Feature Archives

New IMCA, RaceSaver pact guarantees national rules, promotion of Sprint class

VINTON, Iowa – Christmas came early for Sprint Car drivers across the country, in the form of a new, joint venture between IMCA and RaceSaver. Under terms of the agreement, RaceSaver founder French Grimes agreed to allow IMCA long-term use of RaceSaver rules for weekly, regional series and special event use. In return, IMCA will provide administration, support existing sanctions and promote new sanctions for the Sprint Car class that will be known as RaceSaver, a division of IMCA. “The signing of this historic partnership strengthens RaceSaver and IMCA, and secures our position as the largest sprint car sanctioning body in existence,” Grimes emphasized. “RaceSaver brings more than 1,000 Sprint Cars in 17 states and IMCA brings an organization that has supported local weekly racing with a national structure.” “RaceSaver participants, regions and tracks can now have the benefit of IMCA’s national structure, insurance programs for participants, and comprehensive programs for regional and national champions,” he continued. “French has developed one of the most cost-effective and innovative engine packages in Sprint Car racing and it [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods new at North Central Speedway in 2015

BRAINERD, Minn. – Saturday night race programs at North Central Speedway feature two IMCA sanctioned divisions beginning next season. Both the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods join weekly shows at the 1/3-mile, D-shaped dirt speedplant near Brainerd. “What drew our attention to IMCA was the support they give, from the president on down, to their tracks. They want us to succeed,” said K.T. Torbert, promoter of the Cliff Sasker-owned venue for the past four years. “There’s definitely a different feel in sanctioning bodies. IMCA wants to work with us.” In all, seven classes of race cars will run Saturdays at Brainerd beginning on April 25. The point season continues through the Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5 and 6 Mighty Axe special. “The IMCA Modifieds and Northern SportMods are divisions our drivers can easily transition to,” noted Torbert. “Everybody likes the Modifieds. They’re a thriller.” “SportMods give drivers the ability to move up and not break the bank,” she continued. “You don’t have to have a gazillion sponsors to do it.” [Read More]

Three IMCA divisions run every Thursday at Norman County Raceway next season

ADA, Minn. – Three IMCA divisions will run a complete schedule next season at Norman County Raceway. IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts are on Thursday cards in 2015 from opening night May 7 through the season championship program on Aug. 27. All three classes had run limited schedules during their introductory 2014 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing campaigns at the 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt oval in Ada. “We had a good response from the drivers this year and our fans liked the better, closer racing in the IMCA divisions,” promoter Jake Bitker said. “I know they will be more cost effective for our drivers.” Track champions will be crowned and bonus points awarded in all three divisions. SportMods join the field for the June 24-25 B-Mod Blitz. Norman County Raceway hosts the Sanders Metal Products Modified Challenge on Aug. 13. Sanctioned Modifieds and Northern SportMods also return to Sunday shows at Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon, 33 miles south of Ada. Both divisions will also be new [Read More]

November non-fendered Sybesma prize to Faddis

FARMINGTON, N.M. – Her first season in a Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod came to an end with two awards for Juanita Faddis. The Farmington, N.M., driver earned Allstar Performance State championship honors in Utah, then capped off 2014 with November honors for non-fendered divisions in the Sybesma Graphics IMCA Facebook Fan Favorite contest. “I’d raced a Southern SportMod for three years but this was really a learning season for me,” said Faddis, recipient of a mini-mod door from Sybesma. “The biggest difference between the two divisions is how the cars drive. They have a different feel.” “We had a lot of heat race wins (16) and I was pretty stoked about my finish in the Lady Eagle points (13th) but I’m still looking for my first feature win in a Northern SportMod,” she added. “I’m going to return to the division next year and run for national points, multiple track championships and hopefully to defend my state championship.” Faddis registered a dozen top five finishes in 33 starts at four different tracks this year. Aztec [Read More]

IMCA honors best of the best at national awards banquet

LINCOLN, Neb. (Nov. 29) – The best dirt track drivers in the nation were honored Saturday night in Lincoln, when IMCA hosted its national awards banquet. 2014 national champions taking their turn at the podium were Zane DeVilbiss, IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds; Justin Kay, IMCA Late Models; Clint Benson, IMCA Eagle Motorsports RaceSaver Sprint Cars; Mike Nichols, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars; Shannon Anderson, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks; Matt Looft in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods; Chad Hertel in the Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods; and Nate Coopman in the Mach-1 Sport Compacts. Benson and Hertel were both first-time national kings. DeVilbiss, Kay, Looft and Coopman each reigned for the second time, Nichols and Anderson for the fifth. Modified regional champions were Zane DeVilbiss in the Larry Shaw Racing Western, William Gould in the Razor Chassis South Central, Johnny Saathoff in the Jet Racing Central, Chris Abelson in the Belleville Motorsports North Central and Chris Fleming in the Dort Works Eastern. Mike Nichols reigned in the Arnold Motor Supply Northern Region and Matt Guillaume repeated [Read More]

