Newswire

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Kathy Root honored with RPM achievement award

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 16) – The automotive racing world recognized one of its most accomplished members. Kathy Root, retired owner and president of IMCA and now chair of the sanctioning body’s executive committee received an achievement award, citing her dedication to short track auto racing, during the Racing Promotion Monthly workshops in Daytona Beach, Fla. “I enjoyed watching the growth of IMCA and knowing we were having a favorable impact on the racing industry,” said Root, the first full-time employee hired by Keith Knaack nearly 40 years ago. “I think Keith’s original goal when he developed the Modified was to keep racing an affordable hobby and we’ve always done our best to keep it that way.” “I’ve also enjoyed the friendships I’ve made and the people I’ve met,” she added. “There’s been a good bit of that.” Named president in 1990, Root guided IMCA through a sustained period of growth that continues into the organization’s 101st season. IMCA remains headquartered in Root’s hometown of Vinton and will see more than 9,000 drivers compete at sanctioned events in [Read More]

Motorsports Warehouse program gives new awards to Deery, Hawkeye Dirt Tour drivers

BOONE, Iowa – A company that made a big impression with awards at last year’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s recognizes the accomplishments of drivers in two special series in 2016. Motorsports Warehouse Distributors of Boone gives $50 gift certificates to a top five driver in each event in the Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models and in the Hawkeye Dirt Tour for Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds. Gift certificates will be mailed from the IMCA home office the week after official race results are received. “Motorsports Warehouse signed on last summer as they moved into a new facility on the grounds at Boone Speedway and this year we’re excited to implement their entire program at the outset of the season,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder noted. “Late Model and Modified drivers in the Midwest will have the opportunity to get to know one of IMCA’s newest partners in 2016.” Motorsports Warehouse retails high performance parts, tools and safety equipment, and is owned by former IMCA driver Brent Antill. “We are [Read More]

Malvern Trust & Savings Bank Deery Series Dash for Cash generating plenty of interest

MALVERN, Iowa – The non-qualifiers race new to the upcoming Deery Brothers Summer Series is already drawing plenty of interest. Malvern Trust & Savings Bank provides $500 toward the purse to be paid for each of those 10-lap races. The Dash for Cash will be held at each IMCA Late Model tour event with at least 32 entries. “This gives drivers who don’t qualify for the main event laps in a pre A-type feature, for a good amount of money and a trophy,” said Bank President and former late model driver Jay Burdic. “It’s another way to get more drivers involved every night and give them another reason to get their car ready and maybe win a trophy.” “I like the idea of the Dash for Cash because I was one of the guys who struggled. I completely get what it was like to load up at the end of a tough night,” he continued. “The Dash for Cash will help get more cars to series events, especially on those 100 degree days in August.” [Read More]

Deery Series’ final weekend features Ideal Ready Mix Ironman Challenge

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – The Ironman Challenge will help bring the curtain down on the 30th annual Deery Brothers Summer Series. Drivers with perfect attendance through the first 16 IMCA Late Model tour events of the season and previous series champions are guaranteed starting spots in the race, to be held during the Saturday, Sept. 24 at West Liberty Raceway. Sponsored by Ideal Ready Mix of West Burlington, the Ironman Challenge pays $1,000 to win and a minimum $100 to start. Justin Kay was the winner of the Ironman Challenge held last season, also at West Liberty. “The Johnson family and Ideal Ready Mix have been the longest-tenured and most influential supporters of the IMCA Late Model division since its inception and we’re thrilled to partner with them for the Ironman Challenge again this year,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder said. “Having this event as part of the Ideal-sponsored Liberty 100 weekend is a great way to cap the Deery Brothers Summer Series and showcase the best Late Model drivers in the Midwest.” More information about [Read More]

Wilson works lapped traffic, survives brush with backstretch wall to win Smackdown at Lone Star

By Darin Short KILGORE, Texas (Feb. 15) – Running in lapped traffic much of the way kept Saturday’s Sprint Smackdown at Lone Star Speedway a challenge for Chad Wilson. That contact with the backstretch wall at midway made the season-opening event for IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Cars even more interesting for the defending national champion. Wilson started from the 25-lapper from the pole, lost the lead briefly to Marcus Thomas and then rallied to take the $1,200 checkers, winning the Smackdown for the second straight year. “Getting this win was a really good way for us to start the season,” he said. “We got into lapped traffic really quick early in the race but it was easy to pass the first 12 laps. After the caution it wasn’t as easy. The track started to take rubber and it was a lot harder to get through lapped traffic.” The only caution of the contest came on the 15th circuit. Wilson had already worked his way back to the front at that point, despite a nasty brush with [Read More]

