Tim Ward: The IMCA G.O.A.T.

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Herm & Schrader – Tim Ward: The IMCA G.O.A.T.

Podcast: Herm & Schrader

Hosts: Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader
Episode Guest: Tim Ward
Release Date: September 18, 2025

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Overview

In this lively and candid episode of Herm & Schrader, racing icons Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader sit down with Tim Ward—fresh off his second IMCA Supernationals win—to explore what makes him one of the greatest Modified drivers of his generation. The conversation covers Tim's racing journey from Arizona to the heart of the Midwest, the realities of grassroots dirt racing, the passion (and madness) that keeps racers coming back, and an inside look at Tim’s career highs, his attempts at NASCAR, and the unique culture of IMCA competition. Expect honest stories, deep insights into the working-man’s racing world, and irreverent humor throughout.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Tim Ward’s Background and Journey to the Midwest

[02:33–04:53]

• Tim was born in Mesa, Arizona, starting his racing journey there and jumping into modifieds at just 13.
• By 18, he realized moving to the Midwest was essential for higher competition, accepting an invite to Nebraska in 2012 and eventually settling in Harcourt, Iowa.

“We knew we needed to get to the Midwest to get better.” – Tim Ward [03:49]

IMCA Racing: Rules, Reach, and Competition

[05:24–06:08]

• IMCA praised for its consistent rules and affordability, making it attainable for the blue-collar racer.
• The Midwest serves as IMCA’s competitive and cultural hub, with numerous weekly races and diverse racing opportunities.

“When it comes to weekly racing, they have it figured out...the rules are as fair as they can be.” – Tim Ward [05:24]

The “G.O.A.T.”—Ward’s Achievements and Perspective

[06:08–10:33]

• At 31, Ward boasts 107 Modified wins, 9 track titles, 2 Dakota Classic Mod Tour Titles, and is one of only nine drivers to win multiple Supernationals in 43 years.
• He’s a consistent finalist, having qualified seven times in the last decade at Boone and fifteen times for the All Star Invitational—a record.
• Tim remains humble despite his stats.

“You’re not good. You’re great. You are one of the greatest IMCA modified racers of all time.” – Kenny Wallace [10:04]
“It’s pretty crazy really…growing up watching my dad do it, you dream of it.” – Tim Ward [10:15]

Personality, Family, and Racing Upbringing

[10:33–11:26]

• Ward is described as soft-spoken—a trait he credits more to his grandfather than his mom, despite family jokes to the contrary.
• His racing journey began young, highlighted by the 2008 Dirt Car Modified Series Rookie of the Year title at 14.

“My dad’s dad was super soft spoken and chill...I feel like that’s where I got it from.” – Tim Ward [11:01]

Technical Chops and Racing Intellect

[13:12–14:30]

• Tim emphasizes learning chassis setup through experience, especially with the tech help (Precision Performance, trial and error) and how constant adaptation is necessary.

“Trial and error is definitely maybe number one of learning your car.” – Tim Ward [13:47]

Boone Supernationals and “The Big Dance”

[17:40–23:47]

• Discussion of the IMCA Supernationals—the largest, most prestigious event. Tim walks through qualifying against 260 cars, the quirky puts/games that determine starting spots, and the importance of both skill and luck in advancing.

“There’s just too many cars, too many good guys there, that luck’s almost more important than being fast sometimes.” – Tim Ward [21:12]

• The “grind” of racing until 2–3 a.m. and the emotional highs and lows of the event.

The Reality of Grassroots Racing

[24:52–30:49]

• Kenny and Tim agree with Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s view: thousands of great racers exist, but only a handful can make it to NASCAR.
• Ward calls out other current IMCA greats—Cody Laney, Colin Hibben, and especially Kelly Shryock as heroes.
• The financial pressures, local business support, and the sheer passion (“sickos...we love it”) that keep them coming back.

“If a guy can keep running well, the race car pays for itself sometimes too. But yeah, we’re just crazy…we love it.” – Tim Ward [27:54]

The Psychology and Culture of IMCA Racing

[33:45–43:55]

• Discussion on regional heroes: big names can be unknown outside their local area.
• Fighting, aggression, and why racers can get so emotional—citing cost, effort, and closeness of competition.

“Everyone’s just so close...it’s so hard to win, so you take that away from somebody, they’re gonna get mad.” – Tim Ward [37:00]

• Winning is about ego as much as money; on a Monday after a “Big Dance” win, you feel on top of the world.

Dry Spells, Late Model Adventures, and the Challenge of Change

[44:21–48:14]

• Tim admits that 2025 was a “dry spell,” with no feature wins until late August—after sizzling years prior.
• He discusses dabbling in late models: higher expenses, a steeper technical learning curve, and being outspent by better-resourced teams.

“We were starting to get better and then we broke a motor...We hadn’t even won a feature yet in 25, so it definitely felt like we were [in a slump].” – Tim Ward [45:40]

Culture, Classes, and “Staying in Your Lane”

[48:14–52:05]

• IMCA’s divisions, especially stock cars and mods, both have strong, almost “cult” followings in their regions.
• Stock cars have grown as large as modifieds in both reputation and numbers.
• Tim’s brother-in-law, Jake McBurney, won the stock car Supernationals in the same year.

“The stock car is a premier class just like a mod.” – Tim Ward [49:38]

Taking a Shot at NASCAR

[53:42–58:18]

• In 2018, Tim got a last-minute K&N (ARCA) ride at Las Vegas, finishing 14th. A year later, he ran the NASCAR Truck race at Eldora, finishing 16th despite major logistical hurdles.

“Pretty much my first full laps in the truck under power was my heat race at Eldora.” – Tim Ward [55:20]

• Ward would do NASCAR again if the opportunity arose.

Racing Family, Motivation, and Legacy

[59:38–61:30]

• Tim gives heartfelt thanks to his parents, Amy and Rick Ward, whose support made his career possible and shares an emotional story about finally making the big show at Boone after his father’s own decade-long quest.

