Newswire

James collects top check at Mark Howard Memorial

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (Aug. 24) – The top driver in Shaw Race Cars Western Region standings raced to the top payday of his IMCA Modified career Saturday at Cottage Grove Speedway. Bricen James got the best of 40-plus Mark Howard Memorial Modified Nationals foes from across the Pacific Northwest in earning the $2,600, 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying victory. Collen Winebarger ended in second after running down and challenging the leader for the vast majority of the event. James took advantage of the pole start and put his mount in front of the rest of the field to lead the first lap. He had some fast company behind him but numerous cautions over the first 26 circuits took lapped traffic out of the picture. The second half of the feature became an all-out battle for the top spot. James briefly lost the lead with a handful of laps remaining before reclaiming the position on the next corner. James held all challengers at bay to win his first career Mark [Read More]

NW Missouri State Fair races feature three IMCA divisions

BETHANY, Mo. – Three IMCA divisions headline Northwest Missouri State Fair Races at Bethany Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 1. IMCA Modifieds vie for $1,200 to win and a minimum of $150 to start their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. Modified heat winners earn $50 each. The hard charger in the feature will receive $100. Twenty-five laps in the feature will each pay $10 to the leader. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $800 to win and a minimum of $80 to start, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods for $750 to win and a minimum of $70 to start. Heat winners in those divisions earn $25, with $50 paid to the hard chargers. Lap money is $5 with 20 laps scheduled for the Stocks and 18 for the SportMods. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and E3 Spark Plugs Missouri State points will be awarded. Racing starts at approximately 8 p.m. Bethany Speedway re-opened last year under the direction of Jon Boller Jr. and ran Modified, Stock Cars and Northern SportMods during regular race programs [Read More]

Eckrich dominant in Deery Series win at West Liberty

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (Aug. 24) – He’s been consistent throughout the 33rd annual Deery Brothers Summer Series. On Saturday night, Andy Eckrich was dominant. After showing off his speed in winning his IMCA Late Model tour heat race, Eckrich started fifth in the main event at West Liberty Raceway, reeled in early leader Kyle Hinrichs on the ninth circuit and stayed in front to the finish of the 35-lapper. The $2,000 victory was the career ninth and first of the season for Eckrich, the current Deery point leader. “It was really special,” said Eckrich, a three-time runner-up this year. “I have a lot of family and local fans who were here to see me win. It was nice to win in front of everybody.” The caution flew four laps after Eckrich gained the point and while Hinrichs was able to gain ground in lapped traffic, he was never able to catch up. Now the seventh different winner in eight tour events this year, Eckrich’s victory was his first since June of 2018 at Marshalltown; Hinrichs’ second-place [Read More]

Ryan, Dumpert are named IMCA Late Model national champs

VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 26) – Veteran Matt Ryan and newcomer Cory Dumpert will reign as national champions in the IMCA Late Model division. Both finished the 2019 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season with 594 points and 10 40-point feature wins. “This was an extraordinary season in terms of growth of our Late Model division, both in the number of licensed drivers and the number of sanctioned race tracks,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “It is only fitting that the national title chase ends shared by drivers from areas with established tracks and with newly-sanctioned tracks.” “Both drivers,” he added, “deserve all the recognition they receive.” Ryan, from Davenport, Iowa, and Dumpert, from York, Neb., will both receive $5,000 shares of the national divisional point fund. Ryan has been runner-up in the national points race in three of the past four years. Now a three-time E3 Spark Plugs Illinois State champion, he has 57 wins over the course of his career, 16th on the all-time list for the division. The national rookie of the year, [Read More]

Aug. 23 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National Point Standings

IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb., 1,196; 2. Anthony Roth, Columbus, Neb., 1,170; 3. Thomas Berry, Newburg, N.D., 1,162; 4. Joel Rust, Grundy Center, Iowa, and Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, both 1,160; 6. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 1,144; 7. Drew Armstrong, Benton, Ark., 1,140; 8. Jeremy Mills, Britt, Iowa, 1,136; 9. Chris Morris, Taylor, Texas, 1,130; 10. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz., 1,128; 11. Clay Money, Penokee, Kan., 1,126; 12. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1,123; 13. Shane DeMey, Denison, Iowa, 1,121; 14. Ricky Thornton Jr., Adel, Iowa, and Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., both 1,120; 16. Kevin Green, Waco, Texas, and Aaron Johnson, Brainerd, Minn., both 1,116; 18. Bricen James, Albany, Ore., 1,115; 19. David Goode Jr., Copperas Cove, Texas, 1,103; 20. Regan Tafoya, Farmington, N.M., 1,077. IMCA Late Models – 1. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, and Cory Dumpert, York, Neb., both 594; 3. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, Iowa, 589; 4. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 587; 5. Justin L. Kay, Wheatland, Iowa, 582; 6. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Iowa, 577; 7. Todd Malmstrom, Hampton, Ill., 553; 8. [Read More]

