POCOLA, Okla. – IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds make a long-awaited return this season to Oklahoma’s Tri-State Speedway.
The division will be joined by IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA SportMods on Saturday shows at the Pocola venue, now owned and promoted by Carey Menasco.
“I’m a fan of IMCA and when my wife Nicole and I purchased this track we converted it back to that sanction,” said Menasco, formerly the promoter at Outlaw Motorsports Park. “There’s already been a lot of interest in what we’ve been doing out here. If we can get half the people who drive by on the weekend to see what’s going on to come to the races, we’ll be doing all right.”
Former IMCA national champion William Gould has lent his expertise – and turned some laps – on the 3/8-mile oval. The racing surface was shortened and 350 truckloads of clay added in the process of reconfiguring the corners and banking.
“It looks like it’s going to be fast,” Menasco promised.
Fans will get their first chance to try out new concession stands and grandstand seating when Tri-State opens with the 36th annual Cecil Harlan Memorial Kegger on March 26-28.
First local track points will be awarded April 4. Modified points earned at Pocola figure toward IMCA’s Jet Racing Central Region standings while Stock Car points apply in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region.
“We had a factory class that was fairly close to the IMCA Stock Car division. So many people called to say they wanted to race here for IMCA national, regional and state points that I decided to sanction that class a year sooner than I originally planned to,” explained Menasco.
SportMods also make their debut at Pocola this season. IMCA Modifieds ran there from 1988-2001.
“A lot of our drivers grew up around here and can remember it being IMCA,” Menasco said. “I learned a long time ago that I could not write a set of rules that would make everybody happy. I can enforce them better than I can write them.”
“IMCA’s rules are simple, their divisions are economical and their point system is another plus,” he continued. “This is their 100th year. They’re obviously doing something right.”
Season championship night at Pocola is Sept. 26. The 36th annual Spooker special is Oct. 14-17.
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