Newswire

Sunset ignites the engines this Saturday

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. – The 2018 racing season will officially start this Saturday, April 14 at Sunset Speedway Park. IMCA Modifieds will challenge at Banks Bullring for IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, Oregon State and track points. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and the front gate opens at 4 p.m. Racing is at 6:30 p.m. Race Director Justin Thomas says there are only a couple of differences from last year but for the most part everything will remain the same. “Mike Watson will be back in the flagstand this year,” commented Thomas. “I will be up in the tower help running the RACEceivers. At practice we had a great turnout and the track was beautiful, which I think is a good sign for the season to come.” Tickets are $13 for adults and $10 for seniors, military and juniors ages 13-17. A family pass (two adults and up to four youth) is $35 while premium seats are $25 each. For more information log onto www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.

Dodge City opens with April 21 Modified Stampede

By Lonnie Wheatley DODGE CITY, Kan. – After a pair of foiled attempts to get the 2018 racing season underway, Dodge City Raceway Park will kick things off in style with the sixth annual Modified Stampede on Saturday night, April 21. While the IMCA Modifieds battle it out for the $750 winner’s share atop the 3/8-mile clay oval, the Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks will be in action as well. The event marks the first leg of championship points chase action with the green flag set to fly at 7:30 p.m. Cole Traugott is the reigning Modified Stampede champion, racing to his second consecutive event win last year ahead of defending track champion Clay Sellard and Randy Wilson. While Traugott has a pair of Modified Stampede victories to his credit, other past event winners include David Murray (2015 and both nights in 2013) and Brendon Gemmill (2014). There will be fun for children eight and under as well with an Easter Egg hunt [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds race for $4,015 to win at Merced’s Egleston Tribute

MERCED, Calif. – The IMCA Modified winner’s share of the Saturday, April 14 Bill Egleston Tribute at Merced Speedway now sits at a hefty $4,015. A large contingent of entries from across the Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region is expected to compete in the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. The runner-up earns $1,015 with a minimum of $125 paid to start. Also on the card are Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods in a $1,815 to win, minimum $75 to start main event. Pit gates open at 1 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 4 p.m. Racing follows approximate 5 p.m. hot laps. Car and driver is $50. Pit passes are $40. Spectator admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 62 and over, military personnel and students with ID, $5 for children ages 6-12 and free for five and under. The Egleston Tribute is a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. Modifieds and Northern SportMods chase IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, California State and track points; Modifieds also contend for regional points. Fellow [Read More]

Multi-tasker Shryock tops Lee County IMCA Frostbuster feature

DONNELLSON, Iowa (April 11) – Kelly Shryock multi-tasked Wednesday night, mastering lapped traffic while outrunning Hunter Marriott in the IMCA Modified Frostbuster main event at Lee County Speedway. Shryock started fourth and led the last 21 of 25 circuits at Donnellson, taking the $1,000 checkers ahead of Marriott – up from 11th starting – and Cayden Carter. “I picked the smoothest lane and tried to be consistent,” Shryock said following his first win of the season and IMCA career 82nd. “I was lucky and had a good starting position. Hunter has been pretty fast and when he got to second it was ‘Oh boy, here we go,’ but I was able to hold him off.” Shryock ran the extreme high line going into the first turn and dropped down to the middle groove in the second set of turns, bringing Marriott along into traffic. “It’s fun to be able to negotiate through that stuff, knowing that you’ve got bogeys on your tail,” he said. Shryock was already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Jeff [Read More]

IMCA Modified Red River Tour travels to six tracks in Texas, Oklahoma May 26-June 1

KENNEDALE, Texas – The inaugural IMCA Red River Modified Tour takes drivers in three divisions to six tracks in Texas and Oklahoma. IMCA Modified features May 26 at Kennedale Speedway Park, May 27 at Heart O’ Texas Speedway, May 28 at 281 Speedway, May 30 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway and May 31 at Grayson County Speedway all pay $1,000 to win. The final Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying event of the week is June 1 at Southern Oklahoma Speedway, with a top prize of $1,500. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods race for $500 to win and a minimum of $50 to start each night. All events are draw/redraw and will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. Questions can be directed to Tour Director Selby Holder at 254-715-5742. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Razor Chassis South Central and EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region, Texas State and special series points, but no track points will be awarded. Series champions will be crowned in each division; Modified and Stock Car champions become eligible [Read More]

