Modified Archives

Ohio’s O’Patik tops Clash on the Coast IMCA Modified feature at Milton

MILTON, Fla. (Feb. 29, 2024) – Mitchell O’Patik and Dallon Murty both talked about luck during their post-race interviews Thursday night at Southern Raceway. Truth is that both made their own luck on night three of the IMCA Clash on the Coast. O’Patik led the distance of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Milton, outrunning hometown speedster Joseph Joiner for the $1,000 win and earning Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. “I had a good feeling on the night. I drew 11, went out for my heat race and saw there were some heavy hitters in the back,” he said. “I was like ‘Man, it’s pretty stacked, I’d better go,’ and I did that.” A Colorado native and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod winner early in his racing career there, O’Patik attended college in Ohio and now works for Meyer Shank Racing in Pataskala. His Thursday start was just his third in a 2020 Rage Chassis. The win came just a car length ahead of Joiner, with Shane Stephens, Joel Rust and Jadin Fuller [Read More]

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]

Fitz tops next level competition for IMCA Modified Clash on the Coast win

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 27, 2024) – Trevor Fitz made the move to the Midwest from his native California looking to race with and win against next level Friesen Performance IMCA Modified competition. He did just that Tuesday, in Florida. The transplant to Marshalltown, Iowa, won the night two installment of Clash on the Coast at Northwest Florida Speedway, earning $1,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Fitz chased leader Tanner Barnhart into what quickly became lapped traffic. He was in the right place at the right time, running second when Barnhart couldn’t avoid hitting a spun car and the resulting chaos on lap 12. Fitz inherited the point, lead the pack after another restart on lap 13, then held off opening night winner Jeff Larson as the race stayed green the last 12 circuits. “I was hoping for lapped traffic but when I got it, I messed up,” said Fitz, who more than had his hands full with Larson. “I ran for my life. I knew he was back there and I saw his [Read More]

IMCA RaceSavers chase big payday at Dodge City Sprint Car Nationals

DODGE CITY, Kan. (Feb. 27, 2024) – IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars get top billing and race for a lot of dollar bills at Dodge City Raceway Park’s April 5-6 Sprint Car Nationals. The opening weekend event for the United Rebel Sprint Series sees the winged warriors race in qualifying heats and features on Friday. Last-chance races and a king of the hill pole shuffle for the top eight qualified cars precede the $5,000 to win, minimum $400 to win main event on Saturday. Also on opening night, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods race for $500 to win and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $250 to win. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds chase a $1,000 payday and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility on Saturday. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $500 to win that evening. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, track and state points will be awarded. Pit passes are $35 each night. Pits open at 3 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. [Read More]

Weekend forecast forces change in Clash on the Coast schedule

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 27, 2024) – An ever fickle Mother Nature has forced changes to the weekend part of the schedule for the IMCA Clash on the Coast. Tonight’s (Tuesday) speedweek event for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars at Northwest Florida Speedway is on as originally scheduled with Wednesday’s planned day off at the beach becoming a practice day at Southern Raceway. With developing potential for inclement weather, the scheduled Friday and Saturday races at Milton have been moved to Thursday and Friday, Feb. 29 and March 1. What was to have been the final night of racing on Saturday has been designated as a rain date should the Friday show fall to weather. All start times and gate admission rates remain the same. Each Clash on the Coast race program will be broadcast on IMCA.TV starting at 6:30 p.m. CST.

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 history made with Neal’s Clash on the Coast Stock Car win

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 26, 2024) – After getting caught up in a first-lap caution, Gage Neal was wondering if he’d be able to stay in the race. After winning the first-ever IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature in Florida, he was thinking about leaving his car just the way it was. Neal topped Monday’s Clash on the Coast main event for The Class Too Tough to Tame at Northwest Florida Speedway, earning $1,000 and a chapter in the IMCA history book. After starting 17th and restarting 23rd following that early fracas, his checkers came ahead of heavyweights John Oliver Jr. and Dallon Murty. “It means the world to me. I never thought in a million years I’d be racing out of the Midwest,” the Anamosa, Iowa, driver said. “Obviously I’ve never been here (Baker) before or raced in the South at all.” “It’s pretty amazing to come here and win.” Nearly 100 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – Jeff Larson of Freeport, Ill., won that feature – and 49 Stock Cars competed on night one at Baker, representing 23 states and [Read More]

Alvarado, Morris, Herring race to Fast Shafts eligibility

VINTON, Iowa (Feb. 26, 2024) – Another three Friesen Performance IMCA Modified drivers are new to Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Ricky Alvarado and Troy Morris III were winners during Central Arizona Raceway’s Ernie Mincy Spring Thaw. Toby Herring, meanwhile, triumphed at Abilene Speedway’s aptly named Ice Breaker. Other drivers winning qualifying events already eligible were Chaz Baca, Tom Berry Jr., William Gould and Kollin Hibdon. Drivers eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational now include: Chris Abelson, Chase Allen, Curtis Allen, Ricky Alvarado, Brandon Beckendorf, Eddie Belec, Tom Berry Jr., Ethan Braaksma, Zane DeVilbiss and Spencer Diercks. Troy Foulger, William Gould, Jordan Grabouski, Travis Hagen, Toby Herring, Kollin Hibdon, Ryan Jenkins, Jeremy Mills, Rodney Morgan, Troy Morris III and Jake Nightingale. And Josh Rogotzke, Joel Rust, Dakota Sproul, David Stremme, Cody Thompson, Wendell Wallace, A.J. Ward, Tim Ward, Bryson Yeager and Chris Zogg.

He’s 4-for-4: Smith completes second sweep at Kennedale Spring Kickoff

KENNEDALE, Texas (Feb. 24, 2024) – What Cody Smith described as a good start to the season after opening night of the Spring Kickoff got even better after night two. Smith repeated his Kennedale Speedway Park heroics Saturday evening, winning both Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car features. Both Saturday checkers came from outside front row starts. Brandon McElroy was runner-up in the $750 to win Stock Car show while Jeffrey Abbey started 12th and finished third. Hard charger Jerrett Bransom hoofed it from 12th on the original grid to second while Cameron Gaston ended third in the $600 to win SportMod show. William Gould was in and out of the lead before rallying late to win his second Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature of the weekend while Randy Martin did some rallying himself to top the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact man. Gould collected another $1,000 for IMCA Modified career win number 192, ahead of familiar KSP foes Jacob Pirkle and Jake Upchurch. “It was challenging,” admitted Gould, who raced from third [Read More]

Gould collects Kennedale Modified checkers, Smith sweeps IMCA Spring Kickoff features

KENNEDALE, Texas (Feb. 23, 2024) – Kennedale Speedway Park has always been a favorite race track for William Gould and after Friday night it was easy to see why. The veteran from Calera, Okla., led start to finish of the opening night Spring Kickoff feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, running in lapped traffic much of the way before taking the $1,000 win, his first of the season and career 191st in the class, well ahead of runner-up Matt Martin. “The track was pretty fast, just the way I like it,” said Gould, a three-time track champion at KSP. “Starting on the pole, I felt like this was my race to lose but things went my way.” “Kennedale is one of my favorite places. When it’s fast, it’s really fast,” the Kerry Fryar Motorsports pilot continued. “Now maybe I can get some of that speed to rub off on the Stock Car.” Tenth on the all-time IMCA Modified wins list, Gould was already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Martin made his way to second from [Read More]