Southern SportMod Archives

Herring tops IMCA Modified Ice Breaker feature for first-ever Abilene win

ABILENE, Texas (Feb. 16, 2024) – Toby Herring used to come to Abilene Speedway hoping to make the show. On Friday night, the veteran from Hobbs, N.M., was the show. Herring led all 20 laps of the Ice Breaker feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, getting the jump on Tyler Iverson to get the lead at the start and getting the best of up and coming Kade Ogle in what proved to be a hotly contested last time around the oval. “I had never won a race here. I had never won a race of any kind, heat or feature at Abilene so this is huge,” said Herring, $1,000 richer and newly eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “The best I’ve done was third at the Southern Challenge so this feels pretty good.” Ogle, 14th starting William Gould, Iverson and Tim Hamilton completed the top five in the headlined event of the 30th annual season opener at Abilene. “I knew Tyler would get a good jump,” Herring said. “We held our own on the bottom and after [Read More]

IMCA.TV adds bonuses for Abilene’s 30th annual Ice Breaker

ABILENE, Texas (Feb. 14, 2024) – Winning a feature at Abilene Speedway’s season-opening Ice Breaker has been the perfect way for IMCA drivers to start their season each of the last 29 years. This weekend, they’ll chase something extra in their pay envelope. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $750 to win and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods for $600 to win each night of the Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16-17 Ice Breaker. IMCA.TV bonuses – $1,000 for the Modifieds, $750 for the Stock Cars and $600 for the Southern SportMods – will be paid to drivers who can win both nights in their respective divisions. “We wanted to do something special for the Ice Breaker, this year being the 30th annual event,” explained promoter Rob Poor. “Presenting sponsor IMCA.TV is stepping up with bonuses and the forecast for the weekend calls for no precipitation, which is great news.” Modified features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifiers while Stock Car features are B & B Racing Chassis [Read More]

Abilene hosts 30th annual IMCA.TV Ice Breaker Feb. 16-17

ABILENE, Texas (Jan. 26, 2024) – Rob Poor was racing a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified in the early days of Ice Breaker at Abilene Speedway. He’ll promote the 30th annual event, one of the longest continuously running specials in the GRT Race Cars South Central Region and in all of IMCA, Feb. 16 and 17. Modifieds run for $1,000 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $750, Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods for $600 both nights. IMCA.TV 30th anniversary bonuses – $1,000 for the Modifieds, $750 for the Stock Cars and $600 for the Southern SportMods – will be paid to drivers who can win both nights in their respective divisions. “We had some good runs at the Ice Breaker but we never won it,” recalled Poor, starting his 23rd year in charge at Abilene. “This was one of the earliest specials of the season so there were always a lot of good cars here, from across the region and from a lot of the country.” Modified winners become Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible while Stock [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Jan. 25, 2024

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 457; 2. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 402; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 378; 4. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 331; 5. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 326; 6. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 301; 7. Ethan Braaksma, Des Moines, Iowa, 290; 8. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 273; 9. Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo., 267; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 265; 11. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 257; 12. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, 207; 13. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., and Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., both 206; 15. Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., 197; 16. Greg Gustus, Hudson, Colo., 183; 17. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 182; 18. Chris Morris, Thorndale, Texas, and Matt Crafton, Mooresville, N.C., both 179; 20. Austin Rognlin, Olympia, Wash., 175. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Bo Partain, Casa Grande, Ariz., 413; 2. Kevin Roberts, Gresham, Ore., 347; 3. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 328; 4. Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn., 268; 5. Zane DeVilbiss, Farmington, N.M., 262; 6. Justen Yeager, Green River, Wy., 257; 7. Chase [Read More]

IMCA clarifies 2024 carburetor, spring rules

VINTON, Iowa (Jan. 25, 2024) – IMCA has announced clarifications to carburetor rules for three divisions, and to spring rules for five classes effective in 2024. Carburetor rule no. 17 for the Stock Cars, Northern SportMods and Southern SportMods now states that part number 0-4412 or 0-4412SA would be allowed in sanctioned competition this season. The 0-4412 is the same 500CFM carburetor we have allowed for years including the Dorton version. The 0-4412SA is the shiny aluminum version. “We had several questions from drivers about the way that rule was worded, with a comma instead of the word ‘or,’” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “Either version of that carburetor is legal. They will pass our gauges in tech inspection and are allowed in their unaltered form.” And the word non-tapered was added to spring rules for Modifieds, Stock Cars, both SportMod divisions and Hobby Stocks. Non-tapered springs means conical, beehive, barrel, pig tail, etc., springs are not legal. “We’d also received questions from racers about how we interpret that rule and that led us to believe we needed to add ‘non-tapered’ [Read More]