“If it wasn’t for my dad being such a sicko racer, we definitely wouldn’t be doing it.” – Tim Ward [60:09] “When we made it in 2016, it was a really big deal for us...he tried so hard making it and it was a dream of mine to make it.” – Tim Ward [60:20]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On luck vs. skill at Boone:
  “Luck’s almost more important than being fast sometimes.” – Tim Ward [21:12]

• On IMCA’s “cult” status and competition:
  “You can be a hero in IMCA, every class has its Daytona 500… If you run a mod, that’s your Daytona 500.” – Kenny Wallace [49:49]

• On the support network:
  “Somebody stops by…gave us $200 for gas…You just don’t expect that.” – Tim Ward [30:49]

• On racers’ passion:
  “We’re just crazy…we love it. Like, we can’t stand not racing.” – Tim Ward [27:54]

• On moving up the ladder:
  “Every man has an ego…and if you win a 20 lap feature at your local racetrack, you feel you do belong.” – Kenny Wallace [59:15]

• On family and legacy:
  “If it wasn’t for my dad being such a sicko racer, we definitely wouldn’t be doing it.” – Tim Ward [60:09]
  “When we made [the Supernationals] in 2016, it was a really big deal for us…” – Tim Ward [60:20]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Tim’s move from Arizona to Iowa: [02:33–04:53]
• IMCA rules & culture discussion: [05:24–06:08]
• Career stat rundown & reaction: [06:08–10:33]
• Supernationals qualifying & “Big Dance” insights: [17:40–23:47]
• Racing economy & support system: [27:54–30:49]
• IMCA class rivalries & regional cults: [48:14–52:05]
• NASCAR K&N and Truck race stories: [53:42–58:18]
• Reflections on family, legacy, and “making it”: [59:57–61:09]

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Final Thoughts

Tim Ward’s journey is a testament to the grit, community, and obsession that fuels grassroots racing. The episode delivers both a celebration of Ward’s accomplishments and a raw look at the ups and downs of being great in a tough, working-class sport. Family, friends, and a diehard love of racing are the real keys to success—even when the big checks are rare.

“Who wants to go back to a normal life? ...We’re screwed.” – Tim Ward [41:34]

For those who live for racing, there’s no other way.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

I'm doing great. How are you, man?

[A]

I'm doing good. You look good. You got lots of trophies behind you. Where are you at right now?

[B]

I'm at home right now in Iowa. Harcourt, Iowa. The big, real big town.

[A]

You know, when I do these, you know it's like I'm your friend, right? Yeah, but we don't see each Other a lot. And yeah, you're from Harcourt. That's. It's like, I want to say hard, but it is. H A R C O U R T. Harcourt, Iowa. Is that your. Is that where you were born?

[B]

No, Mesa. Mesa, Arizona. Where I. Where I was born.

[A]

You know what, let's. Let's talk a little bit about this. Okay. So Kenny Schrader and myself, we met you out in Yuma, Arizona.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

I think it was called the. What do they call it? The Winter Nationals.

[B]

Yeah, Winter nationals. Yep.

[A]

And man, you drove a pretty wheel. You are smooth. You go down the straightaway is good. You set the car in the corner and we started talking to you later that night and you became a favorite of mine because you're such a good guy. So how did you get from Mesa, Arizona to Harcourt, Iowa?

[B]

Well, pretty much just, I guess racing up TILL I was 18 in Arizona and growing up out there, started in modifieds pretty early. When I was about 13, we were able to jump into a mod and do a little mini sprint racing and modified racing at the same time. But after, I guess racing enough out there, we knew we needed to get to the Midwest to get better, you know, and was fortunate enough to have some friends invite us out there and started out in Nebraska in 2012, was my first summer in the Midwest and we did that for a couple years. And then in 2014, we. Another friend of ours invited us to use their shop in Iowa and it kind of went from there. And then in 2016, we eventually got our own little place here in Harcourt and been doing it since, you know, this, this trail.

[A]

I call it a trail. I see Ricky Thornton, the same trail. Chaz Baca. I don't know if he's really got there Now. Listen up, everybody. This is imca. Look at his hat. I am. I imca. One of the largest sanctioning bodies. I don't. Maybe the world. America. Tell me about imca. How good they've been to you. Consistency, rules. It seems like IMCA is like the best in America. Is it to you?

[B]

Well, when it comes to, you know, weekly racing and stuff, they have it figured out. You know, they try to make it, you know, a series to where whatever class you're running, you know, the rules are as fair as they can be, I guess, and, and maybe as affordable for your weekly blue collar guy, I guess. And then there's so much racing around the Midwest that you can. It gives you options to, you know, jump around if you want to, or you can race around home and then there's, you know, you could race a few nights a week or you can chase tours or whatever you want to do. And then it also, you know, gives you the option to race across the country, you know, because it's all over the place.

[A]

I always tell everybody, let's do it like the movies. Let's tell everybody how great you are. Then, then we'll go back because we want to get everybody's attention right away. So I'm going to brag on you. This is what I do to all the, all the great drivers. I'm going to tell you how great you are. And then I want to, I want to ask you what you think of this. Okay? Tim Ward, 31 years old, as you heard from Mesa, Arizona. Lives in Harcourt, Iowa. Right now, he's an IMCA dirt modified race car driver. 107 modified wins. Now, this is IMCA. Feel free.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

To butt in anytime. Nine track titles, two Dakota classic mod Tour titles. And I know how hard that one is to win.

[B]

Yeah, it's tough up there.

