Northern SportMod Archives

Czarneski conquers Stock Car feature at Casa Grande

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions) Casa Grande, ARIZONA (January 16, 2025)—Cole Czarneski made a lasting impression on Thursday night, securing his first career IMCA TV Winter Nationals, presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports, victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event. The Denmark, Wisconsin driver delivered a stellar performance at Central Arizona Raceway, seizing the lead on lap nine and holding off all challengers to take the checkered flag. The race began with Jason Berg asserting himself as the early leader, setting a strong pace through the opening laps. However, the momentum shifted following a lap nine restart when Czarneski, running the top of the 3/8-mile oval without fear, powered around Berg on the outside to claim the top spot. Once in command, Czarneski showcased both speed and composure. Even a pair of late-race cautions couldn’t rattle him, as he executed flawless restarts to pull away from the field and seal the deal on a milestone victory in a field chalk full of stout competition from all around the [Read More]

Berkeley wins first career Winter Nationals feature in Stock Car action

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions) Casa Grande, Arizona (January 15, 2025)—Chase Berkeley surged to the front of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, leading all twenty laps to secure his first career victory at the IMCA TV Winter Nationals presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports at Central Arizona Raceway. The 2023 Winter Nationals champion faced several challenges throughout the race but ultimately fended off the advances of young Texan Cameron Starry. Despite the pressure, Berkeley maintained a consistent pace from start to finish. Starry attempted a few bold moves in the closing laps, but the leader, hailing from Colville, Washington, successfully held him off to clinch this significant win in EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region action. Starry finished as the runner-up, while Iowa’s Mike Albertsen completed the podium in third place. The event also featured competitors in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Victories in those categories went to Dylan Thornton, Dustin White, Dillon Richards, and Dillon [Read More]

Wilwood Racing Renews Sponsorship of IMCA Racing

CAMARILLO, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2025) – Wilwood Racing continues its longstanding commitment to grassroots motorsports, announcing the renewal of its sponsorship with IMCA for the 2025 season. The Camarillo, California based manufacturer of high-performance brake systems has been a trusted partner of IMCA since 2010. Wilwood Racing will again serve as an official sponsor, providing contingency awards to drivers competing in IMCA Modified, Late Model, Stock Car, Northern SportMod, and Southern SportMod divisions. “Much like IMCA, Wilwood Racing believes in the value of ensuring the continued growth of “grass roots” racing. Wilwood strives to not only produce the best quality high-performance brake components but also keeping costs down and offering more affordable product options for race teams across all divisions.” Jim “Spike” Logue, Sales/Customer Service National champions in each supported division will receive contingencies as well as the 2nd -5th place finishers according to IMCA national point standings. Racers are encouraged to place the Wilwood decals on their cars and submit pictures to the contingency form on the IMCA website. “Wilwood Racing has been a valuable partner for over [Read More]

Jake Smith Holds On to Earn SportMod Glory at Winter Nationals

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions) Casa Grande, Arizona (January 11, 2025)—A packed crowd at Central Arizona Speedway was thrilled by an incredible Friesen Performance IMCA SportMod feature where Jake Smith fended off fierce competitors to claim victory during the fourth round of the 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports. This win marked Smith’s first triumph during the Winter Nationals, and he faced a challenging path to victory lane. The twenty-lap finale began with North Dakota’s Gabe Deschamp surging to the front from the initial start. Deschamp set a steady pace, but as the race continued, the top three competitors began to cluster together around the midway point. Smith and Taylor Kuehl were the two contenders trying to catch the leader. On lap fourteen, the man from St. Joseph, Minnesota, Smith, executed a brilliant double overtake, diving under Kuehl and Deschamp to take control of the top position. Kuehl managed to pass Deschamp and entered second place, putting pressure on Smith from the high [Read More]

Thompson Outduels Richards to Win Night Three of Winter Nationals

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions) Casa Grande, Arizona (January 10, 2025)—The third event of the 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals, presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports, had an exciting race in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, showcasing once again the “Dillon & Dillon Show.” In the end, Dillon Thompson emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish. The twenty-lap race began with Thompson leading, closely followed by Dillon Richards in second place. The non-stop feature saw the top two drivers pull away from the rest of the field, racing around the track bumper-to-bumper at time. As the race approached its final five laps, lapped traffic became a critical factor. Tension escalated when Richards pulled out of line and dove under Thompson as they approached the white flag. The two drivers found themselves neck and neck, racing three-wide with a lapped car in the mix as they crossed the finish line, only to have one more lap to battle it out. Thompson gave it his all on the final lap to maintain his lead and [Read More]

