Newswire

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]

IMCA Texas Lone Star Series opens at Abilene

ABILENE, Texas – A Texas Lone Star Series tripleheader is on the schedule when the IMCA tour opens in conjunction with Abilene Speedway’s Feb. 21-23 Ice Breaker. Friday, Saturday and Sunday features are all series events for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. Nine tour dates are scheduled for the Modifieds, Stock Cars and Southern SportMods, so champions will be crowned in each division and receive bonus points. Point fund amounts are to be announced for those three divisions. Hobby Stocks return to the series schedule after a one-year hiatus. Because only seven dates are scheduled for that class, no point fund will be paid out and no bonus points awarded, but the top driver in the standings will be recognized as champion and receive a plaque and jacket. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing national, regional and Allstar Performance state points will be awarded at all Lone Star Series shows. Kennedale Speedway Park’s Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2 Spring Kick-Off features two [Read More]

Gallatin joins move to IMCA in Montana

BELGRADE, Mont. – Gallatin Speedway has become the most recent track in Montana to sanction with IMCA. IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds will run Friday nights at Belgrade beginning this season. The 3/10-mile semi-banked dirt oval is promoted by David Weisz and had previously sanctioned its Modifieds with WISSOTA. The 2014 schedule is to be announced. The three dirt ovals in the state will run IMCA Modifieds this season: Billings Motorsports Park and Electric City Speedway in Great Falls became the first two tracks in Montana to announce their plans to sanction with IMCA last November. “It’s good for these tracks to be on the same program. Making the move collectively benefits them and their Modified drivers,” IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root said. “We’re grateful for their faith in our rules and in this organization as a whole.” Gallatin Speedway will be part of IMCA’s Larry Shaw Racing Western Region but will be considered a border track, meaning drivers from North Dakota, South Dakota and Saskatchewan can race there for North Central Region [Read More]

Chevrolet Performance bonuses total $12,750 for IMCA SportMod crate engine track champs

VINTON, Iowa – Bonuses totaling $12,750 were paid by Chevrolet Performance to IMCA Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod drivers powered by crate engines to local track titles in 2013. Each of 51 track championships was worth $250. National champion Matt Looft pocketed $1,000 for winning Arlington Raceway, Clay County Fairgrounds, Fairmont Raceway and Redwood Speedway crowns. Kyle Prauner repeated as a three-time track champion, earning $750 for his efforts at Albion Speedway, Riviera Raceway and U.S. 30 Speedway. Recipients of $500 bonus checks were Zachary Cail at Lovelock Speedway and Rattlesnake Raceway; Chad Dolan at Dawson County Raceway and Mid-Nebraska Speedway; Eric Elliott at Boone Speedway and Marshalltown Speedway; Chris Heim at Sherman County Speedway and WaKeeney Speedway; Bryan Herrick at Lincoln County Raceway and McCook Speedway; Josh Long at 141 Speedway and Luxemburg Speedway; John Piker at Bakersfield Speedway and Santa Maria Speedway; and Doug Smith at Buena Vista Raceway and Crawford County Speedway. Checks for $250 went to Bobby Anders at 34 Raceway, Jason Andrews at Jackson Speedway, Randy Ainsworth at I-35 Speedway LLC, [Read More]