Late Model News

JEFFERSON, S.D. (April 25, 2024) – Fans at Park Jefferson Speedway got to see one of their own in victory lane when IMCA Sunoco Late Models made their triumphant return to South Dakota. Sioux Falls native and now Silvis, Ill., racer Evan Miller passed Jesse Sobbing and then Keegan Nordquist late in Thursday night’s 25-lapper to earn the $1,000 Titan Clash payday. The checkers came in the first IMCA Late Model event held in South Dakota since 2007, the summer before Miller started second grade. “It’s pretty awesome,” said Miller, who’d taken the day off work to make the almost 400 mile tow and became the national points leader with the win. “We’d started thinking about making this race right after Park Jefferson posted about it and we really wanted to come back and race in front of family and sponsors we have here.” The win came in his fourth start of the season. Miller had made 19 starts, with one feature win and eight top five finishes at seven different tracks as a rookie [Read More]

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 974; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 893; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 564; 5. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 446; 7. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., and Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., both 389; 9. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 373; 10. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 372; 11. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 12. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 361; 13. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 14. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 336; 15. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wy., 316; 16. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 311; 17. Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, 307; 18. Chuck Grohnke, Mesa, Ariz., 298; 19. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 296; 20. Trevor Fitz, Marshalltown, Iowa, 295. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Evan Miller, Silvis, Ill., 142; 2. Dylan Schmer, Aurora, Neb., 117; 3. Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, 115; 4. Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill., 110; 5. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, and Christopher Lawrence, Colona, Ill., both 109; 7. Jacob Kubicka, [Read More]

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (April 23, 2024) – The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season opener at Maquoketa Speedway scheduled for Saturday, April 20 fell victim to wet grounds and cold temperatures. The 2024 season will now be set to get underway on Saturday, April 27. The racing program will include sanctioned races in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Late Model, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod divisions, along with INEX Legends and the 4-cylinder compact class. Hot laps take to the quarter-mile Maquoketa Speedway, located on the Jackson County Fairgrounds at 6 p.m. with hot laps and racing will follow this Saturday.

By Greg Soukup             EAGLE, Neb. (April 19, 2024) – Eagle Raceway got the first night of its Ice Breaker Challenge in for the first time since 2019 and Chad Andersen won for the first time at the special that starts the season at America’s Home Track on Friday night. The defending track champion scored the $1,000 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified victory in the final event of the evening, outrunning Jordan Grabouski, Ryan Jenkins and Drew Janssen. “We’ve come to the Ice Breaker Challenge ever since I started racing a Modified and we’ve been close, but we‘d get a third or a second and never seemed to have enough to lead the final lap,” said Andersen, newly eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “We came up with a game plan after the heat race because we felt really good. I just wasn’t quite as comfortable as I wanted to be in the heat so we made a couple of changes for the feature and it felt like the car came to life.” “Hopefully, that means [Read More]

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 965; 2. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 883; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 608; 4. William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., 564; 5. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 520; 6. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 407; 7. Devon Reed, Woodland, Wash., 389; 8. Jerry Flippo, Osage, Iowa, 363; 9. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 361; 10. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Fla., 353; 11. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont., 341; 12. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 336; 13. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Wash., 334; 14. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 311; 15. Chuck Grohnke, Mesa, Ariz., 298; 16. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 297; 17. Ethan Braaksma, Des Moines, Iowa, 290; 18. Mike Dimond, Rapid City, S.D., 278; 19. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev., 268; 20. Eddie Belec, Arvada, Colo., 267. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Tom Svoboda, David City, Neb., 78; 2. Dylan Schmer, Aurora, Neb., 77; 3. Austin Svoboda, David City, Neb., 76; 4. Christopher Lawrence, Colona, Ill., 75; 5. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, and Jesse Bodin, Silvis, Ill., both 73; [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (April 15, 2024) – IMCA drivers will still be allowed to compete in specified, multiple divisions this season. What they won’t be doing, however, is changing divisions multiple times, especially when it comes time to racing in high-paying specials. Both general rules and divisional rules posted on the IMCA website now specify which divisions drivers can compete in when purchasing licenses in two or more classes; what’s spelled out in black and white is the time they’ll have to wait when switching between restricted divisions. “For example, if a driver with a Modified license switches to a Northern or Southern SportMod, they have to stay in the new division for 12 calendar months from the date they changed divisions,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “What we’ve seen primarily is drivers making that switch to race in higher-paying specials held prior to or after the end of the point season. In no way is it fair for SportMod drivers who support their weekly tracks during the season to race against Modified or Late Model [Read More]

