hendrycountymotorsportspark Archives

Dean Scores Second Mod Lite Win at Hendry County

By Ben Deatherage CLEWISTON, Fla. (Mar. 8, 2025) — Despite starting seventh, Mike Dean charged through the field to capture his second Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature win of 2025 at Hendry County Motorsports Park. A series of four cautions slowed the pace, but once Dean took control, he had no trouble staying in front. Bill Leonard led early, holding off Chase Nornberg until a caution halted their battle. Nornberg was forced to the back due to a loose fuel cell cap. On the restart, Robbie Throop and Dean battled for second, closing in on Leonard. Dean eventually took the spot and set his sights on the leader, but a slip-up in turn one allowed Dylan Permann to sneak underneath and take second. Soon after, Leonard spun in front of the field, avoiding contact but surrendering the lead to Dean. Dean managed multiple restarts and built a comfortable advantage to secure his first win since the season opened on January 4. Permann wound up second, followed by Ben Blalock in third. The event was [Read More]

McDowell Seals Sugar Bowl Glory in Thrilling Green-White-Checkered Finish

By Ben Deatherage CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2025) — Jaedon McDowell once again proved his dominance in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites, capturing the final night of the 2025 Sugar Bowl and Florida Winter Nationals at Hendry County Motorsports Park. Despite a late caution that set up a dramatic green-white-checkered finish, the Murfreesboro, Tennessee racer held his ground to secure his first career Sugar Bowl victory after finishing fourth in 2024. The event drew 49 teams from across the United States and Canada. The race opened with a thrilling battle between McDowell and defending Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion Riley Clem. McDowell managed to edge ahead of Clem and quickly set a blistering pace. A few restarts prevented McDowell from building a massive lead, but a well-timed caution on lap fifteen spared him from navigating heavy lapped traffic. As the race neared its conclusion, a late yellow flag set up a high-stakes green-white-checkered restart, giving challengers one last shot at an upset. 2022 Sugar Bowl winner Ronnie Choate, also from [Read More]

McDowell Scores Sugar Bowl Preliminary Night Victory at Hendry County

By Ben Deatherage CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2025) — Jaedon McDowell doubled up his 2025 Florida Winter Nationals win total with a thrilling victory on preliminary night of the 6th Annual Sugar Bowl at Hendry County Motorsports Park. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee racer pocketed the $1,000 payday after outdueling the competition in an action-packed feature that saw multiple lead changes and several restarts. A stellar 55 Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites filled the pit area, with entries from across the United States and Canada. The feature kicked off with New Yorker Doug Williams pacing the field in the early laps. After an early restart, McDowell made his move, methodically working the inside line to edge ahead at the stripe on lap four. However, Williams kept his momentum rolling and powered back around him to reclaim the top spot. Following another restart, McDowell again went on the attack. His patience paid off as he wrestled the lead away for good on lap seven. From there, he controlled the race on restarts and maintained his advantage, despite briefly [Read More]

Ronnie Choate Sweeps Thursday Night Action At Hendry County

By Ben Deatherage CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2025) — Ronnie Choate took home all the hardware on the opening night of the 6th Annual Sugar Bowl at Hendry County Motorsports Park. While all 44 Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites had the opportunity to practice and dial their cars in, a select group of drivers participated in the prestigious Race of Champions and Manufacturers Dash—both of which were won by the Cookeville, Tennessee native. The Race of Champions kicked off with reigning Benton Speedway titleholder John Leahy seizing the early lead. However, Choate quickly closed the gap, and on lap three, he motored around the Missourian to take command. Once out front, Choate was untouchable. The 2023 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion and 2022 Sugar Bowl winner powered to victory, marking three different winners in the past three years in the Race of Champions. 2023 Texas Mod Lite Nationals champion Corey Babbit finished second, while Missouri’s Dillon Raffurty—the four-time reigning IMCA National champion—rounded out the podium in third. Local competitor Mike Dean [Read More]

Thrilling IMCA STARS Mod Lite Action Kicks Off 2025 at Hendry County

By Ben Deatherage (Photo Courtesy of Hendry County Motorsports Park) Clewiston, FLORIDA (January 28, 2025) — Hendry County Motorsports Park opened its 2025 schedule with two exhilarating Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite events ahead of the highly anticipated Winter Nationals, concluding with the 6th Annual Sugar Bowl on February 8th. The 1/3-mile clay oval saw intense battles as local teams aimed to start their season with strong performances. Mike Dean Opens Season with Victory The first Mod Lite feature of the season kicked off on Saturday, January 4th, with Mike Dean taking control early. Dean seized the lead on the opening lap, just before a caution slowed the field. On the restart, Tyler Garey attempted to challenge Dean on the low line, but the leader held firm. Despite three additional cautions and a spirited effort by Garey on the final restart, Dean remained unfazed, cruising to his first win of the season. Garey earned a solid second-place finish, with Robbie Throop rounding out the top three. Robbie Throop Outlasts the Field The Mod Lites returned [Read More]

