petalumaspeedway Archives

Six tracks host California IMCA Speedweek shows

MERCED, Calif. – California is the place Modified and Northern SportMod drivers will want to be, for the inaugural California IMCA Speedweek Aug. 10-15. IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying features while Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods chase $750 top checks each night. The inaugural California IMCA Speedweek presented by Hoppes Motorsports opens next Monday at Placerville Speedway, then travels to Petaluma Speedway on Aug. 11; to Antioch Speedway on Aug. 12; to Merced Speedway on Aug. 13; to Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford on Aug. 14; and to Bakersfield Speedway for the Aug. 15 finale. All events are draw/redraw. Modified features pay $100 to start, Northern SportMod features $75, with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region and KMJ Performance State points, in addition to series points at stake. Top five drivers in standings for each division receive point fund shares, in increments of $1,000, $400, $200, $100 and $100 for the Modifieds and $700, $300, $200, $100 and $100 for the Northern [Read More]

Inaugural California IMCA Modified Speedweek dates announced

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. – Something exciting is around the bend in the California IMCA Modified scene. Doug Lockwood, promoter at Merced Speedway, has put together the first-ever Modified Speedweek in the State of California. The series will race from Monday, Aug. 10 to Saturday, Aug. 15 at six different racetracks in as many nights. The racing extravaganza will be open to both IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. Each race will feature a 20-car main event for $1,000 to win and $50 to start for the Modifieds while SportMods will race for $600 to the winner and $40 to start. Modified features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. Point funds will be up for grabs in both divisions, with $1,000-$400-$200-$100-$100 shares being paid in the Modifieds and $600-$300-$200-$100-$100 shares paid in the SportMods. The whole party kicks off at Placerville Speedway on Aug. 10, before the tour travels west to Petaluma Speedway on Tuesday. Wednesday will be spent at Antioch Speedway while the Thursday date is reserved for Merced Speedway. The series continues its southern [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Ware Thrills Hometown Fans With Stock Car Victory at US 30 Speedway Opener

By P.J. Pedersen COLUMBUS, Neb. (Apr. 17, 2025) — Jeff Ware picked up an exciting Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature win at Abe’s US 30 Speedway during the 2025 season opener, which marked the 39th year of racing at the Columbus speed plant. The Columbus native thrilled his hometown crowd with the victory, his first of the season in EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region competition. Dana Rasmussen started on the pin, but going into turn one, he was immediately under attack from Scott Smith and a host of others. By the halfway point, Smith had fallen back just a bit, but two new players had checked into the fight as ninth starting Austin Brauner and multi-time track champ Jeff Ware were now in the fray. But in the end, Ware and Brauner were too much. Ware would obtain the lead and would score the win. Brauner and Rasmussen were the rest of the podium finishers, in second and third. When the green flag dropped for the Sunoco IMCA Late Model main event, six-time National champ Cory [Read More]

News

Townsend Charges to Second Win of Season at 105 Motor Speedway

By Ben Deatherage CLEVELAND, Texas (Apr. 19, 2025) — Christopher Townsend outdueled a fierce field Saturday night at 105 Motor Speedway, charging to his second RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car victory of the season at the ¼-mile oval. Kent Lewis Jr. looked like he was shot out of a cannon at the start of the 20-lap feature, setting a quick pace in the early going. 2019 Southern United Sprint champ Tyler Harris reeled him in by lap 6 and began pressuring for the lead, bringing Townsend into the mix for a three-car battle at the front. Harris dove underneath Lewis to grab the lead momentarily, only to see the move negated by a red flag incident. On the restart, Lewis found new life on the high side while Harris and Townsend gave chase. Harris again seized the lead on lap 9, but the tenth starting Townsend quickly countered, muscling past a circuit later to take over the top spot for good. A late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish, but the Tarkington driver was unfazed, pulling away [Read More]

Modified

Harnick Hustles to Second Straight Crystal Win

By Ben Deatherage CRYSTAL, Mich. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Austin Harnick continued his red-hot start to the season Saturday night at Crystal Motor Speedway, charging from 12th to score his second consecutive Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win at the track and fourth overall in the DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region. Don Proctor Jr. and Chad Spencer dueled for the lead early, with Spencer leading the opening lap and building a small cushion. Two-time track champion Austin Wonch worked past Proctor for second after an early restart, then set his sights on the leader. The turning point came on a lap 10 restart when Harnick, the reigning Merritt Speedway champion and Great Lakes Nationals winner, powered underneath Spencer to take the lead. A late caution bunched the field again, but the 22-year-old driver from Clare was unfazed, pulling away for a commanding victory. Nathan Patrick finished second, with Casey Smith rounding out the podium. The 20-lap feature served as a qualifier for the 2025 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by [Read More]