Newswire

Johnson starts with seat time goal, gets IMCA Northern SportMod rookie of the year award too

LAVEEN, Ariz. (Nov. 26, 2024) – Getting seat time was goal number one of Tyler Johnson’s first Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod season. The 15-year-old speedster from Laveen, Ariz., turned that quest into two feature wins, plenty of consistency and a long run atop the national point standings, accomplishments that culminated in his earning rookie of the year honors. “January was a pretty stacked schedule. It seemed like we were always asking ourselves how many races we already had in,” stated Johnson, who spent much of the month on the track or in the shop. “With that many races, you definitely can’t lack on your maintenance program.” “We didn’t plan to run that many races that early,” he added. “We just saw more races scheduled and told ourselves ‘Let’s go run those and get more experience under our belt.’ I knew that another Arizona driver (Clay Erickson in 2020) had been rookie of the year, that we had a lot of races and that we could do it, too.” The Deuce of Clubs Thunder Raceway [Read More]

Hibdon hustles, Czarneski triumphs on Showdown night two

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Arizona (Nov 23, 2024) – In a thrilling bout of action on night two of The Showdown, presented by Toste Construction, Kollin Hibdon made a decisive late-race move to win the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event after starting sixth in the stoppage-free 25-lap feature at Central Arizona Raceway. Bryson Yeager held the marshal’s baton when the race began after grabbing the lead in the early going. Trying to pull away from the rest of the competition, he receive immense pressure from Robby Sawyer around the halfway point. Sawyer was as the young man from the Cowboy State of Wyoming held on to the top spot in a nail-biting battle. While the two drivers in the front waltzed on the top side of the track, Hibdon began to gain on both drivers via the inside portion of the racing surface. The Pahrump, Nev., native and Fargo, N.D., transplant powered his way to the point on lap 18 and effectively negotiated slower traffic to earn the victory. Yeager held on to [Read More]

Baca visits victory lane twice during Showdown opener

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 22, 2024) – Chaz Baca, reigning national champion of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, showcased his dominance at Central Arizona Raceway to score a big win on the first night of The Showdown presented by Toste Construction. The Mesa maestro obtained the lead just before the midway point of the 25-lap feature at Casa Grande. Montana standout Joey Price paced the field early. He would receive a strong challenge from Baca around lap six but kept him at bay. The two-time national champion would pressure again and get the necessary run-off of turn four on lap nine to become the new pacesetter. From there, Baca handled the rest of the distance without issue despite some congested lapped traffic. North Dakota traveler Shawn Strand ended the race second with Price in third. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites were also on hand. Baca, Taylor Kuehl, Zack Tate and [Read More]

Hit and miss race plans change as Wilson wins rookie award in IMCA Eastern Region

MILTON, Fla. (Nov. 24, 2024) – Already considerably accomplished on dirt tracks in and around the Sunshine State, J.C. Wilson saw his interest in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified division piqued by the inaugural Clash on the Coast. The following season, he was following the second annual tour and motoring toward rookie of the year honors in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Eastern Region. “I was beyond proud of myself for what we accomplished this season,” said the seven-time feature winner, also the Northwest Florida Speedway track and Florida State champion. “We were able to do really well and I am beyond proud and happy with what we accomplished.” “We were just going to run hit and miss, then it got to where we were running the Modified every week,” added Wilson, who celebrated his 22nd birthday the week before the IMCA national awards banquet. From Milton, Fla., he started racing street stocks in 2015, then moved into the crate late models. Along with 15 feature wins, Wilson earned track titles at Baker and at Tri-County Speedway [Read More]

Confident Spalding scores rookie award in Southern Region for IMCA Stock Cars

ANDREWS, Texas (Nov. 22, 2024) – After racing to national rookie of the year honors in a Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod last season, one of the first questions Cutter Spalding heard was ‘Think you can race a Stock Car, too?’ His answer was a confident “Shoot, yes!” and the 19-year-old from Andrews, Texas, was quick to back up that bravado with another rookie of the year award, this one in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region. “We were blessed with a lot of good luck and a good team,” said Spalding, after driving a Kerry Fryar Motorsports-owned 2024 Sniper Speed ride built by Jeffrey Abbey to six feature wins, the Texas State championship and a runner-up finish in the regional points race. “I love everything about this sport, no matter what. I’ve been blessed to be able to do it.” Second in points at Abilene Speedway and fourth at Heart O’ Texas Speedway, Spalding had a lot of blessings to count after making a combined 67 starts between the Stock Car and SportMod [Read More]

