Feature Archives

Jergens best by a bumper on opening night, Marriott tops second Mod feature at Canyon

By Lonnie Wheatley PEORIA, Ariz. (Nov. 7-8) – Mike Jergens measured his opening night victory by inches while Hunter Marriott raced from eighth starting to win the second IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature of the weekend at Canyon Speedway Park. Both Mr. Excitement Tribute to Terry Belcher features paid $1,000 to win. Jergens escaped a wild opening lap skirmish to nip Mike Strobl at the line on Friday with Jason Noll in third as the lead trio raced off the final corner in three-wide fashion in a dramatic duel for the win. With Jergens starting fourth and Strobl racing through the pack from 20th, fifth-starter Noll advanced from fourth into the lead in the two-lap span from round five to seven after George Fronsman paced the early rounds. Jergens battled past Noll for the point on the 18th lap with Strobl edging ahead the next time around. The trio of Jergens, Strobl and Noll swapped positions repeatedly over the final rounds before the frantic dash for the stipe off the final corner with “Jergens [Read More]

Final SST checkers of season fly for Garland

WACO, Texas (Oct. 25) – A low-budget driver raced to one of the biggest wins of his career in the Sprint Series of Texas finale. David Garland collected the Saturday checkers, his SST first, after swapping the lead with Trevor Reed three times on the final circuit at Heart O’ Texas Speedway. “Whew! What a night!” he exclaimed. “I’d started seventh and had to battle Kenny Elwood for second before I could even try to catch Trevor.” After seeing his motor expire during the Sept. 26 IMCA Eagle Motorsports RaceSaver Sprint Car series show at Mountain Creek Speedway – he and fiancée Renee traded vows in the pit area at Grand Prairie that evening – Garland ran 11th in the Oct. 4 feature at Cotton Bowl Speedway. His Wheels of America-owned Sprinter was powered the last two nights by a motor borrowed from Sebie Davis, who’d contacted Garland via Facebook after learning of his engine woes. Reed, Dustin Woods and Jerry Hammock ended second through fourth, respectively, at HO’T. Jason Howell lent a hand with [Read More]

Karlnoski captures career first Friesen Empire State Series win

DUNDEE, N.Y. (Oct. 24) – After the third time he drove away from the rest of the field, Rich Karlnoski raced to his career first Friesen Chevrolet Empire State Series feature win. Karlnoski won his IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified tour heat by most of a straightaway Friday at Yates County Speedway. He was checking out before a lap 18 caution in the main event, then pulled ahead again following the restart. The victory was worth $400. “That car was just perfect,” Karlnoski said after piloting the 2008 Ellis, with a self-designed rear end and Steve and Patty Damon-built engine, to the winner’s circle. “When this car is right, it’s perfect.” Karlnoski stayed in front following several early restarts. He was already negotiating lapped traffic and coming up on a tightknit group of six more cars when the late caution flew. “I was trying to figure out how I was going to get by and that caution came out at just the right time,” said Karlnoski, who motored away when the green came back out. [Read More]

Weekly IMCA racing Fridays at Clay County Fair Speedway in 2015

SPENCER, Iowa – The Clay County Fair is pleased to announce IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing each Friday night beginning May 15 at the Clay County Fair Speedway throughout the 2015 season. “This is a tremendous opportunity to fully utilize the Speedway,” said CCF Manager Jeremy Parsons. “Going from five races in 2014 to 14 races in 2015 will be a great benefit to not only the Speedway, but also to all of Spencer.”  According to an independent economic study completed earlier this year, five nights of IMCA racing in 2013 brought nearly $77,000 in direct spending by out-of-county drivers to Spencer. “That number will obviously exceed $200,000 by tripling the amount of race dates,” said Parsons. Races will be held each Friday night May 15 through July 31; August 21; and the final race at the county fair on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Featured divisions each Friday night at the Clay County Fair Speedway will include IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Mach-1 [Read More]

Mari tops October entries in non-fendered divisions

By Ryan Clark IMPERIAL, Calif. – What Lance Mari considered a mediocre year would be a successful one by the standards of many drivers. The Imperial, Calif., veteran earned three wins en route to a third place finish in the final standings at Cocopah Speedway, a mere 13 points short of earning his second straight track championship. He was also the winner of October’s Sybesma Graphics IMCA Facebook Fan Favorite Contest for non-fendered divisions. The honor earns him a mini-mod door courtesy of Sybesma. “We built a new car,” said Mari, “and when it’s on, it’s real good. When it’s not, it’s a struggle. I think we’re at the end of the struggles with it.” Mari, who runs MRT Race Cars, has built his own cars since the mid-2000s. “The newer designed car seems like it wants to work, it’s just a matter of putting it all together,” he explained. Along with the weekly battles at Cocopah, Mari did his fair share of traveling by following the Winter Challenge Series in Arizona and Kupper Chevrolet [Read More]

