Feature Archives

From the Navy to the Racetrack: Thomas Soper’s Inspiring Journey

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions) San Diego, CALIFORNIA (Jan. 27, 2025) — Thomas Soper, a fourteen-year member of the United States Navy, has a story that intertwines dedication, resilience, and a passion for racing. Originally from Grand Junction, Colorado, relocation was not uncommon during his formative years, growing up with a father employed in the oilfield industry. However, it was in Eunice, New Mexico, at the Cardinal Motor Speedway, where Soper first cultivated his love for racing, inspired by his father’s own pursuits on the track. Currently stationed in San Diego, California, Soper competes regularly in the IMCA Northern SportMods at Barona Speedway Park. Despite his busy schedule as a machinist mate, coupled with work commitments during Christmas and New Years, Soper carved out time to participate in week two of the IMCA TV Winter Nationals at Central Arizona Raceway, an embodiment of the unofficial slogan of the U.S. Navy, Non sibi sed patriae, “not for self but for country”. “The Navy has been generous enough to allow me to go out and race, [Read More]

Morris Storms To Victory In Exciting Early Thaw Modified Main Event

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of AOM Creative) Casa Grande, ARIZONA (January 24, 2025) — Troy Morris III delivered a thrilling performance on the second night of the Ernie Mincy Memorial Early Thaw series at Central Arizona Raceway, capturing the Friday night IMCA Modified main event with a daring late-race pass. Starting from sixth, the Bakersfield, California driver made his move in heavy lapped traffic with just two laps remaining, completing an impressive sweep around the outside to secure his first Western Region victory of the 2025 season and his second career Early Thaw triumph. The twenty-lap race began with a fierce three-car battle for the lead, with Montana’s Tate Johnson taking control early. Johnson set a brisk pace, but as lapped traffic came into play, Wyoming’s Bryson Yeager capitalized, diving to the inside on lap twelve to take the lead. Yeager appeared poised to claim the win, but Morris charged through the field, overtaking Johnson for second before setting his sights on the leader. With a bold move in traffic, Morris surged to the front [Read More]

Baca Dominates IMCA Modified Opener at Ernie Mincy Memorial Early Thaw

Casa Grande, ARIZONA (January 23, 2025) — Chaz Baca Jr. added another victory to his already amazing 2025 season, dominating the IMCA Modified main event on the opening night of the Ernie Mincy Memorial Early Thaw at Central Arizona Raceway. The two-time defending IMCA National champion and reigning Western Region, Arizona State, and Central Arizona Raceway titleholder led all twenty laps in a commanding performance. Baca, hailing from Mesa, seized the lead from the drop of the green flag and worked to build a comfortable margin. His efforts were briefly challenged as California racers Jerry Flippo and Troy Morris III gave chase. The race took an intense turn midway through as the leaders encountered heavy lapped traffic. A blown engine from a slower car nearly caused a collision with the leader, bringing out a caution with five laps remaining. Under yellow, Flippo retired, moving Morris into second and placing Tom Berry Jr., piloting the Mike Wedelstedt entry, into third. On the final restart, Baca executed flawlessly, running the high side of the track to secure his [Read More]

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]

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]

Silber Scores Opening Night Victory at Winter Nationals

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions) Casa Grande, Arizona (January 8, 2025) — 17-year-old Luke Silber achieved a significant upset in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at the IMCA.TV Winter Nationals presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports at Central Arizona Raceway. The Laveen driver took command of the lead at the initial start after a brief battle with the defending Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals champion Dylan Thornton. The race was a non-stop affair, with the outside polesitter quickly building a substantial lead. However, he faced a setback when he went over the cushion in turn four, making contact with the wall midway through the race. Fortunately, this misstep did not slow his pace, and he successfully navigated the slower traffic, ultimately securing his first-ever Winter Nationals feature win. Defending National and Shaw Race Cars Western Region titleholder Chaz Baca Jr. rallied to finish in second place, overtaking Thornton late in the 25-lap main event. The event also featured four additional Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly racing divisions: Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Friesen Performance [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]