News Archives

Bittner is best for 4th straight season in Lady Eagle points

NORFOLK, Neb. – A season of firsts was accompanied by a fourth-time accomplishment for Tiffany Bittner. The first female driver to win two IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock track titles in the same season, Bittner also raced to her career-first Allstar Performance Nebraska State championship crown while collecting a fourth straight Design 500 Lady Eagle trophy. The Lady Eagle prize is awarded to the female driver with the highest point total earned at IMCA sanctioned events during the regular season. Nearly 200 drivers in eight divisions contended for that honor in 2014. “Winning the Lady Eagle isn’t getting any easier. We about gave up before we decided to hit some late-season specials,” admitted Bittner, a Norfolk native and eight-year veteran of the Hobby Stock class. “This was definitely the hardest one of the four to win because of work and because we had so many rainouts.” Champion at both Boone County Raceway in Albion and U.S. 30 Speedway at Columbus, Bittner collected six feature victories and another 30 top five finishes in 62 starts. Sixty of [Read More]

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]

Ryan Clark joins IMCA as new executive secretary

VINTON, Iowa – Ryan Clark has found yet another way to be involved in his favorite sport. Clark is the new executive secretary for IMCA. He’ll have regular Monday through Friday responsibilities at the home office while attending and working at weekly, series and special race events as needed. “I grew up around the race track. My dad, Dwayne Burkey, raced and then worked at the track for many years,” said Clark, a Vinton native. “I’ve always enjoyed the family aspect of racing, which you have to if you’re involved in it at any level. I’ve always been a numbers and statistics guy and that’s probably part of what drew me to the sport, too.” A former editor of Hawkeye Racing News, Clark announced at Independence Motor Speedway for six of the 15 years he worked at that track and penned the popular In Staging blog. Clark had worked part-time in the points and membership and public relations office at IMCA for the past year and a half. Part of the announcer team for the [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]

Benning returns to promotional helm at Independence Motor Speedway

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa – Dana Benning returns to the helm at Independence Motor Speedway in 2015, this time with a partner. Benning and son Brady comprise B & D Promotions, which will oversee events at the 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval. “It’s exciting to come back,” said Benning, who had promoted Independence from 2000-2002. “We put new lighting in 15 years ago and that was a starting point for improvements made since then. The facility has been much updated, so it’s kind of like walking into a turnkey operation.” A new victory lane and continued work on the racing surface are on the more immediate agenda at Indee with a new front straight catch fence in future plans. “There isn’t a lot of work that has to be done to the facility,” acknowledged Benning, most recently event manager at Benton County Speedway. “What we need to do is polish the show and make sure it continues being the best in Eastern Iowa.” Five sanctioned divisions, the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Late Models, IMCA Sunoco Stock [Read More]

Top five Modifieds, SportMod winner pass post-Duel In The Desert tire test

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Tire samples taken from top five finishers in the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified main event and from IMCA SportMod main event winner J.C. Howell revealed no use of any foreign substance(s) at the Duel In The Desert. This was the third year samples were taken from top finishing Modifieds and submitted to a testing laboratory following the special at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Terry Phillips, Jordan Grabouski, R.C. Whitwell, Johnny Scott and Chris Brown comprised the top five. With the increase in Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod entries – a record 96 competed at the Nov. 12-15 Duel – tire testing was expanded to include the winner of that main event as well. “Since results are final we will begin mailing the complete payout to all drivers who earned shares of the Duel In The Desert purse,” IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root said.

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]