Morris, Hogge, haul to first wins of season at Mohave Valley IMCA Meyer Showdown

Feature

Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win number one of the season for Troy Morris III came on opening night of Mohave Valley Raceway’s Bill and Shirley Meyer Showdown. (Photo by John Chang, Changology Media)

BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (Feb. 17-18, 2023) – Two of the California drivers who made long tows to Mohave Valley Raceway loaded up with early-season, shot-in-the-arm type Friesen Performance IMCA Modified wins at the end of the Bill and Shirley Meyer Showdown weekend.

Bakersfield’s Troy Morris III won the Friday feature and $1,000 while Salinas veteran Bobby Hogge collected Saturday’s $1,500 checkers. 

Their wins were the first of the season for both drivers and came in Morris’ 11th start and Hogge’s sixth outing of 2023. 

Morris had made a single prior visit to Bullhead City, finishing second on a weekly show last spring. Wheeling the Victory ride his father drove in 2022, he got the best of Cody Laney in the battle for second, then reeled in leader Timothy Allerdings. 

“I was able to set the pace from there and won by three and a half seconds,” said Morris, who took the checkers running in lapped traffic. “It was definitely rewarding to be able to go down there and win. It reassured me that I was still (Fast Shafts) All-Star eligible.”

Laney and Allerdings completed the top three. 

Twelfth on opening night, Hogge motored to IMCA career win number 103 on Saturday, holding Adam Hommerding in check before pulling away to win in front of Morris – struggling with brake issues – and Jake Pike.

Bobby Hogge got a shot in the arm, along with his career 103rd Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win, on night two of the Bill and Shirley Meyer Showdown at Mohave Valley Raceway. (Photo by John Chang, Changology Media) 

“This was the first time we had been to Mohave Valley. We have known the Meyer family and this was a race we wanted to support,” Hogge said. “Friday was not a good night for us and we struggled, but we got a good pill draw, won our heat race and drew two for the feature.” 

“The track was in my wheelhouse. It had a little cushion on top and moisture on the bottom and we were good with it,” he added. “It’s a nice little track and this win was a good shot in the arm for us.”

Like Morris, Hogge was already Fast Shafts All-Star qualifying eligible. Dalton Houghton ran fourth both nights.

Chris McCurdy Jr.’s Friday night IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win came from seventh starting and ahead of 12th starting Larry Brigner and 11th starting Noah Geer. George Fronsman took the $750 Saturday win, along with B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility, in front of Grady Clements and Hommerding. 

Tyler Bannister and Cam Reimers swapped first and second-place Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod runs. Third place went to Camron Spangler on Friday and to Levi Kiefer on Saturday.

Also the opening night winner at MVR, Iowan Reimers already owns four wins and three Arizona speed plants this season.

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