Feature Archives

Texarkana 67 to feature IMCA Modifieds, Southern SportMods on Friday nights

TEXARKANA, Ark. (Jan. 8) – Promoter Dennis Gardner Jr. is looking forward to seeing a lot of the area race cars that have been sitting idle the past few seasons back on the Texarkana 67 Speedway oval this season. IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Southern SportMods are new in 2018 to Friday night programs at the ¼-mile dirt speedplant. The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National point season for both divisions runs from April 6 to Aug. 31. “There is a lot of interest in the IMCA sanction. A lot of people are excited about it,” Gardner said. “We already have 15 to 20 Modified drivers in the area who are converting their old cars or building new cars.” All that interest is understandable as the Modified track champion will receive a 2018 chassis purchased by Texarkana 67 from Larry Shaw Race Cars. The Texarkana 67 management team was in charge of four events last fall. The IMCA rules package in general and economics in particular figured in their decision to sanction beginning this year. “Three [Read More]

New part numbers announced for GM 602, 604 crate engines

VINTON, Iowa – General Motor has introduced an improved sealing system for GM 602 and 604 crate engines. A cap seal system has replaced the breakaway bolts effective immediately. This has resulted in an additional part number for both GM 602 and GM 604 engines. Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod drivers can compete with 602 numbered 88869602 crates while Modified drivers can compete with 604 numbered 88869604 crates, as well as the previously approved part numbers. “GM has added a new part number for what is essentially the third generation of 602 and 604 engines,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “Those additions demand a part number change but assembly and performance remain the same. Earlier part numbered engines are not less competitive and remain 100 percent IMCA legal.” “While rulebooks have already been sent to print, the timing is actually very good for us,” Root said. “IMCA seals must be put on the new part numbered GM engines right out of the gate when they are purchased from a GM Performance dealer.” “This [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds head Jan. 13, 14 Winter Heat cards at Perris Auto Speedway

By Scott Daloisio PERRIS, Calif. – While fans of most race tracks across the nation are months away from the first race of 2018, Perris Auto Speedway fans are days away from the opening races of the year when the Riverside County racing facility hosts Winter Heat featuring the IMCA Modifieds along with Super Stocks, Street Stocks and American Factory Stocks on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 13 and 14. The pit gate will open at noon both days, spectator gates will open at 2 p.m. and racing will begin at 3 p.m. Both days will feature complete shows with heats, “B” mains (if needed) and “A” mains for all classes. The IMCA Modified portion of each show will award IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, Allstar Performance California State and Perris Auto Speedway track points. 2018 is going to see an expanded season for the IMCA Modified drivers and the drivers from the PASSCAR Super Stocks, Street Stocks and American Factory Stocks series at The PAS. With the racing weekends [Read More]

IMCA office closed for holidays

VINTON, Iowa – The IMCA home office will close for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays at noon CST on Thursday, Dec. 21 and re-open at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2. Happy holidays to all and the best of luck to all drivers throughout the 2018 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing Season.

32nd annual Deery Brothers Summer Series set for 2018

VINTON, Iowa – Running under the Deery Brothers banner for a 27th consecutive season, the Summer Series for IMCA Late Models returns in 2018 with dates at familiar venues as well as tracks that have been absent from the schedule for years or even decades. While scheduling of $2,000 to win, $300 to start events continues, the 32nd annual tour will return to Davenport Speedway for the first time since 2014 for opening night in April. The series travels to Maquoketa Speedway, Quad City Speedway, Boone Speedway, Marshalltown Speedway, Benton County Speedway, 34 Raceway, CJ Speedway and Fayette County Speedway. Five or six more races are expected to be added to the schedule and all dates will be announced in January, as will new race format procedures. The Deery Series last visited CJ in 1996 and was most recently at Benton County in 2005 and Fayette County in 2009. Home track of series ironman Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown Speedway again hosts the Miller Lite 50 Deery event. Boone rolls out the red carpet for both Memorial [Read More]

