Weekly Archives

Mach-1 Sport Compacts make Wisconsin debut at 141

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. – IMCA’s Mach-1 Sport Compact division makes its Wisconsin debut on opening night April 18 at 141 Speedway. The four cylinder class takes the place of a similar sport-4 class that had run weekly on the 1/3-mile clay oval. “At the end of the day, our decision to sanction the class came down to rules. IMCA makes them and we enforce them,” explained Dan Ratajczak, who co-owns and co-promotes Francis Creek with his brother Scott and Toby Kruse. “Being able to follow a nationwide set of rules is the biggest thing for us.” 141 also sanctions the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod divisions. Season championship night is Aug. 29. “We’re excited about this year,” said Ratajczak, a former Modified driver. “There’s a lot of buzz all over the countryside.”

No pit pass fee for drivers Wednesday at Southern Iowa Speedway

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – No pit pass fee will be charged to drivers who compete in the rescheduled opening night show Wednesday, April 15 at Southern Iowa Speedway. Inclement weather got the upper hand over last week’s scheduled show. IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Mach-1 Sport Compacts comprise the upcoming draw/redraw card. Pit gates open at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 7 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. Spectator admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for kids 12 and under accompanying a paid adult.

Stone returning to Merced in borrowed Modified

MERCED, Calif. – Paul Stone would rather drive someone else’s car than sit and watch the races at Merced Speedway on Saturday night. Because building his new IMCA Modified is taking longer than expected, Stone found another seat to sit in. He’ll be driving a car owned by Jack Mounce of Merced for the second time this season. “It’s like when you’re on the road and you are sleeping in a bed that isn’t yours. It never feels quite as good as the one you have at home,” Stone said. “An unfamiliar car adds an extra challenge to driving.” Stone, who is known nationally in the ranks of IMCA, will make Mounce’s car more like his own as the season progresses. Though the new car was all assembled in his garage early last week, it was unassembled by the week’s end. Stone is a perfectionist. He disassembled the car to have the parts powder-coated. The colorful coating will add extra protection to the car’s chassis. “I don’t think the new car will be seen that [Read More]

10 Friday shows on schedule at Oberlin Speedway

OBERLIN, Kan. – Oberlin Speedway opens again this season, under the guidance of a guy who knows a thing or two about getting around a race track. IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks run on 10 Friday nights beginning with the April 17 Scott Dolan Memorial. Shows at the 3/8-mile clay oval will be promoted by David Murray Jr., with race night assistance from Rick Salem. “Except for some specials, this track has been idle for five or six years. We decided this would be a good time to get it going again,” explained Murray, IMCA’s career wins leader, a four-time national champion and three-time Modified champion at his hometown venue. “I’m excited about this race track. We’ve coordinated our schedule with Thomas County Speedway (in Colby, Kan.) and gotten a lot of sponsors on board to give drawing prizes to drivers.” “The grandstand is in good shape. We haven’t had to go too far out of the way to get the racing [Read More]

Thunderhill Raceway postpones practice

By Edward Anschutz STURGEON BAY, Wis. – Track officials at Thunderhill Raceway have decided to postpone the open practice originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4. The open session has been moved to Saturday April 18. A start time has yet to be determined. “We put the practice on our schedule just in case things warmed up early. That way we had two options,” explained Promoter Woody Wodack.“With last week being cold, windy and sometimes sleeting, we weren’t able to prep things like we wanted. It’s all about keeping our track great and with the forecast looking promising, we’ll be good to go on the 18th.” With cars racing in Iowa and at Seymour Speedway on Saturday afternoon, Wodack added that “it just made sense to push everything till after the R.A.C.E. Car Show and benefit that takes place on April 11.” The first point night for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks is Saturday, April 25 and will be sponsored by WDOR.

