenges of heat race winners Coleman Browning and Chris Wright as the race progressed. Colton Nelson made his presence felt racing through the pack to go after Munsen and finish a very close second. Browning was third. Chad Clancy collected the IMCA Modified checkers.

Big Sky, Sheridan host IMCA Gunslinger Tour dates

BILLINGS, Mont. – Four dates and a pair of Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events comprise the upcoming Gunslinger Tour. IMCA Modifieds race for $600 to win on Friday, June 7 and for $1,000 to win on Saturday, June 8 at Big Sky Speedway in Billings, Mont.; and for $600 to win on Sunday, June 9 and for $1,000 to win on Monday, June 10 at Wyoming’s Sheridan Speedway. Top driver in points for the four shows now earns an additional $1,000 plus a championship belt. Second place gets $750, third place gets $500, fourth place gets $400 and fifth in points is good for $300. In addition to tour points, IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, E3 Spark Plugs State and track points will be awarded. Entry fees are $50 for $600 to win shows and $100 for $1,000 to win shows; minimum start money is $40 on Friday and Sunday and $75 on Saturday and Monday. Saturday non-qualifiers get $50. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. [Read More]

Martens is final Sprint leader at US 36

By Jacob Blair OSBORN, Mo. (May 31) – Jake Martens was the third and final leader in the Friday’s IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature at US 36 Raceway. Jack Potter took control early and looked to have the fastest car on the track. Late in the race, however, Potter entered a little high in turn three and slid over the berm, bringing out the caution. Kenny Potter inherited the lead and held it for a few laps before Martens made the pass. Martens got the win and made a trip to Westfall GMC Victory Lane. Potter finished second with Matt Richards third. Chad Clancy dominated the IMCA Modified feature while Steve Starmer picked up his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win of 2019 at US 36 Raceway. Two weeks ago, Steven Clancy used patience to pick up the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature win. He did the same thing on this night, making a late-race move around Josh Munsen to pick up win number four of the season.

Fox Shocks in fifth season as sponsor for IMCA Modifieds, Stocks, Northern SportMods

EL CAJON, Calif. – Fox Shocks gives nearly $7,000 in product certificates to drivers in three divisions this season, its fifth as an IMCA sponsor. The El Cajon, Calif., manufacturer shares that wealth with IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod competitors. The top three eligible drivers in each of the five regions for Modifieds receive product certificates for $300, $250 and $200, respectively while certificates in the same increments go to top three eligible drivers in both Stock Car regions and in national standings for the Northern SportMods. Product certificates will be presented during the national awards banquet in November or mailed beginning the next week from the IMCA home office. Drivers in all three divisions are required to display two Fox decals on their race car, compete with four Fox-manufactured shocks and return a completed sign-up form to the IMCA home office by Aug. 1. Information about Fox shocks and dealers is available at the www.ridefox.com website, on Facebook and by calling 831 274-6500 or 800 369-7469. “Reaching the five-year plateau [Read More]

Sprint checkers fly for Cranston at Dodge City

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (June 1) – Luke Cranston is finding the showdowns pitting the Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars versus the POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series to his liking. For the second time this year, Cranston raced to victory lane in Saturday’s IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature atop the 3/8-mile Dodge City Raceway Park in southwest Kansas. In the 25-lap DCRP vs. URSS Sprint Car Clash, Cranston chased down early leader Ty Williams in traffic on the 16th round and went on take the checkered flag by nearly a half straightaway. After a pair of aborted starts, Williams and Cranston led the 24-car feature field to the green flag with the ensuing 25 laps run off in non-stop fashion. Williams gunned into the early lead and paced the field for the initial 15 circuits. Cranston closed in to challenge for the point as traffic came into play after a dozen circuits and pounced on opportunity in traffic to take command on the 16th round. Cranston slipped away in the final rounds with Williams holding on for runner-up honors. Jake Martens battled past Taylor Velasquez to snare the [Read More]

Merced Speedway preps for June 15 Ed Parker Memorial

MERCED, Calif. – IMCA Modifieds race for $1,700 to win, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods for $1,000 to win at Merced Speedway’s Saturday, June 15 Ed Parker Memorial. A Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth is at stake for the Modifieds, who race for a minimum of $100 to start. SportMods taking the feature green earn a minimum of $60. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, E3 Spark Plugs State and track points will be awarded in both divisions. Modifieds also contend for Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region points. There is no entry fee for the draw/redraw show. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 5:45 p.m. with racing to follow. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and military, $5 for students ages six to 12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $40. More information about the second annual event is posted on the www.mercedspeedway.net website.