Cosper collects fendered division honors

By Ryan Clark BELTON, Texas – Charles Cosper’s approach is simple. “We try to look good even if we’re not fast.” The Belton driver had all bases covered in 2014. Following a very successful season on the track, Cosper was the October winner of the Sybesma Graphics IMCA Facebook Fan Favorite Contest for fendered divisions. He’ll get a mini-hood courtesy of Sybesma. A weekly runner at Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco and 281 Speedway in Stephenville, the second-year IMCA Sunoco Stock Car driver exceeded expectations in 2014. “We had a very good season,” stated Cosper. “We ended up winning both track championships and 10 features.” Cosper’s local success made him a player in the regional and national standings, as well. He unofficially ended the season fourth in the Arnold Motor Supply Southern Region and 14th nationally. Final points will become official Oct. 27. After eight years in an IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Cosper made the move to the Stock Car ranks in 2013. “We had won state, region and track championships in the Hobby [Read More]

Friesen Chevrolet Empire State Series déjà vu: Cornell wins again at Five Mile Point Speedway

KIRKWOOD, N.Y. (Oct. 10) – The seventh installment of the 2014 Friesen Chevrolet Empire State Series played out a lot like the first. James Cornell qualified for the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified tour main event at Five Mile Point Speedway despite starting last in his heat, drew a front row starting spot for the feature and then led every lap. “The fact that I grew up racing here helps a lot,” acknowledged Cornell, who’d won the April 13 feature and returned to Kirkwood with the series point lead. “I started racing here in the pro stocks, then the sportsman and now the IMCA Modifieds. This was my 90th career win and more than half of them have been at Five Mile Point.” The victory paid $500 and came ahead of Chris Fleming, Matt Cole, Keith Lamphere and Tyler Stoddard. Fleming, twice a tour winner this season and the two-time defending Dirt Works Eastern Region champion, challenged but couldn’t stay in contention following a restart late in the 20-lapper. “Chris had a really good year [Read More]

Boyd Grand Nationals IMCA Modified checkers worth two grand to Wojtek

BOYD, Texas (Oct. 11) – Three feet or so made the difference between Fred Wojtek’s biggest-paying IMCA IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature win and second place. Wojtek beat Charie Harmon to the checkers by that distance Saturday at Boyd Raceway’s Grand Nationals. The $2,000 victory put Wojtek on the ballot for next year’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “I had a couple guys pull up next to me,” he said. “It was a close one there at the end with Charlie.” Wojtek had started the 25-lapper from outside the front row. Kevin Sustaire took over the lead near midway but exited with mechanical problems with 10 circuits left. That put Wojtek back in first and he stayed there despite Harmon’s best efforts. Justin Radcliff, Mark Patterson and Jason Hunter completed the top five. Matt Guillaume and Doug Easterling each earned $1,500 for their IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod victories, respectively. Ronnie Ellis took the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock checkers and a $1,200 top prize. Brant Bachman bested the $250 to [Read More]

Harris wraps up title in closest finish in VSS history

By Jim Haines SHENANDOAH, Va. (Oct. 11) – Jerald Harris passed Brian Lawson a few feet in front of the checkered flag to win in the closest finish in Virginia Sprint Series history Saturday at Shenandoah Speedway. The series champion’s margin of victory was so slim that the electronic scoring system was needed to decide the winner of the 14th and final IMCA Eagle Motorsports RaceSaver Sprint Car tour event of the season. Chris Ware and Anthony Linkenhoker paced the field to green with Linkenhoker out first and bringing along Brian Lawson. The top two were smooth and steady as Linkenhoker continued to lead until lap eight when Lawson got a better run in to turn one and went into the lead. Harris made his way to the front as Lawson was trying to get away but as the fast paced race clicked by, traffic was coming up and it was getting close with two to go. Lawson stayed smooth but Harris closed as they took the white flag. When the two rockets entered turn [Read More]

Kay completes Deery Series title run with twin wins at West Liberty

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (Oct. 11) – Justin Kay couldn’t have scripted a better finish to his career first Deery Brothers Summer Series championship campaign. Kay won the final event of the 2014 IMCA Late Model tour Saturday during West Liberty Raceway’s Liberty 100 special. He followed that victory – his sixth in 14 series events – with another $3,000 run to the checkers in the pay/no points feature that followed. Both main events were 50 laps. Denny Eckrich, Nate Beuseling, Colby Springsteen and hard charger Ryan Dolan completed the top five in the series finale. Ray Guss Jr. and Todd Malmstrom were the early leaders before Beuseling took over for a long run at the front. Kay finally caught up on lap 43 and beat the 10th starting Eckrich to the checkers by a couple car lengths. Nick Marolf, Jeremy Grady and Chad Holladay split time up front before Kay worked his way from 20th starting and into the lead on lap 19 in the second feature. He won by a straightaway despite a lap [Read More]