Newswire

Gavyn Manning: Flipped It, Fixed It, Finished First

By Ben Deatherage BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Apr. 4, 2025) — On March 22nd this year, Bakersfield native Gavyn Manning embarked on what would become one of the most unforgettable nights of his young career. Competing at the Bill and Shirley Meyer Memorial at Mohave Valley Raceway in Bullhead City, Arizona, Manning flipped his car during hot laps—a chaotic beginning to what would soon become a rare and remarkable comeback story. “I was going to try and go to the top of the board in hot laps, but I didn’t realize how greasy the track was,” Manning explained. “I hit some grease going into turn three and blew off the top and rolled and ended on top of the tractor tires. More than anything, it was sheet metal damage, but it really bent the J-bar. We beat out the roof, the sail panels, and the deck and had to scramble and find a new J-bar, and made it just in time for the heat race.” What followed was the kind of story race fans live for. With adrenaline [Read More]

Marsh Holds Off Hogge for Modified Glory at Ocean

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Apr. 11, 2025) — The 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale at Ocean Speedway featured a fantastic race that saw Robert Marsh of Salinas end up in victory lane. Jonathan Hagio took the lead at the waving of the green flag and set a fast pace over the early stages. Side-by-side racing and battles were seen all over the track during the main event. Marsh reeled in Hagio and hounded his rear before taking command on lap eight. Marsh proceeded to pull away but had to run some perfect laps towards the end as Bobby Hogge closed. The Salinas legend moved into second with six laps left and cut down a wide margin between the pair. Hogge would run out of time, however, as Marsh claimed the win by just over half a second — his first of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Hogge and Jim Pettit II rounded out the podium. Crebs Captures Wild SportMod Main The Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMods also provided an ultra-entertaining 20-lap [Read More]

Cassidy Lejeune: Cajun Culture and Checkered Flags

By Ben Deatherage ABBEVILLE, La. (Apr. 1, 2025) — Cassidy Lejeune is a rising force in the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car division, representing Abbeville, Louisiana—pronounced “Ab-bay-ville,” a nod to its French roots, derived from the word “Abbé,” meaning abbot. While many drivers race just minutes from their shops, Lejeune travels hundreds of miles from the bayous of South Louisiana to compete in Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly racing. Fueled by grit, determination, and a deep passion for the sport, he has been turning heads with his recent speed and consistency—and appears poised for a breakthrough win at any time now. Racing Journey and Transition to RaceSaver Competition Lejeune’s racing journey began at the age of 10 in go-karts, competing on both asphalt and dirt tracks across South Louisiana. After high school, he moved into the Micro Sprint ranks, racing throughout the Southeast. In 2001, he climbed into a Sprint Car for the first time and has raced on and off in the division ever since. In 2017, he transitioned into the RaceSaver class and has competed in [Read More]

BOGO contingencies again highlight Landrum Springs sponsorship

MENTONE, Ind. (April 11, 2025) – Landrum Performance Springs continues to reward IMCA state champions in seven IMCA divisions. Hundreds of “Buy One, Get One Free” (BOGO) certificates will round out the 2025 IMCA state points in IMCA Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, Northern SportMods, Southern SportMods, Mod Lites, and Late Models. In addition to the state champions, the top 5 in Stealth Racing IMCA Stars Mod Lite state points will also receive “BOGO” certificates accompanied by 10th in track points. Come September, the hard chargers in each “Big Dance” at the IMCA Super Nationals will get 2 springs for free. “The shear amount of springs given away is incredible,” observed IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson-Becker-Gramm. “Over the course of 21 years, this program has certainly become a partnership to help the drivers, and for that I cannot thank Curtis and the Landrum team enough.” Landrum manufactures high-performance coil and coil-over springs, renowned for their durability, tight rate tolerances, and resistance to free height loss. Drivers can explore these features and other Landrum technical [Read More]

Nearly a decade of sponsorship from Swift Springs

CHINO HILLS, Calif. (April 11, 2025) – In their 9th season as a national IMCA sponsor, Swift Springs will add the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lites to the list of contingencies. Awarding a set of springs to each rookie of the year of the IMCA Modifed, Stock Car, Northern SportMod, Southern SportMod, Late Models, and Mod Lites. The other four regional Modified rookies of the year each receive one spring. These awards will be presented during the national banquet this fall. Runners-up in main events for Modifieds, Late Models, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods, and Mod Lites at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s also receive sets of four springs from Swift. “Frank is a great asset to the motorsports community, and he was more than happy to add the IMCA Mod Lite to the list of awards,” said IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “The drivers who earn these Swift awards will undoubtedly prove their talent and set themselves up for sustained success in the division.” Information about Swift-manufactured springs is [Read More]

