Feature Archives

Heartland Park open again with Sunday shows for four IMCA divisions

TOPEKA, Kan. – The green flag flies again this season at Heartland Park, with four IMCA sanctioned divisions running Sunday nights on the 3/8-mile dirt oval located on the south side of Topeka. Now owned by Chris Payne, the facility will be promoted by brothers Larry and John Lowrey. Weekly race programs will feature Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. “We have a lot of drivers in all these divisions in the area,” Larry Lowrey said. “Our decision to sanction the Modifieds speaks for itself. They’re the class everyone wants to see and we’ve got a lot of the best Modified drivers around this area.” Track officials are putting the finishing touches on the 2016 schedule at Heartland Park, which also includes events on the ¼-mile asphalt drag strip and 2.5-mile asphalt road course. Tentative opening night on the dirt track is April 24. The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season would continue into September. The Lowreys had promoted Heartland Park in [Read More]

Next Winter Challenge shows Jan. 29, 30 at Canyon

PEORIA, Ariz. – A pair of $1,250 features for Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds are on tap for the second weekend of the Winter Challenge at Canyon Speedway Park. Both Friday, Jan. 29 and Saturday, Jan. 30 main events are 2016 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifiers. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. on Friday. Gates open at 3 p.m. and the first green flag flies at 5 p.m. Saturday. Defending champion Ricky Thornton Jr. won two of the three Winter Challenge features at Peoria last weekend. Hunter Marriott was the other winner. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Racing Western Region and Allstar Performance State points are awarded each night of the Winter Challenge. More information is available by calling 602 258-7223 and at the www.canyonspeedwaypark.com website.

Thornton shines again at Canyon Winter Challenge

By Lonnie Wheatley PEORIA, Ariz. (Jan. 24) – Ricky Thornton Jr. captured the lion’s share of Sunday night honors at Canyon Speedway Park by racing to victory lane in round three of Winter Challenge action atop the 1/3-mile clay oval. Thornton raced to his second Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified feature win of the weekend, leading all 25 circuits from the pole. Tim Ward worked his way up from ninth in short order and chased Thornton to the line with Saturday winner Hunter Marriott rounding out the podium in third. Anthony Roth and Cody Laney rounded out the top five. Winter Challenge 2016 continues with Round Four action going green at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. Feature results – 1. Ricky Thornton Jr.; 2. Tim Ward; 3. Hunter Marriott; 4. Anthony Roth; 5. Cody Laney; 6. Mark Stewart; 7. Brian Schultz; 8. Ryan Gaylord; 9. Jason Noll; 10. Bubba Stafford; 11. Collen Winebarger; 12. Brent Schlafmann; 13. Josh Rogotzke; 14. R.C. Whitwell; 15. Jesse Rogotzke; 16. Kyle Strickler; 17. Steve Simpson Jr.; 18. Ethan Dotson; 19. [Read More]

Marriott celebrates birthday with Winter Challenge checkers

By Lonnie Wheatley PEORIA, Ariz. (Jan. 23) – Hunter Marriott celebrated his 24th birthday by winning the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified main event on Saturday, night two of the five-race Winter Challenge at Canyon Speedway Park. Marriott denied Friday winner Ricky Thornton Jr.’s effort at going two-for-two by battling into the lead on the 18th round en route to victory lane. “It took a little while for me to get rolling. Ricky picked his line and I picked mine, and I thought mine was a little faster,” Marriott said. While Thornton led from the front row at the drop of the green flag, Marriott worked into second and pressured Thornton much of the way before sliding into the lead with just seven laps to go. Thornton tried to slide back into the lead with the white flag in sight, only to slide too far sideways and nearly loop it. Marriott took the win by nearly a straightaway while Thornton recovered and held on to the runner-up position ahead of Ethan Dotson, Jason Noll and 13th-starter Paul Stone. [Read More]

Thornton captures Winter Challenge opener

By Lonnie Wheatley PEORIA, Ariz. (Jan. 22) – Defending champion Ricky Thornton Jr. was the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified main event winner when the Winter Challenge opened Friday at Canyon Speedway Park. Thornton earned $1,250 by besting a loaded field. Forty-four Modifieds were entered in all. Thornton led all 25 laps – the victory was his career 79th in the division – while keeping a host of challengers at bay. Jason Noll took runner-up honors while Lance Mari raced through the field from 21st to capture the show position. Paul Stone and 18th-starter Hunter Marriott rounded out the top five. Thornton was already a 2016 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot candidate. Feature results – 1. Ricky Thornton Jr.; 2. Jason Noll; 3. Lance Mari; 4. Paul Stone; 5. Hunter Marriott; 6. Collen Winebarger; 7. Ethan Dotson; 8. Tim Ward; 9. Jesse Rogotzke; 10. Guy Norton; 11. Anthony Roth; 12. George Fronsman; 13. Jeff Stafford; 14. Bryson Curry; 15. Zack Madrid; 16. Ross Statham; 17. Cody Laney; 18. Cole Peterson; 19. Kyle Strickler; 20. Joey [Read More]

