Feature Archives

Thornton dominates Arizona Speedway’s John Morris Classic

APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. (May 23-24) – After extending his win streak at Arizona Speedway to five, Ricky Thornton Jr. made a beeline to the bank to deposit a pair of $1,000 checks. Thornton rocketed from mid-pack to win both nights of the third annual John Morris Classic special for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds at Apache Junction. The victories were the 15th and 16th in just 25 starts this season for the national championship hopeful. Current national and Larry Shaw Racing Western Region point leader Brian Schultz also started deep in the field and ran second each night. Thornton started 15th on opening night, passed Don Earven with three laps left and pulled away to win by four car lengths following a restart with two to go. Eric Center, two days shy of celebrating his 52nd birthday, was third. John Morris Jr. was fourth in the memorial event held for his father and Chaz Baca Jr. was fifth. Picking the middle line paid off on night two for Thornton, who took the initial green from 12th [Read More]

Location is perfect for 100th IMCA Modified win by Cordes

DUNKERTON, Iowa (May 23) – While he’d preferred to have done so sooner, Troy Cordes couldn’t have picked a better track to win his career 100th IMCA Modified feature at. Cordes ended an uncharacteristic three-week absence from victory lane with a more typical run to the checkers from the 10th starting spot in Saturday’s IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified field at Independence Motor Speedway. Indee is the same track where the Dunkerton driver first won in an IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock in 1994 and in a sanctioned Modified in 1996. “I was glad I was able to get my 100th at Independence because that’s where I won for the first time. We raced back then because we just liked doing it and we still do,” said Cordes. “Everyone had been asking me when I was going to get my 100th. I wasn’t even sure how long it had been since the last time we won.” “We’ve been struggling some and the rainouts haven’t helped,” he continued, “but the car was phenomenal and we finally got it done.” He [Read More]

IMCA Late Model veterans chase $500 bonuses at Marshalltown Deery

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (May 27) – Veterans of the IMCA Late Model division are in the running for a pair of $500 bonuses when Marshalltown Speedway hosts the Deery Brothers Summer Series on Tuesday, June 2. The Miller Lite 50 tour event pays $3,000 to win and a minimum of $300 to start. Former promoter Steve Priske, now the owner of Rumour’s Bar & Grill in Marshalltown, will also pay a $500 bonus to the highest finishing Late Model driver who competed at Marshalltown between 1985 and 1990, plus another $500 bonus if that driver can win the main event. Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls, a seven-time tour champion, took home both bonuses from the Deery feature held last year, during the track’s 50th anniversary season. The first of 23 Deery Series events at Marshalltown was held in 1987. The division was sanctioned there weekly from 1987 through 1990. Deery drivers with roots in the 1985-1990 Late Model era at Marshalltown have enjoyed their share of success there: Curt Martin of Independence has won five local Deery [Read More]

Schauer collects first North Star checkers at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 23) – Matt Schauer’s 14th career series start ended with his first North Star Tour victory Saturday at Arlington Raceway. Schauer topped the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car headliner, beating Brent Uecker and Brent Reierson across the stripe. After starting third, Schauer had the lead going down the backstretch and stayed in front until midway through the 15-lapper. After getting out of his groove, Schauer fell back to fourth. He rallied, driving between Uecker and Ken Tietz to take the lead back for good on lap 10. The win was his first in seven starts this season, and first since the 2013 campaign. Curt Lund made his first local appearance for the season, drew the pole and pulled away from the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified pack, winning ahead of Aaron Krohn and Mat Hollerich. Two-time Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod defending champion Matthew Looft landed his division-leading seventh career checkers. Runner-up was Justin Remus and Jared Boumeester took third. Jamie Songer’s road trip ended in victory lane, as he took the IMCA Sunoco [Read More]

Reisdorfer, Lonneman score first North Star Tour wins at Murray County

SLAYTON, Minn. (May 22) – Hometown heroes David Reisdorfer and Chad Lonneman had them dancing in the streets Friday night in Adrian. Both drivers won for the first time in their respective careers when the IMCA North Star Tour opened at Murray County Speedway. Reisdorfer started from the pole and led the distance in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Dan Mackenthun tried to stay close but had to settle for second. Levi Feltman was third. Lonneman also drew the inside row one start. He outran Matt Hanson and John Ross for the checkers. “It’s kind of neat that we’d both win the same night,” said Lonneman, who pits next to Reisdorfer and noted the number of sanctioned tracks in the area they’d be able to race at this season. “We knew there would be a good group of local cars going there Friday.” Mat Hollerich won his second career IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified tour feature, in front of eighth starting Jeff Ignaszewski and 10th starting Jason Fisher. Jake Simpson scored North Star Series career [Read More]