[A]

IMCA Supernationals. Now this is the Daytona 500. The Supernationals in Boone, Iowa is you're up against 260 other cars. So if you can win the IMCA Supernationals, that means that you outrun two hundred and sixty cars that night. You won the 2025 Supernationals. You just got done winning it days ago.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But before that, you also won it in 2023, making you just the ninth modified driver in the event's 43 year history to earn multiple titles. This means you are a badass. This means you are really good. You stand out. You've qualified seven times in the last 10 years. Now, when we say qualify, there's 260 cars. I mean, somebody could spin out in front of you and that would just ruin your whole week. In a heat race or qualifier.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

All right. He has to win. And then voting in their favorite eligible driver. You qualified seven times. Let me, let me back up here. Oh, this is the race of champions too. All right, you're a two time. Yeah, you're a two time. Qualified seven times. One thing that I like, you're an All Star Invitational. This one blew me away. You've qualified 15 times in the last 17 years. Now this is why I like this one. No driver has qualified for more All Star races in its 22 year history. Drivers earn qualifying eligibility by winning an IMCA sanctioned event that pays a minimum of $1,000 to win. Those who earn eligibility then qualify for the event based on Time trials. This format is introduced five years ago. That format, for the first 17 years, drivers were required to win a modified event that paid a minimum of a thousand drivers. So that's the race of champions keeps on going here.

[B]

Yeah, the, the All Star race used to be a vote deal.

[A]

Listen to this one. Okay, you have finished. Let's go back to that. Let's go back to the supernationals. You've qualified for. You finished, you finished first or second in three of the last five years among 576 all time qualifiers. Only you, Wayne Larson, Mark Noble, John Log, Dylan Smith, Kyle Strickler, Ricky Thornton and Con Cody Laney have had three top two finishes within a five year span, my friend.

[B]

That's pretty cool.

[A]

You're not good. You're great. You are one of the greatest IMCA modified racers of all time. What's that make you feel like?

[B]

It's pretty crazy really, to even think about that. Just because, you know, growing up, watching my dad do it, you just. As a little kid, you don't expect to hear that kind of stuff, you know, growing up. I mean, you dream of it, you know, but you, I don't know, it's pretty cool to hear.

[A]

Yeah, right. You know, it's funny because you're soft spoken, but when it's time to drink some beers after a celebration, you're a lot of fun. You remind me a lot of Terry Labani. Terry Labani is like you. But Terry, I, you know, he's older in age now, but we've had a good time with Terry.

[B]

That's cool.

[A]

You're soft spoken. Where does this soft spoken come from? Mom or dad?

[B]

Oh man, they're gonna like this part. We joke about it all the time and my mom really believes it came from her. And we all kind of laugh at her. My dad's my grandpa. My dad's dad was super, I guess soft spoken and chill kind of guy. So I feel like that's where I got it from.

[A]

We're still going back. We're going back and forth. We're letting everybody know about who Tim Ward is. One of the greatest IMCA modified drivers of all time, only at 31 years old. Let's go back a little bit and help me fill it all in. We've already told everybody you are a two time Boone National, a modified champion, the nationals, the Daytona 500 of IMCA. Now when I, when I look through your stats, 2008 dirt car modified series rookie of the year. Now listen, nothing's funny, nothing's Funny. It's part of your journey. We went through all the NASCAR drivers. Tony Stewart gets as serious about his go karts as he does winning any race. So tell me about this. At 14 years old. Tell me about winning the Harley, I believe Harley Davidson. Our buddies out there. The 2008 dirt car modified series rookie of the year at 14 years old.

[B]

Well, yeah, we. We weren't quite IMCA yet back then, and, yeah, hopped in. I hopped into a mod end of 07, got a few races under my belt, and then was able to race Manzanita and Canyon Speedway weekly.

[A]

I've run those. I've run Canyon. Yep.

[B]

And 2008 there. And yeah, we. It was kind of a weird deal where we had a west, I think, east and the west series when it came to, like, dirt car and stuff. And, yeah, just happened to, I guess, do well enough and. And was the rook, you know, one of the rookies that year was able to run well enough and get the win, I guess, for. For that side of the country.

[A]

You know, you're a good driver. But, you know, I found out a little bit about Ricky Thornton. They said, oh, Ricky Thornton can get in any car and drive it. But I just found out a month ago. I had no idea. He was a brilliant chassis. Man. It would seem to me that, you know your car really good. You got to measure everything to the 16th. I mean, listen, 60604 crate motors. Is that right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Aluminum heads, low horsepower. You got to roll the corner.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Where did you learn about your chassis at?

[B]

I guess just over. Over time, I guess. We're always learning. I mean, you know, even 2024 shows that because we had such a good year in 23, it's like you start 24, and it's like, man, everyone caught up to you. You know, you had to. We had to learn a lot last year. But I guess just the good people around me, like the Eckridge brothers from Precision Performance, I've learned a lot from them. And just doing, I guess, kind of our own research online as well, and just trial and error is definitely maybe number one of learning your car. And I guess is we're lucky enough to race enough that we can really learn a lot throughout the summer as well.

[A]

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[B]

Yeah, yeah, there was about. I believe that number's right.

[A]

Okay, so there's 260 cars and you come out on top, you are the winner.

[B]

Yep. Yes, sir.

[A]

That's insane. And you've done it two times.

[B]

Y.

[A]

Tell me about this weekend. When does it start? I've been invited several times. I'm like, I can't do it. I'm too hyper. Tell me about. Just take some time, go out. What does it take to make it to the big dance and then win it?

[B]

Well, the qualifying for the modifieds don't start till Wednesday, but we had already been there since Saturday because they have the prelude now, the prelude to the Supernationals, which starts like Saturday, Sunday. But yeah, we kind of get to sit and hang out and watch the other classes Monday, Tuesday, and then you pretty much start off Wednesday with your heat race and, you know, it's that first draw, you know, and just happened to win the heat race on the last lap. And I think they took top two. I started sixth in the heat race and got the win in eight laps. And then they have a winner bucket and a second place bucket. And I drew the three for the. For the. A qualifier for the feature that night. And then they take top four out of that feature. And they have two features that night. So. So they ended up take. They end up taking eight guys the first night out of two features. And so we won the qualifier that night. And then on Thursday, they usually have some sort of game you got to play, which I did terrible at. Hopefully there's no video of it this year. They had a.

