Foul forecast washes out Batesville

BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 22) – Night one of Batesville Motor Speedway’s Race For Hope 71 belonged to Ethan Dotson.  The IMCA Modified clipper from Bakersfield, Calif., started seventh and finished first on Wednesday, opening night of qualifying for Saturday’s $50,000 to win main event. “We were pretty good and hopefully we can keep that speed for 75 laps on Saturday. Starting on the pole will definitely help,” Dotson said. “The track had some character (tonight) and it was fun moving around. We had to get past some pretty good cars to get to the front.”  Dotson made his way into the lead on lap 10 of the 25-lapper. He’d finished 14th in the 2019 event and seventh last year. Lining up behind him in the main event will be Jacob Hobscheidt, hard charger Cody Laney, Kollin Hibdon, Jesse Sobbing, Sawyer Crigler, D.J. Shannon, Scott Bloomquist and Mike Mullen.  Laney motored to third from 21st starting. Qualifying for Race For Hope 71 continues Thursday night. One hundred Modifieds vied on opening night at Batesville.  Feature results – 1. Ethan [Read More]

BATESVILLE, Ark. (Oct. 13) – Challenged throughout a fast-paced 25-lapper, Dylan Thornton held off all challengers in winning Wednesday’s World IMCA Stock Car Championship presented by IMCA.TV opening night qualifying feature at Batesville Motor Speedway. Racing into the lead from fourth starting on the opening circuit, Thornton battled with Johnathon Logue much of the way before taking the win ahead of seventh starting Dallon Murty of Chelsea, Iowa, and 11th starting Benji LaCrosse.  “Hopefully we can get the big one done Saturday,” said Thornton, who will start on the pole for the $50,000 to win main event.  Opening night saw 95 drivers in action in the 50th anniversary season finale at Batesville, and drivers from a dozen states took the green flag for the qualifier.  Logue, of Logansport, Iowa, ended in fourth. Rounding out the top nine were Curt Lund of Redwood Falls, Minn., Tim Brown of Stoutland, Mo., Tim Johnson of Brainerd, Minn., Jake Timm of Winona, Minn., and Derek Brown of Stoutland, Mo. Jeffrey Abbey of Belton, Texas, topped the “B” feature and Jack Sullivan [Read More]

BATESVILLE, Ark. (Oct. 11) – New car? No problem. Thornton topped the $12,000 to win Race For Hope 71 feature for IMCA Modifieds at Batesville Motor Speedway. Sunday’s checkered flag run was his second straight and third in the four years the event has been held. “It’s awesome to be able to win this race three out of four years. This was definitely one of our biggest wins,” said Thornton, who led start to finish in the 71-lapper. “We brought a new car (a Lethal Chassis), went back to our notes and didn’t have to change a thing all week.” Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Thornton set fast time to start the week and never slowed down. After rain postponed the main event from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, he weathered a handful of cautions before and after the mandatory fuel stop on lap 40. The final yellow came with three laps left. Jake O’Neil pulled to Thornton’s back bumper before chasing him to the checkers. “This year we were really good [Read More]