Feature Archives

Thornton slices, dices through traffic for night two Arizona IMCA Modified Tour win

By Jackson Braun QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (Feb. 9) – Round 2 of the 2019 edition of the Arizona Modified Tour brought even more great racing to the table as the competitors battled it out to try and come out on top Saturday at Arizona Speedway. Ricky Thornton Jr. was the night’s biggest titan of the 25 IMCA Modified starters in the feature action, as he drove through lapped traffic the most efficiently in the wire-to-wire contest and came away with his third career Arizona Modified Tour victory. Fargo, N.D., was represented well as hometown drivers Casey Arneson and Dylan Goplen led the field to the green flag in the Modified feature. Arneson got the jump but after one lap Thornton was already next to him and contending for that top spot. Roaring around the high side of the speedway, Thornton officially took the race lead on lap six. He then cleared Arneson and started to run away from the field. Arneson was then pressure by Jake O’Neil, who was able to take his momentum from [Read More]

Ward tops record-setting Arizona Mod Tour opener

By Jackson Braun QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (Feb. 8) – An action-packed night of racing at the 1/3 mile Arizona Speedway speedplant was capped off by a first-time winner in Arizona Mod Tour action as Arizona native and Iowa transplant Tim Ward bested the field of 26 stout IMCA Modified drivers. A tour record 92 Modifieds and 37 IMCA Northern SportMods checked into the pit gate for opening night of the third annual tour. Ward’s victory paid $1,500 and put him on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Robert Hellebust and Joey Price led the field to green for 25 trips around the Arizona Speedway oval. Hellebust jumped out to an early lead, but a caution reset the field back to square one. Hellebust got the jump on the restart but Bobby Hogge IV challenged early on. After a few laps of battling, Hellebust started to pull away. Ward started 11th on the field and had already made his way up into the top five within a few laps. He got past Hogge quickly [Read More]

IMCA Arizona Modified Tour at 170 early entries

QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. – One hundred and seventy drivers are on the pre-entry list for the Feb. 7-16 IMCA Arizona Modified Tour. Arizona Speedway at Queen Creek hosts Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8 and 9 events. The tour is at Casa Grande’s Central Arizona Speedway for Sunday and Monday, Feb. 10 and 11 shows and at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria on Wednesday, Feb. 13. USA Raceway in Tucson is the site of Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15 and 16 programs. IMCA Modifieds race for $1,500 to win while Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods chase $600 top checks each night. All seven Modified features are 2019 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events and pay a minimum of $150 to start. Northern SportMod features pay a minimum of $60 to start. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, state and special series points will be given in both divisions; Modifieds also vie for Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region points. Entry fees each night of the tour will be $40 for Modifieds and $30 for Northern SportMods. [Read More]

Center scores Sunday SportMod, Stock Car checkers at Canyon’s IMCA Winter Challenge

PEORIA, Ariz. (Jan. 26-27) – After a forgettable opening night, Cody Center had a Sunday to remember Sunday at Canyon Speedway Park’s Winter Challenge Series. A DNS in Saturday’s main event following two early tangles with another car in his heat race, Center started last but still earned his career-first Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature win in the second day show at Peoria. He followed with the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car checkers, winning two main events on the same program for the first time. “There were so many emotions after the SportMod win. That was a team effort if I ever had one,” said Center, crediting his father Darin and crewman Garrett Hommel for getting the car race-ready again after nasty heat race dustups both days. “They got my car rebuilt twice so I could win on Sunday.” That victory came ahead of Speedy Madrid and Bo Partain. He took the lead early in the Stock Car feature and won ahead of John Parmeley and George Fronsman. “I absolutely love the Stock Cars. They’re by [Read More]

New-look logo created for IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing

VINTON, Iowa – New season, new look. The new IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing logo was unveiled today. Incorporating the new Speedway Motors logo with the familiar red IMCA logo, it will appear on decals to be mailed in 2019 drivers’ packets for all eight divisions. The new logo will also accompany many of the releases posted on the IMCA website and published in the IMCA newsletter. “We have released the new weekly racing logo in conjunction with Speedway Motors’ rebranding,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “We’ve had a great partnership with Speedway Motors and we look forward to continuing that relationship for many more years.” Speedway Motors is the longest tenured IMCA sponsor, as part of a business partnership that dates to the 1950s. The Lincoln, Neb., speed shop, founded by ‘Speedy’ Bill Smith and his wife Joyce in 1952, has paved the road for drivers for the past 67 years through innovation, grit, and good old-fashioned heart. Now the world’s largest manufacturer, distributor and retailer of street rod, muscle car and racing products [Read More]

