By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions)
Casa Grande, ARIZONA (January 16, 2025)—Cole Czarneski made a lasting impression on Thursday night, securing his first career IMCA TV Winter Nationals, presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports, victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event. The Denmark, Wisconsin driver delivered a stellar performance at Central Arizona Raceway, seizing the lead on lap nine and holding off all challengers to take the checkered flag.
The race began with Jason Berg asserting himself as the early leader, setting a strong pace through the opening laps. However, the momentum shifted following a lap nine restart when Czarneski, running the top of the 3/8-mile oval without fear, powered around Berg on the outside to claim the top spot.
Once in command, Czarneski showcased both speed and composure. Even a pair of late-race cautions couldn’t rattle him, as he executed flawless restarts to pull away from the field and seal the deal on a milestone victory in a field chalk full of stout competition from all around the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region.
Chaz Baca Jr., in the Mitchell Ferguson provided entry, was second followed by Texan Shelby Williams, in third.
IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites populated the rest of the racing card. Baca, Robbie Thome, Dillon Richards, and Riley Clem were the winners of those features.
Chaz Baca Jr., pulling double duty, showcased why he’s the defending Winter Nationals champion with a commanding performance in the IMCA Modified main event at Central Arizona Raceway. The local standout, from Mesa, launched into the lead on the opening lap and never relinquished control, earning his second win of the 2025 Winter Nationals and the seventh of his career in the prestigious series.
The race featured some of the toughest customers in the Western Region, including Wednesday night winner and defending Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion, Dylan Thornton, who kept Baca on his toes. Thornton applied pressure several times during the early stages, but Baca remained composed, fending off every challenge with precise driving.
The defining moment of the race came around the halfway mark when Baca encountered heavy lapped traffic. Despite the congestion, he masterfully navigated through the slower cars, maintaining his advantage over Thornton and the rest of the field.
Baca’s victory makes him the first driver in the 2025 edition of the Winter Nationals to win more than once.
The race for the runner up resulted in Thornton eventually securing the position with Colorado’s Ricky Alvarado earning third.
Robbie Thome delivered a commanding performance in the IMCA Northern SportMod finale, showcasing his dominance with a wire-to-wire victory. The Spaulding, Nebraska native jumped to the lead on the initial start and never looked back, securing his third win of the 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals and etching his name further into the record books as he sits in an eight-way tie for second on the all-time win list in the class.
Thome wasted no time asserting himself at the front, pulling away from the field and building a comfortable lead. While lapped traffic loomed in the distance, a timely caution allowed him to avoid the challenge. On the final restart, Thome executed flawlessly, pulling away once more to seal a decisive victory.
Behind Thome, the battle for second provided plenty of excitement. Taylor Kuehl and Mark Martini engaged in an intense duel over the final five laps, trading positions in a thrilling display of skill and determination. Ultimately, Kuehl edged out Martini at the checkered flag to claim the runner-up spot.
Dillon Richards put on a clinic in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock main event that featured some of the top tier talent in the B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region. Making the journey from Beatrice, Nebraska, Richards wasted no time taking control, surging from third to the lead on the opening start and never looking back.
Once out front, Richards set a blistering pace, leaving little doubt about his command of the race. Even when traffic came into play on lap twelve, the Cornhusker expertly carved his way through the slower cars without losing momentum, further solidifying his grip on the lead. It is his eighth win of his career during the Winter Nats.
Making it once again an all-Nebraska podium Dillon Thompson and Morgan Olmstead were scored second and third.
It was an epic showdown at the start of the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature as Riley Clem and Dillon Raffurty battled for supremacy. Clem, the defending Super Nationals champion, emerged victorious with a commanding performance to score his third career Winter National feature win, and first since 2022.
The race began with Clem and Raffurty locked in an intense battle for the lead. Raffurty, the four-time defending National champion, held the early advantage, but Clem executed a breathtaking move off the bottom of turn four to take over the top spot at the line of the first lap. Despite Raffurty’s best efforts to reclaim the lead, Clem’s defense was impenetrable, denying Raffurty any opportunity to strike back.
Several cautions interrupted the action, but Clem maintained his iron grip on the lead with flawless restarts and unwavering focus.
Iowa’s Josh May finished runner-up for the second night in a row followed by A.J. Whisler, in third.
The entire event was broadcast live on IMCA TV.
