Three automatic claims dropped from format at IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa (July 16) – Winners of Modified, Stock Car and Hobby Stock main events on Saturday night at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals will see their engines sold at public auction in the infield at Boone Speedway again this September.

The same won’t be true for second, third and fourth place finishers in the evening’s Modified feature.

Instead, those drivers’ engines will be subject to claim by any other eligible driver in the main event field.

“The idea of an automatic claim for these finishing positions has run its course,” said IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root. “If other feature qualifiers think the drivers who finished second, third or fourth did so by outspending them, they will still have the chance to claim.”

Cost of that claimed engine will be $550, with $25 for the tow truck and another $25 for the track official overseeing the claim.

The claimed driver will have the option of exchanging engines.

Over the last five Super Nationals, auctions of the top four engines have added an average of $20,975 to the Modified feature purse. That pencils out to $655.46 for drivers finishing second through 33rd each year.

With the change in format to single qualifying features Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, $7,000-plus in purse money that would have been paid for the second qualifier each of those nights has been added to the Saturday main event.

The winner’s share remains at $2,000, while second place pays $1,750 (up $250), third pays $1,500 (up $500), fourth pays $1,250 (up $350), fifth pays $1,000 (up $200), sixth pays $950, seventh pays $900, eighth pays $850, ninth pays $800, 10th pays $750, 11th pays $700, 12th pays $650 and 13th through 33rd each pays $600 (all up $200).

Second through 33rd also receive an equal share of proceeds from the sale of the champion’s engine.

“Elimination of qualifying features earlier in the week was due to time constraints. We needed to cut back on the number of races we were running but we didn’t want to reduce the overall purse,” explained Root. “We wanted to do our best to maintain the purse at the level it has been for the past couple years. With the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, the Harris Auto Racing Race of Champions and the main event, a lot of money will be paid out for those three events.”

Engines in the second, third and fourth place finishing Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks can also be claimed by any eligible driver in the respective features following 2010 IMCA claim procedures.
The 28th annual Super Nationals runs from Labor Day Monday, Sept. 6 through Saturday, Sept. 11.

•Stock Car, Hobby Stock and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main events all start 30 cars for the first time. Feature purses for the Hobbies and SportMods will be expanded accordingly.

Northern SportMods and Hobby Stocks qualify Monday and Tuesday, while Stock Cars join Modifieds on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday programs.

“A number of Stock Car drivers have attempted to make reservations for pit parking early in the week,” noted Root. “While we promote Super Nationals as America’s Racin’ Vacation, there simply won’t be enough room in the pit area for cars that aren’t attempting to qualify Monday and Tuesday. Stock Cars will only be allowed in the pit area after all of the parking demands by the Hobby Stocks and SportMods have been met.”

•While Saturday night feature winners in three divisions will be claimed, there are no plans to do the same in the Northern SportMod main.

That’s because of the crate engine used by a large percentage of drivers in the division, Root explained.

•An entry form for any of the five Super Nationals divisions and concrete pit stall applications can be downloaded from the www.imca.com website and mailed to the IMCA home office in Vinton.

Entry fees postmarked by Aug. 23 are $40 for Modifieds, $50 for Late Models and $25 for Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Northern SportMods. Entry fees mailed after that date are $60 for Modifieds, $70 for Late Models and $45 for Stocks, Hobbies and SportMods.

Applications for the 200 concrete parking spots in the pit area run $100, will be assigned based on the length of the hauler, and should be mailed to Boone Speedway, c/o 31473 Ute Avenue in Waukee, Iowa, 50263 after July 30.