Newswire

Funeral services are Jan. 13 for Ernie Derr

KEOKUK, Iowa – Funeral services for IMCA legend Ernie Derr , 92, will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13 at DeJong-Greaves Celebration of Life Center, 917 Blondeau Street in Keokuk. Visitation will be Sunday, Jan. 12, from noon to 5 p.m., with the family meeting friends from 1-5 p.m. Burial with full military rites at Keokuk National Cemetery will immediately follow funeral services. Derr, of Keokuk, died Wednesday, Jan. 8. IMCA’s all-time leader with a dozen national championships, he reigned over point standings for what is now the Late Model division in 1953, 1959-1962 and 1965-71. Known as a member of the famed Keokuk Gang and as a master mechanic, Derr was deservedly inducted into numerous halls of fame. His IMCA record of 328 sanctioned feature wins stood until 2005. His seven straight national crowns remains an IMCA record. Derr’s first IMCA career victory was in the 250-lap race at the half-mile Des Moines Fairgrounds on July 1, 1951. His final win under the IMCA banner came on Oct. 31, 1971 at the Shreveport, [Read More]

Speedway Motors to Host Second Annual Racer Appreciation Day

LINCOLN, Neb. – Following a wildly successful inaugural event last year, Speedway Motors will host its second annual Racer Appreciation Day on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 1-8 p.m. Hundreds of racers are expected to swarm Speedway’s Lincoln, Neb., headquarters for this fantastic pre-season open house and sale. Speedway Motors’ Racer Appreciation Day will showcase hundreds of new and exclusive race parts and provide racers with an opportunity to try on new safety gear and take advantage of free shock dyno services and special pricing on parts counter purchases. Speedway’s seasoned tech experts will offer informative breakout sessions on critical topics like shock tuning and maintenance, driver safety, brake systems and cooling, plus tours of Speedway’s massive warehouse. As an added bonus, the Smith Collection Museum of American Speed will be open for touring all afternoon. Guests can also expect free food and refreshments, plus many chances to win great raffle prizes and other giveaways. “Local racers have been a crucial part of Speedway Motors’ success throughout our 62-year history,” said Clay Smith, president of Speedway [Read More]

BSB sliders are approved for use in IMCA Modifieds

VINTON, Iowa – Two BSB Manufacturing-made sliders have been approved for use in sanctioned IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified events, beginning with the 2014 race season. The sliders, part numbers 7540 and 7540-2, were reviewed by the IMCA executive committee and are available for purchase now. “The big-body BSB sliders satisfy our concerns regarding coil-over eliminators,” explained IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root. “They were not allowed in the past because of their resemblance of, and their ability to be converted, into a shock.” “Jay Neal at BSB has changed the initial version of this product to address our concerns, particularly with the gas charging, and at the same time make it possible for IMCA to inspect,” Root continued. “It is in accordance with coil-over eliminator rules and does not jeopardize the shock rules either.” More information about the sliders and other BSB products available by calling the Wellington, Kan., manufacturer at 620 326-3152 and at the www.bsb-mfg.com website.

2014 competitor’s license form on IMCA website

VINTON, Iowa – The 2014 competitor’s license application for drivers in all divisions is now posted on the www.imca.com website. DIRECT LINK: https://www.imca.com/forms/2014-imca-license-application/ There is no increase in application fees: Cost is $115 for Modifieds, $135 for Late Models, $105 for Sprint Cars, $95 for Stock Cars and West Coast Super Stocks, $90 for Northern and Southern SportMods, $85 for Hobby Stocks and $60 for Sport Compacts. Associate/crew member memberships, which are optional, also run $60. There’s a $50 additional fee for minors ages 14-17, which will be waived as part of “IMCA’s Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Deal” if the application is made before a deadline of Friday, Feb. 14. Applications from outside the continental United States are also subject to an additional $50 fee. “Currently, anyone interested in purchasing a license can go to our website, print and mail the hard copy form along with the application fee,” said IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root. “They can also call the home office (319 472-2201) or buy their license at the track on opening night.” [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds chase $1,250 prizes at Arizona Speedway’s Snowbird Classic

APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. (Jan. 8) – IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds chase $1,250 top prizes both nights of the Snowbird Classic special at Arizona Speedway Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19. Both Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events start 20 cars and pay a minimum of $100 to take the green. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Racing Western Region and Allstar Performance State points will be awarded for each show. Pill draw is $40 with $50 paid to non-qualifiers. Pit gates open at 3 p.m., the grandstand opens at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. each night. Camping, but no hookups, is available on site. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $5 for kids ages 7-11 and free for six and under. Two-day grandstand tickets for adults are $25 and $22 for seniors. Pit passes are $30 for adults, $15 for kids and free for six and under. “The Snowbird Classic is drawing interest from drivers as far away as Canada,” noted promoter Jonah Trussel. “And the [Read More]

