Craft returning to home state as Canyon Speedway AZ promoter

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PEORIA, Ariz. – David Craft comes home this season, as the new promoter at Canyon Speedway AZ.

The Arizona native, also starting his second year in charge at Nebraska’s Lincoln County Raceway, and his wife Penny take over at Peoria where IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods, Mach-1 Sport Compacts and newly-sanctioned STARS Mod Lites will fill Saturday cards.

“I spent a lot of years in Arizona. We have family here and Arizona has been a big part of our lives. We’re pleased to be back,” said Craft. “It’s a special place for us.” 

Craft started racing a Modified in Arizona and will commute between tracks in the spring and fall, focusing on Lincoln County when Canyon Speedway AZ is closed in July and August. 

“I know all racers want a shot at winning. We’re going to work very hard at being consistent in tech and treating all drivers fairly,” he said.

“Consistency is another thing we like about IMCA. We don’t have to reach out to different organizations for each division. The rules are right there,” Craft continued. “Having the continuity of IMCA allows us continuity of scheduling.” 

The 2021 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season opens with Winter Series dates Jan. 30-31 and Feb. 6-7. The Modified Meltdown season opener is March 6 and 7. 

Final IMCA points races are Sept. 17-18 with the Fall Challenge on tap for Nov. 6 and 7. Mod Lites run on eight nights from March 6 to Sept. 18.

“Mod Lites have a proven set of rules and are another piece in the economics puzzle,” Craft said.

Modifieds were first sanctioned at Canyon in 1988 and are part of the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Sanctioned Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks have run at Peoria since 2016 and are in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region and Big Daddy Race Cars Southern Region, respectively. 

Northern SportMods have been sanctioned since 2017, the Sport Compacts since 2018.

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