Newswire

Fast finish boosts Baldwin to IMCA Southern SportMod crown

AZTEC, N.M. – Winning the Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod national championship was the goal Jesse Baldwin set at the start of the season. Halfway through the year, his goal became just figuring out why he wasn’t winning races any more. “We were plagued with all kinds of problems and it always seemed like they happened while we were leading,” said Baldwin, who won 13 of his first 20 starts before seeing a stretch of bad luck that started on July 4 stretch into August. “We put the car up on jack stands and rebuilt it.” Suggestions from a two-time IMCA Modified national champion went into that project. “Zane DeVilbiss gave me some advice on what changes to make,” Baldwin explained. “We practiced at Aztec Speedway, tried some different things and ended up changing our springs, shocks, setup and ride height, and my car got pretty good.” All those changes led to 11 feature wins – including six in a row to end the 2015 campaign – in Baldwin’s final 14 starts. He took the [Read More]

Overnight options for IMCA national banquet weekend

LINCOLN, Neb. – With every room in the Cornhusker Marriott booked Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27-28 during the national awards banquet weekend in Lincoln, IMCA has announced contact information for four potential overnight options: *Country Inn & Suites, located on West Bond Circle (1 855-201-7819); *Hilton Garden Inn Downtown/Haymarket, located at 801 R Street (402 475-9000); *Holiday Inn Downtown, located at 141 North 9th Street (402 475-4011); *And Hyatt Place Downtown/Haymarket, located at 600 Q Street (402 742-6007). “Hotel rooms are at a premium that weekend. We have already reached our allotment of rooms at the Cornhusker, which has also booked guests coming to town for the Iowa-Nebraska football game,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “I encourage anyone who wants to attend our banquet who hasn’t done so yet to make arrangements for overnight accommodations as soon as possible.”

Central Arizona Speedway hosts Nov. 21, 22 Desert Thunder Nationals

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win on opening night and for $3,000 to win on night two of Central Arizona Speedway’s Desert Thunder Nationals this Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21-22 Both features are 2016 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. A minimum of $100 will be paid to start on Saturday. Sunday’s runner-up earns $1,500 with $1,000 paid for third. Minimum start money is $150. Non-qualifiers get $50 on Saturday and $60 on Sunday. Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods will run with XMods for $500 to win Saturday and $750 to win Sunday. IMCA legal mufflers are required in all divisions. An open practice runs from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 at Casa Grande. Racing starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Entry fee for the weekend is $150 for Modifieds and $90 for Northern SportMods. Adult spectator admission is $15 for one day or $25 for both days. Kids ages 11 and under get in the grandstands free. Pit passes are $30 [Read More]

IMCA Modified Duel In the Desert checkers fly for swift Schott

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 14) – Once he regained the lead, there was no catching Lucas Schott. Schott passed Jordan Grabouski for the front spot on the 29th of 40 laps and stayed in front to the finish of Saturday’s Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified main event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. The $7,777 victory put the Chatfield, Minn., driver on the ballot for next year’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Scott Drake, R.C. Whitwell and Ryan Ruter rounded out the top four. Grabouski was missing his right front shock when Scott drove by, collected Hunter Marriott the next time around and wound up in 19th. “This is awesome,” said Schott, who’d also won his Friday night qualifier. “I knew we were capable of making the show and I’ve got to give credit to Kody Scholpp and his dad for everything they do and giving me good cars to drive. I was able to pull it off.” “I was just hoping (Grabouski) would mess up and it looked like he had something wrong with [Read More]

Rudolf reigns in Friday SportMod qualifier at Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 13) – He hasn’t seen his name in lights yet but Chase Rudolf stole the headlines Friday night at the Duel In the Desert. The 17-year-old from Norwalk, Iowa, led every lap of the $500 to win qualifying feature for Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. He’ll advance to Saturday’s $1,777 to win show along with fellow top six finishers Rick Diaz, Clay Money, Ryan Wolla, Nick Spainhoward and Adam Armstrong. The race ran caution-free and Rudolf stayed flawless up front, leading by a straightaway when lap 12 was scored. A flat tire took Michael Johnson out of a transfer spot with three laps left. Diaz took second well ahead of Money and Wolla. Qualifying feature results – 1. Chase Rudolf, Norwalk, Iowa; 2. Rick Diaz, Los Banos, Calif.; 3. Clay Money, Penokee, Kan.; 4. Ryan Wolla, Williston, N.D.; 5. Nick Spainhoward, Bakersfield, Calif.; 6. Adam Armstrong, Beatrice, Neb.; 7. Jerry Hoffman, Oronogo, Mo.; 8. Kyle Smith, Yuma, Ariz.; 9. Wayne Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.; 10. Brian [Read More]

