Late Model Archives

Wulf jumps at chance to promote Junction Motor Speedway

McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. (March 21, 2024) – Randy Wulf Jr. still remembers helping load up a race car for the first-ever opening night at Junction Motor Speedway years ago. He’ll remember the excitement surrounding the opening night show at McCool Junction this season from an entirely different perspective. Wulf is the new promoter at Junction, where IMCA Sunoco Late Models, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts fill Saturday night race cards. “Promoting a race track is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Wulf. “I have been taking to (Junction owner) Delmar Friesen and jumped at this chance.” Co-owner with brother Chad of Prowler Chassis, Wulf is “a dirt guy by trade” and will handle track prep for the 3/8-mile dirt oval personally. “I want to get the track as smooth as I can,” he said. “We’ve been trying to make sure the crew coordination is there and everyone knows their job, and make this a good place for lots of [Read More]

New Davenport promoter already impressed by local support

DAVENPORT, Iowa (March 20, 2024) – Jeff Struck puts a check on his bucket list this season, as the new promoter at Davenport Speedway. The former driver and now Davenport business owner takes charge at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds venue, where IMCA Sunoco Late Models, Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods will run on Friday nights. The 2024 point season at Davenport runs from April 12 to Aug. 23. “I’ve been impressed by the number of local drivers and local businesses that support racing,” Struck said. “The community has shown that Davenport is a racing staple, locally, regionally and nationally.” Sanctioned Late Models have proven to be a weekly staple there since 1998, joined by Modifieds in 2009, Northern SportMods in 2013 and the Hobby Stocks this season. “What I like most about IMCA is that their rules keep everyone on the same level. I think IMCA racing is closer than open-style racing,” said Struck. “Open-style does have its share of good, side-by-side racing but it seems more [Read More]

New link connects drivers to IMCA contingency awards

VINTON, Iowa (March 6, 2024) – A few clicks on the keyboard is all it will take for drivers in any IMCA division to make themselves eligible for contingency awards to be given for the 2024 race season. Drivers can click here to go to the form, which is also on the IMCA website using the forms menu, to complete the process in a matter of minutes. Drivers will be asked to indicate the make of cylinder head, shock and spring they compete with this season, and attach a picture of their car displaying required decal placement. “This is a quick and easy one-stop process,” said IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “No paperwork is involved and drivers can make themselves eligible for point fund shares and contingency awards and then focus on racing.” Decal packets are mailed from the IMCA home office daily.

Speedway Motors marks 45th, 30th years of IMCA, Super Nationals sponsor support

LINCOLN, Neb. (Feb. 28, 2024) IMCA is excited to announce Speedway Motors has once again signed on as a sponsor for the 2024 season. This season marks Speedway Motors’ 45th year as an IMCA sponsor and 30th year as title sponsor of the IMCA Super Nationals, the premier event in dirt track racing.  “Our roots are in racing. We have participated with IMCA for over 70 years, and we’ve been honored to sponsor IMCA for 45 consecutive years,” said Speedway Motors President and owner Clay Smith. “We are proud to continue our support of IMCA and racers in all nine IMCA divisions as they build their dreams throughout 2024 while keeping racing safe, fun and affordable for many years to come.” Many racers turn to Speedway Motors for their IMCA parts specified by the sanctioning body including IMCA upper control arms for GM Metric Stock Cars and Dart IMCA heads available bare of assembled for Hobby Stock, SportMod or Stock Car divisions. “Speedway Motors is our longest tenured sponsor and it’s another neat milestone that this is the 30th year they’ll be title sponsor for Super [Read More]

Additional plastic body components added to IMCA rules for 2024

VINTON, Iowa (Feb. 27, 2024) – Two plastic body components have been added to IMCA rules for 2024. Modified, Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod drivers may use the Performance Bodies MD3 plastic dirt modified nose kit, part number MD M21100 or a combination of that nose kit and aluminum. The second component allowed, in the Late Model division only, is the Performance Bodies MD3 M7751B plastic 8-inch right side spoiler. Both additions, noted IMCA President Brett Root, have been made to rules for the respective divisions posted on the IMCA website.

