Late Model Archives

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]

Drivers at 57 tracks earn IMCA.TV replay bonuses adding up to $97,645

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 28, 2023) – IMCA drivers won’t have to wait ‘til Christmas morning to open envelopes containing IMCA.TV bonus checks. A total of 705 drivers in the nine divisions sanctioned by IMCA earned shares $97,645 generated by replays of weekly and special events at 57 tracks broadcast by IMCA.TV or its affiliates. Modified, Late Model, RaceSaver Sprint Car and Stock Car drivers finishing in the top three in point standings at those tracks receive checks for $240, $160 and $135; Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod checks are distributed in the amounts of $140, $115 and $100, and Hobby Stock, STARS Mod Lite and Sport Compact checks are in the amounts of $115, $85 and $70. Those checks are being mailed this week from the IMCA home office. “This bonus program is the first of its kind and was developed by our streaming platform provider Riivet in 2021,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “A percentage of subscription fees paid by replay viewers is paid to tracks and to top three drivers in sanctioned divisions.” “Almost $28,000 was paid to nearly [Read More]

IMCA Late Model honors are Richards’ IMCA rookie record third

LINCOLN, Neb. (Nov. 14, 2023) – A season that started with admittedly low expectations instead resulted in Cade Richards racing into the IMCA record book. Richards became the first IMCA driver to win national rookie of the year honors in three different divisions, following first-year honors for Friesen Performance Northern SportMods (2019) and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars (2021) with the IMCA Sunoco Late Model rookie prize. “We weren’t expecting much but it turned out to be a pretty good year,” said Richards, who turned 19 just before the end of the season and is in his first year studying toward a mechanical engineering degree at the University of Nebraska in his hometown of Lincoln. “I was racing for Al Humphrey in a 10-year-old Victory Circle Late Model we pulled out of a barn.” “We put in a lot of work right before the start of the season to get it ready,” he continued. “I’ve raced a Stock Car and made maybe 15 Modified starts the last two years so the big transition was learning the [Read More]

Schoenfeld Headers adds awards for IMCA top 10 Hobby Stocks, national champions

VAN BUREN, Ark. (Nov. 8, 2023) – Schoenfeld Headers puts the wraps on its 25th sponsorship season with new awards for even more IMCA drivers. The Van Buren, Ark., manufacturer, a long-time sponsor of IMCA special events, gives more than $5,000 in product certificates, redeemable for a new set of headers, to top 10 finishers in national standings for the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and to national champions in seven other IMCA divisions. Top 10 Hobby Stock recipients of $260 certificates are national champion Zach Olmstead, Mike Smith, Tristan Grape, Nicholas Ronnebaum, Cory Probst, Cody Williams, Kyler Satran, Randy Lamar, Thomas Daffern and Brandon Nielsen Also receiving certificates will be national champions Chaz Baca, Modified, and Dillon Raffurty, STARS Mod Lite, both $410; Cory Dumpert, Late Model, $390; Tyler Drueke, RaceSaver Sprint Car, $350; Mike Nichols, Stock Car, $330; and Matthew Looft, Northern SportMod, and David Phillips, Southern SportMod, both $290. Schoenfeld certificates will be presented Nov. 25 during the IMCA national banquet. “Special series and Super Nationals competitors have benefitted from Schoenfeld Header support for many [Read More]

Headers, ride height highlight few changes to 2024 IMCA rules

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 8, 2023) – Hobby Stock drivers have an exhaust header option and minimum and maximum ride height is specified in four divisions, in the 2024 rules announced today by IMCA. Changes from 2023 and other previous seasons were few, noted IMCA President Brett Root, so drivers who were legal this year won’t be spending extra money to be legal next year. Beginning next season, Hobby Stock drivers competing with a crate engine can use Schoenfeld header part no. 1485-CM2-22 or an OEM exhaust manifold with a 2-1/4 inch diameter exhaust pipe while those competing with a claim engine can use a Schoenfeld header part no. 1485-20 or OEM exhaust manifold with a two inch diameter exhaust pipe. “This is a step we believe will keep the field level for more drivers in the division,” explained Root. “Schoenfeld has already added header awards to their 2023 contingency program which drivers will be receiving at our upcoming national banquet.” Minimum and maximum ride heights for Modifieds and Northern SportMods are four inches and 7-1/2 inches, and [Read More]