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IMCA response to COVID-19 outbreak

VINTON, Iowa – IMCA officials continue to follow developments in the COVID-19 outbreak and have taken initial steps in helping guard the health and well being of members of the racing commu­nity.  “As always, the most important issue is everyone’s safety – our drivers, our fans, our employees and the people who work at all of our sanctioned race tracks,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “It is difficult to address specifics in what is a dynamic, ever-changing situation, but the decisions we’re making now in response to COVID-19 are based on the best information we have.”  While the IMCA home office in Vinton, Iowa, is currently closed, all staff members are working from home and can be contacted electronically or by phone.  “Numerous state, county or local governments have announced stay at home or social distancing measures to stem the pandemic. Most of the tracks we sanction in 36 states and Canada are un­der some form of mandate,” said Root.  “We are in the racing business. We are not in position to second-guess decisions by [Read More]

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Carroll collects $1,000 Fast Shafts All-Star win at I-37

By J.M. Hallas  PLEASANTON, Texas (March 7) – Chris Carroll took home the $1,000 win in the IMCA Modified 20-lapper, getting the best of some stiff competition and putting his name on the Fast Shafts all-Star Invitational ballot Saturday at I-37 Speedway.  The opening night checkers came ahead of Cody Tidwell and Nebraska visitor Chad Andersen. Carroll made his drive from the third row, running down Andersen for the lead with the two side by side on lap eight and Carroll getting the top spot a lap later. Tidwell moved into second just after midway while Jared Maupin caught Dillon Tindall for fourth.  While Carroll inched ahead, Andersen pressured Tidwell for second and Rick Green and Tindall scrapped for fifth. Carroll had a five-car length advantage on Tidwell at the white flag and motored to the win.  “I watched Chad race a little bit and we raced with him last year. He’s a pretty good guy and defi­nitely gave me room,” Carroll said. “Once I got under him I got tight too and pushed both [Read More]

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Junior National Championship contenders should contact IMCA for 2020 licenses, minor release form

VINTON, Iowa – The best time for drivers planning to chase IMCA inaugural’s Junior National Championship to get licenses purchased and minor release forms completed is right now. “With the start of the 2020 point season coming up for much of the country in the next month, we are recommending that drivers who plan to race for Junior National Championship honors get that paperwork done as soon as possible,” IMCA President Brett Root said.  “Instead of buying licenses and filling out minor release paperwork at their local track,” he added, “we strongly suggest those drivers contact Director of Membership and Points Virginia Lindsey (319 472-2201 or vlindsey@imca.com) to get the process started as soon as possible.” Drivers between the ages of 14 and 18 in all eight IMCA divisions compete for the Junior National Championship, with point standings to be based on the best 20 finishes in their first 40 starts.  While the Junior National Champion receives a trophy, ring and jacket, top 10 drivers in point standings all earn $500 scholarships applicable toward post-high school [Read More]

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Kupper continues IMCA Dakota Classic Tour sponsorship with new name

MANDAN, N.D. – Bob Kupper has sold his Chevrolet dealership but don’t think he’s not involved in the IMCA Dakota Classic Tour title Sponsorship. It’s now the Moritz Sport & Marine Dakota Classic Modified Tour powered by Bismarck Motor Company and it’s bigger than ever!  During the awards ceremony last July in Mandan, Kupper made a statement that got a lot of press in the racing world. Bob stated he would double the winner’s payout in both the IMCA Modified and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car divisions for all tracks in 2020. Later on that fall, Tour Director John Gartner met with Bob and talked a bit different direction for the 31st annual series. The tour was already paying the most to win of any IMCA Modified touring series at $2,400 to win each feature. Couple that with a series-best $300 to start the 30 car feature and the money was there for the fast drivers. However, Gartner wanted to take that extra $2,400 (Modifieds) and $800 (Stock Cars) each night and split it up so the [Read More]

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Ten dates for Dirt Knights IMCA Modified Tour

VINTON, Iowa – Ten dates are on the schedule for the upcoming Dirt Knights IMCA Modified Tour.  Opening night is Thursday, May 7 at Marshalltown Speedway, with events following Wednesday, May 20 at Stuart Speedway; Monday, May 25 at Benton County Speedway in Vinton; Monday, July 20 at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D.; Tuesday, July 21 at Jackson, Minn., Motorplex; Wednesday, July 22 at Buena Vista Raceway in Alta; Tuesday, July 28 at Hancock County Speedway in Britt; Monday, Aug. 3 at Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer; Wednesday, Aug. 5 at Fairmont, Minn., Raceway; and Thursday, Aug. 6 at Kossuth County Speedway in Algona. All events in the 11th annual tour will be qualifiers for 2020 or 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballots.

