Newswire

Morgan breaks through for NY-Penn victory

By Evan Canfield SUSQUEHANNA, Pa. (Aug. 15) – In a season filled with highs and lows, Rodney Morgan finally found some redemption at Penn Can Speedway. After destroying his car in the season opener at the same facility, he was able to come back to the Susquehanna oval and capture his first NY-Penn IMCA Modified Series victory on Sunday, earning $1,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star qualifying eligibility. Aaron Benjamin and J.W. Lamphere set the pace for the 25-lap feature but the start was anything but smooth. A single car spin, a stack-up at the rear of the field and a multi-car pileup set the tone for the opening laps, with three consecutive cautions keeping the race from getting underway. Once under the green flag, Benjamin jumped out to an early lead. While trying to hold control of the race, multiple yellow flags would hurt his momentum. He led up to a lap 13 restart, where a bobble in the opening corners opened the door for Morgan to slip by and take the top spot. Benjamin [Read More]

Fan favorite Thing brings IMCA Modified, social media expertise to Super Nationals

CAMPO, Calif. – Michael Thing Jr. will make the long tow to the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s to do three of the things he enjoys most. He’ll race an IMCA Modified. He’ll keep thousands of social media followers up-to-date on travels to and from Boone Speedway, and his on- and off-the-track adventures during America’s Racin’ Vacation. And he’ll make a lot of new friends The 17-year-old from Campo, Calif., a senior at San Diego Virtual High School, has set the gold standard for sharing his racing experiences, interviews and interactions with his family and other drivers using a multi-platform social media approach that includes Instagram, Youtube and Facebook. “I’ve been racing a Modified since I was 14 and this is something we’ve done since then,” Thing explained. “People really enjoy the racing. We show fans more of what happens in the pits and do our best to engage with them, responding to comments, questions and suggestions. We do giveaways, like T-shirts, too. The fans are supporting us so we want to give [Read More]

Split draw planned for IMCA Super Nationals Modified, Stock, Hobby, SportMod heat races

BOONE, Iowa – Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock and Northern SportMod drivers will be guaranteed different starting spots in qualifying heats at the 39th annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. A computerized split draw system will be used for Hobby Stock and SportMod qualifying Monday, Sept. 6 and Tuesday, Sept. 7 and Modifieds and Stock Cars Wednesday, Sept. 8, Thursday, Sept. 9 and Friday, Sept. 10. “With so many entries coming to Boone Speedway from so many parts of the country, the goal is to ensure that each driver has the opportunity to start a qualifying heat race, or races, from different spots on the grid,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “With this split draw system, drivers are guaranteed a chance to start in the front half of a heat race. They are also guaranteed they will not start in the back half each night they attempt to qualify.” “This is the first time we have used a split draw at Super Nationals,” he added. “It will be managed by MyRacePass and MRP [Read More]

Race of champions planned for IMCA STARS Mod Lites

BOONE, Iowa – A race of champions is in the works for the newest IMCA division. STARS Mod Lites make their IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s debut during the Sept. 4-5 Prelude. Qualifying heats are scheduled both Saturday and Sunday and if at least 10 drivers in the division with championships on their resumes, or who are current track, series or state point leaders are competing at Boone Speedway that weekend, their race of champions will be first on the track during the Sunday program. Race of champions eligible drivers, listed below, have until next Monday, Aug. 23 to pre-register for Super Nationals before the decision to hold a STARS Mod Lite race of champions will be made: Jeff Asher (Doe Run Raceway) Dalton Bell (Dodge City Raceway Park) Collin Bender (Canyon Speedway AZ, Cocopah Speedway, Arizona State) J.D. Brown (Arizona Speedway) Randy Bryan (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 national champion) Kevin Carl (Louisiana State) Alex Cline (East Bay Raceway Park) Sean Conyers (Fairgrounds Speedway, Colorado State) Dylan Dunn (Florida State) Dawson Fisher [Read More]

Rookie Graf gets first RaceSaver Sprint win at Arlington

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 14) – Rookie Hannah Graf put her IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car in victory lane for her first career win Saturday at Arlington Raceway. Graf led from start to finish from her front row start. A first lap yellow flag came out when Bruce Allen spun off the track in turn three. The cars realigned and Graf took off again, this time with her uncle Chris following her around the track. Halfway through the race another caution was thrown when Justin Allen spun out. On this restart, Brett Allen took the high side while others were taking the bottom of the track and passed five cars to compete with the leader. The following lap, coming out of turn two, Graf had control of the front spot and Allen ran out of room, causing him to spin out putting him to the back of the field. With four laps to go, Hannah Graf led the rest of the way to take the victory. Chris Graf took second and Trevor Serbus started 13th and finished third. [Read More]

