Padilla is IMCA Mod Lite star at East Moline

Results

By Rob Hinckley 

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (Aug. 21, 2022) – Accelerating through the dirt in the high groove of turns one and two and then maneuvering the low side of turns three and four is a common strategy around East Moline Speedway.

Jon Padilla tried a different route Sunday evening and came out of a three-car battle for the 15-lap IMCA STARS Mod Lite Season Championship feature win.

The Silvis, Ill. pilot won the night’s battle and the season-long war as he was unofficially crowned the 2022 track champion. Last year’s champ, Anthony Guss, did not win one feature en route to that title. Padilla finishes this season with a pair of victories. 

“Starting up front helped but I knew it wouldn’t be easy,” Padilla said in victory lane. “It worked great on the bottom (groove) and the car grabbed hold and got a good bite off the corner.” 

Padilla started on the pole and paced every lap beating Brandon Freeburg, R.J. Gonzales, Mike Morrow and Jacob Copley. 

The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks featured a track record car count (12) and equal amount of drama. Three different drivers led the event – Josh Lane, Randy Lamar and Donnie Cole. A plethora of battles, cautions and contact ended up restacking the field for a two-lap dash to the finish. 

On the ensuing green, more contact left three cars on their roof or close to it near turn one and the race was called complete. 

At press time, track officials were still determining a final finish.

Jacob Waterman sped by Chuck Hanna on lap 15 and cruised to his fifth IMCA Sunoco Late Model 25-lap feature win. Hanna had to check up for another car that lost control, allowing Waterman to move by. Hanna, Chance Huston, Mike Haines and LeRoy Brenner rounded out the top five.

Jeff Larson visited again, with a new wrap this time, and ran away with the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified 20-lapper. Travis Denning closed in after a caution and took second ahead of Charlie Mohr, early leader Brandt Cole and Kenny Kostenbader.  

Logan Veloz took the ultra-competitive and highly dramatic Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod 15-lap feature. After multiple cautions, the checkers fell with Matt Speidel, Trey Grimm, David Engelkens and Rayce Mullen rounding out the top five. 

A season high total of 110 cars were in the pits and the final checkered flag fell about 10 p.m.  

The 2022 season continues this Sunday Aug. 28 with season championship events for the other six regular classes. 

Related Articles

Results

Zemo makes mark at East Moline STARS Mod Lite special

By Rob Hinckley EAST MOLINE, Ill. (Sept. 12) – The Z Man once again left his mark.  As he rocketed around the top groove of East Moline Speedway, Mike Zemo, Jr. knew the work he and his crew put into the Sidewinder Chassis all year paid off.  The Davenport, Iowa ace passed early leader Randy Bryan, Ames, Iowa, early and zipped to the IMCA STARS Mod Lite 25-lap special win and took home $1,000. It was also win number eight at EMS against increased competition on this night. “I was a little worried,” Zemo said in the winner’s circle. “I just knew the outside would be pretty good for me. I just hit my marks. It was really treacherous up there so hoping my experience would work.” The race was slowed just once by caution.  R.J. Gonzales had mechanical issues in his heat and started at the tail. He charged toward the front, taking second with seven laps left. He was unable to cut into Zemo’s advantage.  Jon Padilla, Bryan and Anthony Guss rounded out [Read More]

Results

$250 Sunoco bonuses on tap at two venues this weekend

VINTON, Iowa – Extra money is on the line for the winner of Friday’s main event for IMCA Sunoco Late Models at Lee County Speedway and Sunday’s Gary Webb tribute at East Moline Speedway. Sunoco bonuses will be presented at Late Model sanctioned tracks again this year. Drivers are eligible for one bonus during the 2021 racing season. Winners so far this year are Matt Ryan at 300 Raceway in Farley, followed by Sean Johnson at Independence Motor Speedway, Andy Eckrich at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, and Ron Klein at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway.  IMCA will announce mid-week before the dates bonuses are to be awarded at each track.  Racing is set to get underway following 7 p.m. hot laps in Donnellson and 5:30 hot laps in East Moline. 

Feature

Larson rolls out banner for 100th IMCA Modified win

FREEPORT, Ill. (Aug. 13, 2023) – Jeff Larson was beginning to wonder if they’d ever get to roll out that Friesen Performance IMCA Modified 100 Wins banner. The answer became a resounding yes on Sunday night. From Freeport, Larson became the 69th driver in division history, and the first from Illinois, to reach the 100 career win mark Sunday night at East Moline Speedway. “We weren’t running for points at the start of the season. I knew we were getting close but didn’t know how close we were until IMCA called me,” Larson said following his 14th checkers of 2023 in a TCE Team car. “Once we found out it became a goal we wanted to get to.” “Getting 100 IMCA wins was not ever a goal back when we started,” noted Larson, who’d become a first-time IMCA Modified winner in 2016. “We never kept track of all our wins when we started racing. Now I wish we would have.” The wins started to accumulate with 15 in 2019. He followed with 22 checkers and the national [Read More]