Sweet repeat for Raffurty at Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals

CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2024) – His week of racing at Hendry County Motorsports Park was very different than last February, but the end results were just as sweet for Dillon Raffurty. Raffurty repeated his Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite main event winning ways Saturday night, earning $5,000 for the Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals victory at Clewiston. While he’d dominated in Wednesday through Saturday shows in 2023, Raffurty bookended race of champions and main event wins around a DNF in the manufacturers’ dash and two third-place finishes in Twin 25 features on Thursday and Friday this time around. “Things were very different this year, that’s for sure,” the Kansas City, Mo., star said following IMCA win number 90 and his second big money checkers already this season. “They got the track prepped really good Saturday, with multiple grooves.” “I knew the bottom would come in and I ran the top side until it did.” Raffurty led the first 21 circuits before Ronnie Choate motored by. He needed a couple laps to find the fastest [Read More]

Perfect start to season sees Raffurty dominate IMCA Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals

CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2023) – Dillon Raffurty thought he had the car to win last year’s Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals presented by Sunoco Race Fuels. When he returned to Hendry County Motorsports Park for the fourth annual IMCA STARS Mod Lite special, he won almost everything but Saturday night’s 50/50 drawing. Raffurty led all but the first circuit in winning the 30-lap headline event at Clewiston, taking the $7,500 checkers nearly four seconds ahead of runner-up Jimmy Wills. “This was the perfect way to start the season. Three points races and three wins,” said the two-time defending IMCA national champion from Kansas City, Mo. “Our total for the week (just shy of $10,000) was way more than I was hoping for coming down.” Fifty-eight drivers from a dozen states and Canada vied over the course of the Feb. 8-11 special and nine of those states were represented on Saturday’s main event grid. Defending race winner Ronnie Choate started outside Raffurty on the front row and led the first lap, then went to the back [Read More]

IMCA STARS Mod Lites Florida bound for $7,500 to win Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals

CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2023) – A lot more than the weather has IMCA STARS Mod Lite drivers Florida-bound this weekend. The Feb. 8-11 Mod Lite Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals at Hendry County Motorsports Park in Clewiston concludes with a $7,500 to win, minimum $500 to start main event. The fourth annual special is presented by Sunoco Race Fuels and Yoshimura bonuses of $250, $150 and $100 to be awarded to the top three finishers. Full race programs are scheduled Thursday, Friday and Saturday Feb. 9-11 with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and Florida State points awarded each of those nights. Twin 25 features Thursday and Friday pay $500 to win $150 to start and $50 tow. Two provisionals will be awarded to fill the main event field and tow is $100 on Saturday. Wednesday’s pre-tech and practice will be followed by a $500 to win race of champions and $1,000 to win manufacturers’ race; both pay $100 to start. Drivers can check in beginning at noon EST each day with pre-tech from 1-5 [Read More]

IMCA STARS Mod Lites chase sweet $7,500 top check at 4th Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals

CLEWISTON, Fla. (Dec. 19, 2022) – A sweet $7,500 awaits the winner of the IMCA STARS Mod Lite Sugar Bowl Winters Nationals. Hendry County Motorsports Park hosts the fourth annual special, presented by Sunoco Race Fuels, on Feb. 8-11, 2023. Saturday night’s main event pays a minimum of $500 to start with Yoshimura bonuses of $250, $150 and $100 to be awarded to the top three finishers. Full race programs are scheduled Thursday, Friday and Saturday Feb. 9-11 with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and Florida State points awarded each of those nights. Drivers can register now on MyRacePass for $100 or $250 after Jan. 1. Twin 25 features Thursday and Friday pay $500 to win $150 to start and $50 tow. Two provisionals will be awarded to fill the main event field and tow is $100 on Saturday. Wednesday’s pre-tech and practice will be followed by a $500 to win race of champions and $1,000 to win manufacturers’ race; both pay $100 to start. Gates open at 4 p.m. each day at Clewiston [Read More]

IMCA STARS Mod Lites are Florida bound for Winter Nationals presented by Sunoco Race Fuels

CLEWISTON, Fla. – The stars of the IMCA STARS Mod Lite division are Florida-bound in February for the $5,000 to win Sugar Bowl Winter Nationals presented by Sunoco Race Fuels at Hendry County Motorsports Park. The Saturday, Feb. 12 main event at Clewiston pays $500 to start while the non-qualifiers feature that evening pays $300 to win and $100 to start. The Winter Nationals Weekend at The Southern-Most Dirt Track in America begins Wednesday, Feb. 9 with an open practice and $500 to win and $100 to start Race of Champions Invitational. RoC qualifying is open to former national and Winter Nationals champions, and to 2021 track, state and series champions and national race winners. STARS Mod Lite features on Thursday, Feb. 10 and Friday, Feb. 11 both pay $500 to win and $150 to start. New to the Thursday card is a manufacturers’ race. All three nights of racing will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. Pre-tech starts at 2 p.m. with pit gates opening at 4 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m. each day. IMCA Speedway Motors [Read More]