Newswire

Estes steps down from Dodge City Raceway post

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. (Sept. 24) – An era comes to an end at Dodge City Raceway Park as Tommie Estes Jr. has elected to step down from his position as track manager and promoter at the 3/8-mile clay oval in southwest Kansas. After a revolving door of promoters at the state-of-the-art facility in its first decade as a dirt track, Estes assumed the role in 2011 soon after leaving his previous position as series coordinator with the American Sprint Car Series. Estes has guided the DCRP facility for the past 10 years, establishing several notable events including the DCRP Sprint Car Nationals and creating the 1/7-mile Little DCRP clay oval to provide a training ground for younger racers to develop their skills. After the racing facility completed its final weekend of a condensed 2020 racing season on Sept. 19-20, Estes announced the decision to resign from the position. “The city of Dodge City offered to extend my contract for another three years but I declined,” Estes explained. “I have enjoyed my 10 years [Read More]

Drivers share in rich purse, contingency awards at 38th annual Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa – Being part of the biggest and best event in all of dirt track racing paid off again big-time for IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s competitors. Along with approximately $300,000 in purse money, some $60,000 in contingency and cash awards were given. Awards and/or product certificates not given to drivers at Boone Speedway will arrive by mail. More than $25,000 in contingencies went to qualifiers for the Modified main event. Listed by division, certain cash and contingency award recipients included: Modified champion Ricky Thornton Jr. – Abilene Race Rads (radiator); Aero Race Wheels (set of 4 wheels); Allstar Performance (set of toe plates and $200); Brinn ($50 and a transmission); BSB Manufacturing (set of 4 shocks and $225); Casey’s General Store ($20); Champ Pans (oil pan); Dirt Defender (pair of mud covers); Dynatech ($400); Edelbrock (water pump); Eibach (set of 4 springs); G-Force Racing Gear ($200); Hoosier (four G-60 tires); Integra (one shock); Intercomp (digital angle gauge); Jaz Products ($500); Jerovetz Shock Service (2 shock rebuilds); Jones Racing Products (crate engine [Read More]

2020 IMCA National Awards banquet canceled

LINCOLN, Neb. – In light of restrictions now in place and uncertainty regarding future Covid-19 guidelines, IMCA officials have announced the difficult decision to cancel the national awards banquet to have been held Nov. 28 in Lincoln, Neb. “This decision needs to be made today and currently, we would be limited to 50 percent capacity, or approximately 300 people, to hold our banquet at the Marriott Cornhusker,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “The IMCA national banquet draws an annual attendance of nearly 600 IMCA members, families and friends. Limiting the attendance would force IMCA to choose which champions should attend and we are not going to be placed in that situation. Table seating also becomes quite problematic regarding the permitted group size restrictions. Based on the group settings, it’s challenging to seat people with people they do not know. We don’t want to place anyone in a situation they are personally uncomfortable with.” “We can’t predict the future. We have no way of knowing what restrictions will be in place in two months and will [Read More]

Engine auction adds $18,200 to Super Nationals main event purse

BOONE, Iowa – Proceeds from the auction of champions’ engines added another $18,200 to the main event purse paid at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Stock Car champion Donavon Smith’s engine sold for $6,400, so each of the other 29 starters in that event get another $220.69 on top of their purse shares. Northern SportMod champion Johnathon Logue saw his engine gavel at $5,600, translating to $193.11 shares for each of the other 29 drivers in that race. Top bid for the engine that took Nathan Ballard to the Hobby Stock title was $3,300. The other 29 drivers in that race each receive $113.80. Modified champion Ricky Thornton Jr.’s engine sold for $2,900. The other 32 starters in that minimum $1,000 to start race each get an additional $90.63. Thornton, Logue and Ballard all received new crate engines from Karl Kustoms. Smith went home with an engine built by Midstate Machine with parts contributed by IMCA and event sponsors. All auction proceeds are being mailed this week from the IMCA home [Read More]

URSS sets sails for two-day WaKeeney Showdown

WaKEENEY, Kan. – The United Rebel Sprint Series Presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing has set its sail on the two-day WaKeeney Showdown this Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27. The weekend’s events will take place atop the 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt oval of WaKeeney Speedway. Saturday’s URSS feature winner will take home $700. Racing is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Sunday’s winner will earn $1,000. Racing is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. General admission is $20 for adults, kids ages 7-12 are $5 and children 6 and under are free both days. The WaKeeney Showdown will conclude the IMCA point season and many non-regular series drivers are expected to attend vying for their last chance at an IMCA championship.

Championship Night this Friday at US 36 Raceway

OSBORN, Mo. – This Friday, Sept. 25, is championship night at US 36 Raceway. US 36 will crown the season champion in IMCA Modifieds, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. As part of championship night, the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars will race for $1,200 to win and a minimum of $250 to start. This is also the final opportunity for drivers and teams to race before the fall special at US 36, the second annual Missouri Nationals on Oct. 8-10. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. The grandstands open at 6 p.m. with hot laps at 7:30 p.m. and racing at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $18 for senior and military and children 12 and younger are free. Pit passes are $35.

Harris brings broom, sweeps Virginia Sprint Series twinbill

By Jim Haines NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (Sept. 19) – On the first clear, cool night of the year, Jerald Harris had a hot night on track by topping both features for the Virginia Sprint Series at Natural Bridge Speedway. The make-up event for the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature rained out in August had Daren Bolac out first at the drop of the green and running smooth out front with Mike Leraas in tow. The 20-lap feature was going by fast as the track surface was changing and Leraas was closing in with Mike Keeton and Harris catching up fast as well. Leraas got by for the lead with the back of the field quickly coming into his path. With the white flag out, Leraas and Bolac were still up front on the lower side but Harris moved up and was gaining ground fast. Coming off turn four to the checkers, the last car on the lead lap bobbled, causing Leraas and Bolac to lift. Harris seized the moment to go high next to the wall, [Read More]

IMCA Modified checkers fly at Arlington for Stinehart

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 19) – Todd Stinehart was the fourth and final leader in Saturday’s IMCA Modified feature at Arlington Raceway. Rick Nelson paced the first four laps before he was forced pitside. Trent Loverude took over the top spot and built a commanding lead while Stinehart and Clint Hatlestad were fighting for second. On lap 13, Loverude’s engine let loose and he exited the track giving the lead to Stinehart. Hatlestad fought hard and took the lead on the 18th lap, then ran side-by-side with Stinehart the last two laps. As they were coming out of turn four, Hatlestad was a nose ahead, but Stinehart edged past him right before the checkered flag. Third went to Toby Patchen. Bill Johnson led from the sixth circuit to the finish of the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature and Chad Schroeder topped the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main. Winner of the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock headliner was Cory Probst. Matt Looft led the way in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. The Mach-1 Sport Compact feature saw 24 [Read More]

28th annual Tiny Lund Memorial this weekend at Shelby County Speedway

HARLAN, Iowa – Shelby County Speedway rolls out the red carpet for six IMCA divisions at the 28th annual Tiny Lund Memorial Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25 and 26. Friday night action is in honor of the Dale Swanson Memorial and sees the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Late Models racing for $755 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods for $655 to win, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $555 and Mach-1 Sport Compacts for $155 to win. On Saturday, the Modifieds race for $1,528 to win their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. Late Models race for $1,228 to win, Stock Cars and Northern SportMods both for $1,028 to win, Hobby Stocks for $828 to win and Sport Compacts for $328 to win. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points will be awarded both nights. Both programs are draw/redraw and drivers should pre-register online at racescs.com before Sept. 24; one-time entry fee for all divisions except the Sport Compact is $28 (early) or $40 (late). Pit passes are [Read More]

Inaugural Corning Memorial this weekend at Cocopah

SOMERTON, Ariz. – One thousand dollar checks and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational berths go to IMCA Modified feature winners both nights of Cocopah Speedway’s inaugural Mike Corning Memorial Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25 and 26. Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Mach-1 Sport Compacts race both nights at Somerton while IMCA Sunoco Late Models join the Saturday show. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, KMJ Performance State and track points will be awarded both nights. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Racing starts at 7 p.m. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and military and free for kids ages 11 and under. All pit passes are $35. Corning was champion of IMCA’s Western Region for Modifieds in 1996. The point season-ending event is presented by Kactus Kush. More information is available on Facebook or at www.cocopahspeedway.com.