Schott, Grabouski ace Friday Modified Duel qualifying features

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 13) – Night two at the Duel In the Desert saw Lucas Schott and Jordan Grabouski ace Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified qualifiers at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Schott won Friday night’s first feature ahead of Ryan Ruter, Dylan Smith and John Hansen. Joining Grabouski in the top four for the nightcap were R.C. Whitwell, Hunter Marriott and Travis Hagen. All eight drivers advance to Saturday’s $7,777 to win main event. Both qualifying features paid $777 to win. Schott led the first qualifier from the drop of the green and pulled out to nearly a half straightaway lead before fifth-running Jeremy Payne, a four-time Duel winner, slowed in turn two. The race was for second following the ensuing restart as Hansen had his hands full holding off Ruter for second while David Murray Jr. motored behind in fourth. Ruter had caught Hansen for the runner-up spot before 2008 race winner Murray spun on unlucky lap 13. Twenty-sixth starting Benji LaCrosse drove by Eddie Belec and Dylan Smith to [Read More]

Sobbing, Drake score Thursday IMCA Modified qualifiers at Duel In the Desert

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 12) – Jesse Sobbing and Scott Drake hit the jackpot with Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified qualifying feature wins Thursday at the Duel In The Desert. Sobbing checked out and won the first, caution-free qualifier at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track ahead of Terry Phillips, Kyle Strickler and Lance Mari. Drake didn’t have it as easy in the nightcap, as he crossed the line with Rodney Sanders and Bobby Hogge IV right behind. Ken Schrader held off Hunter Marriott for the fourth transfer into Saturday’s big $7,777 to win show. Both Thursday qualifiers for the Modifieds paid $777 to win. Sobbing, the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod Duel winner in 2011, opened a quick 10 car length lead over second-running Mari. Mari, three-time and defending Duel winner Phillips and Strickler were battling for the runner-up spot by lap five. Sobbing was in another time zone and negotiating lapped traffic by lap 10. Phillips took over second on lap 15 but had nothing for Sobbing, who stayed way out front. Strickler [Read More]

Frye dominates opening night Duel qualifier for IMCA Northern SportMods

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 12) – Tyler Frye will start his pursuit of another big payday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from the pole. Frye ran away with the qualifying feature win Thursday on opening night of the Duel In The Desert. He’ll look to parlay those $500 checkers into a $1,777 victory in Saturday’s Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main event on the half-mile Dirt Track at LVMS. The top six from Thursday’s 20-lapper advance to the big show. Frye will be joined by Chris McKellar, Kevin Johnson, Robert Elliott, Brylon Holder and Jorddon Braaten. Holder led early on Thursday, finally giving way to Frye on the ninth lap. Showing the same speed that netted him the IMCA national championship this season, Frye opened a half straightaway lead with three laps to go and won by that margin. Feature results – 1. Tyler Frye, Belleville, Kan.; 2. Chris McKellar, Bakersfield, Calif.; 3. Kevin Johnson, Bakersfield, Calif.; 4. Robert Elliott, Clinton, Okla.; 5. Brylon Holder, Bakersfield, Calif.; 6. Jorddon Braaten, Central Point, Ore.; 7. Shawn Harker, [Read More]

Hadan acquires RaceSaver Sprint Series

BENNINGTON, Neb. – RaceSaver Enterprises is pleased to announce the acquisition of the RaceSaver Sprint Series by Roger Hadan, owner and promoter of Eagle, Neb. Hadan has obtained the rights to the name RaceSaver and will oversee all media relations, sponsorships, hard card applications, etc. for the series. IMCA will be the official sanctioning body again in 2016 and beyond. French Grimes, the originator of the series in 1997, will retain his position as the face of RaceSaver. He will also be relied on to establish and oversee all rules and regulations as well as having the final word on all tech-related issues. “Three years ago, I had a weekly Sprint Car class at Eagle Raceway that was struggling with its car count due to rising costs. After having 50 different sets of Sprint Car rules spread out across my living room floor, trying to find rules that were enforceable, I discovered RaceSaver,” Hadan said. “So that is the direction we took. Three years later, here I am with a weekly RaceSaver Sprint Car division [Read More]

Michigan’s I-96 makes change to IMCA Modifieds

LAKE ODESSA, Mich. – Ending an absence of more than a decade, Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds return to Friday race programs at Michigan’s I-96 Speedway in 2016. The sanctioned division first ran at Lake Odessa in 1988 and most recently there in 2005. Weekly point races will tentatively run from May 6 through Aug. 26 next season. “We are super excited about sanctioning our Modifieds again with IMCA,” said promoter Mike Mouch, who anticipates sharing cars with Saturday venue Crystal Motor Speedway 45 minutes to the northeast. “We ran a pro mod class that had rules very similar to IMCA’s and averaged 16-18 cars a week this year. Those drivers will be able to race with us and at Crystal next year.” “Dropping the IMCA sanction after I bought this track was probably the stupidest mistake I ever made,” he added. “The class went out of control cost-wise after that.” The 3/8-mile dirt oval at I-96 has a configuration similar to the old half-mile track. Mouch brought in turns two, three and four along [Read More]