Results Archives

Friend beats a big name for first IMCA Modified win

MERCED, Calif. (March 28) – When Les Friend won his first race ever in IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified competition Saturday at Merced Speedway, he had no idea who the driver was that challenged him at the finish line. “I always dreamed of driving a Modified and racing against the big names – Bobby Hogge, IV, Paul Stone, Scott Busby,” said Friend, whose first race was at Merced just two months earlier. “I didn’t know who was trying to pass me until after the race.” The driver trying to pass Friend would be Merced Speedway champ and Valley racing legend Paul Stone, driving a friend’s car because his was destroyed in Arizona a few weeks earlier. “I never met Paul Stone, and I knew it wasn’t the car he drives that was on my tail,” laughed Friend, as he hoisted his trophy at his birthday party the next day. “When he shook my hand I still didn’t know that was him.” Stone was invited to drive the car owned by Merced’s Jack Mounce and Will [Read More]

Opening night Frostbuster checkers fly for Wolla

By Jeremy Fox OSKALOOSA, Iowa (April 1) – Jason Wolla made his way to victory lane after making the 900-mile trip from Ray, N.D., to Southern Iowa Speedway at Oskaloosa for the opening night Frostbuster. Wolla took the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back in winning the 22-lap IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature, collecting the $1,000 checkers along with a berth on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. “That made the whole trip worth it,” said Wolla, who’d finished third at Lee County Speedway’s Spring Extravaganza on Sunday. “I know there had to be people asking ‘Who’s this guy from North Dakota?’ It was pretty awesome.” Hunter Marriott ended in second after passing Jimmy Gustin with four laps to go. Todd Shute, Scott Dickey and Cole Ferguson completed the top five after Gustin exited with a flat tire. Ken Schrader won his “B” feature and finished 12th in the main event. One hundred and sixteen cars from 10 states were on hand at Oskaloosa. Other winners were Damon Murty in the [Read More]

Alvarado wreaks Havoc at Aztec

AZTEC, N.M. (March 27-28) – The lower line took Ricky Alvarado to the $1,200 checkers on Friday at Aztec Speedway. He followed the top groove to a $2,000 payday on Saturday. Alvarado swept IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified features during the Havoc On the Plains Showdown Weekend. Along with a $3,200 share of the purse he went home with a 70cc dirt bike for winning Friday’s dash for cash. “I’ve won a lot of races before but I’ve never won a dirt bike,” Alvarado said. “That was pretty cool.” He’d started seventh in the 25-lapper on Friday. After seeing how the track was changing, Alvarado changed gears right before the start of the feature. Using the low line, he passed Aaron Spangler for the lead on the eighth circuit. Carburetor issues and cautions kept the contest close before Alvarado beat Zane DeVilbiss across the stripe by two car lengths. Ryan Gaylord, Regan Tafoya and Brody Spangler completed the top five. Alvarado drove from eighth starting toward the front after struggling with a tight car early [Read More]

Droste matches 2014 win total at Lee County Spring Extravaganza

DONNELLSON, Iowa (March 29) – It took 37 starts for Tyler Droste to get his only IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature win last year. He needed just a single race to take his first checkers this season. Droste battled Cayden Carter, then outran Hunter Marriott for the $1,000 victory Sunday at Lee County Speedway’s Spring Extravaganza. “This was a lot better start than last year,” Droste said. “We had a good car. We just couldn’t get it figured out.” He figured out the fastest way around the oval after an early restart put him on the outside of the front row for the 20-lapper. Carter caught up and took the brief lead before Droste gained the front spot back. The front pair ran side-by-side before Droste edged away. Marriott, Jason Wolla, Carter and Scott Hogan rounded out the top five. Droste was already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. He’d won the Fall Challenge at Hamilton County Speedway on the last weekend of the 2014 point season. A phone call made earlier in [Read More]

Sunflower Classic draws 150-plus teams; Sobbing, Sellard top IMCA Modified mains

By Mike Hughes HAYS, Kan. (March 27-28) – Jesse Sobbing and Clay Sellard were $1,000 IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature winners at RPM’s Sunflower Classic special. Sobbing took the lead on lap nine and drove on for the Friday checkers. Four-time national champion David Murray Jr. settled in the runner-up spot, followed by Mike Densberger, Dylan Sherfick, and Cody Gearhart. On Saturday, Sellard started outside pole in the 25-lapper, jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back in the caution-free event to make his way to victory lane. Sobbing chased Sellard the second half of the race but settled for the runner-up spot, followed by Gearhart, Ryan Heger and Jeremy Zorn. More than 150 race teams from eight states competed in the season lidlifter at Hays. Kyle Vanover and Mike Nichols were $750 IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature winners. Vanover led all 25 laps on Friday but was challenged throughout the race by Jason Rogers and Nichols. Rogers held off Nichols for runner-up honors. A double winner at last year’s Sunflower show, [Read More]

