Feature Archives

Phillips’ trophy case will display four of a kind after latest IMCA Modified Duel In The Desert win

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 11) – Nothing slowed Terry Phillips on his way to a career fourth IMCA Modified Duel In The Desert victory and a $7,777 paycheck Saturday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Phillips led all but the first of 40 laps, nearly hitting the wall getting around traffic before pulling ahead to win nearly eight seconds ahead of Eddie Belec. The race stayed green the last 36 laps. Peyton Taylor, Johnny Scott and Cody Laney rounded out the top five finishers at the 20th annual event, the biggest of the season in IMCA’s Larry Shaw Racing Western Region. “These slick tracks, I like them. I guess I’m getting a little long in the tooth, but I’ve got a lot more left in me, probably more than most of these young kids,” said Phillips, from Springfield, Mo., and also the Duel winner in 2010, 2011 and 2014. “There were a couple lanes and I was all over this thing. It was awesome.” Arvada, Colo., speedsters Belec and Dominic Ursetta made up [Read More]

Friday IMCA Modified Duel qualifiers go to Ursetta, Taylor

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 10) – Dominic Ursetta saw his racing fortunes do a 180 while Peyton Taylor came up aces himself Friday night at the Duel In the Desert. Ursetta won the first IMCA Modified qualifying feature at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track, ahead of Nick DeCarlo, five-time and defending winner Jeremy Payne and Johnny Scott. Taylor topped the second qualifier, with 2009 race winner Johnny Saathoff, Tim Ward and Benji LaCrosse in tow. Both races paid $777 to win and sent the top four finishers to Saturday’s $7,777 to win main event. The first car out in his opening night qualifier, Ursetta drew the pole for Friday’s opener and quickly built a growing lead over DeCarlo and Paul Stone. Ursetta found himself running with lapped cars before the halfway point. Payne worked his way up to third as the traffic got thicker. Three lapped cars separated Ursetta and DeCarlo at the finish. Scott worked his way to the final transfer spot after starting 13th. Taylor also started from inside row one [Read More]

Belec, Phillips top Thursday Duel In The Desert IMCA Modified qualifying features

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 9) – Eddie Belec and Terry Phillips were IMCA Modified qualifying feature winners on Thursday, opening night of the 20th annual Duel In The Desert at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Belec outran a charging Cody Laney to top the first qualifier on the LVMS half-mile Dirt Track while Phillips, a three-time Duel winner, pulled away from Ricky Thornton Jr. over the final circuits in the nightcap. Both qualifiers paid $777 to win and sent the top four to Saturday’s $7,777 to win main event. Justin O’Brien and Rob Sanders also advanced from the first qualifier, Ricky Alvarado and Jason Noll from the second. Belec mastered lapped traffic and Laney found the speed he needed late in the first 25-lapper. While Belec kept an iron fist on the front spot, Laney got under Sanders and then O’Brien to take over second with five circuits to go. Belec took the checkers four car lengths ahead of Laney. Alvarado led through the first 10 circuits of the nightcap before Phillips motored by and began [Read More]

Duel In The Desert qualifying starts tonight

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 9) – Dirt will by flying at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track starting Wednesday qualifying for the biggest event of the season in IMCA’s Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region begins tonight. More than 200 IMCA Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods are entered for the 20th annual Duel in the Desert, which runs through Saturday at the LVMSpeedway half-mile dirt oval. Qualifying features are Thursday, Nov. 9, and Friday, Nov. 10, with last-chance races and main events for both divisions set for Saturday, Nov. 11. Modifieds race for a first-place prize of $7,777 and a minimum of $777 to start their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. Northern SportMods vie for a $1,777 top check on Saturday. Twenty-one states, including Alaska, and two Canadian provinces will be represented at this year’s Duel. Racing starts at 4 p.m. Pacific Time Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and Young Guns and Legends races precede 25-lap Northern SportMod and 40-lap Modified main events on Saturday. The Modified runner-up earns $3,250, with $2,250 for [Read More]

Transponders required for Duel In The Desert

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – IMCA Modified and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod drivers are being reminded of a very important piece of equipment they’ll have to have to compete at next week’s Duel In The Desert at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The MyLaps/AMB transponder system is required for all cars in both divisions. Drivers who don’t have one of their own can rent one for $40. “The sheer number of cars and close finishes throughout heat, qualifying features and the main event necessitate transponders,” IMCA President Brett Root explained. “Drivers and fans will also be able to purchase a race monitor app to get live scoring throughout the event on their smart phones.” IMCATV will broadcast every lap of the 20th annual special, which plays out Nov. 8-11 at the half-mile Dirt Track at LVMS. The Saturday Modified main event is a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier and pays $7,777 to win and a minimum of $777 to start. The Northern SportMod main event pays $1,777 to win. Thursday and Friday qualifying features for Modifieds pay [Read More]

