Shryock takes home $10,000 at Aftermarket Nationals

FARLEY - Kelly Shryock has been working on or driving dirt Modifieds in four different decades.

Since the 1980s - and long before that if you include his dad, Bob - Shryock has been racing and winning across the Midwest. After many years traveling across the country with the United States Modified Touring Series, Shryock made the decision to stay close to his home in Fertile and race primarily IMCA Modifieds.

That decision has come back in spades, and landed him a $10,000 check for winning Friday night's Aftermarket Nationals at Farley Speedway.

'That's pretty darn cool. Thank god for these guys keeping the Open motor racing alive,” Shryock said after the win. 'We still love USMTS racing, but the travel factor really wears on you.

'The IMCA deal, there's nothing wrong with it. It probably fits my style more, and the technology doesn't ruin the sport of IMCA cars I love so much. The sport of Modified racing is all I know, and we just love, love, love this car.”

Shryock started eighth in the special event at Farley dedicated to running Open motors - meaning no Crate engines allowed - his first time at this event in longer than most can remember.

He drove straight to second in the opening laps, before assuming the lead during an early caution. Pole-sitter Jordan Grabouski had engine troubles during that caution, forfeiting the lead. Shryock took over and stayed at the front throughout the first 25-lap session before the mandatory fuel stop at halfway. During the break, cars had the option of going to the pits to change tires or make other adjustments, or could refuel and retain their spot on the track.

Shryock and his crew had only made the smallest of changes on the car during the two-day event anyway, so there was no doubting it would be fuel only and get back to action. When he did, he had Justin O'Brien and a charging Hunter Marriott - who started 20th and finished third - changing lines to try to catch him.

'We just had a pretty good car. The 30 car (Grabouski) broke, but that's racing. That's part of the luck you need in racing. When one of the fastest cars pulls in the infield, his misfortune is our gain,” Shryock said. 'We just made a little minute change. I usually overengineer these things and make too many changes.

'My crew guy just said, ‘Go get a hot dog and it'll be all right.' We changed one thing 1/16th of an inch. It ended up pretty good.”

Races and wins like this have come in higher quantity since Shryock has returned to IMCA or IMCA-type Modified racing.

He reiterated many times he misses his traveling racing family in the USMTS ranks, but does not missed what it was costing himself, his family and his business, Skyrocket Chassis. A change in those priorities has meant a change in the fun he's having, too.

'I am having fun,” Shryock said. 'There's nothing wrong with Open racing, but when your wife tells you you've got your credit card maxed at $15,000 and you have no money in your checking account and you need to travel, that wears on you.

'It's very taxing on the expense of racing. My sponsors give me everything we need to be successful and I'm the most blessed guy in the world to have the sponsors I have.”

That's one big money race down this year. Next up for Shryock? Check off one glaring omission from his legendary racing resume: an IMCA Supernationals victory.

He's come close in the past and knows it's not going to be as simple as showing up at Boone Speedway.

'It's not that we're gearing to win Supernationals. We ran second a couple times and in all reality we probably should've won a couple times,” Shryock said. 'These IMCA guys, we've got the heavy hitters. They've got them in this IMCA package. There's no gimmes. It's like when guys come down and run with USMTS for a couple shows, they're going to be out to lunch for a bit.

'We're getting our mojo and getting things figured out a little bit. We're figuring out what we need to be fast and have a lot of fun.”

Aftermarket Nationals

Modified Results

1. 3 Kelly Shryock; 2. 12j Justin O'Brien; 3. 62 Hunter Mariott; 4. 70 Jesse Dennis; 5. 20l Zach Less; 6. 33 Brandon Rothzen; 7. 54 Benji LaCrosse; 8. 00j J.D. Auringer; 9. B1 Jeff Larson; 10. 43 Brandon Wilson; 11. 27m Mark Schulte; 12. 21k Kyle Brown; 13. 77 Kurt Kile; 14. 3x Ryan DeShaw; 15. 5dd Bob Dominacki; 16. 90k Shawn Kilgore; 17. 2g Matt Gansen; 18. 41 Jeremiah Hurst; 19. 6 Jed Freiburger; 20. 77r Joe Beal; 21. 1s Jon Klynsma; 22. 19g Richie Gustin; 23. 30 Jordan Grabouski; 24. 71c Troy Cordes; 25. 37.5 Kenny Kostenbader.

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com