Newswire

Southern SportMod champ at Super Nationals added to Stephenville Starter awards program

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – An IMCA marketing partner from the Lone Star State expands its awards presence this September at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. While returning for a third year as title sponsor of the Hobby Stock Race of Champions at Super Nationals, Stephenville Starter awards a starter to the champion of the inaugural main event for Southern SportMods at Boone Speedway. Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock and Northern SportMod champions also receive starters from the Stephenville manufacturer and eight-year IMCA sponsor. “Stephenville Starter has been a long-time supporter of the IMCA Hobby Stock division, and their partnership with the Race of Champions in Boone continues that tradition,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder commented. “Adding a starter for the Southern SportMod champion just adds another layer of value to that championship.” Ten drivers qualify for the Hobby Stock Race of Champions, to be held Sept. 10, and Stephenville Starter provides a portion of the purse. Information about Stephenville Starter-made products is available by calling 254 965-7890.

Droste, Moyer top Dubuque County Fair races

By Jerry Mackey DUBUQUE, Iowa (July 27) – Night two of the 63rd annual Dubuque County Fair included a night of spectacular stock car racing for the Julien Dubuque Classic. Five classes of cars were on the track being headlined by the Out-Pace Racing Products IMCA Late Models. The 35-lap main event saw Tyler Droste continue his recent dominance of the 3/8-mile Dubuque Speedway. Droste led every lap but the race win was in doubt right to the checkered flag. Tyler Bruening caught Droste as the front runners worked through lapped traffic. Bruening was able to draw even with Droste on several occasions but Droste prevailed for a car length win. Justin Kay took third ahead of Charlie McKenna. The Merfeld Brothers Automotive IMCA Modified feature was another hotly contested battle as rookie Austin Moyer took a hard-fought win over Kay. Kay was able to get by Moyer several times but Moyer was not rattled and held for an impressive win. Kay crossed under the checkers a very close second ahead of Jeremiah Hurst. The [Read More]

SPI announces free admission at West Liberty on Aug. 13

By Jerry Mackey WEST LIBERTY, Iowa – Keith Simmons of Simmons Promotions, operator of West Liberty Raceway, has scheduled a Saturday, Aug. 13 Driver/Fan Appreciation Night. A full night of racing is on the program that evening with free admission to the grandstand. Race fans are encouraged to contact their favorite driver to receive tickets, which will enter that driver in a contest for free pit admissions. Hot laps get underway at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow at 7 p.m.

URSS readies for inaugural Ernie DiCroce Memorial

BYERS, Colo. – The 2016 URSS IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Series will invade Colorado Motorsports Park Saturday night, July 30 for the inaugural Ernie DiCroce Memorial. Gates open at 5 p.m. with a concert by School Of Rock. Races kick off at 7 p.m. A stellar field of drivers from Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma will be ready to hit the clay once again as they shoot it out for the top prize. Colorado Motorsports Park is located 44 miles east of Denver on I-70 exit 316. The top five in national points are Luke Cranston, Zach Blurton, Darren Berry, Brian Herbert and Jed Werner. The Colorado top five are Austin McLean, Blurton, Justin Medlock, Brian Hardman and Clint Shubert. DiCroce was founder and former owner of AAI Speed Equipment and Machine Shop, along being a former car owner for several drivers, Leland McSpadden, Jan Opperman, Doug Wolfgang, Joe McCarthy and Keith Rauch among them. With daughters Gina and Christy, DiCroce ran AAI Speed Equipment in Arvada for more than 20 years. In 2001, he was voted in as [Read More]

Atomicwraps.com IMCA Empire State Series returns to I-88 for Friday show

AFTON, N.Y. – There’s a new name atop the leaderboard coming into Friday’s Atomicwraps.com Empire State Series event at I-88 Speedway. The July 29 feature for traveling Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds pays $500 to win and minimum $75 to start. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Dirt Works Eastern Region, Allstar Performance State and special series points will be awarded at the sixth of 10 2016 tour events. Brad Sites was runner-up in the July 17 Empire State Series show at Skyline Raceway, moving up to first in the points race when his brother Eddie – now tied for second – exited with mechanical woes and ended deep in the field. Port Crane’s James Cornell was the Empire State Series winner at Afton last July and again when the tour returned there in June. Gary Roberts is also a two-time winner at his home town track. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Friday. Hot laps are at 6:15 and racing starts at 7 p.m. Spectator admission is [Read More]

