SOMERTON, Ariz. — The IMCA.TV Winter Nationals resumed Wednesday at Cocopah Speedway with 203 entrants in five IMCA divisions.
With the bonus that went with six or more wins erased, drivers are focused on point titles for the eight-race series.
Entering this week’s racing, four divisions are very close with only Nathan Speten in Northern sport mods showing an impressive lead.
Tim Ward leads in modifieds, Zane DeVilbiss in stock cars, Cody Williams is tops in hobby stocks and sport compacts are led by Jacob Cordova.
DeVilbiss took the main event lead in stock cars and pulled away, raising thoughts he’d run away from Justen Yeager, a distant second. Yeager didn’t see it that way.
On lap eight, Yeager finished closing the gap and use the top groove in turn four to take the lead. It was Yeager’s turn and he created a gap and went on to win the race. Chaz Baca and DeVilbiss followed Yeager across the line.
Modifieds started the usual 28 cars on the big three-eighths mile and Tim Ward led 19 laps with traffic being a factor the last seven of them.
Ethan Braaksma was inches behind Ward for laps until the opening appeared at the bottom of turn four. Braaksma jumped at the opportunity and Jeremy Mills followed him to take over the top two spots.
Braaksma led the final laps to become the first modified repeat winner over Mills and Grey Ferrando. Ward was fourth to stay in the point battle.
Hobby stock point leader Cody Williams led from start with nonstop pressure from Dillon Richards and Jaeden Strandberg.
A mid-race yellow created a three wide display for a couple laps and on the backstretch grew to a pack of five racing for the win.
Payce Herrera used the bottom of turn four to race from fifth to the front in a half of a lap. A restart opened the door for Williams and he regained the lead, this time keeping it through the final laps.
Williams win came in a very competitive race, finishing ahead of Payce Herrera and Dillon Richards.
Northern sport mod action was a dominating drive by Tyler Bannister to make it two in a row. The flag-to-flag run by Bannister was not bothered by several yellows as every restart saw him pull away each time.
Nathan Speten was second over Miles Morris.
The sport compacts had a two-car duel between Chase Martin and Oliver Monson the entire distance with six lead changes. Martin got the win over Monson and Billy Foultz.
Round six is Thursday and will be streamed by SPEED SPORT affiliate IMCA.TV.