Stars Mod Lite News

By Ben Deatherage   (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions)   Casa Grande, ARIZONA (January 16, 2025)—Cole Czarneski made a lasting impression on Thursday night, securing his first career IMCA TV Winter Nationals, presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports, victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event. The Denmark, Wisconsin driver delivered a stellar performance at Central Arizona Raceway, seizing the lead on lap nine and holding off all challengers to take the checkered flag. The race began with Jason Berg asserting himself as the early leader, setting a strong pace through the opening laps. However, the momentum shifted following a lap nine restart when Czarneski, running the top of the 3/8-mile oval without fear, powered around Berg on the outside to claim the top spot. Once in command, Czarneski showcased both speed and composure. Even a pair of late-race cautions couldn’t rattle him, as he executed flawless restarts to pull away from the field and seal the deal on a milestone victory in a field chalk full of stout competition from all around the [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of Pixel Boss Productions) Casa Grande, Arizona (January 15, 2025)—Chase Berkeley surged to the front of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, leading all twenty laps to secure his first career victory at the IMCA TV Winter Nationals presented by Pitt Stop Motorsports at Central Arizona Raceway. The 2023 Winter Nationals champion faced several challenges throughout the race but ultimately fended off the advances of young Texan Cameron Starry. Despite the pressure, Berkeley maintained a consistent pace from start to finish. Starry attempted a few bold moves in the closing laps, but the leader, hailing from Colville, Washington, successfully held him off to clinch this significant win in EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region action. Starry finished as the runner-up, while Iowa’s Mike Albertsen completed the podium in third place. The event also featured competitors in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. Victories in those categories went to Dylan Thornton, Dustin White, Dillon Richards, and Dillon [Read More]

MADRID, Iowa (January 13, 2025) – Stealth Racing steps up its support of IMCA drivers in 2025 as title sponsor for the IMCA Mod Lite division.  In that new role, the parts and tire supplier and machine shop located in Madrid, Iowa, gives awards based on national, track and state point standings. “I’ve been busy over the last couple of years adding equipment so I can make all of my parts in-house,” said Bryan Compart. “I’m really looking forward to designing new products that will start coming out in the next few months. Additionally, I’ve been reaching out to other manufacturers to become a dealer for them, with the goal of one day becoming a one-stop shop for the Mod Lite division, offering everything racers across the country might need.” In addition to a providing a portion of the division’s $5,500 national point fund, Stealth Racing gives a $500 gift certificate to the national champion while second through 10th place drivers in national points each receive $100 certificates. All Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite track champions get [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]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Nov. 30, 2024) – Mark Steven Parker, aged 65, died on Nov. 30 surrounded by his family. From Memphis, Tenn., Parker was a motorsports enthusiast in the Mid-South and could be found at the race track every weekend. From his beginnings racing micros to becoming the tech inspector for the Mod Lites of Arkansas and later an official and tech inspector for the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites when that division was first sanctioned by IMCA in 2021. He was the first Mod Lite tech inspector from Arkansas when the division debuted at the 2021 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Visitation will be this Saturday, Dec. 7, from 3-5 p.m. at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis Ark. There will be a celebration of life in the spring of 2025 at Riverside International Raceway. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to a Celebration of Life Race, details of which are to be announced. Parker is survived by his wife Dee; daughter Stephanie (Melody) Parker of Springfield, Mo.; [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 24, 2024) – In a year chock full of notable wins, Kollin Hibdon decided to add another marquee event to that list. The Pahrump, Nev., transplant, now calling Fargo, N.D., his residence, led the entire $3,000 to win finale for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale at Central Arizona Raceway’s Showdown presented by Toste Construction. Unlike the previous two nights, several restarts played a pivotal role in the race. They proved to be a relief for the leader as he could catch his breath during the cautions. On one occasion, Hibdon faced heavy congestion from lapped traffic when he approached the tail end of the lead lap field around the halfway mark, but the caution came out before he risked any chance of giving up any of his already established advantage to the next car in line. Two-time defending national champion Chaz Baca held onto second while North Dakota veteran Shawn Strand crossed the line in third. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Arizona (Nov 23, 2024) – In a thrilling bout of action on night two of The Showdown, presented by Toste Construction, Kollin Hibdon made a decisive late-race move to win the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event after starting sixth in the stoppage-free 25-lap feature at Central Arizona Raceway. Bryson Yeager held the marshal’s baton when the race began after grabbing the lead in the early going. Trying to pull away from the rest of the competition, he receive immense pressure from Robby Sawyer around the halfway point. Sawyer was as the young man from the Cowboy State of Wyoming held on to the top spot in a nail-biting battle. While the two drivers in the front waltzed on the top side of the track, Hibdon began to gain on both drivers via the inside portion of the racing surface. The Pahrump, Nev., native and Fargo, N.D., transplant powered his way to the point on lap 18 and effectively negotiated slower traffic to earn the victory. Yeager held on to [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 22, 2024) – Chaz Baca, reigning national champion of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, showcased his dominance at Central Arizona Raceway to score a big win on the first night of The Showdown presented by Toste Construction. The Mesa maestro obtained the lead just before the midway point of the 25-lap feature at Casa Grande. Montana standout Joey Price paced the field early. He would receive a strong challenge from Baca around lap six but kept him at bay. The two-time national champion would pressure again and get the necessary run-off of turn four on lap nine to become the new pacesetter. From there, Baca handled the rest of the distance without issue despite some congested lapped traffic.  North Dakota traveler Shawn Strand ended the race second with Price in third. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites were also on hand. Baca, Taylor Kuehl, Zack Tate and [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.

MADRID, Iowa (Nov. 14, 2024) – Tracen Glick did most of his racing and most of his on-track learning close to home. But it was the results of a late-season trip to Indiana that made him the 2024 Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite national rookie of the year. Fourteen years old and a freshman at Madrid, Iowa, High School, Glick was in a tight as could be battle for the rookie title with Show Me State speedster Zach Christopher. He’d join the Hoosier State Mod Lites and score his best finish of the season, finishing second in their Sept. 21 show at Lincoln Park Speedway and earning what eventually proved to be the tie-breaking difference in determining rookie of the year honors. “I was probably about a car length behind at the finish,” said Glick, whose father Joe was track champion at Boone Speedway “That was very exciting, it was a very fun race.” Moving up this season following a brief go kart career, Glick made 45 starts this season, more than he’d originally [Read More]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 24, 2024) – Dillon Raffurty says he “just races” and doesn’t worry about wins. This season, he took that relaxed attitude to the track and raced to a fourth consecutive Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite national championship. “It’s cool, especially to be the only national champion since IMCA began sanctioning the class (in 2021),” said Raffurty, from Kansas City, Mo., and the winner of 30 out of 40 starts this season. “IMCA definitely has a different point format than what we were used to and it’s made us work along the way, but it’s been neat to compete against everybody in the country and come out on top.” Track champion at Electric City Speedway and at Valley Speedway – his IMCA career 100th win came on June 1 at Grain Valley – Raffurty also four-peated as the Missouri State king.  He’d started 2024 with another successful Southern swing, winning the night two show at Ocala Speedway’s Brick City Nationals and night three at Hendry County Motorsports Park’s Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals [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]