Record 91 IMCA state champions rule in 2014

VINTON, Iowa – IMCA crowned a record 91 Allstar Performance state champions in 2014.

That number is four more than the previous mark set last year and includes 55 drivers who won career-first state titles in any division.

RaNai Toler became just the third driver to win two state crowns the same season, ruling Mach-1 Sport Compact standings in Colorado and New Mexico.

If not already vote eligible, their state championships put 23 IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified drivers on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot.

Brandon Beckendorf captured his career fourth and second straight Modified prize in Minnesota.

Drivers winning back-to-back titles included Paul G. Jones Jr. in Wyoming, Jesse Taylor in Colorado and A.J. Ward in Michigan. Cory Sample also became a two-time king in Nevada.

Taylor topped Colorado Stock Car point standings in 2012.

Earning their first state crowns were Ryan Roath in Arizona, Brint Hartwick in Arkansas, Kyle Wilson in California, Blake Lyle in Idaho, Brandon Durbin in Illinois, Ronn Lauritzen in Iowa, Clay Sellard in Kansas, Jeremy Meirhofer in Montana, Mike Densberger in Nebraska, Caleb Stone in New Mexico, Matt Cole in New York, Travis Hagen in North Dakota, Danny Womack in Oklahoma, Craig Cassell in Oregon, Ricky Stephan in South Dakota, William Gould in Texas, Kelly Smith in Utah and Brad Lautenbach in Wisconsin.

Stephan also owns three Iowa state crowns. Stone was the New Mexico SportMod state champion in 2010.

Todd Cooney won his career eighth and fourth straight Late Model Iowa state honor. Mike Murphy Jr.’s Illinois state prize was his career first.

Jeb Sessums raced to his second straight IMCA Eagle Motorsports RaceSaver Sprint Car championship in Texas. Michael Stien became a two-time Minnesota state champ.

First-time state champions in the winged division were Matt Moro in Iowa, Clint Benson in Nebraska and Jerald Harris in Virginia.

Rod Snellenberger raced to his career seventh IMCA Sunoco Stock Car state championship in Wisconsin. Dan Mackenthun won his career sixth and second straight Minnesota crown.

Jason Ward made it five straight South Dakota state championships while Nebraska state honors went to Darin Racek for the third consecutive season.

Abe Huls and Damon Murty both became three-time and repeat state champions in Illinois and Iowa, respectively. Nick Tubbs won for the second time in his career in Kansas and Matt Guillaume repeated in Texas.

Stock Car drivers scoring first state crowns were Steve Wenzel in California, Gregory Gutt in Colorado, Carbie McClearen in New Mexico, Dalton Flory in North Dakota and Matthew Burnett in Oklahoma.

Derek Moede had the distinction of being the only IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock driver to win a second straight state title, doing so in Wisconsin.

The dozen first-timers in the division were Brent Wofford in Arizona, Michael Brunswig in Colorado, Brandon Nielsen in Iowa, Colton Pfeifer in Kansas, Cory Probst in Minnesota, Tiffany Bittner in Nebraska, Justin Lathram in New Mexico, William Flask in New York, Brad King in North Dakota, Dave Riley in South Dakota, April Phillips in Texas and Thomas Martell in Wyoming.

Nine of the 17 Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod champions added to their state hardware collections.

Kyle Prauner scored his fifth straight title in Nebraska. Matt Looft notched his career fourth plaque in Minnesota and Tony Dunker made it three in a row in Illinois.

Repeat state kings included Nick Spainhoward in California, Zachary Cail in Nevada, Robby Rosselli in North Dakota and Todd Boulware in South Dakota.

Richard Mueller Jr. paced the Idaho SportMod points. He’d previously won a pair of Modified state titles, also in Idaho. New Mexico state champion Rex Higgins owns four previous Stock Car awards, from Colorado and New Mexico.

Career-first state champs were Chris Toth in Arizona, Thomas Nelson Jr. in Colorado, Brett Lowry in Iowa, Daniel Gottschalk in Kansas, Carl Conley in Oklahoma, Jorddon Braaten in Oregon, Juanita Faddis in Utah and Lucas Lamberies in Wisconsin.

Jeffrey Kaup won his third straight Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod title in Kansas. Travis Gray’s Utah state prize was his career third.

Julie Boettler’s 2014 awards haul included the Colorado state crown. She’d won previously in New Mexico.

First-time state champions Cory Williams, Chris Spencer and Jake Upchurch reigned in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, respectively.

Winners of third consecutive Sport Compact titles were Cody Thompson in South Dakota and Danny Jack Baggerly in Texas. Nate Coopman’s Minnesota championship was his career third.

Back-to-back Sport Compact champions are Austen Becerra in Illinois and Bill Whalen Jr. in Iowa.

Winning career first titles were Art Herzog in Kansas, Shannon Pospisil in Nebraska and Kody Stoxen in North Dakota.

Lonnie Welch repeated in the race for California West Coast Super Stock honors. Steve Nash was a first-timer in Nevada.

State point standings were determined using results from all drivers’ starts in each state. Awards will be presented during the national IMCA banquet Nov. 29 in Lincoln, Neb.

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