Newswire

Checkers fly for Baldiviez in Cocopah’s first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature

SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 16) – The checkered flag flew Friday for Manny Baldiviez, on a night of firsts at Cocopah Speedway. Baldiviez won the first-ever weekly IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature held at Cocopah and in Arizona. The victory was also his first in sanctioned competition and followed an inadvertent 360 degree turn after the race was over. “The fans enjoyed it,” the Chula Vista, Calif., driver reported good-naturedly. “It was a pretty fun race and I really enjoyed it.” Baldiviez started fifth and had the lead midway through the 15-lapper. Nine cars comprised the inaugural field and runner-up honors went to Joey Essary. Local street stocks give way to IMCA Stock Cars this season at Cocopah. Just two points had separated Baldiviez from the final title awarded in that class last year. “I’m really going to focus on the championship this season,” said Baldiviez, a six-time street stock feature winner in 2014. “This track has been getting better every year. Their name has been getting out more in the racing world, which is great [Read More]

Emerald Coast Tour brings IMCA Modifieds back to Florida, Alabama

FOLEY, Ala. – A new series for IMCA Modifieds will make its share of history during the sanctioning body’s centennial season. The inaugural Bay Area Modifieds Emerald Coast Tour features 15 dates at Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla., Northwest Florida Speedway in Blackman and Flomaton, Ala., Speedway. Each feature event will pay a minimum of $500 to win and start as many as 24 cars. “IMCA has been in this area before and we want to bring them back,” said Tour Director Jay Wells. “I’m a strong believer in IMCA. Having IMCA, their rules package and procedures will be a real plus.” “There are already a lot of drivers around here who have raced IMCA before and have cars that are IMCA legal,” Wells continued. “Racing had gotten too expensive for many of them but now they’re taking their cars out of storage and getting them ready to race. The response has been tremendous.” The series opens April 11 at Flomaton, also site of May 9, June 6 and 13, and July 18 events. Northwest [Read More]

Forsberg teaches Sport Compact lessons, returns to classroom to focus on own studies

SLAYTON, Minn. – After teaching her competition a thing or two, Stephanie Forsberg is going to concentrate on the classroom. Forsberg raced to her third consecutive Mach-1 Sport Compact track championship at hometown Murray County Speedway in 2014. She was a nine-time winner at Slayton, capturing her final victory of the season and career 26th checkers on the day after her 20th birthday. “I just like this class and the people I race with,” said Forsberg, who had started racing in a non-sanctioned 4-cylinder hornet class at the tender age of 13. “I took some lumps and nearly totaled my first car before we sold it.” She was 15 when she came home and announced that not only was she ready to get back on the track, she’d already bought a car. Forsberg returned with a pink ride in honor of her grandmother Maddy, who’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. “I always had a passion for racing. I grew up around the track and I missed it,” she said. Forsberg enjoyed a career-type season in [Read More]

Seidler, Marriott rule Snowbird Classic IMCA features

QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (Jan. 17-18) – Travelers Marlyn Seidler and Hunter Marriott both experienced racing highs and lows over the course of Arizona Speedway’s Snowbird Classic. North Dakota veteran Seidler topped Saturday’s IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified main event despite a late-race collision with a lapped car, then fashioned a third-place finish after starting 10th on Sunday with a banged-up ride. Missourian Marriott cut his right front tire while leading midway through the opening night show and was scored last. He started 16th, charged through the field and passed defending national champion Zane DeVilbiss for the night two checkers. Both features paid $1,250 to win. Seidler’s victory put him on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational; Marriott was already vote eligible. An early shakeout left pole starter Seidler in fourth in the Saturday show. Following a caution with 10 circuits left in the 25-lapper, he shot to the front using the middle line and was still in the lead when the white flag was out. That’s when it got exciting. Seidler was unable [Read More]

Buhr races into IMCA Modified history book with third straight crown at American Valley

LAKE ALMANOR, Calif. – Her place in the IMCA history book secure, Erica Buhr will race for a fourth straight IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified crown this season at American Valley Speedway. Boosted by a string of consistent finishes through early August, Buhr won her third straight title at Quincy, an hour to the southeast of her Lake Almanor, Calif., home, in 2014. She became the first female driver to win three consecutive titles at the same track in the division’s 36-year history. Minnesota competitor Stephanie Forsberg accomplished the same 2012-2014 feat in the Mach-1 Sport Compact division. “You win championships in the shop,” said Buhr, who owns At Your Service Auto Repair and does all the non-engine work on her car. “I don’t win a lot of features but I’m consistent. I don’t keep track of points. I race my race, do the best I can and lately I’ve been coming out on top, which is awesome.” Buhr had raced for four years, three seasons in a local stock car class and another in [Read More]

