News Archives

A first for Arizona: Cocopah adds IMCA Late Models

SOMERTON, Ariz. – The wave of the future is taking IMCA Late Models to Arizona. Cocopah Speedway at Somerton becomes the first track in the Grand Canyon State to sanction the division, with five dates on the schedule announced for the 2020 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season. “The fans are excited and we have drivers who have never competed in a Late Model before looking to get into this class,” said promoter Benji Lyons. “”We are committed as a track to this division and we’ve got a group of drivers who are committed to building cars.” “We have to do something to reduce the cost of Late Model racing and we’re going to stick to our guns,” he concluded. “This is going to be the wave of the future.” The division makes its Cocopah debut on Feb. 1. Other point season dates are March 7 and 21, May 2 and Sept. 26. “With the stability of IMCA, sanctioning Late Models just made sense,” Lyons stated. “It’s going to be a building project but I [Read More]

Mach-1 begins 12th season as IMCA Sport Compact title sponsor

ABBOTT, Texas – The company synonymous with the IMCA Sport Compact division returns as title sponsor of the 4-cylinder division for a 12th consecutive season. Mach-1 Racing Solutions of Abbott, Texas, again provides a portion of the $1,000 point fund to be paid to top 10 drivers in national standings. The 2020 season is the second in the latest three-year agreement with Mach-1, which began giving Sport Compact contingencies in 2009. All drivers in the division are required to display two Mach-1 decals on their race car to be eligible for point fund shares. That decal will be included in the packet they receive after purchasing their 2020 competitor’s license. Forty-seven track and a dozen E3 Spark Plugs State Sport Compact champions were crowned last season. Alex Dostal of Glencoe, Minn., was the national champion and Steven Bevills of Granbury, Texas, was rookie of the year. More information about Mach-1 support and consulting services is available by calling 254 537-3040. “It takes special dedication to be the title sponsor of an entire division of race [Read More]

Four Tuesday dates for five IMCA divisions slated at Jackson Motorplex

JACKSON, Minn. – Four Tuesday dates for five IMCA divisions are on the upcoming Jackson Motorplex schedule. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts take to the four-tenth’s mile dirt oval at Jackson on June 9, June 30, July 21 and Aug. 25. The Dirt Knights Tour for IMCA Modifieds is in town for the July date. Ten shows for IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars are slated on Jackson’s regular Friday night programs. “We wanted to have races for our fans to attend on the weeks we have off and Tuesdays were the best fit with race nights at other tracks in the area,” said promoter Doug Johnson, noting the 100-plus cars entered for the midweek fair show last season. “Bank Midwest will sponsor our Tuesday night programs this year.” Jackson will become just the second Minnesota venue to host a Dirt Knights race, in the tour’s 11th season. “This is a very prestigious tour,” Johnson said. “It has had an excellent following and we are [Read More]

Arneson’s first Arizona win comes in finale at Cocopah

SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 18) – Casey Arneson’s first IMCA Modified feature win in Arizona came on the final night of Cocopah Speedway’s Winter Nationals. After finishes ranging from a solid third to a not-so-sweet 16th in his first five outings at Somerton, Arneson drew the pole start and led all 25 times around the oval. “It was good to be able to get that first win,” said Arneson, $1,000 richer and already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. “We had a good car and everything worked out for us.” A couple yellows kept Arneson out of lapped traffic. Jake O’Neil, in the hunt for a fourth straight Winter Nationals victory, started fifth and got to within a couple car lengths. Completing the top five were Tim Ward, Kollin Hibdon and 16th starting R.C. Whitwell. The win by Arneson came in an El Dorado ride he and Riley Hatfield built. Fellow North Dakota driver and family friend Don Gumke, who’d raced with Arneson’s father “back in the day” was honored with the empty pole position during parade [Read More]

Funeral services are Friday for Don Gumke

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Funeral services for Don Gumke are at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 24 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Jamestown. The long-time driver, businessman and former Jamestown Speedway owner passed away last Tuesday in Somerton, Ariz. He was 66. Friends may call at the Haut Funeral Home in Jamestown beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. that evening at the funeral home.

