Payce Herrera, the 2024 Junior National champion and National and the B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region Rookie of the Year in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, joins the Beyond The Flags podcast. From Price, Utah, the sixteen-year-old had a fantastic season, accumulating over twenty Hobby Stock wins and scoring the Utah state championship. Listen abou…

You’ve heard of Billy the Kid and Jesse James, but have you ever heard of Elfego Baca? This guy didn’t just survive one of the most insane shootouts in Wild West history—he went on to become a sheriff, a lawyer, and somehow got mixed up with Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution. From taking on Texas cowboys to representing revolutionaries and…

2024 has been a year of conquest for Dylan Thornton. Originally from Santa Maria, California, but now residing in Belle Plaine, Iowa, Thornton won the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey's in both the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Late Models which compliments his Sunoco IMCA Stock Car triumph at the event the …

Saturday, September 28th, 2024, will long go down as a historical moment in the racing career of Andy Obertello. This was the date the Hollister, California chauffeur won the Pettit Shootout at Ocean Speedway, one of the crown jewel events in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Obertello, in this interview,…

Tom Berry Jr. returned to his native Pacific Northwest for the first time since 2016 and won the $10,000 to win Skagit Aggregates Survive The 55 at Skagit Speedway on September 28th. In this interview, you'll feel a strong connection to his journey, from a kid from Medford, Oregon, to moving to his current hometown of Marshalltown, Iowa., becoming …

Gavyn Manning is an emerging in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds among the competitors in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. The Bakersfield, California tells us about his championship season at Bakersfield Speedway, his success at Santa Maria earlier this year, his hope of making it to the IMCA TV Winter Nationals at Cocopah Speedway, and mo…

Last year, he emerged victorious in the National Championship for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, and this season, Chaz Baca Jr. is on course to repeat that feat and become a two-time champion. Learn about the intense challenges he faces in winning the national crown, the significance of the #75, and other compelling topics! Don't miss an e…

2024 has been a year of triumph for Matt Sanders. He claimed victory at the Freedom Cup Mini Series at Cottage Grove Speedway, secured the IMCA Wild West Speedweek title for the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, and in July, he triumphed at the $15,000 to win Western SportMods Nationals at Yreka Speedway in California. In this interview,…

Jim Pettit II, a living legend in West Coast racing, hails from Prunedale, California. His success on both pavement and dirt is nothing short of massive. This year, he's ready to take on the competition at the prestigious Pettit Shootout at Ocean Speedway, ran in tribute of his late parents. Get ready to hear some fascinating racing stories from fo…

Skagit Speedway made a triumphant return to the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly program in 2022, a season that also saw the debut of the Skagit Aggregates Survive The 55 event. This unique event, with its grand prize of $10,000. Rick Smith, a familiar face at the Alger, Washington facility, has a history of success in the Late Model, Sprint Car, and Fr…

Ray Kniffen Jr. enters Championship Night at Southern Oregon Speedway, trailing Junior Boardman by just one point. As the pilot of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified #64 preps for the final round, we got a chance to chat with him about his iconic family's racing history, his connection to the legendary Art Pollard, the Posse Grounds, and the nos…

Matthew Hagio has traversed much of the Western United States in 2024. In the last month, the team has scored impressive Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod wins at Ocean and Merced Speedways. Hear about his rise to success, the story behind the #14H, his thoughts on the reopening of Santa Maria Speedway, and more! Photo Courtesy of Ron Pelt…

Get ready to saddle up for one of the most jaw-dropping outlaw stories from the Wild West that you’ve probably never heard of—Hank Vaughan. He wasn’t just some two-bit criminal. No, this guy was a horse-rustling mastermind, a daredevil gunslinger, and somehow, he managed to cheat death more times than should be humanly possible. In this episode, I …

Regarding Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks racing in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region, Nathan DeRagon has been the man to beat. He has already accumulated an incredible total of nineteen feature wins, leading the region and the state of Arizona in the points championships. In this interview, the Peoria, Arizona pilot talks about growing up in San Die…

Embarking on his third trip to the Midwest in 2024, Troy Morris III is filled with anticipation for the Speedway Motorsports IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey's. Aboard the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified #07X, Morris reflects on his inspiring journey from Micro Sprints, his nationwide travels, the growth of his 'brand', and much more! Photo C…

Troy Foulger, the reigning California State Stock Car champion from Oakley, California, shares not only his racing journey in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars and Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, but also his personal life. He talks about his beginnings in Karts, his family, his successful partnership with car owner Bill Bowers, his favorite vacation …

In 2023, he won a qualifier for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey's. He ended third in the big dance and scored $10,000 at Skagit Speedway for the Survive The 55. We are talking about Grey Ferrando of Stayton, Oregon, who won $3000 this year at the Whisler Construction Mod Frenzy at Sunset Speedway and $5000 in June at Yreka …

