Events

Beatrice marks milestone with 25th annual Spring Nationals 

BEATRICE, Neb. ­– Beatrice Speedway marks a special event milestone when it hosts the 25th annual Spring Nationals on Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10. Another $10,000 has been added to the purse again in 2018. IMCA Modi­fieds race for $2,500 to win and berths on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot both nights. Each feature pays a minimum of $250 to start and all Modified drivers are guaran­teed $100 a night in tow money. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Chevrolet North­ern SportMods race for $1,000 to win and $100 to start each night. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks vie for $500 to win with $75 paid to start each night. Saturday’s Mach-1 Sport Compact feature pays $200 to win. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, re­gional and Nebraska State points will be awarded both nights. Weekend entry fees are $130 for Modi­fieds, $70 for Stock Cars and Northern SportMods and $50 for Hobby Stocks. One-day entry fees are $80 for Modifieds, $45 for Stock Cars and SportMods, and $35 for Hobby Stocks. En­try [Read More]

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Thursday Dirt Track checkers fly for Sanders 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (March 1) – After solid showings at the Duel In The Desert each of the last two years, Rob Sanders got the best of his Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track foes for a $750 IMCA Modified feature win Thursday night. Sanders started outside Randy Brown on the front row and took charge from the opening green. Alex Stanford was scored second on all 20 circuits and kept the race close after a caution waved with two laps left, but couldn’t catch the leader. “It was amazing,” Sanders said after career win number two in the division and his first victory racing for the Bill Henderson team out of Bakersfield, Calif. “I’ve had a lot of seconds and a lot of top fives. It felt good to finally get the monkey off my back.” After “stumbling on” the right setup, Sanders finished sixth in the 2016 Duel and was ninth last year. He’d also finished ninth in the Wednesday event at LVMS. “I literally had the same car I had last year [Read More]

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Marriott is Wednesday IMCA Modified winner at LVMS Dirt Track 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Feb. 28) – Continuing his torrid early season streak, Hunter Marriott was the $750 IMCA Modified winner in the Wednesday special at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Marriott caught pole starter D.J. Shannon for the lead six circuits in and outran R.C. Whitwell for the checkers. “The track was fast and the car was pretty good. There was a lot of lapped traffic but we were able to get through without any problems,” Whitwell said. “I’ve raced there a handful of times and always like to get as many laps in there as possible to get ready for the Duel” (in the Desert, in November). Thirty cars started the 20-lap main event, with Cody Laney, Chaz Baca and Shannon completing the top five. Coming from the fourth starting spot and piloting a Paul Stone-owned ride, Marriott reeled in Shan­non and brought Laney along. The first half of the race was dotted by yellows but ran caution-free the last nine laps. The 18th starting Whitwell took over second and 24th starting [Read More]

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Chevrolet Performance announces rebate application extension 

VINTON, Iowa – Chevrolet Performance offered a $250 rebate on Circle Track Sealed crate engines sold during the Deal Of The Month in February. The program has been so successful, that Chevrolet Performance has gone into backorder for the 604 crate engine. However, Chevrolet Performance will honor the rebate application for engines purchased on or before Feb. 28, but not delivered until March 1 or later. The engine must be purchased in February, although the GM dealer may not be able to deliver the engine until a later date. The dealer must submit this purchase record, as outlined in communications with Chevrolet Performance, on March 1. The customer will not be able to file for their rebate until the engine is received but the rebate center will have a record of the purchase if the dealer files for the extension. Once the rebate form is received and cross-checked by the rebate center, the retail customer will receive their $250 rebate.

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IMCA Modifieds return for spring show at Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The half-mile Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts a pair of $750 to win events for IMCA Modifieds on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 28 and March 1. Features pay a minimum of $75 to start with $50 paid to non-qualifiers. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region and Nevada State points will be awarded both nights. There is a $25 entry fee each night. RACE­ceivers and transponders are required. World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Cars and West Coast USAC Sprint Cars are also on the mid-week card. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. both days.

