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Three IMCA divisions new in 2014 at Norman County Raceway

ADA, Minn. – Norman County Raceway has scheduled six dates for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, 12 shows for the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and 14 races for the Mach-1 Sport Compacts in 2014. The sanctioned divisions will run Thursdays and Saturdays on the 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt oval, located on the county fairgrounds in Ada. “The economics are very important. I believe these divisions will be good alternatives for our racers,” said promoter and long-time driver Jake Bitker. “The crate motor is a good option and I like IMCA’s tire rule. It’s a great equalizer.” Modifieds at Norman County will be part of IMCA’s Belleville Motorsports North Central Region and run May 31, June 25 and 28, and Aug. 9, 16 and 23. Northern SportMod dates are May 31, June 5, 19 and 28; July 3, 10, 17 and 31; and Aug. 9, 16, 21 and 23. Sport Compacts are on May 1, 15, 29 and 31; June 12, 19 and 28; July 10 and 24; and Aug. 7, 9, 16, 21 and 23 programs. [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods new at Buffalo River Race Park in 2014

GLYNDON, Minn. – Both IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods will join Sunday night programs at Buffalo River Race Park in 2014. Opening night is set for May 11 with the final night of racing on Sept. 21. “We needed to make a change. We needed to find a sanctioning body with better cost control methods,” explained Kevin Nathe, who has promoted the 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt track for seven years and the adjacent motocross track for 15 years. “A little bit of everything went into our decision to sanction with IMCA, from the crate engine to the point structure and the tires.” “We have a lot of good ‘B’ Mod guys looking to go with a Modified now that it’s affordable,” he added. “They haven’t been able to do that before and we needed to find a way to help them do it.” Nathe also cited insurance benefits that accompany IMCA membership as well as point fund shares in his decision to switch sanctions. With added local contributions, Modified drivers will [Read More]

Crane Cams rewards top built engine drivers, builders with cash, credit prizes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Top finishing drivers in seven IMCA divisions and their engine builders will receive $250 in cash and another $250 credit toward future purchases from Crane Cams. Those drivers and their respective engine builders include national champions William Gould, IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified, Karl Performance, Des Moines, Iowa; Justin Kay, IMCA Late Model, Grove Automotive, Dubuque, Iowa; John Ricketts, IMCA Eagle Motorsports RaceSaver Sprint Cars, Russell Shoulders Race Engines, Forney, Texas; Brandon Czarapata, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, Fisher Race Engines, Oshkosh, Wis.; and Gabe Tucker, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods, Fletcher Racing Engines, Abilene, Texas. Justin Luinenburg and Tyler Frye also received $250 in cash and $250 product credit as the highest finishing built engine competitors in national standings for the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod. The same awards went to their engine builders, L & D Motors of Reading, Minn., and Dr. J’s Performance of Anaheim, Calif., respectively. Mach-1 Sport Compacts are not part of the program, introduced this year by the Daytona Beach, Fla., high [Read More]

Third straight Design 500 Lady Eagle title highlights career season for Tiffany Bittner

By Ryan Clark NORFOLK, Neb. – Good things came in threes for Tiffany Bittner this season. The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock driver not only earned her third straight Design 500 Lady Eagle title, but she added her first track championship and a qualifying run at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s to her list of 2013 accomplishments. The Lady Eagle championship is awarded to the female driver with the highest point total among all divisions nationwide. “This year was a little more difficult than the previous ones,” admitted Bittner of her Lady Eagle title. “The competition continues to get stronger.” While an increasing number of female competitors make that award more difficult to earn, Bittner stepped up her game in 2013 to also earn her first track championship at Albion Speedway. “Jason Wilkinson runs at all of my tracks,” explained Bittner of her weekly wars with the multi-time track champion and former Super Nationals titlist. “It’s pretty amazing to get a title running against him but that’s always been my goal.” Despite [Read More]

$820,443 in cash, contingencies are awarded by IMCA marketing partners during 2013 race season

VINTON, Iowa – A whopping total of $820,443 in cash and contingencies was awarded to IMCA drivers this season by the sanctioning body’s 100-plus marketing partners. That total includes point fund contributions, cash bonuses and cash added to point funds for special events, product awards and product certificates. “Our sponsors were very generous again this year in rewarding the accomplishments and product loyalty of drivers in all sanctioned divisions,” said IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder. Nearly $100,000 in point fund money was given by Arnold Motor Supply, Belleville Motorsports, Chubby Chassis, Deery Brothers, Dirt Works, Eagle Motorsports, EngineQuest, Goodland Machine, Jet Racing, Karl Chevrolet, Karl Performance, Kupper Chevrolet, Larry Shaw Racing, Mach-1 Racing Solutions, Precise Racing Products, Redline Racing Parts, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center, Southwest Racing Specialties, Stephenville Starter, Wild Child Race Cars and Xtreme Motor Sports. Value of cash and contingencies by sponsor in 2013 included: Aero Race Wheels, $4,950; Afco, $3,850; Allstar Performance, $6,250; Axle Exchange, $16,500; Bassett, $5,190; Bell Racing Company, $2,250; Bilstein, $7,900; Bob Harris Enterprises, $5,120; Brinn Transmissions, $9,200; Brodix, $3,000; [Read More]