EAGLE, Neb. (April 9, 2024) – Drivers in six IMCA divisions have a chance to put a check on their bucket list with feature wins at Eagle Raceway’s Ice Breaker Challenge. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods are on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 race cards, and the driver in either division who can win both nights earns a $1,000 Twice is Nice Challenge bonus from event presenting sponsor Auto Trans Matic. Modifieds race for $1,000 to win, $250 to start on Friday and $2,000 to win, $270 to start on Saturday. Modified winners also earn Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Northern SportMods run for $800 to win, $150 to start each night. Friday features for IMCA Sunoco Late Models and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars also pay $800 to win, with the Stock Car winner becoming B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. On Saturday, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars race for $1,000 to win, and a minimum of $270 to start, while the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature pays [Read More]

McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. (March 21, 2024) – Randy Wulf Jr. still remembers helping load up a race car for the first-ever opening night at Junction Motor Speedway years ago. He’ll remember the excitement surrounding the opening night show at McCool Junction this season from an entirely different perspective. Wulf is the new promoter at Junction, where IMCA Sunoco Late Models, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts fill Saturday night race cards. “Promoting a race track is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Wulf. “I have been taking to (Junction owner) Delmar Friesen and jumped at this chance.” Co-owner with brother Chad of Prowler Chassis, Wulf is “a dirt guy by trade” and will handle track prep for the 3/8-mile dirt oval personally. “I want to get the track as smooth as I can,” he said. “We’ve been trying to make sure the crew coordination is there and everyone knows their job, and make this a good place for lots of [Read More]

DAVENPORT, Iowa (March 20, 2024) – Jeff Struck puts a check on his bucket list this season, as the new promoter at Davenport Speedway. The former driver and now Davenport business owner takes charge at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds venue, where IMCA Sunoco Late Models, Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods will run on Friday nights. The 2024 point season at Davenport runs from April 12 to Aug. 23. “I’ve been impressed by the number of local drivers and local businesses that support racing,” Struck said. “The community has shown that Davenport is a racing staple, locally, regionally and nationally.” Sanctioned Late Models have proven to be a weekly staple there since 1998, joined by Modifieds in 2009, Northern SportMods in 2013 and the Hobby Stocks this season. “What I like most about IMCA is that their rules keep everyone on the same level. I think IMCA racing is closer than open-style racing,” said Struck. “Open-style does have its share of good, side-by-side racing but it seems more [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (March 6, 2024) – A few clicks on the keyboard is all it will take for drivers in any IMCA division to make themselves eligible for contingency awards to be given for the 2024 race season. Drivers can click here to go to the form, which is also on the IMCA website using the forms menu, to complete the process in a matter of minutes. Drivers will be asked to indicate the make of cylinder head, shock and spring they compete with this season, and attach a picture of their car displaying required decal placement. “This is a quick and easy one-stop process,” said IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “No paperwork is involved and drivers can make themselves eligible for point fund shares and contingency awards and then focus on racing.” Decal packets are mailed from the IMCA home office daily.

