Newswire

Record 102 IMCA drivers race to state championships in 2015

VINTON, Iowa – With the biggest divisional increase attributed to the Sprint Cars, a record 102 IMCA drivers earned Allstar Performance State championships this season. Thirteen Sprint Car drivers were crowned state kings, eight more than in 2014. Modified champions were named in 26 states, the most since 2001. Myron DeYoung ruled the Modifieds in Michigan for the fifth time in his career. Ricky Stephan repeated in South Dakota; he’s also won the Iowa state crown three times.. Drew Armstrong will hang a fourth Arkansas state plaque on his wall. Drivers winning career second titles were Dean Deming in New Mexico, Mike Densberger in Nebraska, Jeremy Meirhofer in Montana, Robert Miller in Nevada and Spencer Wilson in North Dakota. First-time title winners were Jason Barnhill in Florida, Justin Elmer in Wyoming, Van Gemmill in Oklahoma, Kevin Green in Texas, Daryl Hay in Missouri, Scott Hogan in Iowa, Jeff Hunter in Colorado, Jake Donnelly in Idaho, Justin Jones in Minnesota, Keith Lamphere in New York, Jesse Richter in Kansas, Dusty Safley in Utah, Brian Schultz in [Read More]

Seymour, Stuart, Boone receive 30-year IMCA sanction awards during banquet

LINCOLN, Neb. – Three tracks synonymous with IMCA racing will each be recognized for three decades of sanctioning, during the national awards banquet late this month in Lincoln, Neb. Seymour, Wis., Speedway and Stuart, Iowa, Speedway have both sanctioned Modifieds while Boone, Iowa, Speedway has sanctioned Stock Cars with IMCA for 30 years. In all, 58 length of sanction award plaques will be presented to officials from 39 different tracks during the Saturday, Nov. 28 banquet at the Cornhusker Marriott in Lincoln. Twenty-five year awards go to I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., for Modifieds and the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway in Des Moines for Late Models. Tracks to be honored for 20 consecutive years of sanctioning are Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, for Modifieds and Stock Cars; Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, for Late Models; and Aztec, N.M., Speedway for Stock Cars. Fifteen-year plaques will be presented to Tri-State Speedway at Pocola, Okla., for Modifieds; Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa, for Late Models; and Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa, [Read More]

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]