Williamson wins IMCA Modified battle at Grays Harbor, Winebarger wins Wild West Shootout war

By Ben Deatherage ELMA, Wash. (Aug. 14) – Jesse Williamson won the battle while Collen Winebarger won the war Saturday at Grays Harbors Raceway. Williamson raced to his third $1,000 Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout victory of the week in the series’ sole Washington State stop of the week. Winebarger, a three-time Shootout winner as well, ended in third, good enough to clinch his first ever Shootout title. After leading the field the first lap, Winebarger set an ever quicker pace before he was caught and overtaken on lap 17 by Grey Ferrando. Ferrando was the trailblazer for a bit of time until he had some fast company with the likes of Jesse Williamson. Williamson seized the top-place position on lap 26 only to see Ferrando take the coveted top spot back on the 30th circuit. Williamson kept his composure, got back around Ferrando on lap 38 and led to the end of the 40-lapper. The win was Williamson’s career 15th on the tour and eighth in IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing action this season. Ferrando [Read More]

Stewart scores first Benton County Speedway victory

VINTON, Iowa (Aug.15) – Points battles remained tight Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. With the season championship program coming up next Sunday, drivers positioned themselves for a title run in the final event leading up to the season finale. In the KISS Country 96.5 IMCA Modified division, a first-time winner had to hold off a hard-charging title contender in that feature. Derrick Stewart raced from the fourth row and worked along the outside of Josh Barta a handful of laps into the 20-lapper. While Stewart pressured from the outside, point leader Troy Cordes, who also started in row four, pursued on the low side. Cordes reeled in the lead pair and the trio dueled before Stewart was able to make his way around Barta for the race lead. Cordes continued to give chase and made numerous attempts to challenge high and low, but those efforts came up short as Stewart raced to his first-ever win at The Bullring. Cordes ran second ahead of Dylan Thornton, who ended the night trailing Cordes by four points [Read More]

Driver intro, shaking hands with Speedy Bill among Saathoff’s Super Nationals highlights

BEATRICE, Neb. – He has four national championships, 24 track championships and 354 feature wins on his IMCA Modified resume. The accomplishment Johnny Saathoff ranks right with those feats is walking across the infield stage during the driver introductions preceding the Saturday night Modified main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “It’s pretty cool when you’re walking across the stage and shaking the hand of Speedy Bill Smith,” said Saathoff, a 15-time main event qualifier and runner-up in the 2010 Big Dance. “Your step is a lot lighter when you’re walking through the pits at Boone Speedway after you’ve done that.” From Beatrice, Neb., Saathoff is in his 42nd season on the track. A first-time qualifier at Boone in the 1995 Late Model main event, he won the Race of Champions at Super Nationals in 1997 and 1998 and has experienced highs and lows in Modified qualifying and the main event since. “It’s always cool to make the show,” said Saathoff, owner of Jet Racing, “From the business side, when I [Read More]

Winebarger scores third Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout win at SSP

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (Aug. 13) – The third different leader raced to his third feature win in seven Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout starts Friday at Sunset Speedway Park. Collen Winebarger got the best of a 23-car IMCA Modified field at Banks Bullring, earning $1,000 for his career 11th series triumph. Jake Mayden led the field at the start of the 40-lap main event and remained the pacesetter until lap five, when Greg Walters overtook him. Winebarger chased down Walters after one of seven restarts and took control of the top spot on lap 15, dealing with any lapped traffic and leading the rest of the way. Mayden rallied to end the race second while Grey Ferrando placed third. Greg Walters took home fourth while the top five was completed by Craig Cassell in fifth. The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods had their final night alongside the Wild West Modified Tour. The 25-lap main event saw Dustin Comer take the lead from Michael Melton by the completion of the second circuit. Comer dominated the [Read More]

Cassell scores huge victory in Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout at Banks

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (Aug. 12) – A frequent visitor to victory lane at Sunset Speedway Park raced to a huge win Thursday night at the Banks Bullring. Craig Cassell’s fifth win of the season at SSP was also his career first in Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout action and the $1,000 checkers make him eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. When the initial green flag flew for the 40-lap main event, Cassell got right to the point and then had no issue with lapped traffic when he approached it. Toward the end of the race, Cassell began to feel pressure from behind. Collen Winebarger briefly challenged but Cassell kept him in check. Winebarger threw a slider on Cassell with a few laps to go, which Cassell countered with a cross-over maneuver. Jesse Williamson wound up second, with third going to Winebarger. Aaron Elwess placed fourth, followed by Eston Whisler in fifth. For the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods, the 25-lap main event began with Chris Frisbie grabbing the point and holding [Read More]