IMCA, Author at IMCA - International Motor Contest Association

Friend beats a big name for first IMCA Modified win

MERCED, Calif. (March 28) – When Les Friend won his first race ever in IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified competition Saturday at Merced Speedway, he had no idea who the driver was that challenged him at the finish line. “I always dreamed of driving a Modified and racing against the big names – Bobby Hogge, IV, Paul Stone, Scott Busby,” said Friend, whose first race was at Merced just two months earlier. “I didn’t know who was trying to pass me until after the race.” The driver trying to pass Friend would be Merced Speedway champ and Valley racing legend Paul Stone, driving a friend’s car because his was destroyed in Arizona a few weeks earlier. “I never met Paul Stone, and I knew it wasn’t the car he drives that was on my tail,” laughed Friend, as he hoisted his trophy at his birthday party the next day. “When he shook my hand I still didn’t know that was him.” Stone was invited to drive the car owned by Merced’s Jack Mounce and Will [Read More]

Opening night Frostbuster checkers fly for Wolla

By Jeremy Fox OSKALOOSA, Iowa (April 1) – Jason Wolla made his way to victory lane after making the 900-mile trip from Ray, N.D., to Southern Iowa Speedway at Oskaloosa for the opening night Frostbuster. Wolla took the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back in winning the 22-lap IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature, collecting the $1,000 checkers along with a berth on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. “That made the whole trip worth it,” said Wolla, who’d finished third at Lee County Speedway’s Spring Extravaganza on Sunday. “I know there had to be people asking ‘Who’s this guy from North Dakota?’ It was pretty awesome.” Hunter Marriott ended in second after passing Jimmy Gustin with four laps to go. Todd Shute, Scott Dickey and Cole Ferguson completed the top five after Gustin exited with a flat tire. Ken Schrader won his “B” feature and finished 12th in the main event. One hundred and sixteen cars from 10 states were on hand at Oskaloosa. Other winners were Damon Murty in the [Read More]

Alvarado wreaks Havoc at Aztec

AZTEC, N.M. (March 27-28) – The lower line took Ricky Alvarado to the $1,200 checkers on Friday at Aztec Speedway. He followed the top groove to a $2,000 payday on Saturday. Alvarado swept IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified features during the Havoc On the Plains Showdown Weekend. Along with a $3,200 share of the purse he went home with a 70cc dirt bike for winning Friday’s dash for cash. “I’ve won a lot of races before but I’ve never won a dirt bike,” Alvarado said. “That was pretty cool.” He’d started seventh in the 25-lapper on Friday. After seeing how the track was changing, Alvarado changed gears right before the start of the feature. Using the low line, he passed Aaron Spangler for the lead on the eighth circuit. Carburetor issues and cautions kept the contest close before Alvarado beat Zane DeVilbiss across the stripe by two car lengths. Ryan Gaylord, Regan Tafoya and Brody Spangler completed the top five. Alvarado drove from eighth starting toward the front after struggling with a tight car early [Read More]

Belleville Motorsports returns as title sponsor of North Central Region for IMCA Modifieds

BELLEVILLE, Kan. – The 2015 season is Belleville Motorsports’ fourth as title sponsor of IMCA’s North Central Region for Modifieds. The Belleville, Kan., chassis builder will furnish a portion of a $6,000 point fund to be paid out to top 10 drivers in regional point standings. The champion earns $2,500, with $1,250 for second, $625 for third, $325 for fourth, $300 for fifth and $200 for sixth through 10th. The North Central Region includes tracks in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Saskatchewan, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Chris Abelson is the defending regional champion. “BMS holds the unique distinction of being the longest running new partner addition since my tenure began at IMCA in 2000,” said Kevin Yoder, marketing director for the sanctioning body. “It is a relationship I am proud of and I have enjoyed working with Brandon Blochlinger and the entire BMS team during that time. I hope I have the opportunity to work with them for many more years to come.” Drivers are required to display two BMS decals on their race car to be [Read More]

Idaho Falls Raceway re-opens with IMCA Modifieds, SportMods on eight race nights

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – The first IMCA Modified track champion crowned at Idaho Falls Raceway will be in charge again when the track re-opens in May. Josh Dingman has started his third stint as president of the Snake River Stock Car Association. The 30-member SRSCA reorganized and spearheaded efforts to rebuild the municipally-owned facility, which closed following the 2011 season. Both IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds and IMCA SportMods run on eight nights, with the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season opener set for Saturday, May 16. Other dates are June 20 and 27, July 24 and 25, Aug. 8 and 29, and Sept. 26. More than 150 truckloads of dirt have already been added to the 3/8-mile racing surface. New walls have been put in place in both sets of turns and attention will next turn to bringing the pit area up to date. A concessions trailer will be parked at what had been the site of the facility’s concession building. “It’s been going like wildfire. I’ve been amazed by how many people have [Read More]

