Newswire

Smiley’s renewing title sponsorship for IMCA Southern SportMods through 2023

MESQUITE, Texas – Smiley’s Racing Products will continue its invaluable role as title sponsor of IMCA’s Southern SportMod division through 2023. As part of the latest pact with the Mesquite, Texas, high-performance parts manufacturer and distributor, Smiley’s will provide a portion of $9,500 point funds to be paid to top 15 drivers in national Southern SportMod standings for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 race seasons, while continuing an extensive awards program for drivers in six divisions. The home of Hoosier Tire Southwest, Smiley’s is part of national decal programs for Southern and Northern SportMods and drivers in both divisions must display two Smiley’s logos on their race cars to be eligible for point fund shares. The 17-year IMCA sponsor gives $50 gift cards to top 10 drivers in national Southern SportMod and Mach-1 Sport Compact point standings, and in the Razor Chassis South Central Region for IMCA Modifieds, EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Big Daddy Race Cars Southern Region for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Fifty dollar gift cards also [Read More]

Forster doubles up at Cocopah, Ward and West are also IMCA winners

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Feb. 20) – Once more three Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing sanctioned classes were in competition at Cocopah Speedway on Saturday. IMCA Modifieds, Karl Kustoms Northern Sport Mods, and IMCA STARS Mod Lites complimented the card of the final night of the Western States Dwarf Car Nationals at the ⅜-mile track. For the IMCA Modified main event, Marvin Mueller got the front on the drop of the initial green flag. He did his best to keep his car ahead of the competition but would be overtaken on lap three by Jerry Flippo. Flippo steered his vessel ahead of the rest of the pack but was eventually caught. Arizona native Tim Ward overtook Jerry Flippo on lap 14. Ward was by no means out of the woods as he had to deal with some thick lapped traffic and pressure from Flippo. The seventh starting Ward held on to capture his first win of the 2021 campaign in the caution-free affair, earning $1,000 and a spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Flippo ended [Read More]

Mari, Pitt, Forster collect Friday wins at Cocopah

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Feb. 19) – Lance Mari, David Pitt and a defending national champion all took care of business Friday at Cocopah Speedway. Mari topped the $1,000 to win main event for IMCA Modifieds and Pitt paced the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods, while Zack Forster won the first event for IMCA STARS Mod Lites in Arizona. Forster, who started fifth, obtained the top spot entering the first corner on the opening start. A lap three caution bunched the field up and turned out to be the lone stoppage of the race. On the restart, Forster experienced some immense pressure from fellow Californian Kaden Cochrun. Cochrun managed to maneuver his way around Forster to beat him out at the line on lap five. However, Forster held his composure and reclaimed the position on the following circuit. As the long green flag run continued to develop Forster had a brief scare in lapped traffic. Kaden Cochrun did his best to get around Forster, but Forster made some key moves. Forster went on to win the main event and became [Read More]

Madrid, Alves are Arizona Speedway aces

By Ben Deatherage SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. (Feb. 20) – Two IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing program divisions were on hand at Arizona Speedway on Saturday. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods were the two divisions on tap. Both divisions had healthy car counts and produced some enjoyable action. Zachary Madrid took control of the first-place position on the opening start of the Stock Car main. Madrid had firm control of the lead but did have to deal with several stoppages. The field would be slowed down on several occasions but each time Zachary remained in the front. Madrid went on to win his second Arizona Speedway Stock Car main of the season. Colorado veteran Aaron Spangler was second followed by Fairbanks, Alaska transplant and current Casa Grande resident, Scott Sluka. The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main event saw just a single caution. Double-duty racer Bo Partain got to the point in the opening stages. After a lap five restart, Partain was accompanied by Chase Alves in a tussle for the lead. Alves, racing his [Read More]

New Kennedale promoter going old school with emphasis on Weekly IMCA Racing, fan interaction

KENNEDALE, Texas – New Kennedale Speedway Park promoter James Lopez looks forward to a return to “old school racing” at the famed Texas race track. A former driver and car builder, Lopez takes charge after a lengthy stint heading tech inspection at KSP, where Saturday shows will feature IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts. The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season starts on March 6 and runs through Sept. 25. “We just want our drivers and our fans to have fun. We want to get back to old school racing this year,” Lopez explained. “We have worked with other tracks on scheduling, we’re raising the start money because we want to give back more to the guys who race for fun, and we want to find ways to get more fans involved.” Driver interviews and fan giveaways are in plans for each race night. Fans, along with family members and sponsors, will be invited to join drivers in victory lane photos and a Summit Racing [Read More]

