By Ben Deatherage
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 24, 2024) – In a year chock full of notable wins, Kollin Hibdon decided to add another marquee event to that list.
The Pahrump, Nev., transplant, now calling Fargo, N.D., his residence, led the entire $3,000 to win finale for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale at Central Arizona Raceway’s Showdown presented by Toste Construction.
Unlike the previous two nights, several restarts played a pivotal role in the race. They proved to be a relief for the leader as he could catch his breath during the cautions. On one occasion, Hibdon faced heavy congestion from lapped traffic when he approached the tail end of the lead lap field around the halfway mark, but the caution came out before he risked any chance of giving up any of his already established advantage to the next car in line.
Two-time defending national champion Chaz Baca held onto second while North Dakota veteran Shawn Strand crossed the line in third.
The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites were also on hand. Jason Berg, Taylor Kuehl, Braxton Eichelberger, and Riley Clem were the four additional Showdown champions.
If you look at the box score, Jason Berg simply led from laps one to 20 in the Stock Car feature. In reality, things were intense after a lone restart on lap 13. The Bismarck, N.D., driver had to keep in check Baca, pulling double-duty and driving for car owner Mitchell Ferguson, who constantly tried to overtake him.
The stakes increased as night two Showdown winner Cole Czarneski entered the fray to make a three-car challenge for first place. The race came down to the wire, with Berg emerging victorious.
Baca was second edging out the Wisconsinite, Czarneski.
Anthony Madrid set the tone early in the Northern SportMod main event. But he would soon feel pressure from the previous night’s winner, Eric Winemiller. As those two battled for dominance, Kuehl found a way around them with a masterclass double overtake in turns one and two on the fourth trip around the Pinal County Fairgrounds 3/8-mile clay oval.
From there, the 2023 Lady Eagle champion, originally from Cave Creek, now living in Ames, Iowa, set a rapid pace to dominate the balance of the distance for the win.
The race for second came down to the last lap, with Clay Erickson holding back Winemiller.
The Hobby Stocks was a wild one. Joel Magee was the initial race leader but got caught up in a multi-car wreck in the first corner. Rick Hughes Jr. inherited the lead.
Hughes had his hands full around the midway mark as Joe Peterson threatened to take control of first place. On lap nine, Peterson made the decisive move to get ahead of Hughes.
It looked like Peterson was going to be first to the double-checkers, but unfortunately, he and Hughes got together on the backstretch on the last lap. That allowed Peoria teenager Eichelberger to win the race and celebrate in victory lane with his family.
Joe Gallaher took home second, and Hughes was credited with third.
Lastly, the Mod Lites would have Clem dominating the field. The Wildersville, Tenn., driver, originally from Bakersfield, Calif., had no issues leading the entirety of their main event to record his second victory of the weekend.
Shane Hinsley and John Priest balanced the podium in second and third. It was a notable run for Priest as he had not competed all weekend until the Sunday program.
All three nights of The Showdown were broadcast by IMCA.TV.
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