[A]

They.

[B]

They used to have you play bags, you know, cornhole. And this year they changed it up on us and made us do a. Like a putt, A little putt. Like mini golf putt.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And yeah, we. We look like. We look terrible. We. We're, you know, we're. We better keep racing. Don't start golfing, you know, kind of one of them things. And so I ended up losing the putt game. So that made me start second row inside three wide of the big dance.

[A]

That's key. Everybody three wide. So that means you're starting fourth.

[B]

Yep, yep.

[A]

Wow. Three wide.

[B]

Yep. So they. Each day is a row. So Wednesday we made it in the very first day. Wednesday was inside, Thursday's middle, Friday's outside, and that's how they kind of do that. But yeah, it all really starts the Saturday before with the prelude. And we ended up winning that as well for the fifth time in a row.

[A]

So I watch these heat races and you know, the dirt racer that I am, I've raced a lot of dirt and I realized that, you know, Boone is like one of the best at reworking the track, but.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Do you gotta get a little lucky? Because I see guys get sent out on fresh tracks. They're almost sliding off the high side, then the high side wears out, then the bottom comes in. Do you have to get lucky with your heat race like when you won your heat race? Now, listen, I know you're good. Let's put that over here. But do you got to get a little bit of a track where you can race on it? I see some of those guys just sliding everywhere. It's like, my God, how can they get up to speed?

[B]

Oh, yeah. There's just too many cars, too many good guys there. That lux almost more important than being fast sometimes. Like, I was in heat three, I believe, on Wednesday. And that's about right when the track starts turning and getting good. You know, 1 and 2 is kind of iffy because it can be narrow enough that because it's right after a farm, they farm the racetrack every 10 heat races. And, you know, and during the middle of the day, they have to do it every 10, because by seven or eight, that thing is gone. You know, it's dust. And it just doesn't, you know, it's just tough. But, yeah, I mean, there. Sometimes you'll be there and there will be B mains at the end of the night that are. Have bigger names in it than the qualifiers did just because things just didn't go their way that night. You know, when it comes to luck and the draw and what heat they were in and who was in it, where'd they start. And luckily, you have three nights to try to get in. Definitely tough.

[A]

We're talking to Tim Ward, everybody. Two time Boone Nationals champion. They're starting to use the name now. The big dance. He made the big dance. Won it in 2023. Now 2025. I want to stay right there for a minute. Now, in my world of dirt racing, when you see a hero in a B main, nobody laughs. Because that can be you.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And I. I witnessed the. They were finishing everything up at 2:33 in the morning. And this is just the way it is. When you see a hero in these B mains and late at night, do you think, man, that. That could be me? Holy heck.

[B]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's so cutthroat. If, you know, if you, you know, if you start in the back of your heat race and you can just get the third, it's like, man, you gotta watch them two guys that ran 1, 2, around a feature tonight and you don't get to. You gotta sit up there in the catwalk and watch. And then they usually put the B mains kind of later through the night. Cause they're just points races. They're not really qualifiers. So they usually throw you out after a farm or whatever to kind of knock the slime off or whatever. Or they'll throw you at the end of the night once everything's over and you're out there on a slick track. But yeah, I mean, that's part of supernationals. You're. You get, you know, you're. You're out there all day long, no sleep, whatever. And you got to wait till 2am to go run your B main for points. It's just part of the grind.

[A]

We are celebrating Tim Ward, everybody. We're going to talk about his. He dipped his toe into nascar. It. You remind me of what Dale Earnhardt Senior told me. Senior was a good friend of mine. Now, I'm not name dropping, but I want to. I want to. I want to set you up. Because he would take his motor home, he would stop by my double wide. Dale Earnhardt Senior, the man in black, number three. He'd stop by my double wide. Eagle Herman. That's my nickname. He'd say, ride with me to Darlington. And during this conversation, he said, there's thousands of great race car drivers all over America. They all cannot be NASCAR because there's only like 40. But there's thousands. I mean, I. Have you looked at the IMCA registry between, between modifieds, stock cars, sports, whatever it is. Do you, do you know how many there are in imca? How many race car drivers?

[B]

Oh, man, I don't even know the number. I'm gonna guess. I'm gonna guess a thousand or so.

[A]

So is to me, Earnhardt is right. When I line up against you guys, it's like, damn. I mean, you know, these guys are some of the. In, in your opinion. Let me, let me put your back against the wall besides Ricky Thorton. Okay, let's forget about Ricky Thorton right now. We know he's one of the greats out of imca. Who are you racing against right now that Dale Earnhardt Senior is talking about besides yourself? I'm putting you there. You are a NASCAR cup driver. You're just not there. Who else do you race against? You're like, damn, this guy's good.

[B]

I mean, you really could look at the. You could say the top, however many in that big dance feature. And even guys that didn't even make the show. There's so many, so many people. I mean even people that we race with weekly here in Iowa. You know young kids that move from the west coast. You know your Cody Laney's and Colin Hibbens and stuff like that that are like they came in after me and kind of in the same boat. Really good man. Even there's even guys that have been racing longer than me, they've been in modifieds longer than me that I'd say are definitely good enough to do it for sure.

[A]

Like what, what Dale said my hero is Kelly Shyrock.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Kelly obviously is doing a lot of IMCA now I talked to Kelly and I said Kelly why did you quit usmts? And he says just the money's too big. You know, it's like going to Vegas and are we going to a five dollar table or a hundred dollar table? And yeah, USMTS is awesome.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But, but it takes a lot of money. Shyrock to me is a hero.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Do you know about Kelly Shyrock?

[B]

Oh yeah, yeah. Me and him are good buddies. He's always treated me really well even when I was young just getting started out in Arizona racing with him out there. He's always been super cool and definitely have always looked up to him and yeah, definitely a legend and hero.

