Morris makes incredible last lap move to win at Mohave Valley

Modified, Results

Troy Morris III saved his best moved for the last lap, in the Saturday feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at Mohave Valley Raceway. (Photo by Krissi Delgado)

By Ben Deatherage

BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (Sept. 14, 2024) – Fans in the stands at the Mohave Valley Raceway were brought to their feet as Troy Morris III pulled off an incredible last-corner pass after exchanging the top spot twice on the white flag lap in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature.

The Bakersfield, California driver came from 13th to score his second win of the season at the 3/8-mile oval this year and the 11th time he’s bested the field in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region in 2024.

Noah Geer led most of the main event.  Seizing the lead from the start, the local driver sprinted to a healthy advantage on the initial green flag run of 16 laps.  With two restarts to deal with, Geer was consistently fast on the top side of the track when the field had to get back up to speed.

When the green banner came out for the final time, reigning national champion Chaz Baca moved into third and Morris, who had gotten into second a few laps previously, began to try his luck on the bottom of the track.

As the run remained incident-free, Geer was too fast for Morris to sweep underneath him, resulting in the runner-up transitioning to the top to protect second.  Things, however, began to change on the final circuit.

Navigating the upper reaches of the second corner for the last time, Geer got out of shape and forced Morris to take evasive action to narrowly miss colliding with him and obtaining first place.

Geer regained his composure on the backstretch, got side by side with Morris, and passed him back into turn three.  Morris tossed the dice one last occasion and threw a haymaker at Geer out of the final corner to beat him to the wire for the win in an adrenaline-pumping battle that had the audience on the edge of their seats.

Geer was second, followed by Baca in third.

IMCA TV broadcast the event.

Related Articles

Results

Carter turns potential of Arizona desert into 25-year sanctioned Mohave Valley

MOHAVE VALLEY, Ariz. – Where others might only have seen sand and mesquite trees, Walt Carter saw potential in 40 acres of Arizona desert. The promoter of what is now the longest continuously IMCA sanctioned track in the state and one of the longest such in the Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, Carter now looks forward to the 25th anniversary celebration at Mohave Valley Raceway this spring. IMCA Modifieds headline the Saturday, April 14 event. They’ll run for an expanded purse and be joined on the evening’s card by dwarf cars. “We have been IMCA sanctioned since day one. I’m not a big special event guy but we will have a little something special for our 25th anniversary,” Carter said. “Weekly racing has always been our bread and butter and it always will be.” Mohave Valley held four sanctioned events in 1993, the first won by Wyatt Ehrp be­fore Don Berger won the last three features and the track championship. Remarkably, just a month and a half had separated the first day of work [Read More]

Feature

Mohave Valley Raceway celebrates 25th, Baca celebrates IMCA Modified feature win

MOHAVE VALLEY, Ariz. (April 14) – Consistency has Chaz Baca on top of IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region point standings. Speed put him in victory lane Saturday at Mohave Valley Raceway’s 25th anniversary special … twice. Baca led the last 10 laps in winning the IMCA Modified feature, and $1,500. He also scored the $1,000 checkers in a borrowed dwarf car. “This race has been on our schedule for about a month,” he said following the four-hour tow home to Mesa. “It’s the first time I’ve won two big money races on the same night. It feels pretty good. We were super excited.” Baca ran second in his heat, started the main event from eighth and was up to second just after midway in the 25-lapper. He was reeling in pole starter Bill McIntosh before a caution, then took the lead after the ensuing restart. Mike Kirby ended in second with Leland Hibdon, Clint Reichenbach and McIntosh completing the top five. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star [Read More]

Events

Bash at the Track special starts 2022 season at Mohave Valley

MOHAVE VALLEY, Ariz. – IMCA drivers in four divisions will end 2021 and start the 2022 race season at Mohave Valley Raceway. IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win their Friday, Dec. 31 qualifying feature and for $2,200 to win their Saturday, Jan. 1 New Year’s Bash at the Track main event.  IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $1,000 to win, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods for $750 to win and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $500 to win both nights. Saturday’s Modified winner earns Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility while the evening’s Stock Car winner becomes eligible to qualify for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, KMJ Performance State and track points will be awarded for the Saturday show. There is no entry fee; car and driver is $45 and pit passes are $35. Spectator admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and military, $6 for kids ages 6-11 and free for ages five and under.  Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and racing starts at [Read More]

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply