Newswire

Cinderella-type weekend sees Norris race to career 100th IMCA Modified win

SEARCY, Ark. – Mark Norris was so discouraged by his lack of success in his first IMCA Modified season that he thought about quitting. After the wins and track championships did start to come, he stepped away from dirt track racing for an unheard of dozen seasons to focus on building his Snap-On Tools franchise. Seven years later, on a Friday night at Legit Speedway Park, Norris became the first driver from Arkansas, and the 62nd in division history to reach the 100 career win mark. “It was like a Cinderella weekend,” said Norris, from Searcy and the winner on May 28, opening night of the Scrappin’ 40 special at West Plains. “We brought campers and stayed. Two of my grandkids were there and it was one of the first times they were at the track. It was pretty emotional.” “It was a special show and good competition. To be able to do this on the Memorial Weekend with my family there was special. This is a goal I set and I’ve been working so hard to get it. [Read More]

Dirt Works Race Cars in ninth season as IMCA Eastern Region title sponsor

ORONOGO, Mo. – A chassis builder with a long and unique connection to IMCA begins its ninth consecutive season as title sponsor of the Eastern Region for Modifieds. Owned by veteran driver and Springfield Raceway promoter Jerry Hoffman, Dirt Works Race Cars of Oronogo, Mo., again provides a portion of the $6,000 point fund to be paid to top 10 drivers in the region that includes tracks in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York. Points earned in the new NY-Penn Modified Series also figure toward regional standings. The regional champion earns $2,500. The runner-up gets $1,250, with $625 for third, $325 for fourth, $300 for fifth and $200 for sixth through 10th places. Drivers are required to display two Dirt Works Race Cars logos on their race cars to be eligible for point fund shares. Dirt Works is a sister company to Hoffman Race Cars and has built championship-winning Modifieds since the early days of the division. Dirt Works was first a regional title sponsor in 1996. More information about Dirt Works or Hoffman chassis is [Read More]

It’s Roberts in a thriller at Boone, David Smith prevails in brotherly battle

By Joyce Eisele BOONE, Iowa (May 29) – The racers came out in full force for Saturday night racing at the Boone Speedway with 169 cars packing the pits and all IMCA regular classes would find first time winners on the season. The IMCA STARS Mod Lites were in town for a national event series race, as part of the Corn Belt Clash. It was a thrilling finish to the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature that saw amazing crisscross moves during the race. Nick Roberts started sixth and had the top spot by lap four, content to let the pack behind sort itself out. Tim Ward came from 12th starting into second and began applying pressure quickly, and Kyle Brown was also in the picture. Then the show really began when Roberts and Ward made some spectacular crisscross moves out of turn two with Brown sticking his nose into the mix as well. Several more crossover moves had the crowd excited as the laps wore down, with Roberts always managing to come out on top. He [Read More]

Travel decision pays off for Brauns

By Rob Hinckley EAST MOLINE, Ill. (May 30) – Jonathan Brauns made the decision to make the trek to East Moline and it paid off as the Muscatine, Iowa pilot led flag to flag to take Sunday’s 25-lap IMCA Sunoco Late Model finale at East Moline Speedway. Andy Nezworski charged from mid-pack to the runner up spot by the checkers. Gary Webb, Joe Ross and Mike Guldenpfennig followed. A season high 105 entries from four states jammed the pits and racing was concluded by 10 p.m. Jeff Larson stayed hot with his second straight IMCA Modified 20-lap feature win. Also for the second week in a row, he picked up the $100 Maquoketa/East Moline bonus. Brandt Cole led early, charged late and settled for second followed by Travis Denning, Tim Hamburg and Brandon Durbin. Jarrett Franzen topped a season best 27-car Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod field with only one of those not starting the main. On his mind this Memorial Day Weekend were the losses of two people close to his race team. “Yeah, that [Read More]

James, Comer capture opening night wins at Cottage Grove

By Stephanie Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (May 29) – Bricen James and Dustin Comer were IMCA winners on night one of Cottage Grove Speedway’s Memorial Weekend doubleheader. The 25-lap IMCA Modified main event began with a couple of cautions before the competition could complete the first lap. However, once green flag action unfolded, Jesse Williamson paced the pack. Williamson held on to the position until lap seven. Bricen James was the man to overtake Williamson and started to pull away from the field. A late-race caution on lap 22 kept the cars all tightly knit together and set up a late-race restart. James then held on to win his second race of the season at CGS and his first since April 23. John Campos and Curtis Towns were second and third. Jake Mayden ended his night fourth while Grey Ferrando came out of the “B” main as well as an earlier setback from a flat tire to finish fifth. And in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods, Theran Trissell was the initial race leader. Trissell stayed in front until Ray Bloom [Read More]

