Mod Lite Archives

Relaxed approach to racing takes Raffurty to fourth straight IMCA STARS Mod Lite title

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 24, 2024) – Dillon Raffurty says he “just races” and doesn’t worry about wins. This season, he took that relaxed attitude to the track and raced to a fourth consecutive Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite national championship. “It’s cool, especially to be the only national champion since IMCA began sanctioning the class (in 2021),” said Raffurty, from Kansas City, Mo., and the winner of 30 out of 40 starts this season. “IMCA definitely has a different point format than what we were used to and it’s made us work along the way, but it’s been neat to compete against everybody in the country and come out on top.” Track champion at Electric City Speedway and at Valley Speedway – his IMCA career 100th win came on June 1 at Grain Valley – Raffurty also four-peated as the Missouri State king. He’d started 2024 with another successful Southern swing, winning the night two show at Ocala Speedway’s Brick City Nationals and night three at Hendry County Motorsports Park’s Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals [Read More]

IMCA announces 2024 national champions

VINTON, Iowa (Oct. 15, 2024) – Record-setting racers and first-time kings and a queen are among the 2024 national champions announced today by IMCA. Mike Nichols’ 13th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car crown is the most all-time in IMCA while Cory Dumpert’s sixth straight IMCA Sunoco Late Model title sets a new record for the sanctioning body in its modern (1979-) era. Kaylee Richards became the first driver to win both a national championship, in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts, and Lady Eagle award. Other first-time national champs were Lee Goos Jr. in the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car and Jeff Shepperd in the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods. Matthew Looft’s Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod title was his career seventh, Dillon Raffurty’s Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite crown his career fourth. Chaz Baca went back-to-back in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Cory Probst topped the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock standings for the second time. A 30-time feature winner, Nichols complemented his latest national title with EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and Crawford County Speedway, [Read More]

2025 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings

Ties are broken by 40 point finishes, then 39 point finishes, 38, 37, etc. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 655; 2. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 458; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 442; 4. Troy III Morris, Bakersfield, Calif., 382; 5. Tate Johnson, Homestead, Montana, 340; 6. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 333; 7. Logan Drake, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 332; 8. Jerry Flippo, Rockford, Iowa, 329; 9. Clifton (C. R.) Eisenzimer, Cascade, Montana, 324; 10. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 319; 11. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 316; 12. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Washington, 303; 13. Michael Egurola, Marana, Ariz., 302; 14. Eston Whisler, Otis, Oregon, 291; 15. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 279; 16. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 271; 17. Ian Whisler, Otis, Oregon, 265; 18. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 264; 19. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, and Ricky “WW1” Alvarado, Hotchkiss, Colo., both 259. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 588; 2. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 586; 3. Kaden Woodie, Milaca, Minn., 497; 4. Larry [Read More]

Six IMCA divisions in action at Beatrice Octoberfest

BEATRICE, Neb. (Oct. 7, 2024) – Six IMCA divisions are in action both nights of Beatrice Speedway’s season-ending Octoberfest special Oct. 11 and 12. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win on Friday and $2,000 to win on Saturday. A minimum of $200 will be paid to start and winners of both features become Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Both IMCA Sunoco Stock Car features pay $750 to win with those drivers earning B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod features pay $750 to win, Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock features $500 to win, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact features $200 to win. Entry fees each day are $50 for the Modifieds, $25 for the Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Northern SportMods, and $20 for the Mod Lites. An open practice runs from 7-9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10. Pit passes are $15. Pit gates open at 4 p.m., the draw closes at 6:30 p.m. and racing starts at [Read More]

Hale bounces back, Baca dominates Castle Country Clash finale

By Ben Deatherage PRICE, Utah (Sept. 28, 2024) – Waylon Hale’s roller coaster weekend ended with a win Saturday, on the final night of the Castle Country Clash at Desert Thunder Raceway. The Mancos, Colo., speedster, second on Thursday and 15th on Friday at Price, was a man on a mission in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main event. Taking control from the opening start, the 17-year-old chauffeur dominated the entire distance ahead of the rest of the competition. Camron Spangler and Shawn Parish completed the rest of the podium in second and third, respectively. Jacob Vasquez was the weekend’s overall champion in the division. Chaz Baca Jr. capped off the last night of the Clash, dominating the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature to earn his second weekend win. The Mesa, Ariz., driver got the lead early and did not look back once, despite a couple of stoppages as he would win the overall title of the weekend. Kelly Smith started the main event off as the pacesetter but could not hold back the advances [Read More]

