Cain collects IMCA Modified checkers at Challenge finale

Josh Cain was the $1,000 IMCA Modified feature winner in the final Winter Series Challenge show at Canyon Speedway AZ. (Courtesy Photo)

PEORIA, Ariz. (Feb. 6) – A car that was good enough took Josh Cain to victory lane on the final night of Canyon Speedway AZ’s Winter Series Challenge.

Cain led all 20 laps of Sunday’s IMCA Modified main event, earning $1,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility along with his first win of 2022.

“There was only one caution and it was a good thing it came when it did,” Cain said. “Don Shaw showed me the bottom about five laps in. After the caution I was able to take the bottom away.”

Shaw had his hands full with Chaz Baca before ending in second. Baca took third after having won the previous two events at Peoria. 

A four-time winner last season, Shaw was to rebuild his 2021 DeVilbiss after a January wreck at Cocopah Speedway.

“It wasn’t as good as I wanted but we got the car good enough,” said Cain. “We’ve made a lot of changes in the car from the first weekend to this one.”

Chanse Hollatz, already eligible to qualify for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational, became the first repeat Winter Series Challenge IMCA Sunoco Stock Car winner with his second straight checkers. Runner-up was Taylor Kuehl and 11th starting Chris McCurdy Jr. was third. 

Chandler Dodge got his second IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock win. With Steve Bitting Jr. and Charles McDaniel completing the top three. 

And Anthony Madrid was best in the IMCA Northern SportMod feature, ahead of Camron Spangler. Cam Reimers, winner of the first three features at Canyon, was third.