Photo by Garrett Kunzman
SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 11, 2024) – He’d been fast but obviously not as fast as he wanted to be during the first week of the IMCA.TV Winter Nationals.
So home state hero Chaz Baca made changes and raced to his first Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win of 2024 Thursday night at Cocopah Speedway.
The defending national and Shaw Race Cars Western Region champion started on the pole and led all 25 times around the track in taking the $1,000 checkers ahead of tough customers Ethan Braaksma, Jerry Flippo and Eddie Belec.
“We were fast last week,” said Baca, who counted a runner-up finish to Braaksma among three top five finishes in those four starts. “This week we’re doing some different things with the setup and found some different speed.”
“Hopefully we can get another one or two wins before this week is over,” added Baca, looking to defend national and regional crowns this season.
Sixty-five Modifieds vied on night six of Winter Nationals, which saw another 200-plus IMCA car count at Cocopah.
Dylan Thornton would end with the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win, his Winter Nationals second. Rob VanMi was second while young Texan Cameron Starry continued to impress, motoring from 15th starting to third.
Jason Bannister, Aaron Spangler and Tyler Bannister were 1-2-3 in the finish of the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main.
Central State drivers willed the top three spots in the finishing order for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks as Dillon Richards won ahead of Cody Williams and Ryan Gilland.
And Californian Billy Foultz was first to the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact checkers, ahead of Chase Martin and Oliver Monson.
Friday and Saturday night race programs, broadcast by IMCA.TV, bring Winter Nationals to a close.