Baca battles to victory lane on night two at Price

By Ben Deatherage PRICE, Utah (Sept. 27, 2024) – Taking advantage of a late restart, defending Friesen Performance IMCA Modified national champion Chaz Baca powered his way to first place and stayed ahead of all other contenders to pick up the victory at Desert Thunder Raceway’s Castle Country Clash. During the Friday night main event, Wyatt Howard had a speedy race car and led most of the race. A late race stoppage with a handful of laps remaining brought about an exciting restart. Baca drag raced the leader on the backstretch, took the lead on the 17th circuit and didn’t look back once ahead of the field. Regan Tafoya, the winner on Thursday, worked his way into second place while Kelly Smith completed third place on the podium. Five other IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing divisions were on tap, including the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Payce Herrera, Scott Hardman, Mitchell Ferguson, Dillion Thomas and Cody [Read More]

Tafoya denies Baca for opening night Clash checkers

By Ben Deatherage PRICE, Utah (Sept. 26, 2024) – There would be some thunder at Desert Thunder Raceway on Thursday night in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds for the first of three legs of the Clash. Regan Tafoya stormed the castle around the halfway mark after a restart. But the Farmington, N.M., driver had to fend off several advances by a determined Chaz Baca Jr. and held on for the win. The main event began with Bryan Wordelman setting a good pace when the green flag dropped. A caution on lap seven halted things and when the race resumed, Tafoya pounced on an opportunity to get to the front on the eighth circuit. Another yellow flag emerged, erasing Tafoya’s lead. When the race resumed, Tafoya faced relentless challenges from defending national champion Baca. Despite Baca’s persistent efforts, the seventh-starting Tafoya managed to fend off his attempts not once, but twice, in a thrilling display of skill and determination. Baca secured a respectable second place. Local driver Wyatt Howard, who had a remarkable journey to the [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Sept. 26, 2024

Final points races of the 2024 season are Sunday, Sept. 29 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,000; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 987; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 979; 4. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, and Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, both 977; 6. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 973; 7. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 969; 8. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 967; 9. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 965; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 962; 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., and Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., both 957; 13. Austin Harnick, Clare, Mich., 949; 14. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, and Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Mont., both 942; 16. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 941; 17. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 940; 18. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 939; 19. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., 938; 20. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wis., 937. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 795; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 793; 3. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 780; 4. Evan Miller, Davenport, Iowa, 774; 5. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 770; 6. [Read More]

Baca reigns supreme at Central Arizona

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Sept. 21, 2024) – In sheer dominance, defending Friesen Performance IMCA Modified national champion Chaz Baca put together a fantastic drive Saturday at Central Arizona Raceway. He seized the race lead from the very start of the feature and built a nearly six second advantage over the second-place finisher, securing his 26th open-wheeled victory of the season. Marvin Mueller and Bill Miller were second and third, respectively. Five other Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing divisions attended the Pinal County Fairgrounds 3/8-mile clay oval. They included the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Winners were Bo Partain, Eric Winemiller, Nathan DeRagon, A.J. Whisler and Steve Carter. Partain made the high side work in his favor in the Stock Car main as he grabbed the torch and ran away from the rest of the field. Frustratingly, he did have to deal with three stoppages, which didn’t allow him to get too far ahead, [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Sept. 19, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,000; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 987; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 979; 4. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, and Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, both 977; 6. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 971; 7. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 968; 8. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 966; 9. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 965; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 962; 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., and Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., both 957; 13. Austin Harnick, Clare, Mich., 949; 14. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 942; 15. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 940; 16. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 939; 17. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., 938; 18. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wis., 937; 19. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 936; 20. Jacob Mallet Jr., Oakley, Calif., 935. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 795; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 791; 3. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 777; 4. Evan Miller, Davenport, Iowa, 774; 5. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 766; 6. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, and Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, [Read More]