August 4, 2026

Central Arizona winners are Mecl, George

M-Tyler-Mecl-VL — Tyler Mecl scored the win in Saturday’s IMCA Modified feature at Central Arizona Speedway.

By Jeff McSpadden

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (May 12) – Persistent Tyler Mecl and a very fast Jason George were IMCA winners Saturday at Central Arizona Speedway.

Mecl used the outside of the speedway to surprise Jeremy Thornton and take over the lead coming to the stripe to complete the ninth lap of the IMCA Modified main.

From there, Mecl weathered one last caution on lap 12 to take the checkered flag by more than two seconds over Thornton and Trevor Mille.

Jason George shot from fifth to first, somehow going lower on the speedway than the three-wide trio of Gerry Glenn, Mark Farnes and Chris Tipton on the first lap of the Karl Chevrolet Northern Sport Mod feature.

George pulled away to a full straightaway lead by the halfway mark and simply checked out over the last 10 laps of the race. George crossed the finish line almost nine seconds ahead of Glenn.

centralarizonaspeedway

Thornton stars at Central Arizona

By Jeff McSpadden CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (May 19) – Jeremy Thornton was the IMCA Modified star Saturday at Central Arizona Speedway. Starting seventh in the sixteen car IMCA Modified field, Thornton quickly made his way into the fourth spot diving low on the speedway entering turns one and two after the drop of the green flag, sixth starting Trevor Miller also made a bold move into the second spot behind pole starter and early leader, Mike Strobl. Trevor Miller drove by Mike Strobl for the lead on lap two while Thornton was working his way up from seventh starting to third. Thornton made quick work of Strobl for the runner up position and set out after Miller. Taking advantage of a lap five restart, Thornton pulled even with Miller and edged ahead as the sixth lap was scored. Thornton got a great jump on the next restart and began to put some distance between himself and Miller, with Tyler Mecl climbing into the third position. Thornton’s advantage of better than a second held up until the caution waved again with two laps left. [Read More]

Thornton adds Arizona IMCA Modified Tour win to resume

By Mike Spieker CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 12) – He already has wins at many of IMCA’s biggest events on his resume. Ricky Thornton Jr. added another when he took the $1,500 Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour checkers Monday night at Central Arizona Speedway. Thornton started outside of row two and quickly made his way to the front. By lap four of 25 circuits, Thornton had reeled in leader Ryan Gaylord. Thornton executed a perfect slide job in turns three and four to take the lead while Casey Arneson ran within striking distance in third. Once out front, Thornton set sail and checked out from the field throughout the remainder of the caution-free main event. Further back in the top five, Arneson and Hunter Marriott, battled for third. The door opened for Marriott when Arneson pushed up the track in turn two. Marriott took the position and set his sights on Gaylord for the runner-up spot. Marriott quickly erased Gaylord’s advantage but had trouble maneuvering by the no. 7R in lapped traffic. With six to [Read More]

Thornton completes Desert Thunder Nationals sweep

By Lonnie Wheatley CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 22) – Ricky Thornton, Jr., finished off a sweep of Central Arizona Speedway’s seventh annual Desert Thunder Nationals, thundering to victory lane in Sunday afternoon’s 25-lap IMCA Modified feature event atop the 3/8-mile clay oval. Thornton, already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, had topped $1,000 to win features on Friday and Saturday leading up to Sunday’s $3,000 checkers and denying brother Jeremy the win in the process. Ricky Thornton Jr. spent the first half of the race chasing Jeremy Thornton before working his way into the lead on the 14th round. He led the field the rest of the way with Jeremy Thornton fending off Jake O’Neill for runner-up honors and Jeff Larson and Austin Kuehl rounding out the top five. “It’s pretty awesome to run one-two,” Thornton, Jr. said of sibling sweep of the top two positions. While Thornton completed the trifecta, Bo Partain foiled a second consecutive Cody Thompson sweep attempt in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod ranks. Bo Partain gunned into the lead at the [Read More]

Events

Close Racing Supply NY/Penn IMCA Series Returns to Afton for Fireball 25 on Aug. 8

By Ben Deatherage AFTON, N.Y. (Aug. 4, 2026) — Afton Motorsports Park will honor one of its longtime competitors on Saturday, Aug. 8, as the Fireball 25 pays $1,002 to win for the Close Racing Supply NY/Penn IMCA Series. The 25-lap special recognizes longtime IMCA Modified driver Gary Roberts and features a unique purse that pays $102 to start the feature, along with $100 to each heat race winner. The Fireball 25 also serves as a qualifying event for the 2026 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational. The feature winner will earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. A revenge redraw will determine the starting lineup for the feature. Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National, Close Racing Supply Eastern Region and New York State points will be awarded. Pit gates open at 3 p.m., the main grandstand gate opens at 3:30 p.m., hot laps begin at 5:45 p.m., and racing starts at 6:30 p.m. Adult pit passes are [Read More]

Events

$1,750-To-Win Terry Wojtek Stock Car Special Returns to Abilene Speedway Aug. 15

By Ben Deatherage ABILENE, Texas (Aug. 3, 2026) — One of the top Sunoco IMCA Stock Car specials in the Lone Star State returns to Abilene Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 15, as the second annual Terry Wojtek IMCA Stock Car All-Star Qualifier Race pays $1,750 to win. The one-night special will utilize a draw/redraw format and offers a minimum of $125 to start the 20-car feature. The Terry Wojtek IMCA Stock Car All-Star Qualifier Race serves as a qualifying event for the 2026 B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational. The feature winner will earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. The feature pays $600 for second, $500 for third, $350 for fourth, and $275 for fifth. Drivers finishing sixth through 10th will receive $250, $240, $230, $220, and $200, respectively, while positions 11 through 20 will each earn $100. A $250 Hard Charger Award will also be presented to the driver advancing the most [Read More]

Feature

Pearce Earns $1,000 Antioch Modified Victory

By Ben Deatherage ANTIOCH, Calif. (Aug. 1, 2026) — Andrew Pearce of Oakley captured the $1,000-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature Saturday night at Antioch Speedway, earning his first DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season. After winning his heat race, Pearce drew the outside front row starting position and led all 20 laps. Tyler Browne settled into second early before Bobby Hogge worked past him on lap 18. A late caution for Troy Foulger’s flat tire set up a two-lap dash to the finish, but Pearce maintained his advantage on the restart to secure the victory. Hogge finished second, Foulger held on for third, Browne crossed the stripe fourth, and Jim Pettit II completed the top five. The race served as a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, and Pearce is now eligible to attempt to qualify for the invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Ryland Rallies for Third SportMod Victory of 2026 Fred Ryland, of Brentwood, charged from fourth on the starting grid [Read More]

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