Mod Lite Archives

Bender Blazes to Victory at Casa Grande

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Mar. 22, 2025) — Collin Bender delivered a dominant performance in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite main event at Central Arizona Raceway, charging from eighth to the lead in just two laps around the 3/8-mile oval to secure his first win of the 2025 season. Defending Arizona State champion Michael Phay led the early circuits, but Bender wasted no time carving his way to the front. On lap two, he executed a daring double pass in turn two and quickly closed in on Phay. By turn three, Bender completed the move to take over the top spot. Once in command, Bender faced two caution periods, but each time he proved unfazed. On the final restart, which came on lap 8, the Chandler native pulled away to a commanding lead and cruised to the checkered flag. Bryan McCauley finished second, with Braeden Ward rounding out the podium in third.

30 year sponsor JAZ Products to continue post-season awards

SANTA PAULA, Calif. (Mar. 21, 2025) – Every driver in every IMCA division races for a share of the $15,000-plus in post-season awards given by JAZ Products again in 2025. This is the 30th season of IMCA sponsorship for the Santa Paula, Calif., high performance parts manufacturer, also a long-time fixture as part of the national decal program for the Modified division. JAZ gives $500, $300, $200, $100 and $75 product certificates to top five drivers in standings for each of the five regions for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, and to the top five finishers in national IMCA Sunoco Late Model, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod, Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact points. All certificates will be presented during the IMCA national banquet this fall. Champions at the 43rd IMCA Super Nationals will go home with certificates as well as the champion of the IMCA RaceSaver Nationals. Information about JAZ-manufactured fuel cells and seats, [Read More]

Townsend Thrills in RaceSaver Sprints at 105

By Ben Deatherage CLEVELAND, Texas (Mar. 15, 2025) — Christopher Townsend conquered the competition in the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars at 105 Motor Speedway. The Tarkington pilot seized the lead shortly after a midrace restart to become the new race leader in exciting style. Mark Harris initially controlled the race, expertly navigating the inside line. On lap three, Cassidy LeJeune used the high side to build momentum and take the lead, exiting the fourth corner. A series of cautions before the halfway point allowed Townsend to move into second. After a lap 10 restart, Townsend executed a daring slider in the second corner to overtake the Louisianan pacesetter. From there, he went untouched on his way to the win as the race remained caution-free. LeJeune held on for second, while Trent Dixon rounded out the podium in third. Babbitt Blazes to Another Mod Lite Victory In Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite action, Corey Babbitt picked up where he left off at the Texas Grand a few weeks ago, leading from the very start. The New [Read More]

Dean Scores Second Mod Lite Win at Hendry County

By Ben Deatherage CLEWISTON, Fla. (Mar. 8, 2025) — Despite starting seventh, Mike Dean charged through the field to capture his second Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature win of 2025 at Hendry County Motorsports Park. A series of four cautions slowed the pace, but once Dean took control, he had no trouble staying in front. Bill Leonard led early, holding off Chase Nornberg until a caution halted their battle. Nornberg was forced to the back due to a loose fuel cell cap. On the restart, Robbie Throop and Dean battled for second, closing in on Leonard. Dean eventually took the spot and set his sights on the leader, but a slip-up in turn one allowed Dylan Permann to sneak underneath and take second. Soon after, Leonard spun in front of the field, avoiding contact but surrendering the lead to Dean. Dean managed multiple restarts and built a comfortable advantage to secure his first win since the season opened on January 4. Permann wound up second, followed by Ben Blalock in third. The event was [Read More]

Runner-up in National Points will be awarded by AutoMeter

SYCAMORE, Ill. (Mar. 6, 2025) – AutoMeter marks another exciting year as a proud sponsor of IMCA, continuing its long-standing tradition of supporting drivers across multiple divisions. The Sycamore, Ill.-based manufacturer of competition instruments and accessories will once again provide $50 gift certificates to the top five finishers at each of 80 designated IMCA special events. AutoMeter will also award gauge panel sets to the runners-up in national point standings for all IMCA divisions to be awarded at the IMCA National Banquet in November. In addition, second-place finishers in feature events at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s and RaceSaver Nationals will receive the same awards. For more information about AutoMeter products and dealer locations, visit http://www.autometer.com, call 866-248-6356, or follow AutoMeter on Facebook. “AutoMeter’s support of IMCA and its drivers is greatly appreciated,” said IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “Their products provide racers with important data to improve performance, and we value their continued partnership.”

