Newswire

Drought ends for Lee with Sunday Oil Capital RaceSaver win at Meeker

By John Rittenoure MEEKER, Okla. (March 7) – It has been a long time in coming for Joe Bob Lee. One of the most loyal followers of the AmeriFlex/Oil Capital Racing Series for IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, Lee has spent the past four years traveling to each race on the OCRS schedule from his home in the far southwest Oklahoma town of Cache hoping to pick up a main event win. Sunday, it finally happened. Lee took over the lead just a few laps before the halfway point in the 30-lap feature of Spring Nationals at Red Dirt Raceway and raced unchallenged for his first career series victory. “It is going on four years straight I have been running with the series,” Lee said, thinking back to when he started running with OCRS. “It is finally good to get the monkey off my shoulders.“ Lee credited the work of his family, crew and sponsors for his success. “We have had a lot of top 5 and top 10’s. A lot of good runs,” Lee recalled. [Read More]

United Rebel Sprint Series partners with Drive to Zero program

OBERLIN, Kan. – The United Rebel Sprint Series Presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing has partnered with the Kansas Department of Transportation’s highway safety program “Drive to Zero” as the title sponsor for the 2021 season. The season is set to kick off on April 17 at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan. The Kansas-based series will now be referred to as the Drive to Zero United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambleton Racing. The Drive to Zero program originated with a purpose to reduce fatalities and serious injuries that occur on Kansas highways. The program is designated to target impaired driving, texting, and seat belt violations. The goal of the Drive to Zero program is to ensure that every traveler arrives to their destination safely. “We are really excited about this opportunity to partner with the Kansas Department of Transportation and its Drive to Zero campaign to help spread their message of ‘Don’t drink and drive, don’t text and drive and always buckle up,’” said series promoter Rick Salem. The Drive to Zero United Rebel Sprint Series Presented by Mel [Read More]

Texas 305 RaceSaver Sprint Nationals set this weekend at Devil’s Bowl

MESQUITE, Texas – IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars race for shares of a Lone Star State-sized purse at this weekend’s Texas 305 RaceSaver Sprint Nationals. The Friday, March 12 main event at Devil’s Bowl Speedway pays $1,000 to win and a minimum of $200 to start while the Saturday headliner pays $2,000 to win, $1,850 for second, $1,700 for third, $1,600 for fourth, $1,500 for fifth and $1,400 for sixth and then increments of $50 less for each place down to $500 for 24th. More than 60 entries from across RaceSaver nation are already in hand and both nights of the Texas 305 RaceSaver Sprint Nationals will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. Gates open for the Thursday tech and practice session at 3 p.m.; gates open at noon, the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors ages 60 and over, military with ID and students ages 12-15, and free for kids ages 12 and under. Reserved seats are an additional $5. [Read More]

Cocopah dates are Arizona first for IMCA Wild West Tour

SOMERTON, Ariz. – An IMCA event 14 years in the making takes place March 19-20 at Cocopah Speedway. The Pitt Stop Motorsports IMCA Wild West Tour travels to Somerton in its first-ever visit to Arizona. IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win their Friday and Saturday features, with Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berths at stake both nights of the season-opening doubleheader. Ken Schrader joins the Modified field, piloting the car that carried Chaz Baca to the 2020 Shaw Race Cars Western Region crown. Both IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods run for $750 to win each night at Cocopah. The Wild West Tour has frequented tracks in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming throughout a 115-race history dating to 2007. The twinbill scheduled at Cocopah last spring was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We were really looking forward to running at Somerton last April and are pleased that we were able to schedule these 2021 dates,” said Tour Director Ken Hansen. “Cocopah will be a great site to [Read More]

