Baca visits victory lane twice during Showdown opener

Feature, Hobby Stock, Mod Lite, Modified, Northern SportMod, Stock Car

Chaz Baca was a double winner on opening night of The Showdown at Central Arizona Speedway, scoring Friesen Performance IMCA Modified and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature wins. (Photo by Ben Thrasher)

By Ben Deatherage

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 22, 2024) – Chaz Baca, reigning national champion of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, showcased his dominance at Central Arizona Raceway to score a big win on the first night of The Showdown presented by Toste Construction.

The Mesa maestro obtained the lead just before the midway point of the 25-lap feature at Casa Grande.

Montana standout Joey Price paced the field early. He would receive a strong challenge from Baca around lap six but kept him at bay. The two-time national champion would pressure again and get the necessary run-off of turn four on lap nine to become the new pacesetter.

From there, Baca handled the rest of the distance without issue despite some congested lapped traffic. 

North Dakota traveler Shawn Strand ended the race second with Price in third.

IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites were also on hand. Baca, Taylor Kuehl, Zack Tate and Riley Clem were all occupants of victory lane.

In Stock Car action, New Mexico’s Rob Moseley powered his way to the front before veteran Don Earven got around him on the third trip around the 3/8-mile clay oval.  

Earven built a sizable lead before Baca, filling in for teammate and car owner Mitchell Ferguson made his way into contention. Baca spent a fair amount of time dealing with 2024 EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region champion Bo Partain.

Baca effectively cut the distance between himself and Earven and made an incredible late-race pass while dealing with lapped traffic coming to the finish line. Earven was second while Partain came across the wire in third.

Kuehl returned triumphantly to her native state of Arizona despite calling Ames, Iowa, home these days. Seizing the lead at the wire on the initial lap of the SportMod feature, the 2023 Lady Eagle champion began to construct a comfortable lead over the rest of the pack, only to suffer a late race drama when the caution came out with just two laps to go.

The green, white, checkered proved no issue for Kuehl as she held her line and collected the winner’s check.

The race for second was exciting as Eric Winemiller beat Anthony Madrid to the line to score the runner-up spot.

Tate held court in the Hobby Stocks by procuring first place on the drop of the green flag. The Coolidge standout built an impressive lead but would eventually be under fire with five laps to go by Steve Bitting Jr.

Bitting tried his best to navigate around Tate not just once but twice, with Tate denying him each time and keeping the advantage. Tate was first to the finish line. Bitting and Scott Bernard were second and third, respectively, after Bernard made a late race surge to grab a podium position.

2024 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion Clem dominated the Mod Lite main, leading the entirety of the feature. Despite three stoppages, the Wildersville, Tenn., racer, and Bakersfield, Calif., native convincingly took care of business.

Michael Phay took home second over third-place finisher Chris Lomasney.

The Showdown opener was broadcast by IMCA.TV.

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