Feature Archives

Legit Speedway opens Saturday, IMCA Modifieds return to West Plains

WEST PLAINS, Mo. (May 7) – A former track champion is the new owner and promoter at newly re-named Legit Speedway. Gary Stolba completed his purchase of the 3/8-mile dirt facility this spring. IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports headline weekly programs at West Plains beginning this Saturday, May 9. “The track is ready and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the rain stays away,” Stolba said. “We started working on the facility six weeks ago and are putting final touches on concessions and restrooms. We’re also working on getting a new tailgating area finished.” Stolba was a 21-year-old spectator for the first event held at the former West Plains Motor Speedway. He was the Modified track champion there in 2010, the 18th consecutive and most recent year the division was sanctioned by IMCA. “We had 30-35 IMCA Modfieds every night when this track was sanctioned before,” Stolba said. “Cost was the reason why. You have to keep it affordable for everybody. This division fits people who want to go fast but don’t have a wide-open checkbook.” He’s [Read More]

California’s Diamond Mountain Speedway sets 10 dates for IMCA Modifieds

SUSANVILLE, Calif. – IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds return to California’s Diamond Mountain Speedway for nine Saturday dates and another on Friday this season. The ¼-mile dirt oval is located on the Lassen County Fairgrounds and is the newest addition to IMCA’s Larry Shaw Racing Western Region. “There are other tracks in the area that are IMCA sanctioned,” noted Fair Manager Jim Wolcott. “Drivers at those tracks will be able to come here and race for points, too.” Opening night is this Saturday, May 9. Other Saturday shows are scheduled May 23, May 30, June 13, July 4, July 18, Aug. 1, Aug. 22 and season championship night on Sept. 5. The county fair race is July 18; the one Friday event is on June 19. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, Allstar Performance State and local track points will be awarded each night. IMCA track champions were crowned at the former High Desert Speedway in 1995 and 1996. Most recently, Susanville was the site of three sanctioned events in 2013.

Woods returns to Abilene for Sprint Series of Texas feature win

ABILENE, Texas (May 2) – Dustin Woods earned his Sprint Series of Texas career first feature at Abilene Speedway last May. He earned his second when the tour for IMCA Eagle Motorsports RaceSaver Sprint Cars returned Saturday night. Benefitting from changing track conditions and Reagan Reed’s ailing motor late in the contest, Woods finally gained the lead on the last of 20 laps. He’d fallen back a couple spots after starting ninth, then steadily advanced into contention. Two restarts during the last five laps preceded his move to the outside around Reed. “I was able to work the bottom of the track to my favor,” said Woods. “I was looking forward to racing with Reagan for the win but she had motor problems.” Kenny Elwood, Danny Merrell and Rodney Henderson were second through fourth, respectively. Reed, who became the first female driver to win an SST feature last August at 281 Speedway, completed the top five. Woods’ teammate Jason Howell won the previous series event at Boyd on April 3 but had to work and [Read More]

Benton County Speedway hosts May 12 opener for IMCA Hawkeye Dirt Tour

VINTON, Iowa (May 5) – The home track of the IMCA Modified division hosts the first event of the 2015 Hawkeye Dirt Tour next Tuesday, May 12. IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds following the sixth annual series race for $1,000 to win and a minimum of $150 to start the lidlifter at Benton County Speedway. The main event is a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Four previous tour events have been held at Vinton and the winners of each – Vern Jackson of Waterloo (2011), Jeff Waterman of Quincy, Ill., (2012) Cayden Carter of Oskaloosa (2013) and Richie Gustin of Gilman (2014) have confirmed that they’ll return next week. What promises to be a big opening night field will also include every driver to have won local track titles at Benton County Speedway since 2002 as Jackson will be joined by fellow titlists J.D. Auringer of Waterloo, Troy Cordes of Dunkerton, Joe Docekal of Dysart and Scott Hogan of Vinton. Gates open at 5 p.m. Tuesday with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. [Read More]

Kilgore wards off Whitman to win 141’s Red, White and Blue

By Greg Aregoni FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. ((May 2) – Two past champions played a game of cat and mouse in front of a stellar field to figure out who would take home the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified top prize of $1,000 in Saturday’s Gandrud Chevrolet Red, White and Blue special at 141 Speedway. The man leading the field at the checkered flag was Shawn Kilgore and the man trailing was defending champion Johnny Whitman. Kilgore made quick work of pole starter Brad Theys in the opening corners to start the feature, then worked up top while Whitman used a three-wide pass to make his way to second on the second lap. Kilgore had a five car length lead that Whitman ate up by lap 11. Whitman tried different lines and found bite down low but Kilgore fended him off and then went to the bottom of the track himself. Whitman continued to try different lines to get around Kilgore in the final laps but to no avail. Kilgore led Whitman past the finish line [Read More]

