BATESVILLE, Ark. — Another big money race at Batesville Motor Speedway ended with Zane DeVilbiss taking home the big money.
The Farmington, N.M., flyer led the last 33 of 50 laps in winning Saturday’s Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Championship.
“The track’s been beautiful. That’s why we love coming to Batesville. I drive 17 hours to race here,” said DeVilbiss, trying to make himself heard over the noise of the fireworks that followed his run to the $10,000 checkers. “I wish this was my home track.”
Those sentiments are understandable as DeVilbiss raced to a career-best $50,000 payday at Batesville’s IMCA Modified Race for Hope 71 in 2021.
Third in last year’s Mid-America main event, he started outside Dallon Murty on the front row and chased the Chelsea Charger the first 17 times around the track.
DeVilbiss was scored in the lead by all of nine thousandths of a second on the next circuit. Murty stayed close while Peyton Taylor rallied after restarting at the tail early on, racing into the top five by lap 34.
The first of three bang-bang-bang yellows starting on lap 39 erased Devilbiss’ advantage of almost two seconds. The race ended green, white, checkered with ninth starting and 2022 race winner Troy Jerovetz second and Taylor third.
Sixteenth starting Patrick Linn and 19th starting Roger Witt completed the top five. Defending race winner T.J. Herndon was sixth.
“This one goes for (Scott) Bloomquist. I haven’t been able to win one for him since his passing,” Devilbiss said from victory lane. “He did a lot for us on building these cars and there were a lot of coincidences between us. Batesville is my favorite track, too, even before I knew it was his.”
“We worked together a lot, he was a great dude and we’re going to miss him.”
DeVilbiss also earned a guaranteed starting spot in the 2025 B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational with the big money win.
The 29th annual Schoenfeld Headers Mid-American IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Championship was broadcast by SPEED SPORT.TV affiliate IMCA.TV.
Tom Berry Jr. won Saturday’s Race For Hope 71 main event for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, completing his weekend sweep at Batesville.