Ice Breaker at Abilene starts season for 4 IMCA divisions

ABILENE, Texas – Abilene Speedway opens the 2014 race season with its traditional Ice Breaker special, as four IMCA sanctioned divisions take to the track Friday through Sunday, Feb. 21-23. Feature events are on the program each night for the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Top prize for Modifieds each night is $700. SportMods run for $600 to win, Stock Cars for $400 to win and Hobby Stocks for $250. All applicable IMCA points, including track points, will be awarded for each draw/redraw show. Home region points will be awarded to Modified, Stock and Hobby drivers; Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods can race but not for points. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. hot laps are from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The pits open at 3 p.m., hot laps are from 5-6 p.m. and racing is at 7 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, church services at the track are at 10 a.m., pit gates open at 11 [Read More]

Engine parity addressed in Modified rules

VINTON, Iowa – Engine parity along with body issues are addressed in IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified rules for 2014. Maximum height for rear spoilers on Modifieds powered by a crate engine was reduced from three inches to two. “We were reluctant to make any changes on the fly or any drastic changes in 2013,” IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root emphasized. “That is how we decided to make the small reduction in the spoiler height. It’s inexpensive and easy to fix. It was the most logical step for us to take.” “With all that being said,” he continued, “if we experience a parity issue between the crate and claim engine options and if there is a need to do so, we reserve the right to further adjust during the racing season in 2014.” Rules for IMCA’s largest division are published in this month’s newsletter. They’ll be posted on the IMCA website in early January. “Parity between the two engine options continues to be extremely important to IMCA. The crate motor is not going [Read More]

Deery Series returns to Denison for 2014 season opener

VINTON, Iowa – An absence of 20 years comes to an end when the 2014 Deery Brothers Summer Series opens at Crawford County Speedway. The April 5 show at Denison is the first of 19 dates on the schedule for the 28th annual IMCA Late Model tour. The series also concludes much shorter hiatuses with return visits to Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa on April 19 and Marshalltown Speedway on June 24. “There are three tracks that have not been part of the series for a year or two or 20 and the last time we were in Denison it was a half-mile, so that will be new,” Tour Director Kevin Yoder said. “Otherwise the schedule looks relatively the same as last year. It is travel friendly and compatible with IMCA Late Model weekly racing.” A minimum of $3,000 will be paid to win and $300 to start again in 2014, with non-qualifier pay set at $100. Feature events during the Yankee Dirt Track Classic on the half-mile track at Farley Speedway pay $3,500 to [Read More]

New Friday night program at Devil’s Lake for IMCA Stocks, Hobbies, Northern SportMods

DEVIL’S LAKE, N.D. – Three IMCA divisions will have their own race night next season at Devil’s Lake Speedway. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods will each run eight Friday nights on the high-banked 1/3-mile clay oval just off Highway 2. Those dates are yet to be determined. “All three of these divisions are running at Sundays at Nodak Speedway in Minot, which is about 120 miles to the west,” explained promoter Nolan Olmstead. “We want to draw cars and fans from that direction and sanctioning gives those drivers another place to race for points.” Devil’s Lake will be part of IMCA’s Arnold Motor Supply Northern Region for Stock Cars and the Stephenville Starter Northern Region for Hobby Stocks. “This is a great addition for drivers in all three divisions,” IMCA Director of Track Relations Jim Stannard commented. “Friday programs at Devil’s Lake gives them another night to race for national, regional and state points.” New clay was added to the racing surface during the 2013 season. Olmstead, [Read More]

North Dakota Modified is top Sybesma Fan Favorite pick

MANDAN, N.D. – North Dakota race fans should get plenty of opportunities to see this year’s Sybesma Graphics Facebook Fan Favorite winning driver in action next season. Travis Ulmer’s IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified was the top recipient in voting to determine monthly contest winners. As a result, the driver from Mandan gets a complimentary 2014 competitor’s license from contest sponsor Sybesma Graphics. “I’m planning to race at Dacotah Speedway here in Mandan and Southwest Speedway at Dickinson full-time, and once in a while Sundays at Nodak Speedway in Minot,” said Ulmer. “We’ll follow the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Tour, too. I’d like to get at least 30-35 Modified shows in next year if I can.” Ulmer had won the non-fendered class contest in May. His crew included his father Dennis, mother Barb, wife Shaneille, son Caden and daughter Joslyn, Taylor Sager and Chris Barros. Sponsors were Kupper Chevrolet and Barney’s Tesoro, both of Mandan; Red’s Inspection, Perry Roofing & Contracting and R & A Lot Rentals, all of Dickinson; and Full Throttle Graphics of [Read More]