Droste matches 2014 win total at Lee County Spring Extravaganza

DONNELLSON, Iowa (March 29) – It took 37 starts for Tyler Droste to get his only IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature win last year. He needed just a single race to take his first checkers this season. Droste battled Cayden Carter, then outran Hunter Marriott for the $1,000 victory Sunday at Lee County Speedway’s Spring Extravaganza. “This was a lot better start than last year,” Droste said. “We had a good car. We just couldn’t get it figured out.” He figured out the fastest way around the oval after an early restart put him on the outside of the front row for the 20-lapper. Carter caught up and took the brief lead before Droste gained the front spot back. The front pair ran side-by-side before Droste edged away. Marriott, Jason Wolla, Carter and Scott Hogan rounded out the top five. Droste was already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. He’d won the Fall Challenge at Hamilton County Speedway on the last weekend of the 2014 point season. A phone call made earlier in [Read More]

Trevor Egbert scores anniversary win at Cotton Bowl

By J.M. Hallas PAIGE, Texas (March 28) – Trevor Egbert took home the hardware for his anniversary present to his wife in the Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod feature Saturday at Cotton Bowl Speedway. He was trailed to the checkers by his father George, who is celebrating his 40th year of racing. Egbert got by Sid Kiphen near halfway then put some distance on the pack. A late-race caution set up a green, white, checkered finish that saw George Egbert get by Kiphen for second and finish as runner-up. “I just followed my dad through traffic,” commented Egbert. “My car was a little better than his and I just ran where others weren’t. If it was the middle or the bottom, we just ran where we had to.” “I always know when it’s my dad I’m running with. It’s always fun when you get to race with family,” he added. “It’s been a while since we finished one-two and one time at Texas Thunder my dad won, I was second, (cousin) P.J. was third and my [Read More]

Bilstein renews awards for drivers in five IMCA divisions

POWAY, Calif. – Bilstein Shocks has renewed a contingency award program benefitting drivers in five IMCA divisions. Top eligible drivers in each of the five IMCA Xtreme Motors Sports Modified regions receive $350 product certificates from the Poway, Calif., manufacturer, with $250 for second and $200 for third. Certificates to the top three eligible drivers in both IMCA Sunoco Stock Car regions will be given in increments of $350, $250 and $150. The top three in both IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock regions and in national Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMod point standings receive product certificates valued at $300, $200 and $100, respectively. The 2015 season is Bilstein’s 17th as an IMCA sponsor. In addition to competing with four Bilstein shocks, drivers in all five divisions must display two Bilstein decals on their race car and return a sign-up form to the IMCA home office by Aug. 1. “Bilstein continues to be an industry leader in the shock market, and specifically one of the primary choices for drivers in our entry level [Read More]

Cottage Grove set for April 4 season opener

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – Cottage Grove Speedway is set for its 59th season of racing this Saturday, April 4, bringing another year of clay shedding excitement. The famed 1/4-mile clay oval had a very successful test and tune session this past Sunday with many new drivers who plan on running CGS in 2015. Classes on tap will include the always-popular IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, 360 sprints, latem, and the Quality RV Repair hornets. In addition to the sanctioned Modified racing, there will be some big money on the line courtesy of Crocker’s Cars in Lebanon. Crocker’s Cars has added money to the purse to make it $1,100 to win the Modified main event. With that kind of money up for grabs you can guarantee all the big names from the state of Oregon will be in attendance trying to take home the big check and a spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Speaking of the number 1,100 there will be 1,100 eggs that will be a part of the [Read More]

Sunflower Classic draws 150-plus teams; Sobbing, Sellard top IMCA Modified mains

By Mike Hughes HAYS, Kan. (March 27-28) – Jesse Sobbing and Clay Sellard were $1,000 IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature winners at RPM’s Sunflower Classic special. Sobbing took the lead on lap nine and drove on for the Friday checkers. Four-time national champion David Murray Jr. settled in the runner-up spot, followed by Mike Densberger, Dylan Sherfick, and Cody Gearhart. On Saturday, Sellard started outside pole in the 25-lapper, jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back in the caution-free event to make his way to victory lane. Sobbing chased Sellard the second half of the race but settled for the runner-up spot, followed by Gearhart, Ryan Heger and Jeremy Zorn. More than 150 race teams from eight states competed in the season lidlifter at Hays. Kyle Vanover and Mike Nichols were $750 IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature winners. Vanover led all 25 laps on Friday but was challenged throughout the race by Jason Rogers and Nichols. Rogers held off Nichols for runner-up honors. A double winner at last year’s Sunflower show, [Read More]