cocopahspeedway Archives

Five win features, five wrap up titles on final night of IMCA.TV Winter Nationals

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 14, 2023) – Five IMCA drivers won feature events and five more wrapped up IMCA.TV Winter Nationals in the Saturday night finale at Cocopah Speedway. Chaz Baca topped the rain-delayed but caution-free Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event, earning $1,000. Career win number 88 for the defending track and state champion, already Fast Shaft All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, came ahead of Brady Bjella and Brandon Beckendorf. Tim Ward’s 10th place run was just enough to give him the Winter Nationals title. Veterans Curt Lund and Mike Albertsen tussled ‘til midway of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car headliner, before Dylan Thornton motored by. A late-race restart gave Thornton a clear track ahead and he sped to his second $750 checkers in as many nights. Albertsen ended in second, Shelby Williams was second and always-consistent Chase Berkeley wrapped up the title with his ninth place showing. Levi Kiefer turned back the clock in dominating the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod finale, taking the lead on the opening stanza and, despite lapped traffic [Read More]

Nothing unlucky about Friday the 13^thfor IMCA.TV Winter Nationals winners

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 13, 2023) – Despite the date, the Friday night IMCA.TV Winter Nationals was a lucky one for a quintet of IMCA drivers, the feature winners in their respective main events. The third different leader in his Friday the 13th feature, Kollin Hibdon took charge in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified headliner just before midway and led to the finish for his second $1,000 payday of the 2023 Winter Nationals. Already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, Hibdon crossed the stripe ahead of Thursday winner Jacob Hobscheidt and Jake Pike, who had swapped the lead over the first eight circuits with Tony Toste. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars had a thriller of a 25-lap feature as Curt Lund dominated much of the way before Dylan Thornton propelled himself into the lead on lap 20. His first career IMCA.TV Winter Nationals win paid $750 and landed the California native B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Lund was P2 while grabbing third was Jerry Flippo. Matthew Mayo led the charge [Read More]

Hobscheidt conquers IMCA Modified field on Winter Nationals Night 5 at Cocopah

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 12, 2023) – Night number five of the IMCA.TV Winter Nationals saw four drivers make their first trips of 2023 to victory lane at Cocopah Speedway. Thursday’s 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature was a caution-free affair and Nebraskan Jacob Hobscheidt conquered the field after dealing with traffic at midway, earning $1,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Jeremy Mills was the runner-up, with third going Andrew Pearce. Gregory Muirhead led from the start of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event. Zachary Madrid challenged the Texas racer shortly after a lap four restart, the first of five stoppages during the contest. With two to go, the green flag waved for the final time, Gregory got on the gas and took his carriage to victory lane. The $750 checkers were accompanied by B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility. Curt Lund finished second, followed by 20th starting Chase Berkeley. Miles Morris mastered the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature. Morris went practically untouched the entire 25-lap distance despite [Read More]

Dotson delivers, Williams and Tate both double up at IMCA.TV Winter Nationals

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 7, 2023) – Ethan Dotson added to his IMCA.TV Winter Nationals trophy collection while Shelby Williams and Zack Tate both won for the second time during the early season spectacular at Cocopah Speedway. Saturday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event saw Brandon Beckendorf bolt to the front but he got upside down on lap seven after a tire and wheel broke off. Dotson inherited the lead and dominated the rest of the distance to earn his career ninth Winter Nationals victory, $1,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Brady Bjella was an impressive second over third finishing Dylan Thornton. Williams clawed his way to P1 at the start of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature and all that slowed him down were a trio of cautions, including the final one with two to go. Williams scored his second win of the week while Washington’s Chase Berkeley beat Mike Albertsen for second. The IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks had a thriller of a 25-lap main event. Again, Tate made some [Read More]

Peckham prevails while Ward, Horejsi win again at IMCA.TV Winter Nationals

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 6, 2023) – Two drivers who had been there and done that did it again Friday night at Cocopah Speedway. Tim Ward and Jim Horejsi repeated their winning ways from Wednesday with IMCA.TV Winter Nationals victories, Ward in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Horejsi in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Ward was a beast in the 25-lap, $1,000 to win Modified feature after obtaining P1 on the opening circuit. Things got interesting at midway when lapped traffic helped Chaz Baca catch up, but Ward made like a rocket following a lap 23 restart and couldn’t be caught. Cody Laney powered his way up to second while Baca ended his night in third. Curt Lund, Dylan Thornton and Zachary Madrid all battled at the front of the Stock Car field. Thornton retired early with mechanical problems, leaving Madrid to deal with challenges from Horejsi. When it came down to the final lap, Horejsi managed to maneuver his way past Madrid to score his second $750 win in three nights [Read More]