Speedway Motors unveils rebrand with new look and ‘What Moves You’ campaign

LINCOLN, Neb. – Speedway Motors, known for its dedication to serving auto enthusiasts, is celebrating the success of the Lincoln-based company and looking ahead to the future by unveiling a new look and announcing the ‘What Moves You’ campaign. “We love helping car lovers make the most of their time under the hood and behind the wheel,” said Betsy Grindlay, Director of Marketing. “We like to think of ourselves as partners in your passion. We wanted to update our brand to something that our customers felt like they could relate to now and that generations to come could to relate to as well.” Speedway Motors, founded in 1952 by Joyce and “Speedy” Bill Smith, provides hot rod and racing parts to customers not only in the Midwest, but worldwide. The company prides itself on helping those passionate about racing and restoring with affordable prices, expert advice and hassle-free service. Speedway Motors employs over 400 people in their 500,000 square foot facility in Lincoln. “The ‘What Moves You’ campaign, will give our customers, followers and community [Read More]

Four IMCA divisions featured at Canyon’s Winter Challenge Series

PEORIA, Ariz. – Four IMCA sanctioned divisions are on race programs each night of the Winter Challenge Series at Canyon Speedway Park. IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods for $750 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $500 to win and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $250 to win at Saturday and Sunday, Jan 26 and 27 and Feb. 2 and 3 shows. Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berths are also at stake each night for the Modifieds. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, state and special series, but no track points, will be given all four nights. Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region points will also be awarded to Modifieds, EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region points to Stock Cars and Big Daddy Race Cars Southern Region points to Hobby Stocks. Pill draw is $25 for the Modifieds, $20 for both Stock Cars and Northern SportMods, and $10 for Hobby Stocks. Pit gates will be open throughout both weekends and camping is available. Grandstands open at 11 a.m. and racing [Read More]

500th event in Deery Series history on 2019 IMCA Late Model tour schedule

VINTON, Iowa – The Deery Brothers Summer Series reaches another milestone this season, with the 500th event of its storied history. Seventeen events are on the schedule for the 2019 IMCA Late Model tour. With 490 races in the record book through its first 32 seasons, the series should celebrate its milestone 500th event some time in August. “We are seeing an increase in the number of events held, with both the return of tracks to the schedule and tracks hosting multiple series dates,” IMCA President Brett Root noted. “The 2019 schedule is symbolic of the positive direction our Late Model division is taking. Deery Brothers will return as title sponsor and we can’t thank them enough for their continued support. They’ve been instrumental in making this series happen for 28 years.” The Deery Series opens on the half-mile oval at Davenport Speedway’s Rebel 5K on Friday, April 12. A tripleheader weekend continues Saturday, April 13 at Maquoketa Speedway and Sunday, April 14 at Dubuque Speedway. Cedar County Raceway at Tipton hosts the Saturday, April 20 show. [Read More]

General rules, procedures outlined for 2019 IMCA season

VINTON, Iowa – There aren’t a lot of changes to the general rules and procedures announced today for the 2019 IMCA race season. Two clarifications in the automatic penalties category, however, should be pointed out to drivers who play fast and loose with the rules in their efforts to get around the track faster. The use of data acquisition at any sanctioned event, including practice nights and during hot laps, will result in a disqualification and $10,000 fine while use of counterfeited IMCA branded products results in a DQ and $1,000 fine. Both infractions carry 30-day suspensions and the loss of all points for the season. “Data acquisition results in an extreme advantage for any driver or drivers using it,” noted IMCA President Brett Root. “It is very sophisticated and while costs have come down, still very expensive. It is not the direction we want any of our divisions to go.” “Many of our premier events, such as Super Nationals, the Duel In The Desert and Race For Hope, have practice nights where there would [Read More]

Point season dates announced for IMCA Late Models

VINTON, Iowa – A point season that’s really been in place the last five years is on the official calendar in 2019 for IMCA Late Model drivers. National, state and track points will be awarded for sanctioned events held from the first full weekend of May (3-5) through the final weekend of July (26-28). “Since 2014, most of our Late Model tracks have been running a schedule with 12 or 13 sanctioned events,” IMCA President Brett Root explained. “April frequently saw them dealing with weather issues while more tracks were holding season championship nights earlier in August.” Drivers’ best 15 finishes in their first 30 starts will be used to determine national and state standings in the division. Track championship bonuses will not be awarded in the division beginning this season and Deery Brothers Summer Series points will not apply to national, state or track standings. National points will be based on the best 15 finishes using IMCA’s weekly lineup and point structure, including the minimum field requirements. Schedule for the 33rd annual Deery Series is [Read More]