Kent is super in Oil Capital RaceSaver series opener

By John Rittenoure MEEKER, Okla. (March 6) – Johnny Kent gave up the early lead then regained it just in time to win the 2021 AmeriFlex/Oil Capital Racing Series season opener for IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars during night one of the Red Dirt Raceway Spring Nationals. For the first time, the series raced under the IMCA RaceSaver sanction and a total of 42 competitors turned out for the inaugural outing. Kent picked up his third OCRS career victory, but it almost did not happen. Starting outside front row next to Dillon Laden, Kent jumped into the lap one lead on the Red Dirt quarter-mile before the yellow flag waved. On the restart, fourth starting Casey Wills roared past Kent for the lead. Kent kept pace with Wills throughout the 25-lapper hoping for a second chance. Opportunity presented itself in the final two laps and Kent went around Wills for the victory. Tyler Drueke, making his first start with OCRS, charged from eighth to finish third. Ty Williams was fourth and veteran Danny Wood came from [Read More]

Green makes good on pre-race promise to make a show of it at Jack Bagby Memorial

WACO, Texas (March 5) – Recognizing the tall task he faced, Kevin Green promised to make a show of it before lining up ninth on the IMCA Modified grid at Heart O’ Texas Speedway’s season-opening Jack Bagby Memorial. Then he made good on that promise, earning $1,000 and a spot of the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot along with the Friday night checkers. “We ran around the bottom a couple laps, then moved to the top and started passing some cars,” Green said. “We had drawn good for the heat, then went out and drew ninth for the feature. I figured I had to make a show of it and wound up doing pretty good.” Running third when the caution flew just after midway, he passed Eric Tomlinson on the restart and then caught David Goode Jr. for the lead, pulling away in the final circuits. “This is a race we’ve always wanted to win, and it’s always good to get the win your first night out,” said Green. The three-time, and two-time defending track [Read More]

$1,000 to win for IMCA Modifieds at Heart O’ Texas Speedway’s Jack Bagby Memorial

WACO, Texas – Opening night at Heart O’ Texas Speedway sees IMCA Modifieds running for $1,000 to win and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth Friday, March 5. Also on the card for the 55th anniversary season are IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Razor Chassis South Central Region and EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region, KMJ Performance Texas State and track points are at stake. Pit gates open at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 8 p.m. Grandstand admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, military and students, $5 for kids 6-12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $30.

Superior Fuel Cells signs through 2022 for IMCA Modified, Late Model awards

CRESWELL, Ore. – Superior Fuel Cells has renewed an awards program for IMCA Modified and IMCA Late Model drivers that continues through the 2022 season. The Creswell, Ore., company gives a total of $3,000 in product certificates this season and next, with $100 certificates going to drivers finishing sixth through 10th in each of the five Modified regions and in national Late Model standings. National rookies of the year in both divisions and the top non-qualifier for the Modified main event at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s all receive 22-gallon race fuel cells. “Superior Fuel Cells is proud to continue our involvement with IMCA and sponsorship of the Modified and Late Model divisions,” said Superior’s Maria Culp. “We look forward to the future development of product for all the divisions in IMCA racing.” Superior awards based on point standings will be presented during the national banquet this fall or mailed beginning the following week from the IMCA home office. Information about Superior Fuel Cells-manufactured fuel cells, accessories and replacement parts is available by [Read More]

A race fan forever, Sutton takes over as new promoter at RPM Speedway

HAYS, Kan. – A race fan forever, Chris Sutton takes a new job at a long-time IMCA Kansas race track this season. The veteran tech inspector and jack of all trades at tracks across the state steps up as promoter at RPM Speedway. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts all return to Saturday shows at Hays. “I want to see this track continue to be a success. It’s a very big piece of the IMCA racing puzzle in the state and consistently has had one of the biggest car counts in Kansas,” said Sutton. “There’s not a lot of maintenance that needs to be done before opening night. The biggest change is that we had to forego the Sunflower Classic this spring but that will be back on the 2022 schedule.” The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season runs from April 3 to Sept. 19. The final checkers fly during the Oct. 1-2 Fall Nationals. Sutton’s race career was brief before becoming [Read More]