Feature

MESQUITE, Texas (May 5) – With the difference between first place and second decided by about a foot, the second annual Johnny Suggs Classic lived up to its pre-race billing as a “clas­sic.” Dalton Stevens raced from 12th starting to beat John Ricketts in the Friday night Elite Non-Wing Sprint Series main event at RPM Speedway. The front pair ran side-by-side the last two laps following a late restart. Stevens eked just ahead on the lower line for his second IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car win of the season and career-first Elite checkers. “I just had to be patient and capitalize whenever I had the opportunity,” said Stevens, who caught and passed Paul White and Ricketts for the lead after midway in the $800 to win 20-lapper. “Early on I ran the high side. Later on I shifted to the bottom to work the leaders.” While Stevens used restarts to his advantage in working his way to the front of the field, the final caution of the contest almost led to disaster. Ricketts was throwing everything but [Read More]

By David Smith Jr. MEEKER, Okla. (May 5) – His last-lap pass made defending champion Andy Shouse a first-time 2017 Sprint Series of Oklahoma feature winner Friday at Red Dirt Raceway. Shouse, who parlayed the series title into the 2016 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car national crown, passed Zach Blurton in the first of two appearances this season for the series, presented by Smi­ley’s Racing Products, at Meeker. Shouse and Jake Martens started on the front row for the twenty-five-lap feature with Martens taking the lead as the green flag fell. Martens kept a three-car-length lead for the first half of the race. Martens was working the bottom of the track while Blurton kept his momentum up top and on lap 13 drove around the leader exiting turn two to take the lead. Blurton reach the back of the field with 10 laps to go while Shouse got past Martens to take over the runner-up position. Blurton’s lead was five car lengths with just three laps remaining but that would soon change as slower cars would come into [Read More]

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (May 6) – Cole Traugott continues to hold the hot hand in IMCA Modifieds at Dodge City Raceway Park, rallying from the fourth row to take the $1,200 winner’s share in Satur­day night’s fifth annual Modified Stampede. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, Traugott notched his second Modified Stam­pede win in a row and his eighth win in his last eight visits to Dodge City. In the 30-lap main event, Traugott took advantage of a pair of cautions in the opening half of the race to maneuver into the lead for keeps. “If it weren’t for the cautions, I’m not sure if I would have found it,” Traugott said in victory lane.  “That middle lane cleaned up some and I guess I was the first one to find it.  This car was working perfect.” While Traugott managed to climb from eight to fourth in the opening handful of laps, the chances of continuing his Dodge City domination seemed slim as he trailed the lead duo of Randy [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa – IMCA wheel spacer and rear end component rules have undergone a fine tun­ing. “Last week we clarified weight rules regarding axle tubes for Modifieds and Late Models,” ex­plained IMCA President Brett Root. “We continue to field phone calls and are expanding that clarifica­tion to other rear end components and try to head off some of the unnecessary direction the market is taking.” Effective immediately, wheel spacers used in the Modified, Stock Car and Southern SportMod divisions must be alumi­num with a maximum outside diameter of 7-1/4 inches. Late Models will only be allowed to compete with aluminum wheel spacers as well. Wheel spacers are not allowed in the Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod and Sport Compact divisions. “We are doing our best to avoid being walked into putting weight rules on suspension compo­nents,” Root said. “Executive Director of Competition Dave Brenn is doing an excellent job research­ing this issue and writing rules that racers can understand and inspectors can effectively enforce.” Additionally, rear end components including calipers, hubs, drive plates and axle tubes [Read More]