Wisconsin’s Dodge County sanctions IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods

BEAVER DAM, Wis. – One IMCA division returns and another is new this season at Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway. Both IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods are on 11 Sunday night programs on the 1/2-mile clay oval. “The Modified drivers around here are a pretty strong group of guys. They like going fast,” said promoter Brian Gerber. “The Northern SportMods have an amazing car count. We’re going to have two very strong classes.” “I like the uniformity of the IMCA rules. Everything is there in black and white,” continued Gerber, a former Modified driver and later Modified tech inspector at Dodge County. “With IMCA, you’ve got a set of rules that everyone is familiar with.” Opening night is May 24. IMCA points will also be awarded for May 31; June 7, 21 and 28; July 5, 19 and 26; and Aug. 2, 9 and 30 shows. Gerber anticipates sharing drivers in both divisions with Friday night venue Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway 45 miles to the north. Dodge County ran sanctioned Modifieds from [Read More]

Purse increased for Budweiser-sponsored IMCA Modifieds at Sunset Speedway Park

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. – Budweiser has stepped up and will become local sponsor the IMCA Modified division at Sunset Speedway Park. The Modifieds are one of the most popular classes that the “Banks Bullring” has to offer and is sure to thrill fans with exciting action all season long. “We’re happy to support grassroots racing,” commented Troy Teach, sales director for Maletis Beverage. “We can’t wait for the beginning of this upcoming season to see some great racing.” In addition to the class sponsorship the weekly purse money has increased. If there are 26 or more Modified entries, main events will pay $650 to win and a minimum of $150 to start. If there are 25 or fewer cars, features will be $650 to win and a minimum of $125 to start. Complete payouts are: 26 or more cars – 1. $650; 2. $500; 3. $300; 4. $220; 5. $180; 6-back, $150. 25 or fewer cars – 1. $650; 2. $500; 3. $300; 4. $220; 5. $180; 6. $150; 7. $130; 8-back, $125. [Read More]

Idaho Falls Raceway re-opens with IMCA Modifieds, SportMods on eight race nights

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – The first IMCA Modified track champion crowned at Idaho Falls Raceway will be in charge again when the track re-opens in May. Josh Dingman has started his third stint as president of the Snake River Stock Car Association. The 30-member SRSCA reorganized and spearheaded efforts to rebuild the municipally-owned facility, which closed following the 2011 season. Both IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds and IMCA SportMods run on eight nights, with the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season opener set for Saturday, May 16. Other dates are June 20 and 27, July 24 and 25, Aug. 8 and 29, and Sept. 26. More than 150 truckloads of dirt have already been added to the 3/8-mile racing surface. New walls have been put in place in both sets of turns and attention will next turn to bringing the pit area up to date. A concessions trailer will be parked at what had been the site of the facility’s concession building. “It’s been going like wildfire. I’ve been amazed by how many people have [Read More]

Trevor Egbert scores anniversary win at Cotton Bowl

By J.M. Hallas PAIGE, Texas (March 28) – Trevor Egbert took home the hardware for his anniversary present to his wife in the Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod feature Saturday at Cotton Bowl Speedway. He was trailed to the checkers by his father George, who is celebrating his 40th year of racing. Egbert got by Sid Kiphen near halfway then put some distance on the pack. A late-race caution set up a green, white, checkered finish that saw George Egbert get by Kiphen for second and finish as runner-up. “I just followed my dad through traffic,” commented Egbert. “My car was a little better than his and I just ran where others weren’t. If it was the middle or the bottom, we just ran where we had to.” “I always know when it’s my dad I’m running with. It’s always fun when you get to race with family,” he added. “It’s been a while since we finished one-two and one time at Texas Thunder my dad won, I was second, (cousin) P.J. was third and my [Read More]

Cottage Grove set for April 4 season opener

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – Cottage Grove Speedway is set for its 59th season of racing this Saturday, April 4, bringing another year of clay shedding excitement. The famed 1/4-mile clay oval had a very successful test and tune session this past Sunday with many new drivers who plan on running CGS in 2015. Classes on tap will include the always-popular IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, 360 sprints, latem, and the Quality RV Repair hornets. In addition to the sanctioned Modified racing, there will be some big money on the line courtesy of Crocker’s Cars in Lebanon. Crocker’s Cars has added money to the purse to make it $1,100 to win the Modified main event. With that kind of money up for grabs you can guarantee all the big names from the state of Oregon will be in attendance trying to take home the big check and a spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Speaking of the number 1,100 there will be 1,100 eggs that will be a part of the [Read More]