After fifteen years of dedication, Ryan Clark is stepping down as the voice of the Independence Motor Speedway. He will still be involved in racing, just in a different capacity next year.

Last night was a touching night at the Independence Motor Speedway. Fans, race teams, and track workers all showed their gratitude for Clark's multi-years of dedication. I was given the honor to surprise him with a speech and a few tokens of gratitude during the track's final night of racing this season.

Fans signing Thank You card (Photo: Bucky Doren)
Fans signing Thank You card (Photo: Bucky Doren)
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Here is the speech I shared last night...

A lot of us got to know Ryan Clark long before we ever met him. Back in the day, thanks to the Internet racing forums, we were introduced to the “Numbersman”. He worked tirelessly to keep racing stats for the Independence Motor Speedway, Benton County Speedway, and the IMCA Super Nationals.

I challenge anyone to show me someone who has done it better, so to honor you tonight, we have come up with some “numbers” about the “man” and his fifteen years of devotion over your career. Of coarse these numbers are merely estimates. They are far from your pin-point accurate numbers.

You have seen over 1,000,000 laps over your career. You have traveled over 500,000 miles to see those laps. You have talked to over 100,000 fans while announcing here in Independence, in Vinton, and during the Super Nationals, and you have met 1,000's of those fans and drivers.

You've worked with 100's of track workers and announcers. You probably only like 50 of them, but to be fair, probably only 25 of them liked you back (laugh). There have probably been dozens of nights that you should have been home and in bed, but you still came to the track anyway.

That is why we think you are one of the top 10 announcers in the country, because of your 5 star effort over 4 decades of racing. You probably burned up 3 cars along the way. All of this with 2 goals in mind … to inform and entertain the racing world.

Add up all those numbers, and you get the number 1, and that's the place we will always hold you in our hearts. Tonight we thank you, "numbersman" … Mr. Ryan Clark.

Ryan Clark and his race cake (Photo: Bucky Doren)
Ryan Clark and his race cake (Photo: Bucky Doren)
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Ryan Clark's Goodies (Photo: Bucky Doren)
Ryan Clark's Goodies (Photo: Bucky Doren)
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Ryan Clark's Plaque (Photo: Bucky Doren)
Ryan Clark's Plaque (Photo: Bucky Doren)
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