Feature Archives

Laney, Partain, Jernagan close IMCA Clash with wins at Merced

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (May 7, 2022) – Cody Laney raced his way into the record book on the sixth and final night of the IMCA Central California Clash Saturday evening. Laney won a second straight Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Merced Speedway, and for the record fourth time in wrapping up the series crown. Opening salvos had Bobby Hogge go toe to toe with Troy Morris III, with Laney joining them to make it three-wide before the first circuit was scored. A pair of early cautions prevented Hogge from getting away from the rest of the pack and he’d trade a couple sliders with Laney before falling to second on lap five. Laney had a couple cautions to deal with himself but kept an even keel on both restarts and won ahead of Morris, Hogge, Jerry Flippo and Kyle Heckman. It was a barnburner of an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Bo Partain maintained a firm grip on the lead despite three early restarts before Dakota Schweitzer closed the gap during [Read More]

Laney, Foulger, Bannister collect California Clash checkers at Merced

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (May 6, 2022) – Night five of the IMCA Central California Clash saw Cody Laney put another $1,000 in his racing account. The Torrance standout won his third Friesen Performance IMCA Modified start of the week when the Clash shifted locations to Merced Speedway Friday evening. Ryan Porter paced the competition on the initial start and held down the front position being overtaken on lap five by Laney. A series of six stoppages slowed things down, but Laney, already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, kept his mount ahead of all challengers, equaling Ethan Dotson’s 2021 feat for the most wins in a single season with the series. Bobby Hogge was second over Kyle Heckman, Cody Burke and Troy Foulger. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars had a thriller of a main event. Dakota Schweitzer marshaled the field on the opening start with double-duty driver Foulger in second. Mid-race cautions kept the competitors close. Schweitzer battled Anthony Guiliani before the two briefly touched and the contact allowed Foulger to pass both [Read More]

Foulger brews up Thunderbowl Central California Clash win

TULARE, Calif. (May 5) – Troy Foulger delivered an impressive Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win on night four of the Central California Clash Thursday at Thunderbowl Raceway. The Oakley speedster led all 25 laps to earn the $1,000 checkers along with Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. The race stayed green following a lap three caution as Foulger did his best to host Jake Pike at Bay. “I had only made a few starts before at Tulare,” said Foulger, fifth in Wednesday’s Clash main event at Thunderbowl, “so we made driving style changes and not didn’t a lot of setup changes. The bottom line was real good. I tried to keep the car straight and not get too anxious so no one could take the line away from me.” Pike started fifth and owned the runner-up spot from lap two to the checkers. Tuesday and Wednesday winner Cody Laney was third, with Troy Morris III and Robby Sawyer scored next. The win was the fourth of the season for Foulger, his second in a Modified [Read More]

Laney stars in Central California Clash IMCA Modified main at Tulare

TULARE, Calif. (May 4, 2022) – He’s not a fan of the film franchise but the force was with Cody Laney in the Central California Clash feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds on Star Wars Night Wednesday evening. Laney started outside row one and led every lap in topping the May the Fourth main event at Thunderbowl Raceway, following his Tuesday victory at Keller Auto Speedway with another $1,000 checkers. Monday night winner Bobby Hogge was second, with Jerry Flippo, Nick DeCarlo and Troy Foulger completing the top five. “We had a long green flag run and passed a couple cars before Jake Pike showed his nose in (turns) one and two,” Laney said. “I was able to clear him before the caution came out – we had a bunch of cautions late – and Bobby took over second.” “I didn’t like seeing them. Every time there’s a caution when Bobby Hogge is behind you, you have to stay perfect,” he continued. “It took a couple laps after the restarts before I was able to [Read More]

Laney rules Central California Clash night two at Keller

By Ben Deatherage HANFORD, Calif. (May 3, 2022) – Cody Laney reigned in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, on night two of the Central California Clash at Keller Auto Speedway. Racing like he was shot out of a cannon, Laney was flawless on each of the long green flag runs punctuated by five stoppages Tuesday night. After the third restart, he was joined at the front by Monday night winner Bobby Hogge. Hogge tried to overtake Laney once the field got going, but the leader kept him in check. The last two cautions came with just a couple of laps to go, setting up a green, white, checkered finish. Hogge had his hands full with Dalton Houghton, which allowed Laney to set sail from the rest of the pack and take the $1,000 win. Already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, Laney won ahead of Houghton, Hogge, ‘B’ winner Kyle Heckman and Troy Foulger. $750 feature winners were Paul Stone in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Jason Bannister in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern [Read More]

