Divisions Archives

David Murray Jr. joining Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame

LINCOLN, Neb. (March 27, 2023) – The winningest driver in Friesen Performance IMCA Modified history can add Hall of Famer to his resume. David Murray Jr. is one of six members of the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame induction class of 2023. In addition, the hall of fame board has announced this year’s Gordie Shuck Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to a long-time racing family, the Lincoln Family of US 30 Speedway in Columbus. The Lincolns have been a staple in the racing community for many decades promoting racetracks, setting the standard of racing safety and lending a helping hand to other racing facilities, helping them to be successful. A Nebraska native, Murray’s career began at Platte Valley Speedway in Lexington racing a street stock. He began his IMCA Modified career after moving to Kansas in 1989. Murray became the winningest driver in division history with 557 career feature victories. He was national champion in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005, earning nine regional crowns along with 25 track and two special series titles. During [Read More]

Dinsmore delivers opening night win at I-37

By J.M. Hallas PLEASANTON, Texas (March 25, 2023) – And so it begins. I-37 Speedway, after a “proposed” opening night rain out last week, raised the curtain on the new season with a host of racing on the night’s agenda. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, thanks to Sundowner Performance Diesel, had a $1,000 to win Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifier won by Greg Dinsmore. As the feature roared to life it was Logan Dinsmore taking a look low on his dad Greg for the lead off turn two before a quick yellow. The leader got a good launch on a lap 14 restart green. Logan Dinsmore used the middle groove to get second back from Doyon but his dad had already checked out. “Finally, we have this car figured out,” said Dinsmore. “We raced it a couple times last year. It was quick, but we had some problems we had to work out. It’s really coming around. Starting on the pole didn’t hurt. We had a good run in the heat.” “It was awesome finishing [Read More]

MLA starts 2023 season with new home

PLUMERVILLE, Ark. (March 27) – 2023 for the Mod Lites of Arkansas will start new faces, new places, and a new home track. With the closure of I-30 Speedway, Central Arkansas Motor Speedway in Plumerville becomes the official home for the IMCA series for the 2023 season. “We’re very excited for 2023. We have some new racers, new cars, new sponsors, new tracks to visit for the first time in addition to our long time favorites. But most importantly, we’re happy to call CAMS home for the MLA in 2023,” said President and Promoter Bryce Vowan. By switching to Saturday nights in order to give central Arkansas racers and fans a close to home option, CAMS is expecting a great field of Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites in addition to Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Central Arkansas Motor Speedway has several special paying events for each class including the Johnny Wise Memorial that pays tribute to the late track owner and the Leon Cloninger Memorial as the season finale. President [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds, Late Models, SportMods go Topless to open 60^th season at Eagle

EAGLE, Neb. (March 24, 2023) – Promoter Roger Hadan wasn’t fooling when he said he wanted to do something that hadn’t been done for a long time to start the 60th anniversary season at Eagle Raceway. The first green flag of the season at Eagle flies for the inaugural Topless Nationals Saturday, April 1. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Late Models and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods all race for $1,000 to win that evening and as the name of the event indicates, they’ll do so topless. The Modified winner becomes eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and Nebraska State points will be awarded in all three divisions; Modifieds also earn Jet Racing Central Region points. “We wanted to try something that we haven’t done for a long time,” Hadan said. “After I retired from driving I did four topless events (headlined by two-barrel late models, at Eagle and three other area tracks) in my first shot as a promoter. The next year I was promoting [Read More]

Five IMCA divisions run March 31, April 1 as Sunflower Classic starts season at RPM

HAYS, Kan. (March 24, 2023) – RPM Speedway starts the 2023 race season with the traditional Mike Hughes Sunflower Classic on March 31 and April 1. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $750 each night. Both Friday and Saturday features are qualifying events for Fast Shafts All-Star or B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitationals. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod features both pay $500 to win, Mach-1 Sport Compact features $200. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Jet Racing Central, EQ Cylinder Heads Northern or Big Daddy Race Cars Northern regional, and Kansas State points will be awarded for each draw/redraw show. Entry fee for the weekend is Modifieds $100, Stock Cars $75, Hobby Stocks and Northern SportMods both $50 and Sport Compacts $35. Pit passes are $30. Spectator admission is $10 for adults and free for military with ID and kids ages 12 and under. King of the hill races for Modifieds and Stock Cars are on the March 30 open [Read More]