IMCA Hobby Stock awards new in 2016 from RAM

COLUMBIA, S.C. – IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock drivers are in the running this season for new contingency awards from RAM Clutches. Top five eligible finishers in both the Big Daddy Race Cars Northern Region and the Charger Chassis Southern Region receive $50 product certificates from the Columbia, S.C., high performance parts manufacturer. “We are excited to have the Hobby Stock division added to the IMCA program for 2016,” said RAM Marketing Manager Mike Norcia. “This is a market that RAM has some great products for in terms of performance and reliability and we look forward to working with this new division of racers!” RAM Clutches again gives $50 certificates to top five drivers in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern and Southern regions for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, and in national Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod standings. Drivers in all four divisions must display two RAM decals on their race car, compete with a RAM product and return a completed sign-up form to the IMCA home office by Aug. 1 to [Read More]

Thornton tops IMCA Modified finale at Winter Nationals

SOMERTON, Ariz. (Feb. 12-13) – The Ricky Thornton Jr. express rolled on Saturday at Cocopah Speedway. Thornton raced from 13th starting to win the final Winter Nationals feature for Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds. Runner-up was Mike Jergens. Lance Mari, Ryan McDaniel and 21st starting Hunter Marriott rounded out the top five. The $3,000 win was Thornton’s fifth of the season, all of them coming at Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. He’s now won 83 times in his IMCA career, tied for 66th on the all-time list for the Modified division. Total car counts topped 100 both Friday and Saturday, with 60-plus Modifieds from 14 states and Canada entered each night. After starting Winter Nationals with back-to-back third-place finishes, Nebraska’s Justin Zeitner won a second straight Modified main event, and another $1,000, on Friday. Zeitner started from the pole and led all 25 laps of a caution-free contest. Dylan Smith, himself no stranger to victory lane at Cocopah, was second while Thornton was third. Cody Laney and Ryan Gaylord were scored next as the top five [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings Through Feb. 11

Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds – 1. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 279; 2. Lance Mari, Imperial, Calif., 270; 3. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., 268; 4. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo., 265; 5. Paul Stone, Winton, Calif., 253; 6. Brian Schultz, Casa Grande, Ariz., 221; 7. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb., 217; 8. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif., 205; 9. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 197; 10. Ryan Gaylord, Lakewood, Colo., 195; 11. Jason Noll, Peoria, Ariz., 176; 12. Brent Schlafmann, Bismarck, N.D., 164; 13. Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif., 151; 14. Collen Winebarger, Corbett, Ore., 132; 15. Jesse Rogotzke, Sanborn, Minn., 125; 16. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 124; 17. Joshua Rogotzke, Sanborn, Minn., and Garth Dushanek, Red Deer, Alb., both 115; 19. R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz., 112; 20. Marlyn Seidler, Underwood, N.D., 111. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Manny Baldiviez, Yuma, Ariz., 145; 2. Thomas Daffern, Brawley, Calif., 134; 3. Steve Kihle, Williston, N.D., 129; 4. Joe Haines, Yuma, Ariz., 117; 5. Greg Wichman, Bonduel, Wis., 115; 6. Andy Altenburg, Truman, Minn., 110; 7. Tony Hill, Cortez, Colo., 106; [Read More]

IMCA national champions race to QuickCar awards

LEBANON, Tenn. – The top drivers in national standings for all eight divisions sanctioned by IMCA earn QuickCar Racing Products awards again this season. National champions in the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod divisions all receive 3-gauge panels. The Late Model national champion receives a 4-gauge panel set. Both the IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Car and Mach-1 Sport Compact national champions receive 2-gauge panel sets. “QuickCar is proud to be partnered with IMCA as they continue to do a great job with their many classes and tracks,” said General Manager Danny Knowles. “IMCA racers are a focus for QuickCar and we love being able to award the national champions and Super Nationals champions for their tremendous accomplishments.” QuickCar returned as an IMCA marketing partner in 2015. The Lebanon, Tenn., company manufactures a wide variety of high performance products that also includes volt meters, water pressure kits, tachometers and switch panels. Modified, Late Model, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, [Read More]