O’Neil makes it three straight Winter Nationals wins

By Mike Spieker SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 17) – Jake O’Neil cruised to his third Winter Nationals victory Friday night at Cocopah Speedway. O’Neil started third on the grid and took the lead away from front row starter Joey Price on lap three. Once out front, the Tucson pilot never looked back as he led the remainder of the 25-lap, $1,000 to win main event. Eighth place starter R.C. Whitwell moved into second at the halfway point, but was never able to threaten the leader. O’Neil was loyal to the low side of the speedway throughout the race while Whitwell used the high side in the entry of the corner before diving low on exit. The margin of victory for O’Neil was 2.2 seconds over Whitwell at the checkers. “I saw on the scoreboard that the 96 (Whitwell) was behind me. He is super fast and a pretty good wheelman and I knew if I made one mistake, he would be right there to capitalize,” said O’Neil. “I just tried to minimize my mistakes as much as [Read More]

New destinations abound for URSS in 2020

By David Smith Jr., OKTidbits OBERLIN, Kan. – Officials with the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing have released the 2020 race schedule that consists of events at 14 different race tracks in four different states. The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car tour’s 15th consecutive season will kick off at RPM Speedway in Hays, Kan., Thursday-Saturday, March 26-28, with the Thursday night set for practice night. The track will again host the series on Saturday and Sunday night, July 11-12. The tour will make its first of five appearances at Dodge City, Kan., Raceway Park on Saturday, April 4. The tour will venture into uncharted waters as a pair of West Texas events are slated. First will be Friday, April 24 at West Texas Raceway in Lubbock before making to trip north to Route 66 Motor Speedway in Amarillo. On Friday, May 29 the tour returns to WaKeeney, Kan., Speedway before a stop at Thomas County Speedway in Colby, Kan., on Saturday, May 30. Once again, part of the annual Dodge City Raceway Park 305 Nationals highlights the middle [Read More]

O’Neil bests Thornton in Cocopah classic as Morris tops Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods

By Mike Spieker SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 16) – Some of the best racing seen to date at Winter Nationals was displayed Thursday evening, and Jake O’Neil ended the night at Cocopah Speedway with a second straight $1,000 IMCA Modified feature win. O’Neil made a bold three-wide pass on the high side to drive from fourth to second in the first set of corners, then powered around the outside of Kollin Hibdon to lead lap one. Ricky Thornton Jr. moved his way up to the second spot from the fifth starting position by lap four and quickly set his sights on O’Neil. Thornton searched every inch of the oval before taking command of the lead on lap 15. O’Neil quickly mounted another charge as the lead duo sliced their way through slower traffic. O’Neil finally cleared Thornton Jr. to take the point with four laps to go and held on for the victory. “I thought once he got by me it was over. Usually when that guy gets to the lead there is no catching him,” O’Neil [Read More]

Four race dates in Canyon’s IMCA Winter Challenge

PEORIA, Ariz. – Four IMCA divisions race all four dates in the 2020 Winter Challenge at Canyon Speedway Park. IMCA Modifieds run for $1,250 to win and a minimum of $125 to start Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying features on Saturdays and Sundays Jan. 25-26 and Feb. 1-2. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods both vie for $1,000 to win and a minimum of $100 to start. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks run for $500 to win and a minimum of $75 to start. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and E3 Spark Plugs State points will be awarded. Pill draws are $50 for Modifieds, $40 for Stocks and SportMods, and $30 for Hobbies. Front gates open at 11 a.m. and racing starts at 1 p.m. each day. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and military and free for kids ages 11 and under. Pit passes are $35, $20 for children ages 7-11 and free for six and under. Open practices on Fridays Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 [Read More]

Intercomp renews IMCA Modified awards, continues role in Stock Car decal program

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – IMCA Modified and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car drivers enjoy the support of Intercomp again this season. In its 26th season of sponsorship, the Minneapolis, Minn., company gives $100 certificates, good toward the purchase of RFX wireless scales or digital chassis setup equipment, to designated finishers at 30 selected Modified specials and to top 10 drivers in EQ Cylinder Heads Northern and Southern regions for Stock Cars. Manufacturer of the Official Scales of IMCA, Intercomp also returns to the national decal program for Stock Cars for the 17th consecutive year. Drivers in that division must display two Intercomp decals on their race car to make themselves eligible for national and regional point fund shares. “IMCA has been an advocate of Intercomp for 26 years, and we are very proud to work with an organization that has such a long track record with us,” said Chris Berg, Intercomp Market Specialist. “Working with IMCA allows us the opportunity to educate a wide variety to racers on how to get the most out of a race car’s chassis and [Read More]