Berkeley wins first career Winter Nationals feature in Stock Car action

By Ben Deatherage

(Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions)

Casa Grande, Arizona (January 15, 2025)—Chase Berkeley surged to the front of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, leading all twenty laps to secure his first career victory at the IMCA TV Winter Nationals presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports at Central Arizona Raceway. The 2023 Winter Nationals champion faced several challenges throughout the race but ultimately fended off the advances of young Texan Cameron Starry.

Despite the pressure, Berkeley maintained a consistent pace from start to finish. Starry attempted a few bold moves in the closing laps, but the leader, hailing from Colville, Washington, successfully held him off to clinch this significant win in EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region action.

Starry finished as the runner-up, while Iowa’s Mike Albertsen completed the podium in third place.

The event also featured competitors in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Victories in those categories went to Dylan Thornton, Dustin White, Dillon Richards, and Dillon Raffurty, respectively.

In the IMCA Modified finale, which showcased some of the top talent from the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, Kollin Hibdon and Dylan Thornton battled fiercely for the race lead. Hibdon initially secured the lead but faced stiff competition when Thornton, originally from Santa Maria, California, now residing in Belle Plaine, Iowa, challenged him.

Thornton managed to get alongside Hibdon on two occasions, but Hibdon excelled in turns three and four, retaining his position. The pressure persisted as Thornton continued to press his good friend Hibdon during a long green flag run. Finally, on the eighth lap, Thornton found a way around Hibdon to take over the lead.

Unfortunately for Hibdon, he had to retire a few laps later due to a flat tire.

Navigating through congested traffic, Thornton received a significant advantage when the first yellow flag flew with eight laps remaining presenting him with an open racetrack on the restart. He handled the ensuing two additional stoppages effectively, ultimately achieving his first IMCA Modified Winter Nationals win. 

Minnesota’s Brandon Beckendorf and Saturday night winner Ricky Alvarado from Colorado finished second and third, respectively.

Dustin White dominated the IMCA Northern SportMod main event, showcasing his expertise during several restarts. He built impressive leads, ultimately making it to victory lane for his first-ever Winter Nationals victory.

Robbie Thome finished a strong second, followed by third-place finisher Steven Luecht.

Dillon Richards returned to his winning ways, securing his fourth IMCA Hobby Stock victory of this year’s Winter Nationals and his seventh career win with the series. Competing in the B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region, the motorist from Beatrice, Nebraska, faced a late restart and a challenge from Blake Luinenberg but maintained control over the final lap.

Luinenberg and Dillon Thompson rounded out the podium in second and third, respectively.

Riley Clem took the lead from the start of the IMCA STARS Mod Lite main event and raced ahead of the pack. However, his engine failed just past the halfway mark, handing the lead to Dillon Raffurty.

Raffurty, hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, had to contend with several restarts but consistently maintained a rapid pace, ultimately reaching victory lane for the first time in his Winter Nationals career.

Iowans Josh May and Austin Gray finished in second and third, respectively.

The entire event was broadcast live on IMCA TV.