Batesville reschedules IMCA weekly show to Sunday afternoon

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 29) – IMCA Modified entries topped the 130 mark and traveled from more than 20 states and Canada for Mark Martin’s second annual Race For Hope 74 at Batesville Mo­tor Speedway Troutman, N.C.s Kyle Strickler, already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, led the dis­tance en route to Saturday’s $20,000 payday. Defending race winner Ricky Thornton Jr. and Jor­dan Grabouski completed the top three. A purse of more than $150,000 was paid to the 28 main event qualifiers Qualifying feature winners Thornton, Strickler and Grabouski, made up the front row for the three-wide start. Thornton placed his bid for the lead on an early restart but Strickler had the momen­tum down the back straightaway to hold the point. Behind the leaders, Grabouski and Chase Allen swapped the third spot on lap four, with Grabouski holding onto the position. The bottom became the preferred groove for the entire field as the race approached the lap 40 fuel stop. Thornton slipped from second to fourth following the lap 35 restart [Read More]

BATESVILLE, Ark. – One of the biggest races for IMCA Modifieds will also benefit two area non-profit organizations this season.  Batesville Motor Speedway’s third annual Race For Hope 71 is Sept. 24-28, with $15,000 paid to win and a minimum of $2,000 to start the main event. More than 60 drivers will earn at least $1,000 during the Saturday, Sept. 28 program alone.  Saturday’s main event is a qualifier for the 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. IMCA Speed­way Motors Weekly Racing National, Jet Racing Central Region and E3 Spark Plugs Arkan­sas State points will be awarded. Saturday’s “D” main pays $2,000 to win and a minimum of $400 to start, the “C” main pays $3,000 to win and a minimum of $600 to start, and the “B” main pays $4,000 to win and a mini­mum of $1,000 to start.  Top two finishers in each of 15 heats on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday advance to qualifying features that send the top 10 finishers to the inside, middle and outside rows, respectively, of Satur­day’s 30-car starting [Read More]

By Mike Spieker BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 27) – Kyle Strickler backed up his overall quick time qualifying run on Tuesday with a dominating performance in Wednesday night’s Race For Hope 74 IMCA Modified preliminary feature. The Mooresville, N.C., driver started in the middle of the front row for the three-wide start, which ran 10 rows deep. Strickler jumped out to the lead on the opening lap as Wendell Wallace and Steven Bowers Jr. settled into second and third, respectively. Strickler quickly opened up a full straightaway lead by lap five, while Wallace and Bowers fought for the runner-up position. As Strickler approached lapped traffic at the midway point of the 25-lap event, he didn’t waste any time getting around slower cars. The two-time IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion made a three-wide pass around two lapped cars that were battling for position as he continued to stretch out his lead over Wallace. Strickler was still battling heavy lapped traffic as the race advanced to the closing stage but he held a steady [Read More]