[A]

He's gnarly. He's very gnarly. I watch him just bend his front clip at some USMTS race and he fixed it and I thought there's no way he can fix it. Of course he owns skyrocket chassis. Kelly's won more races than you and I ever dream of. Oh yeah, he's making a living at this. He's running his stock car, he's running his modified, he's building these things. What is it like to be an IMC racer? I mean we know the money's not big. The grind is just off the charts. So I'm going to ask you straight up, how the hell does somebody like you and Kelly, where do you get, how do you stay eating?

[B]

Well, we're I'm really blessed able to race for my family. We have a small business back home in Arizona that my dad owns and that keeps us running and a lot of really, you know, I guess I wouldn't even call them sponsors. They're more friends of mine and keeps us going I guess really helps a lot. And even if I guess a guy, if a guy can keep running well the race car pays for itself sometimes too. That helps a lot. But yeah, we're Just crazy. We're sickos. We love it. Like, we can't stand not racing. I guess even this weekend, after a weak grind of being at Supernats, it's like, all right, now what am I going to do at home? You know? But, you know, I guess we do whatever it takes to go racing.

[A]

I feel like what I'm going to ask you right now is almost a highlight. What is wrong with us? Why are we. Me, too. Me, too. Why are we addicted? Why is it when we get a week off, we just start. You know, we just start move. What. What is it about us? We. We. So the money I have is from Sunoco. You know, these are a great sponsor of mine. Jegs my car. Every sticker on my car is money. And I got enough money to buy a couple motors, all my tires. But what is it about us? Is it an addiction? Do we have to do it? And then. And every once in a while, you get a little support around you. Do you have an entourage around you? Do they cheer you on Here, here. I know you're coming out here. 600 for gas?

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Tell me about that. That dynamic.

[B]

Well, I mean, even a deal like just this past week at supernationals, we. We have so many, I guess, crazy fans that come. You know, we all. We all meet in one spot. So, you know, we did really well with T shirt sales. We're really excited about that. Happy with that. That helps a lot. Yeah. I mean, shoot. I've been out in my garage working on the race car, and somebody stops by just because they knew I lived in Harcourt and they're not too far away, and they gave us 200 bucks for gas. Like, that was super cool. Like, you know, holy crap. You know, you just don't expect that, you know, here I am trying to tinker on the car, and someone stops by. But, yeah, it really helps when we race around home, for sure. We have a lot of friends that show up and are definitely excited we're there and, you know, buy merch and, you know, their name's on the car. You know, they support us, whatever, however they can, and that helps a lot. And then, you know, you go, run well, and then we do have the beers afterwards and we have a good time.

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[B]

Yeah, I even, I feel that way even when, if I go run a. An IMC race, you know, eastern Iowa, I feel like, wow, I'm far from home, you know, But I mean like when we go around Volusia or we run the Dome or whatever. It. I always think it's crazy to be around all these racers. You know, we're all the same. And I mean I don't expect anybody to be like, you know, that's me, you know, that's Tim Ward, whatever. But it is.

[A]

But we do, we do.

[B]

You're all be standing around, around all these racers and I feel like I, you know, I've been doing it for a long time and it's funny just to kind of stand around and really people don't know who you are because we're in a different world, you know, where. I guess when I, if I race around here, I feel like I can feel the, the eyes on me. You know, where you go to something like that. It is kind of funny how you do run into that.

[A]

I, I'm getting on my phone real quick. We do this a lot and I want to find. We had controversy down here. Oh yeah, we had Chase Holland punch a local got suspended. And I asked the question, I said, what is going on with dirt racing? Why is everybody.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

So angry? Why is everybody wrecking everybody? And my. I, I just put it out there. I said, what is going wrong with dirt racing? Why is everybody wrecking each other? Why are everybody punching each other? And. And, and it ranged from it's been going on forever. It's just. We have social media now. But the one I want to focus in on is Kyle Steffens. Kyle's dad, Gordon owns global shipping now. Kyle runs champ cars, sprint cars, modifieds. He's, he's done it all. And I'm going to show my proof for everybody that's watching. I'm going to read this. Okay, here's Kyle and I'm going to read this out to everybody on dirty mo Media. So the question was, what's going on in the world today? Why is everybody more angry now than they used to be? Kyle Steffen says people are fed up and working long hours to pay for all this high dollar equipment. We all want info and all the best equipment like the next guy. This is why people are on edge now. The reason I'm zoning on, on this with you, I, I hear Kyle and people say we work long hours, but I love Kyle Steffens. But I'm like, everybody works hard. Yeah, some work dumb. Like you might be able to work easy but you get your chassis set up right. This guy over here, he's. He's working way longer hours, but he's dumb. You work less hours but you make the right adjustments in, in your Mind, why is, why are people fighting? Why are people running in each other? What's going on with, with dirt racing K. Diller running over Garrett Albertson? It's on and on.

[B]

I mean, I guess I agree with them. It costs too much to do it. Everyone's working hard. You know, everybody's so close anymore. Like, you know, even in our, in our modified racing, man, everybody's just gotten so close. The information's out there for everybody and I feel like the car builders have gotten a lot better where someone can go buy a car and they come out of the box good, you know, fast. So everyone's just so close. I guess maybe, you know, everyone just wants. It's so hard to win. So, you know, you take that away from somebody, they're going to get mad, I guess, especially if they've done them wrong, you know, done them dirty or whatever.