Thornton proves mettle at Dacotah’s Iron Man 100

MANDAN, N.D. (June 1) – Ricky Thornton Jr. proved his mettle in Saturday’s 100-lap Iron Man main event for IMCA Modifieds at Dacotah Speedway. As a result, he took home $5,000 from his latest Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying victory. In a replay from their opening night qualifying feature finish, Thornton and Tom Berry Jr. ran 1-2 in the finale at Mandan. Marlyn Seidler, Robert Hellebust and Casey Arneson rounded out the top five. Thornton had driven away from the rest of the field from his outside front row starting spot but his huge lead was erased by a lap 21 caution. Berry slipped by Thornton following the restart and pulled a disappearing act of his own before the mandatory lap 50 caution. When the race resumed, Thornton retook the lead and pulled away. Seidler made a late-race pass of Hellebust to grab third. Kelly Henderson started 11th and finished first in the opening night feature for Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods following the 2Strong Summer Dirt Series. Chase Conway battled Henderson before ending in second. [Read More]

Davis, Egbert, Williams clinch Red River Tour crowns

By Jackson Braun ARDMORE, Okla. (May 31) – The finale to the second edition of the Lone Star Super Gas IMCA Red River Modified Tour presented by Smiley’s Racing Products provided a lot of action as the racing events unfolded on the Southern Oklahoma Speedway. Feature winners on the fifth and final night of the tour were Jake O’Neil, IMCA Modifieds; Trevor Egbert, Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods; and Jeffrey Abbey, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Champions were Cory Davis in the Modifieds, Egbert and Gary Williams, Stock Cars. Throughout the Modified pack, three- and four-wide racing was common as the racers fought for position. Up front, Travis Johnson and O’Neil raced around the high side of the speedway and O’Neil attempted to find a way around Johnson. In almost every single corner, O’Neil would double up with Johnson, but couldn’t find the momentum to do so until a few laps later. A caution flag reset the field before Jeff Taylor took his machine to second. Nobody was able to touch O’Neil, however, as the decision [Read More]

Allen plays spoiler in Big O Speedway Red River IMCA Modified Tour feature

By Jackson Braun ENNIS, Texas (May 28) – The first visit to the Big O Speedway for the Lone Star Super Gas IMCA Red River Modified Tour did not disappoint as Chase Allen, Bo Day and Jeffrey Abbey all raced to victory lane. Tour career tour win number two for Allen, who took the opener last year in Kennedale, paid $1,500 and put him on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Jeff Taylor and Allen led the field to green. Allen was fast from the start, getting the jump on the initial start and never looking back. Every single restart, Allen was smoother than cream cheese on a bagel as his no. 157 machine ran away from the field. Josh McGaha started inside row two and passed Taylor after a restart. Chris Elliott charged from the 18th starting spot to the top 10, gaining a little more real estate on every single restart as he worked the top and middle lanes of the track. Elliott settled into the top three after a green [Read More]

Carter masters Marshalltown SportMods in photo finish

By Joyce Eisele MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (May 31) – Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods vied for a $500 top prize Friday at Marshalltown Speedway and Brayton Carter took home the top check in a photo finish. Thirty-one cars battled in an 18-lap main event that saw both Carter and runner-up Cory Rose come from the ninth row. The final laps turned out to be a barnburner with Johnathon Logue, Rose and Carter battling it out in an epic duel. All three drivers would hold momentary leads through those final circuits, but as they crossed the finish line, the win went to Carter in a photo finish. Rose was second by inches and Logue was a close third. Fourth went to Carter VanDenBerg and Tyler Inman was fifth after starting 15th. Marshalltown Speedway got back to racing after having its last four scheduled events scrapped by the weather. The IMCA Modified win went to Joel Rust, Jeff Aikey won in the IMCA Late Model ranks, Todd Reitzler went to the winner’s circle in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars [Read More]