Feature Archives

IMCA Hawkeye Dirt Tour has Memorial Day opener, new title sponsor in Arnold Motor Supply

VINTON, Iowa (Feb. 8) – IMCA’s Hawkeye Dirt Tour will have a new title sponsor when the series opens on Memorial Day at Benton County Speedway. Arnold Motor Supply has signed on as sponsor of the eighth annual Modified tour and will provide a portion of $5,650 point funds to be paid each of the next three seasons. The champion takes home $1,000 along with a Traeger Lil’ Tex Elite Pellet Grill, valued at $700, courtesy of Arnold Motor Supply, the Spencer-based auto parts supplier. Nine dates, all paying a minimum of $1,000 to win and $150 to start, are on the 2017 schedule and are qualifying events for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. The Monday, May 29 event marks the sixth occasion the tour has opened at Vinton, where the first-ever IMCA Modified event was held in 1979. The Miller Lite 30 date June 6 at Marshalltown Speedway and the June 13 show at West Liberty Raceway are part of midweek doubleheaders with the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models. Hancock County Speedway [Read More]

Sport Compacts have first IMCA national decal program, Big Daddy, Summit both have new Hobby Stock roles

VINTON, Iowa – IMCA’s Sport Compact division has a national decal program of its own beginning this season while Big Daddy Race Cars and Summit Racing Equipment both have new roles in backing the Hobby Stocks starting in 2017. While Sport Compact drivers have been receiving decal packets, this season will be the first where they are required to provide proof of decal placement to become eligible for national point fund shares. In addition to Speedway Motors and division title sponsor Mach-1, Sport Compact drivers must display Karl Performance and DynaBatt and Screamin’ Demon – both Performance Distributors brands – decals. “All these decals were sent to Sport Compact drivers last year but this season will be the first where they have a specific location to put them on their race car,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder noted. “Hopefully this will alleviate the number of questions drivers have had about decal placement. They must also send in photos proving decal placement, like all other divisions, by Aug. 1 to be eligible for shares of their [Read More]

Only rain can slow Stone in postponed race to Arizona Modified Tour checkers

YUMA, Ariz. (Feb. 11-12) – Paul Stone considered asking to keep the one spoon as a souvenir after drawing the pole start for the second installment of the Arizona IMCA Modified Tour. After inclement weather postponed the main event from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, Stone had two better mementos: A trophy and a check for $1,250. Stone led all 20 laps, pulling away from Hunter Marriott and Spencer Wilson after a caution with seven circuits left. “I think this was the first time in 19 years of racing that I’ve ever drawn the pole for a big show like this,” said Stone, new to the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. “I’ve given other guys a hard time for starting on the front row because there’s only one direction you can go from there.” Both the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod features were in the books and Modifieds were in staging when rain brought an early end to the Saturday program. “That was a little bit cruel,” Stone said, after some [Read More]

New IMCA sanctions have phone ringing off the hook at Lubbock’s West Texas Raceway

LUBBOCK, Texas – The phone has been ringing off the hook at West Texas Raceway. New owner and promoter Corky Matthews has made a major investment in upgrading the Lubbock track, which sanctions IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods beginning in 2017. “It’s like a brand new track, probably one of the best facilities around,” Matthews said. “We’ve spent $300,000 so far on a complete remodel. It’s getting real nice and people are getting excited about coming to the races here. I’ve had 400 to 500 people call me about it already.” Nearly 40 semi loads of clay were added as the 3/8-mile oval was widened another 15 feet. “This track was built in the 1960s and I raced late models, sprint cars and street stocks on it myself,” Matthews noted. “It was one of the fastest tracks around.” New grandstand bleachers and lighting purchased from a professional football stadium are in place. New landscaping and work has already started on a 20×6-foot scoreboard. “The lights are [Read More]

Gaylord steals IMCA Modified win from Center on last lap at Cocopah

By Mike Spieker YUMA, Ariz. (Feb. 12) – Last-lap larceny made Ryan Gaylord the winner of the Arizona IMCA Modified Tour finale Sunday at Cocopah Speedway. On the final lap of what was also the last of three Winter Nationals events, Gaylord followed leader Eric Center into turns three and four. When Center missed the groove on the bottom while trying to maneuver past a lap car, it left the door wide open for Gaylord and he capitalized. Gaylord shot to the bottom to take the lead off turn four and sped to the $1,250 win. “That was basically my only shot to get the win,” said Gaylord, already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. “I was just trying to be patient and save my tires out there.” As a result of the miscue, Center drifted back to fourth. He followed Justin Zeitner and Hunter Marriott to the line. After taking the lead on lap seven, Center had held the point all the way until the final lap. “I almost want to cry right [Read More]

