Late Model News

CAMARILLO, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2025) – Wilwood Racing continues its longstanding commitment to grassroots motorsports, announcing the renewal of its sponsorship with IMCA for the 2025 season.   The Camarillo, California based manufacturer of high-performance brake systems has been a trusted partner of IMCA since 2010. Wilwood Racing will again serve as an official sponsor, providing contingency awards to drivers competing in IMCA Modified, Late Model, Stock Car, Northern SportMod, and Southern SportMod divisions.  “Much like IMCA, Wilwood Racing believes in the value of ensuring the continued growth of “grass roots” racing.  Wilwood strives to not only produce the best quality high-performance brake components but also keeping costs down and offering more affordable product options for race teams across all divisions.”  Jim “Spike” Logue, Sales/Customer Service National champions in each supported division will receive contingencies as well as the 2nd -5th place finishers according to IMCA national point standings. Racers are encouraged to place the Wilwood decals on their cars and submit pictures to the contingency form on the IMCA website.   “Wilwood Racing has been a valuable partner for over [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 17, 2024) – Christmas came early for IMCA drivers in the form of IMCA.TV bonus checks totaling more than $105,000. That total was generated by replays of weekly and special events at 59 tracks broadcast by IMCA.TV or its affiliates during the 2024 race season, then distributed to drivers finishing in top three in point standings in each sanctioned division at those facilities. Modified, Late Model, RaceSaver Sprint Car and Stock Car drivers finishing in the top three in point standings at those tracks receive checks for $255, $205 and $150; Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod checks are distributed in the amounts of $155, $120 and $115; and Hobby Stock, STARS Mod Lite and Sport Compact checks are in the amounts of $130, $100 and $85. “A percentage of subscription fees paid by replay viewers is paid to IMCA tracks and ultimately to top three drivers in sanctioned divisions,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “Developed by our streaming platform provider Riivet four years ago, this bonus program was the first of its [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 21, 2024) – As promised, few changes have been made in rules for seven other IMCA divisions. “We had announced this summer that the 1978-87 General Motors OEM replacement frame manufactured by Speedway Motors would be legal for use in the Stock Car, Hobby Stocks and Southern SportMod divisions, and that Stock Car drivers could compete using the MD3 Camaro kit,” stated IMCA President Brett Root. “No other changes were made in rules for any of those three divisions.” New to 2025 rules are: •A one piece rear spoiler is allowed the Northern SportMods, a maximum of five inches for crate engines and a maximum of three inches for claim engines. •STARS Mod Lite fuel cell vents must have check valves. One spring rubber is allowed per wheel and a minimum 2” x .083” steel drive shaft must be used from the transmission adapter to the automotive rear end. •Skirting is allowed between the tires only on Sport Compacts and while belt driven accessories may be removed, the crank balancer must remain [Read More]

BOONE, Iowa (Nov. 20, 2024) – Didn’t get enough of the action at Boone Speedway and the 42nd annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s ? You can enjoy encore presentations of highlights from America’s Racin’ Vacation four nights this week, beginning tonight (Wednesday) on the SPEED SPORT 1 channel. Three-hour produced shows broadcast at 9 p.m. EST and feature highlights from IMCA.TV from Day 4 at Boone this evening, Day 5 on Thursday and Day 6 on Friday. A nine-hour broadcast marathon begins at noon Sunday, Nov. 24. SPEED SPORT 1 is available for free on Amazon Prime, PlutoTV, SlingTV and more.

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 19, 2024) – IMCA drivers earning one or more track championships while competing exclusively with crate engines this season receive $250 bonuses given by Chevrolet Performance. Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Late Model, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod track champions indicating on their 2024 license application that they would run a crate engine will receive $250 checks for each of a total of 186 track championships. Checks will be presented during the upcoming national awards banquet or mailed in December. Modified drivers receiving bonuses for winning one or more  track championships, with multiple track titles indicated in parenthesis, while competing exclusively with a crate engine include: Steven Anderson, Chaz Baca (2), Curtis Barnes, Jordan Bartz, Cole Bents, Brett Berry, Tyson Blood, Kenny Boardman, Kyler Bowen, Jarrett Brown, Keith Brown Jr.,  David Carrera, Kellen Chadwick, Ben Chapman, Brandon Clough (2) and Jimmy Cole. Jeffery Cooper, Ted Cooper Jr., Troy Cordes, Joel Crowbridge, Cole Czarneski, Myron DeYoung, Rick Durica, Dwight East, Grey Ferrando (2), Shawn Fletcher, Dalton Flory, Dakota Fox, [Read More]

