Arneson Is Arizona Modified Star

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — Casey Arneson pocketed Tuesday night’s $2,000 IMCA Modified winner’s share at Central Arizona Speedway by wiring the field in the 25-lap feature that capped off the fourth round of the fourth annual Arizona Dirt Track Tour.

While Arneson earned IMCA Modified honors, Brian Osantowski took the $750 winner’s share in the IMCA Sport Modifieds and Ricky Thornton Jr., picked off his second $750 IMCA Stock Car win in as many CAS rounds.

Starting from the front row outside of the IMCA Modified main event, Arneson outgunned pole starter Drew Armstrong at the drop of the green flag and then fought off challenges from Jake O’Neil and Alex Stanford on a lap 17 restart en route to the checkered flag.

“I was comfortable the whole race until that last restart,” Arneson commented.  “I saw the zero there (O’Neil) and I knew I better get going.”

Stanford and O’Neil both slipped off the track briefly in separate corners after the restart, allowing Arneson to race on the stripe unabated. Stanford worked back up to second after starting 14th while Jeff Taylor rallied from 17th to third.  Thornton Jr., was fourth with Chaz Baca Jr., rounding out the top five.

Osantowski took full advantage of his pole starting position in the 20-lap IMCA Sport Modified feature and then fought off a Cody Thompson bid for the point on a lap-14 restart on the way to pocketing the $750 winner’s share.

Thompson briefly slid past Osantowski following a lap 13 caution, but Osantowski battled back into the lead and held point the rest of the way to take the win ahead of Thompson with Austen Becerra claiming the show position as Tyler Soppe and 14th-starter Brady Bjella filled out the top five.

In the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car feature event, Thornton raced from fourth into the lead on the opening round and then fought off a late challenge from Zach Madrid to secure the $750 victory.

LaBatte and Aaron Hetrick rounding out the top five.