It’s a trifecta weekend for PASS

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Pennsylvania Sprint Series teams have one of their most demanding weekends Aug. 23-25 with three races scheduled across Central Pennsylvania. On Friday night, PASS/IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car drivers join their Laurel Highlands Sprint Series colleagues for a co-sanctioned event at Clinton County Motor Speedway. Then they head to two of their home tracks, racing Saturday at Port Royal Speedway and Sunday at BAPS Motor Speedway. Port Royal’s will be the sixth PASS event at Port Royal this year, with one rainout, and the last before the Keystone RaceSaver Challenge on Oct. 12. PASS veterans claimed the first three features with Ken Duke Jr. taking two and Nick Sweigart the other, but since then, youth has prevailed. Devin Adams claimed the June 8 feature just after graduating from high school, and Garrett Bard won on July 20 in just his fourth outing in the division and first at the Port. Port Royal has averaged the largest car turnout of all PASS tracks this year, so Saturday’s show should be memorable. On Sunday, [Read More]

Pre-entry open for inaugural Missouri IMCA Nationals

OSBORN, Mo. – Pre-entry for one of the most anticipated events of the US 36 Raceway season is now open. Drivers in the IMCA Modified, IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods will battle to become the first winners in the inaugural Missouri IMCA Nationals. Practice for the event is on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Racing will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-12. Pre-entry for the event is available online at https://www.myracepass.com/register/?n=17636 or at http://www.us36racewaydirttrack.com/ and click on the driver registration button. Pre-entry for the event is $60 for Modifieds and Sprint Cars and $50 for Stock Cars and SportMods. The entry fee includes the driver pit pass on practice night. Drivers are highly encouraged to pre-enter for the event before Sept. 29 as after that date, the registration will be $100 for all classes. Thursday and Friday will see drivers compete in complete shows, including heats, “B” features and “A” features. The top six in the “A” feature from each night will lock into Saturday’s Main event. Saturdays racing action will include [Read More]

Stephenville Starter makes heat wins pay off, continues Hobby Stock RoC title sponsorship

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Winning 10 or more heat races will pay off for one IMCA driver again this season, courtesy of Stephenville Starter. The Texas manufacturer and 11-year sponsor awards a starter to one randomly selected driver who meets that heat race win requirement and submits a photo of their car displaying use of two Dirt Defender mud covers. Those photos should be mailed or emailed to Marketing Director Kevin Yoder at the IMCA home office. Stephenville Starter also returns as title sponsor and provides a portion of the point fund for the Hobby Stock Race of Champions, to be held Sept. 7 during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock and Northern SportMod race of champions winners at Super Nationals all receive starters. Information about Stephenville Starter-made products is available by calling 254 965-7890. “It takes a special program to achieve a decade of sponsorship. Stephenville Starter celebrated that milestone last season and shows no signs of slowing down,” commented IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder. “They’ve become [Read More]

Harris Auto Racing in 13th year as title sponsor for Modified Race of Champions

BOONE, Iowa – A chassis builder synonymous with IMCA and the Modified division continues title sponsorship support for one of the most popular and prestigious events at the upcoming IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Harris Auto Racing provides a portion of the purse to be paid out in the Modified Race of Champions on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Boone Speedway. The Boone manufacturer and high performance parts retailer has been sponsor of the event for 13 years and an IMCA sponsor for 24 years. Qualifying for the 12-car, 12-lap, $1,000 to win race is Thursday, Sept. 5 and is open to top drivers in local track standings competing at Super Nationals, former national, regional and Super Nationals champions, and to previous race winners. Two hundred and four different drivers from 24 states and Canada have qualified for the Modified Race of Champions since 1989. Jason Wolla of Ray, N.D., is the defending race winner. Harris is owned by IMCA Modified and Stock Car driver Kyle Brown. “With Harris Auto Racing being known [Read More]

Champions fill starting grids for all four Saturday RoC events at Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa – Every driver in the four race of champions events at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s on Saturday, Sept. 7 is a champion before they even take the green flag. The 31st annual Harris Auto Racing Race of Champions features a dozen drivers battling for $1,000 to win while the 18th annual Sunoco Face Fuels Race of Champions for Stock Cars pays $500 to win. The 11th annual Stephenville Starter Race of Champions for Hobby Stocks and BSB Manufacturing Race of Champions for Northern SportMods both pay $300 to win. Hobby Stock and SportMod RoC qualifying will be Tuesday, Sept. 3. Modified and Stock Car RoC qualifying is Thursday, Sept. 5. Drivers eligible to qualify for their respective events include former national and Super Nationals champions and race of champions winners, 2019 track champions/point leader or the second-place driver if the leader is not in attendance. Also eligible to qualify are former Modified (from 1993), Stock Car and Hobby Stock regional champions. One hundred dollars will be paid to the [Read More]