Boone, Independence receive 35-year Modified sanction awards at IMCA banquet

LINCOLN, Neb. – Two of the race tracks synonymous with the Modified division since its earliest seasons are among the 50 speedways to be honored during the national IMCA awards banquet on Nov. 25 in Lincoln, Neb. Boone Speedway and Independence Motor Speedway will be recognized for 35 years of sanctioning their Modified divisions with IMCA. In all, tracks from 17 states with a total of 740 consecutive years of sanctioning one or more divisions receive awards during the evening. A 30-year Modified plaque goes to Crystal Motor Speedway. Twenty-five year awards go to Mohave Valley Raceway and Sweetwater Speedway for Modifieds, Outagamie Speedway and Redwood Speedway for Stock Cars, and Buena Vista Raceway for Hobby Stocks. Receiving 20-year plaques will be 281 Speedway, BVR and Dacotah Speedway for Modifieds and Davenport Speedway for Late Models. Fifteen-year awards go to Winnemucca Regional Raceway, Modifieds, and Lincoln County Raceway, Stock Cars. Awards for a decade of sanctioning will be presented to Phillips County Raceway, Sherman County Speedway and Thomas County Speedway for Modifieds, Stock Cars and [Read More]

Classic run takes Roth to checkers at HOT’s 20th anniversary fall special

WACO, Texas (Oct. 28) – Anthony Roth got his first look at Heart O’ Texas Speedway when he pulled in for the Thursday practice session that preceded the weekend Fall Classic special. He had a check for $4,000 in his pocket and a season-ending IMCA Modified feature win when he drove out of the pit area at Waco two nights later. “We were looking to end the season on a high note,” said the Columbus driver, who had been KO’d by a late flat while running second in his final outing in his home state of Nebraska. “We were confident going down there that the car would be good.” Forced to qualify through his last-chance race on Saturday after getting together with another car in the opening night feature, Roth started 11th and had the lead nine circuits into the 30-lapper. “Mainly I used the bottom. I got everybody in (turns) one and two and when I got the lead I went to the top,” said Roth, already on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star [Read More]

Early registration due today for LVMS Duel In The Desert

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Seventeen states and two Canadian provinces are represented in the 150 early entries for the upcoming Duel In The Desert. The 20th annual special, set Nov. 8-11 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track, boasts a $7,777 top prize and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth for the IMCA Modifieds and first place money of $1,777 for Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods Drivers in both divisions can still register online. The track website is www.lvms.com. The registration form and payment must be today (Oct. 31) to lock in early entry fees. Early entry fees are $200 for Modifieds and $150 for Northern SportMods. Weekend pit passes are $100. Reserved pit parking is available by calling 702 632-8213. Modified drivers pre-registered for the Duel as of Friday, October 27 include: Ricky Alvarado, Delta, Colo.; Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz.; Jerry Bailey, Pocatello, Idaho; Tim Balding, Prunedale, Calif.; Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas; Jason Beaulieu, Campbell River, B.C.; Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo.; Bret Bennett, Bakersfield, Calif.; Carl Berendsen, Antioch, Calif.; Tanner Black, Great Bend, Kan.; Bland Bohannon, [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds headline Canyon’s Nov. 3, 4 Desert Dash

PEORIA, Ariz. – IMCA Modifieds race for $1,500 to win and berths on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot both nights of Canyon Speedway Park’s Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4 Desert Dash. Both features pay a minimum of $125 to start. Also running each night are Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods for $1,000 to win and $100 to start; IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $500 to win and $65 to start; and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $250 to win and $50 to start. Pill draw fee is $50 for Modifieds, $40 for Northern SportMods, $30 for Stock Cars and $20 for Hobby Stocks. Spectator admission each night is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors ages 60 and over and military personnel, and free for kids 11 and under. Pit passes are $35 for adults, $20 for kids ages 7-11 and free for six and under. Minors must have a filled out and notarized release form to get in the pit area; that form is on the track website. Pit gates will be open [Read More]

IMCA to honor 21 sponsors at national awards banquet

LINCOLN, Neb. – Twenty-one marketing partners will be recognized with well-deserved special awards during the national IMCA banquet on Saturday, Nov. 25 in Lincoln, Neb. Performance Bodies will receive a 35-year sponsor award while Sunoco Race Fuels receives a 25-year plaque. Twenty-year sponsors are Edelbrock, Hypercoils, Jet Racing and KRC. Axle Exchange and Brinn Transmissions are 15-year recipients while Classic Trophy, Dakota Track Side, Flow Design and Larry Shaw Race Cars all get 10-year awards. Casey’s General Store, Champ Pans, EMI, Kupper Chevrolet, Leary Racing Products, Penske Shocks, QuickCar Products, RAM Clutches and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center all will be recognized for five years of support for IMCA drivers. The awards banquet will be held at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in downtown Lincoln. Drivers winning championships and rookie of the year awards will also be honored and track sanction awards will be presented during the evening. Cocktails are at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. and the awards ceremony to follow. Tickets are $35 each and available by calling the IMCA home office at 319 [Read More]