IMCA Weekly Racing, rookie feature winners receive Speedway Motors support again in 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (Jan. 19) – America’s Oldest Speed Shop continues invaluable roles supporting drivers in all IMCA divisions this season. Speedway Motors returns to title sponsorship of IMCA Weekly Racing, a special awards program for rookie feature winners and of the biggest dirt track racing event in the nation in 2015, IMCA’s Centennial Season. “Speedway Motors is proud of its longstanding affiliation with IMCA and is excited to continue its tradition of support and sponsorship into the 2015 season and beyond,” said Speedway Motors President Clay Smith. “This relationship has been so strong for so long because Speedway Motors and IMCA share so many core values, namely keeping weekly dirt track racing accessible, affordable and safe for all racers. All of us at Speedway Motors are thrilled to further this mission.” Affiliated with IMCA since 1950 and recognized most recently with a length of sponsorship award during the 2014 national banquet, the Lincoln, Neb., high performance parts manufacturer, retailer and distributor maintains a high profile at all sanctioned tracks through its IMCA Weekly Racing program. [Read More]

Five dates for IMCA Modifieds in Canyon, USA Winter Challenge

PEORIA, Ariz. – Five $1,000 to win features are on the docket for the 2015 Winter Challenge at Canyon Speedway Park and USA Raceway. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 23-25 shows are scheduled at Peoria. The Winter Challenge switches to Tucson for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 30 and 31 events. All five races are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifiers and pay a minimum of $100 to start. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Racing Western Region and Allstar Performance State points will be awarded. Entry fee is $50 per night. On Fridays, the pit gates open at 4 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, pits open at 2 p.m., the grandstand opens at 3 p.m. and racing begins at 5 p.m. A five-day pass, if purchased by Jan. 22, is $89 for adults or $30 for children ages 7-12. After Jan. 22, the five-day pass runs $99 for adults and $30 for children. Single-day tickets are $20 for adults and $6 [Read More]

Feature

Thunderbowl, Bakersfield, Kings set dates for Western IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Series

TULARE, Calif. – After getting a couple exhibition nights in last season, the first annual Western IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Series debuts in 2015 with 17 events at three California speedplants. Opening night is scheduled for March 14 at Thunderbowl Raceway; both Tulare and Kings Speedway Hanford host seven races, with three more at Bakersfield Speedway. Features will pay $750 to win and a minimum of $150 to start. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and Allstar Performance California State points will be awarded for the 14 events scheduled during the regular IMCA point season. “Here in the Central Valley, we were hurting for car counts and were looking for a way to reinvent the wheel. That’s when someone suggested RaceSaver,” explained Series Director Scott Woodhouse. “We wanted a less expensive alternative with a maintenance cost that wouldn’t scare people off.” “I bought a motor from Roger Hadan, who came out here and attended a meeting with drivers last fall,” he continued. “We’re getting a lot of interest in this series. So far, the biggest things [Read More]

Lee Meyer is back as boss at Buena Vista Raceway

ALTA, Iowa – Buena Vista Raceway celebrates an anniversary season in 2015 and Lee Meyer will be back in charge of weekly operations at the 3/8-mile dirt oval. Meyer promoted BVR from 2002-2007 and returns to that position, while taking on manager duties for the Buena Vista County Fair. Five IMCA divisions will be part of 18 Wednesday night programs beginning with opening night April 15. Season championship night is Aug. 12. “Racing is a passion for me. I’m totally blessed to have a second opportunity to do what I love,” Meyer said. “I love being around race people, being at the track and the smell of race fuel. It’s the best.” “Buena Vista Raceway celebrates its golden anniversary of racing this year and we’re working on some ideas, like 50-lap features for some of the divisions, to make this a special season,” he added. Weekly shows will again feature the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Mach-1 Sport Compact divisions. BVR first [Read More]

Battle at the Barn VII next weekend in Des Moines

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Jacobson Building located on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines will roar to life Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23 and 24 with the Casey’s General Store Battle at the Barn VII. A total of 29 classes will see action, including outlaw lawn mowers, go-karts, four wheelers, outlaw three wheelers, outlaw cage karts and motorcycles. Pre-entries are already at an all-time high and the new event format will see the first round of heats run Friday night after an afternoon practice session. Upon the completion of the heats, $200-to-win feature events will be run for the top 12 finishers in the 370 Clone, KT100, Stock Medium, Pro Bike and Quad A classes. On Saturday, there will be a two-hour practice session with heats rolling off at 1:30 p.m. and the features set for 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 10 a.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday. Reserved parking is available for $10 per spot and electrical at a cost of $20. Once again this year, the event will have live, [Read More]