Hobby Stock

Tafoya denies Baca for opening night Clash checkers

By Ben Deatherage PRICE, Utah (Sept. 26, 2024) – There would be some thunder at Desert Thunder Raceway on Thursday night in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds for the first of three legs of the Clash.  Regan Tafoya stormed the castle around the halfway mark after a restart. But the Farmington, N.M., driver had to fend off several advances by a determined Chaz Baca Jr. and held on for the win.  The main event began with Bryan Wordelman setting a good pace when the green flag dropped.  A caution on lap seven halted things and when the race resumed, Tafoya pounced on an opportunity to get to the front on the eighth circuit. Another yellow flag emerged, erasing Tafoya’s lead.  When the race resumed, Tafoya faced relentless challenges from defending national champion Baca. Despite Baca’s persistent efforts, the seventh-starting Tafoya managed to fend off his attempts not once, but twice, in a thrilling display of skill and determination. Baca secured a respectable second place. Local driver Wyatt Howard, who had a remarkable journey to the [Read More]

Modified

Foulger doubles up an Antioch

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2024) – Troy Foulger won both the 20 lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main events Saturday at Antioch Speedway. The championship night format put point Kellen Chadwick on the pole of the Modified race and he bolted into the lead ahead of Foulger and Jacob Mallet Jr. Andrew Pearce spun on lap two, collecting Tyler Browne. Chadwick continued to lead Mallet and Foulger on the restart, and an intense battle ensued. A low pass in turn three of the eighth lap briefly gained Mallet the lead, but Chadwick came rushing by on the outside down the back stretch a lap later. A three-wide battle on lap 10 saw Foulger make an inside pass for second, but Mallet went inside on the front stretch on lap 11 to get by both Chadwick and Foulger. A high pass on lap 12 gained Foulger the lead from Mallet. Foulger would lead the remaining laps for the impressive victory, followed by Mallet, new track champion Chadwick, Katelynn [Read More]

Modified

Moore dominates Grays Harbor finale

By Ben Deatherage ELMA, Wash. (Sept. 21, 2024) – Craig Moore started from fourth place in Saturday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Grays Harbor Raceway and the only time he didn’t lead was the first lap.  Once he took the lead, the Seabeck veteran built a commanding advantage, winning a main event for the second time this year at the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds 3/8-mile oval. Ryen Haney and Josh Muller engaged in a thrilling battle on the contest’s opening circuit, with Haney leading lap one.  Determined to break away from the pack, Haney found himself in Moore’s sights. Moore, relentless in his pursuit, overtook Haney at the flag stand on the second lap.   From there, Moore gave it full steam and sail and took off from his nearest opponent.  Despite some heavy lapped traffic, he cruised to victory with a margin of 4.595 seconds. Zach Simpson moved into third on lap 13 before making a late charge for second, obtaining the position on the 18th circuit and finishing there. Grey Ferrando was [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Mallicoat speeds to topless win at Interstate

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON, S.D. (Sept. 22, 2024) – The topless Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale was a thrilling spectacle Sunday at Interstate Speedway, culminating in an exciting green, white, checkered finish. Izac Mallicoat’s daring fighter pilot moves from the top shelf to secure the lead and the win added an extra dose of excitement to the race. The race kicked off with Bob Fleshman taking an early lead, only to be overtaken by Jason Schneiders on the next lap. As Schneiders battled to maintain his lead against Jace Whitt, Chris Abelson entered the fray, intensifying the competition. Abelson’s incredible double overtake pass in turn three was a display of skill and strategy. It was a moment that left the audience in awe of his racing prowess. As the race progressed, Mallicoat steadily closed the gap with Abelson, but it seemed he might run out of time. However, the game changed when a caution was raised with only two laps remaining, giving Mallicoat the opportunity he needed to make his move. Just when it seemed [Read More]

Modified

Patterson prevails in photo finish at Southern Oregon

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (Sept. 21, 2024) – The 2024 season championship at Southern Oregon Speedway came down to the last lap in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Carter Patterson beat title contender Ray Kniffen Jr. to the checkered flag by 0.043 seconds. The 17-year-old Lebanon driver now has two wins this season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Albert Gill started the main event off as the leader. Setting a quick pace, he unfortunately experienced issues that forced him to pull in the infield on lap eight. That transformed a three-car race for second into a contest for the lead, with Patterson picking up the position. The race for the runner-up spot ended up being a battle for the championship between Kniffen and Kenny Boardman Jr. Kniffen would secure second with six to go and reeled in the leader with a couple of circuits left to cover.   Patterson and Kniffen would go side-by-side in the final two laps, with neither driver letting the other gain the upper hand. The defending [Read More]