This Saturday, August 10th, at Sunset Speedway Park, the "Banks Bullring" will host the Whisler Construction Mod Frenzy. Among the competitors looking to take home the money is inaugural winner Eston Whisler. Calling the Northern Oregon Coast home, the Otis, Oregon pilot has become the Shaw Race Cars Western Region shoe in his Friesen Performance I…

Despite his brief stint in a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, Austin Rognlin has already made a name for himself in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. His journey, which began in late 2021, has been nothing short of eventful. He secured a major win at his home track, Grays Harbor Raceway, ventured to the IMCA TV Winter Nationals, and engaged in i…

In this episode of Ricky's Historical Tidbits, we will explore the surprising story behind the California Camel Experiment and its connection to the Virginia City Camel Races. From the mid-19th century trials of camels in the American Southwest to the whimsical camel races in Nevada today, I'll take you on a journey through this quirky slice of his…

Joby Shields is on the Beyond The Flags Podcast today. The Gold Hill racer is a former Marine and currently races the #555 Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod. Hear his beautiful story about the Reps 4 Vets organization, his early days in racing, all the many social media projects he's involved in, helping out at Southern Oregon Speedway, wh…

Ty Clemens has been the King of Big Sky Country in three out of the last four seasons, winning the state championship in 2020, 2021, and 2023. The Belgrade, Montana racer also won the Shaw Race Cars Western Region title in 2022. In this interview, Clemens discusses his meteoric rise in the current campaign, winning $5K at Gallatin Speedway, being t…

Roger Bell has been a staple driver in the Willamette Valley for several seasons. Recently joining the ranks of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts, the Marcola, Oregon motorist discusses his family's roots in racing going back to the 1970s, die cast collecting, car shows, and more! Photo Courtesy of Jason Davenport Photography Don't miss an episode of …

This Saturday night, July 27th, Santa Maria Speedway will have the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series back for the first time in several years. Located on the gorgeous California Coast, the temperatures will be nice and cool, and the on-track action will be red hot. This is an event you don't want to miss out on. In This Interview: 0:31-Jim Allen, NARC Gen…

Hot off a $7500 payday at the Northwest Modified Nationals at Grays Harbor Raceway, Collen Winebarger got a chance to talk to us about his illustrious career, starting in Micro Sprints and eventually to the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. The Corbett, Oregon chauffeur also discusses his hometown, the places he's traveled to, how he got the nick…

Bakersfield, California has taken to the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods like a duck to water. Racing in his first full season he already has achieve a victory at Merced Speedway in his native Golden State and was sixth at the Western SportMod Nationals in Yreka. In this interview we talk about his amazing 2024 season, his plans to go t…

The NARC 410 Sprint Car Series is set for one their lone trip to Ocean Speedway this year for the Howard Kaeding Classic. The race honors living legend Howard Kaeding, the patriarch of the Kaeding racing family, and is quite the happening with activities going on the entire weekend! In This Interview: Jim Allen, NARC General Manager Bud Kaeding To …

The Western SportMod Nationals boasts a $15,000 pay day to the winner and $1,000 to start. The event kicks off on July 11th and concludes on the 13th at Yreka Speedway. Track promoter, Travis Peery, joins the program to talk about how the event started, what it hopes to achieve, how Yreka Speedway was brought back to life, his own driving career, a…

Up next for the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series is Petaluma Speedway for the first ever David Lindt Memorial. In this interview we talk about the close points race, the rookies that continue to shine, and the cool weather for the next three races. Hear about all that and more! In This Interview: Jim Allen, NARC General Manager Ron Lingron Chase Johnson …

Our next guest on Beyond The Flags Podcast is Kevin Vålen. The Rochester, Washington racer in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds has a fantastic story with racing, from his first laps being turned in Minnesota to taking a break to serve in the military and eventually returning to racing at Grays Harbor Raceway. Also, hear why he selected #42, w…

The NARC 410 Sprint Car Series returns to the site of their first race of 2024, Silver Dollar Speedway. The historic 1/4-mile clay oval hosts the David Tarter Memorial and will be the final race for the month of June which has been a busy time period for the prestigious series. Here all about it in this latest episode of Inside NARC! In This Interv…

June 15th, 2024, will go down as a big night in the driving career of Tyler Browne. It was the first time the Oakley, California driver won a main event, and he did it stunningly, leaving one other car on the lead lap in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at Petaluma Speedway. In this interview, we talk about Tyler growing up at Antioch Speedwa…

2023 was the debut season for Andrew Pearce in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. The Oakley, California youngster stepped up to the first division and took it by earning the Shaw Race Cars Western Region Rookie of the Year, winning the California State championship, and being crowned the Merced Speedway track champion. In this interview, we t…

