Feature Archives

IMCA crate engine track champions earn $39,500 in Chevrolet Performance bonuses

GRAND BLANC, Mich. – Bonuses totaling $39,500 have been paid by Chevrolet Performance to IMCA drivers winning 2016 track championships while competing exclusively with crate engines. One hundred and twenty-one different drivers in the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock divisions won a total of 158 track titles with crate engines this season. Bonuses of $250 per track championship were mailed this month from the IMCA home office. This was the third season in the latest three-year bonus agreement with Chevrolet Performance, which has now awarded some $200,000 to eligible drivers over the course of the bonus program. “This has been a lucrative program for our members since its inception over a decade ago and we appreciate the support Chevrolet has shown IMCA racers during that time,” noted IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder. “We’ll continue to structure this program to put cash in the pockets of IMCA drivers and recognize track championships.” The 52 crate-powered Modified drivers winning 66 track titles and [Read More]

Further clarifications announced to 2017 IMCA rules

VINTON, Iowa – Several further clarifications have been announced to 2017 rules initially released by IMCA in November. A left front take-up spring will now be allowed in the Late Model division. The maximum spoiler width was increased from 72 to 72-1/2 inches while the maximum diagonal measurement from the center of the rear axle to the top of the interior deck was upped from 52 to 54 inches. No tolerance will be allowed in measuring either dimension, emphasized IMCA President Brett Root. Wording regarding standard weight axles tubes has also been added for Late Models and Modifieds and Root said drivers in both divisions should read those rules again. The rule implemented during the 2016 season allowing a claim/exchange for Stock Cars with the 350 cfm carburetor option but not the 500 cfm option will be continued. And wording allowing flat milling on the combustion side of the head only in the Stock class has been removed. “With the PRI trade show held after the release of our rules and proof reading by our [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds new in 2017 at N.Y.’s Thunder Mountain Speedway

CENTER LISLE, N.Y. – IMCA-sanctioned Modifieds return to Thunder Mountain Speedway in 2017, headlining Saturday programs at the south central New York speedplant. The first point race for the newest addition to the Dirt Works Eastern Region will be April 15. The tentative schedule for the 3/8-mile clay oval just north of Center Lisle sees the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified season running to Sept. 2. “There are a lot of IMCA Modified drivers in this area and I know many of them personally,” Thunder Mountain owner and promoter Karl Spoonhower said. “IMCA Modifieds are good looking cars, they put on pretty decent shows, the fans like them and that’s the name of the game.” The upcoming season will be the 26th at Thunder Mountain. Spoonhower had started his own construction company to build the facility in the early 1990s and got back into the race track promotional business in 2014. “I think we’ve got the nicest racing surface of any track in the area. We put 700 truckloads of new clay on it last year,” [Read More]

Brenn named IMCA executive director of competition

VINTON, Iowa – Dave Brenn has a new job and some new responsibilities with America’s oldest automotive racing sanctioning body. Brenn has been named executive director of competition for IMCA. As such, he’ll be in charge of the competition department while continuing the same responsibilities he’d held as the organization’s director of division development for the past four years. “This is really a change in workload,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “Competition Director Tom Gutowski will continue his current duties. While Dave will be taking on more responsibilities, for example he’ll still research new products for their possible use in IMCA.” While Brenn will continue traveling to and heading up tech at IMCA events around the country, he also becomes the first point of contact for drivers and local track officials with tech-related questions. “This seems like a natural progression. I am very excited about this position and am proud to be associated with IMCA,” Brenn said. “After a career of 30-plus years in the telecommunications industry, I’m happy to be working for IMCA. I [Read More]

IMCA national awards banquet honors 2016’s best

LINCOLN, Neb. (Nov. 26) – IMCA honored the best of the best Saturday night, during the national awards banquet in Lincoln, Neb. National champions taking their turns on stage and at the podium were Jordan Grabouski, Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified; Rob Toland, IMCA Late Model; Andy Shouse, IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Car; Mike Nichols, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car; Shannon Anderson, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock; Jeffrey Abbey, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod; Tony Olson, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod; and Nate Coopman, Sport Compact. Nichols, who matched Coopman’s single-season record with 54 wins this season, and Anderson became the first drivers in IMCA’s modern era to win career sixth national crowns in the same division. Coopman raced to his career fourth crown, Toland to his third and Grabouski to his second. Shouse, Abbey and Olson all earned career-first national titles. Modified regional champions included Cory Sample, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western; Grabouski, Jet Racing Central; Matt Guillaume, Razor Chassis South Central; Chris Abelson, BMS North Central; and A.J. Ward, Dirt Works Eastern. Nichols reigned in the [Read More]