Brett Allen makes bid for Champion sponsorship prizes

GAYLORD, Minn. – There’s plenty of snow on the track but Brett Allen is in the running for a couple big paydays. The IMCA Eagle Motorsports RaceSaver Sprint Car driver from Gaylord, Minn., is one of nearly 400 competitors from all forms of motor sports entered in the Champion Spark Plugs-sponsored Search for a Champion contest. Voting conducted through Feb. 2 via the www.alwaysachampion.com website will determine 15 finalists, each of whom receive $5,000 Champion sponsorships. After finalists have been determined, a second round of voting runs from Feb. 21-March 23. The winner of a $50,000 grand prize sponsorship will be announced on March 31. Drivers, fans and friends can cast one electronic ballot each day. Allen started racing in 1995 and competed in the winged class from 2005 until being injured in a campfire accident in 2008. He returned to race in 2013, dedicating the season to late friend and fellow driver Dan Grams. Allen won the Grams Memorial event and four more features enroute to capturing Arlington Raceway and Allstar Performance Minnesota State [Read More]

Hadan nominated for national RPM promoter award

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Eagle Raceway promoter Roger Hadan is one of six nominees for the prestigious Auto Racing Promoter of the Year award given by Racing Promotion Monthly. The ARPY winner will be announced Feb. 17 during the Speedweek national workshop in Daytona Beach, Fla. “This is a big deal for us, knowing that Eagle Raceway has earned this kind of reputation and that we have to do everything we can to uphold it,” said Hadan, previously nominated from RPM’s Great Plains Region in 2011. “We want Eagle Raceway to continue to be a great track that drivers and fans want to go to.” The eastern Nebraska venue continues to boast some of, if not the highest weekly average car counts in the nation for the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Mach-1 Sport Compact divisions. IMCA Eagle Motorsports RaceSaver Sprint Cars were added with equal success to Saturday race programs last season and more than 50 drivers from nine states competed at the inaugural Sprint [Read More]

Cottage Grove Speedway requires RACEceivers In 2014

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – Cottage Grove Speedway will utilize RACEceivers during the 2014 race season. The one-way communication device will be required in all classes that compete at the historic ¼-mile clay oval. “We feel this move will benefit the track, teams, and fans immensely,” said CGS General Manager Heather Boyce. “People are going to see that it will cut down time to get the lineup correct after a stoppage a lot quicker because we can tell drivers where to go over the RACEceiver communications. We look forward to seeing everyone back in 2014.” Cottage Grove Speedway has hosted fast and exciting action as far back as 1956. Regular classes include 360 Sprints, IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, NW Extreme Winged Sprint Cars, Late Models, Street Stocks, and Hornets every Saturday night from April to October. For more information be sure and visit the venue’s homepage www.cottagegrovespeedway.com or call the new Northwest Tracks Hotline at 360 699-RACE.

Natenstedts earn his and hers track title trophies

FERNLEY, Nev. – Track championship trophies came in two types in 2013 for the Natenstedt Race Team: His and hers. Shawn Natenstedt won the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified title at his hometown Reno, Tahoe Fernley Speedway for the third time in his career. His wife Melissa topped point standings at Rattlesnake Raceway in Fallon, in just her first full season in the open-wheeled division. A couple for 20 years, married for 15 and the parents of daughters Kayla and McKenzie, the Natenstedts traveled together much of the season utilizing a stacker trailer. Shawn won eight of his 19 starts – including two outings at Canyon Speedway Park in Arizona and another pair at Southern Oregon Speedway – while Melissa took the checkers in two of her 20 shows. “I take more pride in Melissa’s track championship than I do in my own by far. It was a big deal for me because I set up her car,” Shawn said. “I knew what kind of driver she was and had encouraged her to race a [Read More]

Expanded Cocopah Speedway IMCA Winter Nationals set for mid-February

SOMERTON, Ariz. – Continuing with the theme of building on already successful events, Cocopah Speedway has begun preparations for the third annual IMCA Winter Nationals, coming to the Somerton, Ariz., oval for two consecutive weekends in mid-February. The event annually features a big field of the best IMCA racers from across the country and the 2014 IMCA Winter Nationals at Cocopah grows to a total of four nights of racing, up from three nights last year. Race dates are Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7 and 8, and Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14 and 15. Also growing is the amount of prize money to be paid out, along with the divisions represented as IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods will be joined by IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. “We want to build this event into one of the brightest stars in the IMCA racing world and the enhancements this year are another step towards achieving that goal,” said Cocopah Speedway Director of Operations Greg Burgess said. Modifieds will race for $1,000 to win [Read More]