Newswire

Becerra masters Southern traffic for second IMCA Clash on the Coast win

MILTON, Fla. (March 3, 2023) – Austen Becerra worked a little lapped traffic for another big Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win in Florida Friday night. Becerra chased hometown driver Joseph Joiner to just past midway of the Clash on the Coast presented by IMCA.TV main event at Southern Raceway, making his pass for the lead as the front pair came to the line on the 14th of 25 laps. He’d lead to the $1,000 checkers, repeating his winning ways from opening night on Monday and flipping the 1-2 finish with Tuesday winner Joiner. “I knew we’d get to lapped traffic and I saw my chance. He was trying to search and more around, he’d go low and I’d go high,” said Becerra, from Carthage, Ill. “A lapped car kind of got him bottled up. He didn’t know where to go, I stuck it in there and was able to get the lead in lapped traffic.” The only caution came with eight circuits left, when a lapped car spun in front of Joiner, who was able to [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through March 2, 2023

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 492; 2. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 373; 3. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 344; 4. Troy Morris lll, Bakersfield, Calif., 329; 5. Andrew Pearce, Oakley, Calif., 328; 6. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 306; 7. Zachary Madrid, Phoenix, Ariz., 266; 8. Timothy Allerdings, Prescott Valley, Ariz., 258; 9. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 236; 10. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 226; 11. Jeremy Thornton, Chandler, Ariz., 225; 12. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., 220; 13. Kody Scholpp, Estevan, Sask., and William “Bill” Miller, Yuma, Ariz., both 207; 15. Jacob Hobscheidt, Plattsmouth, Neb., 203; 16. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev., 199; 17. Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif., 197; 18. Spencer Wilson, Minot, N.D., and Devin Fouquette, Saint Cloud, Minn., both 193; 20. Aaron Spangler, Dove Creek, Colo., 190. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Zachary Madrid, Phoenix, Ariz., 508; 2. Chris McCurdy, Tempe, Ariz., 474; 3. Buddy Wade, Congress, Ariz., 430; 4. Kevin Roberts, Gresham, Ore., 412; 5. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 374; 6. Jim Horejsi, Marshall, Minn., 318; 7. Gregory Muirhead, [Read More]

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Inside IMCA goes digital on April 1

VINTON, Iowa (March 1, 2023) – After 40 years in print, the Inside IMCA newsletter goes fully digital beginning this April. The monthly newsletter had evolved to a full tab-size publication since its first printing in 1983 and has been used to update and keep IMCA member drivers informed on everything from rules to upcoming special events, race results and point standings ever since. An electronic version has been posted on the IMCA website to expedite that sharing of information; the decision to stop publishing and mailing 9,000-plus copies of the newsletter each month was made after the February announcement that our printing plant announced they would be shutting down their press. “Inside IMCA has been for many years an excellent way for us to communicate directly with drivers, promoters and sponsors,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “The decision to go solely digital was not made hastily but the facts are that costs for production and mailing are never going to go down.” “We will continue to incorporate much of what was published in the newsletter, such as [Read More]

Night 2 worst to first storyline ends with Joiner’s win at IMCA Clash on the Coast

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2023) – The top storyline from night two of the Clash on the Coast presented by IMCA.TV was Joseph Joiner’s drive from the worst starting spot in his heat to the best finishing position in the Tuesday main event at Northwest Florida Speedway. The Hunt the Front hotshoe from Milton led flag to flag in winning the fast-paced and caution-free Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Baker, working his way through lapped traffic and outrunning opening night winner Austen Becerra to the $1,000, Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible checkers. “I knew we had a good shot when I knew I was on pole,” said Joiner, who’d run third in his first start in the car and the class on Monday at Baker. “I grew up racing here and track conditions were a lot like what I’m used to.” “I’m glad I was able to capitalize on it. It turned out to be a good couple days,” he continued. “I’m thankful I was the guy who got to hold the steering wheel.” More [Read More]