IMCA Late Model sanction is first for Park Jefferson, South Dakota

JEFFERSON, S.D. (Feb. 21, 2024) – Park Jefferson Speedway will crown its first-ever IMCA Sunoco Late Model track champion this season. Sanctioned Late Models join five other IMCA divisions at PJ and run on six select nights in 2024. The class will also crown its first state champion in South Dakota. “We wanted to add a division that was maybe a little different than anything that was running around here,” explained promoter Wayne Becker. “I have a soft spot in my heart for the Late Models. They ran here back in the day and were very entertaining.” “We’re trying to bring a little bit of the 1990s back, and all the feedback we’ve received so far has been positive.” IMCA Late Models made their last and what was believed only previous appearance at Park Jefferson as part of the Summer Series in June of 2007. They’re on the schedule for April 25, May 16, May 23, June 6, Aug. 15 and Aug. 29, all nights the division is not running at US 30 Speedway in [Read More]

Sunoco fuels up for 32nd season as IMCA sponsor

LINWOOD, Pa. (Feb. 13, 2024) – The manufacturer of The Official Fuel of IMCA returns to a number of sponsorship roles with the sanctioning body and its 9,000-plus member drivers in 2024. Sunoco Race Fuels backs IMCA Late Model, Stock Car and Hobby Stock drivers competing weekly as divisional title sponsor for each of those divisions, and as event title sponsor of the Stock Car Race of Champions during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “At 32 years, Sunoco is one of our longest tenured sponsors. The support they’ve given to so many of our drivers over that time is immeasurable and particularly on the weekly racing level,” noted Carson Becker-Gramm, marketing integration and sponsorship director for IMCA. Sunoco, based in Linwood, Pa., provides a portion of point funds to be paid to top 15 drivers in national standings for Late Models, Hobby Stock Cars and Stock Cars for the fifth, 19th and 26th consecutive years, respectively. Drivers in each of those divisions must compete with Sunoco race gas and display two Sunoco logos on their [Read More]

Three Key City Challenge dates at Dubuque for IMCA Late Models

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Feb. 6, 2024) – IMCA Sunoco Late Models will have three opportunities to take home $2,500 this season in Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway’s Key City Challenge. Late Model features on Sundays, April 28, June 23 and Aug. 18 all tote big checks for drivers pre-registered by April 28. “This was an idea one of our Late Model drivers, Luke Merfeld, had. He wanted to help promote our track and the sport of racing. Luke contacted and recruited sponsors to make this series possible. It started with Late Models and the wheels just kept rolling,” explained Fairgrounds General Manager Kevin Kotz, noting $850 to win Challenge dates for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars on May 12 and July 14 and $600 to win Challenge features for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks on June 16 and Aug. 4 as well. “People asked if we could add Challenge races for other classes and just kept donating money.” Late Model drivers who pay a $500 Challenge entry fee by the deadline day also receive six free pit passes; those who [Read More]

$100,000 in contingencies awarded to IMCA drivers in 2023

VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 21, 2023) – Their on-track accomplishments earned IMCA drivers some $100,000 worth of contingency awards in 2023. “The combination of sign-up programs, and programs with individual and unique requirements continue to benefit IMCA drivers at a record pace,” noted IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “I strongly encourage award recipients to take advantage of these programs, and to continue their support of the businesses that support IMCA.” Awards were presented at the IMCA national banquet or mailed earlier in December from the IMCA home office. The following contingency awards were not necessarily determined by actual regional finish, but by either driver sign-up sheets or other unique requirements. All awards are product certificates or product unless otherwise noted. Any questions about contingency programs or awards can be directed to Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm at cbgramm@imca.com. Aero Race Wheels $25 to each Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod, Southern SportMod, Mod Lite and Sport Compact state champion. AFCO GM frame replacement kits to Modified national champion Chaz Baca and [Read More]

Chevrolet Performance bonuses are record $54,750 for IMCA crate engine track champions

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 29, 2023) – Chevrolet Performance bonuses added up to a record $54,750 for IMCA drivers who won one or more track championships while competing exclusively with crate engines this season. Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Late Model, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod drivers who indicated on their 2023 license application they would run a crate engine receive $250 checks for each of a total of 219 track championships. “Those numbers are impressive,” observed IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm,” but what really stands out is that since the introduction of the original track championship bonus program in 2005, Chevrolet Performance has now paid over half a million dollars to IMCA drivers competing with crate engines and winning track titles.” “This program is a great way that Chevrolet Performance is able to support drivers across the country.” Modified drivers receiving bonuses for winning one or more track championships, with multiple track titles indicated in parenthesis, while competing with a crate [Read More]