Southern SportMod champion is part of Bell awards program for Super Nationals

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Bell Racing’s awards program continues this season with the addition of Southern SportMods to the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Modified, Late Model, Sprint Car, Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod, Southern SportMod and Sport Compact champions crowned during the Sept. 5-10 Super Nationals all receive SA2015 approved K-1 Sport helmets from the Champaign, Ill., manufacturer and retailer, as does the champion of the Sept. 1-4 Sprint Car Nationals. The 11-year IMCA marketing partner also provides replica helmets for trophies to be awarded to top four main event finishers in each of those divisions and Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock and Northern SportMod qualifying feature winners. “The Bell helmet trophy toppers are a really cool part of this program and make the trophies we give away in Boone something pretty special,” noted IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder. “The fact that each champion receives an actual helmet from Bell is great recognition of the highest accomplishment in dirt track racing.” Information about Bell helmets and accessories is available by calling 800 237-2700, [Read More]

Kay wins second straight Hawkeye Dirt Tour feature, Dubuque has 40 IMCA Modifieds for county fair show

DUBUQUE, Iowa (July 26) – The storyline behind Justin Kay’s career second Hawkeye Dirt Tour victory reads a lot like that of his first. Like he did last week at Knoxville, Kay started Tuesday’s Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified main event at Dubuque Speedway from the pole. And as was the case both nights, tour point leader Chris Abelson was briefly ahead before Kay charged back in front, this time earning $1,200 and a berth on the ballot for the 2017 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Forty IMCA Modifieds were on hand for the county fair show, the first tour event held at Dubuque and the seventh of 10 events on the 2016 series schedule. “It was fun,” said Kay. “Racing a Modified is relaxing and I’m getting to do it at tracks I really like. It’s fun to race with different people, guys like Abelson, (Darin) Duffy and (Ryan) DeShaw.” Kay was scored first cross the line on each of the 30 laps. He ran three-wide with Abelson and Duffy down the backstretch on lap [Read More]

Two complete shows on tap for Lee County Summerfest

DONNELLSON, Iowa – Summerfest features at Lee County Speedway pay $1,000 to winners of Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main events. The Monday, Aug. 1 Modified feature at Donnellson is a qualifying event for the 2017 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Stock Cars and Northern SportMods are on both Monday, Aug. 1 and Tuesday, Aug. 2 programs, as are Mach-1 Sport Compacts, running for $300 to win. Complete shows will be run each night at IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, Allstar Performance State points will be given. Start money for the Modifieds is $100. Entry fee and tow is $50. Both Stock Cars and Northern SportMods get $85 to qualify. Entry fee and tow is $40. Minimum start money for the Sport Compacts is $50; entry fee and tow are $25. Performance Bodies gift certificates go to top five finishers. Pit gates open at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 7 p.m. and racing is at 7:30 p.m. both days. Grandstand admission is $15 [Read More]

Carrell tops IMCA Modifieds at Mark Howard Memorial

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GOVE, Ore. (July 23) – Mark Carrell led the last 22 of 52 laps in winning Saturday’s Mark Howard Memorial Modified Nationals at Cottage Grove Speedway. The $2,600 Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified victory put Carrell on the ballot for the 2017 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Craig Hanson took the lead on the opening circuit and stayed in front until lap 16 when Collen Winebarger finally found a way around. The mandatory caution flew at lap 25 for refueling and Winebarger continued to set the fast pace after the restart, followed by Carrell and Craig Hanson. Carrell made the pass around Winebarger and set a wicked pace, but a caution with five laps to go bunched everyone up for one final shot at the leader. Carrell kept all challengers in check, however, and held on to win the Howard Memorial for the first time. Winebarger was second, followed by 24th starting Nick Trenchard, Jesse Williamson and Craig Hanson. Feature results – 1. Mark Carrell; 2. Collen Winebarger; 3. Nick Trenchard; 4. Jesse [Read More]

Funeral services pending for Dave Farren Sr.

DES MOINES, Iowa – An IMCA Modified racing legend passed away Sunday in his hometown of Des Moines. Services for Dave Farren Sr., 70 are at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 30 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines. Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Friday, July 29 at Hamilton’s. In honor of Dave’s favorite color, friends are asked to wear purple. Farren began racing an IMCA Modified in 1984; his first full season was 1985. IMCA’s national champion in 1986 and 1988, he became the all-time wins leader in the division by passing Jack Mitchell and Bobby Layne, and also won for the 100th time in his career in 1988. His career total of 199 feature wins is now fifth all-time in the division. “Dave was one of the early IMCA Modified drivers who made an impact on the growth of the division,” said Kathy Root, former IMCA president and now chair of the sanctioning body’s executive committee. “He was a true budget racer who proved you could win championships with [Read More]