IMCA Manufacturer’s Cup winner has new name, seventh title in eight years

GREAT BEND, Kan. – While the name engraved on the trophy will be different, BMS by Xtreme continued its IMCA’s Manufacturer’s Cup success in 2016. The chassis builder now located in Great Bend, Kan., had the top point total for the sixth straight year, and for the seventh time in the program’s eight years. Points are awarded based on the make of chassis driven by drivers finishing in the top 10 in each of the five regions for Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds. BMS by Xtreme paced both the Western and Eastern regions and finished with 49 points. Razor Chassis ruled in the North Central region and was second with 37 while GRT Race Cars led the way in the Central and South Central regions and totaled 36 points. Larry Shaw Race Cars was fourth with 20 points. Harris Auto Racing was fifth with 18 points and Victory by Moyer rounded out the top six builders with 13 points. All regional cup winners get plaques and BMS by Xtreme receives a $500 cash prize and [Read More]

Payne prevails for fifth IMCA Duel In The Desert crown

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 12) – Jeremy Payne extended his Duel In The Desert record to five career championships Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Payne completed his charge from 10th starting to the lead just before midway in the 40-lap main event for Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds on the half-mile Dirt Track, then ran away from a succession of challengers for the $7,777 payday. The new Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier was chased across the stripe by Tim Ward, Johnny Saathoff, Johnny Scott and Peyton Taylor. Ward had started 12th and Saathoff 13th, while Scott came out of a last-chance race and made the top four all the way from 27th starting. Defending race winner and pole starter Lucas Schott was the early leader, with Ricky Thornton Jr. and Bobby Hogge IV right behind. Thornton used the low line to take the front spot away on lap 11, then got together with Hogge during a three-wide battle to stay in the lead. Hogge exited with a flat tire, Thornton was sent pitside for [Read More]

Friday IMCA Modified Duel In The Desert qualifiers go to Most, Taylor

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 11) – Josh Most and Peyton Taylor started third and finished first in their respective Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified qualifying features on night two of Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Duel in The Desert. Most led Jordan Grabouski, four-time Duel king Jeremy Payne and Rob Sanders across the stripe in Friday’s first 25-lapper while Taylor won ahead of Jason Noll, Tim Ward and Stormy Scott in the nightcap. Most and Taylor each earned $777; the top four from each qualifier advance to Saturday’s $7,777 to win Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying main event. Most ran the low side off turn four to take the lead from Sanders the second time around the half-mile Dirt Track. Following a lap seven caution, Most, Sanders and Grabouski pulled away while Todd Shute had his hands full holding off Payne and Benji LaCrosse for the final transfer position. Payne took over fourth with 10 laps left. Grabouski closed on the leader as the front pair neared traffic but Most held on to win [Read More]

Schott, Sobbing ace opening night IMCA Duel In The Desert qualifiers

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 10) – Two drivers who already knew the way to victory lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway returned there on opening night of the IMCA Duel In The Desert. Defending Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified race winner Lucas Schott topped Thursday’s first qualifying feature, ahead of Bobby Hogge IV, three-time Duel winner Terry Phillips and two-time winner Johnny Saathoff. Sobbing, winner of the 2011 Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod headliner at the half-mile Dirt Track, topped the second qualifier with Ricky Thornton Jr., Lance Mari and Chris Abelson next across the stripe. Each Modified qualifier paid $777 to win and sent the top four to Saturday’s $7,777 to win main event. Total car count for opening night was 256. Drivers from 22 states and three Canadian provinces competed at LVMS and 17 states and two provinces were represented in Thursday’s Modified qualifiers. Schott drew the pole start for the first qualifier and held off Benji LaCrosse before Hogge moved into the fray halfway through the 25-lapper. Coming up to traffic, Hogge [Read More]

45 consecutive years of sanction awards to be given at IMCA banquet

LINCOLN, Neb. – Marshalltown Speedway will be recognized for sanctioning its Modified division with IMCA for 35 consecutive seasons, during the national awards banquet Saturday, Nov. 26 in Lincoln, Neb. In all, 45 sanction awards will be given to 37 different tracks for five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or 35 consecutive years of running an IMCA-sanctioned division during weekly race programs. Receiving 30-year awards will be Luxemburg Speedway for Modifieds and Independence Motor Speedway for Late Models. Twenty-five year plaques go to Lincoln County Raceway and Ventura Raceway for Modifieds and Stuart Speedway for Stock Cars. Nodak Speedway and Skyline Raceway Park receive 20-year plaques for Modifieds. Boone Speedway, the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Marshalltown, Shelby County Speedway and Stuart Speedway have all sanctioned Hobby Stocks with IMCA for 20 years. Fifteen-year awards will be presented to Barona Speedway and Battle Mountain Raceway for Modifieds, Lexington Raceway for Stock Cars and 281 Speedway and Benton County Speedway for Hobby Stocks. Awards for a decade of sanctioning go to Diamond Mountain Speedway in Utah and Southwest [Read More]