Sites on target in NY-Penn IMCA Modified Series opener at Skyline

By Evan Canfield VIRGIL, N.Y. (April 30, 2022) – After a solid season in 2021, the off-season was not kind to Eddie Sites and his brother, Close Racing Supply NY-Penn IMCA Modified Series presented by Precision Hydraulic & Oil defending champion Brad Sites. On Feb. 13th, their race shop burned to the ground, causing them to lose much of their racing organization. Fortunately, nobody was hurt and their cars were able to be salvaged. On Saturday night, with burnt panels on the sides of the black and blue no. 15 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, Eddie Sites was able to overcome their winter setback and put his machine back in victory lane in the 2022 series opener at Skyline Raceway Motorsports Park. Eddie Sites and Keith Jack Lamphere started on the front row after a full field redraw. Sites jumped out to an early lead with Lamphere close behind. Through the early laps, single car spins on a dry, slick track brought out several cautions. Brad Sites and Rodney Morgan, both series winners in 2021, were [Read More]

Hogge opens Central California Clash with victory at Hanford

By Ben Deatherage HANFORD, Calif. (May 2, 2022) – A veteran and a youngster ran 1-2 in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Keller Auto Speedway Monday, opening night of the Central California Clash. Bobby Hogge cruised to the $1,000 checkers for his fourth win of the season and career 98th in the division while Jake Pike, the Shaw Race Cars Western Region rookie of the year just three years ago, navigated his way to runner-up honors. The main event began with a great battle between Troy Foulger and Hogge, champion of the 2020 version of the now rebranded Speedweek. Foulger had the initial advantage coming across the stripe, but that lap was negated due to caution. On the second attempt, it was Hogge leading the charge. Hogge had no real issues at the point as he piloted the Paul Guglielmoni-fielded entry around the track. Cody Laney submitted a bid on the fourth and final restart but Hogge was so good on the long green flag runs that he cruised away from everyone else. [Read More]

Kings, Thunderbowl, Merced all prepped for May 2-7 IMCA Central California Clash dates

HANFORD, Calif. (April 26, 2022) – Three IMCA divisions fill the card each of six nights in the May 2-7 Central California Clash. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility each night, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods vie for $750 to win and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $600 to win. The Clash is at Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford on Monday and Tuesday, May 2 and 3; at Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway Wednesday and Thursday, May 4 and 5; and at Merced Speedway Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7. Kings opens the pits at 2 p.m. and grandstand at 4 p.m. with the drivers’ meeting at 5:15 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors, military and students. Tulare opens at pits at 2 p.m. and grandstand at 4 p.m. The drivers’ meeting is at 4:45 p.m. and racing is at 6 p.m. Adult ticket prices are $20 for the grandstands and $15 for [Read More]

IMCA adds to list of approved connecting rods for Hobby Stocks, SportMods, Stock Cars

VINTON, Iowa (April 25, 2022) – With demand depleting supply, drivers in four IMCA divisions will now be allowed to compete with OEM replacement connecting rods produced by Eagle and Scat. “The supply of currently approved connecting rods for Hobby Stocks, both SportMod divisions and Stock Cars has largely been depleted,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “We researched additional rods that meet our rule interpretation that are affordable and can be identified by visual inspection. The Eagle FSI and Scat Pro Series rods do just that.” “Racers and engine builders have contacted us and asked us to consider adding these to the list of rods approved for use in IMCA,” he continued. “We want everyone on the same page. All the current connecting rods in the IMCA rules remain legal. We are adding the Eagle FSI (5.7 and 6.0) and the Scat Pro Series (5.7 and 6.0) connecting rods to those rules.” “Scat and Eagle both have identification marking cast in the beams of the rods,” noted IMCA Director of Competition Dave Brenn. “The big [Read More]

Grimes sharing Sprint Car success as RaceSaver celebrates 25th season

MADISON, Va. (April 21, 2022) – The people who believed in it are the people founder French Grimes want to make sure get credit for RaceSaver and its success. What has grown to become the largest sanction for Sprint Car racing in the United States celebrates its 25th anniversary season and its 11th in partnership with IMCA this year. “The key to RaceSaver is to make sure money does not dominate any part of it,” explained Grimes, who continues to compete with the Virginia Sprint Series at the age of 78 and remains hands-on in charge of rules, enforcement and inspection. “RaceSaver rules have not changed appreciably over the years. They cannot be personality adjusted and they have to be economical.” A shared philosophy of economical and competitive racing first brought RaceSaver and IMCA together in 2012; an agreement two years later allowed IMCA long-term use of RaceSaver rules while administering points and point funds for the winged division. RaceSaver’s budget-friendly approach to Sprint Car racing caught on quickly in the IMCA ranks, particularly as its innovative [Read More]