Newswire

Thornton tops third straight Winter Challenge Series feature

PEORIA, Ariz. (Jan. 30) – The folks at Bank of America in his hometown of Chandler have seen a lot of Ricky Thornton Jr. lately. Thornton deposited the $1,000 proceeds from his third straight Winter Challenge Series victory after a back-and-forth IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified battle with Tim Ward Thursday night at Canyon Speedway Park. “I’ve been fortunate once to win nine in a row but never against the caliber of drivers I’m racing against now,” said Thornton, who kept the same setup that helped him to Jan. 25 and 26 victories. From the sixth starting spot, Thornton made a move to the bottom groove in the second set of turns and was up to third by the time the first of 25 circuits was scored. He caught Jason Noll for second a couple laps later and set his sights on Ward. Two cautions interrupted their run at the front, the second of which negated Ward’s pass for the lead. Thornton went higher on the oval after that close call and while Ward threatened [Read More]

Twelve IMCA Late Model Sunday Series dates set for Benton County, I-35, Stuart

VINTON, Iowa – A dozen dates at three different tracks comprise the inaugural IMCA Late Model Sunday Series. Benton County Speedway in Vinton, I-35 Speedway in Mason City and Stuart Speedway each host four events. A standard purse will be paid and drivers will be eligible for point fund shares. The series is at I-35 on May 18, June 15, July 20 and Aug. 17; at Benton County on May 25, June 29, July 27 and Aug. 24; and at Stuart on June 1, June 22, Aug. 3 and Aug. 31. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Allstar Performance State and special series points will be given each night. The series champion also earns bonus points applicable toward national standings. Sanctioned Late Models ran limited schedules at Stuart and at Vinton in 2013. “The Late Models were a real shot in the arm at Benton County last season. The drivers liked it here and the fans loved them,” said Track Manager Dana Benning, who got input from drivers before contacting I-35 promoter Joe Ringsdorf and [Read More]

Consistent Williamson leads Winter Challenge Series point race

PEORIA, Ariz. (Jan. 29) – Jason Noll and Ricky Thornton Jr. own IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature wins but consistent Jesse Williamson has the top spot in the point standings following the first three Winter Challenge Series shows at Canyon Speedway Park. Williamson, from Coburg, Ore., finished third, fourth and then second in series events Jan. 24-26. Gilbert’s Tim Ward has yet to finish outside the top five and is just a single point off the pace. Thornton, from Chandler, won Saturday and Sunday features and is four points behind Williamson. Opening night winner Noll, from Peoria, is eight points back. Three more $1,000 to win, minimum $100 to start features are on tap Thursday, Friday and Saturday Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at Peoria. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Gates open at 3 p.m. and racing starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Racing Western Region, All-Star Performance State and special series points will be awarded. From Canyon, [Read More]

Setup solution sends Thornton to Winter Challenge Series wins

PEORIA, Ariz. (Jan. 25-26) – Ricky Thornton Jr. admitted that he missed on his setup for Friday’s Winter Challenge Series opener at Canyon Speedway Park. Unfortunately for his IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified foes, he was right on the mark Saturday and Sunday, topping both $1,000 to win feature races. “We were too loose on opening night,” said Thornton, who’d previously piloted the ride borrowed from Anthony Madrid for the Duel At The Desert at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last November and then for the Jan. 19 Snowbird Classic show at Arizona Speedway. “We thought the track would stay more tacky Friday and finished 11th but we hit our setup the next two nights.” After starting third on Saturday, he snuck into the front on the second set of turns and led all 25 circuits. Sticking to his preferred inside line, Thornton held off challenges from Tim Ward and took the checkers by three car lengths. Ward, Friday winner Jason Noll, Jesse Williamson and Brian Schultz completed the top five. Running the inside line paid [Read More]

Westring adds Boone County promoter title to racing resume

ALBION, Neb. – Former driver and tech inspector Kirk Westring has a new role this season at Boone County Raceway. Westring takes over as promoter of the 3/8-mile clay oval in Albion. Five sanctioned divisions, the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts, along with limited late models, fill Friday race programs beginning April 25. “We want to get the community involved and get people excited about coming to the races again. We’ve got to get back to the grassroots of racing,” Westring said. His first priority since taking charge last fall was improving the track surface. Sixteen loads of clay were added in each set of turns while banking was reduced on the straightaways. “I think that’s going to be better for racing,” he said. “That will allow for three and four-wide racing in the turns. We’ve never had that before.” Westring started his own on-track career in a 4-cylinder class. He competed in both the Hobby Stock and Northern [Read More]

