Newswire

A legacy lives on – Rookie Ashley Holbert will race in late husband’s Southern SportMod

ITASCA, Texas – Ashley Holbert would have been content as a race fan and her husband’s crew chief and number one supporter. Instead, she’ll carry on his legacy this season racing his Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod. Rowdy Holbert died Jan 11 at the age of 30 in an oilfield work accident. After a suggestion from their daughter Kaysen, Ashley decided to make 2018 her rookie season in the IMCA division. “It just seemed like the natural thing to do. I couldn’t imagine not being at the track,” she explained. “I’ve talked to family, friends and some guys Rowdy worked with and they were all 100 percent supportive.” “I feel honored. What an opportunity to continue our family’s legacy,” Holbert continued. “We were always ready to go to the track Friday and Saturday nights. I can’t imagine stepping away from this arena.” Ashley and Rowdy were a couple for nine years and would have celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on July 21. Kaysen helped Rowdy’s best friend Brandon Williams drive her father’s car around the [Read More]

Smiley’s Racing Products giving back again as new IMCA Southern SportMod title sponsor

MESQUITE, Texas – Smiley’s Racing Products will celebrate both its 50th year in business and its first season as title sponsor of the IMCA Southern SportMod division in 2018. The Mesquite, Texas, high-performance parts manufacturer and distributor has signed on to provide a portion of the $9,500 point fund to be paid to top 15 drivers in national standings for Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods. The new three-year agreement runs through the 2020 season. “Many Southern SportMod drivers are already our customers, and our friends. This is another way we can give back to them,” said Smiley’s owner Tom Lorenz. “The Southern SportMods are a very economical, very competitive class. It’s a grassroots-type division and strong because it’s so affordable.” “We have had a very good relationship with IMCA for many years,” he added. “We’ve both been around for a long time and we are proud to be an IMCA sponsor.” The home of Hoosier Tire Southwest, Smiley’s is part of national decal programs for Northern and Southern SportMods. Drivers in both those divisions are [Read More]

Arizona IMCA Modified Tour ends with Thornton in Cocopah’s victory lane

By Mike Spieker SOMERTON, Ariz. (Feb. 18) – The second annual Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour came to a close with a Sunday matinee at Cocopah Speedway and Ricky Thornton Jr. ended his afternoon with the $1,500 Winter Nationals feature win. Thornton grabbed the lead from the pole as Aaron Turnbull followed him into second. Thornton quickly pulled away from the field, opening his advantage to over two seconds by lap five. The field stretched itself out throughout the first half of the race until Thornton reached the tail of the field with 13 of 25 laps completed. Mired in traffic, Thornton’s lead quickly evaporated to just a half second on Turnbull. Turnbull, who was looking to pick up his second consecutive main event win, closed to within two car lengths until he was slowed by a lapped car. Thornton simultaneously over-drove turns one and two, which kept Turnbull within striking distance. In clean track, however, Thornton hit his marks and cruised to the checkered flag. “I kind of figured the groove was going to [Read More]

Axle Exchange continues support of IMCA Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational

DES MOINES, Iowa – Axle Exchange continues marquee role in supporting one of the highest-profile IMCA Modified events of the season. The Des Moines company sponsors the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational and will provide a portion of the purse paid to the 30 starters in the Sept. 7 race at Boone Speedway, during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Each of those drivers receives a free custom Velocita fire suit and mini replica driveshaft from Axle Exchange, manufacturer of the Fast Shafts brand of drive shafts and 16-year IMCA sponsor. “IMCA racing has been a big part of our growth and a bigger part of my life for many years. IMCA racers have showed their support of our company’s products and efforts and we look forward to continuing our efforts in supporting the sport we love,” said Fast Shafts President Pat Fagen. “We have some exciting things happening and continue to do our best to offer the best product, at the best price, with the best service. We can’t thank IMCA enough [Read More]

Abilene Ice Breaker IMCA Lone Star Stock Car Tour wins to Cornelius, Abbey

ABILENE, Texas (Feb. 16-17) – A first-time racing visitor to Texas and a regular visitor to Abilene Speedway’s victory lane were IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature winners at the season-opening Ice Breaker. Dean Cornelius topped the Friday night feature while Dean Abbey took the Saturday checkers. Nearly 60 entries from 10 states and Canada saw action as both features doubled as Sniper Speed Lone Star Tour-sponsored events and paid $750 to win. Cornelius had traveled to Texas just once previously, catching a rodeo while on vacation in 2017. He won in his first night out in a new Sniper that had been driven just once previously … in a foot of snow a week earlier on a county road near his Minnesota home. After passing Abbey to win their heat race, he drew the pole and led green to checkers. “It was a really cool way to start the series. I just hung onto the bottom,” said Cornelius. “Sniper encouraged us to come and we said ‘Let’s do it.’ There’s no better way to start [Read More]

Turnbull checks out for Arizona Mod Tour victory on night two at Cocopah Speedway

