Southern SportMod News

CAMARILLO, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2025) – Wilwood Racing continues its longstanding commitment to grassroots motorsports, announcing the renewal of its sponsorship with IMCA for the 2025 season.   The Camarillo, California based manufacturer of high-performance brake systems has been a trusted partner of IMCA since 2010. Wilwood Racing will again serve as an official sponsor, providing contingency awards to drivers competing in IMCA Modified, Late Model, Stock Car, Northern SportMod, and Southern SportMod divisions.  “Much like IMCA, Wilwood Racing believes in the value of ensuring the continued growth of “grass roots” racing.  Wilwood strives to not only produce the best quality high-performance brake components but also keeping costs down and offering more affordable product options for race teams across all divisions.”  Jim “Spike” Logue, Sales/Customer Service National champions in each supported division will receive contingencies as well as the 2nd -5th place finishers according to IMCA national point standings. Racers are encouraged to place the Wilwood decals on their cars and submit pictures to the contingency form on the IMCA website.   “Wilwood Racing has been a valuable partner for over [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 17, 2024) – Christmas came early for IMCA drivers in the form of IMCA.TV bonus checks totaling more than $105,000. That total was generated by replays of weekly and special events at 59 tracks broadcast by IMCA.TV or its affiliates during the 2024 race season, then distributed to drivers finishing in top three in point standings in each sanctioned division at those facilities. Modified, Late Model, RaceSaver Sprint Car and Stock Car drivers finishing in the top three in point standings at those tracks receive checks for $255, $205 and $150; Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod checks are distributed in the amounts of $155, $120 and $115; and Hobby Stock, STARS Mod Lite and Sport Compact checks are in the amounts of $130, $100 and $85. “A percentage of subscription fees paid by replay viewers is paid to IMCA tracks and ultimately to top three drivers in sanctioned divisions,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “Developed by our streaming platform provider Riivet four years ago, this bonus program was the first of its [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 21, 2024) – As promised, few changes have been made in rules for seven other IMCA divisions. “We had announced this summer that the 1978-87 General Motors OEM replacement frame manufactured by Speedway Motors would be legal for use in the Stock Car, Hobby Stocks and Southern SportMod divisions, and that Stock Car drivers could compete using the MD3 Camaro kit,” stated IMCA President Brett Root. “No other changes were made in rules for any of those three divisions.” New to 2025 rules are: •A one piece rear spoiler is allowed the Northern SportMods, a maximum of five inches for crate engines and a maximum of three inches for claim engines. •STARS Mod Lite fuel cell vents must have check valves. One spring rubber is allowed per wheel and a minimum 2” x .083” steel drive shaft must be used from the transmission adapter to the automotive rear end. •Skirting is allowed between the tires only on Sport Compacts and while belt driven accessories may be removed, the crank balancer must remain [Read More]

WEATHERFORD, Texas (Nov. 14, 2024) – Results of his second start made it clear to Cameron Gaston that his first Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod season could be something special. Gaston followed a DNF on opening night of Kennedale Speedway Park’s February Spring Kickoff special with a solid third-place run on night two. Another 13 top five finishes would follow, taking the 19-year-old from Weatherford straight to national rookie of the year honors, as well as Southern Oklahoma Speedway track and Oklahoma State crowns. “That first-night DNF kind of killed some hopes but the next night I got a third and that definitely helped set the mood for the year. To get an early podium is always a good way to start the season,” said Gaston, eighth in the national points race. “Around here, Kennedale is one of the first tracks to start the season and basically everyone is going to be there. It was definitely stacked so to get a third was definitely a good way to start.” Gaston came to the division [Read More]

