Sport Compact News

BEATRICE, Neb. – (Mar. 12, 2025) – Due to uncertainty surrounding the weather forecast and expected cold temperatures on Saturday, March 15, the 32nd Annual Spring Nationals at Beatrice Speedway has been rescheduled to March 20-22. The decision was made following a meeting with the Race Committee to ensure optimal racing conditions and the best experience for drivers and fans. All event times and race details will remain the same. If a driver has already paid their entry fee but cannot attend the new dates, they will receive a full refund. While we understand this change may not accommodate everyone, we want to avoid last-minute cancellations that could impact travel plans and preparation. The updated event schedule begins with an open practice session on Thursday, March 20, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pit passes are $15, and general admission to the grandstands is free. Racing kicks off on Friday, March 21, at 6:00 p.m., with pits opening at 2:00 p.m.. Friday night will feature Modifieds, SportMods, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, and Sport Compacts. Pit passes are $35, while grandstand tickets are $18 for adults, [Read More]

SYCAMORE, Ill. (Mar. 6, 2025) – AutoMeter marks another exciting year as a proud sponsor of IMCA, continuing its long-standing tradition of supporting drivers across multiple divisions. The Sycamore, Ill.-based manufacturer of competition instruments and accessories will once again provide $50 gift certificates to the top five finishers at each of 80 designated IMCA special events.  AutoMeter will also award gauge panel sets to the runners-up in national point standings for all IMCA divisions to be awarded at the IMCA National Banquet in November.   In addition, second-place finishers in feature events at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s and RaceSaver Nationals will receive the same awards.   For more information about AutoMeter products and dealer locations, visit http://www.autometer.com, call 866-248-6356, or follow AutoMeter on Facebook.   “AutoMeter’s support of IMCA and its drivers is greatly appreciated,” said IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “Their products provide racers with important data to improve performance, and we value their continued partnership.”

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 22, 2025) — Chaz Baca Jr. once again wound up in victory lane at Central Arizona Raceway for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds as he would sweep the weekend at the place where he has won the last four track championships. This time, however, he would have to win it from starting from tenth and got the lead just a few laps shy of the midway point of the 20-lap affair. Jonathan Mawhinney sprinted out to the lead when the green flag was unfurled and effectively operated on the lower portion of the racetrack. However, the dynamic of the race would change when a caution came out with six circuits counted to the good. On the restart, Baca clawed his way into second and had Mawhinney in his crosshairs. Mawhinney stuck to his guns on the lower portion of the track while Baca operated up on the high side. Baca would execute a sweeping pass around the leader and obtained the top spot on lap 8 just before the [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 21, 2025) — Central Arizona Raceway delivered another night of high-octane action as Chaz Baca Jr. showcased why he’s the two-time defending Friesen Performance IMCA Modified National Champion. The Mesa phenom captured his fourth win of the season in commanding fashion during the 20-lap feature. Luke Silber set the pace early, leading the field until a lap-two caution reset the competition. Baca seized the opportunity on the restart, expertly working the low line to sweep past Silber coming out of the fourth turn and officially taking the lead on lap 3. Silber did his best to keep pace, but Baca’s blistering speed was unmatched, as lapped traffic could not slow him down.  Despite two late-race cautions that threatened his momentum, Baca remained in control and surged to the checkered flag first. Silber finished second in a strong showing, while Michael Egurola Jr. completed the podium in third. Woodie Battles Back for Second Casa Grande Stock Car Victory of 2025 Grabbing the early lead in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage ABILENE, Texas (Feb. 15, 2025) — John Webb delivered a sensational performance at Abilene Speedway, powering to victory in the IMCA Modified feature during the final night of the 2025 Ice Breaker. The Pauls Valley, Oklahoma driver battled intensely with Friday night winner Toby Herring before seizing the lead in the opening laps and never looking back. Webb initially jumped out front, but Herring found speed and took over the top spot on lap one. Webb stayed within striking distance but had his momentum halted multiple times by cautions just as he was closing in. On lap four, Webb found an opening underneath Herring coming out of turn four and executed a decisive pass for the lead. From there, he managed lapped traffic efficiently and held off his South Central Region rivals to claim his first win of 2025. A hard-fought battle for second unfolded during the long green-flag run, with three-time Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod champion Dean Abbey securing the runner-up position at the checkered flag. Herring settled for third. [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage ABILENE, Texas (Feb. 14, 2025) — Hobbs, New Mexico’s Toby Herring was untouchable on opening night of the 2025 Abilene Speedway Ice Breaker, claiming a dominant victory in the IMCA Modified main event. The only thing that slowed him down was a single caution near the halfway mark of the feature, which attracted top talent from across the South Central Region. Herring wasted no time taking control from his inside front-row starting position, quickly building a comfortable lead. Consistently hitting his marks and showcasing impressive speed, the leader faced a brief scare on lap 11 when a spinning car brought out the race’s lone caution. On the restart, it was business as usual, as Herring once again pulled away from the competition and cruised to victory. The win marks his first of the season and backs up his Ice Breaker triumph from last February. Three-time Abilene Speedway track champion Fred Wojtek secured the runner-up spot, while Charles Brewer made a decisive move following the lone restart to claim third. Holzmeister’s Late Race Heroics [Read More]