Sweet Manufacturing continuing in their 16th year of sponsorship

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (April 11, 2025) – The manufacturer of the Official Steering Box of IMCA rewards drivers in three divisions in their 16th season as a sponsor of IMCA. Sweet Manufacturing gives a steering box to the champion of the IMCA Modified along with a steering rack to the champion of the Late Models. The top 5 in each Modified region will also receive a $50 product certificate. The Kalamazoo, Michigan company also participates in the national Modified decal program and drivers in that division must display two Sweet Manufacturing logos on their race car. Along with the Modified and Late Model awards, the RaceSaver Sprint Car Rookie of the Year will receive a steering box at the IMCA National Banquet in November. Modified competitors at the IMCA Super Nationals receiving Sweet steering boxes include the top non-qualifier in points and the Rage Chassis Race of Champions. Earlier in the week, the Sunoco IMCA Late Model Big Dance champion will go home with a steering rack. The RaceSaver Nationals champion at Eagle Raceway will receive a $100 [Read More]

Kevko’s 15 year sponsorship to continue in 2025

FAIRMONT, Minn. (April 11, 2025) – Kevko Racing is continuing its 15-year sponsorship with a continued focus on first-year competitors and state champions. The Fairmont, Minnesota, manufacturer provides claim or crate engine oil pans to the national rookies of the year in the IMCA Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, Southern SportMod, and Northern SportMod divisions. Additionally, state champions in those same classes receive $50 product certificates. Josh Ruby said, “We are excited to join IMCA for another exciting year. Kevko has been building oil pans and components since 1986. For 2025 we will be expanding our product line to Kevko Drive Shafts! We are always strive to build the best products for our customers, and our drive shafts will be no exception.” Kevko also contributes special awards during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The 2nd and 4th place finishers in the Big Dance events will receive a product package as well as the champions of the Fast Shafts IMCA Modified All-Star Invitational and the B&B Chassis IMCA Stock Car All-Star Invitational events. Information [Read More]

Hogge Scores 70th Modified Win At Antioch

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif (Apr. 5, 2025) — After making two big passes around early leader Matt Kampfraat and Troy Foulger, Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas won the 20-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Antioch Speedway. The win for the two-time track champion was the 70th of his career at the track as he sits atop the division’s all-time win list. It came at the track’s 65th championship season opener. Kampfraat started on the outside front row and bolted into the lead at the green flag ahead of Foulger and Hogge. A yellow flag was waved for the second time on lap 5 when John Pierce of San Jose spun in turn three. On the restart, Hogge made a strong move on the inside in turn two to take second from Foulger and made a low pass on Kampfraat exiting the fourth turn to have the lead by the end of the lap. Foulger quickly slipped past Kampfraat for second, followed by reigning California State champion Jacob Mallet Jr. The race had [Read More]

Huntley’s Hoosier Winged Sprint Series Set to Honor Bloomington Legend

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Apr. 8, 2025) — The newly rebranded Huntley’s Hoosier Winged Sprint Series is set to launch its 2025 campaign this Friday, April 11th, at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville. The 27-race slate will span some of Indiana’s most iconic dirt tracks in tribute to the late Kevin Huntley—a Bloomington native, fan favorite, and racing legend affectionately known as “The Pup.”. The series, now bearing Huntley’s name for the first time, celebrates the deep tradition of Sprint Car racing across the Hoosier State. The tour will visit Lawrenceburg, Paragon, Bloomington, and Kokomo Speedways, as well as Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt and Circle City Raceway in Indianapolis. According to renowned racing historian Dr. Pat Sullivan, Kevin Huntley was a beloved figure in Indiana’s rich Sprint Car tradition—respected by fans, competitors, and the racing community alike. “There were all these great Sprint Car racers that came out of Bloomington around the same time, and Kevin was absolutely one of them,” Sullivan said. “He was a native son—someone everyone knew and liked. It was terrible [Read More]

Merritt Capitalizes on Final-Turn Spin for Marysville Win

By Troy Hennig MARYSVILLE, Calif. (Apr. 5, 2025) — Olivehurst’s Shaun Merritt took advantage of a dramatic last-turn twist to claim Saturday’s Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Marysville Raceway. Merritt led early but soon found himself under relentless pressure from Tyler Rodgers, a former Diamond Mountain Speedway track champion. Rodgers stayed glued to Merritt’s rear bumper and finally slipped underneath to take the lead on lap 10 out of turn two. Once in front, Rodgers looked untouchable, stretching his advantage to more than seven seconds as the laps wound down. But in a shocking turn of events, Rodgers spun in turn four coming to the checkered flag, handing the win to Merritt. Rodgers still managed to cross the line in second, with Jimmy Ford rounding out the podium. The event was broadcast live on IMCA.TV affiliate NorCal Speed. Missed the action? Watch every lap on-demand with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for $24.99/month.