[A]

Kyle Steffens is a good friend of mine and one of my qualifiers. I want to tell you this story and then I want you to comment on it. I'm a good runner. I win, I show up for the big races. I'm not as good as you. I'm not as good as you. But. But we had 40 mods. We were disappointed. There was only 40 for 10 grand to win. Yeah, our sport is going downhill. The B mods are taking over. Way more B mods now because they're cheaper.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

But I, I started 18th and I got up the third and on a restart, Kyle's car didn't get going and he got sideways and I passed him. So the race was over. And he roostered me like he was mad at me. And I went over to him and I said, why did you do that to me? I didn't touch you. I was, I was just getting tired. People were passing me and I said, well, you run the wrong left rear shock. You know, when you come down the hill there, there's a bump there, you know, and you got to nail that bump, right, to get that forward bite. Well, Kyle, one of my best friends was ready to kill me because I got by him, you know. And then when I ran usmts, I had Alhena. I went to one of the bars up there and it said, best friends will kill, kill each other over a seven dollar plastic trophy. Now, now, one of my dear friends, Kyle Stefan, was ready to kill me. Now I've given that guy money and he don't need no money because, you know, I gave him my invitation to Bristol. What the is it with these racers? He. What Is it?

[B]

I guess, I don't know. I'm, you know, I'm too calm of a guy. I guess I'm not maybe the right guy to ask, but I don't know. It's just. It's just a tough game out there and people.

[A]

But they don't. They don't for a living. That was my point. They don't do it for a living.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You got a family that's got a business? I got a brother, I got an uncle that had a janitorial business. We. We don't do this for a living. We don't even do it for money.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, we take pride. Oh, I made this money that's gonna buy my motor, but I mean, it's so stupid sounding.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

This. The dynamic of they know they don't do it for a living, but in their mind, it's bigger than what they do for a living.

[B]

Right. Yeah. I don't know. We're just, I guess, so passionate and it's what we love and you don't want to lose, you know?

[A]

So if you didn't race, what would you do?

[B]

Man, I have no idea.

[A]

Would you. Would you work for a living?

[B]

Yeah, I'd probably work for my dad back home or do whatever. I'm not sure. You know, luckily I'm able to kind of. Kind of race for a living, but at the same time where if. If something crazy happened, you know, we're. We're lucky and blessed that, you know, I don't have to. I don't have to race if I didn't have to, you know, we. I could go back to a normal, normal life. But who wants to do that, right? We can't. We can't help our. My dad. My dad loves racing way too much. You know, he eats, sleep. Racing other. Other than the Green Bay packers, that's all he cares about. So honestly, I don't know. And we always joke about, you know, I have some friends of mine that jokes like, you know, let's sell the race cars. I'm buying a pontoon, you know, and then. And I'm like, you know what we're gonna talk about on that pontoon? We're gonna be talking about racing. So we're just. We're screwed.

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With no spam calls or hidden fees. Drivers who save with Jerry could save over $1,300 a year. Before you renew your car insurance policy, do yourself a favor, download the Jerry app or head to Jerry AI slsxm. We're doing a deep dive, everybody into the sport of racing is we're lucky to have Tim Ward, two time boon IMCA national champion, 109 wins. We're doing a deep dive in. We are in an era right now where there's a lot of anger out there. We've celebrated Tim early in the show. Now we're talking about, what is it with racers? They don't do it for a living, but they act like it's, you know, they go to work in the day and then they race and they lose a lot of money. But racing is more important to them than their job. Do you feel like it defines the person? Like if you win a feature the next morning you, you feel lighter than a feather. Like if you win an amen, do you feel like you can solve world peace the next day? I mean, I do. When I win, I wake up the next day, I'm like, oh, I'm the greatest, you know? Do you feel like that?

[B]

I mean, you definitely feel good. Maybe you have all the, you have all the answers. It's kind of funny how a guy can, can run good one week and suck there earlier in the year. And all of a sudden everybody's hitting you up for, for answers, you know, and, you know, it's just funny because that's just how the sport goes. It's up and down and, and you can be the man on top, and next week you're not. And I guess when you're on top, everybody wants to talk to you and maybe you do have all the answers.

[A]

You are great. Tim Ward, can you tell me, lately, last two years, have you had a dry spell? Did you. Was it. Was there a month or so? You couldn't hit it. And then Kelly Shyrock said to me, when something goes wrong, it's one of the three Bs. Broke, Bent, or bound up. Did you get in a dry spell ever or have you just always been good every. Every week?

[B]

Oh, man, 2025 has been a dry spell. Really.

[A]

Tell me.

[B]

Well, we dabbled into a little bit of late model racing this summer, and we focused on that a lot. And with. With racing that we're not racing as much as we're used to, so, you know, we're really not learning as. As much as we need to, as fast as we need to, and then also racing the mod at the same time. So going back and forth made it tough to do two different cars. And like, like I was saying about 2023, we had such a good year that 2024 came around and we were trying so much stuff that really, it still kind of bled into 25 and we just weren't racing enough to really make both cars good, I guess. And, and learning the, you know, the late model deal is such a different animal. Learning a lot there and we were starting to get better and then we broke a motor. So then we had to dabble back into the mod again full time. But yeah, I mean, shoot, up till a couple weeks up to supernationals, we hadn't even won a feature yet in 25, so it definitely felt like we were.

[A]

Hold on, hold on. Say that again. You haven't won a feature.

[B]

Yeah, we hadn't won an a feature in 25 up till end of August.

[A]

Unbelievable.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And. And to. To go dirt super late model racing, like the World 100, you have to have a sugar daddy. Yeah, I talked to those guys. A. A Ford Durham motor is not 58, 000. It's 60 grand. Yeah, that's what Brian Shirley tells me. You know, we've talked to Superman. We talked to Nick Hoffman. For Nick, as good as he was, Nick Hoffman, one of the greatest modified racers of all time. For him to go dirt super late moderation, you have to have a sugar daddy that's willing to buy three motors, three race cars.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

How hard? I mean, it's. It's got to be. It's like almost undoable. Tell me about that try with dirt super late models.