PLATTE CENTER, Neb. (Nov. 8, 2024) – At first, Anthony Roth wasn’t sure if the offer he got to drive a Late Model this season was serious. It was, and next he’ll be making room in the display case for another IMCA rookie of the year award. Roth raced to an impressive nine feature wins, along with the track title at U.S. 30 Speedway on the way to earning IMCA Sunoco Late Model national rookie of the year honors. “I had goals set that I wanted to win races and I wanted to be successful. When we went out and won four of our first five races it was like gosh, this is fun. We were on to something,” said Roth. “Rookie of the year really wasn’t a goal. The goal was just to win races and have fun, and we did that.” From Platte Center and a veteran Friesen Performance IMCA Modified driver, he had another 12 top five finishes in 26 starts and ended third in the national points race. “In January, Jerry [Read More]

NEWMAN GROVE, Neb. (Oct. 17, 2024) – While there’s a lot to be said for consistency, Cory Dumpert credited a never give up approach to his latest IMCA Sunoco Late Model national championship season. The Newman Grove, Neb., driver collected 15 feature wins en route to his sixth consecutive national title, a record for IMCA’s modern (1979-) era. “That’s pretty cool, surreal, really,” said Dumpert, also the Nebraska State champion for a sixth straight  season, as well as track champion at both Boone County Raceway and Off Road Speedway. “We started racing a Late Model with IMCA in 2019 and while we’ve had a lot of success since then, this season was definitely the most challenging and our most rewarding championship.” “Consistency was important – on paper it shows 38 top five’s – but there was a lot of stuff that happened that we had to overcome, too,” he’d add. “It was a terrible year with some of the mechanical stuff that happened but it was still a very rewarding year.” “We just never gave up.” [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (Oct. 15, 2024) – Record-setting racers and first-time kings and a queen are among the 2024 national champions announced today by IMCA. Mike Nichols’ 13th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car crown is the most all-time in IMCA while Cory Dumpert’s sixth straight IMCA Sunoco Late Model title sets a new record for the sanctioning body in its modern (1979-) era. Kaylee Richards became the first driver to win both a national championship, in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts, and Lady Eagle award. Other first-time national champs were Lee Goos Jr. in the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car and Jeff Shepperd in the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods. Matthew Looft’s Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod title was his career seventh, Dillon Raffurty’s Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite crown his career fourth. Chaz Baca went back-to-back in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Cory Probst topped the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock standings for the second time. A 30-time feature winner, Nichols complemented his latest national title with EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and Crawford County Speedway, [Read More]

Ties are broken by 40 point finishes, then 39 point finishes, 38, 37, etc.  Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,027; 2. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, 993; 3. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, 992; 4. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 991; 5. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 989; 6. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 986; 7. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 980; 8. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 979; 9. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 975; 10. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 973; 11. Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., 972; 12. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 971; 13. Austin Harnick, Clare, Mich., 964; 14. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 957; 15. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 957; 16. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., 956; 17. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 954; 18. Ben Chapman, Clarence, Iowa, 953; 19. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wis., 952; 20. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Mont., 945. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 810; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 809; 3. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 791; 4. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 785; 5. Evan Miller, Davenport, [Read More]

By Jerry Mackey TIPTON, Iowa (Oct. 1, 2024) – Darkside Promotions (Tim Current and Ryan Duhme) is anxious to promote the  Fall Bash, which has become one of Eastern Iowa’s premier racing events annually.  Cedar County Raceway will host three big days of racing beginning Thursday, Oct. 3 and will continue Friday, Oct. 4 and will wrap up on Saturday, Oct. 5. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $1,200 with a $40 entry fee, IMCA Sunoco Late Models for $1,000 with a $30 entry fee, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $750 to win with a $25 entry fee, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods for $500 to win with a $20 entry fee and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $350 to win and no entry fee on Thursday. On Friday, Modifieds race for $1,500 to win with a $50 entry fee, Stock Cars race for $1,200 to win with a $40 entry fee, SportMods race for $1,000 to win with a $30 entry fee and Hobby Stocks race for $500 to win with a $20 entry [Read More]