LINCOLN, Neb. (Feb. 28, 2024) IMCA is excited to announce Speedway Motors has once again signed on as a sponsor for the 2024 season. This season marks Speedway Motors’ 45th year as an IMCA sponsor and 30th year as title sponsor of the IMCA Super Nationals, the premier event in dirt track racing.   “Our roots are in racing. We have participated with IMCA for over 70 years, and we’ve been honored to sponsor IMCA for 45 consecutive years,” said Speedway Motors President and owner Clay Smith. “We are proud to continue our support of IMCA and racers in all nine IMCA divisions as they build their dreams throughout 2024 while keeping racing safe, fun and affordable for many years to come.”  Many racers turn to Speedway Motors for their IMCA parts specified by the sanctioning body including IMCA upper control arms for GM Metric Stock Cars and Dart IMCA heads available bare of assembled for Hobby Stock, SportMod or Stock Car divisions.   “Speedway Motors is our longest tenured sponsor and it’s another neat milestone that this is the 30th year they’ll be title sponsor for Super [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (Feb. 27, 2024) – Two plastic body components have been added to IMCA rules for 2024. Modified, Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod drivers may use the Performance Bodies MD3 plastic dirt modified nose kit, part number MD M21100 or a combination of that nose kit and aluminum. The second component allowed, in the Late Model division only, is the Performance Bodies MD3 M7751B plastic 8-inch right side spoiler. Both additions, noted IMCA President Brett Root, have been made to rules for the respective divisions posted on the IMCA website.

JEFFERSON, S.D. (Feb. 21, 2024) – Park Jefferson Speedway will crown its first-ever IMCA Sunoco Late Model track champion this season. Sanctioned Late Models join five other IMCA divisions at PJ and run on six select nights in 2024. The class will also crown its first state champion in South Dakota. “We wanted to add a division that was maybe a little different than anything that was running around here,” explained promoter Wayne Becker. “I have a soft spot in my heart for the Late Models. They ran here back in the day and were very entertaining.” “We’re trying to bring a little bit of the 1990s back, and all the feedback we’ve received so far has been positive.” IMCA Late Models made their last and what was believed only previous appearance at Park Jefferson as part of the Summer Series in June of 2007. They’re on the schedule for April 25, May 16, May 23, June 6, Aug. 15 and Aug. 29, all nights the division is not running at US 30 Speedway in [Read More]

LINWOOD, Pa. (Feb. 13, 2024) – The manufacturer of The Official Fuel of IMCA returns to a number of sponsorship roles with the sanctioning body and its 9,000-plus member drivers in 2024. Sunoco Race Fuels backs IMCA Late Model, Stock Car and Hobby Stock drivers competing weekly as divisional title sponsor for each of those divisions, and as event title sponsor of the Stock Car Race of Champions during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “At 32 years, Sunoco is one of our longest tenured sponsors. The support they’ve given to so many of our drivers over that time is immeasurable and particularly on the weekly racing level,” noted Carson Becker-Gramm, marketing integration and sponsorship director for IMCA.  Sunoco, based in Linwood, Pa., provides a portion of point funds to be paid to top 15 drivers in national standings for Late Models, Hobby Stock Cars and Stock Cars for the fifth, 19th and 26th consecutive years, respectively. Drivers in each of those divisions must compete with Sunoco race gas and display two Sunoco logos on their [Read More]

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Feb. 6, 2024) – IMCA Sunoco Late Models will have three opportunities to take home $2,500 this season in Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway’s Key City Challenge. Late Model features on Sundays, April 28, June 23 and Aug. 18 all tote big checks for drivers pre-registered by April 28. “This was an idea one of our Late Model drivers, Luke Merfeld, had. He wanted to help promote our track and the sport of racing. Luke contacted and recruited sponsors to make this series possible. It started with Late Models and the wheels just kept rolling,” explained Fairgrounds General Manager Kevin Kotz, noting $850 to win Challenge dates for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars on May 12 and July 14 and $600 to win Challenge features for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks on June 16 and Aug. 4 as well. “People asked if we could add Challenge races for other classes and just kept donating money.” Late Model drivers who pay a $500 Challenge entry fee by the deadline day also receive six free pit passes; those who [Read More]