Funeral services are Wednesday for former Heart O’ Texas promoter Gene Adamcik

WEST, Texas – Former Heart O’ Texas Speedway promoter and owner Gene Adamcik died Friday, Jan. 22 at Providence Health Center in Waco. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of the Assumption in West. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. A lifelong race fan, driver and track employee, Adamcik and partner Richard Rogers purchased Heart O’ Texas in 1981. He remained involved after selling the track in 2013 and spent his final day on earth at his favorite place. HO’T began sanctioning its Modifieds with IMCA in 1995, Stock Cars in 1999, Hobby Stocks in 2004 and Southern SportMods in 2005. “The Adamciks were the face of Heart O’ Texas for many years. Gene was loved and respected for the passion and perspective he brought to racing,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “Gene was a great supporter of IMCA and put the Southern SportMod division on the map for us. He was so instrumental in its growth and deserves all the credit [Read More]

General rules, procedures announced for 2016 IMCA season

VINTON, Iowa – A word to the wise if you’re even thinking about using an altered rev limiter or competing with chemically treated tires in IMCA this season: Don’t. Penalties for either infraction have been upped to $1,000, plus a 30-day suspension and the loss of all IMCA points. That change is the biggest in 2016 general rules and procedures announced and posted on the IMCA website this month. “These are significant penalties, on par with an engine claim refusal,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “Both would have resulted in $250 fines and suspensions last year so this is obviously something we are taking very seriously.” Rev limiters are used in the Modified, Late Model, Stock Car, Hobby Stock and Northern and Southern SportMod divisions. The penalty for using chemically treated tires apply in those classes as well as the Sprint Cars and Sport Compacts. While the rev limiter penalty can be imposed following discovery at a local track, the tire penalty would only be assessed after samples are tested at the laboratory contracted by [Read More]

Southern SportMods new on opening night at Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa – The first Southern SportMod champion will be crowned at the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. A complete program for the class will be run on opening night Monday, Sept. 5 at Boone Speedway. Purse and entry fee amounts are to be determined. “We wanted to make this announcement now so drivers can make plans to attend,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “A lot of them will be traveling from two or three states away so we hope to get sponsorship involved to bump up the purse to help cover travel expenses.” The division won’t be part of the Sept. 3 Prelude to the Super Nationals show at Boone but drivers can hotlap that evening. Their qualifying format will be similar to the one used for Sport Compacts. The main event field will take the green flag three wide and 10 deep. “The problem we have had adding Southern SportMods at Super Nationals in the past has been the day,” Root said. “After the Late Models rained out on Monday, they [Read More]

Ken Schrader joins IMCA Modified fields for Frostbuster specials at Oskaloosa, Vinton, Marshalltown and Boone

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – Ken Schrader returns to Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified fields for all four nights of Frostbuster Week. Southern Iowa Speedway at Oskaloosa hosts opening night on Wednesday, March 30. Frostbusters follow on Thursday, March 31 at Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Friday, April 1 at Marshalltown Speedway and Saturday, April 2 at Boone Speedway. Top prize each night for the Modifieds is $1,000 with a berth on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot at stake as well. Most recently a Frostbuster competitor last spring, Schrader has enjoyed early-season success in the Belleville Motorsports North Central Region in the past. The popular NASCAR driver was a Frostbuster winner in 2012. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $500 to win, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods for $400 to win and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $250 to win each night of the Frostbuster. One thousand dollar point funds will be paid to top five drivers in each division. Champions will be eligible to qualify for their respective race of champions events during the IMCA Speedway [Read More]

Hawkeye Dirt Tour set for Memorial Day opener at Vinton

VINTON, Iowa – Opening night for the seventh annual Hawkeye Dirt Tour brings Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds to their traditional home track on Memorial Day. The Monday, May 30 show marks the fifth occasion the tour has taken its first green flag of the season at Benton County Speedway. The Vinton oval was the site of the first-ever IMCA Modified event in 1979. In all, nine dates are on the 2016 tour schedule. Features pay a minimum of $1,000 to win and $150 to start, and will be qualifying events for 2016 or 2017 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballots. Following the opener at Benton County are Dirt Tour programs Thursday, June 9 at Kossuth County Speedway in Algona and Tuesday, June 14 at West Liberty Raceway. Touring Modifieds headline Hancock County Speedway’s Tuesday, June 28 Salute To Veterans program at Britt. The first-ever HDT race at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway in Des Moines is Tuesday, July 19. The rest of that midweek tripleheader sees the tour at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa on Wednesday, July [Read More]