IMCA, Author at IMCA - International Motor Contest Association

Despite early spin, Harris is winner at Natural Bridge

By Jim Haines NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (June 7) – Jerald Harris traded cars with his brother to get some seat time in the car before they take it to the IMCA RaceSaver Nationals at Eagle Raceway in August. Along the way he won his third Virginia Sprint Series feature of the season, after spinning off track on lap one and storming back to take the Saturday win at Natural Bridge Speedway. Chris Ware and Charlie Ware paced the field to green with Charlie out first and leading lap one before a quick yellow for the spin by Harris. Charlie was back at it before Chad Worrell moved around the top and in to first as Charlie slowed with drive line failure and headed for the pits. Chad Worrell was smooth out front as the circuits clicked away. By lap 20 Harris had made his way to second and was all over Worrell. A lap later Harris was out front with Tom Humphries making a charge as well. The yellow came out for debris with two [Read More]

Ireland takes turn in Sunset winner’s circle

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (June 7) – Rob Ireland became the third different driver to win an IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature at Sunset Speedway Park this season on Saturday night. Jake Van Ortwick was ultra-quick in the early circuits but Ireland eventually seized the lead. Van Ortwick kept the pressure on and nearly got the lead back on the final lap. Van Ortwick would finish a respectable second while in third place was Doug Lockwood. Brad Gentry crossed the stripe in fourth while Chris Hallberg was fifth.

Matheson takes second straight at Tri-City

AUBURN, Mich. (June 6) – Last week, eight-time asphalt champion Todd Matheson was disappointed he did not get to have an interview in victory lane after winning his first-ever dirt feature in the Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modifieds at Tri-City Motor Speedway. He would have to fight Tanner Pray for the entire 20 laps of the feature event. Every corner of every lap, it seemed as if Pray and Matheson would swap the lead. It was Matheson who would prevail at the electronic stripe on the final lap to capture his second feature in a row. Toby Steele, John Taylor and A.J. Ward were third through fifth, respectively.

First IMCA Modified win for Baylis comes at Crystal

CRYSTAL, Mich. (June 7) – Brandon Baylis raced to his career first win in the Port City Race Car IMCA Modifieds Saturday at Crystal Motor Speedway. The feature saw a major pileup on the second lap in turn one involving at least eight cars but most of those involved were able to continue. Baylis grabbed the lead with Chad Wernette fighting his way into second after being one of the crashed cars earlier. A.J. Ward began to move forward, breaking into the top five with six to go. Wernette motored his way beside the leader but in the process, they touched and Wernette was sent to the rear as the caution car. Baylis pulled away to a small lead and held on to grab his first Modified feature ahead of Johnny DeYoung.

Oshkosh opponents can’t catch up to Heinz

OSHKOSH, Wis. (June 6) – The Total Power Sales IMCA Stock Cars have a reputation of close racing and Friday’s event at Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway lived up to those expectations. Justin Jacobsen powered into the top spot before David Hoerning took charge and began to pull away from the pack with Larry Parshen, Mark Schuenemann, John Heinz, Tom Roehl and Travis Van Straten battling behind. Hoerning continued to pull away from the field with Jacobsen holding the runner-up spot until Van Straten was able to take over the spot on lap 10. Van Straten closed the gap slightly but it appeared Hoerning had things well in hand until a lone caution on lap 15 bunched the field for a five-lap dash. Van Straten, winner of the last three features, pulled into the top spot after the restart. Heinz made a daring move and passed him for the lead as Van Straten drifted out of the groove a bit, allowing Hoernig to follow right behind Heinz. Van Straten needed two laps to retake the runner-up spot [Read More]

Salazar ends absence from Antioch’s victory lane

ANTIOCH, Calif. (June 7) – Hometown driver Michael Salazar returned to victory lane for the first time in two years Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. After taking the lead early in the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified main event, Salazar never looked back. “I’m worn out from that drive,” Salazar said after emerging from his car on a 90-degree night. “I did not know how close the second place car was, so I just drove as fast as I could and hung on.” That second place driver was Sean O’Gara, who had his best showing to date at the 3/8-mile high-banked oval. “It was tricky getting though traffic,” O’Gara said. “I got into the clear and did everything I could to catch Mike (Salazar).” Third place Carl Berendsen spun out and worked his way back to the top. Fourth place Terry Kaiser of Fairfield also had his personal best finish, despite a spectacular front-stretch crash at the start of the race. Kaiser, who began his career at the old Vallejo Speedway more than 30 years [Read More]

Luellen brothers double up at Marshalltown

By Jeremy Fox MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (June 6) – Brothers Austin and Clint Luellen both raced their way to victory lane Friday at Marshalltown Speedway. Austin took the IMCA Sunoco Hobbt Stock lead on the third lap, then held on to the front spot following a seventh circuit restart to win ahead of Garrett Eilander and John Watson. Clint had to chase down Jenae Gustin in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main event, finally finding has way to the front on lap 13. Gustin and Andy Tiernan were next across the stripe. Adam Larson repeated his winning ways from a week ago in the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified main. Donavon Smith saw his big lead disappear in lapped traffic but rallied with a great late-race restart to win the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Winner of the Mach-1 Sport Compact feature was Adam Gates.

Parsons, Lemmens and Zellner earn first Luxemburg checkers

By Greg Aregoni LUXEMBURG, Wis. (June 6) – A first career feature win is always exciting but when you have three first-time winners in one night it make for a classic evening of racing. That’s just what was provided for race fans at Luxemburg Speedway Friday night. Hunter Parson earned his first career feature win in an Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod. Luke Lemmens has won IMCA Sunoco Stock Car features at Thunderhill but never at Luxemburg until now. Aaron Zellner won his first career IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature after demolishing his front end two weeks ago. Twenty laps was the distance in the SportMod feature. The race saw only one leader as the 15-year-old Parsons ran in front green to checkers. Parsons led through a lap three caution and pulled away from the field. A final caution with two laps remaining set up a green, white, checker finish. Parsons cleared the competition and picked up the win but not without a late race charge from Chris Budzban. Budzban fell short as Parsons picked up [Read More]

Malmstrom breaks through for Davenport Late Model win

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (June 6) – Friday was a great night for racing at the Davenport Speedway with over one hundred cars in the pit area. The evening’s racing program was sponsored by Kile Motorsports. It was also a great night for Todd Malmstrom of Silvis, Illinois. Malmstrom won both his heat and feature races in the Petersen Plumbing and Heating IMCA Late Model division. The feature victory was his first-ever at Davenport. The 25-lap main started with Mike Garland jumping out to an early lead. On lap seven, Garland’s engine let go and Spencer Diercks inherited the lead. Malmstrom caught Diercks and the lead duo swapped the lead on five consecutive laps. Malmstrom finally took the lead for good on lap 18 and go on to take the checkers. Diercks took second with Mike Murphy Jr. third, Ray Guss Jr. fourth and Brunson Behning fifth. Kelly Meyer dominated the Milan Heating and Air IMCA Modified feature. Meyer rocketed from his second row starting spot to the lead on lap one and never [Read More]

Davenport hosts $2,000 to win SportMod Challenge this Friday

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods take the spotlight in a $2,000 to win main event this Friday, June 13 at Davenport Speedway. The IMCA SportMod Challenge will use a draw/redraw format and all racing will be on the 1/4-mile dirt oval. Pit gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and the grandstand will open at 5 p.m., with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. Also on the card that evening will be IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Late Models, street stocks and 4-stocks. For additional information, visit the new website at DavenportSpeedway.com or call 563 652-5302. Race day weather information is available by calling 563 326-5338. Davenport Speedway is located at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, on West Locust Street.