santamariaraceway Archives

Santa Maria Spring Nationals set during Memorial Weekend

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – IMCA Modifieds race for $1,200 to win in Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot-qualifying features both nights of Santa Maria Raceway’s Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26 Spring Nationals. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, E3 Spark Plugs State and track points will be awarded each night of the Memorial Weekend special. Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods race for $1,000 to win, plus national, state and track points on Sunday. Entry fee each night for the Modifieds is $50 and pit passes are $45. Non-qualifiers get their entry fee refunded. Pit gates open at 9 a.m., the pit booth opens at noon, grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 5 p.m. both days. Adult grandstand admission is $20, $18 for seniors, military and students, $6 for kids ages 6-12 and free for five and under both days. An open practice runs from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, May 24. Pit passes are $35. Camping, but no hookups, is available for $50 for the weekend. [Read More]

Drake, DeVolder score IMCA Modified feature wins at Santa Maria Nationals

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 26-27) – Logan Drake raced back to victory lane on opening night while Shane DeVolder earned his career first IMCA Modified feature win on night two of Santa Maria Raceway’s Memorial Weekend Nationals. Drake, also a 2017 winner at Santa Maria, led the last 10 circuits in winning Saturday’s 25-lapper. DeVolder regained the lead with two turns around the track left in Sunday’s main, also 25 laps. Both events paid $1,200 and put the winners on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Robby Sawyer started on the Saturday pole flanked by Austin Burke and the first seven laps ran in that order. The third-starting Drake took over second on lap eight and moved to the extreme high groove to take the top spot from Sawyer on lap 15. The only caution of the event came on lap 20. Drake led the final five laps for his first feature win of year and was followed across the stripe by Sawyer, Clay Daly, D.J. Shannon and Cody Laney. “Santa Maria is only about [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds chase $1,200 Santa Maria Nationals checks

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – IMCA Modifieds run for $1,200 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot nods both nights of Santa Maria Raceway’s Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27 Nationals. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region, California State and track points will be awarded each night. Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods race for $1,000 to win, plus national, state and track points on Sunday. The Modifieds typically have one of the biggest entry numbers for the Nationals and 35-40 cars are expected to be on hand for the upcoming Memorial Weekend event. Entry fee each night for the Modifieds is $50 and pit passes are $45. Non-qualifiers get their entry fee refunded. Pit gates open at 9 a.m., the pit booth opens at noon, grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 5 p.m. both days. Adult grandstand admission is $20 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday. Seniors, military and students get a $2 discount off those prices. Kids ages 6-12 are $6 and five and [Read More]

Feature

Mike Vandermark Jr.: From Snowy Michigan to Clash On The Coast Champion

CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. (Mar. 14, 2025) — A Wolverine who took his mittens off at this year’s IMCA TV Clash On The Coast was Mike Vandermark Jr., who never finished outside the Top 5 and earned the overall championship title in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car series. His worst finish was fourth on the final night at Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Alabama, to become the second champion in the class in two seasons. Racing Against the Odds Vandermark stands out for more than his performance. Like Florida’s Wyatt Parker and Evan Foust of Maryland, during this year’s Clash, he comes from a state without a track that hosts IMCA Stock Car races weekly. Despite the long journey and limited experience in the division, he finished second in a three-wide photo finish on the first night and claimed victory at Northwest Florida Speedway. Seizing the Opportunity “There’s a bunch of snow and cold weather back at home, so it was a perfect opportunity to go down and race and have some fun,” Vandermark said. “We stayed [Read More]

Feature

South Texas IMCA Modified Series Ready for Sophomore Season

SAN ANTONIO (Mar. 14, 2025) — Race fans, get ready — the South Texas IMCA Modified Series is back for an action-packed second season in 2025! Ten races at five Lone Star State tracks are scheduled, starting March 28 at Heart O’ Texas Speedway near Waco, followed by I-37 Speedway in Pleasanton on March 29. Chris Morris is the defending champion. “Texas has a strong group of (Friesen Performance) IMCA Modified drivers,” said series director Kevin Rogers. “I look forward to showcasing their talent in the upcoming season at these awesome facilities we will travel to.” Each race will pay at least $1,000 to win and $100 to start, with increased payouts for higher car counts. If 25 to 39 cars enter, the purse rises to $1,500 to win and $125 to start. For over 40 entries, the winner gets $2,000, and starting pays $150. Drivers will compete not just for cash, but will also earn points for the National, South Central Region, and Texas State championships. A $10,000 point fund is available for drivers finishing [Read More]

Feature

Chris Tuchscherer: From the Octagon to the Race Track

BURLINGTON, N.D. (Mar. 12, 2025) — North Dakota’s Chris Tuchscherer knows how to race hard, achieve success, and persevere. His competitive drive stems from a background in wrestling, which began in his high school hometown of Bowman. Excelling at both the high school and collegiate levels, he wrestled at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo and Moorhead State before stepping into the Octagon as a competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Racing Roots and Return to the Track Tuchscherer’s passion for racing began with derby cars before transitioning to Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Despite the long commute from Fargo, on the Minnesota side of the Peace Garden State, he claimed the IMCA Stock Car title at Williston-Basin Speedway in 2005 — a track located in the northwest corner of North Dakota near the Montana border. However, as his MMA career gained momentum, racing took a backseat. His competitive fire never faded, though. Four years ago, he made his return to Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly competition, stepping into the highly competitive Friesen Performance IMCA Modified [Read More]