Heinrich Captures Stock Car Winter Nationals Glory with Last Lap Pass

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions) Casa Grande, Arizona (January 9, 2025) — Todd Heinrich brought the Central Arizona Raceway crowd to its feet by winning the race to the finish line in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature during the second night of the IMCA TV Winter Nationals presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports. The veteran driver from Fargo, North Dakota, who started in third position, earned his first career Winter Nationals feature victory. The 25-lap contest kicked off with Heinrich outpacing Gary Pesicka to lead the initial lap. From there, the two drivers engaged in a thrilling cat-and-mouse battle on the 3/8-mile clay oval. Pesicka’s patience paid off when he finally passed Heinrich on the eleventh lap. However, Heinrich refused to let him pull away and regained the lead with ten laps remaining. Not to be outdone, Pesicka reclaimed the lead once again on lap seventeen. The climactic moment came when Heinrich powered up beside Pesicka, with the two drag racing down the back stretch on the final lap. The outcome [Read More]

Stock Cars join Modifieds, SportMods when Harris Clash returns to Boone June 24, 2025

BOONE, Iowa (Dec. 20, 2024) – Event promoter Bob Harris had a very early Christmas present for IMCA drivers already looking ahead to the 2025 Harris Clash. The 34th annual Clash will move to Boone Speedway, with the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods joined for the first time by IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars on Tuesday, June 24 at Iowa’s Action Track. The Clash was held once previously at Boone, in 1994. IMCA’s longest-running one-day special had been held at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., since 2018. “Deer Creek has been awesome. I love the facility, and I love the people up there, however their fans the last couple years have not supported an IMCA race,” explained Harris. “It’s just a situation where I looked at moving it back to Iowa and wanted a central location.” “I had quite a few people from different tracks contact me about it. I wanted to get back to a good facility that is run well, and both centrally located and easy to get to. [Read More]

Entries already top 200 for IMCA Winter Nationals

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Dec. 17, 2024) – As the online promotions state, Winter Is Coming and Central Arizona Raceway is the place for IMCA drivers in six divisions to be in January. The Casa Grande oval hosts the fifth annual Winter Nationals, sponsored by Pitt Stop Motorsports and broadcast by IMCA.TV, Jan. 8-11 and 15-18. “We have well over 200 entries, from 20-plus states and three Canadian provinces, already and I expect the total car count to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 to 260,” said promoter Brad Whitfield. “This will be the first Winter Nationals held at Casa Grande, we’ve made a lot of improvements here and we’re looking forward to see the fruits of our labor flourish.” Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational or B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying berths each night while Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods run for $1,000 to win and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $500 top checks. Winter Nationals champions in those divisions receive fire [Read More]

IMCA.TV bonuses top milestone $100,000 mark

VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 17, 2024) – Christmas came early for IMCA drivers in the form of IMCA.TV bonus checks totaling more than $105,000. That total was generated by replays of weekly and special events at 59 tracks broadcast by IMCA.TV or its affiliates during the 2024 race season, then distributed to drivers finishing in top three in point standings in each sanctioned division at those facilities. Modified, Late Model, RaceSaver Sprint Car and Stock Car drivers finishing in the top three in point standings at those tracks receive checks for $255, $205 and $150; Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod checks are distributed in the amounts of $155, $120 and $115; and Hobby Stock, STARS Mod Lite and Sport Compact checks are in the amounts of $130, $100 and $85. “A percentage of subscription fees paid by replay viewers is paid to IMCA tracks and ultimately to top three drivers in sanctioned divisions,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “Developed by our streaming platform provider Riivet four years ago, this bonus program was the first of its [Read More]

Hibdon dominates finale for IMCA Modifieds at Showdown

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 24, 2024) – In a year chock full of notable wins, Kollin Hibdon decided to add another marquee event to that list. The Pahrump, Nev., transplant, now calling Fargo, N.D., his residence, led the entire $3,000 to win finale for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale at Central Arizona Raceway’s Showdown presented by Toste Construction. Unlike the previous two nights, several restarts played a pivotal role in the race. They proved to be a relief for the leader as he could catch his breath during the cautions. On one occasion, Hibdon faced heavy congestion from lapped traffic when he approached the tail end of the lead lap field around the halfway mark, but the caution came out before he risked any chance of giving up any of his already established advantage to the next car in line. Two-time defending national champion Chaz Baca held onto second while North Dakota veteran Shawn Strand crossed the line in third. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA [Read More]