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Thornton reigns again at Winter Challenge 

By Lonnie Wheatley PEORIA, Ariz. (Jan. 29) – Ricky Thornton Jr. maintained the hottest of Winter Challenge 2016 hands on Friday night, posting his third $1,250 Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified triumph in four rounds of competition atop the 1/3-mile Canyon Speedway Park clay oval. Racing from the front row, Thornton set the pace all the way for the second race in a row. Round Two winner Hunter Marriott tried to chase down Thornton to match up the score at two apiece but had to settle for second. Joey Moriarty, 16th starting Tim Ward and 18th starting Brian Schultz rounded out the top five in the 25-lapper. Feature results­– 1. Ricky Thornton Jr.; 2. Hunter Marriott; 3. Joey Moriarty; 4. Tim Ward; 5. Brian Schultz; 6. Paul Stone; 7. Jason Noll; 8. Ryan Gaylord; 9. Curt Lund; 10. Zack Madrid; 11. Josh Rogotzke; 12. Guy Norton; 13. Jesse Rogotzke; 14. Chaz Baca Jr.; 15. Steve Stultz; 16. Mike Martin; 17. Brent Schlafmann; 18. Garth Dushanek; 19. Justin Miller; 20. Lance Mari; 21. Robert Sawyer II; 22. Anthony Roth; 23. [Read More]

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Hadan, Stannard to attend Racing Xtravaganza

YORK, Pa. – Roger Hadan, the new owner of RaceSaver and promoter at Eagle, Neb., Raceway and IMCA Vice President of Operations Jim Stannard will attend the upcoming Racing Xtravaganza at the Expo Center in York, Pa., on Saturday, Feb. 6. Hadan and Stannard will participate in an 11 a.m. seminar outlining RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car racing. The seminar is hosted locally by the Pennsylvania Sprint Series and is open to anyone who wants to learn more about RaceSaver Sprint Car racing. The 2013 Auto Racing Promoter of the Year, Hadan makes his first trip to the area since purchasing RaceSaver and will meet with race teams, regional directors and fans to discuss his future plans and answer questions. Hadan’s Eagle Raceway is the flagship track for RaceSaver in the Midwest and the site of the annual Sprint Car Nationals. More than 90 drivers from across the country competed at the third annual event last September. IMCA sanctions a number of RaceSaver series, keeping track of national and series point standings while administering and paying point [Read More]

Events

Five dates set for Cocopah Speedway’s Winter Nationals

SOMERTON, Ariz. ­– Winter Nationals expands to five dates at Cocopah Speedway. Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and a minimum of $200 to start at Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5 and 6, Tuesday, Feb. 9 and Friday, Feb. 12 shows. The main event on Saturday, Feb. 13 pays $3,000 to win and a minimum of $300 to start. All five features are 2016 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. Also running on each of the five Winter Nationals programs are IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $500 to win and $100 to start, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods for $400 to win and $60 to start, and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $350 to win and $50 to start. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and Allstar Performance State points will be awarded. Pre-entry fee for the week is $100 or $150 on race day. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. each day. Pit passes are $30 a [Read More]

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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]

Events

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.

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]