LOVINGTON, N.M. (Sept. 1, 2022) – Two-division star Caleb Stone looks to adds to the luster of what’s already been a phenomenal season when he rolls into the pits at Boone for the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
The 40th annual event marks the fifth Super Nationals for the Lovington, N.M., driver, who will run for starting spots in Saturday night main events for both Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.
“This has really been a phenomenal season. Everything has just clicked for us,” said Stone, quick to share credit for some of his success with a guy who knows a thing or two about racing two different cars weekly. “The guys at Jordan Grabouski Racing and Big Johnson have helped us a ton. We’ve run their cars for about six years now and we’ve worked with them as a team. I can’t say enough good about them.”
“More seat time always makes you better but lots of time in the shop is important, too,” he added. “I’ve got a full-time job and am starting a new business. My dad W.H. probably spends 30 hours a week in the car shop.”
Stone has raced an IMCA Modified since 2011 and the Stock Car just since 2020 but doesn’t have a decided favorite between the two.
Sometimes it depends on the night.
“Some nights it’s like going from a monster truck to a Cadillac. The Modified is just a different animal,” Stone explained with a chuckle. “The Stock Car is real fun. It’s a lot more forgiving and it’s easier on the driver.”
A dozen of his 17 checkers so far this season have come in the Stock Car and Stone tops point standings in both divisions at Cardinal and statewide. He was a double winner at CMS’ prestigious Kelly Sheen Memorial during the July 4 holiday weekend.
“Kelly won a lot of races at Cardinal. He was a great guy and an important part of the racing community here,” Stone said. “I had won at the Sheen Memorial in a Modified before (in 2020) but never in the Stock Car. To win both races was an honor, especially with his sons there.”
Stone is eligible to qualify for both the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational, as well as the Harris Auto Racing and Sunoco Race Fuels races of champions.
“We took both cars last year and had a couple really good runs,” he said. “We didn’t make either big show but we won heat races in both cars and finished 14th in the Stock Car All-Star race.”
Three other New Mexico drivers have made the Modified main event at Super Nationals since 2006. Zane DeVilbiss, one of those three, became the first to qualify for the Stock Car show last September.
“Qualifying for a main event would mean the world to us, It would be icing on the cake,” Stone said. “We’ve had a great year and that would be the perfect way to end it. We’ve got the cars. Now we just need the luck.”
The Stone family already has two Super Nationals qualifiers, Caleb’s cousins Cory and Cody.
“They were the first Hobby Stock drivers from New Mexico to make it in,” Stone said. “Now I’ve got to get on that list of qualifiers with them.”
He’ll leave home early on Labor Day and arrive in Boone in time to hot lap on Tuesday.