IMCA sanction strengthens Mod Lites of Arkansas

MARION, Ark. – The sky’s the limit this season for STARS Mod Lites of Arkansas. The club-run series will be IMCA sanctioned for the first time, with 15 race dates scheduled at home track I-30 Speedway and five other Arkansas and Mississippi venues. “We’re averaging about 24 cars a night and the class has been continually growing. Becoming part of IMCA only makes us stronger,” president Bryce Vowan said. “Mod Lites have really been taking off and there’s no end in sight.” Opening night for the MLA is scheduled Feb. 26 at the Small Car Nationals, the first of nine Little Rock dates. Shows at Diamond Park Speedway, Greenville Speedway, Riverside International Speedway, Old No. 1 Speedway and Crawford County Speedway. The finale is I-30’s Mod Lite Madness Sept. 17-18. “We are fortunate to have one of the best track owners around in Tracey Clay at I-30,” Vowan said, with dates at other tracks also helping the division grow in driver numbers and popularity with fans. “This class is very economical, very competitive, and the [Read More]

Moser renews IMCA special events, national and regional runner-up awards for five divisions

PORTLAND, Ind. – IMCA drivers in five divisions take home shares of $10,000-plus in product certificate awards from Moser Engineering in 2021. The 18-year IMCA sponsor again gives $100 certificates to competitors at 80 IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod special events. Runners-up in each of the five regions for Modifieds and both regions for Stock Cars get $300 product certificates. Runners-up in each Hobby Stock region and in national standings for Northern SportMods and Southern SportMods receive $200 certificates. Special events awards given by the Portland, Ind., rear end components manufacturer will be mailed from the IMCA home office after official race results are received. Awards based on point standings will be presented during the national IMCA banquet in November. Information about Moser products is available at the www.moserengineering.com website, on Facebook or by calling 260 726-6689. “Moser is another company that is quick to renew their program annually and has been doing so for nearly 20 years,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin [Read More]

IMCA STARS Mod Lites have new home at Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Race programs at Bakersfield Speedway will feature a fourth IMCA division this season. Half a dozen dates for newly-sanctioned IMCA STARS Mod Lites are on the schedule at Bakersfield, the first California track to add the class and already a weekly home to IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. “We’ve run Mod Lites the last five or six years, the last three years with rules very similar to STARS,” promoter Scott Schweitzer explained. “When we got news that the division would be IMCA, we knew it would be a natural fit for us. It’s an affordable and entertaining class.” Most of the Mod Lite competitors at Bakersfield are hometown drivers, with a variety of experience represented on track. “We have a good combination of younger drivers and drivers who have raced a while, took a liking to this class and made the switch,” Schweitzer said. “One of the things that’s unique about it here are the numbers of fathers and sons, and husbands and wives who race [Read More]

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Feb. 18

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 561; 2. Tanner Black, Otis, Kan., 557; 3. Bricen James, Albany, Ore., 487; 4. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif., 450; 5. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 447; 6. Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D., 435; 7. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 357; 8. Grey Ferrando, Stayton, Ore., 344; 9. Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz., 331; 10. Casey Skyberg, Rapid City, S.D., 299; 11. Russell Allen, Brawley, Calif., 259; 12. Braxton Yeager, Green River, Wy., and Kellen Chadwick, Oakley, Calif., both 253; 14. Zachary Madrid, Phoenix, Ariz., 240; 15. Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif., 238; 16. Brandon Schmitt, Sun Prairie, Wis., 236; 17. Tripp Gaylord, Lakewood, Colo., 231; 18. Brody Spangler, Dove Creek, Colo., 230; 19. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 222; 20. Bubba Stafford Jr., Wittmann, Ariz., 219. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Aaron Spangler, Dove Creek, Colo., 533; 2. D.J. Werkmeister, Mesa, Ariz., 412; 3. Zachary Madrid, Phoenix, Ariz., 344; 4. Larry Brigner, Apache Junction, Ariz., 297; 5. Scott Sluka, Casa Grande, Ariz., 291; 6. Bo Partain, Casa Grande, Ariz., 286; 7. Andrew Burg, Maricopa, [Read More]

100 year storm forces cancellation of Lone Star Stock Car Tour

VINTON, Iowa – One of the worst storm systems the state of Texas has seen in a century has forced officials to cancel the Lone Star Stock Car Tour. Originally slated for Feb. 20-27, it will not be rescheduled in 2021. Significant snowfall throughout the state, power outages and lingering extreme cold temperatures for the region led to the cancellation. Drivers who pre-entered are asked to contact tour officials regarding refunds. “With over 70 IMCA Stock Car drivers pre-entered, the 2021 version of the Sniper Lone Star Tour was on pace to surpass 2020’s record setting year,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “The collective hard work by the race tracks involved with this annual IMCA Series in Texas, along with the effort of Jon and Jill Courchaine at Sniper Chassis has created a set of circumstances that are hard to accomplish and impossible to duplicate. Mother Nature was the only person who could spoil it.” The 2022 Lone Star Stock Car Tour will begin on February 19, 2022 on day two of Abilene Speedway’s 26th [Read More]