cocopahspeedway Archives

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]

Easter Eggstravaganza sees five IMCA divisions at Cocopah

SOMERTON, Ariz. (April 4, 2022) – IMCA Modifieds top the Easter Eggstravaganza at Cocopah Speedway April 9, running for $1,000 to win along with Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Completing the Saturday night card will be IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Northern SportMods in $500 to win features, while IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks run for $400 to win and Mach-1 Sport Compacts chase a $250 top prize. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional, KMJ Performance State and track points will be awarded. There is no entry fee and pit passes are $35. Pit gates open at 3 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and military, and free for kids ages 12 and under. The Easter Eggstravaganza will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. More information is available from Brad Whitfield at 602 292-7607 and on Facebook.

Five win features, four clinch titles on IMCA.TV Winter Nationals’ final night

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 15) – Five drivers were feature winners and four more became champions on the final night of the IMCA.TV Winter Nationals presented by Yuma Insurance at Cocopah Speedway. Ethan Dotson, Chanse Hollatz, Shane Paris and Bobby Horton topped point standings in their respective divisions while Tripp Gaylord, Shelby Williams, Ryan Peery, Thomas Daffern and Riley Clem took the checkers Saturday evening at Somerton. Gaylord cleared Grey Ferrando for the early lead in the IMCA Modified 25-lapper, then set a wicked pace and caught up with the back of the field. The lone caution took place on lap 13 and Kollin Hibdon got close following the restart but couldn’t quite catch the leader. Gaylord’s $1,000 win made him Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Hibdon was second and Tim Ward third. Dotson, a five-time Winter Nationals winner, paced points ahead of Ward and Tanner Black. The 20-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main saw Zach Madrid and Dallon Murty battle at the front, swapping the lead before Williams got the [Read More]

Richards first on Friday at IMCA.TV Winter Nationals

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 14) – While Friday night saw familiar faces in victory lane, Dillon Richards drove a long ways for his career first IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock victory at Cocopah Speedway’s IMCA.TV presented by Yuma Insurance Winter Nationals. After chasing Brandon Bombardo and then Bobby Horton early in the 20-lapper, the Beatrice, Neb., driver completed his charge from 10th starting to the lead at midway, then stayed in front to the $500 checkers. Thomas Daffern hauled the mail from 22nd starting to second while Horton ended third. Ethan Dotson drove to a fifth consecutive $1,000 IMCA Modified feature win while Chanse Hollatz topped the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Chase Alves paced the IMCA Northern SportMods, both in $750 to win contests. Dotson challenged Mike McKinney for the lead, putting a slider on for first place on lap 10. Dotson pulled away from the rest of the pack to win his fifth main event of the season, breaking the IMCA.TV Winter Nationals record of four set by Dylan Smith in 2014. McKinney was runner-up [Read More]