[B]

Well, we have a series around here and there's a few different series around here that's kind of a wissota type rules model with Wissota spec engines is kind of their main, I guess the better option for engine. And yeah, we, we bought a 21 Longhorn from Stormy Scott last fall. And then we, we had a hurt USMTS engine. We dropped off to a local motor builder friend of ours, Trent Holla, and he built us an engine. And we were able to start off earlier this year. Kind of dabbling into that and the craziness that comes with it, you know, and it's just such a different game than the mod and you know, it really, the shock game really is big. It seems like compared to like modified racing where there's still so much more going on that you're, I guess you just don't have the, the adjustability and when it comes to like the shocks and stuff and shocks and springs and as the late model where it almost seems more like a go kart than the mod, you know, the mods, like we're still stock car racing because we can't change that much. But yeah, totally different world. A lot more money being spent in that game for sure. And you're racing with guys that have a lot more backing than you. Where, you know, we, you know, we're blessed enough that we feel like we're, you know, we're one of the better off teams in IMC mod racing. And then you go and do that and then now you're the one of the lower funded teams. So it's definitely hard.

[A]

One thing I admire about IMCA racing is everybody can be a hero. So in other words, you can run a stock car and you can solve world peace. You can run a mod, you can solve world peace. Well, when I think of imca, I don't think of late models. I mean, I know they have a division speak to that, that it, every division is a cult. Like if you run stock cars, you're, you're, you're a badass because you run stock cars and you, you see the mods over there, but, oh, those are the mods. When you run the mod, that is the cult in that region. And then. And you got the stock car. Those stock cars, Holy moly. They come out of nowhere.

[B]

Oh yeah, yeah, I'd say almost. The stock cars are, are just as big as modifieds anymore. They've really, really caught on in the last four or five years. They're almost just as big or even bigger than mods sometimes. And some of the drivers that have come from them have become really big names like Dallin Murty. I raced with him this year in the late model a little bit and he, he did really well. And yeah, there's, there's so Many good guys that move up from, you know, sport modestock car or whatever and really make a name for themselves. And I'm say the stock car is a premier class, just like Ahmad.

[A]

Great point. That's what I was trying to get to. If everybody does their deal and they stay their lane, that is their everything.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

If you run stock cars, that's your Daytona 500.

[B]

Oh yeah.

[A]

If you, if you run a mods, that is your Daytona 500. I, I smile makes me happy because every division, you know, I went to the battle at the barn go kart racing and God, I was 50 years old and I remember Gustin was up there, Shyrock was up there and I was racing. And these box stock hondas, there was 200 of them. Then there was these motors that cost like 10 grand and there was 20 of them. Yeah, those box stocks, there was 200 of them. And then the $10,000 motors, there's 25 of them. The cheaper motors because there were so many. That's what filled the driver's egos. So like if we want to be big time, if we want to fill our ego, let's run the cheap class because there's so many there. It's like if you, if you drove the expensive carts, there were less.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Does that make sense?

[B]

I don't know. I guess, I don't know if it's still more of a fun factor or just being serious. I don't know. You know what the deal is there. I guess maybe more guys in the box stock is just doing it for fun. I'm not sure. But I would definitely want to go race against the more carts than, than the 10 guys. It's just like showing up to going to a weekly track where that might only have 10 cars. I'd rather go race with 30 cars.

[A]

You know, and that's what I wanted, that's what I wanted to talk about right there.

[B]

Yeah, well, I mean I guess I'd feel like the track that's going to have 30 cars is probably going to have better guys. And I want to, you know, those are the guys you want to be.

[A]

So if you're an IMCA right now, you win in a stock car or you win in a mod, who's the hero or they both heroes? Who is thought of as the the one. Are they both the same?

[B]

Yeah, I'd say, I'd say both. I mean it was actually my, my brother in law, Jake McBurney won the stock car supernationals this year.

[A]

Holy Darren.

[B]

And he races mods too. So, I mean, you know, he, he, he could have done it in both, you know, and he's, he's just as good as me, you know.

[A]

That is really good stuff. This is good, deep stuff. I hope everybody with IMCA understands what we're talking about. We chose Tim Moore to take a deep dive in the psychology, the sport of imca. It's known as the Working man series. You got the 604 crate, you got the hockey puck tires, you got the steel bell housing the stock, lower A frames. Yeah, I love it. Y. Kenny Schrader loves it. I love it. Well done. All right, let's, let's, let's take a drink of coffee here, everybody. Let's, let's. Congratulations in all your IMCA success and shout out to Brett, Root and Ryan. That gave me a little bit of information. Once again, imca, probably the largest, oldest sanctioning body in America. Well, they are all right. This one caught me off guard. You're only 31 years old. You, you took a, you took a stab at 2018, the K N series, you know, NASCAR. You raced at the Las Vegas dirt track. You ran really good. You finished 14th. Now you also did this at Eldora, but let's, let's go with 2018. Somehow you got all this together. You're a dirt racer and like, damn it, you're going to try it. Tell me about that 2018 K&N series race at Las Vegas dirt track. You finished 14th.

[B]

Well, I just, I guess just like a lot of racers just got lucky. Had some friends from out in Las Vegas that had some friends that had a, that was kind of doing some K and N racing and this dirt race popped up and it was kind of a. I'm not really sure why the seat was open. I think it was actually normally a rent a ride and some friends of theirs that sponsored, sponsored the ride for me out there in Vegas and threw me in just because I'm a dirt racer, you know, and they were like, well, we want a dirt racer in this thing. And they, they said my name. So just, you know, lucky enough to do it and it was heck of an experience. I mean, shoot, I didn't know what the heck I was doing in that thing, you know, and, you know, having, you know, old school manual transmission and all that stuff, having to learn to drive that. And I felt like I was cold trickle learning how to drive it, you know.

[A]

But you're that good. You got, I mean, you know, it's, it's hard. You got to go in on the right front if you get it sideways a bit.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

He never, he never gained the traction back.

[B]

Yeah, it was just a big, big old boat and you couldn't really see.

[A]

Y. Yep, yep, yep.

[B]

The track was dusty and the, the windshield was getting dusted up inside and we didn't know any better. We had the. We didn't have the sides taped up like everybody else, so we were letting dust right in there. But it was a fun experience. You know, girling too, definitely was like, wow, this was, this was wild, you know.