Beatrice reschedules 30^th annual Spring Nationals

BEATRICE, Neb. (Feb. 28, 2023) – Track officials at Beatrice Speedway looked at the extended weather forecast, understandably didn’t like anything about it and have announced the 30th annual Spring Nationals will be postponed a week to Friday and Saturday, March 17 and 18. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds are the headline division for the milestone event, racing for $2,500 to win, a minimum of $250 to start and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility each night. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts also race both nights. Drivers in all divisions can pre-register at beatricespeedway.com and on MyRacePass. An open practice session runs from 7-9:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and racing starts at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and racing starts at 4 p.m. Patchy rain on Friday and potentially heavy snow on Saturday, along with high temperatures in the low to mid 30’s are in the forecast for original Spring Nationals race dates March 10 and [Read More]

Becerra is best on opening night of inaugural IMCA Clash on the Coast

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 27, 2023) – There was something about Northwest Florida Speedway that Austen Becerra liked during the Sunday practice at the quarter-mile Baker oval. He liked it a lot more following his Monday win on opening night of the inaugural Clash on the Coast presented by IMCA.TV. Becerra, from Carthage, Ill., motored from ninth starting to lead the last 20 of 25 laps in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event. The checkers were good for $1,000, a unique surfboard-shaped trophy and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. “I knew that starting ninth was going to be tough but my car was lights out,” said Becerra. “The track was really good last night and we made a couple adjustments that we’re going to keep under our hat that were really good tonight.” The Clash on the Coast brought 58 IMCA entries from 14 states to Baker and the top six finishers in the feature hailed from different states. Ryan Jenkins, Joseph Joiner, Drew Janssen and Derek Thompson ran second through fifth, respectively. Andrew [Read More]

Gould brings broom to Kennedale for Spring Kick Off sweep

KENNEDALE, Texas (Feb. 24-25, 2023) – William Gould brought the broom to Kennedale Speedway Park’s season-opening Spring Kick Off. The defending GRT Race Cars South Central Region, Texas State and track champion started the weekend with Friday’s $1,000 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified checkers. Looking to complete the sweep on Saturday, he paced the field back to green following a late caution with familiar foes Jake Upchurch and Jacob Pirkle lined up right behind. “I had led every lap from the pole but that caution turned the race into a dash for cash, with two of the same fast guys I raced here with last season,” Gould said. “It was good to be able to hold on for the win. The track is always good, there’s always at least two lanes, and it was fast.” That win was also good for $1,000 and was Gould’s career 181st, tying him for 12th all-time in the division with Cory Sample. He ran his own Kerry Fryar Motorsports Gould Chassis for the first this season at KSP, after shaking down [Read More]

Brian LeBaron takes dream job as new Crystal promoter

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Feb. 27, 2023) – He’s already been a race car driver and owner, but Brian LeBaron sees a childhood dream come true this season as the new promoter and general manager at Crystal Motor Speedway. “One of the things I love most in life is dirt track racing. This is something I always hoped would happen,” said LeBaron, who takes over the helm of the 3/8-mile Michigan clay oval now owned by his brother Jake and childhood friend Steve Vernon and purchased from long-time owners Ron and Mary Jane Flinn. “It’s something we started talking about at the 2021 awards banquet. It has taken a while but it finally happened.” “I know there are big shoes to fill, literally, and Ron left us an incredibly good product,” he continued. “I love the family atmosphere at Crystal and look forward to seeing my racing family again.” Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds have run at Crystal, the longest continuously sanctioned track in both Michigan and the Eastern Region, since 1988. Saturday night IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly [Read More]

Velocita renews IMCA fire suit awards for 12^th season

LEXINGTON, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2023) – A select group of 2023 IMCA champions will have their Velocita awards on very visible display when they’re at the race track next season. The Lexington, N.C., manufacturer awards custom fire suits to the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Late Model, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA STARS Mod Lite IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Friesen Performance Northern SportMod, Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod and Mach-1 Sport Compact national champions, as well as the Junior National Champion and Lady Eagle title-winning drivers. In its 12th season as an IMCA sponsor, The Business Built on the Track and in the Pits also gives $200 product certificates good toward the purchase of a fire suit to the other six drivers winning Modified, Stock Car or Hobby Stock regional titles. Those awards will be presented at the IMCA national banquet in November. Fire suits to be awarded during the 41st annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s go to top non-qualifiers in Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock and Northern [Read More]