WACO, Texas (Oct. 21, 2024) – Twenty years after he first gave any thought to being an IMCA national champion, Jeff Shepperd has started making notes about who all to thank when his turn comes to speak at the IMCA awards banquet in November. Shepperd won 13 features, along with the track title at Cotton Bowl Speedway, in racing to the 2024 Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod national crown.  “We basically did the same thing we’ve always done,” said the veteran from Waco, more than a little motivated to run for the top spot on the podium this year after his national runner-up finish last season. “We tried to bring the best prepared car to the track that we could, and we tried to get a little bit more sponsor help throughout the year to keep fresh tires on the car, which I think is a huge key in this division.” “Everything we have, motor, transmission, rear end, we try to get the best we can get. Other than that, we just try to [Read More]

ABILENE, Texas (Oct. 19, 2024) – Kyle Wisdom had impressed at last year’s Southern Challenge Ryan Bard Memorial, racing from his ‘B’ feature to finish fourth in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. He turned heads again at Abilene Speedway’s 30th annual season-ending event on Saturday night, this time winning the main event and $2,000. “I’ve run second here in a SportMod a couple times and raced the Southern Challenge in a Modified four times but have never been able to win it before,” said the hometown hotshoe, newly eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “It’s something every driver around here wants to do. It means a lot.” Wisdom had started from the pole in the Friday night qualifier but was a DNF after getting into the wall with six laps left. Returning to the speedway the next day, he made the most of Scotty Cook’s expertise and the track wrecker “to correct the geometry” and got the wheels and tires on with all of three minutes to spare before hot laps. Wisdom [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (Oct. 15, 2024) – Record-setting racers and first-time kings and a queen are among the 2024 national champions announced today by IMCA. Mike Nichols’ 13th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car crown is the most all-time in IMCA while Cory Dumpert’s sixth straight IMCA Sunoco Late Model title sets a new record for the sanctioning body in its modern (1979-) era. Kaylee Richards became the first driver to win both a national championship, in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts, and Lady Eagle award. Other first-time national champs were Lee Goos Jr. in the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car and Jeff Shepperd in the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods. Matthew Looft’s Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod title was his career seventh, Dillon Raffurty’s Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite crown his career fourth. Chaz Baca went back-to-back in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Cory Probst topped the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock standings for the second time. A 30-time feature winner, Nichols complemented his latest national title with EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and Crawford County Speedway, [Read More]

Ties are broken by 40 point finishes, then 39 point finishes, 38, 37, etc.  Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,027; 2. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, 993; 3. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, 992; 4. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 991; 5. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 989; 6. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 986; 7. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 980; 8. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 979; 9. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 975; 10. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 973; 11. Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., 972; 12. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 971; 13. Austin Harnick, Clare, Mich., 964; 14. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 957; 15. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 957; 16. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., 956; 17. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 954; 18. Ben Chapman, Clarence, Iowa, 953; 19. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wis., 952; 20. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Mont., 945. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 810; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 809; 3. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 791; 4. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 785; 5. Evan Miller, Davenport, [Read More]

Final points races of the 2024 season are Sunday, Sept. 29 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,000; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 987; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 979; 4. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, and Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, both 977; 6. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 973; 7. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 969; 8. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 967; 9. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 965; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 962; 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., and Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., both 957; 13. Austin Harnick, Clare, Mich., 949; 14. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, and Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Mont., both 942; 16. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 941; 17. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 940; 18. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 939; 19. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., 938; 20. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wis., 937. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 795; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 793; 3. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 780; 4. Evan Miller, Davenport, Iowa, 774; 5. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 770; 6. [Read More]

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,000; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 987; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 979; 4. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, and Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, both 977; 6. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., 971; 7. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 968; 8. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 966; 9. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 965; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 962; 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., and Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., both 957; 13. Austin Harnick, Clare, Mich., 949; 14. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 942; 15. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 940; 16. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 939; 17. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., 938; 18. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wis., 937; 19. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 936; 20. Jacob Mallet Jr., Oakley, Calif., 935. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 795; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 791; 3. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 777; 4. Evan Miller, Davenport, Iowa, 774; 5. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 766; 6. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, and Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, [Read More]