Moore scores IMCA Modified honors at WaKeeney’s Spring Fling

By Mike Hughes WAKEENEY, Kan. (March 29) – Nate Moore was the $1,000 IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified winner when WaKeeney Speedway opened the new season with its fifth annual Spring Fling. Defending race winner Cody Gearhart started on the pole for the 25-lap feature and took the early lead with Ryan Heger in tow. After a caution on lap 18 when Mike Martin lost his motor, Moore made a pass on Gearhart to take the top spot. Gearhart left the race later with tire issues. Moore held on to win with Heger, Randy Wilson, Kyle Rohleder and Dylan Sherfick completing the top five. The victory put Moore on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Drivers from six states competed for extra prize money at the Sunday special. The 25-lap IMCA Stock Car feature saw its fair share of cautions but had the most exciting finish of the day. Chad Sterling took the lead at the drop of the green but was passed by Jason Rogers on lap 10. Rogers’ lead was short [Read More]

Cole conquers IMCA Modified foes at Tri-State Kegger

POCOLA, Okla. (March 27-28) – Tate Cole got the answers to a lot of questions Saturday night at Tri-State Speedway. Cole led all 30 laps of Saturday’s IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified Cecil Harlan Memorial Kegger main event. The victory paid $1,500, put Cole on the ballot for this September’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational and came in his first start of 2015. “I was kind of wondering about this weekend because I have a crate motor and this was my first night out because we didn’t get to practice on Thursday (because of rain),” he explained. “I converted my open car from last year to IMCA and this was my first time on Hoosiers in that car. I wasn’t sure how things were going to work out. They worked out pretty good, though.” Runner-up to Dan Womack in Friday’s qualifying feature, Cole started outside row one on Saturday and was ahead in the first corner. He used multiple lines in staying in the lead and pulled away on each restart, taking the checkers ahead of [Read More]

Therwhanger, Herring are heaviest Modified hitters at Cardinal’s Black Gold special

EUNICE, N.M. (March 13-14) – It didn’t take long for Michael Therwhanger to show he could run with the heavy hitters at Cardinal Speedway. Therwhanger won the first start of his IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified career, along with $600, in the opening night Black Gold Showdown program at Eunice. “It was a heck of a night. I’ve been nervous about it for months,” he admitted the next morning. “I still can’t believe it. I’ve watched the video like 14 times to make sure it really happened.” Christy Barnett kept the race close and finished second. Triston Sikes was third. Therwhanger had started from inside row two. He passed Slade Johnston near midway and led to the checkers despite several late cautions and Barnett’s best efforts. “I never dreamed my first win in a Modified would come this quick. A lot of the heavy hitters from around here were behind me and I didn’t know what to expect, ” Therwanger said, noting that the victory came on engine builder Jacob Penner’s birthday. “This is something [Read More]

Grabouski completes Spring Nationals sweep with Saturday checkers

BEATRICE, Neb. (March 14) – Jordan Grabouski brought the broom back to Beatrice Speedway’s Spring Nationals Saturday night. Grabouski completed his sweep of the weekend’s $2,000 to win IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified main events by gaining the lead following a lap 17 restart and pulling away to the checkers. He’s now a seven-time Spring Nationals winner. His latest victory was also his IMCA career 115th. “This was definitely right up there as far as the top weekends I’ve had racing. There were a lot of good cars here,” Grabouski said. “It’s always great to win at your hometown track, especially with that many people in the grandstand. It was crazy how many people who were there.” Grabouski had won his heat race after starting last and drew the pole for the 30-lap headliner. Jesse Sobbing was the leader early on before Clayton Christensen charged to the front. A restart after midway helped open the door for Grabouski, who caught Christensen for the point before the yellow waved again. He led to the finish with [Read More]

Grabouski tops IMCA Modified feature for career sixth Spring Nationals title

BEATRICE, Neb. (March 13) – After shaking down a new car in practice on Thursday, Jordan Grabouski got back to his regular business of winning Spring Nationals features at Beatrice Speedway on Friday. Grabouski led the last 25 of 30 laps in topping the opening night $2,000 to win main event for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds. The Spring Nationals checkers were his career sixth and came on a night when 234 cars from nine states and Canada saw action. “Everything played out good for us. We shook down a new GRT in practice, then won our heat race from the fourth row, so we started good (third) in the main event,” Grabouski said following career victory number 114 in the division. “It’s always good to start your season with a win.” Jesse Dennis, Jeremy Leiting, Jesse Sobbing and Ricky Alvarado completed the top five. The feature ran caution-free and Grabouski had nearly a straightaway lead before encountering slower traffic in the late going. Grabouski had raced his way onto the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational [Read More]