Feature Archives

Thornton adds Arizona IMCA Modified Tour win to resume

By Mike Spieker CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 12) – He already has wins at many of IMCA’s biggest events on his resume. Ricky Thornton Jr. added another when he took the $1,500 Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour checkers Monday night at Central Arizona Speedway. Thornton started outside of row two and quickly made his way to the front. By lap four of 25 circuits, Thornton had reeled in leader Ryan Gaylord. Thornton executed a perfect slide job in turns three and four to take the lead while Casey Arneson ran within striking distance in third. Once out front, Thornton set sail and checked out from the field throughout the remainder of the caution-free main event. Further back in the top five, Arneson and Hunter Marriott, battled for third. The door opened for Marriott when Arneson pushed up the track in turn two. Marriott took the position and set his sights on Gaylord for the runner-up spot. Marriott quickly erased Gaylord’s advantage but had trouble maneuvering by the no. 7R in lapped traffic. With six to [Read More]

Marriott collects second Arizona IMCA Modified Tour checkers

By Mike Spieker CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 11) – Round three of the second annual Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour continued with a Sunday matinee at Central Arizona Speedway. Just as he did on opening night, Hunter Marriott picked up the $1,500 feature win. “I just had to keep hitting my marks. The checkered came out and I thought it was the yellow. I figured we had another 10 laps to go. I was just focused on keeping my speed up and not letting them get too close,” said Marriott in victory lane. Marriott, who started on the outside of the front row, grabbed the lead on the opening lap over pole sitter Chaz Baca. Casey Arneson moved into second and rode right on the rear bumper of Marriott in the early going of the 25-lap event. By lap 10, 19th starting Ricky Thornton Jr. moved into third with a pass of Russell Allen. With nine circuits remaining, Allen’s top five effort came to an end when he and Ethan Dotson were racing for the [Read More]

O’Neil rebounds for round 2 Arizona IMCA Modified Tour victory

By Mike Spieker QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (Feb. 10) – After a solid third place effort was negated the night before in post-race tech, Jake O’Neil cruised to the win on night two of the Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour at Arizona Speedway. O’Neil started on the pole for the 25-lap main event with Kody Scholpp to his outside. O’Neil led the opening circuit with Scholpp in tow. Meanwhile, Jason Wolla, Casey Arneson and Ethan Dotson raced three-wide for third. The race for third quickly became a battle for second as Dotson and Arneson reeled in Scholpp. Dotson, who was the lone driver in the top five riding the rim around the thin cushion, squeezed around Scholpp for second and brought Wolla with him. Wolla snuck by Dotson for second with 18 laps to go but O’Neil had already stretched his advantage to over two seconds. Lapped traffic slowed O’Neil’s pace significantly, which allowed Wolla to close the gap to just over a half second. Fortunately for O’Neil, the caution was displayed as Wolla was closing [Read More]

Marriott charges to opening night Arizona IMCA Modified Tour victory

By Mike Spieker QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (Feb. 9) – Defending champion Hunter Marriott was the $1,500 main event winner when the highly anticipated Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour got underway Friday at Arizona Speedway. Eighty-eight Modifieds checked in for battle on opening night of the second annual tour. Marriott powered from the eighth starting position to battle Jason Wolla for the lead with four laps to go. Marriott placed a bid for the lead entering turn one as he attempted a slide job on Wolla amongst lapped traffic. Contact was made between Marriott and Wolla, which sent Wolla into the outside retaining wall and Marriott over the thick cushion. “That happens on this kind of race track,” said Marriott of the pass for the lead on Wolla. “[Wolla] messed up exiting turn four and I had a run on him. I knew that would be a good shot to take the lead if I was going to win. We weren’t quite clear, but it was close, though. I wasn’t going to lift and I [Read More]

Abilene Speedway opens with IMCA Ice Breaker special

ABILENE, Texas – Abilene Speedway’s traditional season-opening Ice Breaker is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16 and 17, with four IMCA divisions on the program each evening. IMCA Modifieds run for $700 to win each night, IMCA Southern SportMods for $600 and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $250. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars vie for $750 to win in their Lone Star Tour features. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, state and track points will be awarded for both draw/redraw programs. The pits open at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, pit gates open at 3 p.m. and racing gets underway at 7 p.m. Overnight accommodations with racer’s rates are available at Motel 6, 325 672-8462, or the Whitten Inn, 800 588-5050. Gates open at 5 p.m. and an open practice runs from 6-10 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15. More information about the Ice Breaker, presented by Smiley’s Racing Products, Showtime Signs & Designs and NAPA Auto Parts, can be directed to promoter Rob Poor at 325 725-3849 or [Read More]

