GRESHAM, Ore. – Kevin Roberts was so impressed the first time he saw an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car that he went out and bought one for himself.
Now he’s one of the driving forces behind the growth of the division in the Pacific Northwest and the first Stock Car driver from Oregon to compete at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
“We are helping start a class that is going to take off anyway,” Roberts said Wednesday afternoon, shortly after making his debut at Boone Speedway. “It’s going to happen. People love this class.”
Roberts, from Gresham, saw how much the drivers and fans loved the sanctioned class during a trip to Arizona. He bought his first car used out of Texas, then – much impressed by owner Paul Burger’s knowledge – bought three B & B Chassis rollers.
After racing everything from a street stock to modifieds and late models, Roberts quickly found a new favorite division.
He’s won two of the first 11 Big Sky Landscaping Series events so far this season. Tour events are held at Sunset Speedway Park and Willamette Speedway. Sean Gentry, Dakota Godard, Jerry Schram, Donald Schott and Brian Cronk own checkers as well in what’s proven to be a very competitive series.
“The nice thing about Stock Cars is that they have their own rules. Track owners love them,” said Roberts. “”There are no if’s, and’s or buts. They just go by the book.”