Northern SportMod Archives

Foulger, Shrader pace Pettit Shootout on opening night

By Ben Deatherage WATSONVILLE, California (Sept. 27, 2024) – Troy Foulger got the job done on the first night of the Pettit Shootout at Ocean Speedway in exciting fashion in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified division. The defending Shootout winner got the lead late in the race, after a three-car dogfight, to score the $1,003 win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. The race started thrillingly when Robby Sawyer rocketed under Paul Stone and Gavyn Manning, made it three-wide going into the first turn, and led the opening lap. After two early cautions, Manning got around Stone to move into second. But the two kept battling, which allowed Sawyer to pull away. Sawyer got out to a really good lead a couple of times, but frustratingly, all of his hard work would be erased due to a few more stoppages, which not only reset the race but also tested Sawyer’s ability to maintain his lead under pressure. On the final restart, with 14 laps to still cover, Foulger started 11th, battled hard with Stone [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]

Foulger doubles up an Antioch

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2024) – Troy Foulger won both the 20 lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main events Saturday at Antioch Speedway. The championship night format put point Kellen Chadwick on the pole of the Modified race and he bolted into the lead ahead of Foulger and Jacob Mallet Jr. Andrew Pearce spun on lap two, collecting Tyler Browne. Chadwick continued to lead Mallet and Foulger on the restart, and an intense battle ensued. A low pass in turn three of the eighth lap briefly gained Mallet the lead, but Chadwick came rushing by on the outside down the back stretch a lap later. A three-wide battle on lap 10 saw Foulger make an inside pass for second, but Mallet went inside on the front stretch on lap 11 to get by both Chadwick and Foulger. A high pass on lap 12 gained Foulger the lead from Mallet. Foulger would lead the remaining laps for the impressive victory, followed by Mallet, new track champion Chadwick, Katelynn [Read More]

Mallicoat speeds to topless win at Interstate

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON, S.D. (Sept. 22, 2024) – The topless Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale was a thrilling spectacle Sunday at Interstate Speedway, culminating in an exciting green, white, checkered finish. Izac Mallicoat’s daring fighter pilot moves from the top shelf to secure the lead and the win added an extra dose of excitement to the race. The race kicked off with Bob Fleshman taking an early lead, only to be overtaken by Jason Schneiders on the next lap. As Schneiders battled to maintain his lead against Jace Whitt, Chris Abelson entered the fray, intensifying the competition. Abelson’s incredible double overtake pass in turn three was a display of skill and strategy. It was a moment that left the audience in awe of his racing prowess. As the race progressed, Mallicoat steadily closed the gap with Abelson, but it seemed he might run out of time. However, the game changed when a caution was raised with only two laps remaining, giving Mallicoat the opportunity he needed to make his move. Just when it seemed [Read More]

Patterson prevails in photo finish at Southern Oregon

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (Sept. 21, 2024) – The 2024 season championship at Southern Oregon Speedway came down to the last lap in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Carter Patterson beat title contender Ray Kniffen Jr. to the checkered flag by 0.043 seconds. The 17-year-old Lebanon driver now has two wins this season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Albert Gill started the main event off as the leader. Setting a quick pace, he unfortunately experienced issues that forced him to pull in the infield on lap eight. That transformed a three-car race for second into a contest for the lead, with Patterson picking up the position. The race for the runner-up spot ended up being a battle for the championship between Kniffen and Kenny Boardman Jr. Kniffen would secure second with six to go and reeled in the leader with a couple of circuits left to cover. Patterson and Kniffen would go side-by-side in the final two laps, with neither driver letting the other gain the upper hand. The defending [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]

Points powers to Saturday win at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (Sept. 21, 2024) – After taking the lead in the first handful of laps, Salem sensation Trevor Points was victorious in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Willamette Speedway. It is the eighth time the 20-year-old has won in 2024, but the first time he’s done so at the Lebanon 1/3-mile clay oval. The main event began with Michael Lavery and Don Moore fighting it out for the lead. Moore won the race to the line but fell immediately under pressure from Nate Turnidge. Just as Turnidge seemed to be in a position to take over the top spot, a caution came out. Points strategically maneuvered into second on the restart and began to close the gap with Moore. Utilizing the inside line on the backstretch, Points made a brilliant move to seize control in turn three on the fourth circuit. The race would stay incident-free, allowing the new leader to assert his dominance with a significant lead. Even the race’s final yellow flag on lap 18 couldn’t [Read More]

McKellar wins battle at Bakersfield

By Ben Deatherage BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2024) – In a display of sheer determination, Chris McKellar, starting from the ninth position, clinched a thrilling victory on the last corner of the last lap in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Bakersfield Speedway. After a relentless chase throughout the main event, the hometown driver, with unwavering faith in the high side, overtook the race leader to secure his first win of the season. Markus Frazier was the dominant force for much of the race, skillfully fending off occasional challenges and striving to widen the gap from the rest of the pack. The race took a dramatic turn when the final caution was displayed, setting the stage for a thrilling four-lap shootout. As the race neared its end, McKellar maintained a steady pace at the top of the track, while Adam Baker fiercely battled on the bottom for second place. The outcome seemed set until McKellar summoned his last burst of energy for a dramatic overtake for the lead on the final lap. Frazier [Read More]

Hearty wins two races on emotional Saturday night at Shelby County

HARLAN, Iowa (Sept. 21, 2024) – Jack Hearty won two races on Saturday night at Shelby County Speedway. The first was just to get his IMCA Sunoco Late Model on the track. The second was to win the Tiny Lund Memorial and Brandon Saltzman Showdown main event. Hearty, just 22 and from Omaha, won his career-first IMCA Late Model feature and $3,098 on a night dedicated to both the hometown hero and 1963 Daytona 500 champion and to the late 2021 track champion. “There have been a couple races where I’ve led late and had a tire blow out, or lost the lead after a late caution,” said Hearty, who got up at sunrise Sunday, walked from his camper and sat at the track, letting everything from the night before set in. “We had a caution with four to go and I knew Cory Dumpert was right behind me. I just told myself ‘Let’s go do what we know we can’ and it all worked out.” Dumpert, the five-time defending national champion, and Sterling Perkins [Read More]