Cleveland, Crompe top IMCA Modified mains at Santa Maria Spring Nationals

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 23-24) – Duane Cleveland led every lap on Saturday, Christopher Crompe got the lead back on the last lap Sunday and both drivers earned $1,200 for their IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature wins at Santa Maria Raceway’s Budweiser Spring Nationals. Cleveland made the long tow from northern California worth his while, starting from the pole and avoiding a late-race hiccup when a lapped car got sideways just ahead of him. Josh Vogt made up ground as Cleveland ran in traffic but had to settle for second. Roger Holder completed the top three finishers on opening night. Another 25-lapper on Sunday saw Crompe in and out of the lead before the final circuit heroics. Crompe led the first seven laps before giving way to Danny Lauer. He stayed close behind, running the inside line and saving his tires, before regaining the front spot on the white flag lap. “This was my first win at my home track,” the new Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier said. “”This was a big one. [Read More]

Kay becomes first to repeat with Deery checkers at Boone

BOONE, Iowa (May 25) – Justin Kay became the first repeat winner this season in the Deery Brothers Summer Series, on the night Richie Gustin nearly raced to his first IMCA Late Model tour victory. Gustin caught the defending series champ on the white flag lap Monday at Boone Speedway and had the edge as the front pair charged down the backstretch. The yellow flag was thrown for a spun car in the upcoming set of turns, however, and Kay got the front spot back for the restart as the leader of the last scored lap. Jeff Aikey caught Gustin for second but couldn’t challenge Kay, who topped the green, white, checkered finish by two car lengths. The $3,000 win was the series career 11th for Kay, who also banked the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing prize. Tyler Droste and Ray Guss Jr. completed the top five and point leader Andy Nezworski ended in sixth. Scott Fitzpatrick started on the pole and led the first 10 of 40 circuits in the Memorial Day event. [Read More]

Memorial Day Hawkeye Dirt Tour show canceled

MASON CITY, Iowa (May 25) – The Memorial Day IMCA Hawkeye Dirt Tour event at I-35 Speedway has been canceled due to the weekend of wet weather. Up next in the series for touring IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds is the Tuesday, June 9 show at Jackson County Speedway. The Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models is also at Maquoketa that evening.

Sites wins, Fleming is second after early Empire State Series spin at Black Rock

By Steven Ovens DUNDEE, N.Y. (May 22) – With increased pay on the line, Eddie Sites made the most of his run Friday night to pick up the Empire State Series checkers at Black Rock Speedway. The two-time IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified tour champion led the last 11 of 25 circuits in earning $500, plus lap money, and his career seventh series victory. Chris Fleming, another former Empire State Series champion, set the fast pace the first three laps, restarted at the back of the field and charged through the field to finish second. Fleming and rookie Sparky Hills brought the field to the green flag. Fleming led before very uncharacteristically spinning in turn three but heads-up driving allowed the 23-car field to avoid him. Fleming went to the tail of the field and Harry Ely took the lead from Hills on the ensuing restart. Ely led through lap 14 but the man on a mission was Sites. He drove up on Ely, made the pass for the lead on lap 15 and never looked [Read More]

Battle Mountain hosts May 30 Iturriaga Memorial for IMCA Modifieds

BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. – Battle Mountain Raceway hosts its second annual Iturriaga NAPA Memorial special this Saturday, May 30. IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds race for $1,000 to win and a spot on the ballot for the 2015 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Racing Western Region, Allstar Performance State and local track points will be awarded. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. All drivers must check in at the pit window by 7 p.m.; racing follows the 7:15 p.m. drivers’ meeting. Grandstand admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students ages 6-18, and free for kids five and under when accompanying a paying adult or senior. More information is available by calling Angie Gonzales at 775 455-5275 or Jimbob Unger at 775 340-0585.