Whitt expands horizons and races to IMCA North Central Region rookie prize

HAMILTON, Mo. (Nov. 22, 2024) – Looking to expand his racing horizons, Jace Whitt figured a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified just made sense. He’d travel to 13 tracks in four states before the sun set on the 2024 point season, winning four features and earning rookie of the year honors in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. “Rookie of the year wasn’t a goal at the start of the season. After the first couple nights I was toward the top of the standings so I told myself this was something I could probably do and tried for it,” said Whitt, from Hamilton, Mo. “I went pretty hard the rest of the season and came up a little short for national rookie but won the region.” He made 41 North Central region starts, at eight tracks in Iowa, two in South Dakota and one in Minnesota, bookending May 9 and Aug. 8 checkers at Park Jefferson Speedway around July wins at Worthington Speedway and Crawford County Speedway. “Everything just kind of worked out perfect that first [Read More]

Few changes in 2025 rules for other IMCA divisions

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 21, 2024) – As promised, few changes have been made in rules for seven other IMCA divisions. “We had announced this summer that the 1978-87 General Motors OEM replacement frame manufactured by Speedway Motors would be legal for use in the Stock Car, Hobby Stocks and Southern SportMod divisions, and that Stock Car drivers could compete using the MD3 Camaro kit,” stated IMCA President Brett Root. “No other changes were made in rules for any of those three divisions.” New to 2025 rules are: •A one piece rear spoiler is allowed the Northern SportMods, a maximum of five inches for crate engines and a maximum of three inches for claim engines. •STARS Mod Lite fuel cell vents must have check valves. One spring rubber is allowed per wheel and a minimum 2” x .083” steel drive shaft must be used from the transmission adapter to the automotive rear end. •Skirting is allowed between the tires only on Sport Compacts and while belt driven accessories may be removed, the crank balancer must remain [Read More]

IMCA Modified drivers have spec engine option in 2025

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 21, 2024) – IMCA Modified drivers will have a third engine option next season. New in rules for 2025 announced today is a spec engine alternative to existing claim and crate options and legal for use in sanctioned competition beginning on Jan. 1. “The spec engine can be built from a 604 crate short block or can be built from scratch,” explained IMCA President Brett Root. “It uses parts drivers and builders are already familiar with in a third engine option. Both drivers and builders will be able to use known components to build these engines.” EngineQuest or DART cylinder heads, an Edelbrock intake manifolds are required. “These parts are well known to Modified drivers and to drivers in other IMCA divisions,” said Root, “and the valve spring rule is compatible with the 604 crate.” Maximum two-inch rear spoilers will be allowed on Modifieds with spec or crate engines. Both may use the same carb adapter, must be used with the maximum 6,800 rpm rev limiter and neither can be claimed. “We [Read More]

Miles gets rookie award, and goosebumps, in IMCA’s Northern region for Hobby Stocks

BERNARD, Iowa (Nov. 21, 2024) – A high school freshman took fellow IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock drivers to class this season. Karter Miles, 14 years old and the latest member of the Bernard, Iowa’s Miles racing family to find dirt track success, is rookie of the year in IMCA’s B & B Racing Chassis Northern Region. He won once and had another 26 top five finishes in 50 outings, racing regularly at four tracks and making single starts at four others. “Being competitive racing against older drivers in big fields of cars was just awesome. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it,” said Miles, a freshman at Cascade High School. “Being 14 and being able to run with stuff we built ourselves, and not the most expensive stuff, and win regional rookie of the year was really special.” The youngest son of Stock Car veteran Jerry Miles, who will race for a 40th season in 2025, Karter finished third in points at Davenport Speedway and Maquoketa Speedway – brother Jordan was track champion at both – [Read More]

Broadcast dates announced for Super Nationals encore on Speed Sport 1

BOONE, Iowa (Nov. 20, 2024) – Didn’t get enough of the action at Boone Speedway and the 42nd annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s ? You can enjoy encore presentations of highlights from America’s Racin’ Vacation four nights this week, beginning tonight (Wednesday) on the SPEED SPORT 1 channel. Three-hour produced shows broadcast at 9 p.m. EST and feature highlights from IMCA.TV from Day 4 at Boone this evening, Day 5 on Thursday and Day 6 on Friday. A nine-hour broadcast marathon begins at noon Sunday, Nov. 24. SPEED SPORT 1 is available for free on Amazon Prime, PlutoTV, SlingTV and more.