Hibdon, Williams hoist Night 2 IMCA.TV Winter Nationals hardware

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 5, 2023) – Night two of the IMCA.TV Winter Nationals at Cocopah again saw 200-plus entries at Cocopah Speedway and saw Kollin Hibdon and Shelby Williams join repeat winner Shane Paris in victory lane. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds had a fast-paced 25-lap feature, controlled by Pahrump, Nev., transplant Kollin Hibdon, now calling Fargo, North Dakota home. Hibdon encountered lapped traffic around the 13th circuit, but none of it slowed him down before he took the $1,000 checkers to earn Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Californian Ethan Dotson ended in second over Kody Scholpp of Saskatchewan. Minnesota racer Curt Lund led early in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car 25-lapper before Texas speedster Williams took charge. Williams stayed solid despite having to deal with four restarts. Opening night winner Jim Horejsi challenged late before settling for second and third went to Zachary Madrid. Williams’ $750 win also made him eligible to qualify for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods had a [Read More]

2023 IMCA.TV Winter Nationals open with a bang!

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 4, 2023) – Wednesday was opening night of the 2023 IMCA.TV Winter Nationals at Cocopah Speedway and the 3/8-mile oval, known as the Diamond In The Desert, attracted over 230 race teams from across North America to compete in the winter extravaganza. Arizona native Tim Ward won the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature and $1,000 while Minnesotan Jim Horejsi topped the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature and pocketed $750. Defending Winter Nationals king Shane Paris took the $750 Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod checkers, Thomas Daffern scored the $500 IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock victory and Kevin Reuter raced to the $250 Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact win. In Modified action, the 25-lap feature started with Brandon Beckendorf flexing his guns early and dominating before a lap eight caution bunched the field up. When the green flag was redisplayed, Ward put a power move on Brandon for the lead. Despite a couple of cautions, Ward tamed the rest of the pack for his first career IMCA.TV Winter Nationals triumph along with Fast Shafts [Read More]

Buzz about IMCA.TV Winter Nationals has 452 pre-entered at Cocopah

SOMERTON, Ariz. (Dec. 19, 2022) – Cocopah Speedway will be the place to be for IMCA drivers looking to get a fast start to their 2023 season. The proof is in the numbers. Four hundred and fifty-two drivers in five divisions are now pre-entered for January’s IMCA.TV Winter Nationals. The early entries make their way to Cocopah from more than 20 states and three provinces. “In my wildest dreams, I could imagine having this many pre-entries. In reality, no,” admitted promoter Brad Whitfield. “Racing has changed since the pandemic and more drivers just seem to want to be a part of special events.” “There’s a real buzz about Winter Nationals this year. For one thing, we’re looking at 70-74 degree temperatures in January while a lot of the country is looking at getting 14 inches of snow this weekend,” he added. “The nightly purses are very good and we have $40,-$45,000 in contingencies from a lot of different sponsors that we’ll add on top of that.” Friesen Performance IMCA Modified entries numbered 155, with 115 [Read More]

Cocopah Speedway hosts Corning Memorial this weekend

SOMERTON, Ariz. (May 2, 2022) – A track champion and long-time IMCA driver will be remembered this Saturday, May 7 at Cocopah Speedway’s third annual Mike Corning Memorial. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $1,044 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility that evening. The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature pays $544 to win, the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature $344 and the Mach-1 Sport Compact feature $244. Pit passes are $35. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and military, with kids ages 12 and under free. Gates open at 3 p.m. and spectator seating opens at 5 p.m. The first green flag flies at 7 p.m. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, KMJ Performance and track points will be awarded. More information is available on Facebook or from Brad Whitfield at 602 292-7607. The Corning Memorial will be broadcast by IMCA.TV.

Baca regroups, races to Eggstravaganza checkers

SOMERTON, Ariz. (April 9, 2022) – Saturday’s IMCA Modified main event at the Cocopah Speedway Easter Eggstravaganza got exciting when Chaz Baca didn’t want it to. After catching Ryan Roath for the lead and working his way through lapped traffic, the two-time defending Shaw Race Cars Western Region and track champion nearly lost the handle with eight circuits remaining in the $1,000 to win feature. “It was definitely a get your heart rate going thing,” Baca said after the near disaster. “Luckily we were able to regroup the last few laps and finish it off.” The checkers were the sixth of the season for Baca, already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Russell Allen was the runner-up and Roath ended in third. Bo Partain topped the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature in front of Baca and Jake Nelson. Shelby Alves also notched win number six of the year in the IMCA Northern SportMods, chased across the stripe by Miles Morris and Ty Weidner. D.J. Werkmeister paced the Mach-1 Sport Compacts with ninth starting Jaxon Sanchez [Read More]