desertthunderraceway Archives

Howard rumbles to Saturday checkers at Desert Thunder

By Janelle Bates PRICE, Utah (July 23, 2022) – Wyatt Howard won the Saturday night Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Desert Thunder Raceway. Howard’s ninth win of the season paid $1,000 courtesy of Castleview Hospital in Price and made him eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. The defending track champion pulled ahead of the leaders midway through the race and finished ahead of the pack. “The win feels amazing. Everything just fell into place and it feels great to be able to show all the hard work paying its dues,” Howard said. “The Modified class most is probably the most frustrating class on the planet, from trying to work with the rules and keep the right setup for what we’re competing with each and every night.” Howard, 26, made his racing debut in 2010 at the age of 14. The third-generation dirt track racer comes from a family with a vibrant and interesting racing history. His father Harvey owned and operated Desert Thunder Raceway from 2000 until 2020. “Howards just seem [Read More]

Duggins a double winner at Desert Thunder

By Janelle Bates PRICE, Utah (April 23, 2022) – Jason Duggins was a double winner in a rare Saturday doubleheader at Desert Thunder Raceway. After rain forced postponement of Friday’s scheduled show, Duggins, from Farmington, N.M., took first place in both Saturday IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock features and won the grand prize of $1,000 sponsored by Piece Oil Company in Price. “Mother Nature made the race toug, and that wind was horrible on Friday. But I usually do well in doubleheader races,” said Duggins, the three-time and defending champion in the Big Daddy Race Cars Southern Region. “Everything else about the weekend was excellent. I had great competition and no mechanical issues and was able to win the big check.” Duggins was born into a family of racers and has been racing for a total of 10 years, and consecutively for six. “My dad was very proficient in his racing program. He taught me ways to prepare to win,” he said. “I love the Hobby Stock division and am glad to see it growing in [Read More]

Awesome, exhilarating Wild West Tour wins for Delp, Hale at Desert Thunder

PRICE, Utah (Sept. 25-26) – Two IMCA Modified drivers saw droughts come to an end during the final 1st Class Chassis Wild West Tour twinbill of the season at Desert Thunder Raceway. Casey Delp led every lap of the Friday show, scoring his career second tour win and first in 16 series starts. On Saturday, Michael Hale raced to a career fourth tour checkers and first in 19 WWMT starts. Both drivers put their names on the 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot with their $1,200 victories. “It was a huge win for me. I was pretty amped up,” said Delp, the opening night winner ahead of defending tour champion Zane DeVilbiss. “Zane is the wheelman at Price. The dude is fast. To beat him is huge.” DeVilbiss and Bryan Wordelman chased Delp across the stripe. Ricky Alvarado mounted the biggest challenge to Delp, showing his nose early, before ending in sixth. “I just had a good car. The best thing I ever did was buy this Black Widow Rage,” said Delp. “Words can’t explain it. [Read More]

Desert Thunder brings back IMCA Hobby Stocks

PRICE, Utah – Common sense and common rules bring IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks back to Desert Thunder Raceway. Sanctioned Hobbies ran at the Price, Utah 3/8-mile dirt oval from 2009-2012. They’ll return for four Friday-Saturday doubleheaders this season, joining IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods. “We tried them for a while at a time when dirt track racing was expanding in Utah,” track owner and co-promoter Harvey Howard said. “Then some other people decided they could do things better with what I call outlaw rules.” “It’s taken a while but other people have figured out what we knew 10 years ago,” he continued. “We have done everything we can to move back and hope that now we’ve come full circle. It’s just common sense to go to a national sanction and not have to argue over rules.” Race dates for all IMCA divisions at Desert Thunder are April 13 and 14, April 27 and 28, May 11 and 12, and Sept. 28 and 29. “We had 21 Hobby Stocks [Read More]