Southern SportMod Archives

Day Dials Up Late-Race Pass for IMCA Modified Victory at Kennedale

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (Mar. 22, 2025) — Matthew Day struck pay dirt at Kennedale Speedway Park, winning the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature after a thrilling late-race battle. The 2021 National IMCA Southern SportMod champion surged to the lead in the closing laps to collect his first victory of the 2025 campaign in the division’s first appearance at the ¼-mile oval. The 20-lap main event began with 2013 IMCA National Modified champion William Gould setting the pace. He held steady through two early cautions, but things changed quickly after a lap-nine restart. Jake Upchurch, a three-time KSP IMCA SportMod track champion, used the high side to rocket from fifth to second and began challenging Gould. Just as the action intensified, the 21-year-old Day entered the fray by hugging the low line. He worked his way into second, then mounted a charge on the leader. Day made the decisive move on lap 15, slipping under Gould for the lead. Gould fought back the next lap, but Day countered down the backstretch to reclaim the top [Read More]

Ramey Scores First Career Win at Heart O’ Texas’ Gene Adamcik Memorial

By Ben Deatherage ELM MOTT, Texas (Mar. 21, 2025) — Dylan Ramey captured his first-ever RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car main event win Friday night at Heart O’Texas Speedway during the Gene Adamcik Memorial. The 22-year-old Fort Worth native was both emotional and elated in victory lane after achieving the milestone victory. Starting from the front row, Ramey held off defending track champion Claud Estes III at the drop of the green. As Estes battled Jeb Sessums for second, Ramey built a solid lead — one that vanished in lapped traffic by lap 6, allowing both challengers to close in. Sessums, wheeling the Taco Casa Racing entry, made a bold three-wide move on the leaders in turn three, but a caution negated the pass, allowing Ramey to keep the top spot. On the restart, Estes and Sessums resumed their fight for second while Ramey pulled away again. Estes’ night ended on lap 14 after contact with a lapped car, giving Sessums clear track ahead. Despite a final restart, Ramey stayed composed. Sessums made a late push, but [Read More]

Abilene Race Rads continues in their 6th year as an IMCA sponsor

ABILENE, Texas (Mar. 24, 2025) – In their sixth season as an IMCA special event sponsor, Abilene Race Rads has increased their certificate value while also providing Super Nationals product awards. A combination of special events and series are on the schedule to receive $75 certificates in the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Southern SportMods and IMCA Northern SportMods. In addition, the Modified champion at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s receives a single pass racing radiator and Stock Car, Hobby Stock and Northern SportMod champions all get Super Sucker 4-blade fans. Abilene Race Rads owner Kyle Wisdom is a long time IMCA competitor, and has been competing at the Super Nationals for the last few years. Information about all Abilene Race Rads high performance products is available by calling 800 588-2673 or 325 665-4091, at abileneracerads.com and on Facebook. “Kyle is great to work with both on and off the track,” commented IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “Thanks to Kyle and the crew at Abilene Race Rads, IMCA drivers will continue to be rewarded [Read More]

MSD celebrates 22 years of IMCA sponsorship

EL PASO, Texas (Mar. 21, 2025) – Over 2 decades of IMCA sponsorship, MSD returns to support weekly racing and Super Nationals drivers. A brand of the Holley family of companies, MSD will continue product certificate awards based on regional standings for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. The top performers in national points for the IMCA Late Models, RaceSaver Sprint Cars, Northern SportMods and Southern SportMods will also receive awards from MSD. MSD also returns to the decal program for Stock Cars and drivers in that division are required to display two MSD decals on their race cars. The top three finishers in the “Big Dance” for Modifieds, Late Models, Stock Cars and Northern SportMods at the biggest IMCA event of the year, the IMCA Super Nationals, will be rewarded with product in victory lane. Information about MSD products is available at https://www.holley.com/brands/msd/, by phone at 866 464-6553 and on Facebook. “MSD products can be found throughout the pit area on any given night,” said IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson [Read More]

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]