Eight dates announced for 2018 Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout

By Ben Deatherage YREKA, Calif. – Eight $1,000 to win feature races are on the schedule for the June 22-30 Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout. All features are qualifying events for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot and pay a minimum of $100 to win. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region and IMCA State points will be awarded each night for events in California and Oregon. Tow money is $50. The tour will once again be kicked off at Siskiyou Motor Speedway in Yreka, for the lone Californian date on Friday, June 22. The tour will head north to Southern Oregon Speedway on Saturday, June 23 before a Sunday, June 24 visit to Coos Bay Speedway. Monday and Tuesday, June 25 and 26 will be spent at Cottage Grove Speedway before heading to the northernmost location, Sunset Speedway Park in Banks on Wednesday, June 27. Thursday, June 28 is reserved for the only travel date of the tour. Willamette Speedway hosts the closing rounds of the Shootout on Friday [Read More]

Thornton is $1,000 Dirt Dominator winner

By Mike Spieker QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (Feb. 8) – The second annual Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour got underway Thursday evening with practice night at Arizona Speedway. Following the night’s practice session was the inaugural Dirt Dominator, a $1,000-to-win, 16-car bracket race for the IMCA Modifieds. Chandler driver Ricky Thornton Jr. walked through the field to capture the overall victory. Thornton topped Jake O’Neil in the championship round, utilizing the inside line starting position. “I knew it was going to be tough. Jake (O’Neil) has been really good,” Thornton said from victory lane. “I picked the bottom because I only ran one lap on the top. I knew I just had to get out front and not mess up.” Thornton took the lead coming to the flag stand off turn four after taking the green flag down the backstretch. O’Neil put his no. 0 machine on the cushion but Thornton was too strong on the bottom and ran unchallenged en route to the victory. Thornton defeated Delbert Shannon in the opening round before knocking off Russell [Read More]

IMCA Hawkeye Dirt Tour, Dirt Knights join forces in 2018

VINTON, Iowa – The merging of IMCA’s Hawkeye Dirt Tour for Modifieds and the Dirt Knights guarantees twice as much excitement on and off the track for race fans in 2018. Eight races are confirmed with a couple more yet to be scheduled said IMCA President Brett Root. Opening night will be Monday, May 28 at the traditional home track of the IMCA Modified division, Benton County Speedway in Vinton. Feature winners earn a $2,000 share of the $10,000 purse to be paid each night. All features are qualifying events for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot and pay a minimum of $200 to start and $100 tow. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Side Biter Chassis North Central Region and Allstar Performance State points will be awarded. Entry fee will be $75. “The tour has opened at Vinton six times since it was started in 2010 and our intentions are to continue a similar schedule as in previous seasons date and location-wise,” Root said. “We will finalize details and announce the schedule this month.” [Read More]

$1,500 to win features top nine Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour dates

QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. – $1,500 to win features will be complemented by sunshine and 85 degree days over the course of the Feb. 9-18 Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour. One hundred and eleven Modified drivers, and another 49 Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod competitors, representing 16 states and two provinces, were pre-registered for the second annual tour. Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events are Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9 and 10 at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek; Sunday and Monday, Feb. 11 and 12 at Central Arizona Speedway in Casa Grande; Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 14 and 15 at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria; and Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 16-18 at Cocopah Speedway in Somerton. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, Allstar Performance State and special series points will be awarded to the Modifieds. A minimum of $150 will be paid to start each feature. Arizona Speedway opens the pit gates at 3 p.m. and the grandstand at 4 p.m., with racing at 6:30 p.m. both nights. [Read More]

IMCA Big Chill Throwdown starts season this weekend at 281 Speedway

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – IMCA Modifieds now race for $1,000 to win along with a berth on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot on opening night of 281 Speedway’s Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9 and 10 Big Chill Throwdown. The 2018 lidlifter at Stephenville boasts a $600 to win feature for the Modifieds on Saturday while IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Southern SportMods battle for $500 top checks each night and Mach-1 Sport Compacts race for $200 to win. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, Allstar Performance State and track points will be awarded and both shows are draw/redraw. There is no entry fee. Pits open at 3 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 6 p.m. both nights. Racing starts at 8 p.m. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, military and students, and free for kids five and under. Pit passes are $35. More information is available on Facebook or by calling 512 636-0528.