VINTON, Iowa (Sept. 17, 2024) – Final points races of the 2024 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season are Sunday, Sept. 29. Modified, Late Model, RaceSaver Sprint Car, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod, Southern SportMod, STARS Mod Lite and Sport Com­pact drivers have their last opportunity that day to compete for points applicable toward track, state, regional and national standings. Track championship bonus points will be figured and national and regional champions and rookies of the year, as well as the Junior National Champion and Lady Eagle winner, announced as soon as possi­ble after all race reports are received.  Track and series officials have until noon Central Standard Time on Monday, Oct. 14 to notify IMCA of corrections that affect their top 15 point stand­ings before 2024 standings become official. Questions about IMCA point totals and standings should be directed to Virginia Lindsey, director of membership and points, at vlindsey@imca.com or by calling 319 472-2201, ext. 215.

VINTON, Iowa (Sept. 17, 2024) – IMCA drivers will be big winners even after the point season ends, courtesy of Aero Race Wheels and Allstar Performance. Aero, of Estherville, Iowa, awards a complete set of wheels to the driver with the most feature wins during the 2024 point season. Allstar, of Watervliet, Mich., gives a $100 gift card to every driver winning 10 or more heat races and a $250 gift card to the driver winning the most heats. What’s required as part of both programs is for drivers to email pictures of their race car proving display of the heat and/or feature win decals they received after making checkered flag runs at weekly and special events through Sept. 29. Those pictures can be sent to IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm at contingencies@imca.com. Deadline for doing so is 4:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 1. Gift cards will be presented during the IMCA national awards banquet in Lincoln, Neb., on Nov. 30, or mailed beginning the following week. “These are great programs with the potential [Read More]

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,000; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 986; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 979; 4. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, 977; 5. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, 974; 6. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, and Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., each 966; 9. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 965; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 960; 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., and Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., both 955; 13. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 942; 14. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 939; 15. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, and Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., both 936; 17. Austin Harnick, Clare, Mich., Chase Rosebrugh, West Branch, Mich., and Jacob Mallet Jr., Oakley, Calif., each 933; 20. Ben Chapman, Clarence, Iowa, 932. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 794; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 788; 3. Evan Miller, Davenport, Iowa, 774; 4. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 772; 5. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 766; 6. Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, Iowa, 750; 7. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, 744; [Read More]

BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 30, 2024) – They say records are made to be broken.  That’s become the theme for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Just two days after the number of pre-entries for the 42nd annual event eclipsed the 1,000 mark for the third consecutive year, a new Super Nationals pre-entry record was set when Danube, Minnesota’s Shaun Bruns became the 1,054th entry for America’s Racin’ Vacation. Bruns was the 279th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car to register, also a pre-entry record. New early registration marks were also established with 84 STARS IMCA Mod Lites and 27 IMCA Sunoco Late Models. There are 241 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds entered, along with 182 Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, 164 IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and 77 Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. The Hobby Stocks and SportMods are also nearing record pre-registration totals. Among the 1,054 entries so far, 30 states are represented, along with two Canadian provinces and Australia. The complete list of drivers who are registered so far include: MODIFIED Chris Abelson, Sioux City, IA Michael Ables [Read More]

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 1,000; 2. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 986; 3. Troy Cordes, Dunkerton, Iowa, and Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, both 977; 5. Chris Zogg, New Liberty, Iowa, 974; 6. Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif., Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, and Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., each 966; 9. Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Mich., 962; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 960; 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 955; 12. Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Mich., 951; 13. Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, Iowa, 939; 14. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 936; 15. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, and Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, both 933; 17. Ben Chapman, Clarence, Iowa, 932; 18. Brett Berry, Russell, Kan., and Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wis., both 930; 20. Jake Nightingale, Maize, Kan., 926. IMCA Sunoco Late Models – 1. Cory Dumpert, Newman Grove, Neb., 794; 2. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill., 788; 3. Evan Miller, Silvis, Ill., 774; 4. Anthony Roth, Platte Center, Neb., 772; 5. Zach Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb., 766; 6. Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, Iowa, 750; 7. Mitch Morris, Long Grove, Iowa, 744; [Read More]