Feature Archives

MBSLM Series acquires IMCA Summer Series for 2020 and beyond

VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 3) – One era in IMCA Late Model racing ends and another begins in 2020. The IMCA Summer Series becomes part of the Omaha, Neb.-based Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing Series, owned by Joe and Steve Kosiski, next season. “It has been a great 33-year ride for this series and our traveling Late Model drivers,” IMCA President Brett Root. “The growth in Late Model sanctions, however, in 2019 demonstrated that we needed to commit our time and resources to further developing national and weekly race programs for that division.” “I firmly believe Late Model touring series across the Midwest need unification,” Root added. “The Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing Series has rules that accommodate IMCA Late Model members and this is a positive step in the right direction for those drivers who want to be part of touring events.” “I can’t adequately thank the many drivers and track promoters who have supported this series for so many years. Summer Series events have been season highlights at a lot of tracks [Read More]

Dream comes true for Lady Eagle winner Florio

COPPERAS COVE, Texas – Taylor Florio grew up watching Robin Batt and dreaming of the day when she, too, would win the IMCA Lady Eagle award. Those dreams became reality as the Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod driver from Copperas Cove, Texas, raced to the top point total of the 227 female drivers competing in IMCA this season. “I grew up watching Robin race and wanted to be like her. I thought it was the coolest thing ever when she won the Lady Eagle (in 2010) and I wanted to do it, too,” said Florio, who also repeated as the E3 Spark Plugs Texas State champion. “I knew at the beginning of the season we wanted to do it. We set out to achieve our goal and midway through started thinking maybe this was our year. And it was.” She’ll display her Lady Eagle award on the TV stand, right next to the trophy she received in 2015 after becoming the first female driver to win national rookie of the year honors, also in a [Read More]

IMCA Modified, Hobby, Northern SportMod rookies of year earn Friesen crate engines

LINCOLN, Neb. – Friesen Performance made stellar seasons pay off even more for rookies of the year in three IMCA divisions. Modified rookie of the year John Oliver Jr. received a 604 crate engine while Hobby Stock rookie of the year Kaden Reynolds and Northern SportMod rookie of the year Cade Richards both earned 602 crates. Reynolds also paced Big Daddy Race Cars Northern Region rookie standings. He was a 10-time feature winner and was 13th in the national points race. Richards won five features and was 17th nationally. He continued his rookie campaign despite a broken left hand suffered in a crash midway through the season, finishing in the top five in seven of nine starts made with a form-fitting cast. Also the top rookie in the Side Biter Chassis North Central Region, Oliver won half a dozen features and was track champion at Lee County Speedway. “This is a great program that has fresh new faces receiving awards each and every year and made possible by the great relationships we have with Friesen and Chevrolet,” [Read More]

Taylor tops Desert Thunder Nationals finale, Thompson sweeps Casa Grande SportMods

By Lonnie Wheatley CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 24) – Central Arizona Speedway’s sixth annual Desert Thunder Nationals came down to the final lap with Jeff Taylor denying R.C. Whitwell a sweep of the three-race weekend by winning Sunday afternoon’s 30-lap IMCA Modified main event atop the 3/8-mile clay oval in Case Grande. Taylor jumped into the lead at the outset of the $3,000 to win IMCA Modified feature and led throughout, fending off a late challenge from Whitwell. “We got a little more balance in the car today,” Taylor said afterward. “We held on, the car was pretty good so we’re happy with that.” While Taylor set the pace ahead of Alex Stanford, Whitwell was working his forward from 16th in his quest to sweep the weekend. Reaching the fourth position by the time a caution flew after 19 laps, he made quick work of Jason Noll and Stanford on the restart to take command of second and set his sights on Taylor for the lead. A final caution with five laps remaining put Whitwell on Taylor’s rear [Read More]

Consistency is key, changes few for 2020 IMCA rules

VINTON, Iowa – Look for consistency but no earth shaking changes in the IMCA rules for 2020. Notably, Modified, Late Model, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, SportMod and Sport Compact drivers may now compete with a minimum two-inch wide SFI-approved five point safety belt assembly. “As safety improvements evolve in this industry, we will evolve with them,” IMCA President Brett Root explained. “Our rules already allow for the two-inch wide belt for use with the HANS device and allowing an entire two-inch wide harness assembly is an evolution of this rule.” Also along the lines of safety, lithium batteries will not be allowed in any division. “That is primarily due to safety concerns in event of fire,” Root said. “Executive Director of Competition Dave Brenn addresses this issue at more length in his column in the November Inside IMCA newsletter.” And along the line of evolving technology, cell phones will not be allowed in race cars. “Obviously, we all carry cell phones. We just don’t want them in race cars,” stated Root. “They can be used to collect [Read More]