Regarding Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds in the Pacific Northwest, Jake Mayden is among the drivers to look out for. The Springfield, Oregon racer has managed to score four track championships at Cottage Grove Speedway, including the last two seasons, as well as a state title and Willamette Speedway crown in the 2021 campaign. In this interview…

The NARC 410 Sprint Series is ready to rock n' roll for five straight nights of racing for the Fastest Five Days in Motorsports followed by the Jim Raper Memorial Super Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway. The five tracks include Southern Oregon Speedway, Douglas County Dirt Track, Cottage Grove Speedway, Willamette Speedway, and Grays Harbor Raceway! In T…

“Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” “Carpe Diem” “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying.” What do all of these sayings have in common? They can describe the city in California nearby Sacramento that boomed for just a month. The people knew it wouldn't las…

Jason Ryan Jr. has had an incredible 2024 season. Sporting a number of Top 10 and Top 5 finishes he finally opened his winning account last Friday at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. In this interview we talk about his beginning in racing including starting out in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern Sport Mods, the unique story behind choosing #52,…

Hailing from Bakersfield, California, Dylan Wilson has had a fantastic 2024 season. Scoring the big payday at the Stockton Dirt Track's Al Miller Memorial over Memorial Day weekend, Wilson has also been consistently fast on the West Coast in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern Sport Mods. In this interview, we talk about his early days of racing,…

Timothy Allerdings, a resident of Prescott Valley, Arizona, is living his dream of racing for a career. His journey is a testament to his resilience and determination. He started running Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods while in the Air Force, stationed in California. Today, he competes in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, a transi…

Queho was and is known for being Nevada's first serial killer who was never caught. To read click this link This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymortensen.substack.comDoor Ricky Mortensen

Butch Cassidy is a famous outlaw so this episode I share the story of one of his “Wild Bunch” a guy known as News Carver To read the Article version Click here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymortensen.substack.com…

Mark Garner has had quite the sensational 2024 season. The Antioch, California native got caught up in a big wreck the other week at Silver Dollar Speedway only to bounce back the following night to win at Marysville Raceway. In this interview you get to hear about how Garner's career started, how family is such a big part of his life, why he sport…

The R. Charles Snyder Salute kicks off nearly a month and a half of significant paying Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod races on the West Coast. Ran in honor of longtime Southern Oregon Speedway Announcer R. Charles Snyder, the race will feature a $7007 to-win finale on Sunday, May 26th, and $707 to take the green. Current SOS announcer J…

Calaveras County in Northern California Absolutely loves frogs, they are obsessed. Frog murals, frog statues, frog plaques, a frog walk of fame and of course they have the annual Jumping Frog Jubilee where they have the annual Jumping frog competition. So why is Calaveras County, Angels Camp in particular, frog obsessed? To the point there was a co…

The NARC 410 Sprint Series returns to racing with a doubleheader weekend! The first stop will be Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare on Saturday, May 18th, before the tour heads up the 99 to the NEW Stockton Dirt Track on Sunday, May 19th, for the rescheduled Salute To LeRoy Van Connett! You do not want to miss out on these two nights of racing. In This …

Yankee Jim was the victim of mistaken identity, there were two criminals back in the early 1850's known by the name Yankee Jim. Both were tall, both were criminals but one more so than the other. Nowadays most don't know there were two and make the same mistake the court in San Diego made and combine the two men into one. Intrigued? This is a publi…

Jeff Westergard is our next guest on the Beyond The Flags podcast. Westergard is an experienced racer in Micro Sprints, Sprint Cars, and Midgets, among other divisions. In late 2023, he decided to purchase a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified. He is in his first full season in the division, competing regularly at Skagit Speedway. In this interview, …

Tyler Rodgers is here to tell us about his impressive racing career in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods on the Beyond The Flags podcast. The Chico, California racer is coming off a big win at Silver Dollar Speedway last and was the track title winner at Diamond Mountain Speedway in Susanville in 2023. Hear about his roots in Kage Kar…

Could I have stumbled upon THE John from the Irish folk song John Kanaka? Come along with me and learn the story of a Kanaka who was never supposed to be and his adventures in California. Prefer to read? Click here Sponsor links below Hawaiian State - Book 1 Hawaiian Legacy - Book 2 Hawaiian Legend - Book 3 This is a public episode. If you would li…

David Schmidt is the next guest on the Beyond The Flags podcast, and what a story he has to tell. Starting in Kage Karts and Sprint Cars, the Roseburg, Oregon racer eventually went to Modifieds. Late Models, then to Street Stocks, and eventually landed in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. He also talks about his transition to the Sun…