Second straight for Galbreath in IMCA Bay Area Tour

BLACKMAN, Fla. (May 2) – Justin Galbreath raced from sixth starting to collect his second straight Bay Area Emerald Coast Tour triumph Saturday at Northwest Florida Speedway. Galbreath took the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified checkers ahead of Jason Barnhill, who had worked his way back through the field after contact with another car on a late restart left him with a flat tire. Ryan Mosley was third in his Modified debut. Jason Lockwood and Dewayne Burchell rounded out the top five. Next up for Bay Area Tour Modifieds is the Saturday, May 9 event at Flomaton, Ala., Speedway. Feature results – 1. Justin Galbreath; 2. Jason Barnhill; 3. Ryan Mosley; 4. Jason Lockwood; 5. Dewayne Burchell; 6. Jimmy McDaniel; 7. Joey Bartlett; 8. Jessie Barnhill; 9. Trey Cawthon. 30

Feature

Stannard returns to IMCA vice president post

VINTON, Iowa – Jim Stannard’s newest role at IMCA is one he’s already familiar with. Stannard has been named vice president of operations for the automotive racing sanctioning body. He’ll continue most of the duties from his previous director of track relations post while taking over others for former Vice President of Operations Brett Root. “Jim’s responsibilities will largely be similar to those he has now,” explained Root, who became company president in January. “As director of track relations, he’s worked with all our promoters. Because of his long career in the racing industry, many of our drivers know him as well.” “He’ll continue to travel and make track visits while I handle more of the day-to-day management from the home office,” Root concluded. After stints as director of the Sprint Car division and director of the Mountain Region, Stannard was named IMCA director of marketing in 1994. He was vice president of marketing and corporate communications, then worked for Speedway Motors and JR Motorsports before returning to IMCA in March of 2011. “There isn’t [Read More]

IMCA announces amendment to rules for Northern SportMod rear suspension

VINTON, Iowa (May 4) – IMCA officials have announced an amendment to rules for the rear suspension of Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods, which takes effect immediately. Wording has been added to rules posted on the IMCA website allowing the use of solid safety chains securely mounted to the axle housing. Chains cannot be mounted to any floating device. “From our standpoint, allowing this chain gets back to how the division and its rules have evolved over the past 10 years,” said IMCA President Brett Root, citing maximum free standing spring height and the upper spring perch. “Short of us writing more rules, this amendment makes the most sense.” Two factors figured in the decision allowing safety chains. “We were concerned with springs falling out of the back of cars and the amount of excessive force the rear suspension is putting on rear shocks,” Root explained. “It’s our opinion that shocks shouldn’t be used as a limiting device. Shocks can be used in that manner but it can be destructive and an expense to the racer.” [Read More]

Schrader, Wallace return for rescheduled IMCA Night specials at Longdale, Outlaw

LONGDALE, Okla. (May 4) – IMCA Night specials at Longdale Speedway tomorrow night and at Outlaw Motor Speedway in Muskogee on Wednesday have been rescheduled for July 28 and 29. NASCAR drivers Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace will still compete both nights. Track officials noted forecasts calling for a 90 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms each of the next two days in announcing the rescheduled dates. Both IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified features pay $1,500 to win and a minimum of $100 to start. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA SportMods race for $1,000 to win and a minimum of $50 to start each night. All applicable points, including local track points, will be awarded in the three IMCA divisions Tuesday and Wednesday, July 28-29. Pit gates and the grandstands open at 5 p.m. both days. Hot laps get underway at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. Spectator admission for each program is $15 for adults, $10 for military personnel and seniors, $8 for kids ages 6-11 and free for five and under. [Read More]

Long haul pays off for Northeast Shootout winner Ward

By Jay Fish WEEDSPORT, N.Y. (May 3) – Nine and a half hours, 33 competitors and 35 grueling laps were what it took for Ionia, Mich.’s A.J. Ward to capture $2,500 and some impressive hardware in Weedsport Speedway’s inaugural IMCA Modified Northeast Shootout. “I didn’t come 9-1/2 hours for nothing,” a triumphant Ward declared, celebratory rifle in hand, a gift from Weedsport Speedway management for the Empire State Series event winner. “Stuff happened so fast, they bobbled, I shot the gap and next thing I know, I had the lead,” Ward recounted of his move for the lead with just six laps to go. Dundee, N.Y.’s Rich Karlnoski had led the previous 29 circuits when disaster struck. Karlnoski’s luck and suspension all broke into pieces and he’d have to settle for a 14th place finish. Runner-up was series point leader Eddie Sites. Defending tour champion James Cornell, Glen Erwin and Brad Sites completed the top five. Ward made the long trip east after winning the Friday feature for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds at Tri-City Motor Speedway and running fifth Saturday at [Read More]