DAVENPORT, Iowa (Sept. 28, 2024) – He’s been wrenching a lot more than he’s been racing again this season but Jeremiah Hurst still knows how to find the fastest way around the oval. The Dubuque star led all 30 laps of the Dirt Stars main event for IMCA Sunoco Late Models Saturday night at Davenport Speedway, earning $3,000 for his first sanctioned win since 2019, the season after he reigned as national champion in the class. “My brother Ian started racing four years ago and I’ve been helping him,” explained Hurst, who ran a Modified in the Clash on the Coast and had just a handful of starts before running fifth in the  Friday show at Davenport. “The car was very, very good and I knew if I could get to the lead and get into lapped traffic, I’d be all right.” Hurst took the initial green from inside row two and was quickly in front, staying on the inside line, catching up with the back of the pack by lap 18 and working through traffic. [Read More]

Final points races of the 2024 season are Sunday, Sept. 29 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,000; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 987; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 979; 4. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, and Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, both 977; 6. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 973; 7. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 969; 8. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 967; 9. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 965; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 962; 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., and Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., both 957; 13. Austin Harnick, Clare, Mich., 949; 14. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, and Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Mont., both 942; 16. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 941; 17. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 940; 18. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 939; 19. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., 938; 20. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wis., 937. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 795; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 793; 3. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 780; 4. Evan Miller, Davenport, Iowa, 774; 5. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 770; 6. [Read More]

HARLAN, Iowa (Sept. 21, 2024) – Jack Hearty won two races on Saturday night at Shelby County Speedway. The first was just to get his IMCA Sunoco Late Model on the track. The second was to win the Tiny Lund Memorial and Brandon Saltzman Showdown main event. Hearty, just 22 and from Omaha, won his career-first IMCA Late Model feature and $3,098 on a night dedicated to both the hometown hero and 1963 Daytona 500 champion and to the late 2021 track champion. “There have been a couple races where I’ve led late and had a tire blow out, or lost the lead after a late caution,” said Hearty, who got up at sunrise Sunday, walked from his camper and sat at the track, letting everything from the night before set in. “We had a caution with four to go and I knew Cory Dumpert was right behind me. I just told myself ‘Let’s go do what we know we can’ and it all worked out.” Dumpert, the five-time defending national champion, and Sterling Perkins [Read More]

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,000; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 987; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 979; 4. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, and Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, both 977; 6. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 971; 7. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 968; 8. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 966; 9. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 965; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 962; 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., and Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., both 957; 13. Austin Harnick, Clare, Mich., 949; 14. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 942; 15. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 940; 16. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 939; 17. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., 938; 18. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wis., 937; 19. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 936; 20. Jacob Mallet Jr., Oakley, Calif., 935. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 795; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 791; 3. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 777; 4. Evan Miller, Davenport, Iowa, 774; 5. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 766; 6. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, and Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage COLUMBUS, Neb. (Sept. 14, 2024) – At the age of 15, when most American teens are just starting to learn the ropes of driving, Beau Johnson has been making a name for himself in the dirt track scene of his native Cornhusker State in the IMCA Sunoco Late Model division. The young Plainview pilot showed remarkable determination as he chased down the early leader, mastered three restarts, and emerged victorious on the final night of the Abe Lincoln Memorial at US 30 Speedway. The win was his second of the season. The 50-lap finale started with Matt Haase running away from the pack. He was chased down and passed by Johnson on lap six. Johnson was a smooth operator as the first half of the race went incident-free.   There was a caution on lap 23 before the red flag was released for a fuel stop. Johnson’s dominance remained in the second half as he smoothly sailed ahead of all other contenders. The only thing to slow him down were yellow flags [Read More]