Stien knows way to winner’s circle in Minnesota Sprint Series opener

ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 29) – Michael Stien’s latest Arlington Raceway feature win came on Saturday, opening night of the Minnesota IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Series. Nineteen cars were entered and Stien survived multiple cautions in the victory. Trevor Serbus, who had started 12th, moved up to challenge Stien but had to settle for second ahead of Neil Stevens. Justin Allen and Troy Manteufel completed the top five. Trent Loverude drove to his first local IMCA Modified win of the year ahead of Clint Hatlestad and Brandon Beckendorf. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature had 24 cars on the grid and three different leaders in the race. Matt Schauer led the first nine laps of the race from his front row start before the first caution was thrown. On the restart, A.J. Zimmerman got around Schauer and led the following three laps. Cars were three-wide at times and extremely close. By lap 13, Chad Schroeder took over the lead with Ryan Bjerkeset racing him side-by-side. Zimmerman wasn’t giving up as he took the second place spot once [Read More]

Block, Van Straten capture first Shawano features of season

By Dave Buss SHAWANO, Wis. (May 29) – The Memorial Weekend brought cool temperatures and hot action to the Shawano Speedway along with the unofficial start of summer. Wyatt Block, Travis Van Straten and Tyler Sobiescyk got their summers off to the best start of everyone with feature wins. Early action saw Jerry Wilinski jump to the lead in the IMCA Modified main and begin to build a big advantage. The caution would fly on lap four and bring the field to his bumper. On the restart, Wilinski scooted away only to have a debris bring out another yellow. Block and Andy Karl filled the second row on the lap six restart. Wilinski again extended his lead with Karl and Block fighting it out for the runner-up spot. Block took the second spot and begin to reel in the Wilinski machine at halfway. On lap 15, Block moved past Wilinski and into the lead. Block cruised to victory with Wilinski second. Jordan Bartz charged to third with Karl fourth. Josh Mroczkowski powered to the early lead in the [Read More]

Photo finish highlights action at Wagner Speedway

WAGNER, S.D. (May 28) – Memorial Day is for remembering our fellow countrymen and countrywomen for the sacrifices they made for our freedoms. It’s also a time to gather with family and friends to remember days gone by and a photo finish highlighted the pre-holiday evening’s activities Friday at Wagner Speedway Once the green flag flew for the final time in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature, it would be a two-lap dash to the finish. Toby Ives led the first lap of the two and all but six inches of the final lap, being edged out by Jordan Vosika. According to the electronic timing and scoring, the margin of victory was .02 seconds. A dejected Ives settled for second, followed by Mike Hanson in third, Tony Fetterman fourth and Lowell Janssen rounding out the top five. The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods took to the track next and a driver who has had terrible luck to open the season looked strong early. Raymond Bigge showed the way, until finally succumbing to eventual winner Josh Pfeifer. The second-generation driver used [Read More]

Keller captures IMCA Modified checkers, Sandberg scores 10th straight at Dacotah

By Rebecca Rattei MANDAN, N.D. (May 28) – Jeremy Keller held off Casey Arneson for the IMCA Modified feature win on Military Appreciation Night at Dacotah Speedway. Scott Gartner and Travis Tooley battled for the early lead and Tooley grabbed the front spot before a caution regrouped the field. On the restart, Gartner lost positions to Spencer Wilson, Shawn Strand, Arneson and Marlyn Seidler. As Tooley started to pull away, Keller cracked the top five and quickly passed Arneson, Strand and Wilson. Keller reeled in Tooley and took the lead with 10 laps to go. A couple late-race cautions erased Keller’s large lead and put a speedy Arneson on his rear bumper. But on the final restart, Arneson struggled to get around Keller. When the checkered flag waved, Keller outran Arneson for the feature win. Tooley, who led most of the race, settled for third while Seidler finished fourth ahead of Crist Pittenger. After two complete restarts in the Mach-1 Sport Compact feature, it was a three-wide battle for the lead between Tanner Hofer, Stan Thompson [Read More]

Wilson wheels to victory lane in IMCA STARS Mod Lite Challenge Series

MURFREESBORO, Ark. (May 29) – Blake Wilson took his IMCA STARS Mod Lite to the winner’s circle from mid-pack on Saturday night at the Diamond Park Speedway’s second of five schedule Challenge Series races. Early on, it was pole sitter Jace Reid who set the pace. Not to be out done, James Rollins and Jimmy Brown both battled for and at one point held the race lead. Methodically, the 10th starting Wilson stalked the field and worked his way through traffic. Chance Hull followed Wilson, his starting row neighbor, toward the front and put himself in the mix for the lead at about mid-way until a caution came out for an airborne Charles Armstrong II on the front stretch. By this point, Wilson had gotten to third with Hull in tow. On the restart, Wilson edged Rollins and set sail, never to be challenged again until a late-race caution but only for about half a lap. The race was on for second and ninth starting Chris Tucker blasted into the fray and challenged Rollins for second the final [Read More]