Taylor tops big money show at Desert Thunder Nationals

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 22-23) – The top check at Central Arizona Speedway’s inaugural Desert Thunder Nationals went home with a driver already familiar with victory lane at Casa Grande. Jeff Taylor led every time around the track in Sunday’s $3,000 to win IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified main event. The 30-lapper ended green, white, checkered after a late caution and Taylor pulled away from Ricky Thornton Jr. to win by six car lengths. “We got into a little lapped traffic about halfway but that didn’t give us any trouble,” said Taylor, driving the Industrial Electric and Allgayer Inc.-sponsored ride. “We had a pretty good car.” Thornton challenged after one restart but wasn’t able to maintain the pace. Cody Graham and Tyler Mecl were next across the stripe as home state drivers ran 2-3-4. Graham had started 15th. Hunter Marriott raced from 22nd on the initial grid to round out the top five. Jesse Sobbing collected the $1,000 IMCA Modified checkers on opening night at Casa Grande. Thornton was second and Marriott was promoted to [Read More]

Few changes made in IMCA rules for 2015 season

VINTON, Iowa – Few changes have been made in IMCA rules for next season. The quick change option for Modifieds was announced in August. Most of what will be different in 2015, noted IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root, are clarifications to the rules for 2014. Snell-rated SA 2015 helmets, as well as SA2005 and SA 2010, are approved for use in all divisions beginning next season. That’s the only difference in safety rules from this season to next. An industry trend is addressed with the addition of the term vortex generator in body rules for the Modifieds and SportMods. No additional fins, tips, wings or vortex generators will be allowed in any of those divisions. “We are seeing these items added to the bodies of race cars and being incorporated on roofs,” Root explained. “Google it and you’ll understand. A vortex generator is an aerodynamic add-on and will not be allowed.” Clarified exhaust rules for Modifieds, Stock Cars and SportMods give a maximum length of 19 inches for the collector and turndown. A [Read More]

Speckman tops Fan Favorite voting for fendered entries

By Ryan Clark SLEEPY EYE, Minn. – Aside from his travels during the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Stock Car Tour, Matt Speckman stayed close to home during the 2014 season. The Sleepy Eye, Minn., driver earned a handful of feature wins in weekly competition at Arlington Raceway, Murray County Speedway in Slayton and Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls. Speckman earned one more win in November as the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car driver was the top vote-getter in the Sybesma Graphics IMCA Facebook Fan Favorite Contest for fendered divisions. He receives a mini-hood from Sybesma Graphics. “Our season was all right,” said Speckman. “We ended up with five wins.” Those wins were scattered at all three tracks where he competed regularly. Chasing points, though, wasn’t on Speckman’s list of priorities. “We weren’t really able to run for points anywhere,” he explained. “Since I went to the Dakota Tour, I had to miss some nights at home.” Speckman has made the Dakota Tour an annual part of his racing schedule in recent years. “A buddy of mine [Read More]

Record $75,000-plus in contingencies awarded to IMCA drivers in 2014

VINTON, Iowa – More than $75,000 in contingency awards will go to IMCA drivers, based on their participation in sign-up programs or having met other requirements unique to individual programs in 2014. “The value of contingency awards and cash prizes continues to increase each season,” noted IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder. “I would encourage our drivers to redeem any mid-season or season-ending certificates as soon as possible, and to continue supporting the businesses that support them.” Certificates, cash and some product awards will be presented during the national awards banquet later this month in Lincoln, Neb. The rest will be mailed directly to drivers beginning in early December. The following contingency awards were not necessarily determined by actual regional finish, but by either driver sign-up sheets or other unique requirements. For all contingency awards winners where it applies, their actual finishing position, either regional or national, is in parenthesis. All awards are product certificates unless noted otherwise. AFCO Racing Products Top 3 Modified drivers in each region: 1) $250, 2) $150, 3) $50. Larry Shaw [Read More]

Heckman spins, wins Pahrump’s Day After The Duel backwards

PAHRUMP, Nev. (Nov. 16) – Although he crossed the finish line backwards, Kyle Heckman captured the $1,500 first place prize money at the Day After The Duel IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified event at Pahrump Valley Speedway Sunday evening. By virtue of winning his heat race and a straight-up starting order, Heckman led every lap of the 30-lap affair, winning over teammate R.C. Whitwell. Both drove Victory Circle chassis cars owned by Bill Henderson. William Gould overcame an early flat to return with a vengeance to take the third spot. Heckman jumped out to an early lead over pole sitter and defending race winner Randy Thornell. Scott Lenz ran third before the 10th starting Whitwell moved into third by lap five. Despite several yellow flags for spinning drivers that slowed the event, Heckman was up to the challenge on every restart. Coming out of turn four heading for the win, he tangled with a lapped car and spun across the finish line backwards, barely ahead of second place Whitwell and Gould. Cody Laney and Lenz [Read More]