PEORIA, Ariz. – Jason Noll had one chance to grab the lead in the 25-lap IMCA modified main event at Canyon Speedway Park on Sunday afternoon, and he didn’t waste that opportunity.
Justen Yeager led the first 16 laps, but allowed space between himself and the turn two berm, a hole which Noll happily filled. Noll completed his winning pass exiting the turn.
Once in front, Noll led the final nine trips around the dry, slick quarter-mile for the $1,250 win over Yeager and Zachary Madrid.
The IMCA Northern sport mod series finale featured a bottom feeder track also and Mike Wells held off Andy Clower through multiple restarts for the $1,000 win.
IMCA hobby stock racing was a Brad King and Jason Duggins duel every race during the Winter Challenge and Duggins evened the score at two wins each on Sunday.
King led nearly the entire distance, but a last chance outside line effort coming to the checkers by Duggins saw him earn the victory in a photo finish.
It appeared King was first across the line, but the transponder crossing the loop is the determining factor, and Duggins’ device reached the loop first. Tech determined both cars had transponders mounted in the proper location.
The other IMCA division was stock cars and the class ran their 20-lap main last. The series finale gave them what seemed to be a difficult surface to race on with the potential of any side by side racing next to nothing.
However, the stock cars are called the class too tough to tame for a reason. An incredible last couple of laps saw four cars racing as a group, trading plenty of paint as they raced in a formation-like pack.
Chanse Hollatz led seven laps before trading the lead with Cody Center several times while other drivers, including George Fronsman, closed on the duo of potential winners.
A late yellow set up the thrilling laps with everyone in the quartet doing their share of pushing and shoving until Fronsman won the race to the transponder loop as the checkers waved for the $1,000 win. The 20th and final main event of the Winter Challenge was a thrilling race from beginning to end.
R.J. Johnson swept the weekend in winged micro sprints, leading all the way Saturday and driving under teammate Josh Castro on Sunday. His lap-12 pass occurred on the backstretch low line.
Castro flipped wildly four laps later and climbed out with some soreness. Castro won the night before at Central Arizona Speedway.