Tyler Mecl scored the win in Saturday’s IMCA Modified feature at Central Arizona Speedway.
By Jeff McSpadden
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (May 12) – Persistent Tyler Mecl and a very fast Jason George were IMCA winners Saturday at Central Arizona Speedway.
Mecl used the outside of the speedway to surprise Jeremy Thornton and take over the lead coming to the stripe to complete the ninth lap of the IMCA Modified main.
From there, Mecl weathered one last caution on lap 12 to take the checkered flag by more than two seconds over Thornton and Trevor Mille.
Jason George shot from fifth to first, somehow going lower on the speedway than the three-wide trio of Gerry Glenn, Mark Farnes and Chris Tipton on the first lap of the Karl Chevrolet Northern Sport Mod feature.
George pulled away to a full straightaway lead by the halfway mark and simply checked out over the last 10 laps of the race. George crossed the finish line almost nine seconds ahead of Glenn.
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 22) – Cody Thompson got his first win of 2022 while continuing his IMCA Modified education Saturday at Central Arizona Speedway. The 2021 national and North Central Region rookie of the year motored from ninth starting to the lead just before midway, then outran Friday winner Zachary Madrid and hard charger Matt Aukland to the $1,000 checkers. “I just kind of worked my way up there and made my passes in (turns) three and four,” said the Sioux City, Iowa, speedster, already eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “I restarted behind Zach – he’s pretty good – after a caution and did a slide job on him for the lead.” Thompson made nine early-season starts in Arizona last year and had six IMCA.TV Winter Nationals outings under his belt before journeying to Case Grande this January. “Central Arizona remind me of Park Jefferson Speedway,” said Thompson, broadening his horizons by helping at a friend’s horse ranch between his Arizona starts. “It takes the same gear and has tighter [Read More]
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 9) – Chaz Baca, Ricky Thornton Jr. and Cody Thompson all raced to second wins in their respective divisions, in the third IMCA Arizona Dirt Track Tour event of the weekend. Baca led the way to the $2,000 IMCA Modified checkers while Thornton collected the $750 IMCA Sunoco Stock Car checkers Sunday afternoon at Central Arizona Speedway while Thompson returned to Casa Grande for another impressive Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod victory, also good for $750. After a rough start to the 25-lapper, Baca led the distance in the Modified main. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, he was chased every time around the track by Tim Ward while Thornton made his way from 17th starting to third before a lap 14 caution. The race stayed green to the finish from that point. Thornton, Jeff Taylor and Casey Arneson rounded out the top five. Back-to-back yellows just after midway were all that slowed Thornton in his drive to the Stock Car win. Brendon LaBatte, Zachary Madrid, 10th starting Arron Hetrick and Chanse [Read More]
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 28 and 29) – A rare visit to Central Arizona Speedway saw Don Shaw sweep $1,000 to win IMCA Modified features at Casa Grande. Shaw swept Friday and Saturday main events, taking the checkers ahead of fellow Minnesotan Matt Aukland both nights. He led all 25 laps from the outside pole on opening night, then worked his way up from ninth starting on night two. “The car was really good and we were able to pull away again following a yellow later in the race on Friday,” said Shaw, newly eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “I didn’t know if I had what I needed to win it Saturday. I got stuck behind another car and fell back to about 12th before I found a good line in (turns) three and four and was able to pass some guys.” Restarts helped him stay close and ultimately catch Aukland for the front spot late in the contest. Cody Thompson, Devon Fouquette and Spencer Wilson followed the front pair across the [Read More]