Clock ticking down on PASS opener

By Frank Buhrman SELINSGROVE, Pa. (March 24, 2023) – In less than two weeks, the roar of IMCA Sprint Car RaceSaver engines will light up a Pennsylvania race track – Selinsgrove Speedway, to be precise – for the first time in 162 days, since the last motor shut off following the Keystone RaceSaver Challenge in October. It’s time to roll again, and it’s extra-special in 2023 because this is the 25th anniversary season for the nation’s premier grassroots Sprint Car series in the Keystone State. River Valley Builders PA Sprint Series IMCA RaceSaver sprinters will join the limited late models and roadrunner stocks on the big Selinsgrove half-mile on Saturday, April 1, to kick off a 35-race 2023 series that will take the tour to nine different race tracks. Selinsgrove leads the parade with 11 planned stops and Port Royal Speedway follows closely behind with 10 dates. Path Valley Speedway, which ran its first PASS event in 2000, has five races scheduled for this year. Other tracks set to run are Williams Grove Speedway, Bloomsburg [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds chase $1,000 check at I-37 opener

PLEASANTON, Texas (March 22, 2023) – Saturday’s season opener at I-37 Speedway sees Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds racing for $1,000 to win along with qualifying eligibility for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Pit gates and the grandstand both open at 4 p.m. for the March 25 lidlifter. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, GRT Race Cars South Central Region, Texas State and track points will be awarded. Pit passes are $30. Spectator admission is $16 for adults, $11 for seniors, military and First Responders, and $6 for kids, with five and under free. Friday’s practice session at Pleasanton runs from 6-9:30 p.m. Pit passes are 420.

Five new to Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational eligibility

VINTON, Iowa (March 22, 2023) – Five more Friesen Performance IMCA Modified drivers earned Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility during a month that saw more than its fair share of races canceled due to persistent cold temperatures, rain or a combination of both. Austen Becerra ruled Clash on the Coast roost, winning three times during his Florida vacation while Joseph Joiner collected the checkers on the other night. John Webb and Tyler Iverson were Ice Breaker winners at Abilene and Todd Neiheiser topped a rich weekly show at Southern Raceway. Winning qualifying events and already eligible were William Gould, Bobby Hogge IV, Troy Morris III and Jake Upchurch. The 65 drivers now Fast Shafts eligible include: Chris Abelson, Chaz Baca, Owen Barnhill, Austen Becerra, Brandon Beckendorf, Eddie Belec, Tom Berry Jr., Tyson Blood, Steven Bowers Jr., Alec Childs, Ty Clemens, Jimmy Cole and Cory Craver. Brian Cross, Paul Culp, Matthew Day, Jon DeBenedetti, Travis Denning, Brenten DeYoung, Spencer Diercks, Brad Dierks, Jake Donnelly, Ethan Dotson, Drake Findley, Jerry Flippo and Troy Foulger. William Gould, [Read More]

Late Model tire grooving clarification announced

VINTON, Iowa (March 21, 2023) – IMCA officials have announced a clarification to the tire grooving rule for Late Models. Specifically, only the horizontal and/or the vertical line of the cross can be grooved. Grooving must be done with a number 2 grooving blade only. “There have been a number of questions about how the NLMT3 Hoosier tire can or should be grooved. Drivers can reference the picture accompanying this story,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “This is something we felt needed to be addressed now, with the first sanctioned Late Model events of the season just a couple weeks away.”

IMCA announces composite body panel rating mandate

VINTON, Iowa (March 21, 2023) – IMCA will follow guidelines established by the United States Department of Transportation for the composite body panels allowed beginning this season in the Modified and Late Model divisions. In particular, those guidelines address burn resistance. Composite body panels submitted by Five Star Bodies/MD3 have already been determined to meet those parameters and have been approved for use in both divisions. “There have already been some questions as to how we define composite body panels. We will use the US DOT FMVSS302 burn rate testing definition,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “We will continue to approve additional composite body panels as samples are submitted to us along with proof of burn rate testing.” “We want to make sure that all composite body panels are made with strong, fire resistant material,” he continued. “We will continue to add more composite body panels that can be used as they are submitted and approved.” Composite body panels are not allowed in any other IMCA division and drivers will be required to remove them [Read More]