IMCA regional title sponsor season rates a 10 for EngineQuest

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Jan. 23, 2024) – With another sponsorship milestone around the next turn, EngineQuest renews its title sponsorship support of IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for a 10th consecutive season. The Las Vegas, Nev., cylinder head and engine component manufacturer backs both Northern and Southern regions for The Class Too Tough To Tame in 2024, providing a portion of $4,000 point funds to be paid in each. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod drivers will also receive awards from the 19-year sponsor. EQ decal placement is required in all four divisions. “From the very beginning of our relationship between IMCA and EngineQuest, it has been extremely important to reward the drivers who believe in the EngineQuest brand to get them to the checkered flag,” said EngineQuest President Scott Stolberg. EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region tracks are located in eastern Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region tracks are in Arizona, Arkansas, California, western Colorado, [Read More]

$100,000 in contingencies awarded to IMCA drivers in 2023

VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 21, 2023) – Their on-track accomplishments earned IMCA drivers some $100,000 worth of contingency awards in 2023. “The combination of sign-up programs, and programs with individual and unique requirements continue to benefit IMCA drivers at a record pace,” noted IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “I strongly encourage award recipients to take advantage of these programs, and to continue their support of the businesses that support IMCA.” Awards were presented at the IMCA national banquet or mailed earlier in December from the IMCA home office. The following contingency awards were not necessarily determined by actual regional finish, but by either driver sign-up sheets or other unique requirements. All awards are product certificates or product unless otherwise noted. Any questions about contingency programs or awards can be directed to Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm at cbgramm@imca.com. Aero Race Wheels $25 to each Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod, Southern SportMod, Mod Lite and Sport Compact state champion. AFCO GM frame replacement kits to Modified national champion Chaz Baca and [Read More]

Chevrolet Performance bonuses are record $54,750 for IMCA crate engine track champions

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 29, 2023) – Chevrolet Performance bonuses added up to a record $54,750 for IMCA drivers who won one or more track championships while competing exclusively with crate engines this season. Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Late Model, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod drivers who indicated on their 2023 license application they would run a crate engine receive $250 checks for each of a total of 219 track championships. “Those numbers are impressive,” observed IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm,” but what really stands out is that since the introduction of the original track championship bonus program in 2005, Chevrolet Performance has now paid over half a million dollars to IMCA drivers competing with crate engines and winning track titles.” “This program is a great way that Chevrolet Performance is able to support drivers across the country.” Modified drivers receiving bonuses for winning one or more track championships, with multiple track titles indicated in parenthesis, while competing with a crate [Read More]

Drivers at 57 tracks earn IMCA.TV replay bonuses adding up to $97,645

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 28, 2023) – IMCA drivers won’t have to wait ‘til Christmas morning to open envelopes containing IMCA.TV bonus checks. A total of 705 drivers in the nine divisions sanctioned by IMCA earned shares $97,645 generated by replays of weekly and special events at 57 tracks broadcast by IMCA.TV or its affiliates. Modified, Late Model, RaceSaver Sprint Car and Stock Car drivers finishing in the top three in point standings at those tracks receive checks for $240, $160 and $135; Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod checks are distributed in the amounts of $140, $115 and $100, and Hobby Stock, STARS Mod Lite and Sport Compact checks are in the amounts of $115, $85 and $70. Those checks are being mailed this week from the IMCA home office. “This bonus program is the first of its kind and was developed by our streaming platform provider Riivet in 2021,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “A percentage of subscription fees paid by replay viewers is paid to tracks and to top three drivers in sanctioned divisions.” “Almost $28,000 was paid to nearly [Read More]

Opportunity knocks, Spalding answers with run to IMCA Southern SportMod rookie title

ANDREWS, Texas (Nov. 16, 2023) – Opportunity knocked this season for Cutter Spalding, in the form of a Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod. The 18-year-old from Andrews, Texas, was quick to make the transition from a local street stock class, racing to three feature wins and the national rookie of the year award in the sanctioned division. “Man, these cars are open wheel, they’re fast and they’re such a competitive class,” said Spalding. “Matt Mueller, who is a family friend and who I grew up watching race, called after last season and asked if I wanted to race his hot rod this season. I wasn’t expecting an opportunity like that.” “Of course I said yes.” Spalding made for than half of his 2023 starts at Abilene Speedway, where his first IMCA win came on April 1. He’d end the season third in points at Abilene, fourth in the All Star Shootout standings and seventh nationally. “It was really cool to get my first win there. Some of the best Southern SportMod drivers around, guys [Read More]