Events

Big payday for IMCA Modifieds at March 3 Pahrump special

PAHRUMP, Nev. – Three thousand dollars is the winner’s share when IMCA Modifieds travel to Pahrump Valley Speedway for the Saturday, March 3 Stormin’ Mormon Memorial. The event is held in honor of Ray Wulfenstein, a long-time driver from Pahrump nicknamed the Stormin’ Mormon, who died in January of 2017. A minimum of $300 will be paid to start the 40-lap Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region and IMCA Nevada State points will be awarded. Pit gates open at noon and the grandstand opens at 4 p.m. Hot laps are at 4:30 p.m. and racing starts shortly after 5 p.m. Entry fee is $45 and pit passes are $25. Grandstand admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 55 and over, $6 for kids ages 6-14 and free for ages five and under. Questions can be directed to promoter Chad Broadhead at 702 328-8101, event coordinator Bryan Wulfenstein at 775 209-3638 or Modified race director Leland Hibdon at 775 209-6896. “Both Bryan and [Read More]

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Smiley’s Racing Products giving back again as new IMCA Southern SportMod title sponsor

MESQUITE, Texas – Smiley’s Racing Products will celebrate both its 50th year in business and its first season as title sponsor of the IMCA Southern SportMod division in 2018. The Mesquite, Texas, high-performance parts manu­facturer and distributor has signed on to provide a portion of the $9,500 point fund to be paid to top 15 drivers in national standings for Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods. The new three-year agreement runs through the 2020 season. “Many Southern SportMod drivers are already our customers, and our friends. This is another way we can give back to them,” said Smiley’s owner Tom Lorenz. “The Southern SportMods are a very economical, very competitive class. It’s a grassroots-type division and strong because it’s so affordable.” “We have had a very good relationship with IMCA for many years,” he added. “We’ve both been around for a long time and we are proud to be an IMCA sponsor.” The home of Hoosier Tire Southwest, Smiley’s is part of national decal programs for Northern and Southern SportMods. Drivers in both those divisions are [Read More]

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Arizona IMCA Modified Tour ends with Thornton in Cocopah’s victory lane 

By Mike Spieker SOMERTON, Ariz. (Feb. 18) – The second annual Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour came to a close with a Sunday matinee at Cocopah Speedway and Ricky Thornton Jr. ended his afternoon with the $1,500 Winter Nationals feature win. Thornton grabbed the lead from the pole as Aaron Turnbull followed him into second. Thornton quickly pulled away from the field, opening his advantage to over two seconds by lap five. The field stretched itself out throughout the first half of the race until Thornton reached the tail of the field with 13 of 25 laps completed. Mired in traffic, Thornton’s lead quickly evaporated to just a half second on Turnbull. Turnbull, who was looking to pick up his second consecutive main event win, closed to within two car lengths until he was slowed by a lapped car. Thornton simultaneously over-drove turns one and two, which kept Turnbull within striking distance. In clean track, however, Thornton hit his marks and cruised to the checkered flag. “I kind of figured the groove was going to [Read More]

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Abilene Ice Breaker IMCA Lone Star Stock Car Tour wins to Cornelius, Abbey 

ABILENE, Texas (Feb. 16-17) – A first-time racing visitor to Texas and a regular visitor to Abilene Speedway’s victory lane were IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature winners at the season-opening Ice Breaker. Dean Cornelius topped the Friday night feature while Dean Abbey took the Saturday checkers. Nearly 60 entries from 10 states and Canada saw action as both features doubled as Sniper Speed Lone Star Tour-sponsored events and paid $750 to win. Cornelius had traveled to Texas just once previously, catching a rodeo while on vacation in 2017. He won in his first night out in a new Sniper that had been driven just once previously … in a foot of snow a week earlier on a county road near his Minnesota home. After passing Abbey to win their heat race, he drew the pole and led green to checkers. “It was a really cool way to start the series. I just hung onto the bottom,” said Cornelius. “Sniper encouraged us to come and we said ‘Let’s do it.’ There’s no better way to start [Read More]

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Turnbull checks out for Arizona Mod Tour victory on night two at Cocopah Speedway

By Mike Spieker SOMERTON, Ariz. (Feb. 18) – Aaron Turnbull dominated the penultimate night of the Karl Perfor­mance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour, leading all 25 trips around Cocopah Speedway Saturday evening. The $1,500 victory put the Canadian clipper on the ballot for the upcoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Pole sitter Cody Laney jumped out to the early lead at the drop of the green flag but Turnbull pow­ered around the outside off turn four to lead the opening lap. Laney quickly had his hands full with Jeff Taylor, who was seeking his best finish of this year’s tour. Taylor snuck by Laney on lap three and set his sights on Turnbull, who had already established a seven car length lead. Ricky Thornton Jr. became a contender early on as well after he moved by Laney to crack the top three. Lapped traffic tightened things up late in the going. Turnbull’s comfortable lead evaporated to just two car lengths as both Taylor and Thornton reeled him in. Thornton passed Taylor for second just as the caution [Read More]