Rage Chassis reigns as IMCA Manufacturers’ Cup winner

WEST UNION, Iowa – Rage Chassis reigns as a first-time winner of the coveted IMCA Manufacturers’ Cup. The West Union, Iowa, chassis builder topped overall point standings in the 11th annual contest. Points were awarded based on the make of chassis driven by racers finishing in the top 10 in each of the five regions for IMCA Modifieds. Fifteen builders were entered in this year’s contest. Last-year’s Cup runner-up, Rage led the way with 41 points, tallied by seven different drivers. “This is a great accomplishment. It’s something every chassis builder wants to do but can’t by themselves,” said Rage owner Justin O’Brien. “Our customers, their hard work and performance dictated the results.” Two-time and defending Cup champion Shaw Race Cars was second, with eight drivers totaling 33 points. Rounding out the top five were GRT Race Cars with 30 points and Harris Auto Racing and Razor Chassis, both with 25. Rage paced point standings in its home North Central Region. Shaw won in its title sponsored Western Region, GRT repeated in the Central Region, BMS [Read More]

Whitwell hits IMCA Modified jackpot with Duel In the Desert checkers

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 16) – R.C. Whitwell put a big checkmark on his IMCA Modified bucket list Saturday night at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Whitwell led the last 11 of 40 laps in the Duel In The Desert main event, holding off fellow Tucson, Ariz., ace Jake O’Neil following a restart with four circuits left. The Duel win paid $7,777 and put Whitwell on the 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. More than 300 cars, including an event record 102 Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods, saw action at the biggest event of the season in IMCA’s Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Whitwell had chased Tom Berry Jr. the first 29 times around the half-mile dirt oval before the leader got caught up with a lapped car and got turned around. “The car has been great since we unloaded,” said Whitwell, a second and a half ahead of O’Neil at the checkers. “It was kind of nerve wracking during the last caution, knowing the zero car (O’Neil) was back there, but I figured [Read More]

Marriott sweeps Wes Hurst Weekend at Cocopah

By Jackson Braun SOMERTON, Ariz. (Nov. 8-9) – After being on hiatus since 2012, the Wes Hurst Memorial returned in a big fashion over the weekend with the IMCA Modifieds at the Cocopah Speedway. The IMCA Modifieds had a highly competitive field both nights of action. 35 IMCA Modifieds checked in on Friday night, while 31 filled the pits on Saturday. Jason Beaulieu led the field to green on Friday night and got the jump on the field. The 30-lap main event was a contest from start to finish, as no racer ran away from the field. Beaulieu faced pressure from Jake O’Neil and Hunter Marriott in the early portion of the race. O’Neil did end up passing Beaulieu, but a broken left front combined with a caution slowing down the field spelled the end of the race for O’Neil. Marriott inherited the lead but Jesse Sobbing got a run and found himself in contention for the win. Marriott analyzed Sobbing’s run around the race track and used the weaknesses to his advantage, getting back [Read More]

IMCA Duel In The Desert early entries top 230

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – More than 230 IMCA Modified and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod drivers are officially pre-entered for the biggest event of the season in IMCA’s Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Drivers in both divisions can still enter when they arrive at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track on Wednesday or Thursday for the Nov. 13-16 Duel in the Desert. Modifieds race for $7,777 to win, Northern SportMods for a top prize of $1,777 at the 22nd annual event. Saturday night’s Modified feature is a 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. The Duel will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. Twenty-two states and two Canadian provinces are now represented by the early Duel entries. Pre-registered Modified drivers include: Russell Allen, Brawley, Calif. Chase Alves, Casa Grande, Ariz. Paris Archie, Sparks Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz. Tim Balding, Santa Rosa, Calif. Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas Jason Beaulieu, Campbell River, B.C. Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo. Mikey Bell, Quitman, Ark. Tanner Black, Otis, Kan. Roger Bonneville, Calgary, Alb. Steve Boucher, Susanville, Calif. Steven Bowers [Read More]

Gould, Guillaume, Kuykendall are winners at inaugural Texas Big Four

By Steven Young BELLS, Tex. (November 2) — The Inaugural Texas Big Four at the Grayson County Speedway in Bells, Texas is in the books. In the IMCA Modified feature, it was a renewal of a Gould Chassis Red River rivalry, as Oklahoma’s William Gould and Texan Matt Guillaume faced off head-to-head early on. Gould built a decent lead during the first handful of circuits but as the lead duo approached the back of the field, Guillaume reeled in a passed Gould for the lead lap 10. Gould used lapped traffic to regain the lead, however, in turns one and two on lap 11, going on to steadily rebuild his advantage over Guillaume. One final caution with 11 laps remaining cleared the track for Gould as he continued on for the $1,000 victory. He was followed home by Michael Ables in second and Guillaume third. Razor Chassis South Central Region champion Gould, already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, was pleased with the surface post race, saying “Honestly, this is about like what we [Read More]