Sprint Series of Oklahoma Invades Lawton Speedway Saturday night

By David Smith Jr. LAWTON, Okla. – The Sprint Series of Oklahoma presented by Smiley’s Racing Products/Hoosier Racing Tire Southwest kicks back into racing action this Saturday, April 14 as it makes the first of three scheduled appearances at Lawton Speedway. This event will kick off four straight weekends of racing for the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car series at four different tracks and will be the series’ second-ever trip to the quarter-mile, red clay oval. Last year it was two-time and defending tour champion Andy Shouse taking advantage of race-long leader Blake Dacus’ misfortune to take the lead with eight laps to go to pick up the victory. Thirty-one drivers from three states were pit side and close to the same car count is expected this weekend. Shouse comes into the night with a slim seven-point lead over Shane Sellers. Sellers picked up his first career SSO victory at Enid Speedway two weeks ago. Chris Kelly, who picked up the season-opening victory at Southern Oklahoma Speedway back in March, sits 15 points out of the [Read More]

Willamette Speedway opener is April 14

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. – With one test and tune session under their belt, IMCA Modifieds will open the 2018 IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season at Willamette Speedway this Saturday, April 14. Pit gates open at 1 p.m. and the front gates open at 3:30 p.m. for the Cabin Fever lidlifter. Racing is at 6 p.m. “This season, there are so many great events throughout the year,” commented Race Director Jeremy Means. “Hopefully Mother Nature cooperates and we can get some racing in.” One big change is that two-day racing dates will be going from Saturday-Sunday to Friday-Saturday. Also, Fast Fridays will be coming to Willamette for the first time and will have a special $5 general admission price. Regular race night tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for seniors, military and juniors, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for five and under. A family pass (two adults and up to four youth) is $35. Season passes are discounted and include all races: Adults $390, seniors, military and juniors $275, youth [Read More]

IMCA rookie of the year awards are new from Ricochet

BRUSH, Colo. – Champions and top rookie drivers in two IMCA divisions are in line for Ricochet Race Components awards in 2018. The five-year IMCA sponsor gives sets of three shock guard covers to champions and rookies of the year in each of the five regions for Modifieds, and to the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod national champion and national rookie of the year. Owned by veteran IMCA Modified driver John Hansen, the Brush, Colo., company, gives the same awards package to feature winners and champions in the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Modified Tour and the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour, and to winners of 10 designated Modified specials. “It is an honor to come alongside IMCA racers to support their race program and protect their investment in shocks,” Hansen said. Feature winner awards will be presented in victory lane while all other Ricochet awards will be presented during the national IMCA banquet in November. “The program we have with John and Ricochet has been consistent for the past five seasons and as a result [Read More]

New promoter takes charge at hometown Buena Vista Raceway

ALTA, Iowa – Joey Ciechanowski takes over this season as promoter at his hometown track, Buena Vista Raceway. The 3/8-mile dirt oval at Alta has been in operation for more than half a century and dates its IMCA connection to 1987. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts return to the weekly likeup this season. “This track has been good for our community. It’s been open for 51 years and I want to see it keep going,” Ciechanowski said. “IMCA has been our bread and butter. When it comes to weekly racing, there’s not anything out there that’s better.” Ciechanowski was a race fan and crew member and now builds Modified and Northern SportMod Black Widow Chassis with partner Brian Rowland. He worked in the parts trailer that served drivers at Alta last year. New dirt was added to the racing surface last fall and that’s one of the projects Ciechanowski has at the top of his list. “We want to have a smooth [Read More]

IMCA national point leaders receive monthly recognition throughout 2018

VINTON, Iowa – Drivers leading national point standings at the end of the month throughout the IMCA point season will be getting something to hang on the wall or add to their trophy case. IMCA will recognize national point leaders in each division January through September, based on standings posted on the first Friday of the following month. August recipients won’t be determined until standings as of the second Friday of September because of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s; September recipients will be determined by point standings before track bonuses are applied. “Seventeen different drivers have been leading national point standings at the end of the month so far this season,” noted IMCA President Brett Root. “These awards give well-deserved recognition to early-season competitors.” All awards will be mailed from the IMCA home office. Chaz Baca is the only driver to lead national points in two months, topping January and March IMCA Modified standings. Hunter Marriott led the way in February. Monty Ferriera and Austin Mundie paced IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car [Read More]