Mod Lite

Baca reigns supreme at Central Arizona

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Sept. 21, 2024) – In sheer dominance, defending Friesen Performance IMCA Modified national champion Chaz Baca put together a fantastic drive Saturday at Central Arizona Raceway. He seized the race lead from the very start of the feature and built a nearly six second advantage over the second-place finisher, securing his 26th open-wheeled victory of the season. Marvin Mueller and Bill Miller were second and third, respectively. Five other Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing divisions attended the Pinal County Fairgrounds 3/8-mile clay oval. They included the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Winners were Bo Partain, Eric Winemiller, Nathan DeRagon, A.J. Whisler and Steve Carter. Partain made the high side work in his favor in the Stock Car main as he grabbed the torch and ran away from the rest of the field. Frustratingly, he did have to deal with three stoppages, which didn’t allow him to get too far ahead, [Read More]

Northern SportMod

Points powers to Saturday win at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (Sept. 21, 2024) – After taking the lead in the first handful of laps, Salem sensation Trevor Points was victorious in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Willamette Speedway.  It is the eighth time the 20-year-old has won in 2024, but the first time he’s done so at the Lebanon 1/3-mile clay oval. The main event began with Michael Lavery and Don Moore fighting it out for the lead. Moore won the race to the line but fell immediately under pressure from Nate Turnidge. Just as Turnidge seemed to be in a position to take over the top spot, a caution came out. Points strategically maneuvered into second on the restart and began to close the gap with Moore. Utilizing the inside line on the backstretch, Points made a brilliant move to seize control in turn three on the fourth circuit. The race would stay incident-free, allowing the new leader to assert his dominance with a significant lead. Even the race’s final yellow flag on lap 18 couldn’t [Read More]

Modified

McKellar wins battle at Bakersfield

By Ben Deatherage BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2024) – In a display of sheer determination, Chris McKellar, starting from the ninth position, clinched a thrilling victory on the last corner of the last lap in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Bakersfield Speedway. After a relentless chase throughout the main event, the hometown driver, with unwavering faith in the high side, overtook the race leader to secure his first win of the season. Markus Frazier was the dominant force for much of the race, skillfully fending off occasional challenges and striving to widen the gap from the rest of the pack. The race took a dramatic turn when the final caution was displayed, setting the stage for a thrilling four-lap shootout. As the race neared its end, McKellar maintained a steady pace at the top of the track, while Adam Baker fiercely battled on the bottom for second place. The outcome seemed set until McKellar summoned his last burst of energy for a dramatic overtake for the lead on the final lap. Frazier [Read More]

Results

Former regional director Ed Billings passes at 76

WAVERLY, N.Y. (Sept. 22, 2024) – Ed Billings, long-time director for IMCA’s Eastern Region, passed away Sunday night at Robert Packer Hospital, following a brief illness. He was 76. Retired from the Sheltered Workshop in Binghamton, Billings was involved in all aspects of dirt track racing and was with IMCA from 1999 to 2013, playing an integral role in the sanctioning body’s growth in terms of sanctioned tracks and membership in the northeast as well as filling the director’s role for the Empire State Series. “When Ed made the decision to step down from his duties with IMCA, I said he was one of the best hires this organization ever made,” commented IMCA President Brett Root. “That is still true today. While I appreciated his contributions to our sport in general and to IMCA in particular, I valued his friendship even more.” In addition to his parents Mitchell and Marion, he was preceded in death by his wife Janis (Jagger) Billings; two brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jason [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Arlington win is IMCA Stock Car first for Zimmerman

ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 21, 2024) – A.J. Zimmerman got the best of 31 IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for his first-ever feature win, in a race that went green to checkered Saturday at Arlington Raceway. Ryan Grochow paced the first three laps before Zimmerman took the high side and passed him to take over at the front. He encountered lapped traffic in the late going but protected his groove and went on to win. “This win has definitely been tough to get. It’s definitely been tough racing with these guys every week,” Zimmerman said. “We’ve been close a lot of times so it’s good to get this one. It was exciting.” He’ll add his trophy to the collection of hardware his father Mark, who made his 15th start of the season Saturday at Arlington, has compiled in his own career. Grochow fell back multiple positions which gave Brent Uecker the opportunity of moving up. He and Dakota Robinson were battling for the runner-up spot but it was Uecker at the line taking second while Robinson was third, just [Read More]