Babbitt Repeats at 105 Speedway’s Texas Grand

By Ben Deatherage CLEVELAND, Texas (Mar. 1, 2025) — Corey Babbitt took care of business in his home state of Texas as he would lead all 30 laps of the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature at 105 Speedway for the 2025 Texas Grand. It is the second straight year that he has won the event and he had to set a quick pace and even hold off a late challenge to score the $1,000 payday. The main event kicked off with Babbitt immediately pouncing to the point. Setting a quick pace, the New Caney, Texas driver ended up having to deal with a trio of cautions in the first third of the race that disallowed him from getting too far away. Taylor Hunter created some buzz around this time. After destroying a car the night before and at the controls of Johnny Brown Jr.’s back up car, Hunter would put on show on the top side of the ¼-mile oval and gained wholesale positions. In fact, he would pole vault himself so far in [Read More]

Hyperco Continues Product Awards for IMCA Special Events in 2025

PONTOTOC, Miss. (Feb. 28, 2025) – Special events competitors across seven IMCA divisions will once again benefit from Hyperco’s continued commitment to grassroots racing, as the high-performance suspension components manufacturer returns with its product awards program for the 2025 season. Hyperco will award a coil spring to randomly selected top 5 finishers at 80 designated special events in seven divisions. Additionally, two designated finishers in the Modified, Late Model, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod, and Mod Lite main events at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September 2025 will receive a pair of Hyperco coil springs. A division of the MW Components family, Hyperco is the nation’s leading motorsports and performance aftermarket coil spring specialist. 2025 marks Hyperco’s 28th season as an IMCA sponsor. The program has evolved over the years, and this evolution is a testament to Hyperco’s support. “It’s been incredible to see the Hyperco awards program grow and evolve with IMCA over the last 28 years,” said Carson Becker-Gramm, IMCA Marketing Integration & Sponsorship Director. “There has [Read More]

McDowell Seals Sugar Bowl Glory in Thrilling Green-White-Checkered Finish

By Ben Deatherage CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2025) — Jaedon McDowell once again proved his dominance in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites, capturing the final night of the 2025 Sugar Bowl and Florida Winter Nationals at Hendry County Motorsports Park. Despite a late caution that set up a dramatic green-white-checkered finish, the Murfreesboro, Tennessee racer held his ground to secure his first career Sugar Bowl victory after finishing fourth in 2024. The event drew 49 teams from across the United States and Canada. The race opened with a thrilling battle between McDowell and defending Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion Riley Clem. McDowell managed to edge ahead of Clem and quickly set a blistering pace. A few restarts prevented McDowell from building a massive lead, but a well-timed caution on lap fifteen spared him from navigating heavy lapped traffic. As the race neared its conclusion, a late yellow flag set up a high-stakes green-white-checkered restart, giving challengers one last shot at an upset. 2022 Sugar Bowl winner Ronnie Choate, also from [Read More]

McDowell Scores Sugar Bowl Preliminary Night Victory at Hendry County

By Ben Deatherage CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2025) — Jaedon McDowell doubled up his 2025 Florida Winter Nationals win total with a thrilling victory on preliminary night of the 6th Annual Sugar Bowl at Hendry County Motorsports Park. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee racer pocketed the $1,000 payday after outdueling the competition in an action-packed feature that saw multiple lead changes and several restarts. A stellar 55 Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites filled the pit area, with entries from across the United States and Canada. The feature kicked off with New Yorker Doug Williams pacing the field in the early laps. After an early restart, McDowell made his move, methodically working the inside line to edge ahead at the stripe on lap four. However, Williams kept his momentum rolling and powered back around him to reclaim the top spot. Following another restart, McDowell again went on the attack. His patience paid off as he wrestled the lead away for good on lap seven. From there, he controlled the race on restarts and maintained his advantage, despite briefly [Read More]

Ronnie Choate Sweeps Thursday Night Action At Hendry County

By Ben Deatherage CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2025) — Ronnie Choate took home all the hardware on the opening night of the 6th Annual Sugar Bowl at Hendry County Motorsports Park. While all 44 Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites had the opportunity to practice and dial their cars in, a select group of drivers participated in the prestigious Race of Champions and Manufacturers Dash—both of which were won by the Cookeville, Tennessee native. The Race of Champions kicked off with reigning Benton Speedway titleholder John Leahy seizing the early lead. However, Choate quickly closed the gap, and on lap three, he motored around the Missourian to take command. Once out front, Choate was untouchable. The 2023 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion and 2022 Sugar Bowl winner powered to victory, marking three different winners in the past three years in the Race of Champions. 2023 Texas Mod Lite Nationals champion Corey Babbit finished second, while Missouri’s Dillon Raffurty—the four-time reigning IMCA National champion—rounded out the podium in third. Local competitor Mike Dean [Read More]