Wilkins Wins Jack Bagby Memorial SportMod Main at HOT

By Ben Deatherage ELM MOTT, Texas (Mar. 7, 2025) — Kyle Wilkins dominated the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods feature at Heart O’ Texas Speedway, securing the victory on the opening night of the Jack Bagby Memorial. The race was highly competitive with lots of jockeying of position throughout the field. Jeff Bauser Jr. initially took the lead following a battle for the top spot. Wilkins, from the town of Italy quickly began applying pressure but struggled to find a clear path. On lap 3, the automobilista threaded the needle to take the lead, but a red flag for a flipped car negated the pass, restoring Bauser to the top spot. When racing resumed, Wilkins was relentless. He finally powered past Bauser on lap 9 after a drag race to the line. Despite four more cautions and a gradually deflating left front tire, Wilkins held strong to capture his first win of 2025. The battle for second was tightly contested in the final laps, with 2022 National Southern SportMod Rookie of the Year Trevor Cogburn edging out [Read More]

Cogburn Battles to Victory Before Capacity Crowd at Kennedale

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (Mar. 15, 2025) — 19-year-old Trevor Cogburn capped off the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod main event with a statement victory in front of one of the largest crowds in Kennedale Speedway Park history. The Robinson teenager faced multiple challenges but held firm against all contenders. The feature saw an intense battle between Cogburn and Tyler Russell, with the two drivers trading positions in a side-by-side duel. Russell eventually gained the advantage, but Cogburn, the 2022 National Southern SportMod Rookie of the Year, fought back and reclaimed the lead on lap 6. Just as their battle reached its peak, a caution reset the field. On the restart, Cogburn pulled away, but four-time and defending KSP SportMod champion and three-time defending Texas State title winner Jerrett Bransom moved past Russell into second. Bransom quickly closed in on Cogburn, setting the stage for a showdown. However, another caution interrupted the action before that battle could unfold. Despite multiple stoppages, including a tense green-white-checkered finish, Cogburn remained composed and fended off Bransom to [Read More]

Stewart Wins SportMod Thriller at Cotton Bowl

By Ben Deatherage PAIGE, Texas (Mar. 15, 2025) — In a nail-biting showdown, Heath Stewart held off a relentless charge from two-time and defending track champion Brandon Geurin to clinch the Smiley’s IMCA Southern SportMod opener at Cotton Bowl Speedway. The battle came down to the final lap, with Stewart edging out Geurin at the line to claim his first win of 2025. The 20-lap feature began with the 2023 track title winner, Stewart, blasting into the lead and quickly building a sizable advantage. As early as lap 4, lapped traffic came into play, but Stewart sliced through the congestion with precision. A caution with 8 laps remaining bunched the field back up, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. On the Delaware double-file restart, Geurin and Trent Beaver pounced, turning the race for the lead into a three-wide brawl. Stewart somehow held his ground, but Geurin wasn’t done yet. With just two laps remaining, Geurin dove to the bottom, pulling alongside Stewart and making it a drag race to the white flag as the two [Read More]

Taylor Triumphs in Southern Oklahoma Speedway Modified Opener

By Ben Deatherage ARDMORE, Okla. (Mar. 15, 2025) — Jeff Taylor outdueled William Gould to win the first Friesen Performance IMCA Modified race of 2025 at Southern Oklahoma Speedway. The 2012 IMCA Super Nationals champion fended off the six-time and defending South Central Region titleholder in a thrilling 20-lap main event at the 3/8-mile oval. Chris Webb led early, but Kyle Robinson quickly took over on lap 2. By lap 6, Gould charged to the front, only to have a caution negate his pass. On the restart, Taylor surged past Robinson in turn three to claim the top spot. As the race unfolded, Taylor built a comfortable lead while Gould and Robinson battled for second. Lapped traffic allowed Gould to close in, but Taylor expertly navigated through the slower cars to stay ahead. A caution with two laps to go set up a dramatic finish. Gould made two valiant attempts to pass — diving low in the first set of corners and again in the final turns — but Taylor held firm to claim his first [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.”