By Rick Staley
OSBORN, Mo. (May 20, 2022) – A pair of defending IMCA national champions were Central Auto Racing Boosters Night winners Friday at US 36 Raceway.
IMCA STARS Mod Lites kicked off the evening with side-by-side racing throughout the pack of contenders. Defending national champ Dillon Raffurty swept the night, winning both his heat race and the feature.
It wasn’t easy in the feature as Raffurty worked from the back of the field to take the lead at the halfway point and never looked back. Jeff Raffurty led early and battled with Kyle Guy until Guy made his move to finish second in the closing laps, moving Jeff Raffurty to third.
The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars saw Jay Russell dominate, winning both his heat and the feature. Russell set the pace after battling early with Jacob Dye and Jack Potter until Dye took a tumble down the front straight, bringing his night to an end. Russell picked up the win with Potter second and Monty Ferriera third.
Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods went caution-free with Tim Stallbaumer taking the lead early. Randy Smith Jr. flew past Stallbaumer to take the front and held the rest of contenders at bay as Steven Clancy charged to Smith’s back bumper.
Adam Vrbka raced through the field to challenge in the closing laps but could not overcome Smith’s advantage. Smith picked up the win running the entire feature with no clutch and had to be pushed to Nextran Truck Center Victory Lane. Clancy placed second with Vrbka third.
IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars never disappoint on the high banks of US 36 and this night of racing action would be no different.
Early laps saw a four-way battle with Carson Masoner, Chad Clancy, Nate Barnes and 10-time and defending national champion Mike Nichols all jockeying for position.
Nichols moved to the point and Clancy tried high and low but could not find a way around as Nichols picked up the win. Clancy settled for second with Nate Barnes a very close third.
Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds saw last year’s track champion back in fine form, winning both his heat race and the feature.
Cory Wray took the lead only to see problems in turn one, bringing out the yellow and sending him to the rear of the field on the ensuing restart. Richard Spriggs took his turn at the front and battled Steven Bowers Jr.
Bowers worked his way by and into the lead position and never looked back, lapping every contender except second place on his way to the win. Wray rebounded to place second with Spriggs third.
Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts saw a wild start as Brad Mick charged from a second row outside starting spot to the lead at the drop of the green flag. As Mick led, Drayven Sumpter and Greg Marrant duked it out behind him for second.
Mick held off all challengers for the feature win, leaving Sumpter to place second and Marrant third.
