IMCA STARS Mod Lites win big at Doe Run’s Small Tire Shootout

DOE RUN, Mo. (March 29-30, 2024) – Brian Worley was the big wheel at Doe Run Raceway’s Small Tire Shootout. Worley swept weekend Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite features at the Missouri speed factory, earning $1,000 for his Friday night win and $2,500 for taking the Saturday checkers. He led start to finish of both 20-lappers, winning ahead of R.J. Gonzales and Jaggar Beard each night. “I don’t know that we do anything special here. We’ve won (in different classes) at every track around here. A lot of it is just the car we’ve got a 2018 Sidewinder. It’s easy to drive,” said Worley, who pilots the Mike and Tammy Hayes-owned ride. “We put gas in it and race it. We don’t change anything. I tell people we fill it up and go eat hot dogs.” Carson Hubbard was fourth on Friday and Garrett Stonum ran fourth Saturday after giving Worley a good run in their heat race. Matthew Filkins was fifth both nights. Five states were represented in feature fields each evening. Worley [Read More]

DOE RUN, Mo. – IMCA STARS Mod Lites are new to Friday night race programs this season at small but lightning quick Doe Run Raceway. The 1/6-mile, high-banked clay oval some 70 miles south of downtown St. Louis opens with the April 2-3 Small Tire Shootout. The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season continues through Sept. 24. “These cars are fast and the fans love ‘em. They’re like Modifieds on a smaller scale and they put on a great show,” promoter Tommy Harris said. “The drivers are a great bunch. They came to me and asked to sanction. They can run here for national and state points, and have the extra insurance that comes with IMCA membership.”  Built in the mid-1990s, Mod Lites ran their first full season at Doe Run after Harris purchased, then re-opened the track last year.  Berms were taken out and 30 loads of clay added to the racing surface last fall. Final touches on a new concession stand and restroom facilities are being made before the season-opening special. Night [Read More]

DOE RUN, Mo. (April 2-3) – Season openers at Doe Run Raceway have been very good to R.J. Gonzales. The IMCA STARS Mod Lite driver from Colona, Ill., made another 5-1/2 hour tow to the Missouri track pay off, topping both the $750 to win feature on Friday and Saturday’s big $1,500 to win Small Tire Shootout main event.  He started from the pole and led all 25 circuits on opening night, then won Saturday’s 30-lapper from the seventh starting spot.  “I raced at Doe Run one time last year and won the opening night show,” Gonzales said. “It’s a tight track and you’ve got to be elbows up. I feel like I’m an elbows up driver so it really fits my driving style.” Multiple cautions kept the Friday field close. Jeff Asher and Logan Rittenberry finished second and third, respectively. Gonzales took the lead just after midway on Saturday and was chased across the stripe by Matt Filkins. Ronnie Choate, Asher and David Lackey completed the top five. “We found something at the end [Read More]