[A]

Okay, so in 2019, the next year you go to the big one. Now 2019, this is when Eldora and NASCAR is all the rage. Yeah, I ran the very first truck race there with nascar and it was, it was great. It really did good. So in 2019, you run the NASCAR truck series at Eldora and buddy, you do it, you finish 16th and that. That's a hornet's nest.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah, tell me about that.

[B]

It was kind of the same thing. The K N race, I feel like, was kind of a build up for the truck deal. They. The next year comes and they want to. They want to kind of dabble in some truck racing and I think they did some actual big track stuff at Vegas and other places. But we were more excited about the Eldora dirt race, really, more than anything. It was heck of a week. We. We were having issues. The truck wasn't quite running right and we were testing out here in Iowa with it and we felt like we found the problem. So the ship, you know, the truck ends up there in Eldora. We show up and the lift gate doesn't work. So couldn't get the truck unloaded. We were like really late through tech. I think we missed first practice. And then we finally get through tech and all that stuff and we roll out for second practice and the truck's still not running. And go through waste the whole time of practice with the truck not running. And that was, I think them. I don't know how to say it right. Ilmore or Gilmore engines. Yeah, Gilmore were pretty new at the time. And those guys worked really hard for us. So they were really awesome on the deal. And actually, you know, the truck had to be impounded. We all had to leave the pits. That kicked everybody out of the pit, so we couldn't work on and try to fix it. Well, NASCAR and those guys found the problem. There was like a bladder inside the tank that had been inspected and certified, but it was failing. It was like collapsing, so it wasn't letting fuel to the. To the engine. That's why it kept running bad and cutting out on me. So pretty much my first full lapse in the truck under power was my heat race at Eldora. So it was, it was heck of a spirit experience. I had a blast doing it. We were going to do it again, but then Covid came, you know, 2020 ruined that. That deal. But, yeah, it was a blast. I. I don't know. We were. We were up in the top 10, I think, at some point, you know, with yellows and stuff, and it was a lot of fun. I started right behind Mikey Marlar. That. Yeah, and he went to the front. I think he had a good run. But it was pretty cool just to be standing there, I think, doing intros or whatever around these really big names. It was pretty neat.

[A]

Yeah. Mike Marlowe. I'm glad you mentioned his name. Mike. Mike was calling me about five years ago, really wanted to go asphalt racing. You went to Nashville, the fairgrounds. You know, we talked to a lot of greats, you know, like Jonathan Davenport, Nick Hoffman, and they all, you know, want to be NASCAR. I asked that to J.D. i said, J.D. you want to be. Do you want to. Did you or do you want to be a NASCAR driver? And he's like, all of them say, oh, my gosh, yes.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Do you want to do more NASCAR stuff?

[B]

I mean, I definitely would do it if, If I had the opportunity, that's for sure. I mean, I think everyone wants to make it to that, I guess. I mean, I want to make it to super late model racing, but I feel like even, you know, it's funny to hear big names like that even still wanting to make it even farther. I guess I don't think that dream ever goes away. Really.

[A]

Yeah. Well, every man has an eagle. And we all have learned that if you win a 20 lap feature at your local racetrack, you. You feel you do belong, but it's hard for everybody to make it.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Well, listen up, everybody. There he is. Tim Ward. I feel like we've celebrated your career. I've explained to everybody how great you are.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

The dynamics of winning Boone all the series, you know, the ego, the fighting, where, you know, how do we. How do we. We don't do it for a living, you know. What else do you have to say, Tim? Anything about your sponsors, your mom and dad, Anything?

[B]

Well, I mean, I have, I have a ton of them, but, yeah, my mom and dad really wouldn't, you know, I really wouldn't be doing it without them. They're they're probably.

[A]

What's their names? What's their names?

[B]

Amy Ward and Rick Ward. If it wasn't for my dad being such a sicko racer, we definitely wouldn't be doing it.

[A]

You showed up. You're good.

[B]

Well, thank you. He. He tried. He tried. I think he ran 10 years in a row at Supernationals trying to make it. He never. He never made the big show. And we. When we made it in 2016, it was a really big deal for us, you know, because he tried so hard making it, and it was a dream of mine to make it. And that's just what's crazy about Supernationals. It. It's. I don't know, just such an amazing race. It was a dream come true to just to make the show and then when we want it and then to do it again. It's just incredible.

[A]

It almost makes me emotional. No, it's really heartfelt. And when you made that 2016 Boone race, you had to be happier for your dad than you.

[B]

Oh, yeah, almost. And it was just, you know, seeing your mom crying about, you know, making it, he. He wasn't there. He's almost bad luck. He's not allowed to come.

[A]

We love you, dad. Stay away.

[B]

Well, we, you know, winning it in 23 and everything. He flew out and end of 24, the Friday night of the big Friday night before the big dance, and. And we. We didn't get it done, so he's not allowed to come back.

[A]

That's good. That's good fun.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, okay, everybody, I think that's it. We always remind everybody, if you want to see Tim Ward's pretty face, you can watch him on right here on the Kenny Wallace YouTube show. If you want to put those earplugs in while you're headed to the next IMCA sanctioned local track, put your earbuds in and listen on the Dirty Mo Media podcast until the next Kenny conversation. We'll see you all next time, everybody. Goodbye. Check out Dirty Mo Media on Twitter, Facebook, Tick Tock and Instagram. A real Etsy buyer review for handmade home decor by a real Etsy seller. They are truly beautiful to look at and absolutely original. Discover pieces created and loved by real people. Shop the Etsy app. If you're looking for new ways to get ahead, then you're our kind of person. We're Udemy and we help learners like you upskill in AI, productivity, leadership and management and more. Learn at your own pace from real world experts. You can also prep for certifications that show employers what you know, upskill for the career you want at udemy.

[B]

Com.

[A]

Now back to your regularly scheduled listening.