ABBOTT, Texas (January 14, 2025) – Mach-1 Racing Solutions continues its title sponsorship of the IMCA Sport Compact division into the 2025 season. The five-year title sponsorship extension was signed in 2022 by the Abbott, Texas, company owned by Gary Mach and takes Mach-1 through its 18th season as title sponsor for the 4-cylinder class. Mach-1 will provide a portion of the $1,000 point fund paid to top 10 drivers in Sport Compact national standings each of the next five years. Drivers in the division must display two Mach-1 logos on their race car to be eligible for point fund shares. Continued growth in the division in 2024 gave IMCA a new first time statistic with a female driver, Kaylee Richards, winning both the IMCA Sport Compact and IMCA Lady Eagle Championships in the same year.  Information about Mach-1 support and consulting services is available by calling Mach at 254 537-3040. “This partnership with Mach-1 Racing Solutions underscores their deep commitment to IMCA and the Sport Compact drivers,” said Carson Becker-Gramm, IMCA Integrated Marketing and Sponsorship [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage   (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions)   Casa Grande, Arizona (January 11, 2025)—A packed crowd at Central Arizona Speedway was thrilled by an incredible Friesen Performance IMCA SportMod feature where Jake Smith fended off fierce competitors to claim victory during the fourth round of the 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports. This win marked Smith’s first triumph during the Winter Nationals, and he faced a challenging path to victory lane.   The twenty-lap finale began with North Dakota’s Gabe Deschamp surging to the front from the initial start. Deschamp set a steady pace, but as the race continued, the top three competitors began to cluster together around the midway point. Smith and Taylor Kuehl were the two contenders trying to catch the leader.   On lap fourteen, the man from St. Joseph, Minnesota, Smith, executed a brilliant double overtake, diving under Kuehl and Deschamp to take control of the top position. Kuehl managed to pass Deschamp and entered second place, putting pressure on Smith from the high [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage  (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions) Casa Grande, Arizona (January 10, 2025)—The third event of the 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals, presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports, had an exciting race in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, showcasing once again the “Dillon & Dillon Show.” In the end, Dillon Thompson emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish. The twenty-lap race began with Thompson leading, closely followed by Dillon Richards in second place. The non-stop feature saw the top two drivers pull away from the rest of the field, racing around the track bumper-to-bumper at time. As the race approached its final five laps, lapped traffic became a critical factor. Tension escalated when Richards pulled out of line and dove under Thompson as they approached the white flag. The two drivers found themselves neck and neck, racing three-wide with a lapped car in the mix as they crossed the finish line, only to have one more lap to battle it out. Thompson gave it his all on the final lap to maintain his lead and [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions) Casa Grande, Arizona (January 9, 2025) — Todd Heinrich brought the Central Arizona Raceway crowd to its feet by winning the race to the finish line in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature during the second night of the IMCA TV Winter Nationals presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports. The veteran driver from Fargo, North Dakota, who started in third position, earned his first career Winter Nationals feature victory.  The 25-lap contest kicked off with Heinrich outpacing Gary Pesicka to lead the initial lap. From there, the two drivers engaged in a thrilling cat-and-mouse battle on the 3/8-mile clay oval. Pesicka’s patience paid off when he finally passed Heinrich on the eleventh lap. However, Heinrich refused to let him pull away and regained the lead with ten laps remaining.  Not to be outdone, Pesicka reclaimed the lead once again on lap seventeen. The climactic moment came when Heinrich powered up beside Pesicka, with the two drag racing down the back stretch on the final lap. The outcome [Read More]

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Dec. 17, 2024) – As the online promotions state, Winter Is Coming and Central Arizona Raceway is the place for IMCA drivers in six divisions to be in January. The Casa Grande oval hosts the fifth annual Winter Nationals, sponsored by Pitt Stop Motorsports and broadcast by IMCA.TV, Jan. 8-11 and 15-18. “We have well over 200 entries, from 20-plus states and three Canadian provinces, already and I expect the total car count to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 to 260,” said promoter Brad Whitfield. “This will be the first Winter Nationals held at Casa Grande, we’ve made a lot of improvements here and we’re looking forward to see the fruits of our labor flourish.” Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational or B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying berths each night while Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods run for $1,000 to win and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $500 top checks. Winter Nationals champions in those divisions receive fire [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]

CALHAN, Colo. (Dec. 6, 2024) – Bryan Moore dedicated his first championship winning season to his dad. This year, everything was for mom. Moore raced to 17 Mach-1 Sport Compact feature wins this season, then walked across the stage during the IMCA national banquet to accept congratulations and awards for Honor Speedway and Phillips County Raceway track, BST South Series and Colorado State championships. “It felt great, to be honest. We were just going to race at our home track, but I looked at schedules for some of the other tracks and figured we could make a run at the state championship. That’s kind of how this season happened. I was just able to make it work,” he said.  “If I had to put everything about the banquet into a single word, it was an honor.” “We dedicated countless hours working on the car and trying to get that little bit of an edge,” he continued. “To be recognized at a banquet of that magnitude, there’s no greater honor. You see how all the work pays [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]

BOONE, Iowa (Nov. 20, 2024) – Didn’t get enough of the action at Boone Speedway and the 42nd annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s ? You can enjoy encore presentations of highlights from America’s Racin’ Vacation four nights this week, beginning tonight (Wednesday) on the SPEED SPORT 1 channel. Three-hour produced shows broadcast at 9 p.m. EST and feature highlights from IMCA.TV from Day 4 at Boone this evening, Day 5 on Thursday and Day 6 on Friday. A nine-hour broadcast marathon begins at noon Sunday, Nov. 24. SPEED SPORT 1 is available for free on Amazon Prime, PlutoTV, SlingTV and more.