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Green gets another IMCA Lone Star win, Abbey earns bonus, Stock Car tour crown

KENNEDALE, Texas (Feb. 22) – Derek Green got another win while Westin Abbey got a tour championship and a big check Saturday night at Kennedale Speedway Park. Green, from Granada, Minn., prevailed in a $1,000 to win Sniper Speed Lone Star Tour finale that saw him trade the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car lead with Ryan Powers three times in the final laps before beating Jesse Sobbing to the finish line. Home state hero Abbey, meanwhile, put the final, perfect tour attendance qualifying touches on a $10,000 bonus he’d made himself eligible for by winning features at Abilene Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. His seventh place finish at KSP was also more than enough to secure the tour crown and $5,000 share of the accompanying point fund.  Powers had taken the lead on the second lap and was chased by Jason Josselyn, Aaron Benedict and then Jeffrey Abbey.  The race stayed green through the first 16 of 30 laps; the 11th starting Green was scored just ahead of Abbey on the 21st lap and was running side-by-side with [Read More]

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In right place at right time, Rogers takes Monarch IMCA Lone Star Tour checkers

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (Feb. 21) – Jason Rogers won for the first time on the night Jesse Sobbing almost won twice. Rogers raced to the $1,000 Sniper Speed Lone Star Tour checkers Friday at Monarch Motor Speedway, getting the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car lead back after Sobbing broke and then holding off Derek Green in a green, white, checkered finish. Sobbing had scored the convincing IMCA Modified win, also worth $1,000, earlier in the evening at Wichita Falls. He was well on his way to duplicating that effort in the Stock Car feature after passing Rogers for the front spot on the 13th of 30 laps. Rogers and Elijah Zevenbergen remained the closest challengers to Sobbing, who was in another area code before breaking and rolling into the infield with nine laps left.  That put Rogers back on point with the 11th starting Derek Green in pursuit. Westin Abbey, already a three-time tour winner, had started 17th, went to the back of the field following an early restart, and rocketed to third on the final restart.  Green [Read More]

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Westin Abbey completes charge from 17th for dramatic Dirty 30 payday

FORT WORTH, Texas (Feb. 20) – Being faster by a fraction of a second coming out of the final turn made Westin Abbey rich Thursday night. Abbey raced all the way from 17th starting to the front of the Dirty 30 IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature field at Texas Motor Speedway, beating Ryan Powers to the checkers by half a car length as the pair ran side-by-side to the finish. The Comanche speedster took home $3,000 for the victory. Also winner of the Sniper Speed Lone Star Tour opener at Abilene Speedway on Saturday, he’ll meet the final requirements for a $10,000 bonus by competing in the final two tour events Friday at Monarch Motor Speedway and Saturday at Kennedale Speedway Park.  “Whew! After starting back there in 17th, I didn’t know how that was going to end,” Abbey said from victory lane. “I saw him (Powers) coming and stood on it.” Fourteenth starting Jeffrey Abbey, Derek Green and 27th starting Abe Huls completed the top five.  Sixty-eight drivers vied in the fourth installment of the Lone Star [Read More]

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Dirty 30 Lone Star Tour show postponed to Thursday

FORT WORTH, Texas (Feb. 19) – Inclement weather is the winner this evening (Wednesday) at Texas Motor Speedway.  Night two of the Dirty 30 and the fourth installment of the Sniper Speedway Lone Star IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Tour has been postponed to Thursday, Feb. 20.  Stock Cars run for $3,000 to win their main event, IMCA Modifieds for $2,000 to win their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods for $1,000 to win. The pit area will be vacated beginning at 12:45 p.m. and re-opened at 1 p.m.  The draw starts at 1 p.m. and ends with the start of the 4:30 p.m. drivers’ meeting. Wheel packing is at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 5:30 p.m. and racing gets underway at 6 p.m. New cars are eligible to join the show but will start at the tail of the last-chance qualifiers. As the name of the event is implies, all three Dirty 30 IMCA main events will be 30 laps.  Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $10 for active or former military, [Read More]

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Dean Abbey dominates Dirty 30 IMCA Stock Car qualifying

FORT WORTH, Texas (Feb. 18) – The race was for second Tuesday night as Dean Abbey checked out on everybody in winning the Sniper Speed Lone Star Tour Dirty 30 qualifying feature for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars at Texas Motor Speedway. Abbey started from the pole and left a multi-car tussle battling in his wake. Chad Schroeder, Brian Blessington, Ryan Powers, Derek Green, Elijah Zevenbergen, Kyle Falck, Curt Lund, Buck Schafroth and Hesston Shaw finished in that order behind Abbey and join him on the main event grid. They’ll decide who starts where on the front five rows during the Dirt Defender Grudge draw while the rest of the 22-field for the $3,000 to win headliner is to be determined. Seventy-seven Stock Cars vied on opening night at Fort Worth. After a flat tire took Jesse Sobbing out of the running, Clay Money became the driver nobody could catch in the IMCA Modified qualifier.  The quick Kansas driver pulled away before and following a late caution. Fellow top five finishers moving on to the $2,000 to win [Read More]