Moore is too much for opening night Arizona IMCA Mod Tour foes

By Mike Spieker YUMA, Ariz. (Feb. 10) – Bob Moore scored the opening night Arizona IMCA Modified Tour win after a couple spirited battles with Shawn Strand and Hunter Marriott. The first annual tour commenced Friday night at Cocopah Speedway with an outstanding field of 85 Modifieds in attendance. Moore’s victory paid $1,250 and put him on the ballot for the upcoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. After taking the lead away from polesitter Strand, on lap two, Moore opened up a sizeable lead and checked out from the field. As the race advanced, however, Strand’s machine got faster and he was able to reel in and pass Moore to reclaim the lead. The race was slowed at halfway as seven cars tangled in turn one to bring out the caution. When the race resumed, Moore went to the low side of turns one and two to grab the lead away from Strand. Marriott followed suit and rode in Moore’s tire tracks to take the second spot. In the closing laps, lapped traffic allowed Marriott to [Read More]

Four IMCA divisions run at Abilene Ice Breaker special

ABILENE, Texas – The 2017 running of the Abilene Speedway Ice Breaker is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17 and 18, with four IMCA divisions on the program each evening. IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds run for $700 to win each night, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods for $600, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $400 and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $250. IMCA Speedway Moors Weekly Racing national, regional, Allstar Performance State and local track points will be awarded for both draw/redraw programs. The pits open at 4 p.m., hot laps are from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and racing is at 7:30 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, pit gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps are from 5-6 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. 16. More information about the Ice Breaker, presented by Smiley’s Racing Products, Showtime Signs & Designs and [Read More]

$1,200 top prize for IMCA RaceSaver Sprints at Lone Star Smackdown

KILGORE, Texas – IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars chase a $1,200 top check at Lone Star Speedway’s Saturday, Feb. 11 Lone Star Sprint Smackdown. A minimum of $200 will be paid to take the green flag in the main event. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and Allstar Performance State points will be awarded. Tow money is $100 and there is no entry fee. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 4:30 p.m. Track packing is at 5:45 p.m. with hot laps and racing to follow. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $5 for kids ages 6-11. Pit passes are $35. More information is available by calling 903 986-9731 and at the www.lonestarspeedway.com website.

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through Feb. 15

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Spencer Wilson, Queen Creek, Ariz., 230; 2. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 229; 3. Brian Schultz, Casa Grande, Ariz., and Scott Sluka, Casa Grande, Ariz., both 196; 5. Jeremy Thornton, Tucson, Ariz., 186; 6. Garrett Funk, Phoenix, Ariz., 182; 7. Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz., 177; 8. Leland Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 176; 9. Marlyn Seidler, Underwood, N.D., 154; 10. Jason Wolla, Ray, N.D., R. Royce Henry, El Cajon, Calif., and Ross Statham, Medicine Hat, Alb., each 147; 13. Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif., 140; 14. Brent Schlafmann, Bismarck, N.D., 133; 15. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif., 132; 16. John Parmeley, Phoenix, Ariz., and Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, both 130; 18. Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., 128; 19. Lance Mari, Imperial, Calif., 127; 20. Garth Dushanek, Avondale, Ariz., 126. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars – 1. Marcus Thomas, Corsicana, Texas, 40; 2. Austin Mundie, Dallas, Texas, 39; 3. John Ricketts, Burleson, Texas, 37; 4. Jake Martens, Fairview, Okla., 35; 5. Tucker Doughty, Heath, Texas, 34; 6. Robert Vetter, Wolfe City, Texas, 32; 7. Chip Graham, Lewisville, Texas, 31; 8. Michael [Read More]

New York’s Glen Ridge Motorsports Park puts IMCA Modifieds on Friday programs

FULTONVILLE, N.Y. – A perfect little track in eastern New York puts IMCA Modifieds on its Friday night programs beginning this season. Opening night for the sanctioned division at ¼-mile clay Glen Ridge Motorsports Park is now planned for April 14. “I have commitments from 15 guys now and that’s good enough for us to get the class started,” said Promoter Pete Demitraszek. “This is a perfect little track for them, I’ll tell you that. It’s a pretty quick little track.” IMCA Modifieds have made one previous appearance on the Fultonville oval, about four years ago. Demitraszek believes the economy of the division and the rules it brings with it, notably the crate engine option, will make it a success at the newest sanctioned track in IMCA’s Dirt Works Eastern Region. “I really like the rules package and the way IMCA enforces it,” he said. “Keeping the cost of racing down is important. The IMCA Modified is an economical race car and I think the crate engine is going to save the class in this [Read More]