IMCA crate engine track champions earn $36,500 in Chevrolet Performance bonuses

GRAND BLANC, Mich. – Chevrolet Performance has paid $36,500 in bonuses to IMCA drivers who won track championships while competing exclusively with crate engines this season. One hundred and forty-six drivers in the IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod divisions received $250 checks, mailed this month from the IMCA home office. This was the first season in the current three-year bonus agreement with Chevrolet Performance, which has now awarded nearly $240,000 to eligible drivers over the course of the program. “This has been a great program for our racers for well over a decade and Chevrolet has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to IMCA drivers during that time,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder noted. “Track champions were paid $250 and it is a bonus that will remain in place again in 2018.” The 75 crate-powered Modified drivers winning track titles and $18,750 in bonuses were: Drew Armstrong, Chaz Baca, Eric Barnes, Steven Bowers Jr., Randy Brown, John Burrow Jr., John Campos, Cayden Carter, Justin [Read More]

Friesen awards crate engines to three IMCA rookies of year

LINCOLN, Neb. – Friesen Performance made even bigger winners of three rookie of the year award recipients during the IMCA national banquet. Modified rookie of the year Clint Luellen received a 604 crate engine. Hobby Stock rookie of the year Lance Mielke and Northern SportMod rookie of the year Jacob Olmstead both earned 602 crates for their efforts in 2017. “This is the second year for this program, which is obviously a great benefit to the rookies of the year in these three divisions,” noted IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder. “We appreciate Friesen’s title sponsorship of the national rookie program in all three divisions and look forward to continuing this program well into the future.” In addition to completing IMCA rookie of the year requirements, drivers must have displayed a Friesen logo on their race car to be eligible for the crate engine award. Also the top first-year driver in the Side Biter Chassis North Central Region, Luellen won nine features and was ninth in the national points race. He earned three track championships and [Read More]

Lone Star Stock Car Tour totes $5,000 champion’s check

ABILENE, Texas – A rich week of racing in Texas will see IMCA Sunoco Stock Car drivers battle for shares of nearly $15,000 in point fund money and $750 to win each night of the Lone Star Stock Car Tour. Champion of the inaugural tour, sponsored by Sniper Speed, takes home a whopping $5,000 and becomes eligible to qualify for the Sunoco Race Fuels Race of Champions during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. The runner-up earns $2,500, with $2,000 paid for third, $1,500 for fourth, $1,000 for fifth, $500 for sixth, $400 for seventh, $300 for eighth, $250 for ninth and $150 for 10th. In addition, drivers finishing 11th on back with perfect attendance will be eligible for a $1,000 cash drawing. The Lone Star Tour opens with Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16 and 17 events during Abilene Speedway’s traditional season-opening Ice Breaker special. Sunday and Monday, Feb. 18 and 19 dates follow at 281 Speedway. Boyd Raceway hosts Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 20 and 21 races before the [Read More]

Fluckiger soars to Design 500 Lady Eagle honors

COLUMBUS, Neb. – Brooke Fluckiger ended her six-year Mach-1 Sport Compact career with a couple of career highlights. Fluckiger, from Columbus, Neb., raced to a top-five finish at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, then put the wraps on 2017 by winning the coveted Design 500 Lady Eagle award. Champion at Boone County Raceway and U.S. 30 Speedway as well as the Allstar Performance Nebraska State champion, Fluckiger had the top point total among the 200-plus female drivers who competed in IMCA this season. “Winning the Lady Eagle has always been in the back of my mind,” said Fluckiger, a Duncan native and cousin of Modified hotshoes Dylan Smith and Damian Smith. “I’m very proud to be able to have done it racing against the top competition in Nebraska and the United States. It’s nice to show other female drivers we can race with the guys.” “Super Nationals was probably the most exciting part of the season,” she added. “We’ve totaled a car at Boone before so being able to finish just [Read More]

IMCA announces 2018 Late Model rules

VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 5) – The big news for IMCA Late Model drivers in 2018 is wider tires and wider wheels. IMCA will allow both beginning next season. Rules for the division were announced today (Tuesday). “Moving the maximum tire and wheel width rules to a maximum of 14 inches is a step toward industry standards,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “We feel we have the best engine rules and most stable Late Model division in the United States but narrower tire and wheel rules have somewhat hindered our growth.” Required tire for the division beginning in 2018 will be the WRS2 D55 Hoosier Late Model tire. “It’s a pretty big change for us,” acknowledged Root, “but we think it is better for the long-term direction of the division.” 2018 rules specifically state that air shocks will not be allowed, a move Root noted was consistent with other IMCA divisional rules. “Air shocks have proven to not be in the best interests of any IMCA divisions, dating back to the 1980s,” he stated. And the [Read More]