By Mike Spieker SOMERTON, Ariz. (Feb. 18) – Aaron Turnbull dominated the penultimate night of the Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour, leading all 25 trips around Cocopah Speedway Saturday evening. The $1,500 victory put the Canadian clipper on the ballot for the upcoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Pole sitter Cody Laney jumped out to the early lead at the drop of the green flag but Turnbull powered around the outside off turn four to lead the opening lap. Laney quickly had his hands full with Jeff Taylor, who was seeking his best finish of this year’s tour. Taylor snuck by Laney on lap three and set his sights on Turnbull, who had already established a seven car length lead. Ricky Thornton Jr. became a contender early on as well after he moved by Laney to crack the top three. Lapped traffic tightened things up late in the going. Turnbull’s comfortable lead evaporated to just two car lengths as both Taylor and Thornton reeled him in. Thornton passed Taylor for second just as the caution [Read More]

Marriott wows ‘em with flag to flag run in Cocopah Arizona Modified Tour show

By Mike Spieker SOMERTON, Ariz. (Feb. 16) – Round seven of the Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour brought the series to Cocopah Speedway and defending champion Hunter Marriott remained untouchable during Friday night’s 25-lap, $1,500-to-win Winter Nationals main event. Marriott led every trip around the 3/8-mile dirt oval, despite challenges from Casey Arneson and Jake O’Neil throughout the race. “Tonight was one of the toughest races I have had to race in a long time,” Marriott said following his 10th 2018 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying victory. “I could hear those guys back there the whole time. I knew I had to keep my corner entry speed up or else they were going to eat me up. I straightened the car up after I saw that car on the outside of me and just hoped the right rear would stay up. I was burning it into the corner pretty hard.” Marriott grabbed the race lead at the drop of the green flag from the pole position. The man on the move early was [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through Feb. 23

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo., 539; 2. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 456; 3. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., 404; 4. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., 306; 5. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 287; 6. Jason Wolla, Ray, N.D., 269; 7. Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif., 255; 8. Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz., 254; 9. Brent Schlafmann, Bismarck, N.D., 253; 10. Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D., 241; 11. Shawn Strand, Mandan, N.D., 240; 12. Ryan Gaylord, Lakewood, Colo., 239; 13. Marlyn Seidler, Underwood, N.D., 238; 14. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif., and Russell Allen, Brawley, Calif., both 232; 16. Garth Dushanek, Avondale, Ariz., 225; 17. Zachary Madrid, Phoenix, Ariz., 223; 18. Cory Sample, Winnemucca, Nev., 221; 19. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb., 203; 20. Kody Scholpp, Estevan, Sask., 198. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Westin Abbey, Comanche, Texas, 213; 2. Elijah Zevenbergen, Ocheyedan, Iowa, 189; 3. Dean Abbey, Roanoke, Texas, and Cody Center, Mesa, Ariz., both 188; 5. Dennis Losing, Apache Junction, Ariz., 179; 6. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 167; 7. Kirk Martin, Weatherford, Texas, 161; 8. Cayden Carter, [Read More]

Dominant Madrid charges to Canyon Arizona IMCA Modified Tour checkers

By Mike Spieker PEORIA, Ariz. (Feb. 15) – A dominant performance put Zach Madrid in victory lane and on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot Thursday night. Madrid became the fourth different $1,500 feature winner in five Karl Performance Arizona IMCA Modified Tour events, checking out on the rest of the Canyon Speedway Park field. Madrid had started eighth on the grid and quickly made his way toward the front on the fast, tacky and somewhat choppy racing surface. Madrid cracked the top three on lap eight as front row starter Chad Andersen paced the field. Lapped traffic played a factor as the leaders battled for the top spot. With 14 to go, Andersen made heavy contact with a lapped car in turn four. That allowed polesitter Hunter Marriott and Madrid to move into second and third, respectively. At the halfway point, Madrid pulled even with Marriott down the front stretch amidst heavy lapped traffic. Madrid powered by defending tour champion Marriott, who had won two of the first four events entering the night, to take [Read More]

Colorado’s Honor Speedway sanctions six divisions with IMCA

PUEBLO, Colo. – The Colorado track Alan Davis remembers taking practice laps at nearly a quarter century ago is the newly IMCA-sanctioned track he’ll promote beginning this season. Opening night at Honor Speedway in Pueblo is scheduled for April 7. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing points will be awarded at Saturday shows on the quarter-mile clay oval for IMCA Modifieds, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts through Sept. 15. “The majority of racers in the area are already IMCA. We thought the best decision would be to sanction so they could race here for national, regional and state points,” Davis said. “IMCA is a very credible sanctioning body and I like the consistency of their rules.” The circle track, a quarter-mile asphalt drag strip and a 2.2 mile road course all are located on 2,600 acres of city-owned property known as Honor Farm Park overseen by an appointed park board. Built in the 1970s, the track had seen rare use – [Read More]