Midweek twinbill for IMCA Modifieds slated March 5, 6 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A pair of $750 to win features are on the card when IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds travel to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a midweek twinbill on the half-mile Dirt Track. World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars are also on March 5 and 6 FVP Outlaw Showdown programs at LVMS. West Coast Late Models run on Wednesday and West Coast 360 Sprints run on Thursday. Modified features pay a minimum of $75 to start and $50 in non-qualifier money. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Racing Western Region and Allstar Performance State points will be awarded. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., the front gate opens at 5 p.m. and Modified heat races start at 6:35 p.m. both nights. Entry fee is $20. Pit passes are $40 for IMCA members and $50 for non-members. Grandstand admission is $39 each night. Reserved seating is $40 for one night or $80 for both nights. More information is available by calling 805 714-8538.

Noll nabs $1,000 opener in Winter Challenge Series

PEORIA, Ariz. (Jan. 24) – Jason Noll couldn’t have asked for a better start to his 2014 race season. Noll led all 25 laps from the pole in winning the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified main event on Friday, in the first of six Winter Challenge Series features at Canyon Speedway Park. “Everything worked out really good,” said Noll, the defending champion at Canyon. “I was able to get to the top side of the track and I ran there all the way.” The $1,000 win put Noll on the ballot for the 2014 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational and came in an MRT Chassis built by runner-up Lance Mari, who finished three car lengths back. Noll managed to get some distance on Mari and Jesse Williamson after midway. Stephen Pfeifer also ran with the frontrunners before ending in fourth. Tim Ward, a former Canton track and series champ, rounded out the top five. Feature results – 1. Jason Noll; 2. Lance Mari; 3. Jesse Williamson; 4. Steven Pfeifer; 5. Tim Ward; 6. Mark Stewart; 7. [Read More]

Winter Challenge Series starts this weekend at Canyon

PEORIA, Ariz. – The first three of six Winter Challenge Series dates are this weekend at Canyon Speedway Park. IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds run in $1,000 to win, minimum $100 to start features on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24-26. The same purse is at stake during Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows Jan. 30-Feb. 1. All six Peoria features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing national, Larry Shaw Racing Western Region, All-star Performance Arizona State and special series points will be awarded. An open practice is from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. for the Thursday and Friday shows. Gates open at 3 p.m. and racing starts at 5 p.m. for Saturday and Sunday programs. Six-day and single night ticket pricing and purchasing information is posted on the www.canyonspeedwaypark.com website. Six-day discounted tickets may be purchased in advance until Jan. 23. Hotel information is also available by calling the Courtyard by Marriott at 623 580-8844. [Read More]

Wilson sweeps Snowbird Classic IMCA features at Arizona Speedway

APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. (Jan. 18-19) – North Dakota visitor Spencer Wilson had more than the track conditions and the competition to rave about following Arizona Speedway’s Snowbird Classic. Wilson led all 25 laps Saturday and again Sunday night to sweep $1,250 and $1,400 to win main events for the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds. Both features were 2014 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifiers. “I have to tip my hat to them, those guys did an excellent job prepping the track from top to bottom. The track was racy all over,” said Wilson, getting some early-season starts in while avoiding the brutal winter weather back home. “The surface was smoother than a paved road.” “There was a lot of pretty close racing and the guys were respectful of other guys’ equipment,” he added. “I love that. Two nights of racing and I didn’t even have to put a rivet in afterwards.” Wilson drew the outside front row both nights. Following a pair of restarts Saturday for errant racers, he jumped to an immediate lead while [Read More]

IMCA weekly racing, numerous specials at Independence in 2014

By Ryan Clark INDEPENDENCE, Iowa – IMCA weekly racing, three late model touring series and the return of sprint car racing highlights the 2014 season at Independence Motor Speedway. For the 31st consecutive year, weekly racing will be IMCA sanctioned on the 3/8-mile oval at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds. IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Late Models, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks all return for the upcoming season. Weekly racing begins on Saturday, April 26 and will run weekly through season championship night Saturday, Aug. 23. For the second straight year, the season is scheduled to kick off on Friday, April 18 with the Open Wheel Shootout, featuring the Sprint Invaders Series. Joining the 360 Sprints will be non-sanctioned Modifieds and SportMods. The Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models makes its annual stop on Tuesday, July 1. IMCA sanctioned Northern SportMods and Hobby Stocks will join the nation’s longest-running Late Model tour. For the fourth straight year, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will [Read More]